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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Heaven: Knitting and all things crafty
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Auntie Doris:
I love buttons.
Auntie Doris x
me too - I was delighted when I fond that I had inherited not only my grannie's button tin but my great-aunt's too. I have problems letting them go, though - they have to go on exactly the right garment although I am beginning to experiment with making jewelry using them.
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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Auntie Doris
Screen Goddess
# 9433
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Posted
My Grandma had the most amazing button box. One Christmas I came back home with loads of gorgeous things when I raided it. I use them on cards and they look fab. So, if anyone has any spare buttons, you know where to send them!!
Auntie Doris x
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"And you don't get to pronounce that I am not a Christian. Nope. Not in your remit nor power." - iGeek in response to a gay-hater :)
The life and times of a Guernsey cow
Posts: 6019 | From: The Rock at the Centre of the Universe | Registered: May 2005
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
I went to the library today to look for a copy of The Opinionated Knitter - they hadn't got it, of course, in fact there doesn't seem to be a copy in any of the Essex libraries at all.
Indeed, it appears that there isn't a copy in any library in the UK ![[Disappointed]](graemlins/disappointed.gif)
Guess it's direct from School Press, or nothing
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Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
I'm still plodding on, intermittantly, with the 'capelet' I was about to begin when I first started this thread,
I have watched an horrendous amount of daytime TV over the last couple of weeks, but it has been worth it - the knitted nightmare is finished ![[Yipee]](graemlins/spin.gif)
Actually, now I'm not actually having to work on it, I quite like it ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif) . The colours are much brighter in the daylight than they were under the 'energy-saving' lightbulbs in my sitting room, and the heavy handling of the work-in-progress transforms into cosy warmth on my shoulders.
It's the first thing I've knitted for myself (other than hat & gloves) since I was 15, and I think it will be the last ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
New grandbaby hoped for in August, so it's back to tiny garments for me!
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
Roseofsharon, I'm impressed -- what an effort! It's lovely and I know you'll get tons of compliments wherever you wear it.
Congrats on the grandbaby too.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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Lothlorien
Ship's Grandma
# 4927
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
I'm still plodding on, intermittantly, with the 'capelet' I was about to begin when I first started this thread,
I have watched an horrendous amount of daytime TV over the last couple of weeks, but it has been worth it - the knitted nightmare is finished
Actually, now I'm not actually having to work on it, I quite like it . The colours are much brighter in the daylight than they were under the 'energy-saving' lightbulbs in my sitting room, and the heavy handling of the work-in-progress transforms into cosy warmth on my shoulders.
It's the first thing I've knitted for myself (other than hat & gloves) since I was 15, and I think it will be the last
New grandbaby hoped for in August, so it's back to tiny garments for me!
Looks great and I love the colours. well done.
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Buy a bale. Help our Aussie rural communities and farmers. Another great cause needing support The High Country Patrol.
Posts: 9745 | From: girt by sea | Registered: Aug 2003
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Mrs. Candle
Shipmate
# 9422
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Posted
Roseofsharon, that is gorgeous! You should have many years of warmth and pleasure wearing it.
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Je suis le président de Burundi.
Posts: 869 | From: CO elev. 4960 ft. | Registered: Apr 2005
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ecumaniac
Ship's whipping girl
# 376
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Posted
I'm currently working on a cross stitch of this t-shirt design.
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it's a secret club for people with a knitting addiction, hiding under the cloak of BDSM - Catrine
Posts: 2901 | From: Cambridge | Registered: Jun 2001
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
A shipmate has lent me a copy of the BSJ pattern.
It arrived today - as did a copy of the 12week scan picture of expected new grandbaby. Can now get on with the knitting.
First step is to figure out what yarn/needlesize combination will give me 6sts to the inch.
After that it should be fairly straightforward, in spite of the unconventional way the pattern is written, as it is shaped using the techniques I've been practicing for the past 15months on that 'capelet' thing.
All things work together for good... ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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sophs
Sardonic Angel
# 2296
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Posted
If this works, it should be a link to a photo of the quilt I made my little sister for Christmas. I've done a green/yellow/orange one, and am working on a dusky flowered one now...it's great fun, and I'm really enjoying it!
[ 22. January 2008, 19:00: Message edited by: sophs ]
Posts: 5407 | From: searching saharas of sorrow | Registered: Feb 2002
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Mamacita
Lakefront liberal
# 3659
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Posted
It's very pretty, sophs. What a special gift for your sister.
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Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Posts: 20761 | From: where the purple line ends | Registered: Dec 2002
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
Sophs, that is a gorgeous quilt - I look forward to seeing a poicture of the opther one when you've finished it.
Last Saturday I had a lovely surprise because not only did I have an unplanned visit to this exhibition of quilts, knitting and mosaics but as a bonus Kaffe Fassett was giving a talk on his pieces in the show - I've long admired his designes and began knitting one a long time ago (it was what I unknitted to reknit into a modular knit) and realise that I can experiment a bit if I make some cushion covers - they are small enough to get a feel for a design and not so large for me to want to be moving on to the next piece too soon (baby items often serve this purpose so maybe I'll try to incorporate some designs into little jackets?). I bought his "Pattern Library" (and of course got it signed by the man himself!) and some of his fabric to back one or two cushions.
If you are in Bath between now & the end of March I can recommend the show - it was inspiring!
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
How interesting, daisydaisy and thank you for the link to the photograph of his cushions.
I heard Kaffe Fassett talking about The Blue And White Show on 'Midweek' (Radio4) this morning. He said he thought the limited colour palette would be difficult to work within, in view of his usual range, but was hooked once he had seen some photographs of a collection of antique Blue & White ceramics.
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Mrs. Candle
Shipmate
# 9422
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Posted
Sophs, that is a great quilt.
I am knitting my first pair of socks on two circular needles and I may never go back to dpns. I can just stick the sock in my purse and go without worrying about stitches falling off the needle and, well, it's just so much easier. I might even try the kilt hose on knitty.com!
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Je suis le président de Burundi.
Posts: 869 | From: CO elev. 4960 ft. | Registered: Apr 2005
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vascopyjama
Shipmate
# 1953
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Posted
Hello Crafty shippies
I'm venturing into the unknown waters of dress making. Taking a breather. My quick unpick may melt if I attempt any more!! My mother assures me that dress making is relaxing and satisfying... Well I was well pleased when I made my first dart ( after looking it up on the internet...) but now I have two side seams which sounds good but there is a gawd almighty lump which projects quite alarmingly.... So I am having a rest. I may convert it into a pocket...
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Behold the duck. The scent of a wet dog. The familiar ahh of your own bed. Things to ponder.
Posts: 298 | From: The Sea of Turbidity | Registered: Dec 2001
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Drifting Star
Drifting against the wind
# 12799
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Posted
Roseofsharon - what a beautiful wrap! Sophs, that is a lovely quilt - what a lucky sister you have.
I've made a few quilts, but have just bought myself an all-singing, all-dancing, quilting sewing machine (to be honest, I think it could work just as well without me to operate it), and I'm planning a really special one. Sort of shabby chic, but well-made (I hope!). Pinks, creams, greens, log cabin-ish with appliqued centres to the squares.
Scary!
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The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Heraclitus
Posts: 3126 | From: A thin place. | Registered: Jul 2007
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
I finished something!
Not that I want you to get the impression that I never manage to do such things, but it is a bit unusual. And I didn't have a deadline or anything, either. Started about December 20th and finished January 23rd, I'm quite pleased with that. Probably went so fast because I was using a much bigger crochet hook than they suggest - mine is 4.5 squares on the short edge where the pattern says 9!
It was from Lothlorien's advent calendar link and with it I managed to use up the lovely soft pink stuff I bought in last year's January sales. Whereby I have justified buying more cool stuff in this year's January sales. And thanks again to the advent calendar I've got a project to use it on - switched back to knitting for the longest time in ages and doing a little bag with lots of straightforward cables.
And I'm sewing a cloak out of a pair of curtains from a charity shop too - it's about 5" too long at the moment and I have to figure out how to scrounge enough fabric out of the trimmings to make a hood. Being cream curtains, my sister thinks it makes me look like a bishop!
Am, of course, suitably impressed with everyone else's efforts.
TTP
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by vascopyjama:
My mother assures me that dress making is relaxing and satisfying...
She is right, but not when it's going wrong!
I made my own clothes for years (even my wedding dress), and it is extremely satisfying when you produce a wearable garment, but it is important to learn to walk before you run. Do choose projects suitable for your experience, and follow the instructions carefully.
Good luck in sorting out the strange projecting lump - I was never an unpicker, I'm more of a screw-it-into-a-ball-and-throw-it-acros-the-room type of person
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
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Posted
Sewing is enjoyable but yes, it can be frustrating. I have a small sewing business and when one thing goes wrong, all goes wrong. I find the best thing is to put it down and go and make a cup of tea, then come back to it later when I inevitably find that my machine is feeling more relaxed about life.
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'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
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To The Pain
Shipmate
# 12235
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
She is right, but not when it's going wrong!
I made my own clothes for years (even my wedding dress), and it is extremely satisfying when you produce a wearable garment, but it is important to learn to walk before you run. Do choose projects suitable for your experience, and follow the instructions carefully.
Does this mean that my first ever solo sewing project should maybe not have been a full-length, fully lined, full-circle skirted, white satin dress for which I didn't have a pattern?
I think it came out quite well (I'm the one in the middle) and I wear it at the drop of a hat. But yes, the moment when I realised I had sewn the lining onto the outside of the dress did nearly make me cry. Especially since I had thought the process through from first principles three times so I'd get it right.
I'm just a bit gung-ho about these sorts of things, but I'm assisted by a good understanding of how different constructions change shapes and reasonable confidence (I knew I wasn't going to be able to manage to make a waistband perfectly horizontal so that dress doesn't have one - it's actually a very simple pattern made up of lots of straight-ish lines). Actually we did mock up the top part twice to get an idea of how it would work. I also don't know what stuff I don't know, so I wasn't fazed by putting in the zip or anything like that.
Keep on keeping on vasco - the sense of achievement when it all comes together is something else!
TTP
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Now occasionally blogging.
Hire Bell Tents and camping equipment in Scotland
Posts: 1183 | From: The Granite City | Registered: Jan 2007
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Drifting Star
Drifting against the wind
# 12799
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Posted
That's incredible for a first attempt TTP! I can't imagine what you've been doing since then! The fit looks fantastic. That, of course, is one of the delights of making your own clothes - making them to fit you and not some generalised person of a vaguely similar size.
I think Heavenly Anarchist is absolutely right. If your machine (!) is having an off day, you have to go away and give it a bit of space before you carry on. I'm of the screw it up and throw it across the room school, too - get teh sewing away from the machine if the machine has fallen out with it ...
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The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Heraclitus
Posts: 3126 | From: A thin place. | Registered: Jul 2007
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Cranmer's baggage
Ship's Opinionated Dame
# 1662
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Surfing Madness:
I'm wondering if anyone knows if you can get knitting patterns for veggie tales jumpers for children? Tried an internet search but didn't find anything, but people here seem to know loads oabout knitting etc!
I've never seen any commercial patterns, but you could make your own with a little work. You need a clear, simple picture to work from (or just pull the character out of a more elaborate picture). Enlarge the picture to the size you want to fit the garment (I use a photocopier for this).
Then work a tension square with the yarn & needles you plan to use. Create an excel spreadsheet or similar piece of paper with grid squares the same size as your stitches. This will require a bit of basic arithmetic. If, for example, you have 22 stitches and 30 rows in a 10 cm tension square, then each stitch is 4.5 mm wide and 3.3 mm high.
Once you have the picture the size you want it, and the page of stitch-sized squares, just trace the picture onto you customized knitters graph paper, and use it as you would any other knitting chart. I usually take the time to colour in at least the outline of each block of colour for the finished item, so I can keep track easily, but that's optional.
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Eschew obfuscation!
Posts: 1537 | From: the apple isle | Registered: Sep 2003
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vascopyjama
Shipmate
# 1953
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Posted
omg!!! ![[Ultra confused]](graemlins/confused2.gif) TTP I will quietly move to the back of the room in awe of your first effort. Wow
Not sure what I am going to do with my effort. I can hear my poor long suffering high school sewing teacher say, "unpick it and start again" but that just breaks my heart.
Hmm the machine is having an off day. Better make coffee!!
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Behold the duck. The scent of a wet dog. The familiar ahh of your own bed. Things to ponder.
Posts: 298 | From: The Sea of Turbidity | Registered: Dec 2001
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sophs
Sardonic Angel
# 2296
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by To The Pain:
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
She is right, but not when it's going wrong!
I made my own clothes for years (even my wedding dress), and it is extremely satisfying when you produce a wearable garment, but it is important to learn to walk before you run. Do choose projects suitable for your experience, and follow the instructions carefully.
Does this mean that my first ever solo sewing project should maybe not have been a full-length, fully lined, full-circle skirted, white satin dress for which I didn't have a pattern?
[snip]
I'm just a bit gung-ho about these sorts of things, but I'm assisted by a good understanding of how different constructions change shapes and reasonable confidence (I knew I wasn't going to be able to manage to make a waistband perfectly horizontal so that dress doesn't have one - it's actually a very simple pattern made up of lots of straight-ish lines).
I have a similar habit. The quilt I made for my sister was without a patten, but wasn't a first attempt (it was my third), and the first and only jumber I made was without a patten, as were the socks and gloves I knit..I just seem to be able to do it ok just by the feel of it, and lots of trying on!
At some point I'll post pictures of my otoher quilts, one is on my bed and another was made for a friends baby - and I'm in the middle of one for a little girls birthday present, and then one that doesn't yet have a home.
I'm also making lots of small knitting things to sell at a craft fair - one scarf, socks and gloves so far...The main reason for this productivity is that I have a dissertation to write, and knitting/sewing is much more fun.
Posts: 5407 | From: searching saharas of sorrow | Registered: Feb 2002
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
Have now finished a 'practice' BSJ and am looking out for some yarn to start a 'proper' one. The tryout version came out a bit small (16"), so I'll use larger needles next time.
I also made one mistake - for those that know the pattern, there is a section where you work on the middle 90 sts only. I took Elizabeth Zimmermann at her word, broke off the yarn, and rejoined it at the start of the middle 90 sts. Some considerable time later (at the buttonholes ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif) ) I noticed what seemed like a purl row going part way down the front. After thinking about it for a bit I have decided that if I had knit the 30+ stitches before working the first row of the middle section this would not have happened. - another benefit of trying the pattern out first.
It is surprisingly easy to make, once you have recovered from the fear engendered by the pattern, which is quite unlike the stitch-by-stitch, row-by-row patterns we are used to in the UK. You just have to trust yourself - and EZ, of course!
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
I have been looking at a pattern I like on Knitty.com, but am being a bit dim at understanding their abbreviations/instructions.
In particular, I cannot visualise this:
SSK = slip 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together
If the stitches have been 'slipped', then they are on the right-hand needle, yes? So how do you then knit them - or do you turn the work round?
If not, how does it differ from K2tog?
I know that some of you have used Knitty patterns before, so please can someone advise?
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by sophs:
.... The quilt I made for my sister was without a patten...
The great thing about quilts is that you don't really need a pattern - you just find a quilt block (like the main repeated star piece - a web search comes up with a cornucopia of designs) or style that you like, and keep on going. As well as some that I made using one repeated pattern I also made a few with different blocks but with the same colour theme. Sadly I didn't take photos of any of them.
sophs - did you draw the seamline on your pieces and then use a running stitch to join the pieces face to face, or tack in some papers and an "over the top" stitch (I don't know how to describe it - other than perhaps "traditional English")?
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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babybear
Bear faced and cheeky with it
# 34
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:
SSK = slip 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together
so please can someone advise?
Yus! I can advise...
SSK is not the same as K2tog, although both are ways of decreasing a stitch. SSK is really the opposite of K2tog, the slant is in the opposite direction.
I love a fantastic webpage with oodles of video clips of decreases.
If you don't get on with SSK, then you could try S1, K1, PSSO (slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over). Although this doesn't give quite as neat a finish as SSK.
Posts: 13287 | From: Cottage of the 3 Bears (and The Gremlin) | Registered: May 2001
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Auntie Doris
Screen Goddess
# 9433
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by daisydaisy:
sophs - did you draw the seamline on your pieces and then use a running stitch to join the pieces face to face, or tack in some papers and an "over the top" stitch (I don't know how to describe it - other than perhaps "traditional English")?
Good description... the latter is described as 'hand sewn' patchwork rather than machine stitched.
I do a bit of both... I have made several very large quilts using the machine but my preference is to hand-stitch. This is the one that I am making at the moment... it has been on the go for ages, but I hope to get it done so I can have it on my bed in the summer ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Auntie Doris x
Auntie Doris x
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"And you don't get to pronounce that I am not a Christian. Nope. Not in your remit nor power." - iGeek in response to a gay-hater :)
The life and times of a Guernsey cow
Posts: 6019 | From: The Rock at the Centre of the Universe | Registered: May 2005
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Auntie Doris:
quote:
Originally posted by daisydaisy:
sophs - did you draw the seamline on your pieces and then use a running stitch to join the pieces face to face, or tack in some papers and an "over the top" stitch (I don't know how to describe it - other than perhaps "traditional English")?
Good description... the latter is described as 'hand sewn' patchwork rather than machine stitched.
I do a bit of both... I have made several very large quilts using the machine but my preference is to hand-stitch. This is the one that I am making at the moment... it has been on the go for ages, but I hope to get it done so I can have it on my bed in the summer
Auntie Doris x
Auntie Doris x
Even though I never machine sew any of my patchworks (makes a project far more portable!) I've always used the running stitch method since discovering it. It is so much quicker than tacking in a paper and then sewing the pieces together, and gets such a precise corners.
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by babybear:
I love a fantastic webpage with oodles of video clips of decreases.
That was very helpful. A nice clear description, I didn't even need to look at the video. I had been visualising slipping the two stitches together, not one at a time.
Many thanks!
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Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
babybear: thankyou! That page is wonderful.
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
AD--
The quilt in your link is gorgeous! I love the way the colors work together.
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Auntie Doris
Screen Goddess
# 9433
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
AD--
The quilt in your link is gorgeous! I love the way the colors work together.
Thank you. Put it this way it should go with any colour scheme. The nice thing is quite a lot of the fabric is bits of old clothes, I have only pyjamas in there, dresses my Mum worse and some of my gran's ols aprons. I love the memories that are sewn together in the quilt.
Auntie Doris x
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"And you don't get to pronounce that I am not a Christian. Nope. Not in your remit nor power." - iGeek in response to a gay-hater :)
The life and times of a Guernsey cow
Posts: 6019 | From: The Rock at the Centre of the Universe | Registered: May 2005
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babybear
Bear faced and cheeky with it
# 34
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by RuthW:
babybear: thankyou! That page is wonderful.
It is a fantastic page, so incredibly helpful. The descriptions are clear, and the little video snippets make it incredibly easy to pick up a new technique.
I am greatly impressed by the quilts. I love the way that a simple repeating motif can be built up into something quite beautiful. I would never have thought of having blocks of 16 little squares forming the basis of a block.
Wonderful.
Posts: 13287 | From: Cottage of the 3 Bears (and The Gremlin) | Registered: May 2001
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sophs
Sardonic Angel
# 2296
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by daisydaisy:
sophs - did you draw the seamline on your pieces and then use a running stitch to join the pieces face to face, or tack in some papers and an "over the top" stitch (I don't know how to describe it - other than perhaps "traditional English")?
I didn't paper piece (i think that's what it's called) because I can only just get my head round how it *should* work. And I can't just follow instructions, I need to know how it works first. I just kindof cut out blocks, and then sewed them together, I didn't really bother marking seam lines, and because some are done by hand they aren't that even.
It seemed to work for me though. I know that I *should* iron them, draw in a seam line, spend hours preparing, but I tend to just ignore than and get on with it.
Posts: 5407 | From: searching saharas of sorrow | Registered: Feb 2002
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Auntie Doris
Screen Goddess
# 9433
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Posted
Paper piecing is easy once you know the technique. You just have to make sure that you cut all the paper pieces the same size and you need to be accurate.
When I made the quilt with little squares I spent ages cutting up old Christmas cards (sometimes you can reuse the pieces again). Then you cut fabric that is about an inch or so bigger than the paper piece, and tack the cardboard inside so that it is taut against the cardboard. To piece together you get two bits, right sides together and overstitch the edges, paying particular attention to the corners to make sure they are neat (it's much easier then to fit together the next pieces).
When you have put everything together you undo the tacking stitch and take out the cardboard. Once I have done the hand piecingI throw it all in the washing machine and iron it flat before doing the edging, wadding and backing.
Et voila! Simple really
Auntie Doris x
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"And you don't get to pronounce that I am not a Christian. Nope. Not in your remit nor power." - iGeek in response to a gay-hater :)
The life and times of a Guernsey cow
Posts: 6019 | From: The Rock at the Centre of the Universe | Registered: May 2005
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daisydaisy
Shipmate
# 12167
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by sophs:
I just kind of cut out blocks, and then sewed them together, I didn't really bother marking seam lines, and because some are done by hand they aren't that even.
It seemed to work for me though. I know that I *should* iron them, draw in a seam line, spend hours preparing, but I tend to just ignore than and get on with it.
It worked so well for you! Your quilt looks lovely and I didn't notice the seams were uneven.
All on your own you have discovered the patchwork technique that I believe is used most across the pond where you have a card (or sometimes metal or plastic) template and draw a pencil line around it onto the back of the fabric, leaving enough room between drawn shapes for a seam allowance after you've cut it out. When you sew a piece together you simply use a running stitch to follow the pencil lines, making sure your first stitch begins on one end of the line, and the last stitch ends at the other end, which helps to give really neat corners. Purists will pin the finishing end of the line and in the middle, but I have to admit to taking a short cut here.
When you have finished, don't open the seam out but instead give more strength to the seam by pressing it over to one side - if you make sure the seam goes the same way each time then you won't get any clumps of fabric at corners. Purists will use an iron to press each seam, but I usually put a neat crease in it with my thumbnail.
So you reduce both the amount of cutting (you only have to cut the material, not a paper or card) and the amount of sewing or pinning (you don't have the paper or card to sew or pin into the fabric).
You also give extra strength to the seams.
And I found that the running stitch to be much quicker than the one I was using before I began using this technique.
Posts: 3184 | From: southern uk | Registered: Dec 2006
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Rat
Ship's Rat
# 3373
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Posted
Just thought I'd check in to say that I took delivery of my Knitting For Dummies book this morning
Inspired by some lovely patterns I saw in John Lewis the other day*, I thought learning to knit might be a better use of my spare time than playing Masters Of Olympus!
I'll let you know how I get on - I've only read the intro so far. There are Projects, apparently.
* Like, proper clothes, from nowadays. Honestly, the main reason I've never thought to learn knitting is that I thought you could only get patterns for really old fashioned stuff and anything more modern you'd have to make up yourself, which is quite beyond my aspiration. All the knitters I know IRL seem to be still using patterns they bought 30 years ago. Mr Nui's mum, espeically, keeps producing dinky little jackets and things for Little Nui that I swear she must have first knitted for Mr Nui himself in 1963. Beautifully done, of course, but not going to bring him much credibility down at the nursery...
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It's a matter of food and available blood. If motherhood is sacred, put your money where your mouth is. Only then can you expect the coming down to the wrecked & shimmering earth of that miracle you sing about. [Margaret Atwood]
Posts: 5285 | From: A dour region for dour folk | Registered: Oct 2002
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Iole Nui:
All the knitters I know IRL seem to be still using patterns they bought 30 years ago. Mr Nui's mum, espeically, keeps producing dinky little jackets and things for Little Nui that I swear she must have first knitted for Mr Nui himself in 1963.
I'm still knitting lovely baby cardigans that I first made in about 1962, and the pattern for the wonderful feat of engineering that is The Baby Surprise Jacket was first published in 1968.
Style don't date!
Good luck with your 'projects' let us know how you get on.
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Iole Nui:
Honestly, the main reason I've never thought to learn knitting is that I thought you could only get patterns for really old fashioned stuff
Go on to Amazon books and put in 'knitting' as a search term. Or visit the Knitters Magazine, or Vogue Knitting sites.
At the moment, I'm knitting kimonos.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
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Rat
Ship's Rat
# 3373
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Posted
You can knit kimonos? That's wonderful!
There was also a gorgeous pair of long fingerless gloves on the page RoseOfSharon linked to, though I couldn't see the Baby Surprise Jacket.
RoS - I didn't mean to be rude, I'm sure the patterns you reuse are lovely and timeless. In fact, Mr Nui's mum knitted us some cot\pram sets that were truly stunning. But some of the other things... not so much. Honestly, a little knitted sailor-suit would get a child stoned round where I live.
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It's a matter of food and available blood. If motherhood is sacred, put your money where your mouth is. Only then can you expect the coming down to the wrecked & shimmering earth of that miracle you sing about. [Margaret Atwood]
Posts: 5285 | From: A dour region for dour folk | Registered: Oct 2002
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Mrs. Candle
Shipmate
# 9422
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Iole Nui:
* Like, proper clothes, from nowadays. Honestly, the main reason I've never thought to learn knitting is that I thought you could only get patterns for really old fashioned stuff and anything more modern you'd have to make up yourself, which is quite beyond my aspiration. All the knitters I know IRL seem to be still using patterns they bought 30 years ago. Mr Nui's mum, espeically, keeps producing dinky little jackets and things for Little Nui that I swear she must have first knitted for Mr Nui himself in 1963. Beautifully done, of course, but not going to bring him much credibility down at the nursery...
Maybe you will find something here he would like:
Harry potter
or here:
Pretty in Punk
[Repaired link. Mamacita, Heavenly Host]
[ 30. January 2008, 22:24: Message edited by: Mamacita ]
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Je suis le président de Burundi.
Posts: 869 | From: CO elev. 4960 ft. | Registered: Apr 2005
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Rat
Ship's Rat
# 3373
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Posted
The Pretty In Punk link didn't work for me, but I searched for it on Amazon and found it and lots of other great looking books! Excellent stuff.
I am getting really excited now, I want to stop working and start learning to knit immediately!
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It's a matter of food and available blood. If motherhood is sacred, put your money where your mouth is. Only then can you expect the coming down to the wrecked & shimmering earth of that miracle you sing about. [Margaret Atwood]
Posts: 5285 | From: A dour region for dour folk | Registered: Oct 2002
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sheba
ship's border collie
# 10654
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Posted
Any machine knitters here? I have a Knitmaster 580 with SRP 50 ribber, and a Brother 860 with a garter carriage. I love them both, and use them nearly every day.
I have done hand knitting (lots) but my tensions are not very good.
Anyone want to talk about MK?
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Spiders are a little people, but they live in Kings' palaces.
Am Yisrael Chai! עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי
Posts: 69 | From: hampshire, england | Registered: Nov 2005
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Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
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Posted
I have a knitmaster but I'm afraid I've never used it! But my husband occasionally whizzes it along.
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'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Iole Nui:
There was also a gorgeous pair of long fingerless gloves on the page RoseOfSharon linked to, though I couldn't see the Baby Surprise Jacket.
I don't know where it took you, as I still get the BSJ - I guess it recognizes me as a member and lets me look at other members' projects . Sorry!
quote:
Honestly, a little knitted sailor-suit would get a child stoned round where I live.
Ought to get the cruel parent stoned, too!
Babies don't care for fashion, though, as long as they are comfy and warm.
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Roseofsharon
Shipmate
# 9657
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by sheba:
Anyone want to talk about MK?
I've done some machine knitting - it's the only time I've enjoyed knitting jumpers for myself, as it is possible to make quite big pieces of fabric in fairly quick time. Unfortunately, since we moved house (1983) I haven't had a convenient place to keep the machine set up, and it has never been out since.
My yarn stash still includes several cones left over from those days.
My jumpers are now worn only for gardening, and are in shreds
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Talk about books -any books- on our rejuvenatedforum http://www.bookgrouponline.com/index.php?
Posts: 3060 | From: Sussex By The Sea | Registered: Jun 2005
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Firenze
Ordinary decent pagan
# 619
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Iole Nui:
You can knit kimonos? That's wonderful!
Given world enough and time, you can knit ANYTHING. I understand your urge to give up all other worldly concerns and devote your time to knitting; I have it continually.
Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001
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