Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XVIII

[Patti B]

Carole, I watched a Linda Lee video on knit tops yesterday and she used a fusible knit stay tape to stabilize hems on knits. I have used the woven stay tapes for this purpose but hadn't seen the knit tape. Her tape is .5 inch wide which should work better for hems than the narrower stay tapes. I'm thinking that I saw this at my local fabric shop but didn't notice that it was a knit. I like your sweater!

Ann, what a cute gift bag. Every year I think I'll make these and every year I don't.    And, Martha, what a sewing whiz you are with the darling baby clothes. Nothing like a baby to motivate some sewing. I know I've missed some of the other great creations -- I just enjoy seeing them all.

I am hopeful that I will complete the Jalie 2599 jacket this week that I am sewing for a dear friend of my DD's. It's a great pattern but I am struggling with some of the instructions or lack of them. I'm pretty inexperienced sewing jackets (this is my third one -- ever) so someone with more experience would probably sail through. It does seem to be very well drafted and I appreciate that! I do keep hearing Ann Rowley's voice in my head reminding me to baste and I have heeded this advice. Alas, it didn't prevent a fair amount of reverse sewing on the lining. Enough whining -- it'll look good when it's finished (I hope!).

[Myrna]

... and she used fusible knit stay tape to stabilize hems on knits. I have used the woven stay tapes for this purpose but hadn't seen the knit tape. Her tape is .5 inch wide which should work better for hems than the narrower stay tapes.

I learned a similar method from Marcy Tilton's T-shirt DVD about a year ago and have used it ever since. It's not stay tape. It's strips of fusi-knit interfacing 1" wide. They work so well that I cut a whole bunch in black, cream, and white using my rotary cutter and have them ready to go. To use - I fuse and then serge just to have a clean edge and then stitch the hem with a double needle.

- Myrna

[Ann]

Tumblina, I love the shorts and pants. They look so nice and cool for summer and linen to boot. The shorts are exactly the pattern I am looking for to make shorts for my summer wardrobe if I can get the biggest size.

Carole, I was going to make the same suggestion as Patti B. Do samples first so you can see what will happen. It is a very nice outfit for winter. And congratulations on painting your bedroom and doing the headboard and pillow. Looks really nice.

I am making my gift bag for stocking stuffers. It isn't western but has red cardinals on it. The top part will be a taupe and embroidery will be red and brown. I am wanting to make pet bags also but need to find some cheap cotton for it. I have their treats already and need to make 4 bags just for them. Two for cats and 2 for dogs. I am crazy, I know it. But it is fun and helps to pass some time away. And the embroidery can motor along while I do school work. I might have to make one more, that remains to be seen.

Ann

[tumblina]

Carole, I must say both you and your room look so well put together!

When I sew my knit hems, I put tissue paper between the fabric and the feed dogs - nothing stretches and no stitches skip that way. It's better to use wash-away stabilizer if you are using a twin needle or zig-zag stitches, because trust me, pulling out the little bits of tissue caught on the back is very annoying - but for stress free stitching I'm willing to do it!

I will have to try the knit interfacing trick next time though - that sounds a lot faster!

[Patti B]

Myrna, you're right about Marci Tilton's method of cutting the strips of fusible interfacing. The laziness of the roll of knit stay tape appealed to me.    And both should work just fine.

[Myrna]

Myrna, you're right about Marci Tilton's method of cutting the strips of fusible interfacing. The laziness of the roll of knit stay tape appealed to me.    And both should work just fine.

Are knit stay tape and strips of knit interfacing the same thing? If so, I'd go for the roll too - LOL. Who puts out that product - as in how do I google and order it?

- Myrna

[Patti B]

Myrna, here's the link to the tape Linda Lee sells -- fusible knit stay tape . I'm going to check my local fabric shop, the source of many temptations, because I think I saw it there last week. They had a trunk show of Sewing Workshop patterns recently and may have decided to carry it -- hope so!

[Myrna]

Myrna, here's the link to the tape Linda Lee sells -- fusible knit stay tape . I'm going to check my local fabric shop, the source of many temptations, because I think I saw it there last week. They had a trunk show of Sewing Workshop patterns recently and may have decided to carry it -- hope so!

Thanks Patti. Hope your fabric store has it. Looks wonderful and not too expensive.

Linda Lee just did a workshop in Vancouver (BC, Canada) that someone I know went to. She emailed yesterday with all kinds of wonderful things to say. I hadn't even heard of Linda Lee before and now twice. I'll look into the patterns/workshops too.

- Myrna

[fzxdoc]

Carole, you're really a renaissance sewist, so well versed are you in finishing up an outfit plus home dec, not to mention painting the room.  Good for you! I like the colors you chose, both for your top and pants and for your bedroom.

Ann, your latest stocking stuffer gift bags are really cute.

Kathryn

[marciae]

I'm just about finished with V8624 - which is an oragami type wrap.  Fun piece.  I made it out of some very heavy wool doubleknit - I wanted it for a warm wrap when I'm cool at night.   I need to do a bit of hand work.  Will try and post a pic later - but basically it looks just like the picture! (which I couldn't get to post - back to the sandbox).  I doubt I'll ever make another - but it was a fun project.

[funkyjazzdesigns]

I just bought that pattern.  Will be interested to see your pictures.

Christine

[Miaaa]

I just bought that pattern.  Will be interested to see your pictures.

Me to !
I was checking my stash yesterday to see if I have some fabric that can work for this project or if I have to add some other fabric to my stash 
Thanks to share!

Miaaa
 

[marciae]

It will be a couple of days - I've not finished the hand work! and I have a 'little' procedure in the am so I probably won't get much done tomorrow!  But, the fabrc I used was a bit too heavy - if you follow what the pattern says you should be fine.  The pattern has you turn under all your hems, facings, etc.  I just serged mine as it would create too much bulk if I turned the hems under.   You won't see the inside though - I also think the "lapels" would be a good place for some machine embroidery.  Also, I think it would make up well in fleece - IF you're wanting it for something practical!!  My wool knit is about the texture/weight of fleece.  Make it up - it's fun - and like I say - it truly looks - exactly like the picture!!

[Madrona]

I finished McCalls M5692 today -- the Thanksgiving dress.  It made of pinwale corduroy, and was my first garment with a gather.  It went okay, but there has got to be a better way to do it than "baste two stitch-lines and pull."    Also, my sewing instructor taught me a great way to do a one-piece facing so it would stay flat and roll to the inside.  The four steps basically consist of  "Trim front, Trim facing, Clip alternating sides, Understitch."  And man-oh-man did that ever work great.



They had me do the zipper in the most bizzare way.  After I got half way through, I figured out a much better way to do it (fold the lining over the top of the zipper, fold in, stitch both facing and dress at once, with zipper in the middle... so I sewed the zipper twice.  Thankfully the print is busy enough that nobody's going to notice[  Anyway, I'm generally happy with how it turned out.  

[stashpanache]

Adorable, and then of course, there is the model....She is a DOLL!!

Good for you for trying different solutions to sewing problems.  I have never done a zipper that way, but if it worked for you, good.

[marciae]

CUTE dress & model!  Don't think I've done a zipper that way either.  Need to read it again and 'think' about it a bit!!

[Diane P.]

How darling -- both the jumper and the child and she looks so very pleased.

Congratulations on using your own good judgment on the zipper.

[Janis]

Oh, Madrona, she is so precious!  I love the dress, too!

[Patti B]

Madrona -- cute, cute, cute -- both girl and dress! You can tell that she loves it and that's as good as it gets. I have used that zipper insertion method and it's very slick. Good thinking. Sometimes the instructions seem to outline the most awkward ways to do things.

[vtmartha]

How cute is that, Madrona!  When I did gathering on more substantial fabric for my kids, I zigzagged over a piece of cording, being very careful not to stitch through the cord.  It's a lot easier to pull up.

[BetsyV]

Your daughter is adorable, Madrona! And what a cute little dress!

[Ann]

Madrona, your model is absolutely adorable. She looks so cute in her Thanksgiving dress. I use to make my DD jumpers and blouses but the ones I made had pleats (almost like darts) in the front and I just loved that pattern to death. I think she had about 8 of those jumpers to wear. I would try the fine cording with zigzag stitch to see if gathers better. I would still to the double thread and pull but use a longer stitch than normal. Good work on getting a flat facing technique and figuring out the zipper.

Ann

[AnnRowley]

So pretty, Madrona, and on such a lovely model!

I have to admit that I always make gathers with two rows of longer - 4mm - stitches and pull up - to me it's an easy, no-fail way...

[Deirdre]

Madrona---pretty dress and your daughter is so adorable.

Deirdre

[Madrona]

Thanks everyone.    She liked it so much I had a hard time getting it back off of her after the photo session.  Had to chase her around the house a bit.  hehe.

AnnRowley - if you gather the way I gathered this dress, it must be the right way.    I wonder if I had a hard time with the gathering because the pinwale corduroy is a "sticky" material.  I'll try the cord method next time - we'll see how that goes.  

I'll see if I can't take a picture of how I did the zipper and post it up. 

[stashpanache]

Madrona,

When gathering, you have to reduce the tension as well as lengthen the stitch.  And be sure and pull on the bobbin thread to gather up.

I reduce my tension to "zero" and lengthen my stitch as long a it will go.  I think on my machine it is 5mm.  I never have any trouble, no matter the fabric.

[Karendee]

Madrona,

Adorable model wearing an adorable dress! Great job on your Thanksgiving creation!

Karen

[lessalt]

Carole, When I hem my knit tops, I iron Totally Stable Iron-On Tear Away Stabilizer on the wrong side, then machine sew the hem on the right side. I have tried the iron on tape but it doesn't allow for the give in the knit so in putting the tshirt it on and off the stitches can pop.

Madrone, How cute that jumper is, not as cute as the wearer of course. I envy having a little girl to sew for my DIL is pregnant so I might soon. I used to love corduroy for kids clothes. I also use the method you did. I do however, divide the garment to be gathered in quarters, then stop and start my stitching each quarter. There is less chance of breaking the threads and the gathering seems easier that way. You would also mark the pattern piece you are gathering to into quarters. Sometimes I have even sewn the actual seam in quarters.

[Myrna]

Yesterday, I sewed New Look 6735 making my typical adjustments and then sewing it according to the pattern. I ended up narrowing it by one inch each side of the front and after that, it was great. There is still a small adjustment I can do to the center back length but all in all I'm quite pleased. This pattern has a lot of shaping built in. You can see more details on my blog at http://blog.myrnagiesbrecht.com. This will be another one for my SWAP. I'm testing patterns.

OH - and I meant to say I used the 1" strips of knit interfacing for the hems.

- Myrna

[marciae]

Myrna - nice top - enjoyed reading your blog about the changes.  Thanks

[Myrna]

Myrna - nice top - enjoyed reading your blog about the changes.  Thanks

Thanks - and to everyone who commented. I appreciate it.

- Myrna... who is now working on pants.

[fzxdoc]

Myrna, you did a really nice job on your top.  The color is so fresh, it must lighten your mood each time you put the top on.    I enjoyed reading your 'blog entry about the making of the top, and how you altered the pattern so that your next top from this pattern will fit even better than this one does. 

You made a comment about leaving the right shoulder seam open next time instead of making the center back seam the final seam. Is there a reason for this?  Is joining the shoulder last easier than joining the center back seam last?  Just curious.

Madrona, that is such a cute little pinafore, and a great photo of your DD.  No wonder you enjoy sewing so much, when you have the perfect model for your projects.

Kathryn

[Myrna]

Myrna, you did a really nice job on your top.  The color is so fresh, it must lighten your mood each time you put the top on.    I enjoyed reading your 'blog entry about the making of the top, and how you altered the pattern so that your next top from this pattern will fit even better than this one does. 

You made a comment about leaving the right shoulder seam open next time instead of making the center back seam the final seam. Is there a reason for this?  Is joining the shoulder last easier than joining the center back seam last?  Just curious.

Kathryn:

Thanks. I really enjoyed making that t-shirt. I've already got fabric ready for version two. There's no technical reason for leaving the right shoulder open next time - just the habit of doing that seam last and the fact that my hair is shorter in the back and I'd prefer a seamless look there especially with a solid fabric.

- Myrna

[Madrona]

You ladies are so sweet.    I'm so glad I found this forum.  I do love this new hobby, for sure. 

Myrna - that is a great top.  Totally something I would wear! 

[Janis]

Myrna, very nice top.  I love the fabric, too