I found some time today to get up to my knitting machine. A couple of hours. If all had gone well I could have got the other front skirt part done in that time but it wasn't to be.
Cast on went wonky first and second time. Probably user error!
Third time cast on was OK. Got up to the row of holes to realise I had one two many stitches.
Could have dealt with that but then I forgot to return the needles to the working position after transferring the stitches and knitting one row to make the holes so got ladders instead.
If it hadn't have been so long since I last knitted I would have remembered, at least, to return the needles.
Fourth time all went well, casted on, made holes, turned up hem then proceeded to knit in tuck stitch.
Same problem as last time, the tuck stitch wasn't coming out right.
Upon inspection and evaluation (before taking it off the needles in frustration) I noticed a lever on the back of the needle bed underneath and to the right of where you insert the punch card. Decided to see how the carriage effected it. It was then I realised the problem.
I am using knit radar and knitting from the left side of the knit radar sheet so all my needles in use were left of the centre. When I was knitting left to right I wasn't taking the carriage far enough right to allow the lever to pass fully underneath the carriage and engage whatever it engages.
I tried a few more rows taking the carriage further to the right and it knitted just fine.
I also had a talk to my knitting machine. Her name is Betsy and sometimes she gets a little offstride and in a huff. I told her that she didn't have to be jealous of the new sewing machine and that because we had a new grandbaby she would get plenty of use.
Hopefully will find the time tomorrow to try again while it is all fresh in my mind and Betsy will be be in a good mood.
I like making things!
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
It just goes to show you can teach an old dog new tricks!
On one of our 4 hospital visits last week I picked up a nasty cough and head cold which is making me feel pretty yukky and unmotivated. I know it will pass so rather than try and do some knitting or sewing while feeling this way I have been reading up on my sewing machine manuals and surfing the web for ideas and videos. This doesn't require a lot of physical effort and I can stop and start as and when the brain cells decide to work.
I have found out an awful lot I didn't know and have found out a lot more about the various sewing machine feet I have and what they actually do. I have a decorative foot with my older Singer that I didn't realise was different to a normal one and the zipper foot is adjustable for what side the teeth of the zipper are. So, an old dog can learn new tricks!
I did purchase some fabric and a pattern on Sunday to make our nearly 8 year old grand daughter a skirt. Her favourite colour of the day is dark pink so I found some lovely pink fabric with white polka dots which I am sure she will love. The pattern has options and I am going to make the one with the yoke. It also has a full circular skirt so she will be able to twirl and it will flare right out. She likes things like that.
I bought white ric rac to do the two lines of trim and am now on the look out for some pre-gathered white cotton Broderie Anglaise lace about 1" to 1.5". For the life of me I couldn't remember what it was called. One of those names that I knew that I knew but just couldn't pull it to the fore. Thank goodness for the internet! Although it is also referred to as eyelet lace and that is how I found it.
The skirt will be quite retro but I am sure she will like it.
I have found out an awful lot I didn't know and have found out a lot more about the various sewing machine feet I have and what they actually do. I have a decorative foot with my older Singer that I didn't realise was different to a normal one and the zipper foot is adjustable for what side the teeth of the zipper are. So, an old dog can learn new tricks!
I did purchase some fabric and a pattern on Sunday to make our nearly 8 year old grand daughter a skirt. Her favourite colour of the day is dark pink so I found some lovely pink fabric with white polka dots which I am sure she will love. The pattern has options and I am going to make the one with the yoke. It also has a full circular skirt so she will be able to twirl and it will flare right out. She likes things like that.
I bought white ric rac to do the two lines of trim and am now on the look out for some pre-gathered white cotton Broderie Anglaise lace about 1" to 1.5". For the life of me I couldn't remember what it was called. One of those names that I knew that I knew but just couldn't pull it to the fore. Thank goodness for the internet! Although it is also referred to as eyelet lace and that is how I found it.
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| Patterns are much cheaper now than they used to be |
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| View B is the one I am making this time |
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| The new machine in situ. |
Saturday, May 23, 2015
The new sewing machine is fantasidoby!
My new Singer Sew Mate arrived yesterday while we were away at the hospital. When we eventually got back last night all I had time for was to read through the quick start manual. Today I browsed through the more detailed manual then watched the video. The video had some great ideas.
Later I took it up to my sewing room and set it up and gave it a thorough testing. It is great, I absolutely love it, It stitches so nicely and all the fancy stitches looked like they should.
I tried the buttonholer foot too. It is a one step buttonhole machine and has 4 different ones to choose from. The foot has a place where you put the button you are making the hole for then you pull down a lever and the machine makes the button hole the correct size for the button. Flipping amazing! The walking foot I bought for my other Singer works on it too as do some of the other feet I have for the Brother.
I tried some free motion stitching as I had a foot from the brother that fitted. I was not very good, definitely a lot of practice needed but it was fun to try.
I am well chuffed with it. It has certainly been worth the wait.
Another hospital run tomorrow then next week we have to catch up with the mowing. I will go out tomorrow while my husband is in the hospital to look for some fabric and a pattern for my 8 year old grand daughter. I have seen some fabric in our local Walmart I like so will see if they have it in Columbia where we will be. Hopefully later in the week I will get some time to sew and knit. Still working on the baby jacket.
Later I took it up to my sewing room and set it up and gave it a thorough testing. It is great, I absolutely love it, It stitches so nicely and all the fancy stitches looked like they should.
I tried the buttonholer foot too. It is a one step buttonhole machine and has 4 different ones to choose from. The foot has a place where you put the button you are making the hole for then you pull down a lever and the machine makes the button hole the correct size for the button. Flipping amazing! The walking foot I bought for my other Singer works on it too as do some of the other feet I have for the Brother.
I tried some free motion stitching as I had a foot from the brother that fitted. I was not very good, definitely a lot of practice needed but it was fun to try.
I am well chuffed with it. It has certainly been worth the wait.
Another hospital run tomorrow then next week we have to catch up with the mowing. I will go out tomorrow while my husband is in the hospital to look for some fabric and a pattern for my 8 year old grand daughter. I have seen some fabric in our local Walmart I like so will see if they have it in Columbia where we will be. Hopefully later in the week I will get some time to sew and knit. Still working on the baby jacket.
Thursday, May 21, 2015
It's been a funny old week!
What can I say, what a week! Started off with a visit to Columbia on Monday for my husband to see his neurologist. He has been losing a lot of ground these past few weeks so we knew the bad antibodies were in full battle mode and attacking his muscles and nervous system with gusto. The doc ordered plasmatheresis to be done asap. They were great and got it organised for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. So yesterday we set off at 4.45am for the three hour drive to the hospital. It was dark and pouring with rain when we set off. The rain persisted all the way there. The Red Cross nurse was 3 hours late due to a misunderstanding between us, the hospital nurse and her but despite all that they got the procedure done and we eventually left there at 5.15pm.
Tuesday was a good day. Yep, I am finally getting my new sewing machine. If you read my blog you know I have been lusting for a new one for 6 months now. I have battled with myself long and hard over this as it really isn't a necessity (I already have three machines but they are all quite old) and we have so many other things that we need to spend money on for the house and workshop. Anyway, it all came to be on Tuesday. First of all I got a $50 Amazon voucher for Mother's Day which is May 10th here in the US. So I searched Amazon for a sewing machine that was reasonably priced and would satisfy my lust. I found a re-manufactured Singer Sewmate for $95. It is a 60 stitch machine. I put it in my watch list.
Well, as every move we make on the internet is scrutinised by Google this item kept appearing on my Facebook sidebar. I was totally ignoring it as it still meant spending $45 and my guilt complex couldn't justify it. Then Tuesday night it popped up as $81. That meant I only had to add $31 to the gift voucher. Well, that did it. Guilt complex flew out of the open window and I ordered it.
It arrives tomorrow but we will be out all day at the hospital so I won't be able to get my hands on it until tomorrow night. It had mixed reviews, people either loved it and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread or they hated it. I hope I will be a lover of it!
Yesterday while my husband was hooked up the the Dr. Who-like machine getting his blood circulated to remove all the plasma and replace it with new I went and visited a sewing shop and a yarn shop in Columbia and had a lovely time browsing and talking knitting and sewing with the ladies in the stores.
Today we have to go take flowers to the cemeteries for Memorial Day on Monday. We take them for his parents, grandparents, great grandparents and some other family members. I am not from round here so my folks are buried in another country.
I did some machine knitting at the end of last week. I got the bodice knitted and attached to the skirt part on the one side of the fronts. I started to knit the skirt for the second front but for some weird reason the tuck stitch went awry so I took it off the machine and rewound the yarn. I will get back to it next week I hope.
And the last snippet which is a bit late on getting mentioned is that I picked up a flat screen monitor for my knitware computer in my sewing room at the city wide garage sale a few weeks ago. We decided to visit this town and go to the sales for a day out. A bargain at $10. So the old clonky screen that took up half of the desk is now history! (To be fair, Old Clonker has served us well for many, many years but it is sooooo big. We will store it out in the workshop for emergency use). Now to find a flat screen TV for the same sort of money and I'll be set up there.
Tuesday was a good day. Yep, I am finally getting my new sewing machine. If you read my blog you know I have been lusting for a new one for 6 months now. I have battled with myself long and hard over this as it really isn't a necessity (I already have three machines but they are all quite old) and we have so many other things that we need to spend money on for the house and workshop. Anyway, it all came to be on Tuesday. First of all I got a $50 Amazon voucher for Mother's Day which is May 10th here in the US. So I searched Amazon for a sewing machine that was reasonably priced and would satisfy my lust. I found a re-manufactured Singer Sewmate for $95. It is a 60 stitch machine. I put it in my watch list.
Well, as every move we make on the internet is scrutinised by Google this item kept appearing on my Facebook sidebar. I was totally ignoring it as it still meant spending $45 and my guilt complex couldn't justify it. Then Tuesday night it popped up as $81. That meant I only had to add $31 to the gift voucher. Well, that did it. Guilt complex flew out of the open window and I ordered it.
It arrives tomorrow but we will be out all day at the hospital so I won't be able to get my hands on it until tomorrow night. It had mixed reviews, people either loved it and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread or they hated it. I hope I will be a lover of it!
Yesterday while my husband was hooked up the the Dr. Who-like machine getting his blood circulated to remove all the plasma and replace it with new I went and visited a sewing shop and a yarn shop in Columbia and had a lovely time browsing and talking knitting and sewing with the ladies in the stores.
Today we have to go take flowers to the cemeteries for Memorial Day on Monday. We take them for his parents, grandparents, great grandparents and some other family members. I am not from round here so my folks are buried in another country.
I did some machine knitting at the end of last week. I got the bodice knitted and attached to the skirt part on the one side of the fronts. I started to knit the skirt for the second front but for some weird reason the tuck stitch went awry so I took it off the machine and rewound the yarn. I will get back to it next week I hope.
And the last snippet which is a bit late on getting mentioned is that I picked up a flat screen monitor for my knitware computer in my sewing room at the city wide garage sale a few weeks ago. We decided to visit this town and go to the sales for a day out. A bargain at $10. So the old clonky screen that took up half of the desk is now history! (To be fair, Old Clonker has served us well for many, many years but it is sooooo big. We will store it out in the workshop for emergency use). Now to find a flat screen TV for the same sort of money and I'll be set up there.
So, as I said before, a funny old week but so far, a good one!
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Photos for the previous post
I seem to be having a 'wide' phase in my knitting. Nothing intentional, it just seems the two latest projects have turned out to be wider than I think they should be.
The hand knit jacket is in the washing machine hand wash cycle as we speak and I am hoping it will fall into shape a little more.
The machine knit seems that it is going to be wide also but in fairness to the pattern it is a gathered jacket and I won't be able to tell until it is complete and assembled.
The hand knit jacket is in the washing machine hand wash cycle as we speak and I am hoping it will fall into shape a little more.
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| The cable on the left looks out of wack but it isn't, hoping the wash will sort it out as well as the width problem |
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| The smooth side of the tuck stitch pattern |
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| The bobbly side of the tuck stitch pattern |
Keeping my fingers crossed on the outcome of the washing!
Making progress
The baby hand knitted jacket is almost finished. Just sewing it all together right now. The machine knit one is progressing. The back is all done and the skirt part of one front is done. Haven't had too much time this past week but the machine is working fine now. Will post some pictures later when hand knit is completely done.
Our new grand daughter Vivian Ann arrived May 2nd. A perfect little baby girl. Still waiting on pictures.
Back to the machine knitted jacket, I am making the skirt part of the top in tuck stitch using #3 punchcard of the set that came with the machine. I like both sides of it. The bodice I am making in stocking stich. I am having to use two colours as I realised I didn't have enough pink yarn to finish it. So, the bodice is in lemon and I have put two pink stripes on it so it blends. The sleeves will be lemon too and the front bands and neck band.
My goal is to sew it up so it can be used either way. Not sure if I can sew that neatly but will try. If I succeed then I will sew buttons on both sides of the band. It only takes three buttons at the top. I will use flat buttons so it shouldn't cause any discomfort. It is like a coat jacket so will be worn on top of other clothes and is for her when she is about 1 year old.
Our new grand daughter Vivian Ann arrived May 2nd. A perfect little baby girl. Still waiting on pictures.
Back to the machine knitted jacket, I am making the skirt part of the top in tuck stitch using #3 punchcard of the set that came with the machine. I like both sides of it. The bodice I am making in stocking stich. I am having to use two colours as I realised I didn't have enough pink yarn to finish it. So, the bodice is in lemon and I have put two pink stripes on it so it blends. The sleeves will be lemon too and the front bands and neck band.
My goal is to sew it up so it can be used either way. Not sure if I can sew that neatly but will try. If I succeed then I will sew buttons on both sides of the band. It only takes three buttons at the top. I will use flat buttons so it shouldn't cause any discomfort. It is like a coat jacket so will be worn on top of other clothes and is for her when she is about 1 year old.
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