From the Obsessed Crafter

Socks on Circs

Labels: Cat Bordhi, circulars, socks

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 10:28 AM 0 Comments

TaDa

Labels: long coat, machine knitting

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 5:10 PM 0 Comments

The Long Coat

Oh, by the way....When sewing with lighter yarns like sport and DK, the standard sewing needle for knits is fine. When using worsted etc you must remember to change to the standard needle for Heavy weight fabrics!! The picture above is the perfect result of that particular Brainfart.

This is the coat, wrong side facing, with completed seams. I have yet to add the hood and button bands or do any end weaving. I'll do that tomorrow then post pics.

Happy Knitting to all

Labels: long coat, machine sewn seams, zig-zag

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 11:15 PM 0 Comments

Ugh, the part I hate!

The pieces are all knitted. They sit patiently resting while I contemplate finishing choices.

First off...do I hand or machine sew the seams? Machine is faster. I know that it works well with thinner yarns. I grafted the shoulders on my knitting machine but the side seams are just so long. I'd have to do it in sections. That could be a pain. I guess I'll hand sew the side and sleeve seams. No biggie.

Hmmm.....Buttons, Toggles or a Tie for a closure? Do I want to make my own toggles?? I can, you know. I love to make them with sculpy clay! So many options for designs and shapes since I do it myself. I once sculpted buttons of my Old English Bulldog, wrinkles and all! I embed a wire loop I make and bake em in the oven. Then I'll paint them. I make my own buttons too. I make lengths of I cord for chinese knot loops. I learned those off different internet sites.

Should I finish up the hem in some way, or leave it plain? A nice crocheted edge will tighten it up and make it look neater. Since the garment is in a plain ST stitch a nice textured edge would be nice....something not extravegant like picots or shells. I Tat.....a nice edge of tatting would be alot of work, but it would be beautiful. I'd have to use the same yarn tho....maybe crochet or knit edge would be better. Charmknits has some cute ones.

So, here I sit typing instead of finishing the thing!!!!!
I guess I'll get to it now and post pictures of all my hard choices later! :)
Happy knitting.

Labels: closures, finishing, seams

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 6:58 PM 0 Comments

An so it begins....

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 11:47 PM 0 Comments

Another one started

Well, I just started another gift....

This one will be a full length (just below the knee) hooded coat. I found a wonderful flecked Aran wool that works up great on my Artisan. I also have some wonderful wooden toggles. I'll have to make some fine cord with my Magic Corder to make faux Chinese Knots for a classier look. I started it today and already have the back and front done. Tomorrow I'll do the sleeves, bands and hood.

So far my holiday projects are right on schedule. I might even get done early enough to start some socks for myself. Since I have the ribber I can whip out circular socks like mad, but for some reason socks are the only items I truely enjoy hand knitting. I love Cat Bordhi's 2 circular method and am addicted. Does anyone have a cure for second sock syndrome?

More pictures of my latest projects Thursday or Friday

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 10:27 PM 0 Comments

Johnny 5’s little Cardi

Including pictures of finished Sewing machine seams

Regular length Straight Cardigan with Ribbing and Vertical Rib front bands

Drop shoulder with Full length Moderate Taper sleeves with Ribbing

Round (crew) front neck and Flat back neck with Simple Hood, Snaps instead of buttons

Pattern File Name: Johnny's Little Hooded Cardi

Size: Standard Baby 24 lbs.

I used TLC Baby (8660 New Mint Sparkle) which is a 64% acrylic, 36% nylon blend. Very soft for baby but warm as well. Wash warm gentle, tumble low. My gauge was (Stocking Stitch over 4 in = 10 cm): 24.0 sts by 45.0 rows: Body was knit on my Artisan 63-70D using TD4, mast set on 4 Ribbing knit by Artisan 63-70D with Ribber using TD2/2, mast set on 4

Finished size: Chest: 23.8 Armhole: 9.3 Top Neck Opening: 4.6 Hem Width: 6.3 Front Neck Width: 2.3 Front Neck Depth: 1.9 Hem Width: 23.8 Sleeve Bottom: 6.3 Sleeve Length: 7.0 Body Length: 11.2 Hem Length: 1.0 Hood Length: 8.0 Hood Depth: 7.0 Hem Length:1.5 Front Band Width: 0.7 Number of buttons/snaps: 6

NOTE: At most, 74 needles are required to make the body of this garment; but the collar/hood needs 120 needles. If you are using a manual machine sich as the Bond or LK150 you will have to relatch EON to create the ribbing. You will also need to buy No-sew Decorative snaps. I used Talon #7727 Pearl White. I also used my Sewing machine to do all the seams. For this use any stretchy stitch, I used zig zag. I recommend using invisible thread (Nylon). Please play with swatches of similar weight yarn before using this method on the actual piece. The tension and stitch size will vary from one sewing machine to another. If it’s too tight, the seams will pucker!

BACK:

1. Cast on 74 sts in MY, using TD2 and closed edge method. Work in 1x1 rib for 20 rows. COR.

2. Change to TD4, reset row counter to 0. Work 56 rows.

3. Mark this row at both ends for armhole.

4. Work 54 more rows. Total 110 rows.

5. Back neck. Cast off center 28 sts. 23 sts each side. Knit 6 rows with WY.

FRONT: Cardigan right side worked first.

1. Cast on 36 sts in MY, using TD2 and closed edge method. Work in 1x1 rib for 20 rows. COR.

2. Change to TD4, reset row counter to 0. Work 56 rows.

3. Armhole. Mark this row at right end for armhole. Work 32 rows ( 88 rows total).

4. Shape neck. COR. Work 1 row. Cast off next 6 sts for neck edge. Dec 1 st at neck edge (left end) every row 7 times, until 23 sts remain. Work 15 rows even. Total 110 rows.

5. Cut yarn, leaving a 25.0 ins end. Work 6 rows WY. Remove sts from machine.

6. Left cardigan front. Work as for right side, reversing shapings. 1. end COL;3. Mark on left end; 4. COL, neck edge(right end)

SLEEVES:

1. Cast on 40 sts in MY, using TD2 and closed edge method. Work in 1x1 rib for 14 rows. COR.

2. Change to TD4, reset row counter to 0.

3. Inc 1 st at each end of every 6th row once, then every 7th row 8 times to 58 sts (62 rows total).

4. Work even to total 68 rows. COR.

5. Cast off loosely.

SHOULDER SEAMS:

1. Graft shoulder seams on 23 sts. You can do this by hand,

2. or on the machine by rehanging the back 23 sts of each side (RS facing you) and push the sts behind the latches. Rehang the 2 front pieces (WS facing) on their corresponding 23 sts each side IN THE HOOKS. Manually pull each stitch through and use Backstitch to bind off and remove. Crochet or Latchook cast off is too bulky.

SIMPLE HOOD:

1. Cast on 120 sts in WY, using TD2 and open edge method. Work 6 rows, ending COR. Change to MY.

2. Folded front band. Work even for 16 rows, with lace holes for drawstring near the ends of row 4 (or row 12 for lace holes on outside of band). To complete the band, graft the cast-on sts to the last row worked. RC 000.

3. Change to TD4 and work 8 rows. Dec 1 st at each end of next row, then every following 5th row 11 times, until 96 sts remain. Work a further 8 rows even (total 72 rows), excluding front band. Cast off loosely.

BUTTON BAND: If you are using snaps, make 2 Button Bands

1. Using closed edge method of casting on for rib, and TD2, cast on 7 sts, Work 1x1 rib for 9.3 ins. Approx 106 Rows

2. Check that this length is sufficient, when slightly stretched, to go up cardigan front, from bottom of front hem to bottom of hood. Rib more if necessary.

3. Cast off. Sew button band to left front for girls/women, right front for boys/men.

4. Mark positions for 6 buttons, the first one 0.3 ins above the band bottom, the last one 0.3 ins below the band top. The rest should be evenly spaced between these two, approximately 1.7 ins apart.

BUTTONHOLE BAND:

1. Work buttonhole band as for button band, working buttonholes at the marked positions as follows: Make 1 stitch button holes at row 8 then every 18th row 5 times. Work 8 more rows (106 total) Follow instructions in your machine’s manual for buttonholes if using a non-manual machine.

When using a manual machine like the Bond or LK150 thread off center 1 st to a length of WY, leaving the empty needle(s) in WP with latch open each time. When converting to rib, pick up the dropped st(s) at each buttonhole .

2. Sew buttons or place snaps (as package directs) at marked positions on the button band.

3. Sew buttonhole band to cardigan front, being careful to align buttonholes with buttons.

FINISHING:

1. Either by hand or by using your sewing machine as directed above, sew sleeve top to armhole, easing to fit. Sew side and sleeve seams using invisible seam. Sew back seam(s) of hood. Placing hood bands at center front, sew bottom of hood (including bands) to neckline. Thread a drawstring if required. I make a 3stitch I-cord. You can do this on the machine or by hand with double pointed knitting needles.

2. Darn/weave/sew in all loose ends.

AMOUNT OF YARN REQUIRED TO MAKE GARMENT:

ESTIMATE ONLY Amount needed:

3.7 for body and sleeves 0.7 for ribbing and/or hems

1.8 for collar/hood (includes cardigan front bands) 6.2 Ounces TOTAL

These are photos of the finished seams after using a sewing machine with nylon thread and a zig-zag stitch. The arrows are there to show the seam and the direction I went.

Pattern designed by: Trish Evans

Specialty Handcrafts

specialtyhandcrafts@gmail.com

For the time being, this pattern is free for your personal use, but do not sell this pattern or garments made with it. All my patterns are going through the copywrighting process….

Labels: baby sweater pattern, free pattern, hoodie pattern

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 5:23 PM 0 Comments

Finished object and the pattern!

I finished one of my many christmas projects! This is a hoodie that I designed and made for my friends new baby for Christmas. I made it in a 24 lbs size. At the moment John is only 18 lbs, but Present day is a couple of weeks away and babies grow like weeds. I used my sewing machine for the seams, and no sew snaps instead of buttons that a teething guy can chew.

I will post the PDF file that includes more photos now. However, if I can't upload it for whatever reason, send me a message and I'll email it to you.
Trish

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 5:10 PM 0 Comments

Wow!!

Wow, I feel like it's been forever! The move started in May. We put all our stuff but the necessities into storage and started the waiting game. We moved out of the old place and into the new in September. It has taken me this long to get my crafting room in order...well, maybe not in order but at least my knitting machines and all my other craft stuff is here!! I was dying of yarn withdrawl.

I will be posting some pictures later of my latest project and a new expariment. I have started my winter present projects. I have so many to do and such little time left that I have decided to try something new for all that tedious seaming.

Why not use a sewing machine for things I can't graft on the KM? I have made cut and sew necklines so it should be the same principle right? A helpful person on the knittingtoday webboard suggested a zigzag stitch. So I have done the research. Time to decide if I should chance ruining the piece or just go with my usual invisible seams. I have been playing with swatches and so far, so good. I will take pictures of each stage as I go to post.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!

posted by Specialty Handcrafts @ 8:49 PM 0 Comments