Sewing Knits...

 Do you want more information on sewing knits?  I found this post at Nancy Zieman Productions The Blog - Nancy Zieman's Top 10 Knit Sewing Tips.  This post is full of ads for items for sale on the NZP site but it is worth reading the tips.  Nancy Zieman was the queen of stitching and listening to her early weekly shows improved my sewing so much.  The early shows were mostly clothing related.  Some of the early shows are available on youtube.

Don't forget to check out the NZP knit fabrics.  Nancy's Notions use to be a very good place to purchase the knit fabrics and I'm going to guess that the NZP knits will be of the same quality.

Happy Stitching!

Sewing With Knits...The Hoodie

In the post on Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials, I stated that I was going to make the hoodie from the class. I did find the french terry in the stash.   I finished it!  Here are the front and back views:

Folks this is right off the machines.  I'm rather pleased with this.  It will be perfect as the weather starts to cool (it was 85F today).  If I make another one, I will make a small style change.  I'll remove a bit of the excess around the hips.

The big thing I did with this was I cover stitched the hems.  I was so excited about this.  I have played with the machine but other than using the chainstitch haven't really used it to create anything.  Here's the cover stitch on the hood:

Not bad for the very first attempt.  It remains to be seen whether or not the hems that I did in the round will stay put.  I did attempt to follow the directions for locking the stitching but you never know. 

The next item item in the Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials is the Scoop Neck T-Shirt.  I need to print the pattern and tape it together.  Please note that if you use this link and purchase anything, I do get a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Here's something to make you smile:

This is my 4 1/2 month old kitten, Rocket.  The only reason I was able to finish the hoodie is because this is how he spent the afternoon.  Otherwise, I would have had too much help. 

Happy Stitching!

Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials

In an effort to make better use of my Bluprint subscription, I'm trying to watch more of the various classes.  I've chosen the Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials with Meg McElwee.  This class comes with 5 patterns - a hoodie, a skirt, a dress, a t-shirt, and yoga shorts.  It's a pretty good variety of patterns and I will be sewing along with this class.  The first project is the hoodie pattern.  Here's a look at the pattern diagram:

It looks like a typical pullover hooldie that will be very useful as the weather cools down in the fall.

If you would like to sew along with me, go check out the Sewing With Knits: 5 Wardrobe Essentials at Bluprint.  Please note that if you use this link and purchase anything, I do get a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Now, it's time to dig through the stash and see what fabric is available that would make a great pullover.  I believe I have some French Terry that would be perfect.

Happy Stitching!

Craftsy Class....Next Level Knits: Techniques for Structure and Style....

I've been trying to get the most from my Craftsy Unlimited subscription and I just finished the  "Next Level Knits: Techniques for Structure and Style" by Pam W. Howard (affiliate links) . This was an interesting class. It is rare that I don't learn something from this sort of class. It did take several sessions to watch it and I do wish that I had had a garment to work on while doing it but I can do it later.

Things that I liked:

1.  She shows construction of a knit garment using a sewing machine.  I really like this because not everyone has the budget or space for multiple machines.  You really only need a sewing machine.  The other machines are just conveniences.

2.  I saw a few techniques that will get carried over to my own sewing.  What are those techniques?

• The elastic waistband technique that she demonstrated.  In my opinion, that technique alone is worth the price of the class.
• The fitting technique that was demonstrated was fairly good one. 
• The method of transferring the changes was good.  
• The discussion and demonstration of lining and underlining was good.

Things that I didn't like:

1.  I didn't like her method of preventing tunneling using a twin needle.  Admittedly, I have not tried it.  However, trying it is definitely the only way to know how well it works.  Until then, I will continue to use my own method of preventing tunneling.

I enjoyed this class enough that I will be investigating additional classes by Pam Howard.  I'll let you know which ones when they have been completed.

Have you taken this particular class with Pam Howard?  What did you think?  Did you enjoy the class?  Have you been using any of the techniques discussed? Have you taken any other classes by her and how were they?

Happy Sewing!