How does that title grab you? O.k. so you're thinking since when? I know it's been a while since I last made anything with a sewing machine. I've been trying. really I have.
On a side note I recently dug up all my knitting "stuff". And by dug up it wasn't pretty. It involved some major cursing and blaming Chef of some major moving. I was under out house which is just more than a crawl space digging through piles of crap looking for the CLEAR bin that I put under the house with all my knitting paraphanelia. Should have been easy since I purposely put it all in a CLEAR bin. Sure this was about two years ago but I remember exactly where I put that plastic bin. It magically moved to a very distant and remote part of the underbelly of the house. I guess since I am posting this silly tirade you all can guess I found the missing bin...
Voila! All my knitting gear. I learned to knit about 7 years ago. I made a few things even a baby cardigan. I gave it up like all other crafty endeavors at that time. I've written before how I took a ten year break in sewing (gasp!). Now I'm ready to start knitting again. The reason... my third pain in the ass child. I think he will be much happier with me quietly sitting and knitting than sewing. There are no foot pedals, vrooming motors, exciting speed. I hope. I pray. At the worst I will get some knitting done in bed while I watch my mandatory crappy reality t.v. (which occurs knightly, lest my DVR gets to less than 20% available recording time. Gasp Again!).
So this post started with my smug title. I sew. I sew well. I have never categorized how well. Beginner? No. Intermediate? Maybe. Certainly not advanced. That would be my mother. I also have never complained about smaller pattern companies or Etsy seller patterns. Honestly if I don't like a pattern I just don't mention it. I've actually had great experience with small pattern companies.
I'm not going to mention the name of this pattern, but holy shit it drove me nuts. I have bought some Etsy patterns that were very basic but I liked the quirkiness. I could make it through the little errors. Hey, if you give your patterns up for free on your blog (like I did ;) I will never complain. Free patterns are awesome. Thank you to all you generous free pattern givers. To those of you that charge. Please make sure your instructions make sense. I'm just sayin'.
So I did not follow the instructions very well. It was confusing.I'm not exactly sure how I even completed this vest. The one area that I definitely did not follow the instructions is where you leave an opening to turn the garment right side out. The pattern says to leave an opening along the bottom hemline and then once the vest is turned right side out to slipstitch this opening closed. If you do this I don't think you'll ever have a nice looking hemline.
Instead you can leave an opening along the side seam under the armhole of the lining. When this is slipstitched closed you will never see your handiwork (especially if it's less than perfect) when the garment is being worn. You can do this with any lined jacket or vest.
So after all that poo poo, I tried the vest on Cenzolito this morning and the fit is great. I'd love to make one for Luca. Maybe after I take a breather. I also think I need to get off my high horse and clean those windows.
p.s. I'm nervous about the whole knitting thing. I can't even remember how to cast on. Also I have a pattern I want to make but it has a "Kitchener Stitch" which I have never heard of. Google and You Tube has given me a good idea, but I don't even know if I'll get to that part.
I'm not going to mention the name of this pattern, but holy shit it drove me nuts. I have bought some Etsy patterns that were very basic but I liked the quirkiness. I could make it through the little errors. Hey, if you give your patterns up for free on your blog (like I did ;) I will never complain. Free patterns are awesome. Thank you to all you generous free pattern givers. To those of you that charge. Please make sure your instructions make sense. I'm just sayin'.
So I did not follow the instructions very well. It was confusing.I'm not exactly sure how I even completed this vest. The one area that I definitely did not follow the instructions is where you leave an opening to turn the garment right side out. The pattern says to leave an opening along the bottom hemline and then once the vest is turned right side out to slipstitch this opening closed. If you do this I don't think you'll ever have a nice looking hemline.
p.s. I'm nervous about the whole knitting thing. I can't even remember how to cast on. Also I have a pattern I want to make but it has a "Kitchener Stitch" which I have never heard of. Google and You Tube has given me a good idea, but I don't even know if I'll get to that part.
10 comments:
Ooh, you can do it!! I just learned to knit (and will freely admit that after two attempt, Kitchener stitch is still baffling me. You'd think - something called "stitch"...). I'm having such fun, and I'd love to see what you knit up!!
Also, adorable monkey vest! Sorry it gave you fits. I totally agree with your side seam flip. I try to avoid my hand sewing showing as much as possible.
Totally agree, really cute vest, even if the directions were frustrating. I've gotten to the point that I don't actually read the directions anymore, I just put it together the way it makes sense to me. Yikes!
Anyways, I wanted to say, I learned to knit a year ago and the best instructions I came across for the kitchener is this:
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2008/12/22/finishing-tip-for-those-who-hate-the-kitchener-stitch.aspx
you are hilarious. I thought the funky pattern issues were me and my noviceness. However, figuring out how to "fix" these have taught me stuff I didnt know I needed to know:-)
Good for you to start knitting again. I used to carry my knitting (always kno circular needles) around in a tiny tote bag I hung on my wrist while I carried the baby around in the Ergo. I TOTALLY hear ya. If the boy will actually let you sit and do something you could also try embroidery or some little hexagons, too.
I think I am the only person in the world who loves to kitchner. It just seems like such magic to me. I have to stare at the directions and come up with a little chant for myself in order to get it done, but it is amazing when it comes together. If you get to the end and the kitchner is too much, you can always do a three needle bind off instead. It would be a small lump, but not too noticeable, I don't think.
How have I never stumbled across your lovely blog. I'm in love! Oh, I feel I'm somewhere in your shoes too. Def. not an expert sewer, but no beginner, and I generally think patterns are a bitch- but that vest is too cute! Good luck with the knitting- I learned to knit on youtube. Isn't the internet great?
Oh this post completely cracked me up. The vest is darling and I'm excited to see how your knitting goes. I've knitted one thing and my mom took it over half-way through and finished it for me. I was just reading though that the Kitchener stitch is best viewed rather than read.
Great waistcoat! Sometimes people make thing very complicated, don't they?!
Kitchener stitch is not very difficult, I have done it on the toes of socks...just follow what they say and don't think about it! I am a pretty novice knitter so this is what I do nearly all the time in knitting patterns!
Cute, but I HATE expensive bad patterns!!
Excited you are digging up your knitting stuff! I learned this summer for the same reasons...littlest one won't let me sew much these days. I have become quite addicted! Can't wait to see your creations :).
very cute vest!
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