Cave Woman Says: I will sew.
I spent much of the weekend tinkering with my website and trying to figure out how I was going to organize our ever growing photo archive. You should slowly see changes here as I find the time and the motivation to make them. If you see anything wonky, or just plain ugly please let me know. I view my site on Firefox and, from what I can tell from my stats, most of you do too.
I also pulled out the sewing machine this weekend. I have said it before, and I’ll say it again, I hate sewing! This is probably the largest disappointment in my mom’s life. She’s an excellent quilter and has always wished I’d find my way to her One True Craft. Ah, I found my own! Part of her quest was to gift me her old Bernina Machine. This is a nice machine that deserves a much better owner than I. In fact, this weekend was the first time (in the two years I’ve had it) that I pulled it out on my own. That is, without her here to prod me into it and/or make it work. The occasion? I needed to sew my knitting.
I am so dedicated to my knitting craft that I will sew. I will sew pretty. I will, surprisingly enjoy sewing pretty for my knitting. I will be inspired to buy this book: Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making your own Wardrobe by Wendy Mullin.
Okay, so I haven’t bought it. However, I am considering it. Mostly because the author is a Wendy…and well, I just CANNOT resist a Wendy. It also has gotten some wonderful reviews by people I trust. Now, mind you, I am not about to go making my own cloths. I am just pissed that I can’t. That a stupid machine can beat me. And well, that is just uncool.
Back to the project at hand.
I knit up the one-piece baby kimono from Mason-Dixon Knits (all the links and details are below). I seriously think that this is going to be too small for the giftee. Chalk it up to a failure to swatch (I NEVER swatch baby knits) and delayed gifting. So, I decided that if I was going to risk it not fitting. I should make it look really cute for sweet baby’s future doll dressing extravaganza’s.
I picked up some grosgrain ribbon, cut 4 pieces about 9″ long and used the machine tacked the edges down to prevent future fraying. I even used color coordinating yarn! I then thread the ribbons through the knitted garment. The two on the sides were looped around the seam to ensure a firm placement. I used the machine to sew the loop closed. Viola!
A long time ago I made some personalized labels for my knits using iron-on t-shirt transfers and ribbon. I decided that this knit deserved it’s very own custom label.
I sewed this in using the machine and, get this, I even remembered to change the bobbin so that the thread visible from the back of the sweater is the same color as the yarn!
I am a person who sews, here me roar!
Pattern Details
Pattern: One Piece Baby Kimono by Cristina Shiffman in Mason-Dixon Knitting
Started: 07/06, Finished: 08/06
For: Baby Daisy
Yarn: Brown Sheep Company Cotton Fleece,
Color: CW105 Putty, 2 skeins (barely)
Needles: Denise Interchangeables, Size 7
Modifications: None
Notes: I barely used the 2nd skein of yarn. I used a sewing machine to attach the grosgrain ribbon. I also made a tag for the sweater, “Handknit for Daisy”.
14 Responses to “Cave Woman Says: I will sew.”
aww so very cute.
05 Sep 2006 at 11:30 am
Ha, I think Bernina sewing machines are out to get us non seamstresses!!! My mom’s machine hates me with a vengence. It starts acting up as soon as I plug it in.
It cooperated this summer just long enough to make 2 straight seams each about 10 inches long… then it stopped. My dad wants to get it fixed, but I don’t really use it. And as it is over 25 years old now I know that it will be expensive to fix it.
The sweater’s just too cute for words!!! I like what you did with the ties and the label
05 Sep 2006 at 11:59 am
Great job on the sewing, and what a fabulous idea for the custom tag. I’d never have thought of that. If I ever get my act in gear to knit a sweater, may I steal it?
05 Sep 2006 at 12:25 pm
The kimono is sew cute. (Get it? hahaha.)
Thanks for the info on the “Sew U” book. It looks like an awesome read.
05 Sep 2006 at 12:30 pm
Sewing is so domestic for you, Wendy. Must be the hormones.
05 Sep 2006 at 12:31 pm
SO cute!!
when are we getting together for some knitting time?
05 Sep 2006 at 8:08 pm
so lovely. really outshines the ones i’ve made. love the label, too!
05 Sep 2006 at 11:04 pm
Good job! I sense there will more baby knits in the future? And now, there’s no excuse to avoid the sewing machine.
06 Sep 2006 at 7:09 am
Oh, that is too cute! I don’t know if I’m even capable of sewing a simple ribbon on something.
And your site looks good to me in IE!
06 Sep 2006 at 7:24 am
So cute! What’s next, sewn edges for a steek??
06 Sep 2006 at 7:50 am
Quilting and knitting skips generations. I quilt & sew and my grandmother did. (Wendy’s great grandmother) My grandmother did not knit.
My mother (Wendy’s grandmother)knitted when she had time. She was not a sewer.
Now Wendy’s grandmother on her fathers side did knit and sew. More sewing, she made alot of her clothes when she was younger to cut the cost. She loved to tailor. I do not know about Wendy’s grandmother’s mother, we will have to look into that.
There is still hope for Wendy, she’s young and who knows.
Her family genes are very much in here to carry on with knitting or sewing. She doing something with her hands and fiber material. Its all the same.
With love, MOM
06 Sep 2006 at 1:15 pm
Your sewing is *incredible*!
Hehehe…
Seriously, v. cute sweater
06 Sep 2006 at 6:37 pm
What a seriously sweet and cute sweater! I love the idea of the iron-on tags. How did you make those? That’s a great idea!
08 Sep 2006 at 6:53 am
O my coolness indeed!!!!! I can’t believe what a great idea it is to sew this thing on the machine. And the labels are most excellent. Brava, brava! xoxo Kay
08 Sep 2006 at 7:17 pm