Being sick and too tired to do anything more with my house, I’ve returned to Abby’s sweater, extremely thankful that I’m not too sick to knit. Really, this is the perfect illness. (Perhaps I should thank you, Hayden). I legitimately have to sit and do nothing, or I break into a sweat and gasp for breath. But if I’m sitting still, I feel pretty decent.
I’m 24 rows away from the cap shaping, so I should be able to finish and block the pieces today. However, I’ve lost one of the fronts. I don’t know where it went, but I’m going to be looking under couches when it comes time for blocking. This cardigan seems to be a floor dweller. There’s always a piece of it somewhere, being walked on. I never see it get up and walk off on its own, but I’m sure it does. It’s just sneaky about it.
As for the curtains… I got well into them before the major fatigue set in the other day. They look awful right now. I feel like a no talent klutz when I sew. All thumbs. I think they’ll end up being ok, but I need to rip a side and re-sew it, because it’s puckering weird. The silky fabric and the rubbery liner behave differently under the foot of my machine. The side that was rubber-up didn’t want to feed through well, so I’m going to have to flip it over and sew it upside down so the feed dogs move the liner through smoothly. And despite my math and accurate measuring, the length is disappearing before my eyes. I don’t know how, but I’m glad I erred on the side of long, because they’re going to end up being just long enough.
Now back to Abby’s sweater and the Beatles. Wailing guitar is announcing the beginning of “Revolution”, and I’m going to go rock out. In my chair of course, so I don’t pass out.
“… we all want to change the world.”
September 7th, 2007 at 11:45 am
HEY! I’m thinkging that maybe I should take offense to that! =) Although I’m glad that you’re still able to knit. I’ve yet to break into a sweat, although I am having coughing fits left and right. (Sorry you’re sick!)
Let’s see if the gets through; my last few attempts haven’t posted, and I don’t think you got my e-mail either.
Good luck with the sweater!
September 7th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
ACK! Silky fabric is the worst to sew on. I don’t like it at all. I hope the curtains turn out cool. I’m sure them will. I’ve made them before and had the same problem. I thought I was making them longer than I needed and in the end almost had them be too short. It’s weird.
I hope you are feeling better soon! Atleast you have a valid excuse for sitting and knitting all day!!! Woohoo! That’s one plus.
September 7th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
The sweater looks nice! Get well, soon. At least you have the knitting to keep your mind occupied even though you can’t do anything. Have fun!
September 7th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Two words for you: walking foot. It’s a fabulous invention that will help feed both the top fabric and the bottom fabric nicely instead of just smashing the top fabric up against your sewing machine foot. My Pfaff has a built in one, and I have an add on attachment for my Bernina that I use when I’m quilting and all those layers need to feed through evenly.
Can’t wait to see the curtains, I’m sure they will end up wonderful! Feel better 🙂
September 8th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Walking feet are the salvation of knitting, and quilting.
Also, when you have that rubbery stuff, you can actually put a piece of paper between the fabric and the machine – one on either side, if necessary. Try it on a scrap.
And the machine stitch perforations usually mean you can just rip the paper off of the stitching afterwards.
September 8th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
I’m a dork.
I meant to say that walking feet were the salvation of SEWING, not knitting.
Duh.
September 9th, 2007 at 8:12 am
For your curtains, try double sided fusible tape if you are having trouble sewing. There is no shame in a shortcut– especially if it looks better. Sometimes curtains look better without visible seams. Bev