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Wednesday 24 June 2015

KNITTED THROWS

Sewing is not the only hobby I enjoy, I also like to knit.  I find knitting calming and enjoyable.  Enjoyable when something you are knitting turns into something you are proud of.  I must admit, when I spend too much time on one sewing project, I get bored.  When I'm bored and fed up, I can make mistakes.  Making mistakes is not what I want to do.  Don't get me wrong, all the projects I have started will be finished, but it's nice to work on different projects every now and then.

My first complete knitting project is my blue and white nautical throw for beds, armchairs and sofas.  It's not too large, just large enough to cover your knees when you get cold or to put around your shoulders.  Of course, I love it and I am very happy with the outcome.



Blue And White Knitted Throw Folded In Half 

To start my knitted throw, I again turned to YouTube:

GoodKnitKisses - "Cast On Beginner" - Kristen shows you how to cast on before you start knitting.  There are so many ways to cast on and this way was the way I identified with the most.

Share The Warmth!  "Brett Bara Shows You How To Knit" - Brett shows you another way to cast on.  I found this a little confusing to follow, but some people might prefer this way.

With my knitted throw, I decided to do it in separate blocks and sew them together at the end.  The middle, small squares were knitted separately.  I cast on 10 and did 10 rows.  With the long stripes, I cast on 60 and did 10 rows.


Blue And White Knitted Throw - Full Size

Then came the sewing.  With some trepidation, I looked into sewing my knitted squares and stripes together.  I looked into many ways on YouTube and I found:

Heather Gibbs - "Invisible Sewing Technique - Crochet" - Heather explains carefully and clearly exactly her process of doing an invisible seam to sew knitted items together.

Nancy Wynn - "Invisible Mattress Stitch On Garter Stitch Seams - Nancy, like Heather, explains her process of doing invisible seams with knitted items.

Even though both ladies sewed their knitted seams in the same way, I used Nancy's technique more.  Why?  I'm not quite sure, may be it was because my knitted throw is garter stitch.

Once I sewed my blocks together, the outside edges were a little uneven in places and I needed to hide the uneveness.  I decided on a border.  Again, I looked on YouTube and found many different ways to stitch a border.  I tried a three stitch crochet border, but found that stitch a little overbearing.  Then I found:

BookPeopleStudio - "How To Crochet A Border" - This person showed how to single stitch a crochet border, which I preferred.  I chose a yellow border for my throw, keeping the nautical/summery feel.


Folded Blue And White Knitted Throw With Yellow Single Crocheted Border

It was fun doing my knitted throw and I look forward to doing another one.  I am trying to design my own patterns which I'm finding challenging.  My next knitted project, I think, will be scarves.  I want to do something simple before I start a more difficult project.

Well, adios until the next time.

Saturday 6 June 2015

SLOWLY, BUT SURELY


There are so many talented people out there.  I look on Google Plus, Pinterest and YouTube and I see talented people like MollyQuest, TheCraftyGemini and Shari Sherman make artistic knits, quilts and sewable things and I realise that I want to join the ranks of the talented and artistic.  I won't compare myself to other people because I believe that everyone is different and everyone does their thing in their own way.  Even though I am a beginner knitter, quilter and sewer, I am just as talented and artistic as everyone else, but brilliance takes time.  I am prepared to go slowly, but surely.  I am willing to learn new things to become experienced in my working and leisure life.

I think about what I want to make, then I surf YouTube for people to help me to make what I want to make.  As a beginner, with no official training in knitting, sewing or quilting, I look for the simplest and easiest way of making my chosen project.  I am a person who finds it easier to watch someone make something, watching step by step the process.  I find it difficult to read instructions in a book, or on a page, especially when I can't see the step by step process.  With YouTube, you can stop the video when you want.  You can rewind and go over again and again the part you find difficult until you understand and get it right.  Because of YouTube, I have the confidence to continually move forward and make the projects I never dreamed I would be able to make.  With that in mind, I had a go at making tote bags.


Imitation Brown Suede Tote Bag I Made
The reason why I have found my confidence to make my projects is because of the people I choose on YouTube to help me.  Their easy, no nonsense, step by step approach got me through.

Rachel Greenland - The Textile Tutor - "How to Make a Simple Tote Bag".  Rachel's tote bag is suitable for beginners and the only stitches you need for this bag are straight and zig zag stitch.


Imitation Red Suede Tote Bag I Made
Prettycraftygirl - "DIY Tote Bag/Sewing Project for Beginners".  Prettycraftygirl helped me to give my tote bag a square bottom, which was easier to do then I thought.


I love my pin cushions
The pin cushions I made without any help from anyone.  Pin cushions are not the hardest things to make, but I did it all by myself.

All the people who upload videos to YouTube, keep doing what you are doing and keep up the good work.  I don't think people realise how helpful you actually are.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. :)