the blue blog archives: sewing again

Dressy, my first big sewing project, is coming along nicely. For class this Thursday we were supposed to baste all the side seams together so we could try on our garments and do some precise fitting before sewing it up for real. What a difference from knitting! As long as you haven't cut the fabric too small, you can slip the thing on, pin it to fit, sew and cut away the excess. How practical. Of course with knitting, you've got to do all the fitting before making the garment. And unfortunately, I'm always unsure what it's going to look like when I put it on. I think an arm will be too long and it ends up too short, or that the waist will be perfect and it's too big. (I think I'm getting better, but we'll see how greensleeves comes out!) Maybe someday I'll be comfortable enough with steeking that I can sew and cut a new side seam for a sweater that has come out too wide. Maybe not.

Anyway, here is my dressy all basted together, adjusted to fit me, and ready for sewing. It looks huge on the hanger, but all the seam allowances are still there, and I'll be trimming almost two inches off of each side so it fits me perfectly. I love how the pattern formed a little group of blue and white flowers right down the backside. A good accident, for a change!

posted by alison at 7:54 am | in sew dressy

Comments

Where do you ever find the time to knit and sew so much? Tell me all your secrets! LOL! I have a serger in the basement that begs to be used again! ;)

Posted by: ~Jo~ at February 28, 2003 8:32 AM

Alison,
I think the key to fitting knitted garments is to compare what you are knitting with what you wear. One remaining problem can be that the fabric stretches out when washing!! And that can happen more often than we want: thus the need to swatch&wash. May

Posted by: May at February 28, 2003 10:37 AM

Dear Santa,

Can I have a Singer Featherweight for Christmas? Oh, and sewing talent, just like Alison has. Her dressy is looking so snappy!

I'll give you cookies for Christmas.

Love,
Becky

Posted by: Becky at February 28, 2003 12:33 PM

Alison, you are so good at everything you try! And raising your twins at the same time - I'm in awe :)

Posted by: Kathy at February 28, 2003 12:59 PM

Alison, I've got a hot tip from a knitting groupie. You may be able to get that stain out of Elizabeth III with OxyClean. She swears by it. Dissolve the Oxyclean in a dishtub of hot water, let water cool, soak your garment -- for days if needed -- until stain comes out. She uses it all the time. Do you have a swatch to try it out on? I give you a lot of credit for learning how to sew. I learned as a kid and I'm not sure I'll ever go back. Perhaps it was the "colonial maiden" outfit I made at age 13 (1976) and HAD to model at the 4-H fair?

Posted by: Kerstin at February 28, 2003 1:10 PM

Alison
First of all, thanks for your comments on the "knot vs. no knot" theory. I value everyone's advice.
Second, after perusing your wonderful blog, I am in LOVE with the garanamal sweater! Cute giraffe! Oh, I wish I had babies. well, maybe I could just borrow yours. It seems silly to think of a baby and a 16 and a 14 year old. blech. And the Elizabeth sweater!!!! Bravo! I could go on, but let's just say, you do beautiful work! The bugs??? Priceless! You inspire me. Thanks
Sandy

Posted by: Sandy at February 28, 2003 7:14 PM

Just wanted to say I've started reading your blog in the last couple of weeks, and really enjoy it. :) Your sons are both adorable...and I like them especially because I'm a twin myself, so I like seeing other twins. I don't know if you've had people do this yet, but there's this habit among multiples to walk up to other groups and basically go "Hi, you're a twin. *poke poke* I'M a twin! Isn't that COOL?"

*ahem* Anyway. Lovely blog, lovely kids, and I'm insanely jealous of your Elizabeth. That is all! :)

Posted by: Meghan at March 1, 2003 3:01 AM

Thanks for the tip, May. I've started taking swatching more seriously, but I haven't yet washed any swatches to test for post-wash stretching Oops! Thanks too to Kerstin for passing along the tip about OxyClean. I do have some yarn left over, which I was going to do some test dyeing on. While I've got it all swatched up, I can do the OxyClean test too.

And hi to Sandy and Meghan. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such nice comments.

Becky, I'll keep my fingers crossed that Santa comes through with a sewing machine. You better be sure to be nice this year! ;)

Posted by: alison at March 1, 2003 12:32 PM