First Timer Need Help

I shortened a sweater that hit me about 4 inches above the knee. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a long sweater or short dress, be that as it may, I wanted a length that hit mid hip. I took silk bias tape and machine basted it around where I was going to cut it off. I then did a stitch on my machine that looked like _//_//_//_ this. On the top side of the tape I stitched so the // stitch things pointed to the center of the tape. I stitched it again on the bottom side of the tape the opposite way so the // stitch things also pointed to the center. I then did a stretch zig zag stitch down the center of the tape. I know this probably sounds like overkill but I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing other than to keep the knit from raveling. It was definitely a seat of the pants operation. After all this stitching I then cut the sweater off, turned the hem up about an inch and hand sewed the hem. It looked just fine and I'm still wearing it after about 5 years. Your mileage may vary. I'm sure there is probably a RIGHT way and hopefully easier way to do this and I'm sure you'll get answers from some of those with more expertise than I.

Val

First Timer Need Help (Johnny=A0Melvin=A0Johnson) =A0=A0After retiring six years ago I told a few people I wanted to do some alterations because I like to sew. One thing led to another and now I have as much as I want to do. Never dreamed it would be so many people who couldn't sew. Anyway I have a knit dress (like sweater) that lady wants me to make four inches shorter so she can wear it. I can't cut it off because it will start unraveling. What are my options?

Is this a dress made of knit fabric, or a knitted dress?

Some knits will fall into two pieces if you draw a thread. (Unfortunately, you can't draw a thread out of wool jersey that's been washed; I just have to guess at where the grain is, and hope it's felted enough that it doesn't matter much.)

Joy Beeson

Granny (I have a hard time with that name since you are probaly not that much older than me!) I'm a lurker who will come out of hiding for this one.

I have a book called _The Prolific Knitting Machine_ by Catherine Cartwright-Jones. If you can pick up a copy at the library, you will find a lot of information about cutting and sewing knits. She recommends a chalk line where you want to cut. Zig-zag the chalk line, being careful not to stretch the edge out of shape. Cut off the excess after you zig-zag, then it won't ravel. You might want to test a zig-zag line in the area you will be cutting off first to get the right length and width. I would start with

4 wide by 4 long. If the stitch is too short and narrow, you will have a stiff edge.

BoL, Debra

I have a knit dress (like sweater) that lady wants me

Call me Granny everyone does.