Knitting finished and pictures posted

I love it because the blue one is the one I'm working on right now for my nephew. Lucille

I actually was able to sew it up by machine. It fed through without any trouble and finished up well. Bobbie V.

Lovely, looks like it will be really comfy.

Good luck - the ice storm will probably be here in DC...then come to you later.

Ellice

Now that intriques me. I have 2 baby sweaters waiting to be put together. I hadn't thought about putting them thru the machine - do you put any binding tape on? Use a semi-stretch stitch? LMK - I'm really curious.

ellice

Why would you want to put it together on the machine? If you weave the seams like I do, I doubt if it's stronger, but what do I know?

Lucille

We did have a nice visit. Found a nice yellow ruffle at Joanne's for the pillow.

Be safe while you're gone dear.

I'm curious. But, it's a weird thing - for someone who does so much hand work, the hardest thing for me is the seaming of sweaters. I wonder if I'm too picky - but I seem to have issues getting them to seam properly - my LYS owner has taught me twice - and I'm getting better. Generally I have to do it, frog it, do it again.

Ellice

I loosened the pressure foot pressure and fed the sweater slowly with a medium stitch lengthen. I kept my hands on the fabric before and after the pressure foot to control the speed. My mother used to use a zigzag stitch, but I have had good luck with my computerized sewing machine and gotten a little give to the stitch without using the stretch stitch. clear as mud right LOL.

Bobbie V.

I'm having issues with my hands and decided to try it. My mother had nine kids and always sewed ours. Bobbie V.

It is a cute sweater and will be well used in cold Colorado Springs. I made one change and used a very pale, almost white, fuzzy blue yarn that I had left from something or other instead of the beige Homespun they called for.

I was thinking mittens with the leftover yarn. I'm making the size 4. Will I have enough left? If not, I'll do a hat.

Lucille

Actually, completely clear. My Bernina has a few varieties of stretch-type stitches - like a zig-zag with a straight base, or some with a running stitch in paraller. More mud.

ellice

I had 2 skeins of the navy and one of pale blue instead of the beige. I did the size 4 and had more than enough for the hat. I could do mittens, but I don't think Kaito will need them in San Diego, LOL! There is enough left that I might do something for the new baby, in a reverse color scheme, I just need to think about it more. (that was how my mom did most of our knitted sweaters, hats and mittens. She used up every scrap of yarn. I think she knitted in her sleep.)

Bobbie V.

My favorite stretch stitch is the multiple straight stitch zig-zag. I was going to use that if it didn't feed evenly. Its the one that stitches 3 straight zig 3 straight zag. LOL can you see it??? Bobbie V.

Same here. I was a one and only but there were always places that loved her knitted things and nothing ever went to waste. I still can't bring myself to get rid of odds and ends of leftover yarn and make squares for Warm Up American afghans when I get annoyed with the full box.

Get a copy of Maggie Righetti's "Knitting in Plain English", her instructions are excellent. BTW, it is the first three stitches which count. Get those right and you are off and running. Get them wrong, and you will certainly have to frog.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Absolutely. I don't do a lot of stretch stitching - so glad to hear your recommendation.

ellice

LOL - Maggie Righetti's book is one of my main original references. It's not that I don't know how, I just somehow confuse myself in the doing. No problem doing the Kichener join. Just the normal mattress seam thing. But, I've gotten better at it.

Ellice