Tag: sew

Yarn, Knitting and Crochet

Wrap It Up For Kids

Iris Rose

Last week I wrote about handmade gifts and shamelessly suggested my own patterns for you to make in time for gift giving at Christmas. Today I will just as shamelessly suggest some of my patterns for kids! It always surprises me at how much little ones appreciate a gift made just for them.  My patterns are all priced at $4.99 or less.

If you crochet, my Toddler’s Pretty Crocheted Cardigan (paid) is an easy and fast make for your Christmas princess. Made with low cost acrylic yarn, you can probably make this with something from your stash. I used Red Heart Soft for my pattern tests, but I have also made this with other basic worsted weight yarn.

My Little Lovely Lacey Cardigan is another pretty (paid) make. Combining both knit and crochet, I have offered you size 6 months to girls 8 in this one in DK weight yarn.

Knit and Sewn Kid’s Dress, also paid, combines a knitted top with a sewn fabric skirt. Make it up in a pretty glitzy yarn on top and satin or lace on the bottom and the Christmas dress is done.

On the toy side, my Sweet Doll Bed is a very quick crochet project for a last minute gift that will make a little one smile. It will fit up to an eight inch doll and can easily be modified by increasing the rounds of the base. Using acrylic worsted weight, this one won’t break the bank either.

How about a Monster? Free in my Ravelry store, this one requires a little more knitting skill but is really fun to do.

And lastly, how about a cute hat? This is also free in my Ravelry store, a quick make and kids just love to wear a Tiger Hat on their head. You will need to know how to knit in the round and have a little more skill to make the features.

I posted a pattern for a cute rabbit that is easy to make in a blog post earlier this year, another freebie if you take the time to look back to May 3rd!

I hope that these suggestions will inspire you to create handmade gifts whether you use my patterns or not.

Thank you for reading and happy crafting this week!

Yarn, Knitting and Crochet

Now a Jacket Not a Vest

Iris Rose

You are likely as tired of my vest rehab as I am at this point. However, great news, I am done!

I wrote about the second syndrome and found that, once I have finished slogging through the first sleeve and it fit, I was highly, and I mean highly, motivated to finish. I knit that thing up in an evening.

All that was left then was a light block and to sew it all together. I decided on the “wrong” side of the garter rib for the right side of the sleeves. I just found that the vertical ribs and all garter stitch added a wow factor to the finished jacket (no longer a vest!) that really appealed to me.  After mattress stitching the sleeve seams, I pinned the sleeve cap in to place with safety pins and got to stitching. I used plain sewing thread as the fabric of the vest is tightly woven and using matching yarn would be struggle to sew with.

The original vest had a tape trim on the armholes. I did not want to start a major reconstruction so I opted to leave it in place and sew my sleeve under the edge of the trim in a flat seam. By that I mean that I laid the vest armhole over the sleeve cap, finished right side lapped over finished right side instead of creating a regular seam. This way the tape trim is overlaying the right side of the knitting. I am probably not explaining myself very well but hopefully the photos will help you out with understanding how the seams were made.  A little hand sewing with very small stitches and, voila, done!

    

I am very happy with the finished jacket and look forward to wearing it on a cool evening.

I am working on another clothing rescue for next week. This time I am deconstructing a yoked cardigan that I made but hated the fit and look of. The yarn is too nice to toss and the basic sweater is fine, just that darned yoke!

Have an exceptionally crafty week with happy needles and hooks!

Knitting

Technology and Those Vest Sleeves

Iris Rose

I didn’t blog last week, sorry. I consider myself reasonably competent with the use of technology but, and here is where the competence is lacking, I don’t understand how website security works. I have one type of website security with my host and another, which I thought was a good thing, with an addon through my host. Nuhuh, not good at all.

I called the addon guys as I was told last time my website went down for lack of a security application, that the addon was the problem; it didn’t play well with my host’s security software. Man, you would have thought that I had insulted their family and everyone they knew! I was steered back to my web host with a snippy not our fault and they don’t know what they are talking about.

On to the web host then to get this solved because it was their fault, right? Nuhuh again. The kind lady on their chat line explained exactly what was wrong and why it was the fault of the addon. She promised to fix it right away and to disable the addon so that it doesn’t happen again. I tell ya’, sometimes I feel like I just need to send everyone to their room’s for a time out when I am dealing with technology.

      

Right side of the work is the first photo, the wrong side is the second.  Hard to choose, no?

Thanks for listening! I didn’t get very far with my sleeves for the pretty vest but, like a lot of us, I did start a few new projects. I keep getting sucked back into the machine knitting vortex! Anyway, I did work out a pattern for the sleeves and got started. I can’t decide which side I like the best as both are different looking and quite unique.

             

Here is what I have so far. I am going to push through and try to get both of the sleeves done for next (heard that before?) week and have them sewn in as well. If I don’t finish then I will show off my latest machine knit projects!

Happy crafting this week may all of your projects turn out just as you imagined they would. (That almost never happens for me so wish it back will you?)

Knitting

Easy Bunny Pattern, Free Of Course!

Iris Rose

For any one in the Calgary area who is interested in dropping by, I will be selling my wares at the Etsy Spring Fling in Okotoks on Saturday, May 5th.  We will be at the Elks Hall, #31, 58 Elizabeth St from 10AM to 5PM.  I would love to meet you!

I posted a photo of my newest bunny creation last week and, because it is just such an easy (and cute) make, I thought that I would share the pattern with you today. This little rabbit is made without too much in the way of complicated shaping making it an ideal quick gift for a baby, kid or even your BF. Does anybody say BF or BFF anymore? I am sadly out of touch!


In any case, dig through your stash for that fuzzy yarn that you couldn’t resist buying and now don’t know what to do with and get started. I estimate an hour or two of knitting and about the same for sewing up and you will have a sweet addition to the family!

I have included my pattern for crocheting toy eyes that allows you to securely sew and tie the eyes on so that they are baby proof. The large size only is in the bunny pattern but, just because, I have added the complete pattern at the end of the post. If you want a knitted pattern for eyes and or a crocheted pattern for a nose, you can download both with my Monsters pattern which is free on Ravelry.

Happy crafting this week!

Easy Bunny

Materials: Pipsqueak or similar fuzzy yarn held double, 90m plus about 12m for ear contrast. Dk or sport weight yarn, held double, 30m, polyester filling, safety eyes or a crocheted or felt circle for eyes.

Tools: 6mm knitting needles, 4mm double point knitting needles (2) or a short circular needle, large eyed tapestry needle for sewing.

Body: using your fuzzy yarn held double, cast on 40 stitches. I used a cable cast on. Knit 30 rows in stocking stitch.
Divide your stitches in half on two needles, wrong (purl) side out, or both ends of a circular needle for a three needle bind off. Use a crochet hook and bind off the two sets of 20 stitches together to close the end of the square. This will be the top of the head. Put this piece aside and make the other pieces.

Ears: You will make four pieces, two in the main colour and two in a contrasting colour for the inside of the ears.
Cast on 7 stitches and knit 14 rows of garter stitch.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end on the next row (knit 2 together).
Knit 1 row.
Decrease 1 stitch at each end of the next row (knit 2 together).
Knit 1 row.
Knit 2 together, knit 1. Cut a long tail for sewing. Take off these stitches with a tapestry needle and pull tight. Sew a main colour piece to a contrast piece along the long edges from the wide cast on base to the point and back down to the base. Set these completed ears aside.

Legs: Using your fuzzy yarn, cast on 7 stitches and knit 1 row.
Purl the next row, increasing 5 stitches across by knitting into the front and back of every second stitch.
Knit 5 rows of stocking stitch, starting with a right side or knit row.
Purl 2 together across. You will end up with 6 stitches.
Change to your dk yarn held doubled and, using a 4mm double point needle or circular needle, start a 6 stitch icord for the leg. Knit 15 rows, cut a long end for sewing the leg to the body, thread the stitches with a tapestry needle and pull tight. Make a second piece.

Arms: Using the dk yarn held double, work the hand as the foot and leg. You only need to work the icord for 10 rows. Make a second piece.

Nose: Using the dk yarn held double, cast on 3 stitches. Starting with a knit row, work 2 rows of stocking stitch.
Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any increase that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any increase that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Increase 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any increase that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Work 4 rows of stocking stitch.
Decrease 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any decrease that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Decrease 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any decrease that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Decrease 1 stitch at each side on the next (knit) row. You can use any decrease that you prefer.
Purl the next row.
Cut a long end and thread the remaining 3 stitches with a tapestry needle. Draw tight. Thread the yarn around the outside of the piece with a running stitch and gather up. Stuff the nose lightly and pull the thread tight to close. Fasten off but leave a tail remaining to sew the nose to the face.

Crocheted Eyes: 4mm hook needed.  With sport or dk yarn, ch 2. Make sure that you have at least a 10cm, 4” end from your starting ch as you will use this to secure the eye to the face.
R1: 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with slip stitch. For small eyes, fasten off and leave a 20cm or 8” tail. Thread this tail on your needle and, working in the back loops, gather the edge to form a ball. Do not cut this tail and do not trim the shorter end as you will need it to secure the eye to the face.
R2: (sc in sc on last round, 2 sc in next sc) twice, 2sc in last sc, join with a slip stitch.
R3: sc in each sc around and finish as in R1.
Fasten off and leave a 20cm or 8” tail. Thread this tail on your needle and, working in the back loops, gather the edge to form a ball. Do not cut this tail and do not trim the shorter end as you will need it to secure the eye to the face.

Making Up: Centre the nose on the body piece and sew it down securely. Place eyes to your liking and attach by the appropriate method to whichever eyes you use.
Sew the side of the body piece from top to bottom. Leave the bottom open for stuffing later.
Sew the feet closed, stuffing lightly before you sew the opening completely shut. Sew the legs to the bottom edge of the front of the body.
Sew the hands closed, again, stuffing lightly before finishing. Sew the arms to each side of the body about half way up the side.
Sew the ears to the top of the head.
Sew about half way along the bottom piece with a mattress stitch. Stuff to your ideal squishiness and sew the remaining half closed. Give your bunny a shake to fluff it up.

Crocheted Eyes: 4mm hook needed.  With sport or dk yarn, ch 2. Make sure that you have at least a 10cm, 4” end from your starting ch as you will use this to secure the eye to the face.
R1: 5 sc in 2nd ch from hook, join with slip stitch. For small eyes, fasten off and leave a 20cm or 8” tail. Thread this tail on your needle and, working in the back loops, gather the edge to form a ball. Do not cut this tail and do not trim the shorter end as you will need it to secure the eye to the face.
R2: Medium eyes only: sc in each sc around, join with a slip stitch and finish as in R1.
R2: Large eyes only: (sc in sc on last round, 2 sc in next sc) twice, 2sc in last sc, join with a slip stitch.
R3: Large eyes only: sc in each sc around and finish as in R1.

Knitting

You Will Need To Sew A Skirt for That Pretty Knit Top

Iris Rose

 

In the July 26th post I featured a pattern for knitting the top or bodice of a dress for a little girl.  The pattern came about because I got sucked into the Pinterest black hole and, although I loved the little dress on the website, could not find a link to a pattern.  I decided if I wanted to make this dress, I would have to write my own. 

The top is sized from 2 to 8 and, when paired with a sewn skirt, is really cute!  I have made a couple of these little dresses now in different sizes and am very happy with the results.

The skirt is simple to sew and should be made in a fabric that is compatible in care to the yarn used for the bodice.  I used a new ladies skirt (cut off) for one and yardage for the others.  I am posting photos of both so that you can see there is little difference in the finished product.

You will need 115cm (45”) to 150cm (54”) fabric in the length that you want the skirt portion of the dress to be plus 2cm (3/4”) for the top gathering and 4cm (1.5”) for the hem allowance.  115cm fabric will be fine for the smaller sizes, 2 and 4, but you will want the wider fabric for size 6 and 8 so that the skirt is nice and full.  You can join pieces to make the width.  I would recommend that you use two pieces the same width and use the joins as side seams instead of the back seam.  You will also need matching thread and a sewing machine of course.

Cut the fabric to the length that you want and overcast finish all of the cut edges.  Sew up the side to make a seam that will be at the centre back.  If you have used two pieces of fabric to make a wider skirt, join both sides to make two side seams.

Sew a long stitch gathering thread 1cm (3/8”) in from the top edge.  Leave a long end to pull for gathers.  Sew a second long stitch line 2cm (3/4”) from the top edge again leaving a long end to pull.  Tie of the threads at the start and, using either the top or bobbin threads only, pulling both end threads at once, gather the top of the skirt to fit to your finished and blocked bodice.  When you have the right size, tie off and trim your thread ends.

Sew a regular line of stitches between the two gathering lines to secure the gathers.  Sew a second line at the top edge where your overcasting is.  Pull out the gathering threads.

Pin the skirt inside the bodice at the line where your crochet trim starts, centering the seam at the centre back if one or at each side if two.  Carefully back stitch the skirt into place sewing through the top of the skirt and through the inside of the first row of single crochet so that the stitching does not show on the outside of the bodice.  I used two plies of the yarn that I knit the bodice with so that any stray stitches wouldn’t show.

Pin up and blind stitch the hem and, with a final press, your pretty little dress is ready to wear!