Tips Set 2
How can I keep a skirt from "seating out"?
Actually, there are two things that can help this "rump sprung" problem. First, knit the skirt back in two sections, making a seam down the middle. This seam will help stabilize the knit. Second, knit the yarn in a tight tension. When you are making your swatch, start at the usual tension you use for that yarn, then click the tension down every two or three rows until the yarn is difficult to work with. Then turn the tension back up 1-2 whole numbers and start making your swatch. I have often heard demonstrators say that most of us knit too loosely.
Do I steam first or sew seams together first?
A survey of several demonstrators showed that the majority prefer to steam first and then seam. Once the seam is sewn, it is difficult to adjust width and length. Steaming and "patting" the knit can change the measurements greatly. So, steam, measure, steam and then seam.
What can I do with mercerized cotton?
Mercerized cotton needs to be knitted on a tighter tension. It is also one of the best cottons to blend with another yarn. Try mixing natural fibers with acrylics! Make a swatch and check out how it will launder before doing the actual garment. Mixing fibers can have some amazingly beautiful results!
How can I put Machine Embroidery on my Garter Carriage sweater?
Decide where on the sweater you want to put your machine embroidery. Insert point cams in the machine track. Point cams come in 1 point, 2 point, and 3 point. Four 3-point cams would give you a 12-stitch section of plain knit. Knit the number of rows with the garter carriage that equal the length you want the plain section to be, then remove the point cams.
Knitting needs to be firmly stabilized so the machine will not stretch the knit stitches as it sews the embroidery. There are several very good stabilizers on the market, including wash-away stabilizers that can be put on top of the knit so the sewing thread will not sink into the knit. Extremely elaborate designs may not be the best thing for knits. Usually, simpler line drawings or smaller designs sew on better.
Need a springtime idea for some duplicate stitch?
With spring just around the corner, some may be looking for spring ideas. Some time ago Toni Valenstein came up with a flower pot idea. I've changed it (what knitter doesn't?!) and here is an easy and quick idea. Make a flower pot applique and duplicate some jonquils or diasies growing from it. A flower pot is just basically a parallelgram:
Cast on e-wrap 34 stitches with 2 strands of 2/24 (or equivalent weight yarn).
Increase 1 stitch each side every 8 rows 6 times. Knit to row 50. (46 stitches)
Increase 4 stitches at the beginning of the next two rows.
Knit 10 rows. Knit 1 turning row. Knit 10 rows.
To make up: Place pot on sweater over bottom stems of flowers. Tack top of pot down on sides, leaving top itself open. Tack down rest of sides and bottom of pot. You might decide to use ivy, duplicate stitched on a little pole coming out of the pot and also have the ivy falling down over the pot.
Exactly how do I dye with koolaid?
Sandra McGuyer answers this one!This is for all who requested further info on how to dye wool with Kool-Aid. It is extremely easy and fun. Wool should be loosely skeined and dyepot should be big enough to hold yarn and enough water to cover the yarn plus 2-3". Use 1 package of Kool-Aid (unsweetened) per quart of water in the dyepot. Start with room temperature water, add Kool-Aid, dissolve, add thoroughly wetted yarn, and place over low flame. Bring to a simmer. Should not be a rolling boil, but just where steam comes off the pot. Simmer, gently stirring occasionally, until all (or most) of the color is gone from the water. Might take several hours. Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature again (leave wool in pot). Rinse wool thoroughly and allow to dry. I think this works only with wool, not cotton or any of the cellulosic fibers. I'm pretty sure it's colorfast but I'd wash/dry a swatch just in case. I've heard of people doing this in the microwave which I'm sure would take a lot less time but I've never done it so I can't speak for that method. It is important to remember that the wool should be thoroughly wetted with plain (room-temp) water before immersing in the dyepot so that it takes the dye evenly. This is a great project for when you are puttering around the house as it does not take your undivided attention. You can have a lot of fun with the different colors and combining colors. Kids can help and they love it! Plus, your kitchen smells fabulous the entire time. Not only can you experiment with the different Kool-Aid colors (flavors) but you can use different colors of wool as a base and get very different results. I have only used Kool-Aid, not any of the copy-cat brands such as Flavor-Aid. Cannot say what would happen if you used one of those. Good luck and if there are any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.
You can contact Sancy at eckist@concentric.net.
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