First Project of 2008: Refashioning!

Anyone else guilty of getting bogged down by the holidays and not being able to finish their holiday attire besides me? No worries. Let's put that behind us and start fresh for 2008!

This next project starts today, January 15, and ends April 15. Being that it's so close to Earth Day, I thought it would be a great way for us to practice being green by refashioning! This project is all about taking something you no longer need/use/like anymore and turning it into something new and fabulous. There are no rules as to what finished product must be. The only restriction is that you turn something old into something new! Simple, yes?

Let's get sewing!

McCall’s 3979 Vintage Aprons

This is my first time uploading to sew i knit but definitely not the last. Although I can't participate in the holiday party challenge due to Christmas Crafting, I figured I would show you what I HAVE been up too for the holidays.

This was definitely my piece de resistance in apron making. I have loved this pattern since I saw it made in black and white oil cloth material. I had yet to make it since, although I love aprons, I have very little use for them. So when my friend asked me for aprons I knew this one would be topping the list.

You can check out my blog post for more pictures and details.


Merry Christmas!!!

my first holiday dress!

Some friends had a "Thanks for Nothing" leftovers party on Saturday, and I wore my new dress. Woo hoo!

I used Cyndi's awesome invisible zipper tutorial to install my first invisible zipper (thanks Cyndi!).

I couldn't get the plastic invisible zipper foot to work on my machine -- instead, it turns out that on [some? most? all?] Viking machines, the buttonhole foot has grooves for installing invisible zippers. (So if anyone wants a little Coates plastic invisible zipper foot set, let me know!)

This was also my first lined garment. Basically, I just made a second dress exactly like the first. I made it slightly shorter, in a lightweight silk fabric, and attached it at the neck, zipper, and armholes.

fabric: Purple Honeycomb (Echino, by Etsuko Furuya), from Superbuzzy
lining: green silk + cotton scraps
pattern: improvised, with inspiration from Simplicity 3744

More pictures and details on my blog.

"The Comeback Project": The Holiday Party

Let's get right into it shall we? The official Sew? I Knit! "Comeback Project" is The Holiday Party! Since the holiday season is already upon us, why not incorporate some sewing. From November 15 to January 15, we'll be focusing on sewing garments to wear to various holiday festivities and celebrations. The projects can range from something as fancy as a gown for your company holiday party to something more casual for your family get-togethers or a fun and flirty dress for New Years. Whatever the garment is, it has to be worn over the holidays. I hope you all are excited about this as I am.

It's time to hit those pattern books and shuffle through the pattern stash. Let's get ready to sew!

Hello!

I just wanted to say hello and I'm super excited to join y'all. I just had my birthday and got a lot of the 'basics' I need to REALLY work on my sewing (I've had a machine since April and have made a pillowcase, a pair of PJ pants and a jersey T-shirt. . . . all in a class). You can see my haul of goodies here. Yay for re-energizing!!

Carly

Important Sew? I Knit! Annoucement

Hello fellow Sew? I Knit-ers!

We would like to apologize for the unanticipated absence and lack of activity for the sewalong. Mari, Stephanie and I have been extremely busy over the past months with life in general. We know you know how that goes and hope you understand.

There will be some changes happening here at Sew? I Knit! Unfortunately because life happens, Mari and Stephanie will no longer be co-hosting. I'd like to thank them for all the time and effort in creating and helping maintain this sewalong. The good news is that the sewalong will go on, but with a few modifications.

1. Revolving sign-ups: New and prospective members no longer have to wait for a new project to start in order to sign up
2. Quarterly projects: Each project will have 3 month time frame. No more worries about rushing to finish your project

And without further ado, the next project, the official "Sew? I Knit Comeback" project, will be announced on Friday, November 9th! This next project will have a two month time frame. The Quarterly Project cycle will begin in the new year.

Until then, have a great week everyone!

Is this group on hiatus? defunct? Are the kind hostesses gone?

The Silk Dress

Or what I sewed this summer.

It is Chinese Brocade Silk and just yummy to wear. I spent the time to alter the pattern so that it actually fit me properly.

I wore it at the one wedding I attended this summer.
The fabric close up.

Blogiversary Contest:

I enjoy looking at everyone's posts and although I haven't been active with posting of late I am a VERY active lurker.

I wanted to let you know about my blogiversary contest which ends tonight. Please pop over and leave a comment for a chance to win.

www.ignoremeitseasier.blogspot.com

Thanks,
AmyDe

Testimonial

I started with Sew? I Knit back when it was a bunch of knitters making a skirt. I hadn't sewn anything (apart from quilting) in a long time, and the support of my fellow adventuresome knitters helped me make a skirt, a handbag, a top... In fact, I realized that since I was sewing something every month I could sew a whole wardrobe, and I moved on from this to Sewing With a Plan. If you'd like to join the SWAPalong 2007, you can go here to do so.
We haven't had a challenge here in a while, but I will always be grateful to the hostesses for getting me on the right track with my sewing. Thanks!

Secret Dragon Bag

Alright, this was a bag I made a week ago as a surprise for a past swap. I know she's not on this list so I can share the bag pictures. It's been hard to not blog this bag, maybe this will bring relief esspecially since it won't be in the mail until tomorrow!

The dragon bag will be used to cart around small knitting projects like socks. For me a useful knitting bag should be big enough to carry a bottle of water, a knitting pattern, and notions.

The bag handles are celtic knot strips which look remarkably like a cable pattern. Side pockets for cell phone and seperates.

Dragon and quilting detail.

Sock Knitting Bag

Here's a sock knitting bag I made for my pal in the Hogwarts Sock Swap. There's a wonderful online tutorial for this zippered bag.



-Stacy at Flyin' Needles

a small knitbag

This was a very quick and easy sewed knitbag for small knits.

I found this cute old apron in a second hand store and the buttons are reused too- I think the color fits the bag very precisely and has started using the bag. I know I could have lined it- but I wanted a fast result and got that :-)

sewing greetings from Ellen

Blog Contest

Hi guys! I've been slack lately, but love seeing all your stuff. Summer is a BIG sewing time at my house and I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

I'm having a contest over on my blog and he prize is a sewn sock knitting tote. Come check it out and enter to win!

Ignore Me It's Easier



I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Floppy Summer Totebag Tutorial

I just cooked up a bunch of totebags out of summery dishtowels and I put up a tutorial on my blog www.whatsthatgonnabe.blogspot.com.

Get ready to carry that knitting to the beach in style! Have fun!

a pincushion

Here is a patchwork pincushion that fits perfect into my toolpurse in my knitbag.
First from the inside:

and from the outside where i decorated with pearls....



I found the pattern in a danish patchworkbook which i don't remember the name of anymore..

http://www.creativesparetime.blogspot.com

Rare poster

Hi all, I rarely post because it takes me so long to get anything done that I usually don't make the deadlines. But here I am ahead, because I just finished this bag. Its from Amy Butler's new sewing book. The pattern was challenging, but easy to follow with lots of directions. I actually used a quilt top that I bought at a flea market. I love the rectangular shape and it holds knitting projects easily. Its lined, but I won't show a picture of that part - its not great (but it works).

Connie

Here's my new knitting bag -- you can never have too many knitting bags, can you?
It is an ordinary toile-print canvas tote made un-ordinary with feather trim and blank wooden tiles decoupaged with images from vintage sheet music. The idea was based on a bag in The Impatient Beader Gets Inspired.

New project!

Hello everyone!

For the next project, we decided to return to the original idea of this sewalong - knitters who wanted to sew. What are the things that knitters really want to sew? Knitting gear, of course! Get out your fabric and thread and figure out what you need to make your knitting life easier. Needle holders? A zippered pouch to carry your notions? That sock project bag you've been meaning to make so you can throw away that grocery bag? (raising hand)

This project will last from April 1 to May 31. If anyone finds any good tutorials or ideas, please post them! If you would like to join in, send in an email by April 8.

Happy sewing!

Since there has not been a new assignment posted, I am sneaking this kitchen item in. This apron is intended to add to the French air of my kitchen, begun with the hot mitt below. McCall's 3979 is the pattern.
This apron is constructed oddly -- you sew the pieces wrong sides together and then encase them with bias tape. It makes for fiddly construction, but when you're through at the sewing machine, you're finished -- no hems.
This pattern gave me an opportunity to practice princess seams and topstitching in a relatively nonthreatening context. I mean, I'm going to cook in this, wipe my hands on it, lean against counters covered with cleaning supplies... how bad can I feel about poor-quality topstiching?
Next time, I'll do better.
I have put it out in the garden to add to the insouciant charm of the whole thing.

I also intend to make a quilted table runner using these Provencal fabrics, but there is no way I will finish it in time to sneak it in to this month's Sew? I Knit!
I am therefore just offering you a photo of the fabrics. These are from Keepsake Quilting -- the French Garden medley and the Country Hen medley.

My plan is to make a patchwork runner (I realize that this is not very French, but I understand that American-style patchwork has become popular in France lately) and then applique it with flowers. Further insouciance there.

With sufficient wine and garlic, this should transform my kitchen into a South-of-France haven of joie-de-vivre. And, yes, insouciance.