Among Friends

[Dusty1]

@depglass I don't know if it's a hobby, but I love when I get something done that has been nagging me.

It's not usually that big of a deal either.

[Dusty1]

@LindaSal I hope that band was fun.

I love going to hear live music.

[Dusty1]

@shoesnbags Are knits hard to work with?

I like to sew & the boys love me to make them shorts.

I think knits would work better for a couple of their bodies, but I have never sewn with knit fabric.

[qualitygal]

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@Dusty1 wrote:

@qualitygal What are your 2 projects you are working on?

I love to crochet, it's very soothing, but I do mostly wash cloths. 

I have made some hats & scarves, but you have to pay too much attention.

Wash cloths are fast & useful.

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@Dusty1 I'm doing lap covers in two colors of yarn.  They aren't one color each, but multicolor.  I love color.  Theyi are in bulky and I love to do bulky yarn.  Oh and one time I used cotton yarn and did mandellas.  They lay down better in cotton yarn.

[Harpa]

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@Dusty1 wrote:

@shoesnbags Are knits hard to work with?

I like to sew & the boys love me to make them shorts.

I think knits would work better for a couple of their bodies, but I have never sewn with knit fabric.

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@Dusty1  I think the only thing you need to think about in sewing knits is using the right needle, like the ballpoint needle. Usually banded in yellow.

[shoesnbags]

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@Dusty1 wrote:

@shoesnbags Are knits hard to work with?

I like to sew & the boys love me to make them shorts.

I think knits would work better for a couple of their bodies, but I have never sewn with knit fabric.

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@Dusty1 

It can definitely be trickier to sew with knits.  When my kids were little, I used to sew lots of t-shirts and shorts for them.  But the knit fabric back then was usually 100% cotton knit and was pretty stable.  I used a stretch stitch and patterns by Kwik Sew which were meant for knits, so the instructions basically guided you through. 

Nowadays knit fabrics all seem to be stretchier, not 100% cotton, which makes them different from wovens when sewing.  A few years ago I googled and read a lot of different things about sewing knits before I started.  I use a walking foot, a stretch needle for knits, and of course a stretch stitch on the machine.There are also different ways to stabilize hems to prevent rippling. 

Definitely not as quick and easy as whipping up something from a woven fabric.  I guess it depends on whether you are looking to expand your skills, or if you just want to make those kids some quick shorts! 

One last thought - if you find a stable knit fabric - like a thicker double knit - you could probably just use a stretch stitch on the machine and otherwise treat the fabric as if it is a woven. That would probably work. 

Happy sewing!

[Buffalogal47]

@Dusty1

My mother taught me how to crochet, but I taught myself to knit. Socks are a little difficult at first, but once you make one pair, you get the hang of it. They are fun to do. Don't be intimidated; just do it! You'll find knitting is not really all that hard. It just takes patience. 

[Dusty1]

@Buffalogal47 I do like to multitask & you can't do that when you need to concentrate & count!

That is my issue with my crochet & knitting.

[Dusty1]

@shoesnbags Thank you for explaining. I love to learn about fabrics & sewing, but when I try to read my pattern it's like a math problem & my brain doesn't comprehend very well.

Sewing these shorts is pretty fast, but adapting them to fit five different bodies is challenging.

I know stretch would be easier on them, but harder on me.

They are stuck with balloon-y shorts made out of cotton..........

[sarahpanda]

@Dusty1   Yes, it is a lot of mowing...not particularly a fan of doing it and I've never hired the job out to anyone is 22 years...As long as the riding mower will crank, I'll do it myself, Lord willing.  DH is very ill and can not contribute to the job anymore.  I just put on my WORX earphones and ''get 'er done"  !!