Knit Voyage - Destination Complete!

Done, done, done!  LOL.   I just love this top.  It couldn't fit me any better.  The sleeves went in like a dream and I finished the hem with my cover stitch machine.  Here's a pic of the completed top.  I'll be making several of these.

Knit Voyage - Nightmare no more!!!!

Ha!  And double Ha!  LOL.  I've cut the offending high neckline off the front and back and sew'd a very simple turned down edge.  The front has a 3.5 inch slit down the front.  Here's a pic of the cut made to change the neckline of the front.

I've done the embroidery on the front and I think its turned out pretty nice.  I'm going to wait to finish the rest of the top until after I've done my presentation at B-Sew Inn tomorrow.  I'll be taking this piece as a "work in progress".

Knit Voyage or Nightmare?

GAH!  I've been wrestling with the neck on this top for 2 days.  Trying it on, adjusting, taking it off, trying it on, adjusting - well...you get the picture.  Making it as indicated by the pattern - Yuck.  I just don't like it.  Its too high (would come just under my chin), supposed to be a little slouchy but just looks sloppy and flops around.  I have to agree with a couple of the reviews, this pattern was not well thought out.  I don't usuaully have these kinds of problems with Vogue patterns. Here's a picture of it laid out on my work table.  It doesn't look half bad like this but you sure can't wear that way.  LOL.  So...I'm going to salvage the top by re-cutting the front and back neck area with the aid of another pattern I've used in the past.  Sigh.  I had such high hopes for this pattern and the neck did look so cool.

Knit Voyage - Embroidery design test 2

Okay...I think this is worth considering as a viable choice of design and color for the top.  I changed to metallic gold thread and I'm really liking this.  Its a triple stitch feather.  I have several designs in this group that should work well.  I'm thinking of doing an asymmetrical flow of the design from one side of the neck down to the other side of the center front seam.  I'll be printing out the templates of the designs I'm thinking of using and doing a potential layout when I get the front seam sewn.

Again, you can click on the picture to get a closer look.  These designs come from Susan Glen and can be found at Susanglendesigns.com.

Knit Voyage - Embroidery design test

Well I thought I would like a design in black on this top but after doing several tests, I'm going to discard that idea.  The black just didn't show up much at all.  I want subtle but not why bother.  LOL.  As you can see by the accompaning picture, black just isn't going to cut it.  Also, I was having thread breakage issues which I resolved by the time I embroidered what I think to be my final test.  Maybe.

I know the picture is dark, but this one is lightened several times and if you click on it, it does show up much better.

If you're not familiar with embroidering on a sticky, wash away stabilizer, here's what I had to do.  Lowered the presser foot to .5 and change to a metalic needle (larger scarf for the thread to pass through).

Presentation at B-Sew Inn of Tulsa

The Scattered Sewist (me!!!) has been asked by our local B-Sew Inn, which is the largest Babylock dealer in the country, to give a presentation (this Thursday the 14th) on how I use embroidery in garment making.  How Cool is that!  I've been informed B-Sew Inn feels they been a little narrowly focused on just embroidery and not enough on other aspects of these super versatile machines.  As such, feel they would like to put more emphasis on garment making of all kinds.  This is where I come in.  LOL.  As you all know, my passion is garment making.  I'll be bringing 4 or 5 garments I've made that all have embroidery of some type added to the garment while under construction.   I'll be bringing a Trench Coat (lined), 2 Shirts, a lined Vest & an heirloom baby dress made of batiste.  I'll bring the patterns and the samples I made while testing.   I'm soooooo nervous! LOL.

Knit Voyage 3 & Butternut!

Well just on the off chance I might learn something, I went to Pattern Review and looked at the reviews for Vogue 8616.  Hmmmm, the reviews are mixed.  I think I'm going to shorten the pattern a bit; one of the complaints was the pattern length didn't match the pattern picture on the front.  In fact, it really was tunic length instead of the hip length shown.  Also some weren't comfortable with the height of the standup collar.  So...I've decided once I reduce the length of the pattern and cut it out, I'll be basting everything together to do a test fit.  There's a zipper in the back neck and some said that it really wasn't needed since there was so much stretch in the fabrics used.  I'll probably eliminate the zipper.   Hopefully I'll get some work done tomorrow.  Right now I'm in the process of making roasted butternut squash soup (roasted with onions, lots of garlic & a hint of sage) to be served with a crusty french bread and salad.  I sure wish Alan would get home soon; I'm starving! LOL.

Knit Voyage - 2

Well...I have my knit washed and dryed.  Either it shrunk, a lot, or I didn't purchase the 2 yards I thought I got.  Shrug.  Oh well.  I am going to have just enough to cut out the 3 pieces (front, back & sleeve) with not much left over for the embroidery tests.  Hopefully what's left will be enough.  I have the paper pattern pieces ironed, but not cut.  Shown here is the preliminary layout.  I was panicking for a minute thinking I just wasn't going to have enough fabric and then I remembered I didn't have the size cut from the paper pieces.  Talk about a huge sigh of relief!  I'm going to let the knit lay on the table and relax overnight before cutting.

Knit Voyage

Today I'm starting a new top.  A very easy looking high necked, 3/4 sleeve, mid-hip length tunic.  I'm thinking about putting some contrasting embroidery at the neck and kind of have it dribble flow down the front seam.  LOL.  The pattern is Vogue 8616 and I'm making view A (the one in green).  This was a purchase from our ladies at The Cloth Merchants here in Tulsa.   The cotton lycra knit is not blue, but a really pretty blue violet.  I don't get the correct colors when I take photos in my studio.  Ugh.  I'm in the process of separating out the 3 pattern pieces I need, pressing and cutting them out.  Then I'll be laying out the fabric and the pieces to see how much fabric I have left to play with embroidery tests.  I have 3 or 4 different designs picked out to play with.  I'm not sure any will be suitable until I actually start embroidering.  I'll post pictures of the tests and explain why or why not I think they are suitable designs for the fabric and the style top.  Oooops!  I've looked at my fabric and I've got to wash it!! LOL.