It has been a full week since I got my sewing machine and started to learn how to sew. And, I have to say that I am sew obsessed. I am loving my computerized machine; the variable speed settings really help me sew straight. I already know that fabric shopping will be as fun and dangerous to my pocket book as yarn shopping. And, now I am adding a fabric stash to my yarn stash! LOL.
I am not working off specific patterns yet; just reading several similar patterns and figuring things out along the way. I really think that knitting has helped me learn sewing so much more quickly because I am used to thinking about pattern design and fiber content. Still not liking measuring materials for patterns but I am slowly getting over it.
Slim Blue Messenger Bag
Here is my first slim messenger bag. It is a little larger than I expected, but lightweight and still sturdy. The lining isn’t perfect, but I am getting better at hiding my mistakes. Still don’t know how to make pockets and add zippers, but that will come sooner or later. This bag has a snap button closure; the black button on the flap is purely decorative.
I think I may try making a knitting needle case with fabric or a knitted bag with fabric lining next. Mmmm … So many endless possibilities.
Well, I am still learning how to sew and have discovered that I still need to sharpen my hand sewing skills even with a sewing machine. But, having my sewing machine has definitely made my sewing projects go quicker than my slow hands.
My TENS unit is perfectly hidden in its own bag!
Here is my latest project with my new craft. I made this small bag to carry my portable Empi TENS unit, its electrodes, and attachments. A TENS unit delivers electrical pulses through the skin with electrodes that can be placed on the back, neck, shoulders, knees and hands. It doesn’t get rid of my pain but it does help me postpone my vicoden dosages for a little bit longer, and helps me move easier when I am in pain. I am using my TENS unit every day, and I love it. TENS units can be prescribed by your doctor to manage chronic pain.
When I got my portable TENS unit this month, I was so happy. It came with its own pouch made of this thin black, velvet-like fabric. But the bag was thin and plain, making it difficult to find when I could not remember where I last placed it.
The Perfect Small Bag
So, I decided to make my own bag. It is lined with the pouch that my TENS unit originally came with! The bag is 6×7 inches and has a long strap so that it can be worn cross body. The strap is a black shoe lace that I took off one of my tennis shoes.
Now my TENS unit will be easy to find and pretty in its pouch! I did not use a specific pattern for the bag. I just read different bag patterns and attempted my own version. I haven’t learned how to sew in zippers, so this bag has a flap with a simple button closure.
I never realized how much ironing is involved with sewing. I have rarely used my iron before this all started. Thank goodness I had one to use!
My birthday has begun! A bit early … but yay! I researched both the Brothers and Janomes, reading what other Ravelers had to say on the sewing threads, and also reading reviews on the internet. Well, I ended up want several models of Brothers and yesterday, I test drove a few. I settled on the Brother Innov-is 40. It got top reviews in Consumer Reports several times this year for the price, ease of use, and capabilities. Click here and here to read a couple of articles on the machine.
My Brother Inov-is 40
This machine was $400 and that was the “cheapest” one on my list of computerized machines; the others had several hundred more stitches and embroidery capabilities that I just did not need to confuse my brain with right now.
I called Tony from the store to tell him the two models of machines I wanted; there was a $200 price difference. And, honestly, I did not expect good sewing machines to be so costly, so I told him that the $400 one would work fine for me for many years to come. They had it in stock and I wanted him to just buy it today … but he said no initially.
Then, 15 minutes later, he called me back and ended up talking to the store owner and gave his credit card info so I could purchase it today! I came home with my birthday present! Isn’t Tony great?
Neck Pillow
Set up was fairly easy and I love how this machine runs! It is quiet, and the instructions were not complicated at all. The bobbin winder is easy. The threading is is semi-automatic; it is more like manual threading to me but there is a device that helps you thread the needle on the machine a bit easier.
There are a few automatic button holes, and there is an button on the front of the machine to use instead of the foot pedal. The machine is lightweight and easy to carry because of the built in handle at the top of the machine.
Here are the basic features:
* Available at Authorized Innov-ís Dealers Only
* 40 built-in stitches, including 5 one-step auto-size buttonhole styles
* Stitch selection via dial and LCD
* 7-point feed dogs
* Free-motion stitching
* Jam resistant top bobbin with Quick-set™ bobbin
* Semi-automatic needle threading system
The store owner spent some time showing me some of the basics of the machine before I left, so it was a quick learning curve! I have already made a few projects with the machine, including a neck pillow. I wish there was a plastic case cover that came with the machine instead of a soft cover. But, other than that, this machine is perfect!
With knitting there is always something new to learn. Well, actually what I am learning now is an old style of knitting called Portuguese Style Knitting. This knitting technique requires much less hand movement than the American or Continental styles of knitting, and may help those who have difficulty with their hands due to arthritis or pain in their shoulders.
Andrea Wong is a woman who is making this old technique new again. She has been featured on several knitting sites. You can read about her and this style of knitting on her Web site here. You can also order DVDs from her on that site. She was also featured on the Knitting Daily site here, with a brief video of the technique below:
I am still getting used to the basic technique of knitting and purling a stitch with this technique; and moving back and forth from these two stitches. And I am still learning how to control tension with the yarn hanging from my neck. So far, this technique is a relief to my back and shoulders because I am not hunching over as much when I knit. I will probably continue to use both styles of knitting, depending on the project I choose.
Several of the women in my Ravelry board have been discussing their favorite authors and latest book reads. We also realized that several of us love reading books, but have difficulty carrying books around these days. Some of us have difficulty holding and turning all the pages of the book due to painful hands. We discussed lap desks and other options that can help relieve some of our book fatigue. And, several in the group raved about the Kindle.
I did not think a Kindle would ever work for me; after all, I love the feel of a book and its pages. Even the sound of pages turning has a rhythm of its own. Plus, I did not want to spend more money on another gadget; carrying around my wallet, my medications and my iPhone was enough. Not to mention my knitting projects when I go to the doctor’s offices.
But, then, one of the gals let me know that there was a Kindle application for the iPhone and it was free. So, I downloaded it. And, what a surprise. I love this application! I can download e-books for cheaper than the actual novels, and I can even preview a chapter or two before deciding to purchase. And, reading the text on the iPhone Kindle doesn’t make your eyes tired at all. The text is large and the pages are easy to turn. And, I can get a book 24/7 and get it right away. Best of all, I did not have to spend any extra money for an actual Kindle. It is a free application for the iPhone. And, now one of my absolute favorites! Yay for the iPhone.
I still plan to buy real books – those that I want to collect as part of my permanent library. And, of course, my knitting and sewing books are still ones I want to drool over, page by page. So, I will still have the joy of looking at real books. But, at least I can save some bookshelf room and some trees by purchasing the popular paperbacks with my iPhone Kindle. There is one downside to the application. When you are reading with the Kindle on your iPhone, the battery will go quicker than normal, so be sure to have your charger handy.
So, even if you are a classic reader and lover of books, try the iPhone Kindle application. It won’t hurt you to try it. Just sample a chapter or two from a book you have been interested in. Who knows? You may surprise yourself and save some trees.
I am thinking about my upcoming 40th birthday. I can’t believe I have made it to 40 years. When I was a young girl, I remember thinking about what my life would be like when I was a “grown up.” I honestly don’t think I thought past the age of 35!
I did not expect my life to turn out the way it has; to become a cat lady, a knitter, or have a body that feels more like 80 years old instead of 40. I have stopped thinking too far ahead in the future, or predicting what my life will be like in five years; I now live one stitch at a time.
For my 40th, I have decided to take on a new dimension to my knitting by adding sewing to my projects and craft skills. I am a horrible seamstress. When I was younger, I was forced to take Home Economics one year, and ruined my GPA with the sewing portion of the class. We were forced to wear our completed outfits for our final exam, and I was horrified. All I made was a wrap around skirt – and really, it was just a piece of fabric with hemming. But, it was not something I was proud of at all.
Well, sewing machines have advanced tremendously. And, from what I understand, they practically do the thinking for you with all the computerized stitches built in. So, I have hope that this time around, it will be a rewarding experience. I plan to make my own project bags and knitting totes, add fabric lining to my knitted projects and garments … it will be another dimension to my work.
So those are my birthday plans. To learn to sew and to enjoy my time with Tony. If you want to contribute to my creative endeavors, feel free to look at my Amazon.com Wish List here for some books and other items that I would love to receive for my birthday or Christmas. I would also love Amazon gift cards!
If you lose the link to my wish list, all you have to do is to search for my wish list on Amazon.com using my name or e-mail address.
So, I am easily distracted these days, going from one project to the next. I was working on making several pairs of worsted weight socks, then I started working on my first garment, and now I am making knitted rice bags.
Knitted Rice Bag
These rice bags are great for aches and pain. All you need to do is heat them up in the microwave for 2 minutes and place it where you hurt. It isn’t as effective as a vicoden, but it can be a non-drug alternative in between your pain medications.
I don’t have a set pattern for the rice bags. But here are the basic steps to make your own. You want to use a cotton fabric and yarn to because it retains the heat well and will not catch fire in your microwave:
Take a small piece of cotton fabric and sew it into a basic rectangle shape. A good size is 8 or 9 inches in length by 6 inches in width. The fabric quarters at JoAnn stores is perfect for this project; you can cut it to a smaller size and use the folds as guides.
Sew three sides, and then iron the fabric slightly.
Add several cups of rice before sewing the last side shut. Use regular, slow cooking rice. Do Not use minute rice. You want to add enough rice so that the bag will be full but not too firm; the rice should be able to move around easily in the bag. If necessary, hand stitch around all the sewn edges once more to ensure that no rice falls out. Set aside.
Using a cotton, worsted weight yarn and a U.S. size 6 circular needle, cast on enough stitches to fit the length of your bag of rice. For 8 inches in length, cast on approximately 76 stitches. For 9 inches, cast on 84 stitches. You will need approximately 120 yards to complete this project when making the 8×6 or 8×9 inch bags.
Join and knit the first round. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round, and a stitch marker at the halfway point of the rounds. This will help you see where you should fold the bag. If you are using the Magic Loop method to knit the rounds, you will not need stitch markers.
Knit enough rounds to reach the height and thickness of your rice bag plus 2-3 extra rounds to ensure the entire bag will fit. I used the Magic Loop technique when knitting my rounds for extra ease, and to help me see the rectangular shape as I knit. For a 6 inch width, you will be knitting approximately 42 to 45 rounds. I suggest sewing the bottom seam of the knitted bag after a dozen or so rounds, and and periodically placing the rice bag in the knitted bag to check the fit.
Place the rice bag in the knitted bag and sew the top seam with a large darning needle.
And, you are finished. I am terrible at sewing, so hiding my sad stitches inside the knitted portion of the bag is great. And the rice will not escape because it is secure in the cotton fabric. This project is quick and simple. Even for those who can not sew!
One added note: You can put a knitted rice bag in the freezer and use it on your painful sores. But, do not put it back in the microwave for the heat treatment; the ice will add extra water to the rice bag as it melts and when you microwave it, your bag could have cooked rice in it. Either use the bag for heat or for ice, not both.
Kkhymn's Corner 