Misc Winter 2021 Stitch and Chat Thread

summerthyme

Administrator
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Hard to believe it's December 1st already, what a year.
You've got that right! We set up my sewing machines yesterday in the loft. Today, hubby and I crawled around in the shipping containers for over 2 hours, trying to find certain fabrics, all my elastic and velcro, and ALL of my thread (4, two sided organizers that hold 48 spools each.) I was about to give up on the thread and elastic, when we found them, way in the back under stacks of boxes. What a job! But I'm all set to start making sleepers, fleece nightgowns and leggings with attached socks for the girls.

I'm afraid the new nightshirts for hubby and I might have to wait until after the holidays. For one thing, I'm still missing my silk jersey knit fabric...

Summerthyme
 

Toosh

Veteran Member
I've been saving old jeans for several years now. Plan to make a quilt. Ready to start this winter. I suspect it will be quite heavy when done. I want to back the other side with something snugly. What would you use? ... flannel? ..Fur? ...sherpa?
 

thompson

Certa Bonum Certamen
I've been saving old jeans for several years now. Plan to make a quilt. Ready to start this winter. I suspect it will be quite heavy when done. I want to back the other side with something snugly. What would you use? ... flannel? ..Fur? ...sherpa?
One of my grandmothers made quilts from my granddad's old jeans and used corduroy in various wale widths and colors for the backing. Very warm, especially when she re-purposed an old blanket to use as the innards (batting). She tied those quilts due to the bulk. They were treasured!
 

psychgirl

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've been saving old jeans for several years now. Plan to make a quilt. Ready to start this winter. I suspect it will be quite heavy when done. I want to back the other side with something snugly. What would you use? ... flannel? ..Fur? ...sherpa?
Furrrrr!!!!
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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I've been saving old jeans for several years now. Plan to make a quilt. Ready to start this winter. I suspect it will be quite heavy when done. I want to back the other side with something snugly. What would you use? ... flannel? ..Fur? ...sherpa?
A decent quality fleece makes s great backing for a "everyday use" quilt. Don't buy Walmart fleece for this- it pills a d gets ratty fast. Www.denverfabric.com has good quality, as does www.fabric.com.

Summerthyme
 

Slydersan

Veteran Member
I've been saving old jeans for several years now. Plan to make a quilt. Ready to start this winter. I suspect it will be quite heavy when done. I want to back the other side with something snugly. What would you use? ... flannel? ..Fur? ...sherpa?

I made one a few years ago. Super simple, nothing fancy. Jeans cut into squares and done up rag-quilt style. For backing I used an old flannel shirt and bought about 1 yd of flannel that was on sale somewhere and then mixed them up in a pattern. But yes it is fairly heavy. I use it on the end of my bed to keep my feet warm at night. Bought a sewing machine and had to learn to sew because none of the females in my family that know how to do these things (I'm a guy) had the time or gumption to do it for me.

I get compliments on it all the time. I used all parts of the jeans. Some squares had seams, parts of pockets, parts with worn-out holes, etc. everything but the zipper. I broke a few needles though - sewing through 4 or 5 layers of denim will do that.
LOL
 

summerthyme

Administrator
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I made one a few years ago. Super simple, nothing fancy. Jeans cut into squares and done up rag-quilt style. For backing I used an old flannel shirt and bought about 1 yd of flannel that was on sale somewhere and then mixed them up in a pattern. But yes it is fairly heavy. I use it on the end of my bed to keep my feet warm at night. Bought a sewing machine and had to learn to sew because none of the females in my family that know how to do these things (I'm a guy) had the time or gumption to do it for me.

I get compliments on it all the time. I used all parts of the jeans. Some squares had seams, parts of pockets, parts with worn-out holes, etc. everything but the zipper. I broke a few needles though - sewing through 4 or 5 layers of denim will do that.
LOL
It's funny... one year, we were broke as usual around Christmas. The kids were all young adults... in college or just out in their first homes. I made a fleece quilt for each of them... I had tons of fleece scraps in prints and solids. I sorted them into color families, cut them into squares and triangles, and sewed them into random patterned crazy quilts. I then backed them with fleece (no batting necessary)tied them with yarn and bound them with a coordinating calico.

They LOVED them. 15 years later, when hubby was having hip replacement surgery, one son brought his quilt to the hospital for him... every nurse and therapist wanted to know where they could get one.

They are still being used as couch throws, and still wash up like new.

Summerthyme
 
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Faroe

Un-spun
I have loads of denim and some cordory saved for the same purpose. Planning on using the Japanese boro technique to join the denim squares. Embroidery over the raw edges will save on bulk, and since it's handwork, no need for a sewing machine.

Split the gansey at the arm opening today, so am knitting up the front. Also working on learning English right hand flicking with long needles and a belt. FINALLY getting fairly good at it! I actually wore out a lot of yarn trying to learn this - it took a long time.

We are travelling by air (ugh!, but unavoidable - legal stuff) next week, and I'll be bringing on Lovick's Shetland lace book, some short needles, and a skein of Jaimeson & Smith Supreme in off-white. Lace swatches should keep me busy (hoping TSA won't decide a bamboo circ is a lethal weapon).

Found good deals on some used books. Ordered Vogue Knitting, Alice Starmore's knits for men, and another "Boy Friend" sweaters book. Next month, I'll get Starmore's Aran book, and Rutt's history of knitting. Both of those are considered essential (along with the Vogue) to get through the guild course for Master knitting. I would like to at least complete the first leg of that - lots of instruction on technique and finishing. Was hoping to also find Di Gilpin's Gansey Source Book, but the Net Loft (which is supposed to carry it) hasn't answered my e-mails, and I don't want to order that one from Amazon.
 
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Melodi

Disaster Cat
I love Rutt's book but realize some of his historical information is now dated, not his fault, he had the best research for his time period but the technology to analyze textiles has improved. This really affects his very early examples of knitting because they are now known to be nalbinding (the Roman socks).

Housemate just e-mail from Germany, she got me a bag of sock yarns, they sell the stuff that in the US goes for ten to twenty dollars a pop for two or three Euros in nearly every grocery store there. It is a bit more in a yarn shop but they still have a wider variety of options.

People in Germany still consider knitting, especially Winter sock knitting to be an essential and everyday skill, so the prices reflect that.
 

Hilblyswife

Contributing Member
Hate to hear that about Faroe. I know I don't post a lot, but I do lurk.


On another note, just finished this. Put it down for a couple of months after my mom passed away, but finally got back to it. Still need to sew it to material and get it framed.

20211215_155631 faith chapel21.jpg
 
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