I have had my knitting, spinning and sewing things all over the place or stashed where I couldn't see or use them. Drove my husband crazy and frustrated me so much. Last year I got a Dream Box by Create Room. It has saved my life and my sanity! It has shelves and clear totes (though I think the current system is different) and they come in three different sizes. I have one side with spinning and knitting supplies and one side with sewing supplies. It holds my 3 sewing machines and knitting accessories (swift, winder, lazy kate, etc) and has a fold out table. Best of all it closes up and hides everything. It is my miracle. I now have it set up in my college daughter's room (with her permission) and I can leave it open. Love it so much!
@Naomi Martinez-Goldstick, That was going to be my suggestion, as well__I LOVE those units! 😺 Koala brand units are another idea for space saving, multi-purpose organization. Though both are a bit out of my budget range for the time being__I'm always thinking of ways I could 'hack' an Ikea, or (preferably) vintage wardrobe closet with a similar effect. The point is, to get ideas from these types of set-ups, even if you'd rather have an open system. Enjoy your Dream Box! 💖🙌🙌🙌😺
You are a woman after my own heart apparently when it comes to organizing. I like things "to hand" and have rearranged a cart on wheels many times to make it hold various knitting notions in baskets and other "arty" containers so it finally works for me. My sewing notions have evolved the same way. I have accumulated various sized boxes, jars and lidded containers which I use for buttons, elastics, ribbons, etc. These have been rearranged as I find what fits best in which container. Eventually everything finds its "ideal" home and we live comfortably together. I have finally gotten to the place where I don't stress out about the nests of clutter. I just organize the nest occasionally with re-purposed containers that are pleasing to me. The process will never end but at least I know where everything is. And I can sit in my knitting chair and reach the most used items easily.
That hat is certainly going on my list for my husband as his ears are always cold. In 1967, his first winter in Canada (Ottawa), he got frostbitten ears. He was fooled by the sunshine and no one had warned him to protect his ears! I really like the way it tucks around the ears. You always talk about such interesting things here. Thank you. HUgs
I don’t have the luxury of a crafting space. I have to have my sewing stuff I use a lot available but able to be put away when I’m done. I have a sewing basket designed for storing sewing items. I bought it at Joanne’s. It has a flip open top and a tray inside. I keep my scissors, seam ripper, bobbins, needles, some thread, and a few other items in it. It’s easily portable, keeps the essentials in one place easy to access but out of the way. I’d suggest if you don’t find a prefab that is quite the right size, get a Very Useful Box in the dimensions that you need and make inserts/trays to fit the box out of foam core. Just Get It Done Quilts has a nice video on how to make organizational dividers/trays using foam core and a glue gun. For that matter she has some interesting economical ideas for organizing sewing supplies.
I was very intrigued by the 1898 hat....so I quickly got going on it, but realised that if you stop before knitting the crown, the pattern makes perfect ear-muffs for wearing under your cycle helmet... very pleased. I also only had DK wool but it worked just fine. Thank you again Roxanne 🚴♀️
You always share such good information and I feel like there is so much more to learn. I am a sewer and am not type A as far as organization. I use a room in my has as my studio for several different creations pursuits. For notions by far the Best Buy was IKEA Alex draw units(2) I use one as part of my desk and the other in my closet. You get 5 draws with 2 being shallow for scissors, thread, chips, bobbins and the like and 3 deeper ones that can fit patterns, ribbon, larger spools of thread. I put labels on the u shaped opening of each draw. I also use 15qt clear bins for smaller amounts of fabric storage. They are big enough to hold ample fabric but not to deep that you have to rummage to find what you want. I can store 4 of these on top of the Alex unit 2 high. I choose not to go higher because it’s a pain to get to the bottom one. I have one square basket with a wire frame for stability for my fabric yardage. I wrap my fabric around comic book card board and use bobbypins to secure. They don’t rust or leave holes in your fabric. I can flip through my yardage like a card catalogue. I hope this is helpful. The only thing I don’t store in my room is my spinning fiber. I store it in a cedar chest I use as a coffee table.
I store everything, yarn, fabric, you name it, in clear plastic containers. That way it’s organized but out of the way. For notions specifically I use a sewing desk, but in the past have used small units of clear plastic drawers. Sharp stuff goes together, measuring in another, pressing and etc. thing is, I think you need more ‘stuff’ to sew, so welcome back! Sew many hobbies sew little time (and I haven’t purchased anything at all clothing wise for 18 months now). Yes, I even sew undergarments! They are so easy.......but sewing and knitting are good companions. Find Tomkatstitchery on UA-cam depending on how long it’s been for you, the landscape has changed considerably, including the young 20 somethings who of course, think they invented it. I’m just happy to see a new generation pick up a hobby I’ve had all my life. Laid it down for 30 years, but picked it back up 2 years ago or so.
I’m a messy/ADHD type, and I use two systems. For smaller stuff, I use a small drawer chest usually used to hold screws and hardware. It lives behind my sewing machine and has labeled drawers for needles, machine accessories, hand sewing tools, buttons, tape measures, etc. For larger stuff, I use small plastic totes that fit in a dresser, but they’d be easy to put on a shelf. Most of them are 5 quart, to hold zippers, beads, wire and metal stuff, string and cord, interfacing, paints, patterns, etc. I keep the categories pretty broad for each bin, because I won’t keep up a fussy system.
Think vertically to store sewing notions: pegboards are terrific for hanging scissors, rulers, etc. Ikea has a nice one and they have accessory shelves and bins that clip into the pegboard. You can also mount thread racks to the wall to save additional drawer space. Cutting mats can be stored under a bed or sofa if you don’t have the room to have them out on a table.
Hi Roxanne. What a great way to end the podcast! Ha ha! No type A really organized person here!🤣😂. It was nice to laugh out loud. Cathartic for sure. I have trouble organizing most things. Your sweaters are all so beautiful! Works of art! Love the hat, gnome and all the tidbits! Have a great week!💞
I'm so excited that you have made the 1898 hat. A few years ago, I offered to make my husband a winter tuque, but he said it had to dip down over the ears. Well, I took a deep-dive into Ravelry and found the 1898! It ticked all the boxes, including being super thick around the edge/ears. (We get Minnesota-like winters here.) And even better, it was a stash-buster : ) Now, I'd like to offer you all a gift--a perfect scarf to go with the 1898: It's called a "mariner's scarf" (aka Seaman's Scarf/Seafarer's Scarf). I'm told it has its origins in the Crimean War. It's a regular-width neck scarf, except for the middle part (which curves around the neck), which is much narrower. Sounds weird, I know...but it sits so nicely without the usual bunching. And the wider part crosses snugly over the chest for lots of warmth there, too. My husband loves how it just seems to settle itself without fuss and muss. There are several free Ravelry patterns, or feel free to use the notes I made on my project page! www.ravelry.com/projects/FirstHome/landlubbers-mariner-scarf
I have very little space and put all my sewing supplies in transparent boxes (mine are by "Really Useful Box"). All the boxes can safely stand one on top of the lid of the other. I made a tower of all my boxes and placed this tower on a furniture dolly with wheels. Bigger or heavier things like fabric are stored in the lower boxes. I store all the small things like thread, needles, buttones, zippers etc in the smaller transparent boxes. Two of the smaller boxes fit exactly on top of the bigger ones. The advantages of this system are that I can always see what is inside the transparent boxes , I save space and I can move my supplies around.
I bought a large, sturdy, clear vinyl shoe organizer and hung on the back of my sewing room door. I love it. Each pocket holds similar sewing notions, like zippers, Velcro, packages of rickrack and bias tape, extra boxes of pins and packages of needles. At the bottom are a few larger pockets that hold packages of interfacing. Everything is easily seen.
I know Im asking randomly but does someone know a method to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I love any help you can give me
@Damien Landry Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process now. Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
Storage drawers (plastic with wheels) thats designed for scrapbook paper make a good place to store fabrics. They're clear drawers so you can see what's in each drawer and they come in black or white opaque outsides. Also the smaller ones designed for office use that have organizational space on the top for office supplies work great for sewing notions (tracing or marking pencils, seam rippers, pins, pens, and more can be stored there to leave the drawers for patterns and fabric. A side note for keeping patterns whole (instead of cutting out your size and losing everything else) is to use newspaper. My Grandmother used newspaper, butcher's paper, brown craft paper, and also paper grocery bags - light weight card stock or even poster board could work also for her quilt patterns or patterns she sewed often. Just a few suggestions for you. Also one or two of the three drawer plastic dresser or deep square 2 drawer could work for storing your roving & spinning supplies.
Love the gnome and the hat. Thanks for sharing all you know. Years ago I got rid of my sewing basket and bought a rolly container-box-thingy from The Container Store. It has three compartments that stack and lock on yop of each other. It's easy to remove the compartments to get to what you need and rolls under my sewing table (which is only 26" high) when you don't need it. I store my machine embroidery and regular and special threads in clear boxes in the bottom compartment. In the middle is bias tape, extra pins/needles, drapery notions, buttons, lace, special scissors/cutting tools and mats. In the top is all my "sewing box" stuff: scissors, chalk, pin cushions, bobbins, the Bernina sewing box with all the feet, rulers/guides/tape measure. When I sew, I pull the whole thing from under the table, remove the top and I'm all set to go. --KateColors, Ravelry (I was going to put alink here but I just spilled coffee all over my tablet. PM me on ravelry and I can send a link.)
The more ideas I see, the more I realize how much depends on the way the room is used and the area available for storing! I have 6 foot long wire shelves (4 of them) in a closet, plus 6' length of floor under the bottom shelf (32'' from floor to shelf), with some of that floor space taken up with spinning equipment. I have room to put up a table for sewing when I need to, but it won't be feasible to keep the table up all the time.
I'm also a knitter and sewer. I use a wall-mounted peg board to organize my sewing things. Mine is from Ikea, but there are lots of sources. It's handy to have different size cups and shelves to tuck things in (visibly), and mine even has special holders for scissors.
I bought a sewing machine console with three drawers for my notions. The machine lives in the large cabinet that converts to allow you getting under while sewing. The top also flips back to double the working space when needed. Had it forever and love it. I cried the other night when my wheelchair lurched forward and smashed the cabinet doors in. I will figure out a way to repair it. Good luck with your journey to organization your way. ❤️
Hi Love the videos !!!. In the UK in WW2 when making sweaters especially for children the knitter would "sew" an area of duplicate stitch in the same shape as the patches you have on the inside of the garment. It might be a job for your knitting egg.
You could take a picture of the contents of a container and affix it to the outside...very visual and easy to change up. You could then have more of a general label that doesn't have to be changed as the specifics of the content changes. Fast and easy...so more likely to be done.
The organizing seems the most daunting of tasks. I have such an unorganized craft studio I don't even want to go in. I am trying to purge (it actually feels great once I make the decision and move whatever it is, out) but it such a slow process. You've given me some incentive to keep at it. Thank you.
made me smile when you said you made this for every man in your life. I thing we all have those patterns lol!!! i just finished up a Musselburgh for my dad :)
Another fun and interesting show! I don't have scads of sewing supplies but I do keep my thread in one of those clear plastic shoe holders. It made to hold 6 pairs so there are 12 pockets and I put the thread into colour families and put them in. For fabric I have a long under-the-bed clear container and I fold the fabric so that one folded edge is along the long edge of the container. That way I can each fabric I have. Again I don't have a huge stash so only need 1. (I do a bit of quilting and so store those pieces in smaller folded pieces in colour families). All my notions go into a dresser drawer so I can access all of them at one time. (one small lidless box holds elastic banding, another one zippers, another sewing machine feet etc.)
Hi Rox, I have had my old knitting manuals out tonight (researching bits and bobs in preparation for knitting a vintage jersey) here in the UK whilst waiting for your podcast to pop up. I had bought Montse Stanley on your recommendation and that was one of the books I was looking at. I had been perusing her publications section and as a result noticed she'd written another book which I bought (69pence!) - Knitting Your Own Designs for a Perfect Fit. After ordering the book I then decided to find out more about her and I was just looking at the Uni Southampton site when your podcast appeared in my notifications. It was so odd when one of your tidbits tonight was on exactly these topics!!
Thank you for the tip of yarnsub.com. As a newer knitter I’m sometimes looking for a less expensive yarn while still learning to knit garments while stirring clear of acrylics.
I sew and all my things live in my living room. Those Ikea storage boxes (kvarnvik) work really well for just tossing notions in, and then sticking a label on the outside, they have lids, they stack, they come in like three sizes. For small notions I got those Moppe mini storage chests, labeled the outside of each drawer with what's in it and was done. My favorite thing though that I've been doing for as long as I can remember is my thread is stored in those clear plastic tackle boxes with the snap closures. But don't get them from harbor freight (if it exists there), the snap closures break, get them from a tackle supply place. I've also seen people use the big tool boxes with the plastic drawers (which I find aesthetically displeasing) but then you can really see what's going on. Oh and a door hanger for the ironing board keeps that out of the way, those are great.
On the topic of mending, I have a commercially bought sweater that I have apparently started to love into shreds. I've been using it as an excuse to try out different methods of mending since I know there's no way I'm going to match it perfectly anyway. I think there's something kinda endearing about items that have been loved enough to extend their life via mending, even when clumsily done.
I knit, crochet, and sew, and I keep my sewing supplies , including the iron, in one of those metal caddies with wheels you get at Michael’s. The cutting board is permanently on a table, and my sewing machine and the overlock are on that same table, all ready to use.
I have an antique kitchen cabinet and old treadle sewing machine with drawers. Those along with the required blue metal cookie tins hold all my knitting, sewing, weaving and spinning supplies. I don’t keep a stash though. I buy what need for each project and throw out extras.
Some people use reinforcing thread in sock heels. Maybe add some in to the left sleeve - it could be limited to a centre rectangle/square as long as it was roughly in the right place?. I have just noticed that this has already been suggested but posted anyway
Just order the last copy of Monste Stanley’s book from Thrift Books. I also snagged a copy of No Idle Hands:A Social History of American Knitting. It sounded very interesting.
Alternate suggestion for prevention and protection of your sweater arms: Why don't you make polar fleece tubes to cover the chair arms? You can attach them around using velcro. You would not have to remove them from your arm if you need to get up periodically through out the day.
Do you have any tips on determining what kind of yarn you have as far as fiber is there’s no label? I know how to get wraps per inch to determine the weight (dk, etc) but how to figure out if it’s wool or not is giving me trouble. I tried the burn to see if it smelled or melted and couldn’t tell at all. I’ve got a several skeins of mystery yarn.
Hi, I’d knit a small swatch or two depending on how many different odd skeins you have and wash them, use a different colored clip style stitch maker to separate each swatch, make a note of this, put them all in a washing bag and wash them in the washing machine, one cycle will be enough, lay them out to dry, 100% wool will felt, acrylic, cotton and a mix of fibers won’t, but certain hand dyed yarns may felt too.
Since you mentioned organization, i’m wondering if you have considered or already have made a video on how to organize knitting supplies. i’ll do a search of your channel now. Thank you for yet another interesting video with lots of helpful info.
What if the 1898 hat was knitted using a different colour for the inside, then could it be used reversible? The inside crown decreases would need to be reversed too. Just a wee thought 🤷♀️
With regards to repairing the elbows in sweater sleeves... I don't know if this would work, but... what about treating the hole or worn area like an afterthought heel? That is, you would pick up the stitches with dpns of the appropriate size, above and below the area to be repaired. Then leaving the above needle in place to hold the stitches, you would cut out the worn stitches (kind of like steeking but more like an afterthought heel). Then, with a third dpn, and knitting flat in the original pattern, knit up to the above/top dpn and weave the two together. You would have to count the rows before hand to figure out where the worn area is in the pattern so that you would know where to start and where to end. I have no idea whatsoever if this is at all feasible as I am but a beginner-intermediate kniitter, but it does seem logical to me that it could work.
That's a technique that is commonly used for repairing larger holes (I've used it myself to repair a pair of socks I knit for a friend). You do have to also attach it on the sides. If there's no hole, or the hole is small, using Swiss darning (duplicate stitch) works really well.
@@RoxanneRichardson Yes., I think the sides could be woven in. Another thought I had is when using the above technique, when you got to the end of the necessary length to replace the worn pattern section, the knitting could be continued in stockinette. The stockinette part would then be folded to the inside making an internal extra layer. Then the replacement pattern part could be woven in on the top and sides, et voila, a repaired hole with secret padding. Just thinking... :-)
Just out of curiosity, why not re-knit the part that had a hole in it and then graft it to the sweater, after cutting out the damaged part? Provided there is enough yarn. Are there downsides to it?
I’m workings on the V-back Tee using German short rows.. yesterday during the return rows, where you knit the two loops together I realized one of the turns some rows back had dropped so I had a rather large loop instead of tidy stitches. I simply could not figure out how to drop down the section and repair it. I have done this many times even with lace but was unsuccessful with this. Do you have a video on this type of repair if not might this become one? I ended up unknotting about 10 rows to work the repair.
To prevent the elbow wear-through, could you make a "sleeve" for the chair arm? That way, you won't have to take an elbow sleeve off and on, and have several ones, etc. Plus, it might look cute, particularly if it's knitted!
THe surface that needs the cover is the one that's getting worn through. A cover would prevent wear on the chair arm by preventing anything sliding against its surface. I need to protect the sleeve from rubbing against another surface.
This video was published a year and a half ago, so you're going to have to give me more to go on, like what pattern you're talking about. In general, hats are knit with negative ease so that they stretch to fit. Typically the amount of negative ease is 10-15%, so a 19-20'' hat would be appropriate for someone with a 22'' head.
The copyright on my copy of Knitter's Handbook is 1993. And then it says "First published in Great Britain as The Handknitter's Handbook Copyright 1986, 1990 Monte Stanley"
Organizing tips for sewing: I bought a piece of pegboard (MDF with holes in it) and then made pegs from doweling to hold spools of thread and hung that in a closet. I also keep those clear plastic boxes that spinach or other greens come in and put supplies in those because you can easily see what's inside them.
Thank you so much! I watched her series on organizing sewing space and it really helped me. I realized that a lot of her tips were things that I had figured out on my own for organizing my knitting space, but I was at a loss when it came to my sewing!
I would highly recommend watching “Just Get it Done Quilts” channel on youtube. She just recently did a series on sewing space organization using very simple DIY tips and tricks.
I have had my knitting, spinning and sewing things all over the place or stashed where I couldn't see or use them. Drove my husband crazy and frustrated me so much. Last year I got a Dream Box by Create Room. It has saved my life and my sanity! It has shelves and clear totes (though I think the current system is different) and they come in three different sizes. I have one side with spinning and knitting supplies and one side with sewing supplies. It holds my 3 sewing machines and knitting accessories (swift, winder, lazy kate, etc) and has a fold out table. Best of all it closes up and hides everything. It is my miracle. I now have it set up in my college daughter's room (with her permission) and I can leave it open. Love it so much!
@Naomi Martinez-Goldstick,
That was going to be my suggestion, as well__I LOVE those units! 😺 Koala brand units are another idea for space saving, multi-purpose organization. Though both are a bit out of my budget range for the time being__I'm always thinking of ways I could 'hack' an Ikea, or (preferably) vintage wardrobe closet with a similar effect. The point is, to get ideas from these types of set-ups, even if you'd rather have an open system.
Enjoy your Dream Box! 💖🙌🙌🙌😺
I love Casual Fridays. It's like hanging out with a friend and chatting over a cup of coffee. 😀
You are a woman after my own heart apparently when it comes to organizing. I like things "to hand" and have rearranged a cart on wheels many times to make it hold various knitting notions in baskets and other "arty" containers so it finally works for me. My sewing notions have evolved the same way. I have accumulated various sized boxes, jars and lidded containers which I use for buttons, elastics, ribbons, etc. These have been rearranged as I find what fits best in which container. Eventually everything finds its "ideal" home and we live comfortably together. I have finally gotten to the place where I don't stress out about the nests of clutter. I just organize the nest occasionally with re-purposed containers that are pleasing to me. The process will never end but at least I know where everything is. And I can sit in my knitting chair and reach the most used items easily.
That hat is certainly going on my list for my husband as his ears are always cold. In 1967, his first winter in Canada (Ottawa), he got frostbitten ears. He was fooled by the sunshine and no one had warned him to protect his ears! I really like the way it tucks around the ears. You always talk about such interesting things here. Thank you. HUgs
I don’t have the luxury of a crafting space. I have to have my sewing stuff I use a lot available but able to be put away when I’m done. I have a sewing basket designed for storing sewing items. I bought it at Joanne’s. It has a flip open top and a tray inside. I keep my scissors, seam ripper, bobbins, needles, some thread, and a few other items in it. It’s easily portable, keeps the essentials in one place easy to access but out of the way. I’d suggest if you don’t find a prefab that is quite the right size, get a Very Useful Box in the dimensions that you need and make inserts/trays to fit the box out of foam core. Just Get It Done Quilts has a nice video on how to make organizational dividers/trays using foam core and a glue gun. For that matter she has some interesting economical ideas for organizing sewing supplies.
I was very intrigued by the 1898 hat....so I quickly got going on it, but realised that if you stop before knitting the crown, the pattern makes perfect ear-muffs for wearing under your cycle helmet... very pleased. I also only had DK wool but it worked just fine. Thank you again Roxanne 🚴♀️
You always share such good information and I feel like there is so much more to learn. I am a sewer and am not type A as far as organization. I use a room in my has as my studio for several different creations pursuits. For notions by far the Best Buy was IKEA Alex draw units(2) I use one as part of my desk and the other in my closet. You get 5 draws with 2 being shallow for scissors, thread, chips, bobbins and the like and 3 deeper ones that can fit patterns, ribbon, larger spools of thread. I put labels on the u shaped opening of each draw. I also use 15qt clear bins for smaller amounts of fabric storage. They are big enough to hold ample fabric but not to deep that you have to rummage to find what you want. I can store 4 of these on top of the Alex unit 2 high. I choose not to go higher because it’s a pain to get to the bottom one. I have one square basket with a wire frame for stability for my fabric yardage. I wrap my fabric around comic book card board and use bobbypins to secure. They don’t rust or leave holes in your fabric. I can flip through my yardage like a card catalogue. I hope this is helpful. The only thing I don’t store in my room is my spinning fiber. I store it in a cedar chest I use as a coffee table.
I store everything, yarn, fabric, you name it, in clear plastic containers. That way it’s organized but out of the way. For notions specifically I use a sewing desk, but in the past have used small units of clear plastic drawers. Sharp stuff goes together, measuring in another, pressing and etc. thing is, I think you need more ‘stuff’ to sew, so welcome back! Sew many hobbies sew little time (and I haven’t purchased anything at all clothing wise for 18 months now). Yes, I even sew undergarments! They are so easy.......but sewing and knitting are good companions. Find Tomkatstitchery on UA-cam depending on how long it’s been for you, the landscape has changed considerably, including the young 20 somethings who of course, think they invented it. I’m just happy to see a new generation pick up a hobby I’ve had all my life. Laid it down for 30 years, but picked it back up 2 years ago or so.
I’m a messy/ADHD type, and I use two systems. For smaller stuff, I use a small drawer chest usually used to hold screws and hardware. It lives behind my sewing machine and has labeled drawers for needles, machine accessories, hand sewing tools, buttons, tape measures, etc.
For larger stuff, I use small plastic totes that fit in a dresser, but they’d be easy to put on a shelf. Most of them are 5 quart, to hold zippers, beads, wire and metal stuff, string and cord, interfacing, paints, patterns, etc. I keep the categories pretty broad for each bin, because I won’t keep up a fussy system.
Think vertically to store sewing notions: pegboards are terrific for hanging scissors, rulers, etc. Ikea has a nice one and they have accessory shelves and bins that clip into the pegboard. You can also mount thread racks to the wall to save additional drawer space. Cutting mats can be stored under a bed or sofa if you don’t have the room to have them out on a table.
Hi Roxanne. What a great way to end the podcast! Ha ha! No type A really organized person here!🤣😂. It was nice to laugh out loud. Cathartic for sure. I have trouble organizing most things. Your sweaters are all so beautiful! Works of art! Love the hat, gnome and all the tidbits! Have a great week!💞
I'm so excited that you have made the 1898 hat. A few years ago, I offered to make my husband a winter tuque, but he said it had to dip down over the ears. Well, I took a deep-dive into Ravelry and found the 1898! It ticked all the boxes, including being super thick around the edge/ears. (We get Minnesota-like winters here.) And even better, it was a stash-buster : ) Now, I'd like to offer you all a gift--a perfect scarf to go with the 1898: It's called a "mariner's scarf" (aka Seaman's Scarf/Seafarer's Scarf). I'm told it has its origins in the Crimean War. It's a regular-width neck scarf, except for the middle part (which curves around the neck), which is much narrower. Sounds weird, I know...but it sits so nicely without the usual bunching. And the wider part crosses snugly over the chest for lots of warmth there, too. My husband loves how it just seems to settle itself without fuss and muss. There are several free Ravelry patterns, or feel free to use the notes I made on my project page!
www.ravelry.com/projects/FirstHome/landlubbers-mariner-scarf
I have very little space and put all my sewing supplies in transparent boxes (mine are by "Really Useful Box"). All the boxes can safely stand one on top of the lid of the other. I made a tower of all my boxes and placed this tower on a furniture dolly with wheels. Bigger or heavier things like fabric are stored in the lower boxes. I store all the small things like thread, needles, buttones, zippers etc in the smaller transparent boxes. Two of the smaller boxes fit exactly on top of the bigger ones. The advantages of this system are that I can always see what is inside the transparent boxes , I save space and I can move my supplies around.
I bought a large, sturdy, clear vinyl shoe organizer and hung on the back of my sewing room door. I love it. Each pocket holds similar sewing notions, like zippers, Velcro, packages of rickrack and bias tape, extra boxes of pins and packages of needles. At the bottom are a few larger pockets that hold packages of interfacing. Everything is easily seen.
I know Im asking randomly but does someone know a method to log back into an instagram account?
I was stupid lost my account password. I love any help you can give me
@Dennis Brantley instablaster :)
@Damien Landry Thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm in the hacking process now.
Takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.
@Damien Landry It worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thanks so much you saved my account!
@Dennis Brantley glad I could help :)
Storage drawers (plastic with wheels) thats designed for scrapbook paper make a good place to store fabrics. They're clear drawers so you can see what's in each drawer and they come in black or white opaque outsides. Also the smaller ones designed for office use that have organizational space on the top for office supplies work great for sewing notions (tracing or marking pencils, seam rippers, pins, pens, and more can be stored there to leave the drawers for patterns and fabric.
A side note for keeping patterns whole (instead of cutting out your size and losing everything else) is to use newspaper. My Grandmother used newspaper, butcher's paper, brown craft paper, and also paper grocery bags - light weight card stock or even poster board could work also for her quilt patterns or patterns she sewed often.
Just a few suggestions for you. Also one or two of the three drawer plastic dresser or deep square 2 drawer could work for storing your roving & spinning supplies.
Love the gnome and the hat. Thanks for sharing all you know. Years ago I got rid of my sewing basket and bought a rolly container-box-thingy from The Container Store. It has three compartments that stack and lock on yop of each other. It's easy to remove the compartments to get to what you need and rolls under my sewing table (which is only 26" high) when you don't need it. I store my machine embroidery and regular and special threads in clear boxes in the bottom compartment. In the middle is bias tape, extra pins/needles, drapery notions, buttons, lace, special scissors/cutting tools and mats. In the top is all my "sewing box" stuff: scissors, chalk, pin cushions, bobbins, the Bernina sewing box with all the feet, rulers/guides/tape measure. When I sew, I pull the whole thing from under the table, remove the top and I'm all set to go. --KateColors, Ravelry (I was going to put alink here but I just spilled coffee all over my tablet. PM me on ravelry and I can send a link.)
The more ideas I see, the more I realize how much depends on the way the room is used and the area available for storing! I have 6 foot long wire shelves (4 of them) in a closet, plus 6' length of floor under the bottom shelf (32'' from floor to shelf), with some of that floor space taken up with spinning equipment. I have room to put up a table for sewing when I need to, but it won't be feasible to keep the table up all the time.
I'm also a knitter and sewer. I use a wall-mounted peg board to organize my sewing things. Mine is from Ikea, but there are lots of sources. It's handy to have different size cups and shelves to tuck things in (visibly), and mine even has special holders for scissors.
I bought a sewing machine console with three drawers for my notions. The machine lives in the large cabinet that converts to allow you getting under while sewing. The top also flips back to double the working space when needed. Had it forever and love it. I cried the other night when my wheelchair lurched forward and smashed the cabinet doors in. I will figure out a way to repair it. Good luck with your journey to organization your way. ❤️
Those gnomes are fun, I’ve also made a few. I weighted a few down with beans.
Hi Love the videos !!!. In the UK in WW2 when making sweaters especially for children the knitter would "sew" an area of duplicate stitch in the same shape as the patches you have on the inside of the garment. It might be a job for your knitting egg.
The polar fleece sleeve protector should be sewed around the chair arm. Always there no matter what you are wearing!
@Eileen Luke,
That might end up felting the yarn 😏
Would it be any different, then, from the chair arm?
You could take a picture of the contents of a container and affix it to the outside...very visual and easy to change up. You could then have more of a general label that doesn't have to be changed as the specifics of the content changes. Fast and easy...so more likely to be done.
The organizing seems the most daunting of tasks. I have such an unorganized craft studio I don't even want to go in. I am trying to purge (it actually feels great once I make the decision and move whatever it is, out) but it such a slow process. You've given me some incentive to keep at it. Thank you.
Fish tank gravel in bottom of gnome works as well to weight it. Love gnomes.
I agree, love the Readers Digest Knitters Handbook - mine is hardcover from 1993. (edition) Thank you for explaining about that hat,
made me smile when you said you made this for every man in your life. I thing we all have those patterns lol!!! i just finished up a Musselburgh for my dad :)
It is pssible to use lentils or beams in place of poly pellets in stuffing the gnomes..
Good idea! Poly pellets are terrible for the environment!
Another fun and interesting show! I don't have scads of sewing supplies but I do keep my thread in one of those clear plastic shoe holders. It made to hold 6 pairs so there are 12 pockets and I put the thread into colour families and put them in. For fabric I have a long under-the-bed clear container and I fold the fabric so that one folded edge is along the long edge of the container. That way I can each fabric I have. Again I don't have a huge stash so only need 1. (I do a bit of quilting and so store those pieces in smaller folded pieces in colour families). All my notions go into a dresser drawer so I can access all of them at one time. (one small lidless box holds elastic banding, another one zippers, another sewing machine feet etc.)
Hi Rox, I have had my old knitting manuals out tonight (researching bits and bobs in preparation for knitting a vintage jersey) here in the UK whilst waiting for your podcast to pop up. I had bought Montse Stanley on your recommendation and that was one of the books I was looking at. I had been perusing her publications section and as a result noticed she'd written another book which I bought (69pence!) - Knitting Your Own Designs for a Perfect Fit. After ordering the book I then decided to find out more about her and I was just looking at the Uni Southampton site when your podcast appeared in my notifications. It was so odd when one of your tidbits tonight was on exactly these topics!!
I saw the Skein Tones on TL Yarn Crafts' podcast. They are gorgeous!
Thank you for the tip of yarnsub.com. As a newer knitter I’m sometimes looking for a less expensive yarn while still learning to knit garments while stirring clear of acrylics.
I sew and all my things live in my living room. Those Ikea storage boxes (kvarnvik) work really well for just tossing notions in, and then sticking a label on the outside, they have lids, they stack, they come in like three sizes. For small notions I got those Moppe mini storage chests, labeled the outside of each drawer with what's in it and was done. My favorite thing though that I've been doing for as long as I can remember is my thread is stored in those clear plastic tackle boxes with the snap closures. But don't get them from harbor freight (if it exists there), the snap closures break, get them from a tackle supply place. I've also seen people use the big tool boxes with the plastic drawers (which I find aesthetically displeasing) but then you can really see what's going on. Oh and a door hanger for the ironing board keeps that out of the way, those are great.
On the topic of mending, I have a commercially bought sweater that I have apparently started to love into shreds. I've been using it as an excuse to try out different methods of mending since I know there's no way I'm going to match it perfectly anyway. I think there's something kinda endearing about items that have been loved enough to extend their life via mending, even when clumsily done.
What about knitting some nylon (like for socks) into the elbow area when knitting a new sweater to prevent wear
I LOVE the 1898 hat!
I knit, crochet, and sew, and I keep my sewing supplies , including the iron, in one of those metal caddies with wheels you get at Michael’s. The cutting board is permanently on a table, and my sewing machine and the overlock are on that same table, all ready to use.
I have an antique kitchen cabinet and old treadle sewing machine with drawers. Those along with the required blue metal cookie tins hold all my knitting, sewing, weaving and spinning supplies. I don’t keep a stash though. I buy what need for each project and throw out extras.
Some people use reinforcing thread in sock heels. Maybe add some in to the left sleeve - it could be limited to a centre rectangle/square as long as it was roughly in the right place?. I have just noticed that this has already been suggested but posted anyway
I’ve made the ornament sized gnomes. Great pattern. Your larger one looks great!
Just order the last copy of Monste Stanley’s book from Thrift Books. I also snagged a copy of No Idle Hands:A Social History of American Knitting. It sounded very interesting.
Will your double layer crown for the 1898 hat be knit the exact same or the inner slightly smaller.
Alternate suggestion for prevention and protection of your sweater arms: Why don't you make polar fleece tubes to cover the chair arms? You can attach them around using velcro. You would not have to remove them from your arm if you need to get up periodically through out the day.
Do you have any tips on determining what kind of yarn you have as far as fiber is there’s no label? I know how to get wraps per inch to determine the weight (dk, etc) but how to figure out if it’s wool or not is giving me trouble. I tried the burn to see if it smelled or melted and couldn’t tell at all. I’ve got a several skeins of mystery yarn.
Hi, I’d knit a small swatch or two depending on how many different odd skeins you have and wash them, use a different colored clip style stitch maker to separate each swatch, make a note of this, put them all in a washing bag and wash them in the washing machine, one cycle will be enough, lay them out to dry, 100% wool will felt, acrylic, cotton and a mix of fibers won’t, but certain hand dyed yarns may felt too.
Since you mentioned organization, i’m wondering if you have considered or already have made a video on how to organize knitting supplies. i’ll do a search of your channel now. Thank you for yet another interesting video with lots of helpful info.
What if the 1898 hat was knitted using a different colour for the inside, then could it be used reversible? The inside crown decreases would need to be reversed too. Just a wee thought 🤷♀️
I ended up using a different yarn for the inside. I didn't see any need to reverse the decreases, though.
Awww! I love Sara's gnomes. I don't usually make toys either, but I've made so many of these over the last few years.
I look forward to seeing the suggestions for sewing organization. Like you, I need to see what I have!😊
A few pebbles in the bottom of the gnome just covered by the fibrefill should do the trick too :)
With regards to repairing the elbows in sweater sleeves... I don't know if this would work, but... what about treating the hole or worn area like an afterthought heel? That is, you would pick up the stitches with dpns of the appropriate size, above and below the area to be repaired. Then leaving the above needle in place to hold the stitches, you would cut out the worn stitches (kind of like steeking but more like an afterthought heel). Then, with a third dpn, and knitting flat in the original pattern, knit up to the above/top dpn and weave the two together. You would have to count the rows before hand to figure out where the worn area is in the pattern so that you would know where to start and where to end. I have no idea whatsoever if this is at all feasible as I am but a beginner-intermediate kniitter, but it does seem logical to me that it could work.
That's a technique that is commonly used for repairing larger holes (I've used it myself to repair a pair of socks I knit for a friend). You do have to also attach it on the sides. If there's no hole, or the hole is small, using Swiss darning (duplicate stitch) works really well.
@@RoxanneRichardson Yes., I think the sides could be woven in. Another thought I had is when using the above technique, when you got to the end of the necessary length to replace the worn pattern section, the knitting could be continued in stockinette. The stockinette part would then be folded to the inside making an internal extra layer. Then the replacement pattern part could be woven in on the top and sides, et voila, a repaired hole with secret padding. Just thinking... :-)
I would love to see a video on grafting the border of the 1890 hat, i.e., the shift between garter and slipped stitches.
There is no graft. The border has a column of 3 slipped stitches running vertically up the centre. It’s a very clever design.
I messed up the graft big time. I forgot about the border and ended up with a ridge there.
Just out of curiosity, why not re-knit the part that had a hole in it and then graft it to the sweater, after cutting out the damaged part? Provided there is enough yarn. Are there downsides to it?
I’m workings on the V-back Tee using German short rows.. yesterday during the return rows, where you knit the two loops together I realized one of the turns some rows back had dropped so I had a rather large loop instead of tidy stitches. I simply could not figure out how to drop down the section and repair it. I have done this many times even with lace but was unsuccessful with this. Do you have a video on this type of repair if not might this become one? I ended up unknotting about 10 rows to work the repair.
Oh. I found it thank you.
To prevent the elbow wear-through, could you make a "sleeve" for the chair arm? That way, you won't have to take an elbow sleeve off and on, and have several ones, etc. Plus, it might look cute, particularly if it's knitted!
THe surface that needs the cover is the one that's getting worn through. A cover would prevent wear on the chair arm by preventing anything sliding against its surface. I need to protect the sleeve from rubbing against another surface.
Have you ever knit a flat cap?
I dowloded a lot of their patterns.
Do you have a pattern for a men's crew neck vest? Thanks.
Please share your organisation tips, I’m awful 😢
The pattern says 19 inches, how can you make it to fit a 22 and a 24 inch head?
This video was published a year and a half ago, so you're going to have to give me more to go on, like what pattern you're talking about. In general, hats are knit with negative ease so that they stretch to fit. Typically the amount of negative ease is 10-15%, so a 19-20'' hat would be appropriate for someone with a 22'' head.
@@RoxanneRichardson Sorry I was talking about the 1898 Hat, I bought some real stretchy yarn so it should make the hat fit my hubby's head.
The copyright on my copy of Knitter's Handbook is 1993. And then it says "First published in Great Britain as The Handknitter's Handbook Copyright 1986, 1990 Monte Stanley"
Yep, mine says the same thing, with the addition of the 1999, 2001 copyright to Univ of Southampton.
Maybe put something on the arm of the chair itself that would have less friction.
Organizing tips for sewing: I bought a piece of pegboard (MDF with holes in it) and then made pegs from doweling to hold spools of thread and hung that in a closet. I also keep those clear plastic boxes that spinach or other greens come in and put supplies in those because you can easily see what's inside them.
Karen at “just get it done quilts “has just done three UA-cam episodes on organizing your sewing space I thought they were helpful.
I agree. Her ideas are very good.
Thank you so much! I watched her series on organizing sewing space and it really helped me. I realized that a lot of her tips were things that I had figured out on my own for organizing my knitting space, but I was at a loss when it came to my sewing!
I would highly recommend watching “Just Get it Done Quilts” channel on youtube. She just recently did a series on sewing space organization using very simple DIY tips and tricks.
Thank you so much for this recommendation! She had so many good ideas. It has helped me so much. :-)