Crew neck t-shirt necklines bother me. I don’t like things touching my neck, but I do like the longer short sleeves and longer hem of crew neck shirts. I have found a new way to fix the problem.
Photo description: rainbow tie-dye crew neck t-shirt with “Embrace Differences” in black (my design and available on TeePublic), with the neckband cut off.
Rather than leave the raw edge, which looks OK from a distance but untidy up close, I whipped stitched a tiny hem around the neckline.
Photo description: picking up a single thread from the back side of the fabric with a needle.Photo description: whip stitch continues through about a 1/4 inch of the raw edge of the hem.Photo description: inside-out view of the finished neckline hem.
Yes, it is hand-sewing. I did see a tutorial that used a narrow zigzig machine stitch, but I’m not good with knits and machine stitching. I like sewing some things by hand because it gives me more control.
Photo description: three t-shirts with new hand-sewn necklines.
I liked this method so much, I pulled shirts from my closet and redid them as well!
I saw the idea of using a numbered chain to count knitting rows. A simple sequence of 1-10, with a melody clip to mark the tens, will allow counting up to 110. I did not want to buy plastic beads, but I did have copper circles and chain in my stash.
Photo description: clockwise – metal hole punch, antique ball peen hammer, bent nose pliers, copper circle, copper chain, metal number stamp
I started by punching two holes in the sides of the copper circles, then I stamped a number between the circles and planished the back flat. I connected the number links with links of chain.
Photo description: copper circles linked with oval copper chain surrounded by the tools mentioned above. My “10” link is a 0 because there wasn’t room for a 1.
I made a small melody clip out of 20 gauge copper wire. The size of the copper links means this will only work on knitting needles that are size 2 or smaller, which is perfect for sock making.
Photo description: toes of two socks with the row counter on the needle between stitches. The melody clip is on the first link, and the needle is through the eighth link.
To use the row counter, every time you knit to it, you move it one link. For the start of the sock toes, I’m really just using it to keep track of odds or evens, an increase row or no increase row. This is because I had to rip out these socks already because I forgot the no increase rows. I do like the row counter!
Photo description: garter knit scarf held up vertically showing a helix twist.
The pictures that accompanied the scarf pattern showed a lovely wide double-sided ruffle, but the title was helix scarf, which caused me to wonder, until I had knit awhile. So cool that the short rows on each side make this twisted effect. I really like short rows, and I like this pattern because it is a three-row repeat, which is easy to remember.
The fold down benches that I installed in the chicken coop are still high on my recommended list. I used 2x4s, heavy duty hinges, two lengths of chain with lockable links, screw eyes, and a hook and eye to keep it in the upright position. It folds up so the chickens can’t poop on the surface, but is easy to fold down. It makes a great work bench for filling water, and is fantastic when I need to sit when I’m not feeling well but still need to tend the chickens.
Photo description: Fold down bench held up with chain, with an empty large poultry waterer and two chickens looking for grubblies underneath.
Photo description: blue, yellow, and white variegated socks with ribbed cuffs on my feet.
I finished a garment! Ok, yes, it was a pair of socks, but they fit! In addition I learned many things, such as I don’t like knitting socks top down, and I’m not a fan of a heel flap construction. I should probably use smaller needles, too.
What I did like about this project is knitting both socks at once with two circular knitting needle sets. When I was done knitting one sock, I was also done with both socks. No trying to make a second match! Two needle sets were quite fiddly with this pattern and method, but I have hopes for the next pattern that uses a toe up method!
I know other people really like the top down method, and enjoy double pointed needles. I’m glad we are all different and that there are people out there sharing their preferred methods.
Critters and Craft 