Knitting machine experiment

On August 14, 2026 By CarynIn Craft

I decided to see what would happen if I knit the full length of my “Incredible Sweater Machine”, and since I can’t seem to only change one thing, would it be lace-like if I left every third stitch unhooked?

Photo description: The incredible sweater machine clamped to a narrow table with a full width swatch of fabric knitted with every third stitch skipped

I was thinking that there were needles missing on my machine because there are blank slots at each end, but the blank places are parking for the knitting cartridge. The cartridge needs to be completely clear of the needles in order to be ready to knit the next row. The loops on the very end are a little squirrely as the fabric lengthens because they angle inward and it takes extra attention to make sure they don’t pop off. Other than that, knitting the full row of needles isn’t much different than making a smaller panel.

Skipping stitches is just a matter of placing a needle in a non-working position. The shuttle puts yarn over the area, but doesn’t pull it in and make a loop. However, when I removed the fabric from the machine, the knit stitches happily expanded into the space and just became loose, not lace-like at all.

Photo description: panel of knit fabric with skipped stitches, on the left the stitches have eased back together and the stripe dissapeared

I decided to put a rib in where I left a blank, which is what is recommended for making a rib stitch on the machine. It was definitely awkward using a crochet hook and linking the loops after the fabric was off the machine, but I can firmly say that I am no longer apprehensive about runs in my knitting!

Photo description: same fabric panel but with the spaces turned into perl stitches, the top and bottom edge now lay flat

The yarn I used was from the scrap bin and turned out to be self striping, which was a surprise as I knit. I rather like the bold horizontal rows of color with the vertical texture stripes of the rib, and there is the bonus that at least the top and bottom of the fabric doesn’t curl. It turns out the ribbing at the bottom of a sweater isn’t to give it an elastic band, but to keep the bottom from curling up. Hm.

Hem stitching: rib knit

On August 4, 2026 By CarynIn Craft

The whip stitch is very useful for putting hems on finely knit items like t-shirts or soft pants. Because fine knits are difficult to unravel, you don’t need to fold over the edge twice, you can stitch over the cut edge, which also gives the hem a lower profile. If you are hemming a ribbed knit, lining up the ribs helps keep the fabric even and gives a nice gauge for stitch size!

Photo description: hemming fine ribbed knit pants with a hand-sewn whip stitch

I started at a seam, and hid the thread knot in the seam fold. Then I put the needle through the pearl side (indent) stripe on the inner layer, and just picked up a couple loops on the next rib of the outer layer. To keep the stitches at the right tension, after stitching a few I pulled open the ribbing to draw in the thread. This leaves the stitches loose so they won’t show and are less likely to snap when the fabric stretches. Pulling the stitches tight would result in a visible stitch line that would break the first time the fabric stretched.

Photo description: finished hem that is nearly invisible

Wheel chair bag

On July 20, 2026July 17, 2026 By CarynIn Craft, Uncategorized

The pocket on the back of the wheelchair can only hold a pamphlet, anything thicker pokes the rider in the back. So I made a separate organizer type for long zoo trips where we need spaces for water bottles. My youngest requested space fabric, so we selected a print-on-demand pattern from Spoonflower on cotton denim fabric. I made three pouches by sewing a sleeve so none of the white backing shows.

Photo description: denim fabric sewn right-sides together, turned inside out and the seam pressed with a wood seam roller to lay flat

I put three sleeves on the backing fabric, and sewed down the center to make six pouches. I then made loops for the top corners to go over the handles and straps for the bottom to attach to the wheelchair frame. All of this sandwiched between another rectangle of denim. My Singer model 66 treadle handled the denim up to six layers, but eight was a struggle (a little extra oomph with the handwheel sometimes works, but you risk a bent needle). When I turned the entire assembly right side out I had to move the edge stitches in so I wasn’t sewing through 12 layers of denim (this organizer is hefty!)

Photo description: finished organizer installed on the back of a Drive brand wheelchair

I’m pleased with the flat construction, it doesn’t interfere knees when pushing and it folds up with the chair well.

I’m also trying to track my time on projects. This one took me 2.5 hours of active time.

Throwback Thursday: T21 bracelet

On May 21, 2026 By CarynIn Craft, throwback

In August of 2017 I made custom metal buttons for Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) awareness bracelets by drilling two holes in aluminum discs and stamping them.

Photo description: six handmade aluminum buttons in two sizes stamped with “T21” or “Tri 21” and a looped ribbon stamp

I then crocheted braided bracelets and used the buttons for the closures.

Photo description: Trisomy 21 bracelet with custom button and blue and yellow crocheted and embroidered braid

Photo description: bracelet being worn on my wrist

Throwback Thursday: combo apron

On May 14, 2026 By CarynIn Craft

In June 2017 I combined a couple ideas for an egg/harvest apron. I put small pockets on the apron face and put buttons and button holes so the apron could be configured to hold larger things than eggs.