Knit = Machine enemy

Last night while I was sitting at my sewing machine contemplating why it hates Knit material sew much, I thought I should start logging the music I listen to. Yes, that was one of those thoughts that came out of the blue. I don't pick music to sew to, I pick music to fit my moods. Last nights playlist
Pentaphobe- Sawdust
Queen of the Damned Soundtrack I'm not sure if I have the explicit version or what. I bought the soundtrack like within months of the movie coming out.
12 Tales-Various Artists



It never fails, my machine just can not stand anything that has more than a slight stretch to it, especially knits. It's okay with some of the cotton fabrics that have a bit of give to it. I thought I was humming along nicely but low and behold, nope. I don't know how many times i've ripped thread out because of the HUGE gap of missed stitches. I pulled out the manual and read over it several times. I took all the suggestions, make sure using correct needle size for material, change needle to new and sharp, adjust top tension thread, adjust pressure foot, adjust bottom tension, check stitch width and so on. I've done all of those things and still skipping some serious stitches. I wanted to wear the shirt in public, like to work, but nope, not gonna happen. UGH! I should know all this, everytime, never fails, knit + my machine= knit fail. I think I might pull out the other machine and give it a go with knit and see how it reacts as well as making sure it works. I have yet to plug in the other machine and test it. Maybe it's not just my machine, maybe it's all the Sears Kenmores. I'm not going to do anything more with this shirt. It was a good practice run and I made a few more adjustments to my pattern, like lowering the neck about 1/2 inch and I need to lower the arm holes by a 1/4 to 1/2 inch as well, for just a smidge more room. I also need to widden the shoulder some, about 1/4 inch. I added a strip of gathered knit material to the front like a flounce, it'a about 4 inches wide. Next time I decide to do a shirt like this, which I will because I have several other knits I wanted to use, I will try to use my alien ruffler foot attachment.





How come it seems I use more material(i do) to make a copy of a shirt than the actual shirt? The other shirt fits me fine and it's not even a knit material, it's some kind of blend material cotton/polyester I think.




I've finished all the little pattern weights that I made. I can't wait to use them on my next project. I found a couple of my floral sew on embellishments and glued them to the top to give them a little more interest. They are very plain right now. 1 of those PW's has 6 ball bearings from a vehicle, well cleaned of course. The bearings I believed are called hub bearings, they are part of what keeps the wheels turning. Ask my hubby he's more technical when it comes to car talk. I know it, just not all the correct lingo, I just know what it does and where to find it, most of the time.




Here is a quick shot of how I reinforced the top edge of the tapestry that we have hanging on the wall. It's actually one of those printed throws, we decided to hang it up instead. I took it down to wash it and noticed that small holes were forming where it was tacked at. It's a relatively heavy piece to be hanging by a few tacks and i'm suprised that the holes weren't bigger because of it's own weight or the cats trying to climb it. I wished I had black felt but I didn't and I really didn't feel like trying to dye the felt so I left it as is, besides, it's on the back side. I cut the felt in 1 and half (1.5") inch strips and then sewed the strips end to end till I had a long enough piece to reach from one side to the other. I zigzagged stiched the top of the felt and the straight stitched the bottom of the felt. I have yet to hang it, i'm short. I need to pull the couch out and stand on the back of it or get the step chair which is taller and use that. I just don't want to pull the couch out but I probably should to do the cat toy round up.





I love Halloween. I have Halloween decorations that never get put up. I have skulls hanging around all over. LOL! I think Skelanimals are to darned cute! I saw this in the Halloween fabric section and just had to have a piece. I think i'm going to make a bag and a shirt using a hand drawn picture and applique techinque for Halloween. I also think I want some more of this fabric, as well as this totally awesome skull fabric that was there in the same section.

Something new

Not much of a creative spark lately. I did do a beaded face for SassyArtGoddess beaded face swap but I didn't put the full address and had it sent back. I need to get a picture but I was soooooooooooooooooo disappointed in myself for making that mistake. UGH!

Yesterday I started on this and finished. I had some silver plated jump rings in 2 sizes and got the wild hair to try a weave I haven't done before. I think this is called Helm chainmaille. I used purple glass dagger beads and bicone beads for a little color.

Bracelet is about 8inches long and will fit a wrist of 7"-7.5". I'd say a 7" wrist is the best fit, not to loose but doesn't slide to far down on the hand.



The earrings are about 4 inches from the top of the earring post to the bottom of the dangle. They have a little weight but not much.



The pendant measures about 3 inches from the top of the jump ring to the end of the dangle. The necklace it's currently on is silver plated 30" in length. One end reminds me of ear threads and the other end a barrel that the end of the necklace slides into. I got the necklaces in silver and gold tone for very cheap. They make decent display necklaces. I'd like to do a necklace in Helm, like a choker and have the pendant hang from that.



I'm really happy how these turned out. I actually spent time on making the wraps on the dangles as even and as neat as possible. I only had to redo one dangle and that's because the dagger bead was messed up. Now I wish I had some more jump rings in the two sizes so that I could make a few more like these. I really like how the bracelet feels and the pendant and earrings have a bit of weight but not to much.

I'm still here

PHEW! work has been keeping me busy and I kept forgetting to grab the camera and download a few pictures. I didn't get to much done over the July 4th weekend but here is what I'm currently working on
This is supposed to be a moon pendant. I'm using the silver filled wire and 11/0 pearl colored seed beads. I have several different types of beads to fill in the center part, just haven't gotten there yet.

This is also going to be a pendant but I haven't really decided anything concrete on it yet. This is silver filled wire, hammered. I have found that if you hammer it to thin it becomes brittle and soft and will break fairly easy. Sorry that I don't have the thickness off this hammered piece, I'll try to remember next time. I did manage to wrap the whole of the frame in a thinner gauge of silver filled wire.


These are a couple of polymer clay cabs that I made a long time ago and I finally got around to sanding and sealing and buffing them. They will be made into pendants.


I made this bead, it's actually got a hole that runs through it, several years ago. It was the first really big swirly bead I made, using black and alazarian crimson premo clay. Such gorgeous colors together. I had started making a wrap for the other 2 clay cabs but I made it way to wide and nothing fit, not even some of my really nice stone cabs. This was the only thing that fit. I'm not real thrilled with it because it just kinda lost interest when the setting just wasn't working. I'll try again another time.

These are just a lovely pair of earrings that I made for myself. I love purple, it's even my birthstone.

It's Hot!

We've been hitting triple digits lately or very close to triple digits. All I want to do really is sleep and stay cool. Since I haven't finished the purple fringe bracelet, I thought I'd share some pictures.

I love taking pictures of clouds. Clouds all white and fluffy, storm clouds, sunrise or sunset, I love to take their picture. I wish I had a better camera or atleast the wide angle lens attachment.

Enjoy!

This is an altered pictures. I was playing around in PhotoShop.


This is just an interesting picture. Unfortunately the picture really doesn't capture the intensity of the color and the shape of the cloud.


I thought this was an interesting formation. Kinda reminds me of some type of dinosaur. It was taken the same day as the photo above, same cloud formation.


Just an interesting lonely cloud.


This photo kinda looks like somebody sitting adjusting their hat.