Button Evolution Part 3 2018 Or A Stitch in Time Part 5?

I wasn’t too sure what name to give this blog as it deals with the Summer Cape and Toggles. I will let you decided which series of blogs it belongs with.

Summer Cape Gap Width Problem

I have a bit of a Gap Width problem with my Summer Cape. This is a result of two problems. One is that I have put on weight a bit of weight since it was originally made. The second problem is that with it being reclaimed yarn it has a tendency to stretch.

Unfortunately the belt I made to pull the edges together is no longer sufficient and I am going to come up with something else.

I-Cord and Loop

In order to combat the increasing gap and it falling off my shoulders I have decided to add fastenings to it. Luckily I have some of the cotton I used to knit the edging left.

I wasn’t quite sure exactly how much cord I needed. Therefore I knitted a test piece of approximately 7cm.I then sewed the tail ends together to make a Loop.

Toggle Sewn

I used the edge of the brown and grey as a marker and sewed on one of the Toggles I had taken off the Green Winter Cape.

Loop Sewn

Using the same marking point I sewed on a Loop on the underside of the opposite edging.

Pin Markers

Next I measured roughly 6 cm between each Toggle and marked the place with a pin. I then sewed each Toggle and Loop in place.

The Toggles were fine but the Loops looked awful. Therefore I unpicked them and reattached on the Front.

Toggles and Loops Finished?

I now have six Toggles and Loops in place. As you can see I haven’t put them all the way down. I am going to try it like this and see how I get along.

If I need more fastenings I will have to soak the other Toggles first. This is because most of them have dye marks from being on the Winter Cape. – Watch this space.

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 4

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 4

This blog continues with the repair of the Green Cape

Pocket Blemish

The first repair I did was the blemish on the pocket. I know the pocket looks awful being twisted and lopsided even without the blemish. However please remember that this was my first ever attempt at making a pocket.

Pocket Flower

I was limited to colours because of the dark background. Therefore I chose to use White and Green to make the flower. I then used the multi-toned colour for defining the petals

Pocket Side Blemish

 

This blemish is on the same side as the pocket but near the top.

Side Flower

Since it was on the same side I thought I would do the same sort of flower. I am not very good at distinguishing flowers but I think it looks a bit like a rose.

Sleeve Hole

This sleeve only appeared to have a minor hole and small blemish on it.

Sleeve Flower

I decided to put a leaf where the small hole was then embroider up and cover the blemish with a bloom. 

Sleeve Many Holes

The opposite sleeve seemed to be riddled with holes and blemishes.

Upper Sleeve Flower

The upper part was easily fixed with a small White and Purple flower.

Other Side Two Flowers

 I did two different kinds of flowers. The upper I think looks more like buds just beginning to open up – or alternatively some kind of cactus.

One thing I haven’t touched on is the sheer difficulty of trying to embroider in such a small space. The upper part near the shoulder is not too bad but the further down the sleeve you get towards the cuff it because a nightmare.

I sincerely hope that this is the last time I have to do any embroidery on it for a couple of years.

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 2

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – Part 2

If you are wondering if you have missed a blog you haven’t. The 1st Part was written in 2016. I have pasted the link at the end.* It might make more sense if you read that blog first.

With this the last blog of 2017 I thought it would be useful to touch on that sore subject – lack of money. Most people have spent a fortune over the Yuletide and will be cutting back in the New Year. Here is one way you can save money. Repair and modify old items.

Green Cape – Top Holes

 

The Green Cape I made has not been able to be worn of late as I noticed threads coming away in places. It needed mending – Again!

Green Cape - Middle Holes

Last time I simply did a quick darn with sewing in loose ends where I found them. This time I would have to find a better solution.

Green Cape – Top Centre Flower

In order to strength the whole area around where it is coming away or fraying I decided to do a spot of embroidery. Fortunately I had several balls of yarn of different colours left over from both the Green Cape project and others.

Green Cape – Top Right Flower

The small holes could be covered by small flowers. However some areas had several holes too close together to do small flowers singularly. Therefore I did a larger flower complete with leaves.

Green Cape – Lower Top Flowers 

The more flowers I embroidered the more holes I seemed to find. In order to spread out the colours I alternated between white, brown and purple flowers.

Green Cape – Middle Back Flowers

Some areas seemed to be fine until closer inspection. This is because the unravelling was showing on the underside rather than the right side.

Green Cape - Bottom Left Flower

This little hole nearly escaped my notice. It was the constant turning whilst embroidering the other flowers that loosened the threads enough to spot. I have more to repair on other parts of the Cape but until I have done that I will move on.

Other Money Saving Ideas

A kind friend - Laura of Alyssa Rose Boutique recently renovating her shop and saved lots of things for me that she thought I might like.(https://www.facebook.com/Alyssa.Rose.Boutique)

Old Chocolate Tin

Chocolate Tins and Tubs are in abundance around Yuletide. This particular one is very old and I had to look it up to find that it was made by Cadbury’s in the 1930’s.

Bead Tin

Inside the Tin was a collection of small bottles. Apparently Laura’s Grandmother used them to put beads in. So who am I to break with tradition?

More Beads 

I sorted all the loose beads I could find and put them into the bottles. I wish I had thought of this idea years ago as it not only gave me more room in my sewing box but I also found more that I had forgotten I had. It was certainly put to good use as I used some of the beads on the Flower Brooches from last week’s blog.

Another Needle Notion

Amongst the items given to me were knitting needles galore. It took me ages to sort them and when I did I found a few odd needles and a couple of broken ones. Rather than throwing them away I decided to use them as supports for my tomato seedlings.

I am still sorting through all the goodies so I may find other items that give me money saving ideas.

*

http://lady-jane-quirky.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/autumn-cape-stitch-in-time-saves-9-but.html

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – but only if you have the Yarn

Autumn Cape: A Stitch in Time Saves 9 – but only if you have the Yarn

Apologies for the presentation of this blog there is a technical error somewhere that escapes me.

I know that this blog is quite soon after the last but I had a reminder of something that perhaps I should have mentioned earlier. Therefore I am tagging it in with the Autumn Cape series though it is only vaguely related.

As you know I like to try and reuse materials as and when they become available. 

Green Bamboo Top  

Copyright Knit Nottingham 2011

The jumper in the post above became far too big for me so I unravelled it and made a cape a couple of years back.

Green Cape

Copyright S. Oates 2015

Unfortunately I caught the bottom of it in the wheels of a mobility scooter and tore the edging so I would have had to mend it.

Torn Edging

I quickly used some of the strands hanging off to secure the edging. I remembered the old adage- A Stitch in Time Saves 9. This would prevent further damage whilst I was trying to repair it.

I also noticed that during the last wash some holes had appeared. These too would have to be mended.

Holes in back of Cape

Luckily I kept some yarn back to use in case it ever needed repairing. The green cotton was fine but I had problems with the edging. I had both the pattern and yarn but due to an oversight I had never made a note of what needles I had used when customising the pattern.

A slight panic enveloped and I turned to social media for advice. After discussing it with the combined brains of the crafters of both ‘Witchy Threads - From Spindle To Hook and Eye’ and ‘Pagan and Magical Knitting and Crochet’ they came up with the suggestion of trying putting needles in the gaps and see which fit.

This I duly tried. Unfortunately I still couldn’t quite work out which needles to use. Then I had a brain wave. Since the cape was made a few years back when I was only beginning to get back into knitting I would only have had a few sets of needles.

I could discount the double ended needles and had misplaced (and still not found) my bamboo set so that only left my circular needles. Instant night time rummage otherwise known as tipping box upside-down and getting out all needles.

Aha! Eureka! Only 4 sets and two of them were the same size. Get yarn and cast on 5 stitches – that was the start of pattern. Way too small thus must be the largest size. Sigh of relief.

Edging

This is the Wavy Pattern on 5mm needles

Repaired Edging

This shows the Edging sewn on top of the damaged piece

Holes Mended

The Cape is once again fit for purpose. Many thanks for the advice and a good reminder of why it is important to note things down if customising patterns!