February 2013 – Page 3

My first attempt at sewing with knits! This one is made from a stretch knit microfleece. I’m afraid I was completely unable to shake the joy of animal prints ingrained in me by Jungle January, so I lined the hood with blue leopard print fabric. Seemed the obvious choice. I may have an animal print addiction; therapy might be necessary.

I am currently taking the Sewing With Knits class through Craftsy and this is the first project. The pattern is from the class, except for the lining in the hood. I added the lining, by constructing another hood out of the leopard print fabric, a thin knit jersey, and sewing it to the hood.

Because I don’t have a serger / overlocker, I used the stretch stitch on my regular sewing machine (two stitches forward, one stitch back), it takes a long time and uses a lot of thread, but I think it looks better than a narrow zig-zag. I also used an overlock stitch on the exposed seams on the hood and lining and a twin needle for the sleeve and bottom hems.

Most people put this idea out there right at the start of January when everybody is supercharged and makes vows like:

“I will eat healthy and exercise”
“I will love every human I meet”
“I will read more and become proficient in nine languages” –and–
“I will never drink again”.

Then, after a sobering month has gone by, people tend to go back to their set ways. So, I thought this would be the perfect time to spring Pay it Forward on you!!

Last month, I was one of the lucky first five to sign up on the lovely Vivjm’s blog and so now, I am doing my part.

The rules are very simple.

The first five people to post a comment here will receive a handmade gift from me at some point during 2013. You won’t know when and you won’t know what, but I can assure you, it will happen. (I will email you for your snail mail, so it will be private).
As one of the five, you agree to do the same for five other people.

Kitty, of course will help with the hand (paw) made items.

What a wonderful way to meet new folks, as well as a beautiful and simple method to share the love, as they say. So, let’s spread the crafty goodness around so we can feel the genuine excitement of handmade delights delivered right to our mailboxes. Snail mail rocks!