Slooooow

I finished making my fabric!  On Monday, actually…  But I’m nowhere near finished-project-land.  The girls had a day off on Tuesday.  I guess it’s a good thing I said I was going to take my time.

Besides, every time I work on this project, something happens and I need to revise my vision.  There was the machine inexplicably making holes in the collar fabric I was knitting…

That I mended in contrast yarn. (Sorry.  I was going to add the Instagram photos but Instagram is acting up.  I tried embedding them and they don’t show up.  I tried sending them to flickr and they don’t show up.  Check out my feed to find them.)

And then, I ran out of the grey yarn while knitting the bodice pieces.  I’d been smart though!  I swatched using the olive yarn that I had less of and saved the grey for the real fabric.  And I was so sure I would have plenty! And then…

I mean, what was I going to do?  I couldn’t exactly make this sweater without a back!  And I got this yarn from a destash.  No way to get more.  No.  The only possibility I could see in the moment was to keep going with the olive yarn.  There will be colorblocking and that’s all there is to it.  The weird thing is, I’m feeling pretty laid back about it.  Normally, I would just stop everything and go nuts for a few hours. Seriously.  I would freeze, do something else, complain to Mr. Mouse in the evening, and then come up with a solution.  And grumble about my idea being messed with.  But this time?  I just accepted it and moved on.  Odd…

Yesterday, I tried sewing the fabric. I serged over and over again, changing settings on the machine every time. Still, I only got this.

So I tested the zigzag on my regular machine.  And it rippled.  I confess I didn’t try the walking foot.  To be honest, I’ve found it doesn’t behave very well on sweater knits.  I had one last trick to try.  Tissue paper under the fabric as I sew.  It keeps the fabric from stretching out as it moves under the presser foot.  And see here (I know they’re hard to see).

The original zigzag is on the right side and the one with tissue paper is on the left.  Much better!  But you know what?  The tissue paper gets a little caught in the stitches so I have to remove it bit by bit with tweezers.  Yay. But again, I’m feeling okay about it.  So I need to use the zigzag with tissue paper to finish my edges.  So I’ll be picking out tissue paper from my seams for ages.  But I’m fine with it.  Huh…  Must be getting older.

I won’t get to work on this project today because I have V at home with me but tomorrow?  Tomorrow I sew! We’ll see if my newfound relaxed attitude is still alive then…

About deuxsouriceaux

Creative mommy at home to two wonderful little girls, trying to juggle family, sewing, exercise, family, knitting, photography, and did I mention family?