the kitteh love the quilt

Charlie's quilt is more-or-less finished, except that it's a continuing work in progress as I add some hand-quilting detail with perle cotton. That is, when I can find the quilt unoccupied by boy and/or feline.

Elodie was rather suspicious of me hanging it on the line for a photo.

No really, I'm not looking at it, this is not bothering me at all.

The fabric is Tula Pink's Prince Charming, for my boy who loves frogs and green. Plus a couple of linens: one from the stash (Japanese I think) and some chocolate linen from the shop-around-the-corner.

There's a reasonable amount of wonkiness, which I don't mind since the original rows of patterned fabrics were bothering me a bit with their... straightness. The stretchiness of the linens and the wanderings of Charlie's sewing together of all the rows have given it that handmade look I prefer. (Even if I have had to patch up a few seam holes.)

It's rather jolly vast - longer than my washing line will wind up off the ground - and wasn't the easiest thing to manipulate under the machine to quilt along each row.

And I think I'll keep going with the perle cotton stitching for quite a while. The more I do the more I like it (and the more it distracts from the imperfect machine quilting). And wow, I've never used perle cotton before. It's so much lovelier than standard embroidery thread to use. And isn't hand stitching soothing? Hand quilting by the fire is something I can see myself doing for many winters to come.

- Jane x

and it shall be a pyjama top

I should be lighting the fire. Or sorting the five loads of washing I've done today. Or checking what that odd scratching noise is coming from the chooks' nesting box. Or cooking tea for my small people, who I will have to drag off to our community childcare centre's AGM tonight. (I am Chair. Can you see the neon 'sucker' sign on my forehead?)
Instead, I will blog about a raglan-sleeve top I sewed for Jasper.

It's fine, but it's not great. I think a lot has to do with my fabric choices.
I used this pattern, which seems to be very well-spoken of around blogland.

yay, they do a size 8 - 14 version!

My cyber-friend Inder has whipped up a bunch of  lovely versions for her little boy.
I really like the fit - not too boxy, and I do like a raglan sleeve.

However I think I should have made the neck band a bit smaller, to pull the neckline in a bit more.

Also, the red (very bright!) is a lovely soft double knit, while the sleeves and neckband are a rib knit. They're both really beautiful quality Hilco fabrics and a delight to sew with. But they have different textures and I think the rib is a bit too stiff for the parts I chose to use it for.
On the eternal thread question, I used a polyester thread and a zigzag stitch. The construction calls for stitching wrong sides together then topstitching the seam allowance down on the outside for a raw edge look that I think should be fairly sturdy. Fingers crossed that these seams hold.
The hems at sleeves and bottom are completely unfinished which is a bonus since that's where my stitching tends to do most of its stretching and snapping.
(Am now simultaneously cooking, lighting fire, blogging and patting self on back for multitasking, which will go pear shaped any minute.)
I will try this pattern again, and I might even just pull out the overlocker and sew it the 'regular' way I would knits. And I'll match the fabric types better. And tighten up that neckline. Then I think I'll be onto a good thing that might see wear beyond the house.
Jasper was excited about the prospect of a new pyjama top though. Trouble is I might have to make some matching pants now.

- Jane x

sometimes learning is exciting and cool, other times it sucks nasty stuff

What kind of thread should be used for which kind of sewing?
This is a mystery that I've been working through by trial and error. Surprisingly I've found rather little information about it. Today however, this free download popped into my email inbox and has shed some light on the matter. (It's quite a good little e-book of sewing tips.)
Wish I'd seen it before some of my recent sewing with knits.
See, I've been drawn to cotton thread. I love me a natural fibre, and no-one seemed to be giving me compelling reasons to use something else. Besides, mightn't polyester thread potentially melt under a hot iron?
So anyway I sewed this with cotton thread:

Fig. Aaargh

That's twin needle stitching on the bottom hem of this top, which despite the wonky stripes and thanks to some encouraging comments - thank you! - I finished up and have been wearing a lot.
However. A couple of times in the putting-on or taking-off of this top I've heard that dreaded snap! of a thread being stretched to breaking point. See Fig. A above.
And now I realise that cotton thread has a lot less strength than polyester, and is not really the best option for sewing fabrics with stretch.
Silk thread is apparently very strong and has some natural give in it. I've always wondered what silk thread might be for. My local store doesn't sell it but I've seen a large bank of Gutermann silk thread at Spotlight. Is it really pricey? The hedonist in me rather likes the idea of sewing with silk thread.
Also in the sucky department is the fact I used cotton thread for my beloved Miz Mozelle, and when I was reaching around in the car to strap Clem into his seat, I heard that horrid snap! again.

Fig. Bummer

I guess the bias tape has more give in it than my cotton thread. (See Fig. B.)
What kinds of thread do you use? I'd love to hear some other opinions and advice, especially since I am keen to sew a lot more knits.
To end on a less frustrating note, here is a photo of some gingerbread, decorated entirely by Clem and his friend Summer from across the road. I was rather proud of my calm restraint in standing back and letting two three-year-olds slop coloured sugar about.

Totally worth it.

- Jane x

PS - I'm adding this a few days later in case anyone reading may find it useful - I just found this which suggests using woolly nylon thread in the bobbin when doing a twin needle stitch on knit fabrics. I will have to try that, along with polyester thread, and maybe I'll have better luck with my hems.