Almost there....

Well, I am definitely going to have to be a little more diligent about posting if I ever intend on getting any followers....I suppose that is more of a note to self.  Ok, so this is what I have been up to.  I have found the information on how to construct the sweater that I had been planning in my mind.  I found some sweaters to use and set out all gung-ho.  That lasted all of two days...lol.  Here are my steps that I have so far taken...

First of all I picked out a pattern that I decided is how I want the sweater/jacket to look when it is finished.  I chose a Simplicity pattern, because they are suppose to be pretty straight forward and easy to follow.

I think I am going to add a hood on this, the only option it does have at the moment is a collar.  Ok now I got my tools together to trace the pattern, because I intend on making many of these if it comes out the way that I want it to look, and the pattern runs from size 3 to size 8. If I was to cut out only one size I would not be able to reuse the pattern again to cut out another size.  The solution to that is to trace the pattern, which adds about an hour worth of work, but saves you money in the long run.  So for tools I used regular standard kitchen parchment paper, a medium point permanent marker and a metal ruler that wont slide when using it.  You open up your pattern sheets out on a large table and unroll a large enough piece of parchment paper to trace on.  (Note: sometimes because parchment paper is made to me non-stick, you really need to rub the tape down good to hold it over the pattern)  If you need a larger piece then tape two pieces together.   Once you have all your pieces traced, make sure that you include the information that is also printed on the pattern pieces, such as the pattern number, maker, and size you are using.  Parchment paper is pretty sturdy and can hold up to be reused a few times at least, so even though this seems like a tedious step it is worth it in the long run.  Here is what your pattern pieces will look like...
Now take a pair of scissors (not your fabric cutting scissors, cutting paper with them will dull them) and carefully cut out around your pattern so that you can still see the traced line when you are finished.  On all of the triangle markings that are on the inside of the lines, those are intended to be transferred to be sticking out from the pattern when it is cut so that you can use them to match up fabric pieces that need to sew together. 
Next I picked out some sweaters to use.  I first felted them all in the washer by washing them in hot water with a little bit of detergent.  You have to keep checking and try to take out the excess fuzz that comes off during the agitation stage of the wash.  Do not let it spin out, let the water drain, start to spin a little and stop the washer, and then try to wring as much water out by hand, with out distorting the shape of the sweater.  This part is kind of fun to see how they shrink.  I usually throw them right in the dryer, unless I have time on my hands I do let them hang out to dry also.  you want to cut the sweater pieces open along all the seams, including arms, neck holes, and side seams.  In my case my sweater pieces were not big enough to use for one pattern piece so I had sew two pieces together and then lay out my pattern on top.  I used my regular sewing machine to do this with a type of overlock stitch.  Now here is the bummer part.  I went crazy stitching all of these pieces together to make one big piece of fabric to cut out my pattern pieces.  Went to go start straight stitching my pieces together and my sewing machine died.  What a drag!  Apparently the motor died, and the repairman recommended buying a new one and then repairing that one as a back up, because it was going to cost me 75 to repair it.  So I had a yard sale on Saturday and made enough money to go and get a steal at Wal-Mart.  The machine was regularly 149, and it ended up only costing me 130, so I was soooo happy with that, AND it comes with 80+ stitches, which is about 50 more than my other machine. 
So that is where I am right now.  I hand basted the seams together while waiting to get my machine, out of curiosity of how it would end up looking so now I just need to finish stitching it together and I will post a pic of the finished creation.... I cant wait!

The Overlocked Sweater mission

I finally found my blog page to begin blogging...lol.  Yes I lost it, couldnt remember how to get back on here!  Now it is book marked and I can move forward. :)
I was very inspired by a sweater that my niece pointed out to me at a local craft show two years ago.  A woman was wearing what appeared to be a sweater that was assembled from pieces of sweaters over-locked together. My niece wanted one and was convinced that I could make it!  It was very inspiring, and through out the day I saw person after person approaching her to ask where it came from.  My interest in it was the fact that after I make my children's sweaters I usually have lots of scraps left over, and what an ingenious way to use them up!  So anyhow, I asked her where she got it from and she said that she got the idea off line and made it herself, just piecing scraps together and then following a basic pattern.  From there I have been on a mission to find out the instructions how to do this.  Finally I found a seamstress/artist on Etsy that creates similar sweaters (her shop name is Katwise).  Her methods actually look like what I want to achieve, so I asked her advice.  She was kind enough to point me to a book called "The Sweater Chop Shop- sewing one of a kind creations from Recycled Sweaters" by Crispina Ffrench.  I went and sought it out and found it on Amazon.com for a fraction of the regular retail price, and purchased it.  It has arrived!  I am so inspired and excited to take my children sweater making to a whole new level.  It also solves the problem of how to create adult sweaters too.  I use 100% wool adult sweaters and shrink them (a process called felting) and from there I cut, embellish, needle felt and create new children sweaters.  I often get approached by adults if I could make them one as well, but that could only be achieved if the adult was a very small person and I could get a XXXL sweater to shrink down to a normal size.  It just doesn't work.  Now I have a solution, and my creative juices are flowing! Check out Katwise's Etsy Shop!
Link from Katwise Etsy Shop

Starting New.....

I recently made the decision that I am going to take my little craft based business out to the wonderful world wide web.  The scary part is that I have been trying all day to figure out how to get back onto this profile that I created, just so I could put my first post on it.  So spending all day, trying to figure out how to blog, is a little exhausting and making me feel...old....gasp, yep I said it!  All I want is to be able to put forth a little info everyday about my adventures, trials and tribulations that I am going through while trying to "launch" my business for all the world to see. 
What got me into this crazy idea?  Well I am having the very strong desire to become more independent and self supporting.  I also know that I have a very very artistic side to me and I have created many many creations that have sold well, just by word of mouth.  So doesn't that mean that I can have the capability of selling even more, and producing myself some sort of better income?  I am hoping so at least!
So this little blog will be about me, my latest creations, who I am gaining inspiration from, and what products I am using or recommending.  Feel free to comment!