Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

karolinaantonia — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:40:02 GMT

Sandi,

Thank you for writing such clear and explicit instructions. I look at them every time I need to seam anything, and they have made the process much more pleasurable and less stressful for me.

One request: a tutorial on seeming garter stitch. Please?!

Karolina

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

Purrcat — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:49:59 GMT

Thank you so much! The photo tutorials make it look very easy! Now need one for those blasted sleeve to body seams. ;)

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

irishlady1970 — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:22:14 GMT

Thanks so much for adding this great tutorial. I think I figured it out now and will be off to seam my sweater with high hopes of achieving perfection. Yay.

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

Elizabeth — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:04:01 GMT

Sandi,

Thanks for such clear and helpful explanations. I never thought about basting the seam lines or having a special sewing kit (and I hate searching around for missing needed equipment above all things). I usually do not bind off the tops of the shoulders and do a three-needle bind off instead of seam there. Are there times when this would not be appropriate?

Thanks again for all the info and encouragement.

Can't wait to see you wearing this sweater. The yarn is beautiful and the color should look great on you!

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

Elizabeth — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:57:33 GMT

Tishi, What are some good finishing books?

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

Heather T — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:09:50 GMT

I used to hate finishing because I felt like I didn't know what I was doing. I would have to start over several times because I was so unsure of exactly how to proceed, and then I'd get impatient, so I'd get sloppy, which meant I was never happy with the finished project. I finally took a finishing lesson and it was so worth it, because then even when it didn't look right, I knew to keep on because I was doing the right thing and it would look good in a few more stitches. It took all the anxiety out of it, and now I like the sewing.

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

alena@5 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:20:35 GMT

Mental Mojo Tip #3: that's for me! That's for me! "little tape-measure guild meetings" - awesome! Thank you, Sandi. Such a lovely article - clear explanations and good humour!

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

yarngirl — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:40:59 GMT

Hi Sandi,

I crochet my seams. Find it more enjoyable than sewing them, and the

seams also look good.

I look forward to your blog every week. Thank you!

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

jean01 — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:35:58 GMT

I used to be a machine knitter. We had to like seaming - those 'too perfect' pieces are completely wrecked by bad seaming. Knitting machines are too narrow for front and back together knitting of adult garments. It helps to be an old fashioned sewer who learned hand hemming etc. Or think of it as embroidery. Knitting machines, though, give very even edge stitches so seaming them is easier. Basting the seam line is new to me -- good idea, I'll have to try it!!

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

ArtfulSoul — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:21:59 GMT

I started out using needle and thread to seam, and pretty much was fine with that. Didn't hate it, didn't love it either.

And then, during the CPH KAL, someone talked about Mattress Stitch (as decribed in your article). And I challenged myself, it was the KAL after all, to do it, and I could complain and wimper as needed.

Well, end result, I am now a Lover of the Seam. It lets me enjoy the yarn a little longer, the end result is truly impressive, and it is a calming process.

I thank my fellow KAL'ers who inspired me!

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

LindaM@3 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:13:05 GMT

Sandi you are so moivating, Thank you. Linda

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

katcoyle — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:30:21 GMT

great tips Sandi, the thing that helps me the most with seaming, is placing markers every ten stitches (or so) on each side. This really helps me stay on track with keeping my seams neat.

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

CarrieR@8 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:57:57 GMT

Sandi - the photo tutorials are great. I am working on a Minimalist Cardigan - which will be my first big seaming project. I've been looking for something that explains things super clearly so that all my hard work turns out looking great. Thanks again.

re: Seven Tips for Seaming Mojo

Tishy — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:19:50 GMT

You're right, seaming does take a lot of time, but if done right it can make or break the project! I've used the same techniques you do for my projects, which also appear in some good finishing-technique books I have on hand. The cardi looks great so far. Thanks for all the invaluable information throughout this project! I need to work on sizing (my biggest hurdle--the increases and decreases when adding length, especially on wrap tops).