Shop the Swap 30 **Discussion Thread**

[corduroy cat]

thanks for all the help! i've only used it once, and that was behind a teri cloth ikea bib. i noticed the stitches were a bit loose after i tore the stabilizer way though. i saw the elephant tshirt that's in the hot projects was done by drawing them on the stabilizer and then embroidering on top so i thought maybe i'd been using it wrong and that's why i had trouble? i'll give it a try on top and give an update

[Eliea]

Gavagai your office(both of them)are so well lit! That alone makes me jealous and those shelves are amazing! I agree with what's been said all ready, Photos, plants, fabric, and perhaps a few books, and toys.

I have a request for you guys! I am in desperate need of a large washable pillow to go in the dog's crate. the dimensions are 28 inches wide and 34 inches long. Preferably with some sort of waterproofing for the inside. It doesn't have to be stuffed I"m willing to do that myself to cut shipping costs. something durable is a must too as the puppy still chews on things.
I will have points after Monday when I ship freestyles purses.
Um and extra pillowcase or the pattern so I can make some cases for washing ease would be a bonus. but not a requirement!

Anyone willing to help me out? This is more of a need than sweaters for them at the moment.

[loudxmouse]

wahoo!
I am on a knitting rampage. So much i got "knitting shoulders" from so much hunching! Finished the rainy day gloves, now deemed the "summer day gloves" since I didn't do rain or apples on them, and added bee-shaped mittens. These will be going up on the swapping block, since they were suppose to be for my mum and I don't think they will fit her.
They are super cute though, and I plan on making at least two more pair!
right now I am making the totoro mittens...I think I have gone coocoo...

anyway. Soon in my shop will be:
knit bangles
summer day mitts
and if you guys have the weird sense of humor I think you do... "fetus navidad" christmas ornaments

[Eliea]

anyone interested in a huge ball of plarn and tons of plarn donuts to add to it? I have a ball I started that is at least 7 inches or more around and a grocery sack of plarn as well.
I can put it in my shop if anyone wants an easy way to try it.

[loudxmouse]

also, I just posted the face hugger pattern here

happy knitting! Now i just hope i can keep it a secret from my boyf till christmas so i can make him one.

[KLKing]

Please enlighten me... What is plarn?

[ptarmic wumpus]

I don't embroider a lot, but I've had issues with tear-away and dissolving stabilizer not completely coming out, or disturbing the stitching, when used in front.   

After a week of cold dampness, it is now sunny and breezy and warmish. It is also around 10% humidity, which has set my sinuses off into the beginning of the spiral into infection, so I am hiding in my apartment with the doors & windows closed and all my humidifiers running. Sigh. At least I can craft in front of the tv!

Time for tea, glue, fabric, and fiber! And then icing the coconut cake for the strike party tonight.

[Eliea]

Please enlighten me... What is plarn?

It's the slang term for yarn made from plastic grocery sacks. We have a several crocheters who use the stuff exclusively. I know one is RecycleCindy.
Here's a couple of her projects to give you an idea of what it looks like worked up:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=313618
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=302427
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=295764
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=291989

She shares a TON of her patterns too.

on a non plarn related note. Is lifetimes website just super slow or something? I've been trying to watch project runway and a 45 min show has taken me over an hour! I'm so frustrated.

[sewknitter]

Hey, all!

Congratulations alteredmommy and lapoli!

cc, there is a "special" topping that is tear away. The toppings are extremely thin, plastic-like. I buy them in various colors. You use a topping for two reasons.

washaway-tearaway topping (clear) is to keep stitches from burying themselves into terry or fur or deep fleece.

colored toppings/tearaway are used to keep the bottom fabric colors from showing through the embroidery. An example would be if you were using a black-white small pattern and then a white embroidered design. you'd put a white topping to cover the black.

If you are having a problem with the tearaway not holding the stitches when using it on the back, there are two reasons.

1) I used to use coffee filters as a tearaway backing. and ALL, note ALL, my designs really were horrid quality. I switched a better quality backing and the stitches didn't bunch up anymore.

2) If using a quality backing and the stitches still don't look right, it is time to use either two layers of tearaway or better, cutaway.

As stated, normal tearaway used on top would still leave fibers showing at the edges.

Hope this helps you to understand tearaways and toppings.

This isn't the definitive answer, but what I've personally used with a commercial and home embroidery machine business.

[KLKing]

Thanks for the Plarn info! That was enlightening! I'm going to have to make some of those dish scrubbers... To get my mom away from stinky cloths at the sink!
Now... on to find out more about this swap, and how it works...