Sewing is a greatly satisfying craft and the joy that seeing your own well-stitched outfit gives you is immense. As a bystander sewing appears to be a tough task and watching people cutting and stitching fabric to produce a beautiful piece of clothing seems to be an awesome work. However, it just requires a start and soon you too will join the band of people who are able to create magic from fabric. In this job you will require the assistance of a sewing machine, which will do most of the hard work. While you will do all the preparatory work related to sewing like cutting the fabric, the sewing machine will help you actually stitch it.

While learning to sew isn’t as easy as just going and buying a sewing machine and some fabric, it’s relatively simple after you’ve taken a beginner’s course in sewing. Taking a course is a wise way to start your new hobby, as the instructors will teach you the difference in fabrics, how to read patterns, cut your fabric and techniques for sewing. Most sewing courses will bring you to the point that you can make your own basic clothing such as a pair of sweatpants, a shirt, a nightgown or a skirt in about 10 sessions of a couple of hours each.

Buying your own sewing machine:

Large sewing centres usually supply sewing machines for students, but having your own sewing machine is a good investment. As a beginner, you certainly don’t need equipment with all the bells and whistles, so choose a good, solid sewing machine that’s in the mid-range of prices. Too cheap, and you have a fairly fragile machine that’s mostly plastic. Too expensive, and you’re buying something you don’t really need, or you’re paying money for special add-ons like appliqués or fancy stitching that you really won’t use.

While you may not need your sewing machine right away when you start your course, as you progress and learn, you’ll certainly want to eventually begin working on small things at home or practicing the techniques you’ve learned after the end of the course. You will also need a sewing machine for further use after completion of the course. Ask your instructors which brands of machines commonly available are best and what types they recommend, but do remember that some people always advise on buying the best, which means the most expensive. You only need a sewing machine that’s about equal to your level of ability.

You may feel the pinch of money as you buy a good quality sewing machine but remember that it is money well spent. In the long run you stand to gain more from this initial investment. The comparative advantages of sewing your own clothes far outweigh those of buying off the rack. The cost of thread, fabric and pattern is lesser and the fit of your stitched clothes are definitely better. Any alterations that are required can be done easily. The clothes will be more durable as you are bound to take care in buying the right kinds of material for your project. Above all, you will have your own unique wardrobe.

A person may be bewildered when he first hears of shadow knitting. Well, it has got nothing to do with the ghost design fabrics of south India or those that one may come across being made by Indian craftsmen in Guatemala. Shadow knitting is in fact a three dimensional aspect of knitting where not the fabric’s but the fibre’s look is changed. Apparently shadow knitting is named so because it creates illusory effects in the fabric.

Truly it is a creative innovation, but still an elderly friend who is a lifetime knitter was not so impressed. She offered the following declaration. “We are living in a time when so much information is available and more is coming every day. There is a range of studies that have linked this to a syndrome, calling it ‘information overload.’

Now, we have shadow knitting – a knitting technique that tries to bring out the illusory nature of things. Einstein explained that darkness, or shadows, do not really exist. They are conditional to the absence of light and as soon as light enters, darkness is vanquished. Likewise, shadow knitting points to the area that catches light from a different angle. As the eye moves over a garment made with this technique, the image seen seems to shift and change. The illusion is due to the appearance of the stitch and the way light plays across the shine or lustre of certain fibres.

Colour, knitting and relief of the fabric:

The effect of shadow knitting is accentuated by using standard knit and purl, but applied with a side stitching technique. More colour variation means a broader spectrum of change – contrasting a dark design against a white background or vice versa. Any time the aspect of relief is visible in art, one can guess that a lot of concentration and attention went into the application. Just as shadow complements light, cameos in relief shine from the background material they are carved from.

A careful study of shadow knitting shows that it has style, texture and design. At the craft store you can find out more about shadow knitting. Bookstores and of course, the current search favourite-the Internet are good places to look for more information and ideas about shadow knitting. You can also find kits that have shadow knitting projects. While shadow knitting is becoming a popular form of knitting, whether it continues to capture the imagination of people for long is something that only the future will divulge.

For loom knitting you require a loom. A loom is a big machine that has many pegs in a long row. A loom may be round, oval or rectangular in shape. Depending on the project, the loom’s size, shape and the number of pegs is determined. For round shaped clothing items like, caps, socks etc, the round or oval loom knitting is used. On the other hand, for flat things like, scarves, mufflers, blankets etc, there are rectangular looms. They are also referred to as knitting boards. Loom knitting is not only faster than hand knitting but it is also better suited to complex projects.

Loom knitting:

There is not much difference between hand knitting and loom knitting. The difference lies in the fact that, while hand knitting you use the needles to make the stitches, in loom knitting you use the pegs. The thread goes around the pegs in the same way you would be knitting your pattern by hand. Loom knitting, however, is very fast and much easier. Once the pattern is set, the thread goes by itself when you move the loom handle and you can have your sweater, scarf, even blanket in a matter of hours.

Those who are interested in loom knitting usually prefer to set up a cottage industry in their homes itself and undertake projects from people. If fact, there are still places in the world, where hand-made knitting and loom knitting are prized much above the regular machine made garments. In this way, some people stay gainfully employed.

Loom knitting for charity:

Schools usually take up these types of projects. In the higher classes when students learn to stitch, knit, cook, embroider, etc they would be needed to make projects for marks. This is the time the school asks the students to make certain types of knit garments, which would in the end be donated for charity in orphanages or destitute homes.

You can use loom knitting for charity purposes working at home too. It is easier and faster to make several pieces of warm clothing with the help of loom knitting, which you can then send for charity. Warm clothes make wonderful Christmas gifts for the homeless living in shelters or the children at orphanages. However, you need not restrict your philanthropic work to Christmas but the whole year round you will find scores of people who can be helped greatly by your kind heartedness. You can be sure that the sweater or scarf that warms a needy person will warm your heart too.

Earlier sewing lessons were what our grandmother or mother would teach us about sewing. The girls of a family would slowly pick up the basics of sewing watching the older ladies of the household carry out some sewing projects. This would then lead to full fledged sewing instructions being imparted to them so that by the time a girl would reach marriageable age she would have mastered the art of sewing and needlework. In the modern world sewing skills are not considered relevant as before but it is still a worthwhile skill to learn.

Today, sewing lessons are generally not taught as part of a girl’s education. Many people today do not even have the rudimentary sewing skills to reattach a button or fix a hem. Sewing lessons are still out there, though sometimes it just takes a little time to find them. Sewing can be a relaxing activity, since your hands are hard at work, but your mind is free to wander and relax.

Different kinds of sewing lessons:

If you learn better by having someone show you how to do something, you will probably need to find more structured sewing lessons. Often sewing lessons can be offered through continuing education programs at local schools. Generally a local school district or college will offer a wide variety of courses, and sometimes you can find sewing lessons on the class list.

Learning to sew is not at all a tough task. Your local library will probably have a variety of books on sewing, some of them aimed specifically at beginners. The Internet is also a great place to look for information on sewing lessons in your local area as well as information to help you teach yourself how to sew.

Another good resource may be your local hobby or craft store. The store may offer sewing lessons or at the least they may be able to tell you about someone who can help you learn the basics. Overall, learning how to sew probably won’t take that long. The concepts are fairly simple and you definitely won’t be learning anything very complex at first.

If you wish to learn sewing quickly, the best option is to take sewing lessons. It is also important to keep in mind your preferred way of learning so that you may look for that kind of sewing lessons. Perhaps you will find it more desirable to ask your neighbour to give you sewing lessons or you may enrol at the local craft store. Whatever be your source of sewing lessons, one thing is definite that it will not be long before you will be an expert at needlework and derive great satisfaction in doing your own stitching.

One kind of knitting that is great fun is lace knitting. There is a lot of scope to experiment and let your imagination run wild when it comes to lace knitting. This is a type of knitting where extra loops and decreasing compensating loops are used to provide openings in a pattern. This knitting method makes a lace and gives it a lovely look.

Understanding lace knitting:

Let’s start lace knitting with the term ‘yarn over’ which is an extra loop added on the right needle before you stick the right needle into the left needle loop. For knit stitch, the yarn over goes clockwise and for the purl stitch the loop goes counter clockwise. There are unlimited possibilities with the use of a ‘yarn over’ in combination with the use of two stitches knit together to compensate for the extra loop created with a yarn over. The resulting effect is very nice and also pretty and lacy. Wherever the yarn over is placed a hole appears and we call it lace - the whole process is lace knitting.

Sometimes, stitching three stitches together with a different lace knitting effect will compensate two yarn overs. The basic rule to remember is that in a rectangular project you have to keep the number of stitches the same to maintain the same width throughout the piece.

Styles and patterns in lace knitting:

Lace knitting is great for creating effects, allowing a wide variety of styles and patterns to be experimented with. One might imagine that this was a thrilling experience for women living in a time when their personal expressions were not even allowed in many areas of adult life.

In lace knitting there are seven basic patterning done with yarn overs. They are between two knit stitches, between two purl stitches, between a knit and a purl, between a purl and a knit, at the beginning of a knit row, at the beginning of a purl row and finally, there are multiple yarn overs.

A multiple yarn over creates a very large hole that can function as a buttonhole.

The size of knitting needles is important in lace knitting. Equally important is the yarn thickness. Size and thickness are related by way of the gauge.

Lace knitting may appear to be a tough knitting task but it is not so. Neither is it the domain of grandmas. The sheer variety that can be produced in laces by using some creativity is enough to motivate a person to take up lace knitting. It can be extremely enjoyable and satisfying so, drop into the local hobby shop and gather your requirements and get going. This is one hobby that will have you entranced.

When it comes to knitting yarns, one is spoilt for choice. The Australian knitting yarn compares with the best and is also not that expensive. One has the choice of Jo Sharp pure wool, the Heirloom Alpaca and also an entire colour range in hand dyed yarns. The supplier can give you a sample card so that you have more information to make a choice. In natural fibres too there are several knitting yarns like, Merion wool, cashmere, cotton, mohair, alpaca etc.

Though any yarn may be used for any pattern, it is to be remembered that the ply should be the same. In other words, a 4-ply yarn should be used for a 4-ply pattern or Aran yarn only on Aran patterns. It must also be kept in mind that a tension square must be done because different amounts of knitting yarn may be required.

For experienced knitters, the need to have quality yarn is paramount and so the need to get the best quality yarn is uppermost in their minds. Sirdar is one of the best-known and better quality knitting yarns that are available and these comprise a wide range of pattern leaflets as well as yarns such as great fashion yarns. For hats and scarves, one could use New Fizz or Dune, which works well with summer tops or even Foxy, which has realistic animal colours fur yarn. The choice is virtually limitless and depends to a great extent on what is the knitting yarn to be used for.

Tuscany fashion yarn gives ladies tops and accessories a more sophisticated look while Firefly and Illusion are ladder type yarns that also vastly improve the look, more so in the case of accessories. The knitter who wants to add fun and sparkle may go in for Medici or Vegas, both of which vastly improve the effect of the knitted garment. Chunky knitting yarns are perfect for winter and there are also 4 ply that contain about 15% wool.

Style Craft with its range of good quality knitting yarns like Aran, Double Knit, 4 ply, 3 ply and 2 ply caters to the lower price segment. Milan, Gypsy, Amore, Sirocco with 80% cotton and Apache are their collection of fashion yarns that are of excellent quality. Apart from this they also have Eskimo DK in plain colours, which have a soft and furry texture.

Knitting yarns are therefore available in all colours, textures and quality so that a knitter just has to decide what to knit and then there are choices galore. The right knitting yarn is there for the picking.

Often we are at a loss of ideas when it comes to giving a gift to a dear friend. If you have a friend who is going away for a vacation perhaps you would like to gift him/her something so that they remember you even while they are away. One gift that we do not think of is a sewing kit. Sewing is a nice pastime and can be done during the lazy holiday afternoons or when there is a sudden downpour and you are stranded indoors. You can try putting together a sewing kit on your own and gift it to your friend as remembrance.

Things to put into sewing kits:

You will have to make sure that you put everything needed for sewing, into the sewing kit that you intend to gift your friend.

1. Needles – pick a needle box containing all kinds and sizes of needles. They have the longest, thinnest and every other needle in between. Purchase branded needles so that you get good quality needles that do not rust with time.

2. Al pins or quilting pins – you must provide a box of al pins or colour headed pins. It is a good idea to put a magnet inside the needle box so that all pins can be kept together and are not lost.

3. Measuring tape- sewing kits are incomplete without a measuring tape. This is an essential requirement for sewing and you will never find a tailor without one.

4. Thread – there can be no sewing without thread. Take care to provide threads in as many colours as you can. Ensure that you buy good quality threads that do not break easily but last long.

5. Miscellaneous – some other things that you can put into sewing kits are different kinds of buttons, metal hooks, Velcro tape, a tailor’s chalk, a set of safety pins, and not to forget a pair of scissors. Any other assorted items that you think will be useful for your friend can be included in the sewing kit.

You would be aware about the extent of your friend’s interest in stitching. If she is a stitching enthusiast you can also buy her a stitching book so that she can get ideas for new projects.

Sewing kits make for beautiful gifts being both a practical and creative way to help your friend spend time. A sewing kit that you yourself have assembled goes a long way in expressing your affection through the thought and effort that you put into it. You can be sure that your friend will give you a loving thought whenever they use the wonderful sewing kit.

The nursery rhyme Ba Ba Black Sheep tells children that knitting wool comes from sheep. And that is what we continue to believe as adults. Not many of us know that apart from sheep there are other sources of knitting wool. The process of wool making and its range of usage are even less understood by people. While knitting has been a popular hobby for centuries, we do not pause to think about its origin, source and other basic relevant aspects.

Knitting wool sources:

Knitting wool comes from lambs, sheep, llamas, vicuna (bet you never heard of that one before) and even yak. Wool comes seasonally and is a natural product of animals, which produce wool to keep warm in colder weather.

Wool can be produced anywhere the animals are found. Large wool producers are Australia, Scotland, India and Peru. Additionally, knitting wool as an industry is huge. Great Britain and America had the early mechanized mills but now these industries can be found all over the globe, especially now that wage differentials are driving manufacturing to more economical labour markets.

Knitting wool qualities:

Wool quality makes for interesting study. Wool is warm, holds heat and even when wet the fibres continue to serve this function. The nature of woollen fibres allows them to be spun or woven into yarns, which can then be knit, crocheted and further woven.

Spun knitting wool is spun hair and as such has natural traits within the natural strands. Individual fibres may exhibit all sorts of colour gradations and textures. Irregularities can be problematic in knitting wool yarn, but that does not mean these yarns are unwelcome by any means. In fact, because knitting wool falls into this category, certain varieties are prized; it is often the specific irregularities that make the yarns sought after as valuable.

A fun hobby:

Knitting with wool is fun. To prove it I asked my wife, a knitter of going on four decades. After a long silence, she said “It is fun, but that’s because it gets you through the long winters!” I had to ask further “Do you mean the warmth of it or the craft aspects?” “Both of course” was the reply. You see, my wife starts knitting sweaters in July – lightweight but sweaters nonetheless. They are functional when going to restaurants or other air-conditioned buildings and colourful too. By October she’s shifted to knitting wool sweaters for the colder weather and colder climates.

Softer knitting wool has some beautiful grades and shades of colours though itself it is not so colourful. Hues and tones of lavenders and greens are produced by dyeing the knitting wool. These are colours that bring on a bout of nostalgia and are most appropriate for knitting hats, scarves and sweaters. The feel of a soft ball of knitting wool gives great joy to the die-hard knitters for whom knitting has more than practical benefits and the clicking of knitting needles is music to the ears.

Knitting spools have made a comeback. There are many who recall their grandmothers using the knitting spools. Even today they are the same small wooden blocks with a hole in the centre and pegs or nails on the outer surface. The recent popularity of the knitting spool has made sure that it is readily available. It is easy to find knitting spools in the yarn section of a craft shop. There are knitting spools on offer at various websites so you can go online shopping too.

Popularity has expanded the uses and projects for that long, colourful cord. There are plenty of patterns available for knitting spool projects, and different sizes of spools that make whipping up cord projects easy and fun. Not only that, knitting spools are perfect for people on the go, small enough to tuck into your purse or backpack and simple enough to pull out and get in a few quick stitches while waiting at appointments or riding a commuter train. To top it all, studies have extolled the virtues of knitting in relaxing the brain and calming a person.

Using the knitting spool:

The basics of knitting using a knitting spool involve winding yarn around the pegs and passing it over the heads of the nails to form a cord that extends down the middle. To start, feed the chosen yarn down the centre of your spool, from top to bottom, leaving a bit hanging. Casting on your first stitches is easy, as you take the top of your yarn and wind it around a peg or nail in a counter-clockwise direction. Wind the yarn just once, and move to the next peg to repeat the winding process. Don’t pull your yarn too tight, or you’ll have difficulty knitting with your knitting spool.

When each peg has yarn wound around it, circle the outside of the knitting spool pegs with the yarn. This will be the yarn you work with and will need to pass over the heads of the pegs to create stitches. You can pass the yarn over the pegs using a small stick or a knitting needle, picking up the wound yarn from the outside and looping it over to the inside. Always work in a counter-clockwise direction. Slowly, you’ll create a cord that will feed itself down the middle of your knitting spool. If you’re confused about how to knit, a quick internet search will bring up diagrams and images that show you exactly how to use your knitting spool to make learning a breeze.

To cast off you have to decide the length of chord that you wish to have and then cut the yarn and push it through every loop and pull tight. These cords can be sewed on to hot pads, hats and can even be used as appliqué. Using an overstitch with a needle and thread you can sew the cords together.

The Internet is a good place to look for interesting ideas and tips on knitting spools. By searching for ‘knitting spool projects’ you can get an abundance of ideas and projects and soon you will be hooked to new hobby.

When it came to sewing fabrics, the centuries bygone did not provide any choice to the sewing enthusiasts. They had to make do with whatever fabric that came their way- be it sewing fabric leftover from earlier projects or even discarded flour and grain sacks. Changing times gradually brought about a great increase in the availability of sewing fabrics. The fabrics as well as the items made out of these were most often a reflection of the times.

Improvising with the sewing fabric:

During the Victorian era, crazy quilts emerged as a new art form. Generic sewing fabric was often used in these unique quilts, but often velvets, silks and other luxurious types of sewing fabric were used as well. These quilts were lavished with decorations including embroidery and other adornments, and became an extension of the Victorian tendency to extensively decorate their environments.

With the westward expansion of the early settlers in the 1800s, sewing fabric usually depended upon whatever was readily available. Since many settlers were often unable to readily acquire sewing fabric for their clothes, once they did obtain fabric, it would be used until all of the scraps were gone. Quite often, the leftovers from dressmaking or clothes making would be recycled into patchwork quilts that each had their own unique characteristics since no two were ever the same.

Making do with what you had was often the way of life for many who lived during the 1930s and the Great Depression. Sewing fabric was usually in short supply during the depression, simply because not many people had the money to buy it. Food as a necessity ranked higher than clothing in the scheme of life during these troubled times. Sewing fabric was often salvaged from the smallest sources. Feed bags were a good source of sewing fabric for many families during this time. Even though adult clothes could not often be made from the smallish pieces of sewing fabric, enterprising women fashioned the feed sacks into beautiful quilts that have their own unique characteristics.

The scene has changed dramatically in today’s world. All around the world sewing fabric is quite easily available and that too in great variety. The abundance in sewing fabric variety has one wondering about the limitations that people faced in this respect even 40-50 years back. Every possible kind of fabric ranging from silks, cottons, linens, wools and synthetics are not only readily available today but they are quite reasonably priced too.

Internet shopping is one great way to find good deals in sewing fabric. Many people are utilizing the online services for fabric shopping, however, they miss out on the fun of feeling and touching a fabric that they think will do justice to their upcoming project.