of sewing for knitting

Yet another day with a knitless post. But today I have a really good reason.

I decided to work on making some Sock Emergency Kits to sell. I know you're all surprised (well, at the very least my friend Adelaide is, because I'm willing to bet she thought I wouldn't do it). I should explain that years ago I used to make quilter's sewing kits sometimes and sell them, a couple of different variations. So its not like this is a new thing for me.

Its been a while since I set myself up for production sewing. My old cutting table has been banished to the garage since it got warped in a leak in the back hallway. I miss it. I've been trying to set up a cutting/trimming/ironing center using the living room coffee table. It kinda works, but I've spent a lot of time with a portable cutting/ironing mat on my lap. Not the most efficient way to work, but its better than the wonky old table.

Quilting makes a huge mess. Knitting has spoiled me. In knitting, the biggest mess you (usually) make is at the end, if you happen to have a bunch of ends to sew in. You might get a little pile of snippings when you're done. Quilting produces huge amounts of waste, requires huge piles of fabric that must be unfolded, ironed, cut and then dumped on the floor and later - much later - picked up and refolded. And every time you cut or trim something, there's always a little bit extra that needs to be trashed. I long ago stopped saving fabric snippings (I decided I could be compulsive, but not that compulsive.)

Anyway, here's what's been going on here.

click - its not blurry in the pop up

These are in varying stages of completion. The one that's almost done (top left) is spoken for. I decided in the end to use an applied binding (I do a kickass mitred binding), rather than the folded over binding I did on my own kit. The applied binding takes longer, but its sturdier and gives a firmer edge to the thing. It also requires about 10x more sewing, but hey - I'm a perfectionist sometimes. Really too late to stop now.

And more:

late afternoon sunlight after a snow shower

These last three are just cut out, not sewn yet. There are a few more (not pictured) that are variations on some of the ones you see here - its easiest for me to cut two of each piece at a time. I'm trying to get more of them to the stage of just having hand sewing to do on the binding. Then I can sit and do that at my leisure instead of taking over the house with cutting mats and piles of fabric.

At any rate, this may be a bit of a waste of time. Because of the binding and the hand sewing and the fiddling with the pattern they're not particularly quick. I think I'm going to work on the batch I have cut out (although picking out the fabrics was really the fun part) and then see if anyone is interested in buying one for whatever price I decide to charge. The deciding part is going to be tricky - like I said, lots of time, huge mess - all for a little thing.

Comments

[Lola LB]

Put me down on the list as being interested in buying one . . .

[Emma.]

I would very much like to buy one ! Really ! Can I.somewhat cheekily,reserve the one to the right on the top row of the first picture ? Pretty please ?

x

[DebbieB]

*waves hand frantically in the air* Oh, me too! I want one - please make them available! There is nothing finer than a tool that is handmade by a perfectionist. Beauty meets function meets form meets detail. *swoon*

[regina]

Oh,Cassie, they look wonderful. Very exciting indeed. I'll let you pick mine -- I honestly don't care which one I buy.

[Carole]

They are beautiful. And your color/fabric selections are fantastic.

[Julie]

(waving arms over here in the corner) Me! Me! I want to call dibs on the center one on the bottom row of the first photo. Not that I know what I like or nuthin'...

[Jan]

I agree that making the fabric decisions are always the fun part of any quilting project. These are going to be wonderful...a nice break from knitting for a while, aren't they?

[Jen]

Definitely interested!!!

[Chris]

Oh, please put me on the list for a purpley one!!! They're very cool.

[adelaide]

Friend Adelaide is very pleased. But, hey, Cassie, ain't it all "lots of time, huge mess -- all for a little thing?" You're describing my life!

[erin]

oh i'm interested.

[cari]

They're gorgeous and useful and would be worth quite a bit. I hope you'll be very fair to yourself when you price them and remember how much your time is worth. I'd absolutely buy one.

[Liz Cadorette]

YES, please! I love the one in the bottom right corner of the first picture...can I call dibs? :)

Those are gorgeous, and would be a lovely way to use up stash not otherwise earmarked for quilts. Cool! I echo others in saying be fair to yourself when you price them. I'm on the definitely would purchase list, assuming I can afford your time and effort! :)

Hey, are you coming to MDSW? If you are, can we meet up?

[Donna]

Depending on the end price, I'm very interested - you might consider putting them on etsy.com; then again, they might be all gone before then :) I love the one on the top right as well, but Emma called dibs on that (sigh), so I confess a love for the apple green one in the second picture.

[claudia]

I love your color/pattern combinations. Damn, you're good.

[Helen]

Put me down for one! :)

[Sarah]

Cassie, they're absolutely beautiful! I'd love one for myself, and I'm already thinking of others who would appreciate them as gifts. I've been wanting to visit Purl's new quilting shop, it has now been made a priority for this weekend.

[margene]

The are all nice and you have a good eye for mixing color and pattern. Looks like most are already spoken for!

[chris]

Ah, the mess. I'm reminded now why I quit quilting! You're right, knitting is much *neater*.

And did you say "snow shower"? Snow? Wow, it was 85 degrees here today.

[martha in mobile]

What lovely color choices you make! I'm so looking forward to purchasing one!

[christine]

I fear you are already sold out, but if not, put me on the list, too! Gorgeous!

[Ellen]

I'd like one too, a blue or green one.

[Linda]

long time reader, but quiet, who would be very pleased to buy one.

[Juno]

I'd believe you about the Not That Compulsive except that I know there's a bag of combing waste around there somewhere that you can't bear to part with.

[Cordelia]

Mmmm... Greens...
(And how weird was that snow yesterday???)