You may have noticed a drop in my posting, you may not have. It’s been due to a combination of finishing up the semester and crafting my hands bloody (literally, needles are sharp!). My absolute favorite handmade holiday gifts this year have to be Hillary Lang’s (of Wee Wonderfuls, see Happiness in Blogland) Make-Along dolls. I purchased the pattern several months ago and have been itching to make them, but have waiting until I had more time. Tonight I finished their faces up and am sooo happy with them. Happy enough that if my kiddos don’t like them, I’ll keep them for myself, and I’m not really the doll type.
I have more patterns for their backpacks, snowsuits, and some overalls, but I’m going to wait and let the kids help pick fabric for those things (and I’m running out of time before the solstice!). I love that my babes will have something handmade with which they can play rather than just wear! (They’re also getting handmade superhero capes and new PJs made by Mama.)
I also finished these socks tonight, for my step-father-in-law:
I got the yarn at Rhinebeck in October and have been working on them for a month and a half (slow going when multiple projects are on the needles). Fun facts:
Pattern: self-created generic toe-up pattern utilizing a 2 x 2 rib
Needles: US 2s
Yarn: Alpaca Sox: sooo soft, knits up wonderfully, and lots of yardage in one skein (450 yds)
Tomorrow the crafting continues. But for now, I need sleep!
Quick question…do Japanese sewing book patterns include seam allowances? I’ve heard maybe not and noticed you’d done some garment sewing from Japanese books. HELP!
Thanks!
The patterns themselves generally DO NOT include the seam allowances. If you look at the directions for the layout of the pattern pieces on the fabric, you’ll see they give the seam allowances there, with arrows pointing to each edge to tell you how much of a seam allowance is necessary. The seam allowance generally range from 1cm to 3cm, with larger allowances at the hem lines of garments. Good luck! I love the Japanese patterns, in general, for the line of the clothing and the construction of them.