Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Sewing Burns Calories!!!


Hoop a hat, run downstairs...
Run Upstairs, do miscellaneous housework while listening to the baby monitor stationed next to the embroidery machine.  Hmmm... it shouldn't be stopped yet!
Run Downstairs, re-thread the needle/replace the bobbin, run upstairs...
Clean up the last hat and get the next hat hooped while listening for the machine to finish...

Run downstairs, swap finished hat for next hat.  Run upstairs, and repeat.

This is how I spent my weekend doing 50 knit caps for 2 local fire departments!
Each hat is supposed to stitch out in 13-15 minutes, but it took longer because the white thread keeps springing up when it's cut, slipping out of the needle and requiring me to tend to it.  That's how I managed to log in some extra exercise hours climbing about 100 flights of stairs!  Fresh needle, fresh thread... I should probably take it in for a tune-up, it's overdue!  I got all my supplies (stabilizers, needles, and thread) from All Threads, who never charges shipping, and it arrives fast! I've used their stabilizers for the last year, and am so happy with them.  Their clear water soluble topper pulls out so cleanly, I really like it better than the Sulky I had been using!  This time I tried an adhesive tear-away, which keeps the hat nicely in place.  I still use a few pins to lock it down, but it's great because it keeps the hat from shimmying anywhere during stitching.


I hooped the stabilizer, and scored an "X" with a screwdriver across the center of the hoop.  I gently scraped up a corner and peeled back the paper, revealing a sticky surface.  Then I just laid the cap down on it, secured it with a few pins on the far, far edges, and added a layer of water soluble clear stabilizer over to keep the stitches from sinking into the lofty knit.  I've never been a fan of the spray adhesives, so I use pins outside the stitching area to keep that clear layer put.  Then it's into the machine.. and, voila!


A snazzy warm winter hat to keep our brave guys and gals warm!

And, thanks to all of you followers, I'm currently at 107!  Woo hoo!!!!  I hoped my blog would reach this point, but never really thought it would happen.  Thanks to all of you for following my projects, and for leaving so many wonderful comments of support.  And, as promised, there will be a GIVEAWAY!!!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to run downstairs again to pick out some goodies for you...
See, I told you!  Sewing does burn calories!

15 comments:

KID, MD said...

Those look great!! And go you for working the stairs!

Maryissewfast said...

Awesome job on those hats Kristine!!! My machine is upstairs too and I'm right there with you!!! With all that exercise you should be ready to pass the FD physical agility test yourself!!!

Gay McDonell said...

That's fascinating - and I'm exhausted just reading about it!

Sarahbelle said...

Great tips!!
Nice looking hats, too! I got an embroidery machine for Christmas, and am still learning about it. I'll check your blog often!

Jenny said...

That baby monitor is a great idea. The hats look great!

gwensews said...

I'm so happy to know that sewing is an aerobic exercise! Yay! Finally an exercise that I don't mind doing!

Mariela Alethia said...

Ah! the wonderful benefits of sewing. Not only does sewing feed our creative spirits but it's also good for our health! I know exactly what you mean, sometimes I am sewing and I am up and down the stairs trying to cook, do laundry and sew at the same time.

Meg said...

Well, sewing may not burn calories for me, but it does keep me out of the kitchen and from snacking, 'cause I don't want food near anything I'm making.

amber said...

Way to combine exercise and sewing! ;) The hats look really great.

Summerset said...

LOL! I feel like that some days - up, down, up, down!

Laura Lee said...

I am in tears just thinking about you hoofin' it up and down those stairs! And I LOVE LOVE the baby monitor deal!!!!! Those FD boyz better be damn grateful!!!!

ClaireOKC said...

Erma Bombeck used to say, "Don't buy a 2-story home from a think lady.....everything you need upstairs is downstairs and vice versa!" I think that daily in my home, and then think, "I must be loosing lots of weight!!!" But then I live in a fantasy world too!!!

julia said...

I just found you. This sounds like me, running up and down the stairs. I don't have an embroidery machine, but there's always something I've got to go up for when I'm down, and down for when I'm up.

Susan said...

Fabulous job! Very professional looking.

kanishk said...

With all that exercise you should be ready to pass the FD physical agility test yourself!!!

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