Kram Cardi CAL Week 5 (Part 2): Sewing | KT and the Squid

A big thanks to Cascade Yarns for providing the yarn and to Flying Squid Studio for providing the final photos for this Crochet-Along.

Welcome to the Kram Cardi Crochet-Along! If you are just joining us be sure to check out THIS POST first for sizing information supply list.

PDF Purchasing Information

If you’d like to purchase the Kram Cardi PDF you can do so by clicking HERE. This is NOT required as all the information, additional instructions and extra photos will be located on the blog. In other words, the PDF is the pattern ONLY. The PDF may come in handy if you’d like to print off the pattern without all the ads and photos. By the end of the CAL those who have purchased will have the entire pattern. I will leave it up for purchase through September 25, 2015. Please be sure to save it to your Ravelry library before I remove it!

Week 5 (Part 2): Sewing

Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post to enter the yarn giveaway!

I’ll admit it, sewing is my LEAST favorite part of the sweater making process. It’s probably why so many of us have so many unfinished projects. The reason? Because we like to crochet and sewing is not crocheting. I’m going to ask you to suck it up and get it done! It will be so worth it when you’re finished. I tried to make the seams of this sweater pretty easy so I hope that motivates you all to actually do it 🙂

Let’s do this!!

What You’ll Need this Week

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

  • Your beautifully blocked pieces
  • A small amount of your yarn
    • Note: For the photos below I am using a contrasting color yarn for demonstration purposes.
  • Your crochet hook
  • Yarn needle
    • I like to use a metal one.
  • Knit Klips (6 should be plenty)
    • You can also use safety pins or just plain sewing pins.
  • Scissors

One last time, here is our schematic. If you were wondering what the colored lines were for, they are for lining up the seams.

Kram Cardi CAL Crochet along

If you haven’t already done so, weave in all your ends. It’s nice to get those out of the way so you can see what you’re doing.

Shoulder Seam

We’ll start with the easiest seam which is the shoulder seam. For this we’ll use a slip stitch. Slip stitch seams are perfect for shoulder seams because they are really strong and can handle the weight of the sweater.

First you’ll need to line it up. The shoulder seam is represented by the red lines on the schematic. With the wrong side facing fold the cardigan body so the shoulders line up. You can place a few Knit Klips if you’d like.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Next we need to fold the trim over and line the sides of the trim (where it extends above the shoulders) to the middle of the shoulders. Place a couple more Knit Klips.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Pick up your hook and yarn. Join with a slip stitch to the stitch furthest to the right (left, for you lefties).

 

Slip stitch across the entire shoulder seam picking up a stitch from both sides of the fabric. Remove the Knit Klips as you go.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

There are the same number of stitches on the front as there are on the back so if your stitch counts are correct it should all line up. If you happen to be off by a stitch or 2 it’s easy to pick up an extra stitch from one side or skip a stitch to make it line up correctly. Fasten off.

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Here is a photo of the right side of the shoulder seam. You can see why you need to use the same color yarn.

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Trim Seam

Have you ever done a mattress stitch? No? Perfect! This little bit of trim that we need to sew up is the perfect piece to practice on before moving on to the sleeves. Nice how that worked out, right? Moogly has a video HERE if you’d like to check it out.

With the WRONG side facing line up the trim (represented by the blue lines of the schematic). OK, if you have ever done a mattress stitch you might be asking, “Katy, why the wrong side!?” Usually with the mattress stitch you have the right sides facing you BUT if you think about it we want to do this seam backwards. This seam will be right behind your neck and when your wearing the sweater the trim folds over so that the wrong side is facing out. Thus, we want the wrong side to look nice. Make sense? No? Just do it 😉

You can tell this is my wrong side because the shoulder seam is facing out.

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Cut a length of yarn about 3 times the length of the trim and thread you needle. Insert the needle on one side of the seam starting at the bottom (which side you start on doesn’t matter) from back to front.

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Insert the needle on the other side from back to front.

IMG_4036Repeat this going up the trim.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the SquidKram cardi Crochet Along KT and the SquidKram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

The key is to mirror what you do on each side. Pull the yarn tight and the seam will virtually disappear.

Note: I just did about half of the trim in this photo to show how the seam disappears. Be sure to sew up the entire piece of trim.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Fasten off.

 

Sleeve Seams

This will be the trickiest bit. Hopefully you kind of got the hang of the mattress stitch on the trim. Here we are matching up the green lines on the schematic.

With the RIGHT side facing out we’ll need to pin the sleeves in.

Here is our armscye (our arm opening). You can tell this is the right side because the shoulder seam is in the inside

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

This part is a bit fiddly so I’m hoping you can see what I’ve done in the photos. You will need to open up the last 2 rows of the sleeve (where we didn’t join) and pin that with 2 Knit Klips to the stitches we skipped during week 3.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Basically, this is the armpit.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Next Place a Knit Klip lining up the shoulder seam with the top of the sleeve. This Knit Klip will act as you guide as you sew. If you feel you need 1 or 2 more feel free to add them.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Starting at the bottom of the sleeve work the mattress stitch as you did for the trim seam. Here’s the armpit. I’ve removed the Knit Klips.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

As you’re working remember to mirror your stitches on each side. Periodically pull the yarn to close the seam and check to make sure each side is lining up. Here I’ve pulled the seam closed.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Now I’m starting to work up the rest of the arm.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Here I’ve pulled the seam closed and I’m checking to see that everything is lining up correctly.

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

This stitch can take some practice so if you find it’s not quite lining up right  and need to start over, all you have to do is pull the yarn straight up and the seam will come right out. Don’t feel bad if it takes a few tries to get it right (especially the first couple inches). It gets easier as you get the rhythm of the stitch.

Once all your seams are sewn weave in the rest of the ends.

Last tip: If you feel your seams look a tad messy spray them with a little water, reshape a bit (you can even use some pins) and let dry. I like to do this for slip stitch seam (the shoulders). It flattens it out nicely. Also, if you have some creases (like the sleeves from blocking) again, just spray with some water, reshape and let dry.

Voila! You have an awesome cardigan that YOU made! Congrats! Put it on and enjoy!

Kram cardi Crochet Along KT and the Squid

Caring for your sweater

If you used wool it shouldn’t get too dirty but if you need to wash it just soak it in your wool wash (as you did to block) and lay flat to dry. You wont need to pin everything out again but some gentile reshaping may be needed.

Even the nicest yarns will pill so one of THESE defuzzers will come in handy to keep your sweater looking new.

To store your sweater (maybe during the summer months) be sure to first wash it. Then store in a sealed container if you can to keep bugs out. I keep mine in a cotton pillow case. I’ve read bugs stay away from cotton and have never had a problem. Lavender sachets or cedar disks deter bugs as well (and smell good). If you think pests my have got to your sweater place it in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer for 2 days. This will kill the bugs and prevent further damage.

Enough about bugs who wants to win some yarn!?

Yarn Giveaway!

Kram Cardi CAL yarn giveaway

I decided to keep the yarn giveaway simple. All you need to enter is an email. You can earn an extra 5 entries by making a project in Ravelry with a photo of your finished cardigan. This giveaway is open worldwide, you must be 18 years or older. Giveaway is void where prohibited. Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

19 Comments

  • Katri

    I am so bummed; I ran out of yarn on the last dc row of the second sleeve. I guess the extra 4 rows in the body ate the yarn I would have needed to finish this cardi… I bought the yarn from a local ONS, so I wouldn’t have to order from abroad; and they have now run out of the colour. No other local ONS has the yarn. The only option now is to order one skein of yarn from abroad… Sigh. I was so hoping to have a lovely cardigan by the end of the week and now it looks like this is going to the ufo pile 🙁

      • Katri

        I didn’t save the swatch, I ripped it and started the cardi with that floss… I have now ordered another skein from UK, but there’s no way for it to arrive in time for me to take part in the giveaway 🙁

  • Lina

    Will this post be available in your blog? Say I want to make it at a later date? Or will I have to purchase the PDF?

  • Fido

    I can’t get the giveaway widget to load. :-/
    Seems to me it said Rafflecopter, which I’ve used before (with and without problems)…
    Definitely NOT the end of the world. 😉 Just a slight annoyance.

  • Deb

    Hello Katy, wanted to say thank you. This was my first attempt at a garment. I am ecstatic. It looks like a cardigan and it fits. I was short a ball of wool. Not sure why. Could be the wool that I purchased as they didn’t have the exact wool recommended. Going to wear it for our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. Thanks again.

  • Catherine Vaiasicca

    I made the sweater! Thank you for the pattern, not sure how to post a picture here had to make it striped as I didn’t have enough of one color but it turned out great for my first sweater!

  • Renee Melton

    I just wanted to let you know I submitted my version of your sweater (made with Lion Brand Shawl in a Ball) as an entry in my local fair. I was delighted to find that not only did I get a first place ribbon, but I also got the special award for best crochet item!! Thank you again for your wonderful pattern and all the work you put into the CAL. I just love my cardigan, and apparently the folks who judge at the fair appreciate it as well.

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