DIY: Knitting
by Sarah Cardwell-Smith
SENIOR SOPHIE ROSENBERG
How often do you knit?
I knit every day, a lot. I do it during school, after school and after I finish my homework.
Why do you like knitting?
It’s really relaxing and it’s also for such a good cause. In our club, we knit squares and put them into blankets and we donate the blankets to Rosie’s Place. I’m super passionate about helping out at Rosie’s Place and I volunteer there also, so it’s another way I can contribute to helping them.
SOPHOMORE NAOMI GOODHEART
Goodheart has knit since she was seven and has sewn a dress using her grandmother’s sewing machine.
How did you start knitting?
I like to finger knit with yarn. In this one store, the woman who kept the shop was horrified that I didn’t know to knit, so she sat down and taught me.
Why do you like knitting?
It’s really relaxing for me. It’s a repetitive motion, so I can just do it and not really think about it, which is nice.
What kinds of things do you make?
I’m working on a scarf right now. I make a lot of hats, and I just finished a blanket that I’ve been working on for a while.
SENIOR KATIE HONG
When did you start to sew clothes?
I started the summer going into sophomore year in the MassArt program. I was in the fashion-intensive. I learned how to use the sewing machine, so I learned everything from scratch. For the final project I had to make a dress that I designed. I got fabric from the stores and I actually had to make it from scratch.
Why do you like to sew?
I like making stuff, and I guess sewing is just easy because you usually have the kit at home. I think it’s more accessible, and also I’m really interested in fashion. I look at a lot of fashion magazines. When I see something I really like, I think, “Oh, I’ll take a picture of that and maybe make it later.” I like making stuff and sewing was another outlet for me.
If you could sew anything, what would it be?
There was this wedding dress I saw in a magazine and it was really pretty. It had lace from the top going down, and I’ve always wanted to make a wedding dress. It was my childhood fantasy.
“How to Make A Circle Skirt” steps by Katie Hong:
Super Simple Circle Skirt in 5 Steps
- Measure around waist, the widest part of the hips, and length of your choice, maxi or mini
- Use these measurements to choose and buy slightly more than the necessary amount of fabric (just in case you mess up). Don’t forget to buy a long piece of elastic for the waistband.
- Cut the fabric: fold the fabric in half, then in half again and then into a triangle with the closed corner together. Cut a small curved line for the waist and then measure the length down the straight edge. Then, cut a bigger curved line for the opening of the skirt. When you unfold the fabric, it should be a donut shape.
- For the waistband, cut the elastic the size of your waist and then wrap the elastic with the same fabric as the skirt and sew it shut so that the elastic is invisible under the fabric.
- Lastly sew the waist around the inner circle of the skirt fabric and then finish by sewing the two ends of the waist together.
- Done! Wear it and show off!
Sarah Cardwell-Smith can be contacted at [email protected]
