I knit a lot and love it, but sewing up was always a bit of a chore ... until I watched some Utube videos on how to sew up hand knitting properly, and bought myself some needles with 'a bent end' ... now I have a repertoire of techniques and stitches and really enjoy doing a good job of sewing up my knitting. Have a look ... there's loads of videos out there. Â
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I knit a lot and love it, but sewing up was always a bit of a chore ... until I watched some Utube videos on how to sew up hand knitting properly, and bought myself some needles with 'a bent end' ... now I have a repertoire of techniques and stitches and really enjoy doing a good job of sewing up my knitting. Have a look ... there's loads of videos out there. Â
My daughter is a costume designer @Dovefromabove and has been at pains to help with advice and equipment ( I have an eyewatering array of needles! ) she has even done some making up for me on rare occasions 'cos I just find it annoying.
On the other hand I tried to teach her to crochet and she has taken up macrame in self defence  I love UTube, learn allsorts, just can't find the fun in sewing...
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."Â Sir Terry Pratchett
Whereas I will sew just about anything - with a machine for preference - and do a fair bit of embroidery but find life is too short to knit. Don't need knitted clothes anyway now. Â
We've just realised that three events we were invited to this year have now all been rebooked for the same two weekends next year! What a dilemma and how to choose?
@herbaceous - have you tried knitting an Icelandic jumper? It's done completely "in the round", on circular needles for the body, sleeves on 4 double-pointed needles. No sewing up! Â
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
My sewing machine was damaged in the move, probably irreparably - it's an obsolete make, and has had 45 years' hard use. But so many people have taken up sewing during lockdown that none of the models I've been considering will be in stock until September at the earliest. Back to hand sewing the masks then...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
@Liriodendron if only I could that would be the perfect solution. I have tried knitting in the round many times over the years with varying degrees of success, stuck at it quite a while as the family wanted Fairisle jumpers. Stupid isn't it? I often design my own patterns, have no problems re-sizing and tweaking other patterns, mastered intarsia and mosaic knitting (even though my first love is crochet) but I find DPNs a nightmare and now mostly use my circular needles for seamless welts on cardigans and very large blankets.
I am sorry to hear your machine was damaged, my daughter inherited her Grandmother's machine and would be very upset if it got broken. She does have a lot of trouble finding anyone to service it though and hates the 'modern' machine she uses whilst it is away.  I do hope you find a suitable replacement.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."Â Sir Terry Pratchett
Frustrating @Liriodendron.  My lovely Bernina, only 9 months old, was damaged in our move and pronounced irreparable by the dealer here so I bought a similar model on his advice so at least the original would provide spare parts and all the expensive presser feet would fit. He included a stitch regulator for free hand quilting and some other goodies.  I love it but it's heavy - and expensive - so when I started going to machine patch class I was very worried about transporting it and bought a small Brother for 150€ and it's brilliant too. Weighs just a few kilos and has 60+ stitches. Taught Possum to sew with it last summer and ended up buying one for her too.
I'm going for a Brother, @Obelixx. Daughter and DIL, both keen sewers, each have one (different models) and are very pleased with them. They always seem to get good reviews - plus it's an ethical company, which matters to me. And not too expensive, as well.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
On the other hand I tried to teach her to crochet and she has taken up macrame in self defenceÂ
I am sorry to hear your machine was damaged, my daughter inherited her Grandmother's machine and would be very upset if it got broken. She does have a lot of trouble finding anyone to service it though and hates the 'modern' machine she uses whilst it is away.  I do hope you find a suitable replacement.