Crocheted Afghan

One of my big gifty projects this fall was a crocheted afghan for my husband's parents. His mom loves rich autumn colors, and I wanted to work on a pumkin orange color, but couldn't find what I wanted. I ended up with a beautiful cranberry color and tried out a wavey pattern that I found on the wrapper of a different skein of yarn that I had at home. I was afraid for a while that I wouldn't get through the 7 skiens of yarn that the pattern called for in time to send it for Christmas, bit I made it. The pattern worked up easily and quickly, and I really liked the result. Plus, it was nice and toast on my lap as I worked on it - one of my favorite things about working on an afghan is trying it out while you work.

Raine has to hold it up over her head for pictures!

This lighting really doesn't do justice to the rich tone of the yarn, which looks darker in person. It does show off the somewhat lacy effect of the shells, though. Lacy without seeming too holey to be warm. I hope they enjoy it for many years to come!

Christmas Making

I made several tote bags for Christmas presents this year. The first two were commissioned by my mother-in-law for her sisters. We had a fun time shopping for fabrics while we were in North Carolina this past summer.

One of her sisters likes bright pinks and flowers.

Fun flowers and a pop of pink!

Her other sister leans more towards blues and greens.

Is that some piping between the blue & green? Why yes, I think it is!

I really enjoyed making these tote bags for my aunts-in-law! I have been enjoying making the totes, and I still want to make more.

I've learned from each one. Piecing techniques and quilting techniques are among the things I've practiced. I've worked on adding trims and piping. I've experimented with handle length to get a good shoulder tote, and hopefully got some that are a good length to be carried on a walker. I've used my surger on a lot of the interior seams, and I feel like that has mostly worked well for me. I even added pockets when I worked on the tote for my brother.

In the next projects, I want to add more pockets, and some loops to hook key rings to. I want to add zippers as well, to some. That may be as a closure at the top, or it may be in an interior pocket. I've been looking at some of the zippered pouches and clutches and I really like the way those zippers look. I've also seen a technique for a covered zipper on a pillow back that I think would work well for a side pocket zipper.

I've got a tub of fabrics, which is brimming over, all intended for tote bags!

Infinity Scarf

Now that Christmas is done, and everyone has - or at least should have - opened their gifts, I can post about some of the things I made this holiday making season. Instead, today I'm going to post about the infinity scarf I started last year, and finally finished yesterday.

Last year for Christmas giving, I was scarf happy. I made this cowl/scarf for my sister-in-law.

last year's scarf

I made it from a bamboo blend yarn that was a sport weight, and even though the yarn was small, the knitting went quickly. It was also done with 2 skeins instead of the 3 I had bought.

So, what to do? I love the way this yarn feels, so soft and drape-y. Light, yet warm. And it is a pretty green on top of that. So, after all the gifts were done, I started another scarf with the left-over skein and some small needles. I just did a simple knit every row pattern. It was very easy... and, by the end of the scarf, very boring to knit. So, I put it aside and did some cross stitch, and some sewing, and some crochet, and every now and again I would pull it out and knit a few rows.

When the first skein was nearing the end, I realised that I was going to need another to make the scarf long enough, so I got another, and continued on. Ron's mom volunteered to be the recipient of the new scarf. She probably has thought it was never going to get finished.

It did, though. The knit every row (stocking stitch?) pattern makes it lay nice and flat. I think the small guage looks good as well, even if it did slow things down considerably. All in all, I like it, although I think infinity scarves may be no longer the fasion rage they were last year. Oh well, the story of my life...

infinity scarf, double wrapped

Carl's Tote

My brother, Carl, made a special request for a smallish tote to use to carry his lunch and his Nook to work with him. He kind of wanted something he could grab with one hand, and not too big. I got started right away, and decided to add some pockets, and seriously thought about makeing it a zippered tote - then didn't. I chose some brown and tan fabrics that I had on hand, to make it reasonably "manly." I folded over a front panel to make a cuffed pocket, and added a bit of cording for detail.

The front.

I couldn't resist putting a little fun in it, though. Honestly, I usually can't resist a little fun in any sewing project. I had this hedgehog fabric since last winter, and had been looking for the perfect place to use some of it.

hello hedgehogs... and pockets!

I put some other gifts inside it, and wrapped it up for him for Christmas, very happy with how it turned out. Now, I just need a new project to use that zipper in...

Baskets Baskets Baskets

Roxanne and I have chose fabric baskets for our Christmas project this year. The first one i made was scrappy, which is great practice for improve piecing. OK, for piecing of any kind. I'm enjoying the practicing, too...

finished now, but with "issues" so I get to keep it!

We went on from here. I'm doing most of the cutting out, and we are sharing the sewing. I wish we had more time to sew together. It is our treat to ourselves. The baskets are pretty simple. Each block is 6.5 inches square with a lining, and a quilty kind of innerfacing for depth, and for the baskets to stand. Sew the outside blocks togther, and the inside blocks together. Then sew the bottoms on. Since I don't like my results when I leave the turning hole at the top edge, I leave it in one side of the bottom of the lining fabric. Even if you close that by a quick machine line on the "outside" fabric, it is stuffed down in the bottom of the basket to be invisible.

more baskets...

One week, we embellished with laces and rick rack that I had in my stash. Roxanne added the cording for cute handles on one basket. On the top edge of the pieced basket above, we used bias tape for a finished look. Another time, we did some improv piecing on a couple. When you have the innerfacing square to go by, you get the right size pretty quick, so while it is more time consuming than using a whole block, it sure makes a nice focal point on a side or two.

fill them with ornaments for a festive look!

We have had fun with these baskets, as you can see. Hope we can finish them all before Christmas!

decorate your children!

In the Works

I've been making tote bags as gifts for the past few months. OK, since the summer. Recently, my brother made a special request. He wanted a smallish tote that he could put his Nook, and his lunch, in to take to work. I took on the challenge of making a manly tote (that has a little bit of fun in it too). I wanted it to have pockets, in case he needed to stow his phone, or a pen or what-have-you. I also wanted to try out some of the zipper techniques that I've been checking out in tutorials for bags and pouches.

I started with the zipper, and messed it up - not beyond recovery - but definitely a learning curve I didn't quite make it around the first time out. Then, when I talked to Carl, he really didn't want a zipper to mess with. Since it is his bag, I'll go with his request and save the zipper for another time, and another bag (and I'll do a better job with it, too!)

Here is the front of the bag will look like. The contrast fabric is the inside of a front pocket panel. Think it looks "manly" enough? I hope so!

work in progress!

Far Between

My recent posts haven't been. Starting a new job this fall has taken some of my creative efforts. My cousin Roxanne has been unavailable for our weekly sewing efforts, since she has been taking the tests to earn her doctorate. I'm very proud of her, but I hope she hurries up & gets done. I miss sewing with her, and that regular crafting time.

I have been more active with the Society for Creative Anachronism, and since I'm the current Arts and Sciences officer, I should share some of those activities here as well. For instance, I had the idea to make bunting to go around our area for the local Ren Fair (and to use at other SCA events as well). Here's how it turned out:

spiffy bunting!

I've been busy making bags and fabric baskets. Many of them are/will be gifts so I haven't felt like I could post them yet. I did, however, turn this                                  into this

septagon

tote for Roxanne

I can post it, even though it's a gift because Roxanne isn't likely to come and look.

She and I did get a chance to sew for a little while over the long Thanksgiving weekend, though. We worked on some fabric baskets, which made both of us happy. a great gift, and a great holiday decoration!

'tis the season!

They can hold all kinds of things, like for instance, the basket on the right is holding pieces for some more baskets!

Crafting of other kinds has been worked on, too. I've got some crochet to show off soon, and I've even done some cross stitch, which I'd set aside for several years. Just, nothing has been consistent or something. I'm getting back into the swing of it, though, and will be sharing more, and more consistantly. 

Swirly Skirt

Roxanne was very happy with sewing this weekend because she got to finish her new swirly skirt. I had cut it out the week before, and done the construction one evening. It is a very simple pattern to put together on the serger. She had the longer jobs of the hem (there was quite a bit of that) and the not as long waist band.

view A in yellow on the bottom row

This is the pattern we started with. After I showed her the denim version I made over the summer, she wanted to use this pattern, too! I modified hers like I modified mine, since the pattern misses fitting either of us. I lengthened the waist panel to fit. Then, to keep the skirt part smooth at the hip, I cut that part in half, and added a panel that fit to the waist piece at the top, and added some additional flowy-ness to the hem. We both like the longer length, to hide a multitude of sins.

While my fabric was a very soft denim, Roxanne had picked out a very colorful and swirly print.

colorful swirls

I wasn't sure about it, but it was Roxanne's skirt to love and wear, so I cut it out for her. As I sewed it up, it started to really, really grow on me. Those swirls of color looked great in a flowy skirt, and there are so many possibilities when it comes to matching a top. I mean if you have the color, it is probably in there. There are a lot of pinks, which Roxanne likes, but there is also turquoise blue and lime green, along with simple black, white & grey.

On the denim skirt I made, I just rolled down the fabric to create  the casing for the elastic. Since Roxanne is taller than I am, we decided to keep all the length possible, and used some wide bias tape that I had in my stash (no telling for how long) as the casing. I did that for Raine's pajamas this summer, and they have done really well, so it is a technique I will use from time to time from now on.

So, here is the finished product. As you can tell in the photo, Roxanne, is very happy with the final result!

Roxanne and her swirly skirt (and my purple T)

Ok, it isn't actually the final result, I took this when she was trying it on for length, to make sure the hem line was pretty even. Still, she looks happy, doesn't she...

Cross Stitching Again

It has been a while since I've done much cross stitching. The last projects I worked on were left to me by a friend, and I really wanted to finish them for sentimental reasons, but sometimes it just is the wrong thing to pick up where someone else left off. Between those projects, where the "this spot shouldn't be filled yet... what thread IS that?" and getting used to progressive lenses, the experience was rather frustrating, and - of course - I put them down.

This summer, with traveling and all, I thought I should look through my stash of kits, and find something that looked easy and pretty and try once more, starting fresh. So I did. Last week, I finished it. Very pleased with myself.

Happiness... a fitting title

I knew there were several kits in the set, so this evening, I looked through them, and this is what I found.

Beauty, finished by Lou

My friend had finished one, and it looks fabulous, even if it does need a little ironing/stretching.

Lou started Prosperity, and I will finish it!

I love the border on this and I am looking forward to stitching it!

The rest of the set.

Aren't they fabulous? Won't they be a great grouping somewhere? Isn't it nice to rekindle an old love?

Experiment

I know, a month almost, without posting here, and then two in a row. I think that shows (maybe) that it hasn't been a creatively dry summer for me. I've just had trouble sharing. Or something. (maybe a couple of weeks of vacation in there helps explain SOME of the dry spell.

Well, I know my obsession to make this summer has been tote bags. There are just so many posts I can write on them, though. Right? Well, maybe.

Earlier this summer I entered a give-away on one of the blogs I follow, and I won! Woot! I got a nice set of plastic triangular rulers to use as patterns when cutting fabric for quilts, etc.

Awesome prize!

I've been feeling like I should make a quilt and then donate it, and these would be perfect to make strips of triangles. I could alternate pieced and unpieced strips to make a quilt pretty quickly, and donate to the local Child Crisis Center. Summer is quickly drawing to a close, however, and this is a project I haven't started yet, however.

I got a brain storm yesterday, though. I wondered if the triangles would match up and "circle" up. I waded into my stash and came up with this.

Septagon!

If you look closely, you will notice that the blue piece is two half triangle pieces... so how cool is that? OK, so my points aren't perfectly matched. This is my first effort with these rulers, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I am thinking that maybe four solid and three print pieces might balance better... but then maybe not.

Now the question is, what to do with this? My inspiration told me to off center the point and cut a square, then put a border around that. I could picture a small quilt with those type of blocks being kind of cool. Or maybe altogether too fussy. Not sure which. Going to look at the square idea this week and decide whether to try it or just applique this onto the side of a tote bag.

School Clothes

For me. I felt like a new start at a new school deserved some new clothes. So I've weeded my closet, and now I'm adding a few things in.

I've been wanting to make a denim skirt for myself for a long while. I think I got the fabric for it some time last year. The year before? It is a lovely, soft, light blue colored denim and I wanted it fairly fitted at the top, and fairly flowy at the bottom. And fairly long, almost ankle length.

When I looked through my fabric for the denim, I also found this piece of leafy cotton, in several shades of denim blues. I thought Woot! A top for my new skirt (you know, because nothing goes with denim...). I decided something tunic-y, and thought of a top I've made a couple of times now that has a dart coming from the sleeve seam, and a round neckline. I have added sleeves to it, and made a keyhole detail in the back.

Here's a terrible picture of the result.

very blurry

The picture doesn't do the outfit justice, but I really wanted to post.

Happy Top

This top makes me happy!

Late last year, I cut out two tops from this pattern. The circled view reminds me of some tops I had once-upon-a-time that I remember fondly. I like the collar, and the no-button front, and that you can tie the v-neck closed somewhat. I'm not much of a cleavage person. AND I like that it is a longer top, covering the hips.

The fabrics I chose were also happy fabrics. Flowery, fun and cheerful. When I finished the first of the two tops, and got a photo taken, I was less than happy with the result. Sigh.

Less than flattering.

I did some asking of people who's taste I trust - sometimes more than my own, which can sadly be iffy at times- and did some thinking. The photo isn't flattering because of the angle. But that isn't the only problem. Ron suggested there was too much collar for my short neck. Hmmmm. I think he's on to something there. The collar has bugged me when I've worn the shirt. (of COURSE I've worn it!)

The other top languished in the sewing room for a while, but I pulled it out and looked at the collar, constructed in two pieces to be more than I really need. I tweeked it. I'm not afraid to do that, you know. I cut off that bottom layer and just attached the top layer to the shirt. I had a facing for the front, and in the back, I used bias tape to finish and cover the seam. I put in the sleeves, and the hem, and tacked down the facing, and tried that puppy on.  Since there was no one around to snap a picture, you have the joys of the ubiquitous bathroom mirror shot. Even so, I think it turned out better.

Now, this top makes me happy!

Just in time to take it on my summer vacation travels. Pay no attention to the goofy, I'm looking at myself in the camera screen and the bathroom mirror at the same time, yeah, I think its enough light, look on my face...

Totes & Baskets

Two posts in one week? Wow, must be summer. Yay!

First, I finished my first tote bag. I have been wanting to make one for a while now, and then I saw this fabric bundle, and it really spoke to me. Even so, the pieces sat around for a bit, waiting for their turn in the project line. I am very pleased with how it came out, and I've already got plans for others in the works. I think being able to do variations on embellishment and features (like pockets) is going to help spark creativity.

happy to finish my tote bag!

Even though it is finished, I will probably go back and add another line of stitching around the top. I find with the baskets that it helps with structural integrity. It also helps hold all the layers in place.

Speaking of baskets, Those were on the agenda yesterday and today. There weren't many scraps from the fat quarters I used to make my tote. Here's what happened to them...

baskets for guys

I was really pleased with how the one on the right came out with the fold-over of the lining fabric. I also added a couple extra lines of stitching around the basket, as it finally occurs to me that what it needs is basically quilting to hold the layers together somewhat. That is the last basket I made, of course. I hope the taller basket is useful. Again, it was an experiment in using the pieces I had left.

When my niece was here last week, I did some sewing for her, and she got to pick out a fat quarter when we went shopping. I put this basket together for her, with the leftovers from the top I made her as the lining.

butterflies and dragonflies!

The handles turned out to be a little long, I think (I actually trimmed several inches off - they WERE even longer!). They remind me a little of rabbit ears... but in a cute way. I hope she will like her basket.

So, between baskets and tote bags, I think I can get Christmas pretty well sewn up... (see what I did there?)

For the Kids!

I've sewn up the batch of clothes that I cut out, and I'm ready to cut out a few more garments. I have to say that I am happy with how they are turning out. For instance, here is Raine's animal print outfit:

RAWR!

I know that the print I used for her shorts is more traditionally used in quilting or home dec, but she picked it out, and it is a nice weight for shorts, and the more I see it the more I like it.

Shelbi picked out some dragonfly fabric to make a top from.

View B on the right

cute dragonflies!

A cute swingy top to wear with leggings (we actually found a pair of turquoise leggings at Kohl's), and enough sleeve to be able to wear to school, as well. The top came out so very cute! I really wish I could see her in it, but don't know if that will happen, since we don't get to see her all that often.

I just love how this turned out!

I have another pattern with a similar top, but a collared neckline that I'm going to try out in a purple solid and print. I hope it comes out as cute as this one! I must demand pictures from my brother!

Raine Style Pajamas

I am the lucky mom of a great kid. My daughter is my pride and joy, of course, and I will brag on her without warning, ad nauseum. Just so you know.

When she was born, I thought about all the cute girly things that I would get to make for her... but, no. Ever since she was three, girly have been O.U.T!!! I've experimented with this or that garment, with mixed success. She definitely has a sense of style that is playful, tom-boyish, quirky, and totally her.

When we strolled through Jo-ann's one day, she browsed through the silkies, and pulled out a jungle print fabric with jaguars on it. Beautiful, but what would she wear made out of that? I talked her in to looking at the cottons, and we picked out some different animal prints for an outfit (posted about soon). I hoped that would be it. But, no. The next time we were in Jo-ann's she headed right for that same fabric. She REALLY loved it. Really. Hmmm I thought. OK, it's on sale. One yard. I'll figure out something.

Well, I figured out pajamas. Shorts and a tank top. (had to go back for about 2/3 of a yard to make the top) I found some hem tape and some bias tape as well, since I knew those edges would ravel. The week before school was out, I cut them out - along with 2 pairs of shorts and a sleeveless top (hope she's going to like that one).

Yesterday, I fiddled with the serger (looked in the instruction manual, too) so that it would sew that lightweight, slippery fabric properly, and got the pieces put together. The hem tape around the arm and neck openings didn't work out, so I pulled out the bias tape, to discover I had gotten the extra wide. I made do.

I think the bias tape edging worked out all right.

Then, when she tried on the top, the neck opening was too big. That always seems to be the case with a tank top pattern. I took a cue from last summer, and threaded elastic through the bias tape at the neckline. I was happy to have the wider bias tape at that point. Then, what made me even happier was being able to open it up and use it to make the casing for the waist band of the shorts. I ended up using the hem tape to help finish the hems of both the top and the shorts. There should be NO RAVELING!

Awesome waistband!

Once she tried them on, she did not want to take them off, so I count a success in finding Raine style!

She had to change so we could go to White Sands, though.

T-shirt Dresses

Yes, it HAS been a while since I've posted here. I've been rather on a life-overload lately. I've done some sewing, but due to circumstances beyond our control, there were several weeks where Roxanne and I didn't get to sew together. The last time we did, I cut out the skirts for the t-shirt dresses we were wanting for our summer wardrobe. I put Roxanne's together first, and I think it turned out pretty nice.

There's a purple stripe in the skirt. No, really.

Roxanne added a little white lace around the neck and sleeves and at the bottom of the skirt, to help dress it up a little and add interest.

Then, I worked on mine. I wanted pockets, so I added them in the side seams. I'm more of a leave it plain girl, but then, my skirt fabric was lots of tiny little flowers, so no lace for me. I wore mine over the weekend, to see how well I would like it, and I thought it quite comfy and cool. That would be in the temperature sense, not in the chic sense... just saying. Here's how mine turned out.

comfy!

So, not the height of fashion, I admit. Still, with a pair of shorts underneath, this is going to fit the bill for those warm - no, lets face it HOT! - summer days. I think we each want at least one more.

A Tisket, A Tasket

I made some fabric baskets. Three of them, so far. Three more in progress.

loving the fabric baskets!

I took them outside, in the fast fading light to snap a photo or two of them.

artsy

I'm working on them as part of the Feather Your Nest sew-along. Contest. Thingy. Yeah. Nothing like being specific, is there. They inspired me to be creative, and also I will be sooo happy to use these baskets around the house. Raine will too, and I bet you can figure out that she likes cats and dinosaurs, right?

I've experimented with different innerfacing. Ive made some with handles, no handles, different handles. I've even gotten out my tub of trim and experimented with embellishment. All from my stash, I might add. There are still some in process. Here is a look at those:

green inside, flowers with piping outside

green feathers inside, dot outside,wide handles

flowers ouside, dots inside and eyelet

Feather Your Nest Me

 It's time for me to participate in a contest.

This one is all about making something for your own home. It sounded like something I would be interested in, if I could figure out what I wanted to make for my own home. Not so much into placemats or table runners. A wall hanging/mini quilt perhaps, but...

Then I read through their suggestions, and found a quick turorial on fabric baskets. Yeah.

Guess what I've been making? um hummmm.

Well, I would show them to you, but thanks to computer issues, and sewing instead of photographing, I'm not ready to do that yet. Soon though.

Happy Baskets!

Creative Learning

I inherited more than some fabric from my mom. I inherited her whole sewing room. Tools, fabrics, patterns and books. There are so many new books with modern patterns and techniques in them. I don't know where to begin, so I thought I would begin at home, and dip into the library I already have. I can decide what to keep and what to toss, and practice writing about what I find and learn while I'm at it. I can't help but think I'll be inspired along the way as well.

The first book I pulled off the shelf is called, The Complete Book of Machine Quilting, by Robbie and Tony Fanning. It's part of the Chilton Needlework series, copyright 1980. The price tag on it is $12.95. 1980, you were so cute!

I've only gotten through the first couple of chapters, so far, but I think they are fairly informative, if basic. I probably need the basics at this point, so that is not a complaint. I think the comments and instructions for sewing still hold true, even if the technology has changed somewhat, and there may be more to know on my newer machine. Actually probably not that much, since my machine is fairly basic, but some of the more advanced machines might help you out more than mine would. Still, gaining some understanding of what issue causes what problem is a good thing. It was reassuring to look through their basic list of tools and realize that I pretty much had them, or at least knew about them. One thing seems to have changed, and that is the current prevalence of rotary cutters for cutting quilt pieces. It was interesting to find terms like "quilt sandwich" in the book that I had thought were more modern. I can tell this book, even with age, will be a good reference to keep in my library.

I just looked, and there is even a second edition available at Amazon for much cheaper than mine originally was. I might have to take a look and see what has been updated.

Piecing & Curve Journey

I started working on the fan quilt blocks my mom left me this past weekend. I've been inspired and given confidence by my practice with projects from the Curves class. So, I ironed and sewed, and ironed and sewed. I have one block put together and more in process still.

one quarter of a circle

While I was working on them, I sewed together a couple of drunkard's path squares that I had cut out a couple of weeks ago. When I found the Asian print in my scrap box, it just called out for a drunkard's path. I ended up cutting two out, and I tried to make them a little bigger than the block I had made before.

my first drunkard's path effort

I starched up these pieces, hoping that would help with the sewing process, and really, I think it did. Still didn't get me out of the woods, though. I sewed my curves without much problem, but putting the pieces together - you know, with the straight seam - became problematic. I figured out a good way to square up the blocks, at least in theory. Then I had a brainstorm that would help me match the curved seams. Yeah.

maybe ironing them would help...

I did better with them on my first effort. Maybe I over-thought my process here. Maybe I learned just enough to be dangerous, so to speak. Anyway, here they are. I still love the print, and will finish them as something. Don't know yet they will be both sides of one thing, or side by side. Something, though. Definitely something. At least I'm still working on my learning curve.