Finished: Tiered Jacket
2010 @ 8:07 am
I love this knit! Cassie looks super adorable and it was really quick to do because I chose a chunky yarn. Highly recommended for your little girl! It has a long option too, although it was just too long for an 18-24 mos old.
Pattern: Baby Tiered Coat and Jacket by Lisa Chemery
Yarn: Cascade Superwash 128
Needles: Size 10.5
Mods: I used this larger gauge and knit the largest size for my 18-24 mos old. I’m hoping I can size it up for Maia.
Holiday Crafting: What now?
2010 @ 4:09 pm
We punched a bunch of hearts out of last year’s birthday cards… now what?
Finished: New Dress!
2010 @ 4:04 pm
I’m very happy with how this dress for M turned out! I love the corduroy and denim combination.
Pattern: McCall’s M5684, Easy Stitch ‘n Save, size 4
Fabric: lightweight cotton denim and some corduroy I can’t find the details on. Sorry!
Mods: I used the top from View A and the skirt from View B. I am proud of myself for not following the instructions to the letter! I’m really starting to get it. Yay! Anyway, I sewed the skirt sides and then sewed the top front and back to their facings at the top edges, wrong sides together. I turned them right side out, pressed and sewed the front to the back at the sides. I top stitched all around the top and then gathered the skirt to fit and sewed it on, right sides together. Then I pressed the skirt to the top and top stitched around the bottom of the bodice. Since I didn’t have enough fabric for the skirt I shortened it a bit. I did a very narrow hem to compensate, but it’s still a little short when compared to the width. I think I’ll make the next one a bit more narrow and longer.
Hopefully I’ll get a better photo in the near future. She’s sort of a blur these days…
FlipMaja: updating the shop in 2010
2010 @ 7:15 am
I’ve been making some yoga mat bags and they are really pretty and really useful (if you have a yoga mat bag). I bought some fabulous fabric the other day and plan to update my etsy shop, Flip Maja, with them in the coming weeks.
Less thinking, more doing!
Year in Pictures 2010
2010 @ 8:31 am
At the beginning on January I decided to join my fellow knitterly and crafty types over at flickr for the Year in Pictures project. It’s been great! I’ve actually manged to take a photo each day and I’m even happy with most of them. It’s a fun, flexible group if you are looking to boost your skills through practice… and you can join at any time.
Here’ what I’ve put up so far:
Looking forward to some “out of the house” shots when my little girls are all better from random fevers. Winter. Ugh.
Handmade Holiday: Gaggle of Bag Bags
2010 @ 7:35 am
This was my go-to gift for most people… a garbage bag dispenser and snowflake ornament. I’m a sucker for the utilitarian. I got this fabric at Ikea.
I also got to use my fancy grommet tool, yay! This thing has proved to be very handy indeed.
I used up a lot of fabric making these and it felt GOOD. Not to mention they are very quick. I could knock off four in an hour. Highly recommended!
The snowflakes are freestanding lace that I did on my embroidery machine. Very cool! I used Solvy heavyweight water soluble stabilizer, hooped tight and stitched with a size 11 needle. Each one took about a hour to stitch out–not the quickest when you are making groups, but not too bad in small batches.
Handmade Holiday: The Knits
2010 @ 7:17 am
I knit 4 hats for Christmas this year. Two Felicity Hats, a ski mask, and a skully. I haven’t gotten pics of the Felicity hats yet, but the other two have been photographed…
Pattern: AntiFreeze by Jenna Adorno
Yarn: Cascade 220, i skein
Needles: sz 5 and sz6
Mods: I chose to rib around the face s it could be easily pulled down under the nose
Pattern: my own. cast on 80 and go go go in 2×2 rib.
Yarn: one 50g ball of something black with no label. It had some cashmere in it, but wasn’t Debbie Bliss. Sorry!
Needles: sz 6
Handmade Holiday: Yoga Mat Bag
2010 @ 7:51 am
This one was much quicker that i thought it would be and I am very happy with the results! Turns out to be sort of an homage to a friend’s new yoga studio–Blackbird Yoga in Georgetown, CT.
I used the tutorial from Bored and Crafty. There were a couple of details omitted, but the bag produced is great! I took the extra step of basting the lining to the bottom of the bag so it won’t pop out when the mat is removed.
Details
Project: Yoga Mat Bag (via Bored and Crafty)
Dimensions: fabric cut to 29×17, circle for bottom cut to 5″. I would do more like 32 x 19 next time around. Measure circle via your own mat rolled up, then add 1/4″ all the way around for seam allowance. Stitch the liner to the inside of the seam allowance so it won’t show.
Fabric: Dogwood by Michelle Engel Bencsko. Desperately seeking more of this fabric!
Happy New Year!
2010 @ 9:50 pm
here’s my brief year in review…
The knitting:
The sewing:
The life:
Handmade Holiday: Simple Sewing Aprons
2009 @ 8:13 am
I can finally share gifted items! These were the major thing on my list. I really like the style of these aprons, but have consistently forgotten how long it take to make apron string. After making three at a time, I will NEVER forget. I should have subbed in the twill tape and called it a day. These probably took me eight hours to complete–for Christmas gifts this is just way too long. However, I am extremely happy wit the results…
There are some pleats at the top to suit your womanly shape…
and the whole thing is reversible. I chose to back each one in a gingham and change up the other side to suit each recipient. I’ve had the gingham in my stash for quite a while, but the quilting cottons are all new from the Brooklyn General Store.
I used a fancy stitch at the bottom of each apron, just because I can.
Details
Pattern: Reversible Apron from Lotta Jansdotter’s Simple Sewing
Fabric: stash gingham, ummmm, i knew I should have written the rest down. I’ll try and find out.
Notes: Buy 1.5 yards of fabric if it has a nap. I had to cut my strings against the nap and was a little annoyed. For the apron strings, sub twill tape if you are in a hurry. If not, sew together strips and then turn to right side, press and top stitch. Trust me, it will take less time than trimming all the edge and turning them all right side out.
One thing I love about these fabrics is how well they go together… I’m going to try to use the scraps up on something.
