On the Fly: Spin Art
2009 @ 3:16 pm
Having a couple of recovery days here and enjoying our new toys… Remember spin art? Lots of fun…
Finished!: Eyelet Yoke Cardigan
2009 @ 7:20 pm
Sometimes it takes a while to get a button on a sweater. Sometimes it takes even longer to get a photo of it on a body.
Distraction helps…
After much insistence on a red SQUARE button, a round one was procured without a problem. It’s all about timing.
The sweater grew in length after blocking and fit a little looser than before I soaked it. I was happier with the previous fit, but now it will fit for longer! You can see the details here or on Ravelry…
Say good-bye to Maia for a while… she is hating the camera at the moment.
Handmade Holiday: Progress Report
2009 @ 8:21 am
Okay, 6 4 days to go. How we all doing? The reality is that I only have three more days. We start the out-of-house celebration and cooking on Thursday–no more time to consider gifts! Thanks to a couple afternoons off, I’ve been able to make major headway on the handmade gifts. Too bad I can’t post photos till after! A bit of advice: projects that take under one hour are best. Trust me.
*Grocery Bag Dispensers. Tutorial by Kim Kight, posted on Dioramarama.com in Dec 2006. 7 complete, 3 to go. There are SO FAST.
*Rice Heat Therapy Bag.
I’ll be mixing it up a bit and doing some heat packs, some small “boo boo buddy” variety.Okay, this one is just not happening. I am hoping to get some boo boo buddies done for stocking stuffers.*One princess dress for dress-up. I just passed this one on to my mother, who volunteered to take it off my list. HOORAY!
*Two or three aprons. I’ve had most success with the full apron from Lotta Jansdotter’s book Simple Sewing. Okay, I did these three and they took FOREVER. Mostly, it was the strings… I recommend twill tape for faster results!
*One yoga mat bag. I love the one Carrieoke made a while back and plan to follow the same tutorial. Done! And pretty quick. I made some adjustments to the tutorial. The most notable was to tack the lining to the outside so it doesn’t pop out whenever you can your mat out.
*Machine Embroidered Coasters. Did you see my post? I made 4!
*Some sort of ornament.
Contenders thus far are 10-minute Santa or Martha’s latest snowflakes, which are like a fun science experiment.. Decided on freestanding lace snowflakes on the embroidery machine. They are turning out really pretty!*Knit ski mask. By Jenna Adorno and found on Knitty.com Done!
*Black skull cap is also done…
*many framed photos of the girls’ school photos
Easy! Thank you to Ikea for being attractive and reasonably priced.
See you after the holidays!
Machine Embroidery: Japanese designs
2009 @ 7:14 am
The Cucito magazine I posted recently featured a super cute machine embroidery design. I am assuming that it’s a freebie, but I have no idea how to go and collect it. 
It has put me on a hunt for other designs from Japan, but I haven’t had any luck yet. I have, however, discovered The Long Thread, both the blog and the etsy shop. She’s got seriously cute machine embroidery designs. Believe it or not, it’s taken me three whole years to find anything like this. She features applique in some of the more current trends (woodland creatures, nesting dolls, etc.) I’m looking forward to using them!
Japanese Sewing: New Acquisition!
2009 @ 7:02 am
Cucito Child Boutique Patterns Magazine for Fall 2009.
I am a sucker for Japanese kids patterns. And this mag has things sized for both Maia AND Cassie. Sweet!
This is absolutely the closest I’ve even come to wanting matching mom and daughter outfits. Can you blame me? I won’t do it, but I admit to thinking about it!
Finished!: Nottingham Hat
2009 @ 8:19 am
I finished the Nottingham Hat in time for Jason’s birthday last month.
awkward angle, but best photo of the hat
Pattern: Nottingham by Melissa Mall
Yarn: Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran
Needles: size 8 Lantern Moon and Addi Turbo. Addis blow the Lantern Moon away on this yarn.
Rad Rav Link: greatwhitewong
Finished!: Bluework Coaster
2009 @ 7:52 am
As mentioned in my Holiday gifting post, I decided to try something new with my embroidery machine: coasters!
I found these ship designs when I got the machine three years ago and have had them in the back of my mind since then. They are perfect for some of my family members- my dad’s side is Scandinavian and there is a nautical thread running through that side of the family. Plus, a one-color design is optimal when there’s a time crunch.
I used off-white wool felt (100%), mettler silk finish cotton thread in navy blue, and backed it with blue velor i had leftover from a dress for my niece. I will switch to using black bobbin thread for the rest of the coasters. I followed the directions included with the design pack which were roughly same as any other coaster, with some small mods:
1. I hooped the felt using the sticky-back method. I attached adhesive stabilizer to the bottom of the hoop and then stuck the felt to that.
2. Stitch the design, then stitch the first outer circle.
3. Trim the felt and then float the backing. Stitch second circle and trim backing.
4. Trim outer circle, done!
Let me know if you’d like a more detailed tutorial. I’d be happy to provide one when I am not under the holiday gun. In the meantime, I also referenced this brief tutorial.
Finished!: Birthday Cowl
2009 @ 11:56 am
Hey, I just realized that I took a photo of a long-ago knit and gifted project! I knit up the Birthday Cowl (non ravel link) for the Spiders project exchange at the end of winter 2007.
The recipient was the lovely Carrie of Every Word’s a Purl who wears a lovely blue coat. I have no idea if she’s found use for the cowl, but I loved knitting it and I love the color. Yarn is Autunno by Di’ve… i love this yarn. So soft and the colorways are gorgeous. This cowl took 2 skeins, I believe.
I’ve lightened up my Gleek designed theme a bit… hoping my photos appear a little lightened too!
Handmade Holiday: Project List Updated… or maybe it’s really just amended?
2009 @ 11:11 am
Now that it’s officially December, I’m am getting stressed. Why does everything have to happen at once? I plan this massive craft undertaking at the same time as my clients need me. Luckily, some extra cash speaks to the reason I was crafting my ass off in the first place. Either way, I am still attempting to give mostly handmade this year. I give you, the updated list (previously found here):
*Grocery Bag Dispensers. Tutorial by Kim Kight, posted on Dioramarama.com in Dec 2006.
*Rice Heat Therapy Bag. I’ll be mixing it up a bit and doing some heat packs, some small “boo boo buddy” variety.
*
Embroidered Paper Dolls. Time to put that embroidery machine to work! I’m hoping this was a good buy and will be loved by all the little girls in our lives. And that it will only take one night to make a few. HA.I am crazy… way too many colors to change, details that could go wrong. Plus I don’t have all the colors I would need and don’t want to order and wait…*One princess dress for dress-up.
*Two or three aprons. I’ve had most success with the full apron from Lotta Jansdotter’s book Simple Sewing.
*One yoga mat bag. I love the one Carrieoke made a while back and plan to follow the same tutorial. Simple Sewing does feature a mat bag, but it doesn’t have a round bottom and I like that idea.
*Machine Embroidered Coasters. More on that later…
*Some sort of ornament. Contenders thus far are 10-minute Santa or Martha’s latest snowflakes, which are like a fun science experiment.
*Knit ski mask. By Jenna Adorno and found on Knitty.com
Off to get started!
Handmade Holiday: The Project Lineup
2009 @ 8:49 am
I’ve already got two hats in the bath for Christmas this year. And it’s not even December–can you stand it?!
Okay, okay… i made two of the same thing and will gift one to my mother and keep one. You caught me.
As the calendar turns from 2009 to 2010, there will be some big changes in our household. And usually, big changes mean tightened belts. There will be a lot more MAKING this year. I usually say I won’t and then pull some things out in the end game. This year though, it’s going to be a lot more to fill in.
Here’s the list so far, with links to stash-busting tutorials…
*Grocery Bag Dispensers. Tutorial by Kim Kight, posted on Dioramarama.com in Dec 2006.
*Rice Heat Therapy Bag. I’ll be mixing it up a bit and doing some heat packs, some small “boo boo buddy” variety. Found this one on Sew, Mama, Sew last year and have been thinking about them ever since! I love that the bag is removable for washing.
*Embroidered Paper Dolls. Time to put that embroidery machine to work! I’m hoping this was a good buy and will be loved by all the little girls in our lives. And that it will only take one night to make a few. HA.
*One princess dress for dress-up. I’ve ordered the pattern and I hate myself for it. But, mothers put up with this princess crap precisely because of the HAPPY KID quotient. Two discarded bridesmaid dresses are standing by. If I play my cards right, this will also be next year’s Halloween costume. If I do not play my cards right, my kid will be the one in the silk robe and smeared makeup carrying half a bottle of bathtub gin. Next year’s choices are between Cinderella and Ms. Hannigan. I kid you not.
Okay, I’d better get to work! Keep you posted…
