And crafting if you can believe it. I don't yet have any pictures to show for it, ya know, since the one thing I have totally finished I forgot to take a picture of before I gave it away, but that's alright.
The point is, I have not been swallowed by work, and actually have been busy making quite a few things. I have....6 things in progress....I think 6, at least that's how many I can think of. With any luck, 3 of them will be finished very soon. I can't wait until the end of April when I can really get down to business again, but I'm doing alright all things considered.
I guess that's really all I have to say. I just thought it was time for a check-in here. In the meantime, are you familiar with pinterest? I am obsessed. And I am almost sorry for sharing the addiction. Almost. Have fun and I'll be back soon with pretty things :)
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Curtains for the little one
A few weeks ago (maybe a month now actually) we moved the little lady into her crib in her room. Our nights are still pretty rough, but they are really no worse than when she was sleeping with us and now we have the added bonus of better sleep when we get it. Anyway, I thought that maybe if we blocked more of the light from outside, it would help her sleep, and so the search for light-blocking curtains began. Do you know how freaking expensive blackout curtains are?!?!? Maybe some would disagree, but I was not prepared to spend $30 per panel for boring, plain curtains. So I checked Joanns and found that insulating blackout lining is only $6/yard and I had a 50% off coupon. Thus it was decided; I was making some curtains.
Of course then followed the dilemma of what fabric to use. We tossed around a lot of ideas and finally decided that if we could find an inexpensive sheet set, that would be the way to go. I looked through many sites sale bedding section and finally found Pottery Barn Teen. They have such cute, colorful things! As luck would have it, they had a beautiful bold floral sheet set on sale. I was able to get 2 twin sets for $22 each which gave me enough fabric not only for the 4 curtain panels, but I still have a flat sheet left over to use as a quilt back! And some pillow cases!
I made them pretty simple, and just did some tabs across the top. I added a strip of solid color at the top and bottom to....I guess ground the large pattern better. They are definitely more girly than I usually go, but I really like them. I made the front a couple inches bigger around and then folded it over to meet the back and then over again and topstitched around. It keeps they laying nice and I didn't have to worry about flipping the lining right side out and trying to get it to behave.
They are not perfect, but they work and they look nice. Somehow they consumed the better part of my weekend even though they were a pretty simple project, but they are done and I am so glad to have that one off the to-do list. It was definitely one of those projects that needed to be done but was not on the list of things I really wanted to be working on. So there you have it, much cheaper and cuter than what I could have bought and so far the darkness seems to be helping with sleep.
And now, I'm off to play in the mountains of snow (or, ya know, large piles) that got dumped upon us last night and then curl up in a blanket with some hot chocolate. Amazingly enough, it is our first big snow storm in a long time, state of emergency and all. We'll see how the little one feels about snow :)
Of course then followed the dilemma of what fabric to use. We tossed around a lot of ideas and finally decided that if we could find an inexpensive sheet set, that would be the way to go. I looked through many sites sale bedding section and finally found Pottery Barn Teen. They have such cute, colorful things! As luck would have it, they had a beautiful bold floral sheet set on sale. I was able to get 2 twin sets for $22 each which gave me enough fabric not only for the 4 curtain panels, but I still have a flat sheet left over to use as a quilt back! And some pillow cases!
I made them pretty simple, and just did some tabs across the top. I added a strip of solid color at the top and bottom to....I guess ground the large pattern better. They are definitely more girly than I usually go, but I really like them. I made the front a couple inches bigger around and then folded it over to meet the back and then over again and topstitched around. It keeps they laying nice and I didn't have to worry about flipping the lining right side out and trying to get it to behave.
They are not perfect, but they work and they look nice. Somehow they consumed the better part of my weekend even though they were a pretty simple project, but they are done and I am so glad to have that one off the to-do list. It was definitely one of those projects that needed to be done but was not on the list of things I really wanted to be working on. So there you have it, much cheaper and cuter than what I could have bought and so far the darkness seems to be helping with sleep.
And now, I'm off to play in the mountains of snow (or, ya know, large piles) that got dumped upon us last night and then curl up in a blanket with some hot chocolate. Amazingly enough, it is our first big snow storm in a long time, state of emergency and all. We'll see how the little one feels about snow :)
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Little Folks peek
It happened. An opportunity presented itself and I took it. And now I am super busy and will remain so for the next 7ish weeks. I keep reminding myself that in reality, I am not losing much crafting time since I had so little to begin with. I will just slowly keep trucking away and working on things when I can. Today I got a little time and made some binding and got some curtain fabric cut out for the little one and hopefully I will actually get to sew the curtains this weekend....since she really needs them.
Anyway, I thought I would share a peek at what I am working on. These are two quilt tops that are finished out of my Little Folks fabric. I love them. A lot. The top is the log cabin quilt I had been waiting to make since June when I got and cut the fabric and then I made a smaller baby size patchwork quilt out of the scraps. And actually I think I have enough little pieces to make a small mug rug perhaps to test out my quilting idea :) But we'll have to see about that. I hope that by the time I have time to make some more things in a couple of months, the sun will be shining more and the pictures will be prettier. I have the tops done, and the back of the big one done and the binding made, I just need time to baste and quilt it so maybe I'll find a spare weekend day for that in the next couple of weeks.
I am hoping that I have enough time to get some things done and can post once a week or so over the coming weeks, which I guess is not really that much less than I was doing before. We'll see if that actually works out, but I am sure going to try. My sanity would very much appreciate some time to work every week, so I'm going to do my best. And someday my child will be less needy and might even nap and then...oh the possibilities. Oh my I'm a dreamer....
Anyway, I thought I would share a peek at what I am working on. These are two quilt tops that are finished out of my Little Folks fabric. I love them. A lot. The top is the log cabin quilt I had been waiting to make since June when I got and cut the fabric and then I made a smaller baby size patchwork quilt out of the scraps. And actually I think I have enough little pieces to make a small mug rug perhaps to test out my quilting idea :) But we'll have to see about that. I hope that by the time I have time to make some more things in a couple of months, the sun will be shining more and the pictures will be prettier. I have the tops done, and the back of the big one done and the binding made, I just need time to baste and quilt it so maybe I'll find a spare weekend day for that in the next couple of weeks.
I am hoping that I have enough time to get some things done and can post once a week or so over the coming weeks, which I guess is not really that much less than I was doing before. We'll see if that actually works out, but I am sure going to try. My sanity would very much appreciate some time to work every week, so I'm going to do my best. And someday my child will be less needy and might even nap and then...oh the possibilities. Oh my I'm a dreamer....
Monday, February 21, 2011
I made a sweater!!
I have never been one to make clothes really, although I feel somewhat differently about childrens clothes. The whole idea of fit and making sure things are accurate....well it just doesn't really appeal to me, possibly because every time I have tried, it has ended badly. As far as knitting a sweater, I just wasn't interested a project that would take forever and probably not even fit.
This past fall, I found a project to change all that. My mother-in-law had a short subscription to Burda magazine, and in the fall issue was a knit sweater. It was a nice chunky knit, using size 17 needles and a super bulky yarn and was knit in one piece from one arm to the other. It is a simple cardigan style and I wanted to make to wear around the house. I admit, I did not check my gauge because...well I never do and I figured it really didn't matter since I am not wearing it out of the house. I started it over the holidays and really had wanted it done by the new year, but obviously that didn't happen that way. Still, it was a very quick knit.
I actually chose the color (Lion Brand Yarn, Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Fig) because I had a ball left over from a previous project. It worked pretty well. The problem with the pattern is that it is all done by measurement, not by rows, and measuring is difficult when you are using a thick knit that is heavy and not very tight. So despite my best efforts, it is uneven. Quite uneven actually although I can generally manipulate it so that it isn't quite as bad. Ah well, I tried. And my dislike for making clothes is confirmed. Until I find something that makes me try again :) Now, to add buttons or not....
In other news, I am waiting to see what happens with work, but I may be crafting/posting less for a while. We shall see how the week plays out, but I may be a busy bee until the end of April. More on that as it develops.
This past fall, I found a project to change all that. My mother-in-law had a short subscription to Burda magazine, and in the fall issue was a knit sweater. It was a nice chunky knit, using size 17 needles and a super bulky yarn and was knit in one piece from one arm to the other. It is a simple cardigan style and I wanted to make to wear around the house. I admit, I did not check my gauge because...well I never do and I figured it really didn't matter since I am not wearing it out of the house. I started it over the holidays and really had wanted it done by the new year, but obviously that didn't happen that way. Still, it was a very quick knit.
I actually chose the color (Lion Brand Yarn, Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Fig) because I had a ball left over from a previous project. It worked pretty well. The problem with the pattern is that it is all done by measurement, not by rows, and measuring is difficult when you are using a thick knit that is heavy and not very tight. So despite my best efforts, it is uneven. Quite uneven actually although I can generally manipulate it so that it isn't quite as bad. Ah well, I tried. And my dislike for making clothes is confirmed. Until I find something that makes me try again :) Now, to add buttons or not....
In other news, I am waiting to see what happens with work, but I may be crafting/posting less for a while. We shall see how the week plays out, but I may be a busy bee until the end of April. More on that as it develops.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Ice cream neck warmer
Some time in the past few weeks, I don't even know precisely when, tragedy struck. I lost my scarf. In the middle of winter. In Binghamton. Um, bad times. Cold weather tends to make me want to knit anyway, but I didn't feel like making a whole replacement scarf, so this time, I made a neck warmer. Have you seen these? Because I am gathering they are all the rage. I figured it would be quick to make and cut down on the possibility of my child strangling me by pulling on a scarf.
I found the pattern in the book Knit2Together, which my Mother-in-law gave me for christmas. It seemed simple enough and after noting the bulky yarn used in the pattern (an insanely expensive cashmere in fact) I went looking through my pile of leftover yarn. It turns out I had some leftover from the knit baby blanket I made last year that is a cotton/acrylic blend and is super soft and wonderful. I had no idea how much of it I had left, but I picked the colors I liked best together and went to town. It really does remind me of ice cream or something. I love the dusty pink and cream together and the gray stripe in the middle just makes it pop. It is a simple feather and fan pattern although the lacy-ness is not totally apparent, but I guess that's good for keeping the cold out more. And it used just the right amount of yarn since I now have just little tiny balls left that I might make some flowers out of or something. It worked up really quickly, as in a bit of time 2 days in a row and it was finished which is good since I have so little time these days.
I actually think I have just enough of the other two colors to make another one if I so desire, but for now one will do. I love the satisfaction of using yarn that has been sitting around without purpose :) I think I have a few other projects, one needs new pretty yarn and the others use what I already have. Someday I'll get it all done. Next up is to show you my big knitting project. Oh, the suspense! And maybe sometime soon I'll finish something sitting on my sewing table.
I found the pattern in the book Knit2Together, which my Mother-in-law gave me for christmas. It seemed simple enough and after noting the bulky yarn used in the pattern (an insanely expensive cashmere in fact) I went looking through my pile of leftover yarn. It turns out I had some leftover from the knit baby blanket I made last year that is a cotton/acrylic blend and is super soft and wonderful. I had no idea how much of it I had left, but I picked the colors I liked best together and went to town. It really does remind me of ice cream or something. I love the dusty pink and cream together and the gray stripe in the middle just makes it pop. It is a simple feather and fan pattern although the lacy-ness is not totally apparent, but I guess that's good for keeping the cold out more. And it used just the right amount of yarn since I now have just little tiny balls left that I might make some flowers out of or something. It worked up really quickly, as in a bit of time 2 days in a row and it was finished which is good since I have so little time these days.
I actually think I have just enough of the other two colors to make another one if I so desire, but for now one will do. I love the satisfaction of using yarn that has been sitting around without purpose :) I think I have a few other projects, one needs new pretty yarn and the others use what I already have. Someday I'll get it all done. Next up is to show you my big knitting project. Oh, the suspense! And maybe sometime soon I'll finish something sitting on my sewing table.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Security Blankets
Alright, I know you can't really choose what your child gets attached to. I know, really I do. But that doesn't mean I can't try! I wanted to make a set of blankets for the little lady. Small. Simple. Soft. You get the idea. So after reading about this double cotton gauze fabric that sounded perfect, I decided to order some and see what I could do. I got a half yard each of two fabrics by Nani Iro and after washing them up, cut out 4 20" squares, paired them up, and rounded the corners.
Now the binding was an adventure. I wanted to bind them because I like the look, and this gray organic cotton is just perfect, but I was worried about hand stitched holding up if she actually does take to them. So I decided to try machine binding using the tutorial over on Red Pepper Quilts. It did not go well. It's okay though, it will work and I'm sure she won't care.
I love love love the fabrics. The florals are so pretty and the polka dots, well is there really anything that needs to be said about polka dots? I figure even if she doesn't care, they will make cute doll blankets or something so it's all good.
I have recently completed 2 knitting projects that I will share soon, and the top of my little folks quilt is done. Now I just have to do a little piecing detail on the back, sandwich it and figure out how I want to quilt it. And of course I have some scrapbooking to do....did you know valentines day is less than a week away? Eeek! I better get busy!
Now the binding was an adventure. I wanted to bind them because I like the look, and this gray organic cotton is just perfect, but I was worried about hand stitched holding up if she actually does take to them. So I decided to try machine binding using the tutorial over on Red Pepper Quilts. It did not go well. It's okay though, it will work and I'm sure she won't care.
I love love love the fabrics. The florals are so pretty and the polka dots, well is there really anything that needs to be said about polka dots? I figure even if she doesn't care, they will make cute doll blankets or something so it's all good.
I have recently completed 2 knitting projects that I will share soon, and the top of my little folks quilt is done. Now I just have to do a little piecing detail on the back, sandwich it and figure out how I want to quilt it. And of course I have some scrapbooking to do....did you know valentines day is less than a week away? Eeek! I better get busy!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Baby legs success!
I did it! If you remember back here I was complaining about my baby legs attempt and ended saying I was going to give it one more try. Well I did and I am so glad! I finally got it worked out and made 4 pairs without any big mistakes! The stretchy zig-zag on my machine, paired with my walking foot are a winning combo. Had I bought them, 4 pairs would have cost about $48 instead of the $10 that I spent.
And seriously, isn't this just too freaking cute??
I just needed to prove that I have accomplished something :) I have another small project done, should finish knitting something tonight and, get this, I am done 18/24 of my little folks blocks! Happy Friday!
And seriously, isn't this just too freaking cute??
I just needed to prove that I have accomplished something :) I have another small project done, should finish knitting something tonight and, get this, I am done 18/24 of my little folks blocks! Happy Friday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)