It's fun and always makes me feel more productive to look back and see what I made during the year. Do you do that?I've been feeling very unproductive the last week or so. I've enjoyed having lots of family time but I haven't spent any time at all at my sewing machine. I pulled out a couple of long lost knitting projects to work on in the evenings because I can be a bit more social while still "making". Mostly I've not been crafting. I'm really feeling the itch.This is MOST of what I did this year.
1. ladybug mittens, 2. Crazy Love quilt, 3. estonian-socks-colorwork, 4. Abbey-Road-outside, 5. Pinwheels-and-Strings-close, 6. Lynn's hexagon quilt, 7. baby quilt whole, 8. happy drawing pattern, 9. Nancy, 10. bluebirds of happiness, 11. Paris on a Shoe String, 12. pixie hat side, 13. pixie hat girl, 14. hexagon flowers, 15. rug, 16. slip n slide 1, 17. Bento bag, 18. frame purses first, 19. frame purse monkey, 20. Flower Power close, 21. new dress action, 22. Washi front, 23. birds and the bees washi, 24. Anna Maria Horner Washi, 25. frippery washi, 26. ruby finished, 27. pink pixie, 28. Point Me big, 29. skinny tee P, 30. Cloud 9 frame purses, 31. Little Stitches embroidered, 32. Happy Land close, 33. Swiss Chard close, 34. chick on mushroom, 35. medallion top, 36. sneak peek
Halloween Elf
Here is our little Halloween elf.
I made the top from B's old terry/velour bathrobe using Rae's Flashback Skinny Tee pattern. I also added some pink braid from my trim collection.The pattern for the hat is Lyalya Hoodie by Natalia Schaffer. (knit earlier in the year and blogged here.)Pretty close to the design she imagined, I think. She is thrilled with the soft, warm top.
Goldilocks has a Tea Party
Goldlilocks invited a couple of friends over for tea.
She wanted to show them her new rug.
Warming Gifts
Here's the hat I knit for M for Christmas! He chose the pattern, Northern Lights, and blue and yellow (U of M colors) wool from my stash for the main colors. He told me to surprise him with the other colors. I ended up starting this about four times before getting it right. I cursed it for a while but I'm happy with the way it turned out. I'll also have to check what happened there where it looks like there is an orange stitch that should be green.... I didn't notice that until I was just looking at the picture on the screen. I'll have to duplicate stitch over it in green. I must have been half asleep while knitting that part. Heck, I think I was half asleep while knitting the whole thing.The rest of my holiday gift making was rather mundane like crew socks for the members of the family who wear sandals all winter. Other gifts were knit and shared earlier in the year - potholders, mitts, and mittens. Oh, and I did photo calendars for the family again this year too.
Handmade Holiday - received
I like receiving handmade gifts as much as I like giving them.This year, B's mom gave us some beautiful embroidered pillowcases. Just look at those pretty satin stitched leaves!My grandmother used to keep me supplied with embroidered pillowcases but most of the ones she made for me are quite worn and tattered. It is nice to have some fresh cases made by B's mom.She also knows that purple, green, and gold is my one of my favorite color combinations.
Aren't these pretty?P got this cute beaded snowflake ornament from her cousin, F. She had mentioned when we decorated the tree that handmade ornaments were one of her favorite gifts to receive!
My sister made this soft striped scarf for D. I am sure it will help him stay warm this winter. He doesn't much like hats because they don't fit well over a pony tail so a scarf is good for him.
A Little BLing
D made us these tiny origami initial ornaments last year. I love them. He also made an "M" and a "P". I thought these two should be next to each other on the tree this year.I'm enjoying a little quiet time and working on some secret knitting while the recipients are away. One of my projects is driving me a little nutty at the moment. Let's just say that I have started over FOUR times.
Handmade
I am remembering when P made some bird ornaments for gifts last year. M was also thrilled to find his and put it on the tree.
When in Doubt, Make Half Square Triangles
When in doubt, make half square triangles.
Each time I finish a project I have the urge to start something new. I am also feeling the need to get things more in shape in the sewing room (isn't that always the case?) So, yesterday I broke open the scrap suitcase and started cutting. I cut lots of 2 3/8 inch squares. Any chunks that were too small for a 2 3/8 inch square were set aside in their own box.
I dumped the whole suitcase and did some sorting.Next, the squares were all cut in half diagonally and sewn to white triangles of the same size.I had a plan when I started. I was going to make blocks similar to this or this but with six half square triangles on the diagonals of each section instead of the four that are shown in these diagrams.After making a bunch of hst pieces I am rethinking my plan.
I sort of want to sew them into one long strip. Don't you think it would look good to have a strip of these running off center down an otherwise plain quilt?I was discussing the possibilities with Miss P after school today and mentioned that it would take a long time to make enough of the blocks for a quilt.P's response: "Mom, you don't have to finish the quilt in a month! You can take as long as you want to make it."So true.Now I need to decide which way I want the quilt to end up and just do it that way. Or, maybe I'll make two!Either way I'm putting the scraps into a SMALLER suitcase. I made the switch last night but, I can't yet close the lid.
Snow Day Activity
We enjoyed our snow day yesterday. The storm came through with a lot of wind and even had our windmill turning. It hasn't moved in more than ten years because it only has one blade left on it. That was a strong wind! We won't discuss the little snow drifts that accumulated on the entry rug and window sills. We have put that behind us and are soaking up the sun on another very cold day.We took advantage of the day off and did some crafting. I had in my mind that I would come up with a clever idea for Valentines that P and I could make for her class. She had her own idea and went right on with it.
She liked that I let her use ANY fabrics from my scrap bin and I let her use my special fabric marking pencil.
She traced, cut, glue basted, and sewed.
Stitching hearts is great practice for sewing curves!It is a good thing she started early.
I Can't Stop!
I can't stop making these bags.
The curvy clutch is my favorite Keyka Lou pattern; they are so fun to make! I am quilting the outer fabric to the batting before adding the lining. These bags close with two magnetic snaps.Rick rack!!
When piecing, I use the stitch and flip method and sew the outer fabrics right to the batting.Embroidery.
I'm still thinking on the quilting pattern for the twinkling stars.
On to Bigger Things
After finishing a few more smaller projects I am feeling a little more prepared for the craft show on December 4.
I feel like I can now calmly return to a larger project like finishing another quilt.
I put hundreds of pins in it last night. I will be quilting it on the machine but haven't decided about the design yet.
I don't want to put any quilting on the stars. I really want them to float above the background. Outlining each star would be very tedious but I kind of think it needs it. I would like a lot of quilting in the background but I don't want to do the old meandering thing either.What are your quilting thoughts?And isn't this backing fabric great? I had just enough for the back of this quilt!
Saw Teeth
School is back in session and I have some time to myself. I am working on another project that's been banging around in the sewing room for a few years. I finally finished the hand applique center and am working on the borders.Saw teeth. I have ALWAYS wanted to do a saw tooth border on a quilt. This one is getting a DOUBLE border.I am using two inch squares cut on the diagonal.One border is already stitched on.
It will have a narrow white strip and then the second saw tooth border.
Today will be spent sewing tiny pieces of red and white fabric together to make long border strips. I will be thrilled if I can get the top finished!
The Triangle Quilt
I was able to squeeze one more UFO finish in before the end of summer vacation. I started this one two years ago!
I had a hard time deciding on the quilting for this and finally settledon a thin black thread with five rows of parallel stitching along thestraight seam lines.
I am pleased that the quilting does not detract from the clear solid colors.
The quilt measures 39.5 inches by 47.5 inches.
The Color Purple
I did a little secret sewing earlier in the summer which I can now share with you.
This is a twin quilt my sister and I made for our niece for her high school graduation gift.
Between the two of us we had a lot of purple fabric scraps. We each made half of the blocks.
We hope she enjoys using the quilt in her dorm. She says it has ALL of her favorite colors.The design is the same as this quilt I made for my nephew a few years ago.
Butterfly Migration
Look! The butterfly quilts had a chance to meet!
JEK's quilt, on the left, was the inspiration for my butterfly quilt on the right. I knew I had to make it as soon as I saw a picture of her quilt.
Isn't that a clothesline of happiness?
I am glad JEK had it with her on her trip.
Dolled Up
P's doll has a new dress. I finished this last night and am pleased that the dress fit the doll perfectly when worked straight from the pattern directions. P wanted sleeves that went all the way to the wrist so I just made them a little longer.The pattern is F in the picture below. I used the self patterning sock yarn instead of knitting a two color design. P is thrilled. She has put in an order for a pink version of dress E, a pair of underpants like those on the line, some socks, and a snowsuit.
We shall see.I am off to spin some more yarn to make sleeves for the cable doll sweater I am knitting.
Super Warm Pink Mittens - the experiment
Two years ago I made P matching mittens, hat, and a scarf. They are getting a bit small but she has been wearing them this winter. The mittens never were very warm for her so I have been thinking about how to make warmer mittens that will be good for playing in the snow.My plan was to make lined mittens but to make the outer mitten felted. I used Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino for the inner mitten and made it to fit her hand first. I started with a provisional cast on so that I could start knitting the outer mitten from there.
I knit the outer mitten larger, about the size of my hand, on larger needles but with the same number of stitches using Jaeger spiral spun frogged from a project my neighbor started years ago and said she would never finish. The preknit yarn that I didn't take the time to steam before using gives the knitting a bit of a textured look but I didn't worry about it because I knew it would look completely different after the felting anyway.The inner mitten yarn is 30 percent microfiber and will not felt.
P wants to make sure you see the Christmas tree made by the space between her hands in the picture below.
After a bit of squishing them around in hot water in the sink we have finished mittens! The end result is a more weather proof outer mitten with a soft inner mitten next to the skin.
I hear they kept her hands warm on the playground at preschool today.
I just love when this kind of experiment works out.Now B says he wants a pair...A crafter's work is never done.
Handmade Holiday
Here are a few of the handmade gifts given this year. This little sweater is for a doll.
I made one of these ascots a few years ago and really like it. The pattern is from a workbasket magazine from the 1940s. This one is made from alpaca. I should have looked in the mirror before taking the photo because I didn't have it on quite right.
There is just one toe left to knit on D's Christmas socks. I think I can finish that today.
B helped out a bit with our handmade gifts too. I couldn't find a frame that I liked for this print so he made one from some walnut he had in the basement.
He used old glass from a barn window and an old violin string for the hanging wire.
I think it turned out great.I also consider my calendar handmade since I took the pictures. We gave a few of those too.I think we did well to have a mostly handmade holiday.edit: The print came from Jenny's Bake Shop on etsy. She has them in different sizes and colors.
Something in the Air
I love the flurry of creative activity that occurs in the last days before Christmas. Everyone in the family seems to be working on projects.D made this origami crane. Tiny. VERY tiny.
P has cranked out a few of these little cats on her sew handy sewing machine and filled them with rice. I think they turned out super cute!
Here is a peek at one of my recent projects.
I'm still working on this one.
Yep, we love all of the holiday crafting.It's time to put my feet up and knit....I hope you are keeping warm and doing things that you like to do.
