Friday, March 3, 2017
Monday, May 30, 2016
Eternally Long Sock Project
I finally finished these socks that I started for my mom well over a year ago. Heck I got the idea for them over two years ago! Well at long last they are indeed done.
The pattern is Dogwood Trees by Karen Aida (available free on Ravelry!). I made them up in Cascade 220 and I decided to use the magic loop method which worked perfectly since the pattern divides so nicely between front and back.
More pics:
The pattern is Dogwood Trees by Karen Aida (available free on Ravelry!). I made them up in Cascade 220 and I decided to use the magic loop method which worked perfectly since the pattern divides so nicely between front and back.
More pics:
They aren't blocked yet- I actually want to pick up a set of sock blockers but I haven't gotten around to visiting a LYS to pick some up yet! I'll probably just use Woolite and flat-block them at this point.
Next up I am working on another pair of socks but a much simpler pattern: Vanilla Latte by Virginia Rose-Jeanes (love those free download patterns!).
Monday, October 12, 2015
October Journal
I've been drooling over this creepy print of fabric at Fiddlehead Artisan Supply for years now and I finally decided on something I could do with it. I made this journal cover from Indygo Junction IJ882. The pattern has 3 styles and I picked the velcro closure style.
Let me just get it out of the way that the velcro loop is not aligned with the tab. Sigh. I'll do better next time. Other than that I love love love it.
Here's a closer shot of the creepy characters I was talking about. I love the little girl in pink.
Inside flaps.
It has pen holders and a business card holder. It doesn't close very well with pens tucked inside though- a bit of a design flaw. For the next one I would probably skip the pen pockets and put a loop along the outer edge instead (above the velcro closure tab).
I also decided to add a ribbon bookmark. Another design has you install a ribbon bookmark as well as ribbon closure ties and that does sound awfully cute.
Here's the back cover.
And finally the details of the characters hanging out on the back.
I had a blast making this and would definitely do it again. I did have some trouble in a couple of detail areas. The first was determining which direction to cut the pieces so that the final product would be right side up. You cannot cut all the pieces the same way if your fabric design has direction. Here's my cheat sheet:
Front Cover: the 16 1/4" edge should run along the top/bottom of the design. (Cut wide.) A band along the center will be covered by the decorative band piece so be aware of that. (You could very easily skip the decorative band FYI.)
Inside flaps: the 10 3/4" edge should run along the sides of the design (Cut tall.) You'll be folding in half so you'll lose half the design. If you do care about this make sure you have one piece that you like the right half and one that you like the left half as one will be front and one will be back flap.
Lining piece: the 11" edge should run along the top/bottom. (Cut wide.) Doesn't matter a ton because you don't see it when the cover is on the journal.
Decorative band: the 18" edge should run along the top/bottom. (Cut wide.) You'll be folding in half the long way so bear that in mind. I wound up doing creative ironing to make sure you could see my funny faces along the band.
Pen/Pencil pocket: the 10 3/4" side should run along the sides of the design. (Cut tall.) Also you'll be folding the whole thing in half top to bottom so you want the desired design to sit on the bottom half of the tall sides.
Business card pocket: the 5" side will run along the top/bottom (Cut wide.) and like the pen/pencil pocket you'll be folding in half top to bottom so you want the design you like to be on the bottom half of the cut piece.
Velcro closure: the 5" side will run along the top/bottom. (Cut wide.) Then the piece gets folded width-wise and so you want your desired design to be on the RIGHT side of the center.
Here's my penciled notes with smiley faces if that helps at all:
Speaking of that velcro closure, I think that the instructions have it backwards. If you follow the diagram then you'd have the flap attached to the front and then you would loop it to the back to close. I disagree with that philosophy so I pinned the flap to the back (left-hand) edge of the cover piece and I stitched the loop of velcro tape to the right hand side. That resulted in the closure you see above where my flap attaches to the front.
This was definitely a fun exercise in visualizing what each step would ultimately look like on the finished book in order to get all my little faces aligned.
Let me just get it out of the way that the velcro loop is not aligned with the tab. Sigh. I'll do better next time. Other than that I love love love it.
Here's a closer shot of the creepy characters I was talking about. I love the little girl in pink.
Inside flaps.
It has pen holders and a business card holder. It doesn't close very well with pens tucked inside though- a bit of a design flaw. For the next one I would probably skip the pen pockets and put a loop along the outer edge instead (above the velcro closure tab).
I also decided to add a ribbon bookmark. Another design has you install a ribbon bookmark as well as ribbon closure ties and that does sound awfully cute.
Here's the back cover.
And finally the details of the characters hanging out on the back.
I had a blast making this and would definitely do it again. I did have some trouble in a couple of detail areas. The first was determining which direction to cut the pieces so that the final product would be right side up. You cannot cut all the pieces the same way if your fabric design has direction. Here's my cheat sheet:
Front Cover: the 16 1/4" edge should run along the top/bottom of the design. (Cut wide.) A band along the center will be covered by the decorative band piece so be aware of that. (You could very easily skip the decorative band FYI.)
Inside flaps: the 10 3/4" edge should run along the sides of the design (Cut tall.) You'll be folding in half so you'll lose half the design. If you do care about this make sure you have one piece that you like the right half and one that you like the left half as one will be front and one will be back flap.
Lining piece: the 11" edge should run along the top/bottom. (Cut wide.) Doesn't matter a ton because you don't see it when the cover is on the journal.
Decorative band: the 18" edge should run along the top/bottom. (Cut wide.) You'll be folding in half the long way so bear that in mind. I wound up doing creative ironing to make sure you could see my funny faces along the band.
Pen/Pencil pocket: the 10 3/4" side should run along the sides of the design. (Cut tall.) Also you'll be folding the whole thing in half top to bottom so you want the desired design to sit on the bottom half of the tall sides.
Business card pocket: the 5" side will run along the top/bottom (Cut wide.) and like the pen/pencil pocket you'll be folding in half top to bottom so you want the design you like to be on the bottom half of the cut piece.
Velcro closure: the 5" side will run along the top/bottom. (Cut wide.) Then the piece gets folded width-wise and so you want your desired design to be on the RIGHT side of the center.
Here's my penciled notes with smiley faces if that helps at all:
Speaking of that velcro closure, I think that the instructions have it backwards. If you follow the diagram then you'd have the flap attached to the front and then you would loop it to the back to close. I disagree with that philosophy so I pinned the flap to the back (left-hand) edge of the cover piece and I stitched the loop of velcro tape to the right hand side. That resulted in the closure you see above where my flap attaches to the front.
This was definitely a fun exercise in visualizing what each step would ultimately look like on the finished book in order to get all my little faces aligned.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Star Wars Cosplay Series: It begins
My excitement for the project is already clouding my judgment. I pulled the pieces out of M7100 to cut them and found out that there is a shoulder dart in the pattern that was not illustrated on the line drawings on the back of the pattern. I now realize it does say "with shoulder dart" in the description but... I never read that. Anyway I just squished the dart out of the pattern piece and am going forward.
What I don't have is any scotch tape to do my pattern adjusting with so I'm using hot pink duct tape. Worst choice ever for adjusting delicate dainty tissue paper. Cool
You can see where I folded the shoulder dart out of the sleeve piece and I also added the band lengths to the sleeves and body pieces since I"m doing the jacket straight down.
Thankfully my project is saved by the baby as I realized he'd be getting up before I could cut the pieces so I am taking the time to wash and dry my fabric instead. Smart move. Thank you baby. I am trying hard to bring this back into the realm of good sewing habits.
I also started a handwritten journal of the experience because I'm way too excited to keep this project just an ordinary project. Plus I need more stuff and carrying around swatches in a purse sounds like a bad call too.
Next I'll be figuring out my lining situation (the pattern isn't currently lined) and testing out the quilting detail for the sleeves. Oh and purchasing some dang scotch tape. Onward!
What I don't have is any scotch tape to do my pattern adjusting with so I'm using hot pink duct tape. Worst choice ever for adjusting delicate dainty tissue paper. Cool
You can see where I folded the shoulder dart out of the sleeve piece and I also added the band lengths to the sleeves and body pieces since I"m doing the jacket straight down.
Thankfully my project is saved by the baby as I realized he'd be getting up before I could cut the pieces so I am taking the time to wash and dry my fabric instead. Smart move. Thank you baby. I am trying hard to bring this back into the realm of good sewing habits.
I also started a handwritten journal of the experience because I'm way too excited to keep this project just an ordinary project. Plus I need more stuff and carrying around swatches in a purse sounds like a bad call too.
Next I'll be figuring out my lining situation (the pattern isn't currently lined) and testing out the quilting detail for the sleeves. Oh and purchasing some dang scotch tape. Onward!
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Star Wars Cosplay Series: Intro
Star Wars Episode VII comes out in December of this year so Jerm and I decided to have a little cosplay fun to get psyched up for what looks like a very promising return to the Star Wars saga.
Jerm is going to be Han Solo and he's aiming for accuracy to the original costumes. I'm going to be a female interpretation of Luke Skywalker wearing the costume from this scene:
I plan to make some elements such as the amazing yellow jacket, probably the black shirt under the jacket, and the holster for the blaster on his leg. I'm still debating if I should make a medal. I think it would be cool but maybe it'll be the last part of the project.
Below you can see the shirt on a young and dreamy Mark Hamill.
So let's start with the somewhat formidable jacket. I have never made one so why not take this opportunity to give it a crack and hang my hopes and dreams on it while I'm at it? I've got a copy of McCall's M7100 and some yellow fabric and lining. The trick is that this pattern is almost like a sweatshirt style, is unlined, and calls for knits, so I'm a little nervous how it will come out in something with structure/quilting/lining but hey- I'll improvise!
More about the fabric and taking my first steps soon! My goal and hope is to document this crazy venture into cosplay and I hope to have other projects in between too. So ambitious!
Jerm is going to be Han Solo and he's aiming for accuracy to the original costumes. I'm going to be a female interpretation of Luke Skywalker wearing the costume from this scene:
I plan to make some elements such as the amazing yellow jacket, probably the black shirt under the jacket, and the holster for the blaster on his leg. I'm still debating if I should make a medal. I think it would be cool but maybe it'll be the last part of the project.
Below you can see the shirt on a young and dreamy Mark Hamill.
So let's start with the somewhat formidable jacket. I have never made one so why not take this opportunity to give it a crack and hang my hopes and dreams on it while I'm at it? I've got a copy of McCall's M7100 and some yellow fabric and lining. The trick is that this pattern is almost like a sweatshirt style, is unlined, and calls for knits, so I'm a little nervous how it will come out in something with structure/quilting/lining but hey- I'll improvise!
More about the fabric and taking my first steps soon! My goal and hope is to document this crazy venture into cosplay and I hope to have other projects in between too. So ambitious!
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Baby Quilt for Margaret!
Here it is!
Crib sized from a Mardens Jelly Roll. Excuse my weird eye intensity.
Bundled for the gift bag. I tied it up with the leftover quilt binding.
The back is solid green. The fabric was originally going to line a knitted skirt but I thought it would look so cute on the quilt so I used it for this instead.
This is definitely just the start of the quilt making days. I had a complete blast from start to finish. I think the best part of all was probably looking through the jelly roll and dreaming up my design but I really enjoyed every single step. Quilting it under the walking foot was also interesting.
I'd love to get more jelly rolls and make a twin size quilt for Adrian to grow in to. For now I'm scheming up a quilting related project (ok, a patchwork project. no actual quilting.) for my coworker who will be having a baby shower here eventually.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
GoVeralls, Next Socks, and Back To Sewing!
My sweet baby is 9 months old today! I would wish for him to slow down if he weren't so darn cute and happy to be growing and learning!
Crafty me managed to bust out some On The Goveralls for him in just a couple of weeks. This speed of completion is nearly unheard of * so it's kind of a big deal. They initially came out huge so I frogged the 12-18 mo size in favor of 6-12 and they're frankly still a touch oversized. Guys I knit under-gauge (and hate spelling the word 'gauge'!!) all the time so why the past 2 projects have been oversized is beyond me.
* for a Bethy, that is.
Eeeenywhoo here's a couple of bad photos/poor lighting/etc of the adorable overalls.
Awesome. They don't look too huge when he's sitting but you can kinda tell there's some extra fabric hanging around his legs. I'm tempted to knit up another pair lightning-speed in the next size so that I'll have a backup for when he grows outta these... but no! I've got far too many next project ideas on the docket!
I cast on my next pair of Christmas present socks. After much deliberation I chose the Dogwood Trees because I can't get enough of free downloadables on Ravelry.
Finally, I decided it was high time to venture back into the sewing foray and I was super inspired by Amanda Rolfe from 3and3quarters. I'm going to make some English paper-pieced hexies. If it is too much to pull out all the machine sewing then at least I can do something by hand, dang it!
The days may be long and busy, but they can still be crafty!
Crafty me managed to bust out some On The Goveralls for him in just a couple of weeks. This speed of completion is nearly unheard of * so it's kind of a big deal. They initially came out huge so I frogged the 12-18 mo size in favor of 6-12 and they're frankly still a touch oversized. Guys I knit under-gauge (and hate spelling the word 'gauge'!!) all the time so why the past 2 projects have been oversized is beyond me.
* for a Bethy, that is.
Eeeenywhoo here's a couple of bad photos/poor lighting/etc of the adorable overalls.
Awesome. They don't look too huge when he's sitting but you can kinda tell there's some extra fabric hanging around his legs. I'm tempted to knit up another pair lightning-speed in the next size so that I'll have a backup for when he grows outta these... but no! I've got far too many next project ideas on the docket!
I cast on my next pair of Christmas present socks. After much deliberation I chose the Dogwood Trees because I can't get enough of free downloadables on Ravelry.
Finally, I decided it was high time to venture back into the sewing foray and I was super inspired by Amanda Rolfe from 3and3quarters. I'm going to make some English paper-pieced hexies. If it is too much to pull out all the machine sewing then at least I can do something by hand, dang it!
The days may be long and busy, but they can still be crafty!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)