Embroidery

Today was day of rest/relaxation - well, at least the morning was. And here's the results.

First Christmas gift made. And this is quite a green gift - the off white was my neighbor's curtains and the black is a dish towel! Buttons were in the button drawer already.

The Sock Knitting Machine!

Well, here it is if you can pick it out from all the junk around it! And yes, there really is quite a learning curve with these little gadgets. But I have been able to produce my first PAIR of socks on it. These are a hung hemmed 5x1 mock rib. The pink was the first real sock and it is on the 54 cylinder, 2x1 rib. I see lots of socks in my future!

PS It's totally your imagination that the legs are that white.

I haven't attempted a quilt in a long time, but here's a gift I made for a special 1-yr-old boy! Probably won't use regular flannel for a quilt again. Even serging the seams didn't prevent some areas from fraying apart in the first wash! Operator error? Anyway I then used one of the quilting stitches on my machine to go over EVERY STINKIN seam just to make sure it doesn't happen again.

And I KNOW Mickey has NOTHING to do with the jungle, but I didn't have wrapping paper and his party invite had Mickey on it....

So there's no knitting to share still. But I've done some machine embroidery lately. Bob's robe was tattered, so I ripped the terrycloth lining out of it and made a pattern for a new robe from the old one. I stuck in his old labels just because. And here are some napkins I made not too long ago. I love http://www.emblibrary.com/. The prices are great and there's a large selection.

Oh, how I wish I had not been bitten by the CSM bug. I want - I need, I should say - a Legare 400. I'd like to think I'd be happy with an Auto Knitter, but I don't know. And I really want to FIND one in a thrift store in just great condition for a mere pittance. The problem is I'd have to GO to a thrift store to look and do it regularly... Like that's going to happen.

Odds n Ends

Just in case anyone's looking, here's a few new ones. Purse organizers just copied from pictures online - one view from inside the purse - and a gorgeous shawl from Knitted Lace from Estonia, the Lilac Leaf Shawl. Love it. See that little post for hanging your keys - it's a dowel covered in fabric.

Happy New Year

The new year is a time to clean up. So here's my new FREEEE pattern storage units I picked up at Staples! I have no idea what their original display purpose was, but they serve my purpose, and the price was right.

This Badgley Mischka pattern (V1066) turned out pretty darn good. It's all in the details.









I bought this pattern for Kelli. Now I need the perfect material.



Of course there's been lots of undocumented knitting going on around here, but I was too distracted with other issues to post. The Japanese Feather and Fan shawl is a really cool pattern and so are the Praire Boots.

North Roe Shawl and other odds and ends

This lingered on the needles far longer than it should have. It was thrown in the back seat of the car to occupy my dead time. Had I known I was going to add BEADS to it, I don't think I would have mistreated it so. I simply cannnnnot wait to wear this somewhere with anything.

A few other things I've finished up were the Little Black Top - This I think I'll wear a lot. It's comfortable and easy to wear, looks good with anything. I've already worn it to work a couple times.

And this winter's PJ's! Cute little lady bugs....

Fleece Robe

Well, everyone knows the story of the fleece robe already. Anyway, this is it in its salvaged glory. Serging those chain stitches really helped the drape improve! Perhaps a plan next time I do that? Nah.

The Invisible Woman

I walk in the mornings. I leave the house between 6:30 and 7:00. I've tried to change this many times just to avoid people, but as most, I'm stuck in a routine. So weekdays, depending on my path, I pass many teenage school bus stops, several solo teenage stragglers, and one grumpy old man who looks as though he thinks I'm going to grab him. Since I am a woman of a certain age, these teens do not deem me worthy of acknowledgement, not a nod and certainly not a return "good morning." Today I decided I would play my role of invisible woman properly and not disturb anyone with a gracious good morning greeting. This feels odd to me as I don't particularly like to be rude on purpose, but it seems to be working out well. At the top of the hill I see ahead of me three girls huddled together. As I get almost ready to pass, the middle one sweetly says "Good morning." Now, what do you think of that?

Influence can be good and it can be bad. I'm old enough to know better. This young girl reminded the invisible old woman to mind her manners despite her surroundings.

Wallets: Doing things the hard way

There are some lovely tutorials out there for making wallets by DarnKat: http://darnkat.wordpress.com/quilted-fabric-wallet-tutorial/ and on Crafster: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=16097.msg137772#msg137772

BUT no, I had to have a coin pocket and whatever JUST like my old wallet. It's not great, but it'll do. Many improvements could be made "next" time (hahahahaha)

Domino Art?

Wow. Google that one. Fantastic stuff. But I don't need a new hobby. www.flickr.com/photos/perpetualplum/tags/dominoes/
www.rubberstampsclub.com/tips/monthly-projects/august02/august02.html

An extra long black scarf done quickly for a hostess gift. This is an easy, standby pattern that I need to branch out from http://www.yarnagogo.com/good_ole_cabled_scarf/

And on the sewing front a shirt.
I used my automatic buttonholer thing on this, and it worked! Over and over again, it worked! Using a buttonhole cutter makes an unbelievable difference over opening a buttonhole with a seam ripper. Which you can buy here: http://www.sews.com/notions/buttontls/buttontls.html

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny

No, it's not a yellow polka dot ... BUT it's done. And with time to spare. Kelli's friend's taking her to Hawaii in a couple weeks.

It was an experience. The serger doesn't always want to cooperate with the cover stitch and the picking out is a pain in the rear. But I think it's a dang good first bathing suit effort. Loosie's got a great friend who used to work for Catalina bathing suits and I need to pick her brain.

Panache

How could I forget to blog my finished shawl! Here it is in all it's glory, appropriately titled "Panache" in www.knittingpatterncentral.com free patterns. The designer based it off of some doily pattern with the word Peacock in it! I LOVE peacocks. I had thought about buying the Pretty as a Peacock shawl pattern, but felt this one would do the trick and was free. I used Jaeger's silk/wool DK yarn for it and it's incredibly cuddly. This is the same yarn I used to make the Clock Vest out of - and the yarn was NOT a good choice for that, but perfect for this.

Swimsuit Sewing

This is my first foray into sewing swimsuits or with lycra/spandex materials, and I'm so excited. I thought this stuff would be slippery and hard to sew, but it's just the opposite. The only downside so far is the cost of the material! http://www.sewsassy.com/ was a great site for the chlorine-resistant elastic, s-hooks (which I'm not going to use afterall), and lining (better than what's available at Joann's) and very supportive swim cups! The brown is the prototype and the black is my copy. I had read a lot on line about this first so I knew to put the lining in the suit and baste the two together at all openings. Then I sewed the elastic in the legs by leaving the fronts at the same tautness and pulling the back elastic in the cheek area. I used the three-step zigzag when sewing the elastic to the edges and then folded down once again and used the cover stitch on my serger. I had a McCalls swimsuit pattern to use, but the best help was my daughter giving me her favorite suit to copy. So I compared the pattern pieces to the suit and made some tissue patterns that were just slightly adjusted.

This fabric does not ravel at all. So to make a swimsuit sarong, I cut a rectangle - fabric was 54 or 60 wide, which is what goes around the waist and the bottom I curved up. I initially tried hemming all around and didn't like the look. So I cut with pinking shears and it's fabulous. Then I made a simple tube out of the remainder that she can just pull on as a little top over suit if she wants more coverage - almost looks like a dress. I just made sure the bottom of the sarong would go around her and meet and tapered the top edge a bit. The tube has one seam up back and pinked around top and bottom. Yep, went a little crazy and used another remaining strip to make a hair band. The sarong has been wadded up on my desk, so it's a bit wrinkled, but you get the idea.

Fruit Tarts and Yarn Bon Bons

Was it my birthday and I forgot?? Did Christmas come early?? Nope, I didn't lose any teeth. Ms. Abi aka Miss Holly, Mrs. Bear, Ms. Gallagher, or Gail sent me the biggest surprise ever! I have no idea what I'm making yet, but ideas are flying. These are yarns I've read about but never splurged on. They feeeeel good. I always go for the low dollar and then am disappointed. But now I'm afraid to start something. Will it be worthy??? Egyptian cotton by On Line Linie in sherbet colors, Schulana's Sojabama in cream, Ornaghi Filati Le Fantasie, Austermann Step for some great socks, some Shepherd wool, some Louisa Harding Coquette with SPARKLES. What to do, what to do!

This is Loosie's recipe for fruit tarts, but I think I didn't do her justice. Sort of overcooked the crusts. Should have put some banana in there for color. But even still, they look good.

English Muffins and a Baby Sweater

Last night my cooking buddy asked if I ate tuna, and if so, could I save him the tins. This sounded quite familiar to me. Why? He says he's going to make Alton Brown's english muffins for an upcoming brunch we have slated. Well, I go to dig out my tins from the trash and notice that there is no way in heck he's going to get those new-fangled rounded bottoms off. So I look to see if I have any water chestnuts and pineapple and I do. Then I start thinking, gee, this all sounds familiar. I dig through cupboards and sure enough I find five of these already bottomless. Then I read the recipe and think, hmm, I have it all. So thinking a bit first, I read all the reviews (lots of people knew about the pineapple and water chestnut cans working - one poor soul sat with a hammer, chisel, screwdriver tryin to get the rounded bottoms out of the tuna cans .....) and, not meaning to steal any thunder, I thought I'd try them as I had everything ready and I haven't done them since I became a King Arthur flour fan. Then I set out to, a, make them not too fat, use some cornmeal in the bottom, etc. And yes, indeed, they take a lot longer than his 5-6 mins per side and the cast iron pans I'm using have to have the fire just barely on below them. The first ones turned out just a bit fatter than I'd like. The later ones look pretty darn good. It did make ten muffins. Bob wolfed three of them pretty quickly. Myself, though, I'd prefer more "nooks and crannies." But these will definitely do. I'd say the recipe is a keeper.

And this is my lastest finished object. A lacy baby sweater I made from a pattern in Knitting Pattern Central (Lacey Baby set). I changed up the lace pattern just to make it go quicker. And I picked up all around the front with a smaller needle and did a garter edge with buttonholes. And the hat is stinking adorable. I made the poppy from another baby set in Knitting Pattern Central baby patters (Poppy something or other) and used the bottom border pattern to make a simple beanie.

I could do without summer

Well, if it would only cooperate and only get tops to 85, I wouldn't mind so much. Since it's too hot to talk, I'll put up a pictorial of my summer so far.

I've sewn a bit, gardened a bit, put up some shelves, made a dress for Loosie. I'm not always that messy when I serge as it is in the Orange shirt - made this from Ottobre magazine - fits great. Made the pattern twice so far. The green top is a great pattern, but cheap fabric and it shows. I hope Loosie's frock isn't too loose. And the blue top is losing that tie belt. Fine when you stand, but once you sit and gravity does it's thing with the body, the belt shifts up to the chest and there's trouble.

No time to play

But a few pics of some recent stuff. Here's Abi wearing this, as she calls it, "Hoochie" apron. She looks adorable. The grocery bags and I made a trek on foot to do the marketing, so I got not only a walk in, but some weight-bearing too - thought my arms were going to fall off. I sort of overdid the buying. That's my second peasant top, and I sort of used the same design in front. I did my first attempt at "shirring" on it. Finally got that elastic bobbin thing to work - but I sure didn't wind it by hand as they all tell you to. I just machine wound it, and it worked beautifully.

AND as far as these little soakers go, I think they're the cutest, most practical thing. They almost make me wish I had a baby to stick in them. If you don't know, these are to put over cloth diapers instead of rubber pants. This sounds weird, but you just keep using them for up to a couple weeks - rotating with another pair or two and only airing out between unless soiled. No, they don't smell. Hmmm or so they say.

Trinity Jacket

Well, well, I do believe if I ever finish this that it will accompany me on jobs regularly. This will have three-quarter sleeves. I think two more inches and I'll bind her off. How fitting that my trinity jacket has three buttons.

My bit for the environment

Or maybe that threat of $.25 per bag made me do it. Or maybe I want to be like Ed (begley)...I did buy his book.

But whatever the reason, it's STINKIN cute. I'll be making more. I just made this out of some Grace cotton I had hanging around begging to be something. And can you think of a better way to while away the hours hanging out at the Digestive Disease Center while your husband's undergoing some very unnatural process? Here's the pattern link: http://nephele.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/sunshinebag.pdf

Oh! On another note, My Favorite Neighbor never ceases to amaze me with her needle wizzardry. I hope her niece treasures this forever:
This is Knitty's Trellis pattern made up in Knitpicks Shine Sport. It's perfect! Unlike anything you can buy for an infant.





And here's what I made for her niece - look familiar? But I did add a hat to this ensemble.

Making Baby Stuff

Everyone's having boys! I'm getting worried about human extinction here in the U.S.

The baby boy's big sister need a little something too. Sure hope this fits:

Garter Raglan Beginnings

This yarn has had a tough go of it. It's Jaeger Trinity, a discontinued yarn. Does that give you an idea? Anyway, this is it's third life. It started as a lace cardigan. Then it was going to be a multi-directional tank. Now it's going to be a raglan - love the buttons tho. It'll have three buttons and lower half hanging open. I'm really hoping that I can wear this for work with a pair of black slacks and a black tee - or brown slacks and brown tee.

Mama and her babies

Just for Linda Lou, I'm posting the hummer and her little hummers. Gosh, wouldn't it be a little bit uncomfortable to sit on those pointy beaks??? Actually, I'm not sure what's worse! Sitting on those pointy beaks, or having her rear on their heads! Either way, it's just not good.

Boucle Wonder

Seems I'm slow in finishing things and posting. But I'm pretty happy with this as a first lined jacket, or lined anything for that matter! The cost was right - Joann's 1/2 price red tag sale - totalling up to probably $10 with thread and lining.

Peasant PJs

It's huge, it's comfy, and I LIKE it, but I just don't think I'd wear it as a shirt. This will become my summer morning lounging wear. Perhaps I'll make some knee length bloomers to go with it! Yes. That's the idea.

It was entirely made with junk from the sweat shop stash and I was playing with the embroidery design.

Must Have Finale

It took a bit longer than I thought it would, but it's there. I love it. Ready for next winter, I guess. Sure can't wear it now.
>

Sunshine Tote

Really, I'm going to get back to the knitting. But here is a tote I made using a tutorial I found on line. I don't have to worry about not finding it in a heap. I probably don't have to worry about anyone taking it from me. I think it's mine to keep. It would be a great beach bag if one were so inclined.

Denim Bag

Today's project - kind of cute. I used this tutorial (http://lulalouise.com/Tutorials.html), but had to make it a wee bit smaller because I didn't have enough material and I definitely WASN'T going to go buy any - MUST USE STASH. I did interface it also to give it some body and added pockets for the necessities in life (inside and out). It is reversible, but I doubt I'd ever use the pink side.

It's not that big but holds a lot: wallet, umbrella, bottle of water, makeup bag - and lots of room still - especially if you don't button on it! I probably could have gotten a little more creative with that pocket.

One Hour til Brunch Time

There's butterhorns, cream cheese, and some pastry cream/raspberry danishes. And isn't this a unique flower vase thingy? Or at least I'm assuming that's what it is. What else could it be? It's from my m-i-l that I never met, so couldn't ask. But I do love it.

Must Finish Must Have

I'm getting a little weary of looking at this. But once you get going, it is an easy knit.

Uniquely Me

This is Clothilda's last stand. I ordered Uniquely You today for my fitting twin. Next up is Rhetta's Chanel knockoff. Tissue fitting the Vogue pattern pieces here on a slightly distorted paper tape Clothilda (I steamed some sweaters I was knitting on her - so I used the "good" side). I found some boucle material at a ridiculously low price (not wool...), bought some lining material, made some trim from various yarns. Will be searching for some chain for the hem. I suppose you'd call this my "mock up." I'm excited.

What 2008 holds in store.....

It's starting out feeling good. My Must Have is progressing and I have made every imaginable (and one incomprehensible) mistake. So I've had to rip back the seed as I changed pattern on the back side when I shouldn't have (THREE TIMES, I might add). Yes, I twisted the nine-stitch cable the wrong way once. The wrap 3 - well I knitted the three after wrapping instead of k1, YO, k2tbl (THREE TIMES!) The triangular cable thing - YEP, I transferred the purl stitch to the wrong side of it one time.

The good news? I'm getting quite adept at fixing mistakes. The incomprehensible mistake? Well, l obviously, when fixing something, twisted the rows of yarn. I couldn't even figure out why the heck it looked funny and kept ripping down, ripping down. Then I had an AHA moment. Anyway, I think it's goin to be worth the work. And actually it does go faster than I thought it would.

On the sewing front, I'm gettin good at making pants! I made these cords from a McCalls Perfect Jeans pattern, and maybe not perfect, but they turned out well.

And this pic I'm including because it makes me ridiculously happy to open my cupboard and see this. It started out with one cup my DH bought me. I used it every morning. If it was dirty, I'd dig it out of the dishwasher, quick rinse, and voila. Then he made a comment how nice it would be if all our cups matched. I needed no encouragement. The only problem was it seemed it was difficult to find the cup with the black printing. Like it was some kind of collector's item or something! Then I found the "Holiday" cup - same ole cup, just a barn red printing - well, I LIKE that. Buy one, get one free - even better. I got me NINE cups now. I never gotta use a dirty one again.


So what I'm hoping for 2008? Good health for friends and family (heck, after reading this I realized I should throw in the people I don't know, the people I know and don't like even), lots of knitting, lots of sewing, perhaps riding my bike again, not too much work and lots of play - Balance - That's what I want for 2008.

Finishing and Starting Anew

Clock vest was finished just before the year ended. It's doing it's second finishing - blocking again, bit wider/shorter. And I must have this Must Have Cardigan. It was begun just before the new year started.

Each project I knit, I say, Now this is the best so far! I don't think the Must Have will be dissappointing. I will make NO modifications. This will be an exercise in following instructions. (Something I'm not the best at.)

Dessert from Hell UPDATE

OK - not exactly like the book picture. But with a wee bit of effort it could have been. I chose to melt truffles I had made for the holidays for the plate as I'm NOT eating more sweets for a while. I started just squirting caramel sauce on willy nilly in an effort to get them all to the table before it turned midnight!



Just going for a WOW factor here. Will it look like the picture in the book? Hmm... Will it taste good? Who knows? Will all the pieces get to the party without breaking? Who knows? The recipe on the sugar spirals said "Practice may be required." Duh. But here are some of the parts of the dessert. Still have to make cake -- that has to be carefully lowered into the bottom of the caramel boxes -- and mousse that has to be put on top of the cake, and sauces to decorate And will I need a trailer to transport all this to the party? And I already know that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me.

Corset Making

This was a Simplicity bridal pattern that I altered to put in a busk. Probably could have gone down one size. But still it fits pretty well. It should not meet at the hips in the back. The opening should be about 1.5 inches all the way down, but she laced this up herself. I like the way the top is higher in front. She can probably just wear this with an open sweater and still be quite "decent." Perhaps the next one I'll try putting a privacy panel in the back.

Merry Christmas

Since we "do" Christmas on the 24th, here it is! First up is Kelli opening her "box of money." This was by far her favorite gift!

Bob is calculating how much it cost him.

By far this is the best picture - Mom and Kelli! Notice she is wearing her Swallowtail shawl!


And watch out Nashville!

Ravelry, Knitting, Sewing - oh, my!

Yes, I joined Ravelry because, you know, everyone's doing it. Slow on the uptake, but I did it. Actually I'm RhettaRic (thank you, My Favorite Neighbor, for giving me yet one more name). These are one of my latest sewing FO's - jeans. And Green Cables is taking an outing with them today. I'm a little nervous about wearing something I can't just rip off like a cardigan or jacket if I get hot, but I've decided to just take a walk on the wild side today.

The jeans are out of stretch denim and using KwikSew pattern I've had forever. They are by far the most comfortable of pants I own. For the pockets I traced the design on tissue paper, placed it over the pocked, and stitched.

More sewing - pj's

These are just too dang cute. Supposedly they really call this baby Fat Boy! Sure hope he doesn't get a complex.

Mama's Apron Strings

Been playing with aprons and the pics don't show up quite as good as they do in person. The orange/purple is really vibrant and the stripes are so cute - waves, stars, dots. The stripey one is finally getting there. It works better to make them reversable, double thick.

Staying warm

I've been playing with fleece a bit these days. Here's what I made yesterday. Not perfect, but with a little work, maybe next time. And because I haven't had much knitting content, I'll throw this Christmas earflap hat in the mix.