Christmas Print 2015!

Every year for the last several (8?) years I have made a Christmas print. They often contain cats or snowy scenes. Generally they have the year as part of the print, and red, black, light blue are common colors I use.  Hopefully when we unpack I can find copies of the previous prints, and next year find a good way to display them at Christmas time, with room to add on.

They are generally block prints, but some years have been screen printed. Here is last years which was a screen print. (I hand painted the stencil).

2007 & 2008 block prints...

This year with my screen printing stuff packed up, I decided to go with block printing. I sketched many rough designs, trying to come up with a good idea. Three Little Kittens? A Loon? Owl? Elephant? A print with multiple ornaments? I had originally thought of a simple fireplace print. Then when we had more house drama and I thought we may never close on the house I gave up on the idea and then started trying to come up with others. Now that we officially got the house, I decided to stick with the fireplace. To add the usual Upsidedown Cat charm, I added a bear in a winter sweater and some Christmas decor on the mantle (Stay tuned for a later post.,,!)

Anyway. In the midst of deep cleaning the house, I knew I had to get this print done because we give it to family and friends as our Christmas card. So.. I started carving, and today with a free afternoon, I printed the red. This block was a little bigger than some cards I have made. It was a little bendy and my brayer is smaller than the block so I had to be more careful about inking the block to make it even.

Color two, the black layer, was hard to line up... I was feeling really frustrated with the first several prints (Hint: use your more messed up first layer prints as practice prints with the 2nd layer!). I traced around my block on a piece of white paper, cut out the rectangle and carefully used the paper frame as a pretty close guide of where to place my block, trying to match two corners as best I could before letting the block touch the paper. It worked well and I'm pleased that most of the prints turned out well. In printmaking you generally lose some prints with each new color/layer you have, and plan accordingly so hopefully you will end up with the amount you want. I did not count them yet, but I think I printed about 50.

Here is the final result:

Perhaps some day if I have free time (haha, so many quilts on my list), I may get inspired to make some cards to sell. Could be a cool Upsidedown Cat merch item and something I could maybe sell online. We'll see... It would be good if I did something related to printmaking, since I took a lot of classes, and it can be used in so many ways.

Decorating

Well. An update. Still no new house. Maybe by December 4th. It is hard to keep waiting but i am glad we got out of town this weekend to visit family and relax. 

Today we help my mother in law decorate for Christmas. This involves removing the thanksgiving/fall decorations. This year they have a new kitten and I will not be surprised if she tries to climb the tree. She is so active and playful. Anyway, I have been looking forward to helping with the decorations. It is always fun to arrange items and try to remember where things go. We are talking about like 6 or so giant tubs of stuff and other items too. 

They also are sending us home with some things for our new house. (Feels like early Christmas). I got a ton of vintage crocheted doilies and some pillows and picture frames and mirrors and some curtains and fabric. A main hobby of theirs is garage saleing. We also got a few rugs. So grateful to get stuff for our new house! It makes it seem more real. 

About the vintage doilies. I plan on using some around the house, and maybe some for an art project. I have seen curtains and and adding them to lampshades etc. There are lots of cool ideas online. 

I brought some knitting on this trip. A cowl for me. I barely had any bandwidth yesterday because of my cold. Feeling a little better today and hoping to get more done. I do have more Christmas presents to make but could not bring them because then family here might get an idea of what they are getting. 

Here is the cowl. It is called Vortex Cowl. The original pattern is for 4 colors but I am only doing two. I think I like how it is working out. I already have so much blue in my wardrobe but I hope it will go with lots of things. The colors are a little off. Navy stripe and variegated blue & purples. 

Stitch by stitch

So. The secret Christmas Present making continues. I got a lot of knitting done on a project when we went to see a movie and only had a few mistakes to fix the next morning. Since the pattern was simple it was easy to drop down 10 rows and fix the stitches. I love not wasting time and often knit in the car too, if I am not the driver.

I have finished 3 projects (sewing, sewing & knitting), and am in the middle of 4. (They involve knitting, knitting, embroidery, and painting/glitter). Trying to keep a list so I keep everything straight.

One of the projects I finished used up some stash fabric and was pretty quick to make once I had all the pieces cut to the same shape. It felt great to be able to use stash as I have not been sewing much this summer, and a lot of my stash is smaller pieces. I am looking forward to my new craft room so much!

I love vintage sewing rooms: Here is a 60s/70s one. Main things I need: Lots of light, Storage ( I already have one big piece of storage furniture.) Ironing board (My husband is hoping to build one that comes down from the wall. I will need to locate a good chair I guess too.
I do hope someday to fix a few of my machines. I guess I have 4. Only one that works well. There is one I do not have cords for, one I'm not sure if I have cords for. One my dad got me at a yard sale that probably just needs a tune up. Hopefully someday I can take them in to a repair shop and see what we can do. I may not need 4 machines, but two might be good in case I need to lend one, or have a friend over sewing. I would love to get a surger someday too, I really don't know a whole lot about other machines.

Here is a West African beans and rice recipe we like. I made curry lentil soup last night because it is cold outside.

Next time I blog we may have our new house and be painting furiously!

Daylight or lack there of.

Started this post on 11/3/15 and realized tonight that I had not published it yet...

 My Pumpkin this year...


Daylight savings time was halloween night. Ever since then I seem to be tired at 9pm and wake up at 6:30? And once I am awake I start thinking about our move and the new house. We looked at carpet and paint colors last night. Everything seems so relative, color wise, and of course hard to tell in small rectangles. The carpet that is there does need to be replaced, since the previous owner smoked and it is 1970s carpet (that textured brown stuff so many houses had). We think we are going with a speckled style of carpet which we hope will wear well over the years. It is a neutral with flecks of red brown an gray green. We are planning on painting all the walls too. Trying to keep the house feeling light but also add some interest.

Anyway lots to think about. 

I am knitting a lot this week for Christmas. It is annoying because one of my thumbs is cracked and dry so I try to not do too much, but I really want to be knitting as much as I can. I bought some new yarn for two projects and already started one of them (it will be perfect lunchtime/keep in my purse knitting). I also started a different project that requires a little more attention to the pattern so I am making progress when I have light to see my work. It is a completely different style of project than I have done before and so it is fun to try something new. Today I am hoping to finish up a sewing project I was working on last week, and maybe finish up mike's big present which involves painting and stuff drying so I can hide it again. 

I need to be taking photos as I go to get everything documented for Ravelry etc. I generally handmake things for Christmas. Often it is just ornaments. This year I tried to start early and I am also doing some sewing projects which can be a little faster. So hopefully I will be able to finish things, since I know once we get the house we will be painting!!!! 

It is so so crazy to be getting our first house. I am really excited yet nervous and it will mean a lot of hard work. The good thing is besides painting and flooring the house doesn't need much else. We do need to reinvent the two garages to be a recording studio though! And budget it all, of course... 

More later. I will try to share photos of what I can so it doesn't become too boring. 

Almost November

Well. I am knitting and sewing as much as I can but don't want to get into too much detail because it is the Xmas season, and I am trying to work on presents. I guess I will just try to get good photos to put on Ravelry/the blog later. I can tell you I finished a cowl. I had previously knit a few lengths of scarf-like knitting, hoping to sew them together as a rug, etc. I then looked at them one day and decided to turn a few into cowls. Here is a not-great photo. I have been wearing it on my walks to work and on my days off. It has finally turned to Fall, after a long dry summer.

I also can tell you I finished a hat. A baby/kid hat for no one in particular yet. One of those single skein purchases because the yarn was so pretty. The pattern is from purl soho. I love their simple palate and get inspired when I look at their site. The yarn is Noro silk garden which was rough on my hands. I may think about sewing a lining in case it would feel rough to a kid. Of course, now i have left over yarn and no idea what to do with it.

Let's see what else can I mention. I am embroidering something secret. It is a fun Aunt Martha's  pattern and hopefully I can do another one. Just look at all of them online. Hard not to want to buy many more.
I am also sewing something which means currently I am hand sewing binding on. I always seem to end up hand sewing bindings, but it allows me to have more control. The binding is so thin to use pins that I have been using my extra Bobbie pins and it is working quite well. I hope to get a good deal of the binding done today if I can. 

I know when we close on this house I will not have much time for presents (besides the hour long lunch break I have at work) so I am trying to get what I can done now. 

There are some people I have no idea what to make for.. And some people that I have an idea for but wish I had started a long time ago. Like socks or something.

Anyway, we are getting excited about the house. We will be painting and replacing carpet and moving in. I kind of wish it was not going to be winter with all the cleaning/painting but I guess sooner is better than later. And maybe we can decorate for Christmas a little! 

Speaking of which, I need to find out what my pumpkin will be because it is this weekend. As far as costumes I think we may just do a low key year as our costumes are packed up, and we haven't been invited anywhere. I guess we are getting old, haha.

Oh! Just remembered the yearly Xmas print I do. Sigh. To get it done this year I guess I will have to pick a simple design/process. I generally screen print or block print. Maybe I can carve stamps? It is always the lining up that takes the longest. 

I may mention it every few posts - I am hoping one day to have a more streamlined blogging system. To get photos and links in correctly and in a timely way, I feel that the laptop is the best. (I have also tried my phone and ipad). I may just have to get in the habit of taking photos with my digital camera and transferring them at least once a week. It's amazing how much of a chore it seems, but I think it will be easy once I get it worked out. 

La la la

Trying to finish something. Anything. Starting to try to work on some Christmas presents but not feeling like I am making a ton of progress. Here are some cup cozies. Super quick, though not really sure how many I will realistically make. There is a pattern on Ravelry of course. I will have to link to it. Also trying to graft 2x2 ribbing on a hat. It is slow going and not looking as seamless as I was hoping. Working on another hat which I may rip out. Not sure what I really want to do with that yarn still.

Hoping to sew a few Christmas projects that I will keep secret. And making a secret present that includes painting and lots of glitter. Waiting for it to dry more before I hide it again. Anyway, not feeling like I am making much progress but my hands have been dry and cracking so I have been not doing quite as much knitting as I'd like. 

I was working on ornaments but made one and not sure I like it. I will invent some other kind of ornament with the pieces I cut if I have to. 

House news: Looks like we are going for it! And I am so excited to someday set up the craft room! I also hope to make some curtains and pillow covers. 

Excuse the iPad photo. Once we move I hope to have a better location to take photos/upload. 

A few things

I guess I wrote this a few weeks ago and never published it...

Music:
If you like music and want to support my husband's CD, here is a link to pre-order (and there is also a link to listen to a few tracks.) He has been working on it with his friend for over two years.

Knitting:
Another link to my Ravelry projects. I am trying to be better at posting to Ravelry. A lot of it is the same as on the blog, but it helps me stay organized a bit. I am so bad at taking good photos (I blame the last two years on living in a basement apartment, and trying to use my cellphone camera). But as I have said before, in the past I often gave presents away before taking a photo of them. So at least they are documented in some small way. I'm sure I will improve someday, right?

I use the favorites of Ravelry a lot, but not so much the queue. I often don't know what yarn I am using as I lost the label long ago. As I am knitting up a lot of stash, I hope when I buy new yarn I will be slightly more mind-full and try to notate things better.

As you can see from my projects - There are several patterns I knit over and over. Practical patterns are good presents.

It is the last day of my Staycation/Recovery. I succeeded in finishing reading a real book. (I tend to re-read things and often don't read much at all). Winter in Thrush Green by Miss Read. The perfect type of book to read when you are not feeling very well. I just googled the book and found she has written many Thrush Green books and others besides. (It is my mom's book I borrowed, I think she has at least one other one in the series.).

I also watched too many movies including The Labyrinth, a newer version of Anne Frank, Julie & Julia, Bride & Prejudice, some Granite Flats, Miss Annie Rooney (with Shirley Temple), Chocolat, State Fair, etc. I am on the mend, and have to return to work tomorrow. I am hoping to get close to finishing the sleeve of the Stella sweater, so I should go have some lunch and get knitting. Yay!

Currently

Currently listening to: https://www.seamworkmag.com/radio So cool that Colette Patterns has a podcast. I am still secretly hoping to work for them one day, though I will have to learn to be a better sewer. I know I have great potential (haha), and a class or two might do me good!

I finished knitting the cabled brown hat, and I am just waiting for my husband to try it on and make sure it will fit him. I need to weave in the ends still, and take photos.

I also finished the little Stella sweater, I wove in the ends and just need to take photos.

Today working on this hat: http://www.purlbee.com/2014/01/23/lauras-loop-garter-ear-flap-hat/
It is in dark blue Noro Silk Garden Solo yarn. That yarn, and the brown yarn for the other hat, I believe are contributing to my right thumb getting quite rough and so I have been limiting my knitting somewhat. The blue Noro was an impulse 1 skein buy, and I like how it is knitting up for the hat, but I am not sure if I will have enough yarn when I am done that I will have wished I had made the next size up.

We placed an offer on a house, and will hopefully know soon if it is accepted. I have been researching the area a little and looking for yarn stores/groups. So far nothing in the immediate area but a few yarn stores about 15 mins away. The library looks like it may have a knitting group. It seems like a great way to meet women, and I guess it would just depend on the schedule, as I may be working.

I would love to host someday a some-what regular crafty get-together. (Every other month, 4 times a year?) I have had a few craft parties and they are always fun, even if not a lot of crafting gets done. It is mainly an excuse to hang out and talk. The cool thing about having a house some day is that there will be space to host parties.

I am trying to think ahead about knitting or sewing some gifts, with this house-buying we are trying to do, I need to get creative for Christmas presents. I might make a few mug cozies, and then see what else I can come up with. For now though, I think I need to take a knitting break so my thumb can heal a little. Besides this blue hat, which is currently for no one in particular, I think I will try to work exclusively on present ideas (even though I am dying to start a cowl for myself that I already have yarn for). Ha.

Stella Sweater

Stella Sweater progress. I think I will need to do Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off, since I bound off the sleeve, and it is so tight for being such a wide sleeve. I also may use the tiny amount of yarn I have left to lengthen the body. 

It is going pretty well and I may do this pattern again. I know a lot of the people who have done the pattern say that the neck is really wide. not sure how to fix that. Can't wait to see it when it is all blocked!

The true cost

Finishing up watching the documentary The True Cost. I have watched other documentaries about clothing/sweatshops, etc. If it's not in your face everyday it is easy to sort of forget. Or see a country name on a label and be like "at least it's not China/whatever country". It is so complex because many of the women are able to better provide for their families by working at garment factories, but cannot have their children with them in the city. Not to mention all the health issues and dangerous situations and chemicals. In the past I was more strict about mostly buying thrifted stuff. The last several years it has been easy to go out and buy something at the mall or target or something. It's still a scavenger hunt but easier because they have the same garment in multiple sizes right there.

Anyway, just want to say this is back on my mind again. I know I want to learn to sew better and make my own clothes. I think it will be a long journey, but the least I can do is try. I can also buy vintage or thrifted or alter clothes I already have. I try to knit practical things for people. Clothing exchanges are fun too. And some things are made in the USA but i remember hearing about how that may mean it's actually one of the Pacific Islands which still have cheap labor etc. I think it's great that Portland clothing companies are starting up and that there is locally made clothing. I have yet to buy anything, but perhaps can save up for something cool someday. I also of course love Colette Patterns and how they are broadening their pattern company and really thinking about their customers. I just need time and space to sew and of course to find the right fabric. 

Shoes are another matter sort of. Slippers are common to knit or sew, but real shoes... I guess it's just good to buy the ones that are good quality and will last a while. 

Anyway. Just some thoughts. I have been focusing on knitting a lot this summer because of our move. Quilts are more straight forward than clothes. I think it is probably good measurements, and practice practice practice. It's so easy to dream of the perfect dress etc. But just like recording music, it takes time and editing and maybe doing something out of tune first. Worth the time to do a muslin of the patten first. I do have some gift card money that I was hoping to use it for curtains when we get a house. We'll see. Maybe I'll get something for clothes too! 

Okay time to keep working on the hat I am knitting!

Spiral hat

Hi. Once again I am blogging awkwardly, trying to get photos from my phone to the iPad. And of course I do not remember the name of the pattern on Ravelry. I will link to it sometime. Just wanted to share that it is done. It is a baby hat and maybe fits a 12month. Babies heads are all different. This was an attempt to use up some fingering weight. I did get bogged down a bit not knowing what size it would end up etc. 

Hard to show the colors correctly. It is dark navy & green, not so faded as the photos. 

My new project for my purse is a cabled hat. It is hopefully a present for someone. I have gotten a few rows past the ribbing. It is worsted and wool of course. Lovely yarn. 

Also still working on Stella by Linden Down. The size I am making, the sleeves seem so wide. My gauge is slightly looser in the round doing the sleeves. Maybe because it is in the round, maybe because my double points are slightly larger, though they are supposedly the same size. 

I am having a stay-cation of sorts towards the end of this week as I recover from a procedure. I am hoping I will feel well enough after the first few days to get a little knitting done. Perhaps even some embroidery? I'm also hoping to watch some of my crafty classes that I have yet to watch. I have bought a few, but also saved a lot of the free classes. 

That's all for now. Can't wait for Fall to come!

A Little Sweater

 I finally uploaded a few photos from my digital camera. Here is a photo from I think May, when we went to Cannon Beach.

 Here is Stella  One of my friends hand-dyes yarn. Her brand is Bumblebirch. I have hung out/helped out during a few busy times. Anyway, I was trying to find a really good project for this yarn. The colorway is called Innocent and it is a light pinky purple. Very pretty. I decided to try to make Stella and so far it is going pretty well. I am making the 12 month size. I did have to start over once, but now I am even further than these photos show. I am pretty excited, especially since we are going to the beach next weekend and I should get some extra knitting time.

Crazy Times

Yep. We moved temporarily in with my folks. House hunting still. I have been knitting through some yarn that was in my old room. Basically making short scarf-like rectangles. Not really sure what I am making. I guess a rug, though probably not too practical. Hoping the colors may work out somehow. (Maybe adding black panels to space things out?) But mainly knitting just to knit. I am trying to work through the majority of my yarn before I buy more. I will post a photo when I can, my phone doesn't want to email it for some reason.

The knitting I carry in my purse is a spiral pattern baby hat. I do like the pattern but find the whole thing a little boring, maybe because I'm not sure if it will be sized right, it is really stretchy so I'm not sure how tall to go. Also I have no specific baby in mind for it. Oh well if it doesn't work out I still learned a cool pattern. 

Also starting to brainstorm some ideas about how to release my husband's next cd. They need to get it mastered and duplicated. I have been trying to think of some merch ideas. Like a poster or printed book, something do-able yet awesome. They may do a preorder to raise some money to get it made. 

The dream continues that if we do get a house with enough rooms, I can use one for a craft room. This would be amazing because then I can get all my stuff in one place and organize it, hopefully use it too! I do want to make clothes still. Colette patterns is putting out so much good info and I have so little time to absorb it. I have bought several of their patterns but have yet to buy fabric etc.  I have a fabric depot gift card so I hope maybe to make some curtains, or pillow covers etc if we get a house. Something to make it feel like home! I kind of am also interested in the black-out curtain idea, for light and also to see how much sound it blocks out. 

I think some getting-back-into-sewing projects could be simple things like PJ pants or a simple top. Or of course one of the quilts I already have the squares cut for. ;)

Finally finished knitting

 Yep, you guessed it, I did finally finish the fingerless gloves, and the Blue Green Socks.
They were finished last week, (I wove in the ends on a beach daytrip) but I have not gotten photos til now. Slightly washed out, I believe I mentioned previously they are a pretty/ugly green/brown.

The heels look funny in the photos, but feel pretty comfortable.

I started another rainbow toddler sock, but have not made a lot of progress. I also started a toddler mitten in a pretty colorway that goes from navy to dark green to purple. It is in my purse, and I did a little bit of knitting on it, not a ton of progress...
BECAUSE...

We have moved in with family for at least a month and I have been cleaning the old apartment, and then today trying to organize all the piles of stuff in our bedroom, plus do laundry, cook etc.

I am hoping to knit from some of the random stash that has been in a box here... we'll see. Once we move to our house, I will probably primarily do lunchtime work knitting.

Finally finishing?

I did a quick project to replace one of the wine-colored kid mittens I had made for my cousin's kid. I also finally gave her the rainbow socks!

Green socks: Last night I got through the toe decreases of the sock. I first blogged about them in February, so it feels good to be finally finishing them.  Now to do one last heel and I just Kitchener'd the toes last night. It has been so great to have a take-a-long knitting project over the last few months. After this I am not sure what new project to do. 

Fingerless Mitts: I am in the middle of doing the half-fingers. I need to sit down and write out the instructions so they are more portable. Hoping to finish soon (Today?!) to give them as a present. (This is an army green/brown much prettier than in the photo.)

House: We are moving very soon, living with family for a few months. I have packed up most of my craft stuff.  It may be best to stick with the knitting projects & embroidery projects I have been doing. 

Here is the progress so far!

Slow progress

Just a little bit of cross-stitch. I have been able to work on it some because I have fewer projects going on. I have made some mistakes already but I feel pretty good about it. (And took out the worst mistakes).
Still knitting on the green socks at my lunch break, and working on fingerless gloves.

Tiny Stitches

The house is the cleanest it has ever been, Though it still needs a little work before the open house this weekend. Today I am touch up painting and doing various little jobs like cleaning bugs out of light fixtures.

 A bad photo...

 I had a few hours of free time and started working again on a counted cross-stitch. This is from a garage sale, and it is from 1995. An interesting subject matter but very stereo typically cross-stitchy. It takes so long to make any amount of progress... but since I have a lot of stuff packed, i thought it would be a good idea. It is harder to watch movies, etc, but I have been listening to lots of audio-books.

Baby Hat

Here is a little hat I made to go along with the blue sweater. I had a little extra of the yarn. The pattern is here. It is a great little pattern and I'm sure I will use it again. I believe the sweater and hat are both the 12 month size, though babies vary so much, so I don't know. The baby is due in July, so hopefully they will stretch or maybe he can wear it in the cool mornings. Haha. 

I have been trying to keep this one a secret until I give it to the mom, so am posting it after the shower.

Sweater & Socks

Two finished projects!

Baby sweater, I finished it a while back but had to block it and get better photos. It is so cute, I would like to make another one someday. (This photo is after it had been folded for a while).

The buttons are grey.  

Here are the rainbow toddler socks. I know I made mistakes, but the pattern helps hide them. I think one is also a little longer than the other, oops.  I may make another pair, I have a lot of rainbow yarn left. I think in a more solid color or even bigger stripes, it could look really cool. 

We have been busy packing and cleaning our apartment, in two weekends there will be an open house, so everything has to be in tip-top shape. Not a lot of crafting has been happening. 

I have finished another project but it is a surprise so I cannot share it quite yet. 

Packing

I have finished a baby sweater and another little baby present. Just waiting to get better photos. I just cast on for some manly fingerless mitts, I have been slowly working on the bright green/blue socks and the spiral rainbow kid socks. I have done a tiny amount on an embroidery project - counted cross stitch. 

Meanwhile, we are packing to move. Packing 90% of our things. (Packed my knitting pattern for fingerless mitts so I had to find another one online- I hope I like it.) Also trying to pack up the studio. Not sure where to put 3 organs, and a variety of keyboards, lots of other stuff, etc. It feels like we are running very low on time, since we don't know where we are moving to. 

I'm trying to decide on and prep some craft projects so I can continue to knit and embroider even if we have a lot of stuff in storage. Depending on where we live we may have less Internet so I will need books and crafts!

The future goal is to buy a house but the market is discouraging and finding room for one with a studio just complicates everything. I may be posting less frequently for a while, but I will still try to get photos up for finished projects. I am averaging about 2-3 finished projects a month, though i have longer ongoing projects like the socks. I'm trying to plan ahead on some birthday/Xmas presents if I can this year. 

Blah blah

I started a pair of rainbow spiral socks for kids. "Spiraling tube socks" is the name. They look weird because they don't have a heel, but are designed that way on purpose so they can fit kids as they grow up. They are out of the rainbow fingering that I showed on my previous post. Lately I have been trying to use up yarn and only buying new yarn for a few specific projects. I have a bin of yarn at my parents that consists of very small balls, all different colors and fibers. Occasionally I find something to make with them. In some ways it is nice to have a smallish stash, but I also wish my yarn was more usable. A lot of things I don't remember if it is washable or not, and sometimes I do burn tests to try to confirm the fiber. Perhaps toys would be a good option. Someday maybe I can carefully choose projects and buy nice yarn for them. I do want to make a sweater for myself someday. I almost wonder if a kit would be helpful, or at least a knit a long. I recently looked at the website Kitterly and I think it might be a good idea. There is generally such a $ investment (and of course time!!!) it feels a little overwhelming to think about sweaters. Perhaps also because I have made 2 in the past that are weird and I don't wear them really.

Please forgive the bad iPad photo and no links. 

Sock Re-Do

These are some socks I made years ago. I ran out of yarn so started using the light green/white yarn to make it stretch. The socks were toe up. I found them in my knitting bin at my parents and knew that a moth or somebody else had came and went. I decided to rip them out and since they are bright rainbow, make something for little kids to wear. 

 As I began to rip out the socks I found that the pale green yarn was coming apart, I don't know if it was just eaten or just didn't last well. I only saved a small amount of it that still seemed good. I think it was Tofutsies brand, so it has soysilk in it. I'm trying to decide if I will make socks or mittens from it. Yesterday I wound it into big loops, got it wet and let it hang on a hanger to get some of the kinks out of it. It is pretty much dry today and I will wind it into balls.

 We are moving in the next few months (Not sure where yet...) I am trying to slowly sort things through. The last few weeks I have been cutting 6in squares for a denim quilt. I think I am close to having enough of the same types to start the quilt. When I cut up pants I take off buttons, occasionally zippers (To repair my husbands jeans some day, if needed.) I often cut off the tags (I am interested in them)  and If there are good sized patchs I save them to someday make a sort of crazy quilt hopefully. I saved pairs to remove the pockets so I can get 2 more squares from the fabric underneath. It is tedious but hopefully I can get it done soon and throw out the rest of the pants.

Almost finished sweater!

Yay! I finished the knitting for the Baby (and Child) Sophisticate sweater. The collar was cool, though a bit tedious to pick up all those stitches. I had never done EZ's sewn cast-off, but it was definitely the right cast-off and I will use it again for projects. I think I will use these gray buttons but I need to tighten up some loose spots and finish up tying in the ends. I will also block it of course.

Gray Gloves

 Gray Gloves knitted for my brother in law. From "Weekend Knitting". I have made this pattern many times, but I think only 3 times in the Men's size.

This yarn is rough and scratchy. I don't remember what brand it is, but I did do a burn test to confirm it is wool. I hope to make another pair this year for my other brother in law.

Other knitting news; Still waiting for the right moment to pick up stitches for the collar on the Baby Sophisticate jacket.

Reversible skirt

I realized today that my friend's birthday was tomorrow. (I think she is turning 10?)

I wondered what I could sew up quickly using the few pieces of fabric I have at home. I looked online at some quick tutorials but nothing really seemed like the right project. Then I saw a reversible skirt tutorial. I did sort of read through the tutorial, but I also just went for it. I used striped fabric from a pair of pajama pants I had made (and only worn a few times), and fabric from one of my friend's skirts they had chopped shorter.  I had to figure out a waistband since I didn't have any wide elastic. (I ended up using a stretchy piece of fabric I had, and also included thin elastic in that so we could make it smaller if needed.) Then I figured out the gathering and which order to sew things so it is truly reversible. I sewed a bias tape binding over the raw edges inside the skirt at the waistband. The way I sewed the waistband to the skirt it is stretchy, but not quite as much as I had hoped. Also the navy skirt on the inside had rough edged seams, so I put just a few inches of stretch lace vertically over the seams just to hide them a bit. The bottom of the skirt is maybe not totally straight, but since the fabrics I was using were from previous projects I was taking advantage of the fact that they were already hemmed. It is nice to use up scraps. 

So, I'm sure I did some of it the hard way, but I am pleased with the result, and my friend plans to wear it tomorrow! I may try to make one for me someday, we'll see,

Hemming

http://www.jeanshin.com/alterations.htm
Whenever I hem my pants I think of this installation I must have heard of when I was in college. Being short (And frequently buying things second hand), I have to hem most of my pants or roll up the cuffs. Currently I am avoiding hemming two pairs of work pants. Hopefully tomorrow?

I am finishing the half-fingers of the gray gloves I am working on.

Sweater update

Baby Sophisticate sweater. First sleeve complete. I know it will have the big collar but right now it looks small. 

My big project should be hemming two new pairs of pants I got for work. 

Not so craft related: we have been watching agents of shield. (Sometimes I get some knitting done). Also house hunting at our budget (including a studio space) is hard. We heard it was rough out there, but just recently experienced losing a house we thought we would like. Hoping there is something better out there. 

Springtime knitting

Here are some current photos of two projects I am working on. Knitted socks for me.

              Please excuse the basement apartment lighting... I'm sure I have said before, this is my lunch time knitting and keep-in-my-purse knitting. 

Baby sweater for a friend. Using the Baby Sophisticate pattern for worsted yarn. It is a really pretty navy (not so dark as the photo). It looks small but I realized the collar will add to the width around. I am doing a 12 month size, but I know my yarn is considered a light worsted.

Other news of sorts. We are trying to buy a house. We have to move soon from our current spot. And my husband has to move his small business. So we are trying to get a house to combine it all. We have one in mind but are not sure if we will get it. If we do It needs a ton of work, like redoing all the flooring and removing wallpaper etc. lots of painting, of course. I am excited and nervous at the same time!

Clothespins

A very quick project I made this afternoon. It is spring and currently sunny and 63 degrees. I decided to put some sheets and things out on the line. Last summer I managed to get some of my clothes pins mildewy by leaving them outside. Oops. So I bought some bamboo ones and kept the ones that were best from last year. I hope to keep good habits and always bring them inside. Here is the tutorial I used though I modified the size just by a few inches. And I basted the top over the hanger rather than making button holes. I know I will probably be washing it and so I sewed it in big stitches in a contrast color. tutorial

Clothes on the line. The sun has passed but I assume everything will dry fully over the next few hours. 

It is so satisfying doing a very quick project, especially for something I needed.

Just a note, my grandma gave me the clothes line "tree". And I believe she told me it was my great grandmas. In the summer I probably dry 3/4 of our clothes outside. My work clothes I usually dry in the dryer.

Craft Party

I had a few friends over to knit and chat today. It was so fun. Not everyone could make it and I also couldn't invite everyone I wanted to, due to our tiny apartment. Anyway, I often do crafty stuff by myself and it was fun to have the chance to get together and talk about knitting and various things. I hope to do a few more parties in the future.

Projects in the works still (pictures sometime, I promise!): Green and blue socks are nearing the toe. I think I will start decreasing in less than half an inch. I guess it would be good to finish the toe and cast on the second sock before my work week starts on Wednesday. 

Gray fingerless mitts. I am on the second one, past the thumb, working on the palm of the hand. Then I will do all the half-fingers at the same time for both gloves. I hope to have enough yarn to do two pairs for both my brother-in-laws. 

Just now cast on for a baby boy sweater. Baby Sophisticate (the worsted pattern). The color is navy and 12 mos. size. Though it is cascade 220 superwash which I have heard is a light-worsted, so it may end up smaller. So far the fabric seems okay. I pretty much never swatch. It's bad, I know, maybe if I make a sweater for myself I will. Something where I am investing a lot of money. 

Back to knitting!

Altering

Here is what used to be a dress. From Forever 21, a sort of short dress. (Not sure why i bought it, it is probably for teenagers to go dancing and meet boys)... when I bought it I altered it by adding (old T shirt) triangles on the sides to make it a little less hip-hugging. It also has a see-through pattern in the fabric (which I thought was cool), so I had to wear a slip. Anyway I think i wore it maybe three times and then realized it really was too short for my age/personality.

So. It has been sitting around for a few years, waiting to be given away. A few weeks ago I realized I could crop it to a tank top and solve two problems (I also never have enough shirts.) So here it is, with a little blue lace at the hem just to try to finish it in an interesting way. The only kind of weird thing is it has a zipper down the back. And I do of course have to wear a tank top underneath. Anyway, I was glad to resolve the problem and make something wearable! It only took altering it twice.
Part of my problem is seeing potential in things and then never fixing them or taking a year to do it. Right now I have a sweet home-made strawberry pattern dress that is sadly sewn a little crooked and makes me look bigger than I am. Perhaps I can make it into a skirt? I also have a blue and white floral polyester dress that I started changing the neckline on and need to finish. And a purple jersey dress I was going to try to turn into a top... and one of mike's button ups to hem.

Sock update

Last night I started on the heel of my sock and finished it  today and it turned out pretty well! Now I get to continue on the foot!

Red Cowl

This is a reworking of a previous red cowl. It was pilled and I'd gotten to the point where I didn't want to wear it. It had a few cables but was unevenly patterned. So I ripped it, got the yarn wet and let it dry. The yarn was worked double, it is thinner, maybe a sport weight? I had done this pattern for another cowl I made. Barbara I believe is the pattern. It is a fun slip pattern that is easy to learn. I didn't have quite enough yarn so I finished it with the reflective yarn I used for those mitts. It is stIll a little tighter than I like (it may mess up my hair), but I'm sure it will stretch over time. And pill more. The black yarn is bulkier and so it is a little uneven. Anyway here are some photos. Including me... Ha.