Puppy and projects

I made a puppy! From the book Softies by Therese Laskey. 

It was really fun. If i made it again i would probably machine sew some of it. Also the belly fabric pattern was not really the right size and i had to trim that down. 

It is a birthday present. Fun to use up scraps!

Today i have been cleaning the craft room. I moved my light box and a sewing machine off of my other work table. Hopefully that will help me have more of a workspace to actually work on stuff! 

Currently i have projects laid out. It is so easy for me to start a new project and set other aside. 

(On the table are piles which represent: wallet, kleenex travel pouch, placemats, hexagon quilt pieces, yarn of the month knitting, and the big pile of fabric, some quilt triangles)

I recently got a lot of quilting fabric, smaller pieces and so yesterday i spent a few hours cutting out triangles. 

I think i will go with this arrow design. I am thinking i may frame each block with a border. We'll see! 

Not pictured: A dress i bought that i love but need to alter the shoulders since i am short. And another knitted present... Shh...

I also ordered these awesome labels!! Can't wait for upcoming projects to add these to! 

I recently signed up on Instagram. It is so inspiring to see crafty stuff and you can search quilting photos etc. I am tired of the negativity of Facebook and so far instagram has been fun!

Sewing machine cover

I made a sewing machine cover! It is from a tutoril online I promise I will link to it soon! (Currently posting via my phone).
Anyway, i had seen the tutorial a long time ago, finally a few months ago i printed it and today i got the chance to sew it! I spent the afternoon today looking through all my sewing stuff and trying to sort it a little. (Mainly dreaming about projects).

I also finished a project from a long time ago... it was a dress i think or shirt that i cut the top off years ago. I made a sash and made it into an apron. Not that i need any more aprons, but they fun.

Also i cut a few triangle squares for a future quilt(?). Basically most of my fabric is in small amounts, a lot just scraps. Quilts are one way to use it up, also rag rugs and the like. I have some pieces maybe 2 yards or so of nicer stuff but i need to find the right patterns for them.

Sneak Peek!

Just a little look at a baby quilt I am working on. I cut out many squares. (Maybe 80 more than what I needed, oops!) But I wanted lots of options and wasn't quite sure how big it would be. I did 4x4in squares. The fabric was random vintage kid fabric from my stash, along with greens and grays as requested that I got as fat quarters. I also got some random fabrics at SCRAP which is a great place to find fabric. More pictures when it is finished. I sewed the whole quilt top in the afternoon today. I find it is best to power through quilt tops if possible, even if I get a little tired. I'm so glad that the quilt top is done because I can get it off the floor and fold it neatly! 

 I bought this cassette flannel fabric several years ago, thinking I would make PJ pants. I have grown out of large prints on my PJs, so I have already used some of this fabric for the lining of an awesome laptop case I made several months back. It will be perfect for the back of the quilt.

The good thing about all the extra squares is that I can make some more quilts and there are Plenty of friends and acquaintances having kids now. Sometimes I wonder if I should just start making items for my (hopefully) future kids. To try to get ahead while I have some free time?

Podcasts Listened to today:
  Stuff You Missed in History
  Stuff You Should Know
  Knitmore Girls
  Knitting Pipeline

2014

Amazingly it is 2014 already!
Last year I got married, moved across town and gained a sewing machine and some sewing stuff from a friend. With moving, I moved Most of my crafty stuff, and months later I am still trying to get things figured out in my (possibly temporary) awesome sewing studio!! I have been doing a little bit of knitting, and am hoping to do more sewing! It has been hard for me to carve out time to come in and work on things but it's a new year and I am feeling good about it.

So, I know it has been forever since I have blogged. And maybe no one reads it much anyway, but I feel like it helps me keep organized a little bit.

This year I'm hoping to finish some projects already in the works and to choose specific clothing items I hope to sew and try to gain some skills!  My fabric collection (much like my yarn collection) is full of odds and ends from previous projects. I'm hoping to go through my stash and find a way to label/keep in mind how many yards I have of my fabric.

Winter/Spring:
-I have made two Sorbettos by Colette Patterns and I am hoping to make more! They are a great stashbusting project. A simple, but awesome top that you can make too since the pattern is a free download!

-I bought couch pillows with the intent to make envelope covers for them. I have yet to buy fabric or look at my stash to see if I have enough fabric that I like to make covers.

-PJ pants. I have made a few pairs but they have been in weird prints like cats or crazy stripes. Maybe a solid color or small floral design.

-Quilts. Oh my, I'm in the midst of many quilts, not really working much on them, but I hope to start figuring it out.

I'm forever making lists and then putting things off to make other spur of the moment things. I know I may not stick to my goals... but I will just throw these ideas out and hope it will help guide my sewing.

Some skills I want to work on:
-Invisible zippers (I wonder where my presser foot went and if it will fit my new machine?)
-Buttonholes (we'll see, I'm so afraid).
-Making patterns fit me better, by sewing more muslins and hopefully not getting upset right away.
-Finishing the insides of garments better.
-Etc.

Dresser Finished

 Yay. I finished my dresser a few weeks ago. So shiny.

 Wood. I also learned that it was my dad's dresser when he was growing up (crazy.)

I had to remove my indie-pop upsidedown cat doodle I drew on the side of it probably in 2005ish.

Springtime

I'm trying to work a little more on my website. I know it's not a very exciting site, but still nice to have a place to show photos (even though they're not the best photos). I know it has not been updated that much lately. sad, huh.

Last Sunday I spent a few hours working on my Clothing Book. I started it in 2009, so you know, it should be finished by now. I would love to make some sort of nerdy graph or something about how my clothes have changed from 2009 to 2012. I have gotten rid of a lot of them... specifically T shirts from high school...i had soo many, and now my new goal is to try to make non T shirt shirts, or buy them.

Also I am trying to think of what to do with my Stash. Maybe almost half is quilt squares that are already cut out. I guess that is good...I just need to find time to sew quilts. The rest of my Stash is small-ish pieces. I can use them for small projects but not really enough to make garments I guess.

Here's a project I will probably do:

A Wrist Rest for at the computer. I probably do need one, and it will be good for small pieces.
While I was researching a little bit about stash projects other people have done, I found this site.

Today I started a knit rag rug. I have braided and sewn rag rugs, but never knitted one. It is really hard on the hands and wrists so I will have to work on it in smaller doses.  I'm using about 1 1/2 inch strips of fabric, and size 13 needles. (probably 15s or larger would be easier) So far it has been fun, but I have decided against flannel scraps, as it makes it too thick. It's about 17 inches wide, and I guess we'll just have to see how long I can make it! :)

A project update.

I'm so close to being finished with a certain project that I'm excited about. I can't talk too much about it as it is a surprise. Let's just say that I'm learning more about altering clothes. It has been a fun project because I'm working on it with my friend, so we're trying to figure it out together. Anyway, I think I will be done soon. I spent a lot of today hand sewing on it.

I finally finished hemming and altering a shirt for Mike, which is great, but I have three more to work on. It is going sort of slowly, as I'm used to working on stuff for myself, and he is taller and bigger than me, and guys clothes definitely fit differently. The first shirt turned out pretty good, and I learned a lot, and I think the next ones will be better.

I started on a top project, but I'm already worried that it will look like a maternity top. ha. It's probably just not a good style for my body shape, and mainly, like most commercially made patterns, I'm making my size, but it's probably two sizes too big. here's some photos of other ones people have made. I think if I can just take it down several sizes it will look better, but right now I'm a little worried. Most of what I read about it is that other sewers altered it. Anyway, I am making a test one first to try to get the fit right, before I try different fabric.

Today I also printed out (Finally!) the Colette Sorbetto free pattern. I'm really excited about that one. It seems simple, but there are so many different options with fabric. I love seeing other people's designs, and I really really wish there was a ravelry-like site for sewing clothes.

So, I should get back to sewing... and when I finally finish something I will take some photos!

Recycling paper

Making valentines is a great way to recycle. I have too much paper, and have saved odd things for years... sigh. This year I made an attempt in a few short weeks to sort through some things and recycle. I didn't quite get as far through things as I had wanted, but going through it a few times was a good thing, it became easier to just recycle things.

Here's some valentines

Here's some stuff I recycled without having to save them for valentines: from a project i did for school several years ago, probably black and white basic design...

Baby Blanket

a little elephant (i wish i had a finished photo when he's stuffed!)

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry about the crazy photos, the editor on blogger seems to not want to let me rotate them, which seems like it should be the simplest thing, especially if you rotate them, and save them, and then it still doesn't work.

During the end of the summer/early fall I started making a baby blanket for a coworker. It was before she knew if it would be a boy or girl. I used cottons I have had in my stash forever, and also batting that I had. The only thing I bought was red binding. It was really fun to piece together, and since I had started the blanket so early I decided to try hand quilting. I ended up doing just a basic sort of loose stitch. We had a large hoop, but the quilt wasn't really fitting in it, so it was easier to just wing it. I'm pleased with the result, even though it is definitely not perfect. For the back of the quilt I had a weird piece of printed fabric from a kids blanket I had gotten for free (from a neighbor) years ago. It has a boat with some cute animals in it. It was the perfect size for the project, and I hand embroidered a little on that, just to make it more personal. To cover the whole back of the blanket I added two other panels.

Anyway, It was really great to work with my stash and not have to buy any fabric for it, plus i'm very happy with the end result, and so is my friend! and her baby will be arriving soon, so i hope he likes it too!

a little update.

Some links to share:
today i bought the pdf for this bag pattern, the Two Zip Hipster. my daily purse is sort of reaching the end of its days. it's a black hemp purse that i'm tired of, plus it is showing wear. I made an awesome purse, but it is sort of big and maybe more for dressing up. I've really been looking at stores and sometimes online for a little while for a purse that would be similar but better to my black purse. TaaDaaa.... I'm so excited about this. It will be a few inches bigger, but i think it will be great, and I'm happy to find a pattern with a long strap. Anyway, I'm not sure what fabric to use, I may have enough of my own or I may purchase some. I think it would be good to make it in a dark color, but we'll see, and if it works out, I may make a few colors.

I also bought a pattern for a top. I've been meaning to make some tops that aren't t-shirts. so... i saw this one and thought maybe it would work for me. It's the second one (red and blue) on this site. I really like her site, and it makes such a difference seeing something sewn by someone... So, same thing, I'm not sure if i have enough fabric of my own but i may end up buying some.

Today I spent most of the day cleaning. I have a little table in my room, which was covered in sewing stuff. Today I changed it into a music table, with my awesome new recorder from my awesome boyfriend. I will try my hardest to keep this table only for music making. I was able to condense some things, and also recycle a LOT of paper. so, I'm glad I spent the day on it, though i feel like i have so much sorting to do. I'm hoping depending on my tax return (like if i get one or not) of possibly buying a scanner/printer, and possibly an ipod, so that i can store my CDs instead of have them take space in my room.

In my sorting I also cut up some rag rug and quilt squares out of fabric i had designated for scraps, but hadn't had the time to cut up yet.
Of course I have been planning to put photos on the blog, but i feel like i don't have time to stop to organize all that.

This evening I worked on two little projects to felt. While cleaning today, I found a cat toy, one of those plastic balls with a jingle bell inside. I had heard a while ago of knitting or crocheting around the toy and then felting it into a soft ball that jingles. I have not felted it yet, and it may be too big, but i will try it. I also used some of the same yarn to make sort of a pot holder, or rather maybe something to put on the table, is trivet the right word?

I sorted my yarn last week, and found that most of it is 1 or 2 balls - left over from projects, mainly in different weights, which makes it hard to find projects. anyway, I've tried before to find projects for certain yarns, and now after going through my stash I am more inspired about it.

That being said, my fabric stash is probably 10 times larger than my yarn stash, so that is partially why the name of the blog has gone from Pretend Like You're Knitting to ...Sewing.

To do lists

I have decided the last few days I should plan my sewing projects a little more, and try to stay on task. Ha. But, like the Colette Patterns Palette Challenges (where sewists chose garments and colors they want to work with and decide how many pieces they're going to make in a certain amount of time), I think it would be good to try to have some focus, and try to make clothes that I might actually wear.

I really have not done much with sewing knits, and I don't have a serger, but I do find the few knit dresses I have to be the most comfortable to wear and I wish I had more of them! Maybe this will also help me to get to some mending projects, and finish up projects I have started (like the vintage-style swimsuit) - and to help me focus on what I want my future wardrobe to look like (more skirts, more kinds of shirts than just T-shirts).

One of the patterns I have on my list already is the Sorbetto top by Colette Patterns. I think it's also time to find patterns to go with some of the fabrics I have - especially when it's a big enough amount to make a dress or garment out of it.

In other news: I hemmed the PJ pants I made for my sister, and they will be finished tomorrow! Also, a post or so ago I had a picture of a pink/red knitted shrug I had started...I think I found a better pattern - easier to not lose track of where I am, and I think it will just look a lot better. I wasn't very happy with how the other one was turning out, so I ripped it out and restarted.

Also: Today I stopped by SCRAP - and I could have bought lots of things, but instead, I bought 3 pieces of fabric, some bias tape and hem binding, and about 6 colors of embroidery thread. Since I have been trying to limit my stash, I think I did pretty well in buying specific things and not getting too carried away.

The New Year

Well... I have been meaning to post pictures of projects and keep everyone updated.
But, there will be no pictures just yet. Sorry.
Here's what I have been working on:

- I made a lot for Christmas (ornaments to sell, PJ pants for my sister (halfway done right now), I knitted 3 cowls, made felted pot holders with yarn from my stash, started this super cute Giraffe for my cousin's baby (which is now about halfway done), and I think I made more things, but I can't remember right now.

- In the last week or two, I have worked more on the Giraffe, also started a Shrug . It is pink and red and the yarn is a lot thinner than in the photo. I'm not sure quite yet if it will be the right size, but I hope it will be okay.

- I've also been working on a huge sewing project for many months, it's a gift, so I shouldn't really mention it yet, but tonight I worked on it for many hours and I feel like it is well on its way to being done.

- I mended a wool shirt for Mike, and I have another one that I need to put patches over the elbows which have holes.

- earlier this week I spent a morning dying fabric and some clothes I have, they turned out pretty well.

- My very exciting Christmas present from my family was an adjustable dress form. I'm soo excited!

I have really been having fun knitting this winter, I have a lot of projects yet to do. I'm really hoping for 2012 to not buy much in the way of yarn or fabric. I have fabric for a dress, I have a vintage skirt to alter, I have fabric for pajama pants for myself (with super cute cats on it!), I may have mentioned but I have black and white triangles to make a quilt top (I already have the back of the quilt done), I have a wool quilt top to patch and find a back for, I have enough denim to make a quilt or two, and I have rectangles cut for a shirt of my favorite high school T-shirts, but I will have to interface each piece.

I also have pre-cut pieces for rag rugs, and so much more fabric to use up! I'm also hoping to make another purse. I'm also hoping to find fabric to use with these awesome vintage bird embroidery patterns - I think for pillowcases or perhaps dishtowels. I also really want to knit this dishtowel. I think it's really cool and vintage. I am pretty obsessed with Ravelry.

Anyway, This year I really want to continue learning to make clothing for myself. I also want to work more on music, as I have been ignoring that part of my life for too long.