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!