Summer Olympics Day -1

I decided to participate in the Ravelympics in the WIP Wrestling event. My project? The Leftovers Blanket. It's a long way to go and miles and miles and miles (or, to be Canadian: Kilometersres and Kilometersres and Kilometersres) of garter stitch. I think it'll be good Olympic watching knitting, since it doesn't require much focus and I can just knit and knit.

When last we saw it, the Leftovers Blanket looked something like this:

I haven't really knit much on it in a month or more. Can't imagine why it's not done by now...

My original plan was to pick up stitches along the edges of the center and knit 20 rows of garter stitch before binding off. Then I would pick up stitches on the opposite side, then the edges and so on. I planned to knit rounds in this manner changing colors for each round. Mostly I liked the look but there was one problem:


The solid bands sort of flared. Not sure why, but they didn't lie obediently flat like I had hoped. I tried steaming them which helped but I wasn't 100% happy with them. (Can you feel where this is going?) I had (the past tense is sort of giving it away here isn't it?) 2 sides complete and had picked up stitches for one of the ends when the blanket began its 2 month hibernation. This morning I started thinking about having to pick up all those stitches from a bound off edge each time I started a new band. And the daunting task of knitting upwards of 200 stitches per band (increasing each round)... and the fact that I wasn't very happy with the way it was looking...

Meet Plan B:

this isn't cheating... this is training. Honest. I forced myself to put it down once I had determined that this would work.
I cast on 12 stitches with a provisional cast-on and will knit the bands onto the center section as I go. This plan allows me to not have the entire blanket on my lap as I knit (bonus when it's summer) and it should allow for a neater overall look. I plan to miter (mitre?) the corners and I'm slipping the first stitch to make it simpler for picking up on the next round.

Is it too obsessive if I plan to start working on it at 6 tomorrow morning? Yeah. Probably. Hmm.

Let the Games Begin! (Go Canada Go!!)

Worthwhile pursuit or Insanity?

First off, I realize it's been a long time since i've posted... I haven't been finishing much of anything and I don't seem to be a very good "in progress" poster. If anyone has been waiting, thanks! Nice to see you!

I've been meaning to tell you about my latest "is she crazy?" project. After seeing the most amazing patchwork skirt on Craftster this past weekend, I realized I should post this. It definitely falls into the endless project/is it worth all that work? category. I've been thinking about that a lot ever since reading about the mocking that Megan experienced. I think I often feel like I need to justify things I make. I mentally rehearse explanations or uses for things I make, whether or not anyone would ever question the validity of the project. I need to stop that. So, in that vein...

I've been admiring Grandmother's Flower Garden quilts for a while now. I realize how much work goes into one, I'm not that crazy, but I've wanted to make one for a while. So...





I played around with layouts...


I think I like this one the best. I'll surround each diamond with a round of cream or white



I'm making headway but this will definitely be a long term project. I don't have any deadline for it. It's just kind of relaxing to baste the edges of the hexagons (i'm just using 2" squares cut from scraps) and hand stitching them together when I have a bunch.

After I decided to make the diamond shapes I had a couple of flowers that were odd balls. That is, I didn't have any more fabric for them and had already sewn them together. So I decided I needed a new pin cushion and sewed the edges together




In other news: I'm trying to decide if I'm going to take part in the Ravelympics. I think, if I do, I'll enter the WIP Wrestling category. I want to try to finish a bunch of things, but most of all I think I'd like to tackle the leftover sock blanket. Anyone else joining up? If so, what category/categories are you entering?

Covering every square inch of my world

Apparently I have some disorder that is causing me to want to cover every square inch of my world in fabric or fiber. I'm sure I'm not alone in this. There probably is some sort of support group for it. Oh yeah, there's Craftster, Ravelry, knit-alongs, sew-alongs, knitting meet-ups, spin-ins... I guess those things are more "enabling groups" than "support groups"... haha

I took a couple of extra days off this past weekend to make a 5 day weekend for Canada Day (July 1, Canada's birthday for those non-Canadians in the crowd). I caught a ride with my brother, sister-in-law and their three toddlers. Yes. You read that right: 3 toddlers. Almost-3-year-old twin boys and a 1-year-old daughter. Love those kids but, wow, they are, um, rambunctious. And loud. And hilarious. They were really good in the vehicle, but, still, three toddlers in an enclosed space is three toddlers in an enclosed space.

(where was I going with this? Oh yeah...)

Every time I drive anywhere for any length of time, or when it's hot in the car, I wish I had a cover for my seatbelt so it won't cut into my neck. I've seen fuzzy animal covers for kids, but hadn't seen one for grown-ups.

so...



The squiggle quilting on one end was a test patch with my quilting/darning foot. It wasn't overly successful. I used scrap fabrics and a scrap of batting, sewed a rectangle and quilted. I used velcro to close and voila...


Next up? TV cozy?

In other news:

I'm this close to being done my Roundabout Leaf Tank from Knitting Nature... I can't wait. I think I'll really love this tank when it's completed.

Summer!

It's finally summer! We had a beautiful warm weekend, I finally got around to getting some outdoor plants, I cleaned out my car...

To that end, I decided I needed a better trash bag for my car. I've seen several sewn bags around the interwebs and came up with my own


Fabrics from stash: a heavy cotton canvas for the main bag and some scraps of quilt cotton for binding and pockets. I figure it's a lot better than grocery bags hung over the gear shift.

To celebrate summer, I used my ice cream maker to make frozen coffee

I used this recipe from YumSugar for "Vietnamese style" coffee. It tastes so good... mmm...

And, I made a skirt (gasp)
I used some fabric from my stash that I wasn't too emotionally attached to and used the directions for a 6 gore skirt from Patterns That Fit You.

I'm not completely happy with the hem, I took the lazy way out and just sewed a straight machine hem around. If/when I make another I'll hem it properly.

I installed a zipper using this tutorial from Sew Mama Sew. It made it SO much easier to sew in the zipper, since it uses glue to tack down the zipper, rather than pins.

I'm quite happy with the skirt, now I just need to actually begin wearing skirts...

Summer knit FO! Aleita Shell

I have actually finished a summer knit top before we get into the heat of summer! I'm astounded, myself, as I usually end up starting way too many summer tops and not finishing them before the end of summer (if at all). And I'm happy with it! Equally astounding!


Pattern: Aleita Shell by Bonne Marie Burns in Interweave Knits Spring 2008
Yarn: recycled from a thrift store sweater. I have long since lost the tags, but I remember linen and cotton in the fiber makeup.
Mods: I made the body longer before the split but other than that I followed the pattern (I think). Now that I've worn it, I think I should have knit another 1" - 1 1/2" on the ribbed top portion before splitting for front and back, but it's not something that will keep me from wearing the top.

It was a fairly quick knit but the yarn was getting on my nerves so I ended up setting it aside for a couple of weeks. The yarn is a flat tape type (not sure if that makes sense) yarn and is very inelastic, and I found that I was getting frustrated with how tired it was making my hands.

All in all, I love it. In fact, I think I need another one. In navy. or green. or maybe more than one.

Woven Handspun Alpaca Scarf

I started on this scarf to work on my weaving tension, edges, consistency, well, to work on my weaving. I used alpaca that I spun last winter (from alpacas raised by a former coworker). I had dyed one batch a dark green before spinning and left one the natural brown. I used handspun for both warp & weft.

I'm really pleased with how it came out. The edges are the most even that I've been able to achieve yet.



I showed The Boy and his response was 1) "You made a scarf? Just in time for Summer!" and 2) "This is for me, right?" (my responses: 1) "Yeah, I know, but it was practice" and 2) "Yes. But I have to take pictures of it first." which made him laugh.)

I think I need to work on smaller projects like this for a while to get more consistent overall. It's been so SO long since I was a new knitter, so I kind of forget that I started out small with knitting. And sewing. And... spinning ... and so on.

New potential obsession... Block Printing

As I mentioned yesterday, I was inspired by Jesse to try my hand at block printing. If I end up spending all my money on blank cloth and block carving equipment, I point my finger in her direction... :D


My first attempt. I mixed acrylic paint with a fabric medium specifically for use with acrylics.


I used one of the wood blocks that I bought in Pakistan:



I bought these at Lok Versa, an artisan/craft fair in Islamabad, when I lived in Pakistan. I had watched people printing fabric for shalwar kameez's often while living in Pakistan, so I was excited to find some to purchase. I've tried using them to print on paper but was never happy with the results. I must say, I am so happy with the results on fabric. I don't know why I waited 6 years to try it!


Another attempt with the wood blocks. I'm not as happy with this one. The block with the squares that form a slight cross shape is not completely symmetrical so it was a bit difficult to get it straight. I think I needed to fill up more of the space altogether.

My favorite, which should come as shock to exactly no one, is this one:

Surprised by the color scheme? Yeah, me neither.

I used a potato to carve a leaf to print.

I didn't realize I had that little nick in the one side until I started printing with it, but after I finished, I actually liked the imperfection.

I need more fabric. And potatoes.

Sewing Day

(a week after the fact but...)

Last Saturday was rainy (as were most of the days in the last 2 weeks). A perfect day to do some sewing. Well, a lot of sewing actually.

1. A new tote bag for my sister-in-law.


I just kind of winged it, using a linen panel I got on sale at Ikea last year. It's just a simple bag, lined with a canvas fabric also from Ikea (I forgot to get a picture of the inside).

2. A coffee sleeve for a friend from work. She's been going way way way out of her way to help us get through a really insane work load and I wanted to say thanks.


I used a cardboard coffee sleeve as a template. It has a velcro closure, is lined with a double layer of cotton flannel and quilted.

(I attached a tag from a set that my friend made me for Christmas)

I need to make more of these. In fact, when another co-worker saw it at work, she asked me to make her one. Then two. So, of course I did ...

(made on Monday)

3. I made myself a sandwich wrap, using a post from The Small Object as a guide.

I found this vinyl coated cotton at Michaels. It had originally been priced at $13 for a half yard! It was on sale for $1.50 so I splurged (haha). The print is so cool, I think my mom had tea towels in a similar print when I was growing up.


(yes, i took a picture of my lunch. what? too much?)


I think I might need to make another one a little bit bigger. Or two or more...

4 & 5 I made this wallet to carry cards.

It is great for carrying just a few cards but I quickly realized that if I wanted to carry all of the items I need I would need something a little roomier


So I made another one with a bit more room in the card compartments.


Both of these are made with linen from panels I got on sale from Ikea last year.

(Looking at these pictures taken on my ironing board I realize how icky my ironing board cover is! hmm... new project...)

I spent the morning today experimenting with printing on fabric. I was inspired by Jesse, a talented artist, knitter, print maker whose blog I read. She posted a few days ago looking for people to swap printed fabric. This was a good catalyst for me to try this craft. I need to get some more plain fabric to print on, but I had a number of successful first attempts. I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show off. Thanks for the inspiration Jesse! And, if I end up being obsessed with printing, well, you know it's your fault... haha

UFO day

I've been watching X-Files on DVD from the beginning over the past few months (I'm on disc 6 of season 4!), so you'll have to forgive me the UFO reference. (Can't wait for the new X-Files movie... does that make me hopelessly geeky?)

First up:
A stole in progress knit from my handspun in the colorway Seascape. I got the roving from etsy seller spinswim. I love how it turned out. It's about a sport weight and very squooshy (the technical term) and sproingy (also technical terminology).



I'm using the chart from the Drawstring Chemise in the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits. I like how it's turning out. I plan to use this primarily as a scarf, all bunched up, but it may be nice to have a stole if I ever need one... You know, for all the fancy dinner parties I attend.

Moving on...

The Aleita Shell, also from the Spring 2008 Interweave Knits. I'm using a flat ribbon (?) type yarn that I recycled from a thrift store sweater. As close as I can remember, the fiber make up was part linen, part cotton. At the moment it's in the middle of the slightly-boring body section (I'm knitting it in the round) but I should be at the dividing point soon.

Thirdly...

The Roundabout Leaf Tank from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan. I picked up this book on Friday, after a truly horrid few days at work. I felt like I needed a treat and I've wanted this book for a while. It's very tempting to cast on for more than one project in this book, but I'm being good and allowing myself just this one (for now).

In lieu of swatching, I decided to just start on the first round of the spiral, since it is about the size I would need to swatch anyway. I'm using a cotton yarn from another recycled thrift store sweater, dyed and overdyed in greens, blues and purple. The dye job came out really wierd and uneven but I really like how it's knitting up and I got gauge (yay!).

And next up, the Leftover Blanket...

I'm working on adding solid colored bands around the leftover portion. I don't anticipate this project being completed anytime soon, but that's okay. I'm still really happy with it and will plug away on it when I get a chance here or there. It's really mindless knitting, just slightly awkward. I'm waiting on 3 new cables for my Knit Picks options set (I ordered one each of the 40", 47" and 60" which should take me all the way to the outer edges of the blanket as it grows).

And, lastly (of what I'll show today anyway)...
A felted sweater blanket for my friend

I made one of these about 4 or so years ago for another friend and always meant to make another. In the years since, I've seen them all over the internet but realized that I didn't ever take a picture of the one I made (it was pre-blog). For this one, I'll be using a tip from Betz White I saw linked to on the Craft blog a few days ago. I'm using roving and a needle felting tool to cover the seams and add some stability to the zig-zagged line.

The Boy keeps telling me to focus (re: crafting projects)... I have no idea what he's talking about... do you?

Changes...

I've had a new tag line in my head for the past few days. I also decided to just give in to the brown and turquoise color palette and spruce up around here a bit. Like it? Let me know if anything is wonky for any of you (let me know what browser you use).

UFO pics this weekend!

Done! Finished Duvet Cover

Whew! Finally done!



I decided to back the top afterall. I figured if I'm going to this much trouble to make a duvet cover, I didn't want to risk having any of the seams come apart. I'm quite happy with the result.

I found a 100% cotton sateen sheet (for $11!!) at Zellers to use for the back of the duvet cover. The top is machine quilted "in the ditch". I think I may add buttons to the open end to close it (safety pins are doing the job right now).



Surprisingly (ha) it matches my new "art"... :D

(almost) FO: Duvet Cover

I finished the top for my duvet cover this evening! Yay!



I'm really happy with it. It does further the color-blocked issue, but I'm okay with that.

I had some challenges with laying out the blocks

I don't have a lot of floor space and had to move some furniture around just to lay it out.

I also don't have a very big table (my sewing machine is on a desk-sized table)

so I ended up sitting on the top while pinning the rows of blocks to sew.

I would have a completed duvet cover, but the sheet that I planned to use for the back turned out to be exactly 4 inches too narrow... :( Oh well. This gives me some time to decide whether or not I should back the top and do some simple quilting for stability before I sew on the duvet cover backing. I'm still undecided on that one...

******

We're in the middle of the Victoria Day long weekend, and the weather has been amazing! Yay! It's finally spring. I spent the day yesterday with the Boy, doing some running around and took his dog to the park so he (the dog, not the Boy) could go for a swim in the river.

Late last night, I was dreaming that someone was telling me to answer the phone. I kept telling them it was nothing, but they were insisting that my phone was ringing and I should answer it. I woke up and my phone was ringing. At 2:45 am.

Now, I don't know about you, but my first thought when the phone rings that late is that there is something extremely serious going on that someone would have to call me that late.

I bolted from bed without thinking and got to the phone just as it stopped ringing. It was the Boy. The hell? He didn't leave a message and I went back to bed to try to get back to sleep. I was a bit annoyed, I couldn't figure out why he called and he didn't leave a message. I had just fallen back asleep when the phone rang again!! This time I answered it and there was no one there.

Apparently I called him back and left a message asking what was going on and why he was calling me. He saw that I had called in the middle of the night and did some investigating: He had forgotten to lock the keypad and had laid the phone on the floor to charge. The dog, sleeping nearby, had hit redial. Twice. Yay. Late night calls from the dog...

Losing track...

The other day on the phone, The Boy asked me what I was working on. I said I was seaming the squares for my Leftover blanket. He asked if that was the one that was a gift for my friend. I had to think for a minute what he was talking about and then I realized that I had started a felted blanket for a friend a while ago (I'll take pics soon) and had stalled out on it. I said no, this one was for me. He asked me how many blankets I'm working on and it got me thinking.

The answer: more than I realized.

-the Leftover blanket
-the felted blanket for my friend
-a gift for my Mom (which I will keep hidden here because my Mom is now able to read my blog! Everyone say Hi to my Mom!)
-the duvet cover/blanket out of denim strips
-a quilted duvet cover that I had totally forgotten that I started!

Yesterday morning, I woke up thinking I would work on the Leftover blanket for a while. Instead I felt like sewing so I got out the pieces for the quilted duvet cover. I started on it at 10:30, and suddenly it was 4:00 and I had this:



I'm using up a bunch of fabric that has been sitting in stash for too long. Some of it I got for really cheap at Value Village (like 2.5 meters for $3) and I can't see myself ever using it in anything else (why did I get it then? Um. $3 for 2.5 meters of uncut cotton? You would have bought it also)(Yes you would have).


Because it's a duvet cover, I'm not using batting, so I'm quilting the pieced sections to each larger background piece. My plan is to minimize the number of seams that could face wear and tear, since the pieced area will not have a backing (or it might, i don't know. Maybe I should... )



I kind of think I should complete the blankets I have started before I start anything else. Ooh, except there's that top I've been wanting to make... Oh, and that cotton sweater I was thinking about... And...

Don't look now, but...

... Spring is here! (upcoming weather possibilities notwithstanding)



... I'm (almost) finished with the leftovers for my Leftover Blanket!



I need 5 more half-squares for the edges but I'm starting to seam the squares today, I couldn't wait.



I used almost every inch of my leftovers, plus one extra ball of sock yarn which was an orphan. I love how it's looking and can't believe these little squares kept my interest for this long! The plan is to knit solid colored bands around the center leftover rectangle. I'm sure I'll be working on this for quite a while yet, but it feels good to have this much completed!