Sewing – Page 2 – Knitting Box

Don’t get used to this

I’ve been trying to stay away from the computer for the last few weeks. I thought I should do a bit more knitting or sewing, instead of just reading about them. That, and I have some things that I need to do that have deadlines (mostly self-imposed, but still they have to be finished.) I’m really terrible with limiting my Internet time, once I’m in front of it. You won’t believe how many times I had gone to the computer “only to check something” and next thing I know it’d been a few hours. Terrible I tell you! So the best solution seems to be to not turn the computer at all. Well, I didn’t go without the Internet completely (of course not!), but I seem to be getting better at resisting the urge to perch in front of the computer for hours on end. And it seems to be working somewhat. I managed to finish a few things! (Yes, several!)

You ready?

First was this pram/bassinet blanket for a friend’s little boy who made an appearance a few weeks ago. Very similar to the one I made before.

Then there was a cardigan for a little girl.

Pattern: Offset Wraplan. I added a crochet flower to one side of the collar (helped by this video tutorial on youtube).
Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton in “Purr”, 2.5 balls
Needles: 3.5mm
Ravelry link

And another one for another friend’s little girl.

Pattern: Debbie Bliss’ Ribbed Baby Jacket from Special Knits, and I added a crochet flower brooch.
Yarn: Rowan All Seasons Cotton in “Purr”, 2.5 balls
Needles: 4.5mm
Ravelry link

Seems to be a theme here, doesn’t it! Babies seem to be popping left right and centre around here. And I was very behind with my gifts. I really must do something about this procrastination. I mean, I knew the babies were coming, so why does it always catch me by surprise??

Another FO, this time for me, just to break the baby theme. I started this scarf months ago (ahem, in March), and finally it’s done.

Pattern: So Called Scarf
Yarn: Moda Vera Harmony, 3.5 balls
Needles: 5mm
Ravelry link

And finally, a pencil case / pouch that I made as my contribution to a recent blogmeet lucky dip swap.

Pattern: Counterpane accessories pouch from Handknit Holidays
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton, 1 ball
Needles: 3.25mm
Ravelry link
Modification: The pattern says to add just a layer of lining on the inside, but I was worried it would make the pouch too limp and floppy. So instead I sewed a fully lined pouch first with a heavy canvas as the exterior (picture here), and then attached the knitted pieces to the outside of that by hand-stitching it around the zipper. I’m glad I did, because the result turned out to be sturdy enough to hold its shape. I love, love, love the texture on this!

Well that turned out to be quite a productive month! I guess the cold, cold winter we’re having in Sydney at the moment kind of spurred me on with the knitting. I still have a few more projects in the works that I haven’t even blogged about yet, for another time then!

3 August 2008

Mail sack

Something else I finished recently…

It’s the Mail Sack! The pattern is by Kathy of Pink Chalk Studio. I love this bag, I’ve carried it around lots already. It’s great for some light grocery shopping on the way home from picking Annette up from preschool (there’s always something or other that I forget on my big weekly shopping), as it leaves my hands free to hold her hand while walking. The photo might not show the scale, but let me tell you this bag is roomy! It’s 16 inches wide (I made the adult version — the pattern also include a kid-sized version) and I can fit lots of things in it.

And another feature that I like is this zippered pocket on the inside, which currently holds a sock in progress.

First time I sewed in a zipper, that one! Sewing with zippers had been one of those “I’ll look it up someday” kind of thing for me, which I never got around to doing. Don’t know why I didn’t do it earlier, really, it was pretty simple. And Kathy’s instructions in this pattern are great, that even the zipper part was painless. Very pleased with how this turned out!

3 July 2008

Popping in

… to say hello!

Ahhh, I’ve been slack in the blogging department again, haven’t I. I haven’t gone anywhere, really, just that the time (and words) keep getting away from me. Well there have been good and bad…

Good — Going to the Craft & Quilt Fair at Darling Harbour, and went home with a nice stack of fabrics and yarn (yep. yarn diet? what yarn diet??).

Bad — Father-in-law got admitted to hospital for heart problems. It was quite a scare. Had to cancel going to the WWKIP get-together as a result.

Good — He’s much better now, thankfully, and steadily recovering. As a bonus it has brought the family closer together.

Bad — Annette getting sick and being in a grouchy mood for a whole week.

Good — Going to dinner with a bunch of crafty ladies, where I scored this beautiful scarf made by Marina. It’s made of very soft (and pretty!) flannel, and feels really nice around my neck. The fabric is from eQuilter I was told, which I haven’t come across before, so will have to check that out. Looks like a massive store!

Another good — A new hat for me, the Rose Red hat!

Pattern: Rose Red by Ysolda Teague. I made the medium size.
Yarn: Seasoned Spice Yarn Bee #120 in ‘Azalea’, from Spotlight.
Needles: 4mm circulars.

The yarn was a surprise find. I knew I wanted a red hat (red for a change, seeing that multiple people have pointed out to me that I always wear blue 🙂 and I have to say I like the change!) but I was having trouble finding just the shade of red that I want. Then one day while pottering around in Spotlight looking for something else, I found this little shelf tucked somewhat further away from the knitting section, with various yarn lines called “Yarn Bee”. And of course I couldn’t walk past undiscovered yarn without checking it out first 🙂 This particular yarn immediately called to me. It’s 70% wool/30% soybean, and there’s some silvery strands spun together with the red. Doesn’t quite show in this photo I’m afraid, but trust me it’s pretty. It wears quite well too so far.

Pretty red, great yarn and fun-to-knit pattern, what more can I ask for, really!

30 June 2008

Cushy

Finishing one small project can really motivate you to start another! Not long after the pram blanket, I whipped up these two cushions for the reading corner in Annette’s room. I love the clouds fabric (from here), I think it’s just great for these cushions.

For the back I used some ribbed t-shirt fabric that I found in the bargain bin at Spotlight. I have lots to learn about sewing with this kind of fabric (hello Sew U Home Stretch?). I had some issues with stretching in the beginning (as I expected), but I think it worked out quite well in the end. Phew.

28 May 2008

Cheater cheater

Close up

I’m on a sewing kick at the moment. My poor, poor sewing machine had been neglected for so long. It’s been calling to me again this week. I think it started when a friend had a baby, and I thought I’d make her a pram blanket. I liked the super quick + easy baby quilt from the Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts book, but I ended up making a rather modified version of it. The size is a lot smaller, which is pram-sized (this one measures about 20 x 20 inches) rather than cot-sized.

Quilted pram blanket

This was indeed a quick project. I feel like I was cheating in so many ways. Firstly I didn’t do any binding, and secondly the fabric has done all the work for me with that faux patchwork 🙂 (Found it at Spotlight, if anyone’s wondering. The backing is a polar fleece that I also got from Spotlight.) But hey, I’ve been wanting to make a quilt for so long (what was it, oh, two years ago that I first fell in love with quilts and patchwork — which was one of the things that pulled me into sewing in the first place), but as we all know Procrastination is my middle name. So I see this as “baby steps” toward getting closer to making a “real” quilt of my own 🙂

All wrapped up

23 May 2008