Buttercup is almost done… Just need to sew on the buttons, and another round of blocking. I’ve already blocked the pieces before seaming, but I like to block one more time as a whole. FO coming soon!
knit? i sew!
Much of my week last week was taken up with sewing instead of knitting. Now, I only have very basic sewing skills, as in, I can make a straight seam. My mum bought me a sewing machine as a wedding present, and I’ve always wanted to learn to sew “someday”. So after much procrastination I joined sew? I knit! with their quilted item theme and whipped this up last week:
It’s a quilted drawstring bag for Annette to bring her lunch, snacks, etc. I couldn’t find a pattern for the type of quilted bag that I was after, so I followed bits of this tutorial for a drawstring backpack (the “Mama Backpack”), with some modifications. It’s a good tutorial, has good pictures to illustrate the steps, and good cear instructions. My modifications were that I didn’t make it into a backpack and added a strap instead, and I added a batting between the outer fabric and the lining. I also made the bag smaller, to be more “Annette-sized”, rather than “Mama-sized”.
As for the outside of the bag, the inspiration came from this and this. I’m very much inspired by the beautiful crafted things in Japanese craft books and magazines that I’ve seen around the Internet. I love how their designs are so clean and simple and so charming at the same time.
After seeing this bag, Belinda pointed me to this pic. How cute is that!! A coordinated set of bags!
Well, one thing I learned while working on this bag, was that, while sewing might be faster than knitting, there’s so much planning time that goes into it. Drafting the pattern (if you don’t have one already), transfering the pattern to fabrics, cutting the fabric, pinning fabric together, basting, etc — before you get to actually make things. But I guess the good thing is, after you’ve done it once or twice, they start to fall into place. I’ve always held much respect and admiration for those who can sew to make things, whether it be clothes, softies, bags, quilts, etc. After this experience I think my respect and admiration for them go a little bit higher.
Other quilted things that I’d like to try: Quilted water bottle carrier by Pink Chalk Studio, and the Log Cabin pillow (inspired by Belinda’s one).
Spring!
Spring has indeed sprung over here. Nice warm days this past few days.
We saw a family of swans with cute fluffy signets in Centennial Park…
And made playdough snails…
And Annette got a new bag, which is my first attempt at something quilted. This one was taken last Friday as we headed to the Fox Studios playground to meet up with the lovely Belinda and her little girl.
More on the bag soon! And on the knitting front, I’m in the middle of seaming Buttercup, so it might become an FO soon too!
Very Fetching
Fetching is finished! Here is an action shot, while working on Buttercup’s sleeve.
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in colour 300207 (Navy / Midnight blue). I used exactly one ball, with less than 1 meter left. Seriously.
Needles: 4mm aluminium DPNs.
Started 6 August 2006, finished 12 August 2006.
This is the first time I used the Cashmerino, and it is just oh so soft! I love how the yarn feels on my fingers, and it knits up so beautifully. Even though I had other projects on the go, I find myself keep reaching for this because I just loved working on it. And I love how the finished objects looks too! These are going to be gifted to a friend of mine. I’m already planning to make more of these mittens, for myself and for another friend.
Here’s another photo, I call it the Look-I’m-Pretending-To-Be-A-Knitwear-Model pose. Ha ha ha!
And why yes, that’s Clapotis, from pre-blogging days. The yarn is handpainted yarn from The Knittery which is nice and soft. I realise that I have never taken a photo of it before, because for a long time I didn’t like it. Depending on the lighting, the colours can look a bit murky sometimes. But one day I decided to wear it out anyway, and it didn’t look as bad as I thought. In fact, I quite like it now. So there you go, two FOs in one photo.
The above photos are also my entries to Knitty’s 2007 calendar contest, just for fun. Wish me luck! 🙂
A Knitter In The Making
Annette likes to pick up my knitting or yarn and say that she’s “knitting”. Today I decided to take a picture… Looks like she’s got the knitting pose perfected, just look at that… feet up, knitting on her lap, needles in hands, eyes intent on the knitting. Awww… I hope to teach her to knit some day. She’ll have to get her own stash, though.
That’s the beginning of the back piece for Jess, for my mum. Haven’t finished Buttercup yet (I’m up to the sleeves now), but I’ve been itching to start on Jess and just couldn’t fight the startitis. There are so many things that I want to start! I’ve signed up for sew? I knit!, with the quilted theme. I’ve been wanting to start sewing for ages, and perhaps signing up to this sew-along will give me the push that I need. I’m thinking of making quilted bags, perhaps a knitting bag for me, and a quilted backpack for Annette. And I also want to knit some hats for my nephews. And then last Saturday I went to Tapestry Craft to get circulars for making Jess, and I somehow left with not only needles, but also a ball of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. I’m thinking of making Fetching from Knitty. Oh wait. No, I’m not thinking about making Fetching, I’ve already started.
And on the way home, I passed by Lincraft, and walked out with these:
Ribbons, lace, twill tape, and braided cord. Might come in handy for the bag making.