Posts Tagged ‘Knitting’
Say Hello To Mr Greenjeans
Posted on: March 18, 2009
Hello Mr Greenjeans!
Mr Greenjeans is finished at last. The photos are of the sweater in the unblocked state and since I had put it down for quite a few months in between knitting times, it has some dents where you can tell it sat on holders plus it just needs to have the crap beat out of it to lay some of those other stitches down and make it look nice. I thought I was going to run out of yarn so I did a decreased k2p2 on the cuffs instead of the cables. I also didn’t do the buttonhole as the pattern required because I’m going to make an I-cord twisted loop instead. But I still consider this done.
And Now For Something Completely Different
I’ve been sewing. Crafty little woman, aren’t I? I joined a sewing challenge swap on swap-bot. It’s for all levels of sewers. Now, I didn’t have to make a quilted tote bag but I wanted to because I didn’t want to do a zipper. Zippers and I don’t mesh. I also didn’t have a pattern so I wasn’t 100% how it was going to turn out. I knew I could do this, I had quilted a couple of pillows about 20 years ago and I do sew once in awhile. But it still took thinking.
Basically, here’s what I did. Since the challenge required using fat quarters (18″ x 21″ pieces of fabric), I had a nice shape to start with. Then I did the following (I’ve never written what I’ve done for a sewing project so bear with me). If you can’t figure out what the directions mean and the pictures don’t help you, just let me know and I’ll try to explain better.
The final ‘fabric’ I created (to make the tote bag) was 2 large pieces that were three rows by three rows of 5″ squares, each of these large pieces had a backing fabric (lining) that I included so I could use batting.
- I cut 5″ squares, 10 of one design and 8 of the other.
- I created 9 rows of three squares using 1/4″ seams to sew the short sides of the strip.
- I sewed three strips together lengthwise, using 1/4″ seams to be the back of the finished bag, three strips together for the front of the bag.
- I cut a piece of another fat quarter for the backing for each of the 2 – 9 row finished pieces above (the lining).
- I took a piece of fusible batting, laid down the lining wrong side up, place the batting on it, laid the 9 row finished piece wrong side down on that, then steam ironed the whole thing.
- I stitched next to each seam on each of the two large pieces.
- I chose one end of the bag to be the top, folded the edge down about 1/2″ and ironed it, then repeated that so I had a nice folded edge. I also made handles of some skinny strips and placed each end of the handle under the folded edge. Pinned it and sewed it along the edge.
- I flipped the handles up as if I were carrying the bag and sewed a box stitch where the handle lays over the folded edge.
- I repeated steps 6 and 7.
- Now for the fun part. French seams, oui?
- I placed the bag WRONG SIDES TOGETHER and sewed a seam around the three sides, trimmed the excess fabric.
- Then I turned it so it was RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER and sewed another seam.
- Done.
The only problem I encountered, which I can fix next time, is that the batting and all the seams when I did the french seams made it really bulky. This meant I couldn’t do a final edge stitch around the bag afterwards, just too much there. So I’ll skip the batting that close to the edge next time. Which will be this weekend as I will be making another one for my cousin’s birthday.
Updates…
Posted on: November 6, 2008
- In: Knitting
- 3 Comments
If you recall I mentioned in a previous post that I would award someone with a little gift if they could figure out what the plant is that we received. I still am not sure the correct answer has been posted. From what I understand, we are NOT supposed to eat the mini-tomato/cherry/pepper thingies. So in my mind the contest is still open because all of the guesses point to an edible plant. If you’ve submitted a response there already you can submit another one. I’ll keep reviewing and looking at the suggestions on line and then by the end of next week I’ll just go with whatever seems the closest. I’m glad you’re all having fun with this!
Speaking of fun. I mailed off my mitten swap package yesterday to my pal. I made a pair of felted mittens (my pattern – which I need to update the gauge on there I discovered) in a gorgeous teal which have an inside cuff, non-felted, in white with a strand of the lace weight yarn. Then I included two packages of coffee, one large bar of Starbuck’s chocolate, a snowman ornament, a postcard and I think that’s about it. Below are photos of the mittens in progress and finished along with the stuff I sent. I used Paton’s Classic Merino Wool in Teal with a strand of a lace weight variegated yarn at the same time. The cuff is leftover stash in white with a strand of the same lace weight yearn. I also sent out my mini-mini ornament to my pal and she gets a large Starbuck’s chocolate bar as well.
Before felting:
After felting:
Inside view of the cuffs:
The final package:
The mini-mitten ornament – isn’t this just precious?
I’ve also been knitting a sweater that’s been giving me some headaches but I’m making good progress. I’m using Mission Falls 1824 Wool 100% Merino Superwash in a charcoal color. I’ll be updating Ravelry today and will get pictures out here and there once I take them. I’m also working on a sock for a single sock swap. But I don’t want to post any info about that because I want to surprise the recipient. This swap is hosted by Robyn and is a slick idea. You knit one sock, then mail the sock, the remaining yarn and the pattern to the person she assigned you to. They will make the second sock. That way? No second sock syndrome!
I seem to think there was something else I was going to mention but since I can’t remember, I guess I’ll have to just go make some hot chocolate (all this talk about chocolate, sheesh, must get some) and knit. Once I remember what it was I’ll just post about it the next time. See ya.
- In: Knitting
- 2 Comments
Right off, just so’s ya know I’m not going to post much of anything else about hubby’s cancer here. I’ve set up another blog at http://cancerhat.wordpress.com to do that. I really need to keep them separate, you know?
Okay, now for a giggle. No, I did not knit this. I hosted a mitten swap a couple of years ago and one of the participants sent this pair to a super nice woman and claimed since they fit her, why was the recipient having a problem with them? Hello?? I posted about this on swap-bot because I am hosting another mitten swap and there are a ton of comments at flickr on it. I love the one about how she nearly wet herself when she saw them!
I did, however, knit up a pair of Snuglets. It’s taken me all summer because I wasn’t knitting for a while and then I would knit more than one thing at a time. Well, other than the laces / ties and putting the ‘safety suede’ on the bottoms, they’re done. Finally! And just in time as the weather is getting chillier. When you go check out the site, the ties they show are not the ties I have. Mine are black elastic and have a rather elaborate set up, at the site they show what looks like white yarn. Once I get the ties on I’ll pop a picture out here.
All of the pieces before sewing together and felting. The lighter color is alpaca and the dark is wool.
The sole before:
The upper part before:
After felting (still need the ties, remember, but these are going to be so warm!):
That’s it for tonight. Enjoy your evening, everyone.
Yes, I’ve been knitting – watch for more tonight.
Let The Sock War Begin!
Posted on: May 11, 2008
- In: Fun Stuff | Knitting
- 3 Comments
I’m participating in Sock Wars III and have changed my mind 3 times, 3 times I said, on the yarn I’m going to use. Hated one, couldn’t get gauge on the other so settled on a third. This makes me very far behind. The pattern came out on Friday and only today have I successfully finished the ribbing and the first 4 rows. Fortunately, it’s a short sock so it shouldn’t (??) take me too long. The pattern is I believe, a chevron stitch. We’ll find out as I get further along in the sock.
How does it work? Well, my assignment is to get my socks mailed off to my target, then my target has to send me their socks wherever they are in process whereupon I finish those socks and send them to their assassin who becomes ‘dead’, and on and on. However, if I receive socks before finishing mine for my target, that makes me ‘dead’ and I have to send my socks to my assassin who will finish them and send to my target…get it? I’m just in it to have a little fun in my ever so stressful life. I’ll be thrilled if I finish ONE sock before being killed. 😉
Back to the deck to keep on knitting!
They Say It’s Your Birthday…
Posted on: May 3, 2008
- In: Family | Fun Stuff | Knitting
- 5 Comments
Wednesday
I got home from work all frazzled and freaked out having screwed up on some things (it was just hitting 8 pm so I’d worked 12 hours that day and the two previous were fairly ugly as well – kind of getting scared about some things) and I just know there will be fallout next week from this. But walking in the door I was floored. My husband had bought me this HUGE (3 feet tall!) Happy Birthday balloon, shaped like a heart that has a bright PINK boa – no lie – attached on its entire perimeter!! Cheered me right up – even if only temporarily (throughout the weekend he did a lot of things to help me not think about work, this is why we’re still together after so many years, right? Support each other through the ups and downs and the uglies). He also gave me a very funny card – no pictures, sorry I didn’t bring the memory stick down to the office but I’ll share them next time I post. Oh, he also had everything ready to go except our personal stuff for Thursday. Thank God because I had not give ONE iota of a thought on what to bring yet and thankfully, I only had to think about my clothes and my knitting.
Thursday
Took off from MN and headed to WI to a little cabin I found online to spend a couple of days away from home and to celebrate my milestone birthday (the big 45 on Friday). It was a cute cabin, down in Nelson, WI, overlooking the river (Mississippi, that is). If it hadn’t been misty and cloudy, it would have been a much better travel day but it was misty and it was cloudy. Though the good thing was the temp got nearly to 70 degrees so it didn’t seem as damp as it could have.
We unpacked the truck which took a while having brought more than we needed, as usual. The cabin had two bedrooms, a little kitchen, a bathroom and a living room/eating area. We met the owner, Wes, shortly after arriving and he reminded me of my brother, B. Slim, suntan/burn complexion from being outside a lot, chatty, good for a joke or two, no kids and prefers having a girlfriend to being married. Even with bringing everything but the kitchen sink we still needed a few other things so Wes gave us a couple of ideas on where to shop so we headed out to get those last items and came back, had some dinner and then had happy hour sitting outside (it wasn’t raining) watching the trains go by down by the river. Loudly. But infrequently, thankfully.
At one point during said cocktail hour, my husband was laughing at me and the fact I was using a small Mason jar to drink my drink from – hey, I didn’t to want to break anything from there that was worth anything and these jars you can find anywhere if you need to replace it. He said, with a humorous look in his eyes, that I looked real classy in my zippered hoodie, knitting and drinking from the Mason jar sitting in my camping chair. I thought I looked pretty darn cute. 🙂 He agreed. He’s smart.
Eventually, we went inside and played some cribbage, played the boombox and had a rockin’ time. Hubby won both games, the first one he totally creamed me.
That night there was a big storm, it rained like hell and hailed. And it rained all day Friday except for MAYBE about 2 minutes. My birthday.
Friday
We got up and I’m pissed because it’s raining cats, dogs, flying pigs and walleye (we were in fish country, afterall) on my birthday. It’s May – no rain allowed, dang it. We went into town and had breakfast and then decided to check out some of the garage sales that were happening. It was the annual 100 miles of garages sales that happens along the river there. I found a chair for the stained glass studio, picture to follow in next post. I paid $5 bucks!! The man who was selling it was much older, like a granpa age and asked me what I wanted – I said I’d like to buy that chair, here’s the $5 bucks. He said to me, hey, I thought it was $15 (with a twinkle in his eye) and hubby piped up and no, actually it said 50 cents. Oh, he said, then I better take the $5 shouldn’t I? I guess you had to be there.
From there we checked out a couple of other garage sales and I picked up 7 hardcover books for $5 and 3 paperbacks for $3. If you added up the actual cost of those books it would be $185 – I paid $8. I’m good.
Then back to the cabin to hang out until later in the afternoon when we went over to the MN side to Wabasha and had a late lunch at the Anderson House. Came back and I took a nap (it’s my birthday, I can do what I want!), then got up (it’s still raining critters at this point) and did a little bit of knitting near the window – the lighting was terrible. Next time I’m bringing my craftlight. I finally gave up on my sock and started to crochet a washcloth because the yarn color is a very light green. Then it was time for a walk and then some dinner and happy hour. We played another game of cribbage and I played solitare (he can only handle so much cribbage, if it even looks like he MIGHT lose he gets whiney, I figure the cards are what they are and could play all night long).
Saturday
Headed out of Nelson around 11, stopped in Stockholm and had a lovely lunch at the Bogus Creek Cafe (fresh food made so beautiful you almost don’t want to eat what’s on your plate, you don’t want to disturb how it was plated, she’s a genious). The chef is also the owner and we always say hello while we’re there. Got home about 2:30 and it’s time to convince hubby that since it’s my birthday weekend he gets to play a game of cribbage with me!! Bye bye.
Midwest Knit Girl 