Finished Backpacks

I finished these up Monday night, just in time for school to start on Tuesday.  They were a big hit and they should hold up for the whole school year!  Special details include a super reinforced hanging loop, tabs instead of eyelets for the strings, boxed bottom corners to make the bags look better when full, and bead embellishments.They look like they been lined up to be shot in a small swarm of half finished man eating ladybugs.  The first day of school shots were a complete failure.  I don’t know what it is about trying to have a nice picture of them that brings out the worst faces, sad they are trying to look cute, needless to say I won’t be sharing any of those shots. BTW, any suggestions on photographing children so they look natural would be great and let me know if you’d like a tutorial for these bags, I might need to make one for Little Man too!

Spa Bag

So, I was on Ravelry and I found the pattern for The Zakka Pouch (non-ravelry link) from Black Dog Designs and thought it would be perfect to keep my current knitting projects in.  I envisioned having several with one project per pouch.  I started knitting using some Peaches and Cream cotton and the bag got bigger and bigger, wow, this was going to hold a mega project, like a sweater and all the yarn, not just the skein I was working with and I wasn’t liking the rounded bottom, so I frogged it.Now that I knew what I wanted I started by crocheting a large coaster for the bottom and then picked up stitches around the edge and knitted the sides.  I made sure to do a purl row at the top so I would have a line to stitch on when I added my fabric.  I also made some I-cord for the drawstring, I really hate making I-cord, and really a crocheted chain would have worked just as good, so I’m not sure why I felt the need to make the I-cord.  I guess I just wanted to be sure that I hated making it.

When I got all done I thought that the bag looked like something you would get a gift set in, like a washcloth, and some lotion or something.  I may make some for that for Christmas, or maybe I’ll just keep a knitting project in there, like I planned, it would be perfect for a hat.

There’s the added bonus, I used three different crafty techniques to make the bag, maybe I’ll stencil the fabric on the next one and make it four or hand dye the yarn for five, this could be some kind of new challenge…

Eco Chic Grocery Shopper

It started off with a plarn tote and was followed by a MEAT bag and now the set is finally complete, reusable produce bags!I used this simple tutorial from Craft Stylish.  I used tulle for the fabric (it’s what I already had) and ribbon instead of yarn for the ties.  I also did not turn the finished bag, but left the raw edges on the outside, I figured you would see the edges either way so why add an extra step.  I made six in about an hour and a half and I can’t wait to use them at the store.  I also need to make at least one more plarn bag, I’ve been collecting and cutting some interesting bags, but I don’t have enough yet.

Have a super crafty weekend!

Cupcake Baby

I have been working on a new baby hat design using knitting and crochet.  In fact, this design has been sitting in my knitting bag waiting for the cherry to be sewn on the top for a couple of months.  Now for the perfect test, how will it work on a brand new baby.This little set has a cupcake hat, cupcake swaddling blanket, and it’s in a cupcake reusable gift bag, I really like cupcakes!  There is also a cupcake purse (like this) for the new big sister.

P.S. Congratulations Lisa and Josh!

Squirrel Pouch

I discovered this very interesting shirt at a yard sale and just had to have it.  It seemed new, I don’t even think it had been washed. Yes, those are squirrels, chipmunks, and nuts!  This shirt spoke to me and it really needed to be turned into zippered pouches.  There are darts in the front and back of the shirt that needed to be taken out and to make it even more of a challenge they are all topstitched, who does that?!? (the answer is the people in Hong Kong at the Espirit factory).I used some left over orange batik fabric for the lining and decided to finish the edges by zigzag instead of stitching and turning.I don’t think that this top would have been cute on Little Miss, but it sure made a fun little pouch.  I have enough fabric to make a few more, the fabric pattern is interesting and the pieces have to be carefully cut to get a squirrel or chipmunk on every piece.  I also thought it was interesting that the pattern in not directional, the animals go every which way.

I guess I’m a collector of unusual fabrics, what is the strangest fabric you’ve found?

The Plarn Adventure

As I was cleaning my dining room/craft table I came across the plarn I had made last month.  I immediately felt the urge to finish the already started bag.  I think I was just looking for a reason to stop cleaning, but my theory was crochet the bag and then I won’t have to find somewhere to store the plarn balls.  I just sort of made this up as I went along, so no pattern to share, however if you’re looking for plarn inspiration check out RecycledCindy’s blog, she has a lot of great ideas and free patterns.This bag worked up quickly thanks to the large hook and I used up all of my plarn!  It seemed like it took me longer to cut the plarn than to crochet it, but the cutting is the boring part.  I made stripes to make it a little interesting, I wish I had more colors to choose from.  It turned out a great size for grocery shopping and the red stripe will coordinate with my “meat” bags.  Plarn was easy for me to work with and I will be making more of these bags, it seems like there is always plenty of plastic bags around even though I normally bring my own bags or at least ask for paper.

I want to try VCR tape next, although I hear that it’s a little harder to work with,(it sticks to the hook).

The Crafty Chica Bag Challenge Results

The results are in, I am one of the runners up! (read the full article from Craft here).  What did I win you ask?  A Crafty Chica bobblehead and a gift card to MakerShed!

Image from Amy Cluck of Peptogirl Industries photo stream on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/peptogirl/3579765791/

It was really exciting to be a part of the contest, of course I wish I would have won, but I was recognized for my efforts, so yay!!!  The winner was my favorite (besides my own bag).  I love the dimension of the ruffle and the ball fringe!

Image from dntblvedahype 's photo stream on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisdm1979/3750938269/

Congratulations to all the other winners and thanks to all my friends for all your support.

I’m Going to Call Him Steve

No reason, he just looks like a Steve. The details I added were some black stitching and some color.  The pattern recommended felting, I currently do not have any felting equipment and I didn’t want to buy any, so I used sharpie markers to color in the details.He also has wood bead eyes and bone teeth.   I think he turned out pretty gruesome.  The really great thing is that you can use him as a purse or stuff him a bit and you have a great decoration!