Robes for Swim Lessons

Three weeks ago Little Miss, Little Sir, and Little Man started taking swimming lessons and I had big plans to make them all matching robes to wear after they got out of the pool. I had been wanting this robe pattern from Dana at Made ever since it came out and even though I knew it wouldn’t be big enough for Mr8 and Ms6 I still had to have it.
I altered the pattern to fit Little Miss and Little Sir by adding extra length in the sleeve cap and in the body. I could have also added width, but Little Sir is so slim I didn’t bother. The pattern went together smoothly, I did have a hard time matching the sleeves up to the bodies (even on the one I didn’t alter), but it may have been because the pattern shifted when I was cutting it. I ended up just cutting off the excess and every turned out fine. I would recommend that you use the alternate directions to attach the sleeve before sewing the side seam instead of setting them in. Making my own bias tape turned into a big production for me. I have made bias tape before, but never on this scale. I used this bias tape tutorial so that I could sew everything first and cut it all to have one long piece (I also found the chart here (scroll down) helpful for knowing how much fabric to use to get the amount of bias binding I needed). It was all my fault, I didn’t have a large enough binding maker and I mis-measured the first round of tape and it was 1/2” to narrow. I ended up buying a larger binding maker and a clear ruler and that helped a lot. I did feel like this project to FOREVER and they only get to wear them for their final week of lessons. However, I do think they turned out super cute and we have already gotten a TON of compliments on them. We will also be taking more lessons this fall after school start, so they will get plenty of use and they will look super cute hanging in the bathroom too!

The Lego Play Mat

We have a ton of Legos around here and that means that I end up stepping on one at least a couple times a week. Little Sir’s favorite place to play with Legos is in his bed. It is not unusual for him to wake up in the morning with a Lego print on his skin somewhere from the tiny Legos that have hidden in his blankets.
To solve (or probably just help it happen a little less) this problem I decided to make a Lego Play Mat using this tutorial from Make it Perfect. Not to be left out Little Miss asked for one too and I also made a few (four) for a friend. I used some specialty fabric for Little Miss and Little Sir and for my friend I used thrifted sheets.This is a simple project that most beginner sewers should be able to do, the instructions are very clear, and there plenty of pictures for reference. I would suggest that after cutting your first circle to place it’s right side facing the right side of the lining fabric. Then fold it up and set it aside until you’re ready to sew. It didn’t occur to me to do this until after I had cut out my 12 circles, which weren’t exactly perfect, and matching them up proved to be a bit tricky and some of the circles had to be trimmed. I am very excited to have the projects finished, I’ll be giving them to the kids after school I hope they’ll really like them and Yay, this is another Pinterest project!

Knitting Weather

I am so predictable, the minute it gets cold I have to have a new knitting project to work on. I am a big fan of The Jane Victoria patterns her unique style really makes her patterns appealing to me. Yesterday I cast on for The Silmarwen Súrion Hooded Cropped Mozzetta Pattern and have furiously knitted my way through the first 12 rows of 2x2 ribbing.My favorite thing about these patterns is the symmetrical shaping, I have knitted a lot of different patterns and hers are the only ones with this sort of perfect shaping. Usually I have to learn a new stitch, but it is completely worth it.
I do need to mention that I have had problems with her patterns: The Alassë Míriel Hooded Cowl Pattern turned out way too small (completely my fault for not checking gauge) and there were some sleeve sizing issues with The Enelya Linwëlin Sleeved Mantelet Pattern (once again, my fault for not checking the finished measurements) I am not alone in my challenges with these pattern, but the designer has listened and edited both of those patterns to make things clearer and help with sizing. I have learned to pay attention to measurements and gauge. The designer has also been quick to answer questions.
I have frogged the Mantelet, I will restart again someday. For now the yarn will be reused for this project. I love knitting in the round, it seems to go so fast and I don’t have to concentrate so hard.
Does anyone have a special knitting project started for the winter?

Back In the Knitting Saddle

Because it’s like that old expression, “if you get bucked off, get right back on that horse”, when you have a knitting fail and have to frog you need to get right back to knitting?  I don’t know where I’m trying to go with this, but anyway I had a rough week and knitting is helping me get through it.  I restarted The Enelya Linwëlin Sleeved Mantelet pattern.  This time I cast on 6 extra stitches and added a full repeat of eyelets.  As you can see, the sleeve is quite a bit bigger.  The fit is better, close fitting, but not stretched.  Sleeve one is finished, sleeve two is started.  I expect to get a lot knitted on this this weekend.  What crafty stuff will you be working on?

Long Overdue Cozy

I have had the directions for this project printed out for so long that they are no longer available on the original website (which is why I have to print everything out).  I have had this awesome Project Runway fabric since 2009 and now I have finally made my sewing machine a cozy!The cover fits perfectly, that little bump in the back is the spool holders sticking up, I did just finish sewing!  If it was properly stored they would be down and the cover would be nice and rectangular (I’m doing good with the cover, we’ll work up to proper storage).  There is piping along the side seams and a lovely aqua binding on the bottom of the cozy.  That’s vintage seam binding, occasionally my hoarding pays off! Here’s what my little sewing corner has looked like and yes, I am still able to sew I just knock a lot of stuff over when I do.  I would like to point out that I am still using all the giant spice jars and they are working great for keeping all my bottle caps, pop tabs and other little bits and bobs sorted and stored.Ah, isn’t that nice?, now I just need to tackle the floor in that corner, so I can center the cabinet on that wall and it will be perfect. 

If you would like to make a sewing machine cover like mine this customizable cover looks very similar to the one I made.  I have another project that I’m working on for this area, now that the flu has moved on to Little Miss and Little Man I’m hoping that we can all be healthy by Wednesday and everything can go back to normal.

Stuffed Animal Storage

Before I tell you about the fabulous “pet nets” that I made I have to announce that obviously I found the drill! I spent all day trying to remember where I had used it last and finally I remembered that I had put a can crusher in the laundry room. Once I knew the area to search I quickly found it, it was behind the washing machine. I guess a rigorous spin cycle had vibrated it off the back. Crazy, right?

Okay, back to the stuffed animals. If you have kids you have stuffed animals, it’s like these things multiply overnight. I swear I don’t even know where these stuffies came from. I also threw out a large bag full when our basement flooded and we still have a ton of them. I needed storage for the most beloved of the animals and so I was super excited to find this crocheted toy net pattern.This was a great project for using up some super scratchy vintage acrylic yarn. The pattern was easy and turned out perfectly, all those dc’s (double crochets) got a bit monotonous, but it was worth it. I think that I will have to make at least one more for Little Miss, there are stuffies everywhere in her room. I’m excited to have emptied a tote full of animals and used up four skeins of crap yarn, yay success! Now I just need to figure out what to do with the super nice, giant dragon stuffies that Grandguy (that’s what the kids call my FIL) got for both of them, I’m taking suggestions :).

I now have a date with the drill, you know, for those holes I was daydreaming about drilling.

Washcloth Woman

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but my Mother has a thing about washcloths.  She always has washcloths on her Christmas list and no matter how expensive or high quality a washcloth is she can wear it out in a year.  I don’t think I have ever worn out a washcloth, gotten tired of the color and bought new ones, yes, but not worn out.  She says they get thin in the middle, I must use mine differently.  I’m more of a pouf user anyway.

When I started knitting washcloths were a good way to try out new patterns without a big commitment and they were really good practice.  Bonus, I really liked knitted washcloths and so did my mom.  I don’t have a pattern that I always use, I like to try out new stuff, but I may have found my go to washcloth pattern:  The Linoleum Dishcloth. I love this pattern because it makes a thick, textured cloth that is easy to knit and the back looks nice too.This would be great for a beginner, the only thing you need to be able to do is the knit stitch and the slip stitch and using multiple colors is easy, only one per row.  I think that I would prefer this pattern in only two colors, what can I say I like it simple. On my needles now is the Amber Perry dishcloth, I like the pattern, but there is no texture and I even tried to add a bit by using garter stitch in the design.

I’m making these for a friend, we are doing a trade washcloths for soldering, I think it’s a fabulous deal!  I will be making one more, I just need to decide what pattern to use.  What is your go to dishcloth/washcloth pattern?, I’d love to try something new.

Sew What’s New?

Once again I have bought a new pattern that I have been working on obsessively for the last week and a half.  It’s an amigurumi sewing machine and it’s pink!  I bought the pattern from Skymagenta on etsy.  It seemed like it took forever, but I think that it’s because it used four ply yarn (baby or sock yarn) and a tiny hook.  There were also a lot of pieces that needed to be sew together (I hate that part).  I made it for the craft room, but Little Miss has been eying it, it may be a special toy that only get to be played with when mommy really needs to get something done.I really think it came out cute, but boy are my hands sore, I don’t know if I’ll be making anything else on this pattern, she does have a really cute pattern for sushi that I might have to try.

Have a super crafty weekend!

Kitschy Kitchen

I have finished adding more Mod Podge to my silverware silk screen and the revised prints look a lot better.  Now I need to get the fabric printed.  I’m thinking that I will cut the fabric to size for the curtain panels, then print it, and then sew it.  This will make the fabric more manageable.  I have also decided that the curtains need rick rack and ball fringe.

In the meantime I have been dreaming about all the other things I want to have in my kitchen.  I need some super accessories, lots of red with pops of turquoise.  I need towels.  I have several red towels, they hang on the handle to my stove, but it seems like they spend more time on the floor and once they hit the floor, ewww, I need a fresh one.  So, I made a towel that won’t fall off. I also made a towel ring to hang by my sink to hold a flour sack towel.  I just made a ring and crocheted around it until it was full, went around it with red and added a hanging loop.  My Mom embroiders towels and I know she used to have a pattern with dishes and silverware (because I have the ones she made in the 70’s) and there is a good chance she still has it (see this hoarding thing is inherited), I may have to request a new set. 

I used the Leftover Dishtowel pattern and added a turquoise stockinette stitched stripe and made the top hanging part of the towel in stockinette stitch also, I even remembered to reverse it so that it looked the same when folded over, yay me!  I want to make one with a zigzag next.  I’m really excited about decorating my kitchen, now I need to get some floating shelves and dig out my hanging pot rack, oh and finish those curtains!