cuff

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Photos today because I don't have a lot to say. This cuff was made from a pattern by Creativeyarn and can be found here. Her free patterns are amazing and you should check them all out. I used DMC perle cotton thread and a 1.9mm hook which is why I have 4 flowers instead of three. I used matching thread to sew the flowers together and chain 2 spaces within the flower as the button holes (as opposed to crocheting the chains).

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It measures approximately 7 inches.

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necklace to go

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So I've apparently been making jewelry lately. This necklace is made from the same cotton crochet thread as the bracelets that were on here the other day. I used a starch solution to make it more stiff. This way it lays flat and looks nice. I thought about crocheting the chain from thread, but I liked the look of the wire chain. It makes it seem more complicated than it actually is.

And I'm kind of in love with this picture:

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Craftjuice Tuesday

The theme: Things that scare me a little. Perhaps I miss Halloween.


Dirty Teeth Skull


Darren the Dinosaur



Demon in a Blue Coat


Zombie Necklace

Gift for a summer baby

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Magic slippers and a cotton baby blanket. The blanket is made from 2 pieces of fabric and ironing happened before almost every step of making this blanket. I just folded the fabric onto itself to form a triangle and then cut it so I had a square when unfolded. I cut the second piece to match. Then I put the right sides together and sewed, leaving a 3 inch opening to turn the blanket right side out. Then a running stitch in a matching embroidery thread and it's good to go.

I think next time I'll do a topstitch with the machine too because I'm a little paranoid that the running stitch is going to come undone. I guess I'll find out if they ask me to fix it.

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a close up of the running stitch

Friday!

The week has gotten better since Wednesday when I had to cancel my trip to visit the amazing Ms. Jillian due to unforeseen cases of strep. As of right now my bathroom is painted, the new floor is getting put down and it looks like it should be finished by the end of the weekend. That means no more step stool to kick out of my way when I wash my face before bed. It's the little things. Trust me.

Speaking of something little, I've been making little bracelets. Perfect for summer wear. Now that I'm not making wristwarmers all the time I'm starting to miss them a little. I think I'll keep making them so I'll have stocked up by fall. But back to the bracelets. A very simple one that makes it look like you're wearing bangles but aren't:

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My hand's wrist is a little small so I had to play with it to get it to stay on the wrist and not just fall to the bottom. Using the smallest setting (there are two button closures) the bracelet measures 7 inches. Using the larger setting it measures 8 inches.

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And the closure:

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The second bracelet I got off the Purl blog. I had to chain a lot less than the instructions given, but I was using a larger hook. I am too lazy to go look at what size hook I had, so you'll have to live with just knowing it was a little larger.

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bagitty bag bag

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I love love love how this bag turned out. My fabric choices had been together for a while because I love pink and brown together, but once I saw those handles I knew what I would do for sure. The petals on the handles tie in so nicely with the inner fabric it's unbelievable. It's like it was all made for each other.

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It's hard to see in this photo because my flash went crazy (it's hard to tell on the camera screen when it does that) but I used pink thread to sew the handles on. Also bringing some of the inside out.

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A shot of the inner fabric, which is apparently an Alexander Henry (fabric buffs might know this kind of thing, I learned it after I bought it). Technical stuff: there is a pocket running the width of the bag which is seperated into two sections, a velcro closure, and the handles are faux leather and approximately 23 inches long (they're a perfect length for going over my shoulder).

food stuffs

So I've been reading this book lately. It's so good and amazing and really makes me think, which is also what The Omnivore's Dilemma did, but this book is much easier to get through. I'm already halfway through. Anyway, I'm at the part where he's talking about how by refining our foods so much we have basically taken out all nutrients. Did you know that flour used to have vitamins in it until we refined it so that it could sit on a shelf longer? Can you even find unrefined flour anymore? I think it would be great to have flour that has (not added but natural) vitamins and nutrients instead of just being a bunch of carbohydrates.

He also talks about how we've stopped looking at food as food and instead all we see our nutrients. I never realized it until I read it, but it's true. Whenever food is in the media it's because there's either some evil nutrient in it that will kill you or some great nutrient that will save your life. It's kind of scary.

I'm so glad we joined a CSA and I've signed up for a class at the college about preserving your own food. I'm going back to my Grandma's way of using lard too. I won't save my own though. I don't eat bacon.

the booties

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My favorites by far were the sneakers:

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Sorry for the poor lighting. It was evening and the photos needed to be taken before they were sent out. They needed to be sent out a.s.a.p. One day I will get around to making a light box. It would really come in handy although I have no idea where I'd store it.

These baby slippers were also very cool. They will go to a special wee one (again, I'm not pregnant).

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I've begun putting tags on everything for care instructions. If you look carefully it says machine wash and dry. I'm also hoping that because the yarn has elastic in it the slippers will be harder for the wee one to kick off. One can hope.

I'm working on some stuff for the etsy shop, but first doctor appointments for the kiddos.

bucket

No booties today although I do have the photos. I'd also like to just say again that I am NOT pregnant. I felt that needed repeating.

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I had to show this hat stand. It's seriously heavy; like kill somebody heavy. Not that I have a tendency to kill people, but I watch Law and Order a lot. Way too much actually. But, I could just see somebody on the show using this to bash the other guy's head in. It is that heavy. Murder weapon heavy.

It also has no face, so if Jon actually reads my blog he'd be very excited.

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The hat is the Basic Bucket Hat (rav link) pattern that I have modified. I used a lighter weight yarn, a smaller hook, added more double crochet rows (repeats of row 8) and straps. I almost didn't go with this pattern because I didn't like the photos of it on Ravelry, but I think it turned out really well. Some baby is going to be very stylish and have the sun off his/her face this summer.

was is not is

I was going to take photos of all those baby booties, but I possibly maybe didn't make sure I had enough battery life in my camera. So my camera battery is charging and the booties are all set up just waiting for the big moment.

I also can't find my keys or my dental floss. It's a bit maddening really. I'm also out of coffee.

Woe is me today. Do I get cake with my pity party?

On the plus side this is the second week in a row I've managed to get my butt out of bead early and go exercising. I started running again and I'd forgotten how much it sucks. I had it all built up in my mind as being wonderful and now I just think I did that so I could forget the pain. It is nice as well and I think once I get past a couple weeks it won't be so bad.

Random fact of the day: Lincoln was shot on this day in 1865. The outcome is grim.

If you see my keys let me know. I can get new dental floss for much cheaper. Pictures of finished objects tomorrow hopefully.

No, I'm not pregnant

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I have been making baby booties galore. This is one of six that I've made in the last week or so. Days tend to blur together these days. When the baby booties are over I'll be making hats. Baby hats. Pregnant is the new black, but not for me.

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Son turned a year old on Sunday. I missed the blogiversary (much like I miss many anniversaries, but never Abraham Lincoln and Darwin's birthday... priorities you know) but that's okay with me. I was thinking about doing a give away, but I'm not sure there'd be much interest.

Anybody ever use those baby legs? How do you keep the child from pulling them off?

when April showers

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The May Flowers Tote from the May/June 2010 issue of Crochet Today magazine. It was so easy to crochet up and I actually had it done before I had the handles in. The handles are super cute and were ordered from Super Buzzy. I found about a million things from that site that I wanted but I stuck to purse handles. I went with the 23 inch handles instead of the 16 inch that were suggested.

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I just thought it might be nice to have longer handles. I also lined it using this tutorial. It sucked having to do it by hand, but hopefully it won't stretch this way. Crochet and knit have a tendency to stretch.

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The fabric is something my mom gave me a while ago. There's enough left that I can still make daughter a pair of pants.

Now that I know how to line a crocheted bag there will be pockets next time. Unless it's a small clutch. Pockets are useless in those things.

is it spring?

What happened to the nice weather of last week? The multiple days of picnics in the park and me begging Daughter to just once try to go down the slide?* We now have days of gloom and 34°F weather in the morning when I wake up. I miss Spring and would like it back now please.

It's all about Easter this week in an attempt to remember the better weather. Heed my warning, white eggs make more vibrant color than brown eggs. Next year I totally want to try my hand at dying eggs naturally (because I'm a little bit hippy like that). Some links if you're interested for next year (just don't lose them):

Vibrant eggs from the Kitchn

and Serious Eats

I really want to try the onion skins thing because it looks incredibly elegant and gorgeous. I wonder if it changes the taste at all. So far in our house I'm the only one that eats the eggs. Daughter claims they're "too spicy" and Son isn't quite a year (plus he doesn't know what he's missing and I really like them).

*No, I don't know what her problem with the slide is.

gowns for day and night

These are the rest of the Easter gifts for Daughter. The hand made gifts were given to her from Mom and Dad; the Easter Bunny brought different gifts (mostly with Disney characters for her and summer stuff for Son).

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This dress was a lot easier than it looks due to the fact that the fabric came already smocked on top. All I had to do was sew a seam, hem and some straps.

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She especially loved the lady bugs on it. I was apparently into bug like fabric this year because I also made this nightgown with fireflies on it.

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She looked at it and said "it's too big. Wait for me to grow." I kid you not. In actuality it will probably fit her just fine.

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The pattern was from Emma Hardy's Making Clothes for Children and was very easy to follow. My only constant complaint with that book are the way the patterns are laid out. You have to figure out which color line to follow and then which size. I do like that they don't need to be enlarged though. I'll live with the wonky lay out if I don't have to pay for copies and enlarging.

Reminder

The March for Babies walk is April 25th. Any donations would be greatly appreciated!

more Easter

Daughter is growing up learning to love handmade gifts. She watches me make things now and always asks what I'm making. She has held both knitting needles and crochet hooks and she almost got a stitch out of that knitting needle once. Not bad for 4.

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She loved this dress. Probably because it's purple and that is her favorite color of the moment. It's in the wash right now since I didn't get a chance to do that before Easter. She didn't mind. She chose quite the fancy dress for Easter day about a month ago.

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Some detail of the double bias tape. I liked using this a lot better than the single fold; I had also used it before so that made it easier as well.

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The back of the dress. The pattern is Butterick 5019. My only complaint about it was that they left out what to do with the fabric that you put the buttonholes on (we'll call it the buttonhole tab or maybe just tab). I think that you were supposed to leave it separate and simply use it when the dress was being worn. That was never going to work. So I google and asked and got a very nice response from Melissa (who had previously made the dress) who thought that she had not used it at all (it was 2 years ago so I was excited simply because she responded). We tried that and the dress was not staying on. Daughter is tall and thin so that could be why. Here's what I did instead:

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I did the buttonhole on one end of the fabric along with one button, then I sewed the other side. That way it's always attached to the dress and I can't lose it. Perfect I say. Maybe one day she'll let me take a photo of her in it.

Son turns 1 soon, but he's already figured out how to get onto his sister's bed. All before officially crawling (he half scoots half crawls right now). He is fearless. Hopefully he will go down slides unlike his sister.

booties

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These have been sent off to White Rabbit. I didn't get much sent this month due to unforeseen illnesses and Easter present sewing. It's okay though. I enjoy having the flexibility to do things at my own pace and I'm lucky enough to be able to. I don't want you to think I'm bragging. I know I'm fortunate and I'm very thankful for it.

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After I had these all finished and buttons sewed on was when I realized I had two right booties. Not good since most babies don't have two right feet. Fortunately it's garter stitch so I just had to rip out a seam and button and turn the bootie inside out. A little extra work, but not as much as having to knit a whole new bootie.

new outfit

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This tee is from the same pattern as before. As I thought, it went much easier the second time. I used a heavier weight knit fabric too, so that might have helped.

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Thanks to a google search I learned how to do seam binding correctly.

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Thanks to practice, my stitching is straighter.

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And he'll have a stylish new pair of pants to go with it. These are the baby bloomers that I had to kind of improvise on. I used some old jeans that I had for that nice worn in look. I'm sure he cares about that a lot.

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I probably didn't need to add a waist, but I was worried that the butt wouldn't be roomy enough to fit the diaper since I improvised the pattern. This way there's a bit more room.

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The legs can either be folded up or left as is. I figured he'll get a longer amount of use out of them that way. Here's to hoping they'll still fit in the fall.

I'm off to enjoy the gorgeous weather.