Crafting Duathlon

This shirt and skirt for Madison was my crafting duathlon combining both knitting and sewing. Its the Summerlin from Kathryn Ivy. The bodice is knit and the bottom portion is sewn on with a matching skirt. It is knit with Sublime Organic Cotton dk and the fabric is a 100% cotton. I made it really big so that it will fit her longer. We are both really happy about how it turned out.

A Polka dot Dress

Polka dot dress + matching head band = Happy little girl

I sewed Madison's doll "Sasha" a polka dot dress and matching head band, made out of an old pair of my pajama pants and no pattern. The addition of the bias tape as a belt is Madison's doing, she does like to accessorize. She has now put in a request for an apron, bloomers and a knit sweater . . . no problem, Sasha is going to have a better wardrobe than me!

Repurposed Pillowcase Skirt

I made Madison a summer skirt from a repurposed vintage pillowcase I found on one of my many thrifting adventures. Its really simple, no pattern, I just cut the pillow case in half, leaving the side and bottom hems and then sewed an elastic into the top. You could use bias tape at the bottom or even add ricrak or some ribbon to fancy it up. But, Madi had strict instructions that she did not want any of that.

I also made her the headband she's wearing from some fabric I got from a used clothes "Swap till you drop" on the weekend. I will be making many more summer skirts and many more headbands for her and for myself. I love skirts in the summer and the headbands keep my fly-away frizzy hair somewhat at bay.

Knitting Needle Case

Just some pictures of the Knitting Needle Case I sewed for myself using this tutorial as a guide. I was getting really tired of having my needles lose in my knitting bag. Now of course Madison wants one for herself, I guess I'll make her a pencil crayon roll out of the same lovely fabric. The bias tape I used was given to me by my grandmother, I wonder what she had bought it for all those years ago, its nice to have that little bit of history sewn in.

A Felted Dress for Madi

This is my new knitting project: a felted dress for Madison. I spotted the pattern at the yarn store and couldn't resist it, knitting and felting, so now its on my needles. Hers will be pink though, of course. This is my first time knitting with circular needles instead of dpns, which is much easier.

I'm in the process of sewing up Madi's sweater which is proving to be more challenging that I thought, its hard to be such a detail oriented personality. She was looking through a knitting book and found a knit flower for her sweater. So I guess I'll be knitting that along with a matching purple hat to use up the rest of the wool.

Madison's Sweater

I'm back from my March Break - Break and I'm happy to report that I completed a couple of craft projects, half started some more, got lots of spring cleaning and organizing done and did some really fun stuff with the kids. I'll share some more in later posts. 

I finally finished knitting my silly leg warmers. I will post some pictures but I desperately need a pedicure before these feet are posing for any pictures!

This is my next knitting project, which a couple of the Crafty Mammas are going to knit too, which is great cause I'm going to need some help with this one. Its a sweater for Madison, knit with purple chunky wool from King Cole pattern # 3035. The ETC (Estimated Time of Completion) is approximately Fall 2009. 

She's Back, Feel'in Good & Ready to Go

This is the crown I made for Madison last night and this morning, for "hat day" at school. The pattern is from Amanda Blake Soule's book The Creative Family. Its actually her Birthday crown which is why it has 5 stars. Although she doesn't look happy and refused to pose for the picture she did really love it. I made one for Gabe's 1st Birthday and now Carter needs to pick the colours of felt he wants for his.

Okay, seriously I love felt, I love all the colours it comes in, I love how it cuts, I love sewing it by hand and especially how forgiving it is. I have accumulated quite a pile but the thing is I can justify it because I use it all the time. Its got endless possibilities and not just for kid stuff. 

Just one of my craft obsessions but, now on to the next . . .

She's back from the Sewing Machine Hospital (seriously that's what its called), she's feel'in good and she's ready to go, my sewing machine that is. I've cleared off my craft table entirely (that's a feat in itself) and I've got my cutting mat and rotary cutter all ready to go for . . .

These thrifted pillow cases and soft flannel blanket to make a Cuddle Blanket for Gabriel. Did I mention that I also acquired a walking foot while at the sewing machine repair shop? 

And there are many, many other sewing projects in the works, I hope she had a good rest cause I'm gonna give'er a good go!

Leg Warmer Update

This is one of my leg warmers in progress . . . I finally figured out how to knit in the round with double pointed needles (dpns)! Its 31 cm (12 inches) long, which I was pretty excited about until I realized the pattern says the finished measurement should be 66 cm (26 inches) long.  For sure I will only be knitting one leg warmer, the other leg will just have to stay cold!  There is no way I can do this again right now, maybe I'll knit the other one in the fall. While I'm knitting I think about what my next project should be, never mind knitting another leg warmer, been there done that. Now I know not to knit things in pairs like socks and mittens. 
I also bought myself (yes even new, not thrifted) this I don't even know what you call it, knitting folding storage stand to house my growing stash of wool and other such notions. I love the fabric and think that I will have to find coordinating material to make myself a roll up needle case and matching notions bag. Now all I need is the rocking chair to put it beside!

My Blanket Scarf!

Well here it is, my first knitted scarf is finally done. Its actually more blanket-like measuring 140 cm (55 inches) long & 36 cm (14 inches) across. I think it would make a better table runner. Willy our golden retriever did a fine job modeling it for me doesn't he look happy?!
Then it was on to my next project and off to the local wool store I went for some help. Ultimately I want to knit a bowl (Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson) to felt in the washing machine and then needle felt some kind of design on the outside. But, first I have to learn to knit in the round . . .
So this is what's on my needles right now a pair of leg warmers for me from the book One Skein by Leigh Radford.  Actually its more like on my needles and then ripped off my needles and then on again and again. Knitting with double pointed needles (dpn) and four of them is proving to be quite a challenge for me. I had some help and support from the Crafty Mammas but I'm also going to our public library tonight to check out their knitting group. I absolutely love the wool I found for these with the different shades of red of course.

Knitting Update #1

I've been pretty busy knitting since yesterday. First I rolled the "hank" (I love the new knitting lingo) of purple wool into a ball which is the size of a basketball, I think maybe I should have made 2 balls, oh well. I just keep it hidden away in my craft bag while I knit in public. 

Next I taught myself to cast on and I think once I got going I got a bit carried away since I ended up with 50 stitches. The scarf is going to be huge and almost more blanket-like.

As for the actual knitting it's going really well, the tension seems to be fairly consistent and I haven't dropped any stitches yet. Right now its 6 inches long and my goal is 60, so I figure at this rate I should be done in about 10 days which will be just in time for the next Crafty Mammas meeting. I already want to learn more stitches and how to read a pattern, this straight knitting thing is kinda boring.

Crafty Mammas

I had my first meeting with my Crafty Mamma group last night, very exciting. We are a small group of like-minded mothers (all with 3 children) who like to craft. We are going to meet every 2 weeks and alternate hosting. Our main craft will be knitting but will also include felting and sewing and maybe a little bit of wine drinking.

Above is the purple wool and bamboo needles I purchased to knit my first scarf, with the Crafty Mammas help of course. I'll keep you posted on how its going.

The House of Books

We have a lot of books in our house and most of what we do has something to do with a book.

I bought this bread making book for myself about 2 weeks ago and have been trying to read it ever since. But it seems that every time I sit down to read it with a cup of coffee my coffee is cold and I have to pour a new one or someone needs something or the dog wants out or a diaper needs changing . . . bla bla bla you get the point.  I have been talking about starting to bake our own bread since the summer time and I am determined to learn how even if it is from a book.

This is the book Complete Guide to Sewing that I thrifted at "The Village" for $3.99, which is a steal since its almost like a tailor/seamstress textbook. I also bought myself Amy Karol's book Bend-the-Rules Sewing for Christmas. I plan on making a knight costume for Carter, some matching clothes for Madison and Sasha (her new Waldorf doll), some aprons and bags. You know all of this in my spare time. I know this picture is blurry but I chose it because all 3 of their little precious hands are on momma's book while she is trying to take a picture, so telling of my life.

And here is a pile of new-for-us books for the kids, I tell you its better than bringing home candy they get so excited. I absolutely love buying them books, both fiction and non-fiction and reading to them and watching how they learn and explore through books. I want to find them some nice book plates so they can write their own names and glue them in, so much fun.

Lastly I wanted to share a Simoninigan story. Yesterday the kids were happily playing together, that is until Carter (who's 3) bit Gabriel (who is 11 months) on the hand and boy did it make Gabe cry, actually they both did. Of course big sister Madison claims she rescued Gabe from the jaws of Carter "just in time, Mommy".  I sent Cart to his room to think about what he had done. Once I had kissed poor little innocent Gabriel's hand better, we went to talk to Cart about what had happened. Carter decided, with some encouragement, to apologize to his baby brother and asked to see his hand. Gabriel held out his hand for Carter to see and then grabbed his hand and bit him back and hard too.  Carter started to cry and Gabriel had to apologize to him. Of course all this made Madison laugh and honestly I couldn't help myself from laughing too. I guess it was a lesson of what goes around comes around.

Embroidery 101

Much to my delight, and hers, I gave Madison this special Christmas present from Mommy. A box of beginner embroidery supplies, including her own needles, floss, hoop, burlap and of course a felt bonbon pincushion made by me.  She had been watching and asking me for a while to learn how to sew so I was very excited for us to learn together.

Make my heart melt, this is her first creation.  Look at those stitches, some small, some big, the different colours of thread. She even threaded the needle once by herself and many, many, many times by me. And now she wants to sew more!