A Little Yarn On The Side

I've been thinking about a new ornament design, and this afternoon it was a bit too warm to work in the garden, so I thought it would be a perfect time to try it out. First, I dug out 5 blue Christmas fabrics, ironed them just enough to get by, then cut two 1 1/2-inch strips and one 2-inch strip from each color.  Then it was time to play with one of my favorite feet: I have 3 different 1/4-inch quilting feet (one came free with the second Husqvarna), but this is the only one I can truly manage 1/4-inch seams with.  While I think I'm staying on the edge of the other feet, I don't always stay as close as I should.  This one has a guide for me to use, and I am happy to say that even I can manage 1/4-inch seams with this one.  I laid out the strips in the order I wanted, sewed them each together with the 1/4-inch seams, then pressed the seams toward the dark fabrics.   One thing that always amazes me with fabric is this: every last one of these fabri...

For winter, we have some snowflakes Andy made to hang in the entryway, because otherwise it's really sort of stark and bare.  For spring I've often hung some flower garlands across the top, but then it's a constant battle with the cats to A) keep them off the railing, and B) keep them from beating up the flowers while ON the railing.  So I got the idea today to make some big fabric flowers to hang.  With, of course, my fearless assistant: I made a flower petal pattern on some scrap muslin, scrounged in the quilting fabric bin for some spring/flower colored material and discovered that I had enough fabric for a seriously anemic flower or one side of a reversible flower.  (Note to self:  unless one is actually serious about quilting, 1/2 yard is a pretty stupid amount of fabric to purchase).  Next came deciding how many petals the flower should have, and I just didn't think 6 worked that well, so I opted for 7: which would make it a fuller f...

This a very simple scarf pattern involving exactly one pattern row.  This pattern is not copyrighted and you are free to share. Materials:  Pick the yarn and needles of your choice.  I'd recommend a large needle in relation to the yarn.  For example, for the example scarf I used a DK weight mohair blend with a size 8 needle.  For a worsted weight, I might use a size 9 or 10 needle.  For a fingering weight, maybe a size 6 needle.  The idea is to create a very drapey fabric.  I prefer lighter colored yarns for this scarf, but that's just my personal preference. Cast on 31 Rows 1 through 4:  Knit Rows 5, 7, 9, 11 - Knit 4, *(k2 tog) twice, (yo, K1) 3 times, yo, ssk twice, k1; Repeat from *, knit 3 Rows 6, 8, 10, 12 - Knit 3, purl to last 3 stitches, knit 3. Repeat rows 1 through 12 until desired length.  Finish by knitting 4 rows.  Bind off all stitches.

Which is totally lacking the alliterative neatness of Finishing Friday, but some weeks I'll take what I can get.  What it is lacking in alliteration, however, it makes up for in productivity.  First up: The baby reefer jacket is done!!!!!!  Well, almost.  Those buttons aren't actually sewn on yet, but even though I can get distracted at almost any other point on a sweater, being distracted enough to not sew buttons on hasn't been a problem.  So, it is finished enough to make the list.  And secondly.... Now that the sewing room is overrun with machines, space is seriously at a premium, so I have decided to focus on space-saving projects for a while.  This is my first storage idea.  I think it will be a great place to store my seam rippers (notice the plural), embroidery scissors, screw drivers, and other things that I need to have on-hand while sewing.  It was really a quick project, too.  After measuring I decided I needed 2 pieces o...

This scarf is actually very simple, but I'm trying to make the directions as thorough as possible.  It has a moss-stitch border of 6 rows on top and bottom and 4 stitches on each side, and uses the stitch pattern KNOWN as Ostrich Plume (hence the name).  There's a 3-stitch decrease using a slip 2, k1, pass slipped stitches over, which creates a nicer look than the traditional slip 1, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over technique, but feel free to use the more traditional decrease if you choose.  I used a shorter bottom and top edging to allow the wavy stitch pattern to pull the border into the wave effect, but you could certainly add a few extra rows of moss-stitch to the top and bottom if you would like. I have written this to slip the first stitch of all but the very first row as I think it makes a nicer edge, but you may choose to simply knit them.  As a matter of personal preference, I never slip the first stitch of the first row--it doesn't work with some cast-o...

Okay, to make a quilt with 35 blocks, I need to make it through 840 triangles.  I have 162 to go.  I know I'm on the downhill side, and REALLY have comparatively few to go......but I need a break.  So..... It's new project time!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Really, you seriously didn't think I was going to be all responsible & pull something out of the WIP pile, did you?) Actually, I wanted to get started on this while I still had the idea in my mind.  I'm making a mitten garland--or at least that is the plan.  I have 4 colors of felt to use--3 blues & a white--and since only one side of each mitten will be visible, I think it will be a great time to experiment with some ideas & techniques. Theo, of course, is thrilled and did his very best yesterday to make cutting out the mittens as difficult as possible: I couldn't even distract him with a little scarf blocking so I think I have my very first furless scarves EVER.  I'm still in shock.  In s...

Yep--you read that right.  25 projects done.  Completed.  Finished.  Now, some of you may be thinking that I have spent the weekend making a desperate push to finish short, quick projects in a pathetic attempt to get back on track, and to that I say......Well, duh.   First, we have the April Project of the Month.  Taking the half-yard of fleece that was tucked away in the project bag, rounded off the corners (which requires the latest in high-tech equipment as you can see), then did a narrow hem along the border using some decorative stitching which doesn't need to be done as fleece cannot ravel, but I like the look better than a raw edge.  The timing is perfect because some friends just had a baby last week, so..... It looks a bit funny because the clear water-soluble stabilizer is still there.  This is my first time using this plastic-looking stuff and it's a bit strange to work with.  It's nice that it's clear, but it also has ...