WIP Wednesday: Crafternoon Tea Edition

Okay, we didn't actually drink tea, but I spent a wonderful afternoon with one of my favorite people, the lovely Sara of Sweet & Crunchy. Sara has a real, honest to goodness craft room (so jealous!) and has given me an open invitation to craft it up with her anytime. So today I loaded my sewing machine, a bag of fabric and a quinoa salad for lunch into a Zipcar, left Levi with the babysitter and headed on over. 

Sara whipped up an adorable kippah for her son. And she did it without a pattern! With a sleeping baby attached to her! She rocks!

I worked on the special secret project that I mentioned yesterday, which isn't actually a secret. I don't know why I said it was. I suck at secrets. Also, I want to share pictures but it's not done yet and I don't want to wait. So. I am making a mini quilt in honour of Hannukah! I realize this is totally hypocritical of me, having recently complained about Christmas Crafts taking over all my favourite blogs. I have no excuse or explanation other than to say that I came across a Hannukiah quilt block online and immediately thought how great it would look with a few modifications. I decided to use white as my background fabric and instead of doing scrappy candles, I would do them in rainbow colours, and only the shamash would be scrappy. After auditioning a number of prints, I decided on the fabrics below.

Unfortunately, I'd decided on seven colours instead of eight. Silly me! I added a red strip which was really for the best, because a rainbow needs red.  I spent last night cutting out all the pieces so that when I arrived at Sara's I was all set to sew, sew, sew.

I was able to chain piece the flames. I love chain piecing! It makes me feel so efficient.  Here is the finished block:

Obviously, the mini quilt is not yet completed. I am going to use the green fabric as the backing and I'm still on the fence about which fabric to use as binding. I'm leaning towards the pink one. Any suggestions?

I am planning to try free motion quilting on this project. I've never done this before so I watched several youtube video tutorials this afternoon and this evening I started practicing. 

Free motion quilting is not easy. I want to do a simple meandering pattern. I'm not sure how long I need to practice before I'll feel ready to tackle this mini quilt. I'll probably just try another few swatches and then go for it. I'm wild and crazy like that.

WIP status report
Wonky Log Cabin Placemats - one block to go
Levi's Growth Chart - still need to embroider his height, but otherwise complete
Levi's Bed Quilt - on hold until I settle on a pattern
Farmer's Wife QAL - book has been ordered
Add-a-Border Swap - one block is done, plan to finish one more before sending out

So, what have you been working on?

PS - I'm too tired to edit, please excuse typos, missed words, etc. thx!

WIP Wednesday: The Wordless Edition

Wonky Log Cabin Placemat in Progress

Accident Alert! No WIP Wednesday

Ahem. There will be no WIP Wednesday this week because I am the ultimate klutz. It's true. My husband is constantly saying "oh Lisaleh" after I walk into a door, stub my toe on a piece of furniture that HAS NOT MOVED or trip on my own feet. 

Last Friday, while cutting eggplant for dinner, I sliced open my baby finger. It hurt like a b@*#h!  It also bled. A lot. So much that we called Telehealth Ontario to see if it needed to be treated. It did. I got three stitches. I was impressed by how quickly we were seen at emerg. I was in and out of there in less than three hours. I guess there weren't any major accidents or happenings that particular evening.  My brother and sister in law were visiting and pulled together a lovely shabbat dinner for us based on what was left in progress in our kitchen. They rock!

The downside of stitches in my pinkie is that crafting (and typing for that matter!) is more difficult that usual. Not much is getting done around here.

Oh! I must go! Levi is making his poopy face! I hope your week has been more productive than mine.

WIP Wednesday: The Frustrated Edition

Welcome to another WIP Wednesday! It seems like this is the only thing I'm consistent in posting on this blog.  I actually have a few posts in draft, but can't find the time to finish them up.  Maybe that should be my goal for the coming week, huh?

Romper Update time: I did not meet my goal of finishing Levi's overalls. This project is making me CRAZY!  It was going so well...

I ironed on the interfacing.  Then I read steps five and six of the pattern instructions. I thought I understood what I was supposed to do. I pinned the interfacing to the body of the overalls and seamed.  Something didn't look right.

So I ripped the seams and read the instructions again.  And again.  And again.  And then I consulted a few books.  Turns out I was being asked to stay stitch, except the instructions didn't say to stay stitch.  Annoying.  I was pretty happy with my clipped seams though!

I repinned. And reseamed.  And this is what I ended up with:

This lumpy, misshappen disaster.  So I ripped again.  This time I basted before seaming. It still looked like crap. I have been unable to get the facings to lie flat after turning it right-side out (or in?). Whatever.  It doesn't look good. Something is wrong. I don't know what I'm doing incorrectly. I need help! Please help! Did I cut out the fabric incorrectly (I didn't, I swear!).  I am slowly stepping away from this project before I rip it too shreds in frustration. I'll pick it up in a few days and see what I can do it finish it up. Oy!

In other news, I bought fabric for the watch me grow chart and stitched my jelly roll strips together. 

It took me a full hour to decide which strips to use. I arranged and rearranged and finally selected the eight I would use.  These are four of them. Adorable right? Next steps are to cut them into smaller pieces and arrange them in a pleasing manner.  That's my goal for this project this week.

I'm not sure if I have any readers out there besides my husband and the delightful Sara of Sweet and  but if I do, why not leave me a note and tell me what you're working on? It doesn't have to be crafty!  Oh, and take a minute to offer Sara of Sweet & Crunchy your healing vibes. She sprained her ankle.  Yeah, that's just what she needs, what with being over seven months pregnant and having two kiddos under four to wrangle! Heal quickly my friend.

WIP Wednesday: Jumping on the Blogging Bandwagon

I'm thinking of "linking up" with some of the WIP Wednesday bloggers in the sewing blogosphere.  The problem is, I don't really understand the etiquette.  Freshly Pieced is a modern quilt blog where bloggers put up thumbnails of their WIPs and then put a badge on their blog.  What I don't get is, how are the thumbnails generated? Do I just comment on the blog or what?  Aha! There looks like there's an upload tool.  Okay, let's try this out.  Here's the badge:

In Progress:
I am loving working on the romper that I told you about on Sunday.  I cut the pattern out that night and the following afternoon I cut the fabric pieces.

I've noticed that the majority of bloggers I read don't sew from patterns. I generally come across tutorials where sewists use clothing or accessories they own and like as guides.  I learned to read a pattern in my intro sewing class this summer and it's a really great skill to have. Figuring out this pattern without my instructor around to ask questions provided some challenges which I'm happy to say the internet, plus The Sewing Bible, solved.  For example, stay-stitching. I had no idea what this was. Now I know! It stabilizes fabric to prevent stretching during the sewing process and does not show in the final garment.

I've sewn the centre seams and the two side seams, including finishing the seams (with a zig zag stitch), plus finished my edges. I'll admit that my seam ripper got put to good use. I read recently that one should not hesitate to rip seams one is unhappy with and I took that to heart. Why end up with a product I'm not totally proud of, right?  I also had to take an extra trip up to Fabricland because I didn't buy snap tape before and the project really needs it.  I think I am about half done this project. Next steps are interfacing for the front and back tops of the romper, finishing all the hems and buttons. I'm going to use these huge red buttons I've had for a while. I don't think I'll make button holes though. I'm planning to use velcro instead.

My goal this week is to finish the romper by next Wednesday so that I can post photos of L in it for you to see! I'm making the 12 month size, so it'll be big, but he looks cute in anything!

Queued: I'm going to take the plunge and commit to a quilting project. I want to make a growth chart and I'm deciding between two tutorials.  The first is The Embroidered Growth Chart from The Longest Thread, and it actually a guest post from from Emily of The Student/Teacher, who I started reading a couple months ago.  I really like the simplicity of the design, plus it doesn't require a ton of fabric.  The other is the Watch Me Grow Chart from Moda Bake Shop and is by Crafty Gemini. There is more piecing in this project which is good from a learning perspective and it also requires just a jelly roll, plus two yards of additional fabric.  I'm not leaning one way or the other. 

My goal for the week for this project is to pick a tutorial and the fabric. I'm going to have to do my buying online. I called all the quilt stores in Toronto and no one carries Moda jelly rolls. I was really surprised since they are so popular on the blogs.

Can't wait to hear what Sara has been up to this week!  And anyone else who's been working away.  Join in the fun!

P.S.

If you are wondering what WIP Wednesday is all about, check out Sara's blog post here.

WIP Wednesday

Have you noticed that I only manage to post on Wednesdays lately? Yeah, me too. Once again, I blame the baby. Also, I would like to correct an error in last Wednesday's post. I referred to Sara, as SaraH. Since I totally hate when people misspell my middle name (Anne, with an "e" like Anne of Green Gables) I feel compelled make this correction publicly. Sara, sweet lovely woman that she is, did not point out my error. Moving on...

Completed: the Four Square Bag

Pretty good for a newbie right?

My seams don't match up perfectly, which bugs me, but as my sewing instructor said, if I don't point it out, no one will notice. Ooops! Pretend I didn't just point it out, okay? I plan to use this bag as a gift bag, because I didn't put any pockets in it and it's a little busy to use as a purse. I might use it as the gift bag for my "in progress" project (like my segue way?)

In Progress: Sally's Tote

I'm using the Reversible Tote pattern from Lexie Barnes' Sew What! Bags book. Her subtitle states that all the bags in the book are patternless, but they look like patterns to me. Is the fact that there aren't sheets of paper to trace and cut out what makes them non-patterns? Maybe they are tutorials instead.

So far I have washed and ironed the fabric. I hope to cut out my pieces tonight, but my teething child may have other ideas, so if this gets completed by next Wednesday, I'll consider myself successful.

Also In Progress: Pajama Pants

Week three of sewing classes went well. I have completed the seams of the pants and "zig-zagged" the edges of the seams to prevent fraying. Next week I'll add the waist pieces, hem the pant legs and attach the drawstring.

It's been interesting to see what other people in the class have chosen to make. Dresses, pillows, pleated pants (really?!)...despite the teachers instructions to keep it simple. It looks like only three of us will actually complete our projects. We are the three who chose pajama pants or an a-line skirt. We are also the only three people to actually begin sewing. Everyone else is still cutting out their fabric or basting.

Okay, so that's all I've got. What did you work on this week?

Work in Progress Wednesday: The I Can Sew Edition

First things first, I must share that I bought a sewing machine and I am totally enamored with sewing. So much fun! I bought a Kenmore and so far so good.

Second, I realize that I missed last week's WIP post. No excuse, just a really busy week and with an attention seeking 5 month old, it's hard to find time to update the blog. I did some crafting last Tuesday with the delightful Sarah of Sweet & Crunchy and her lovely daughter. We made egg carton caterpillars which made me anxious for my little one to reach crafting age (we're a long way off!).

And now for this week's projects...

Started and finished: The draw string bag

I made a bag! My first sewing project! Big excitement!

I used a tutorial online which, sadly, I can't find for the life of me. Ah well. My technique wasn't perfect and I ended up with messy seams but overall it's a good first kick at the can and the next one will be cleaner.

In Progress: Scrappy Bag

I'm using the Four Square Bag tutorial by Adelaide Lemonade. I have a ton of pink and green printed fabrics that I've gathered from various home improvement projects and this bag is a good way to use them up. So far, I've cut and seamed half of the outer part of the bag. I hope to finish this bag by the end of the weekend.

In Progress: Pajama Pants

This is the project I'm completing in my sewing course. It's a very simple pattern. Last night we learned how to read a pattern, cut pieces and baste. I have to finish basting my seams for the next session. I have learned that I still haven't mastered cutting in a straight line. If you can do this freehand, I envy you this skill.

To Do: Sally's Tote

My boss is turning 50 and I've decided to make her a tote. I've purchased three coordinating fabrics (a yard each so I'll be able to make several small projects) but haven't yet settled on a tutorial or pattern. Deadline is August 8.

Updates on Other Stuff

My Pin Tuck Tee is stagnating, due to my new sewing obsession. I have knit maybe 10 rows in the last two weeks. I'll get back to it soon.

I did tidy my stash into cute green bins. My knitting stash that is. Problem is I now have a burgeoning fabric and sewing notion stash. As I live in an open concept condo, my crafting seems to have taken over our main living space. My husband is humoring me for the moment. He knows I'm messy but I wonder how long it will be until he wants the dining room table available for breakfast and such.

Nu? What are you working on?

WIP Wednesday

I bet you're wondering why I didn't do WIP Wednesday last week. Well, I did an entire post and then my iPad app, Blogsy, ate it.  I have a baby, yo! I don't have time to be rewriting blog posts. It was a major bummer, but life goes on.

Started AND finished: Patio chair
On the drive home from Ancastor last weekend, we realized we had an hour extra on our Zipcar reservation and were just about at the exit for Ikea. I've been talking about getting a patio chair for our balcony for a couple weeks now. Actually, I wanted two chairs and a table, but DH pointed out we  didn't have the budget for a patio set.

So a single chair would have to do. He put it together for me as soon as we got home and handed me the care instructions.  Normally, I would ignore these instructions, but I'm working on being an adult, and you know, taking care of my stuff.  So, off to the hardware store I went to get sandpaper and teak oil.

Voila!  A chair protected from the elements.  And just in time; it rained last night!

In Progress: Pin Tuck Tee
I have now started this project three times.  The first time, several stitches got dropped while jostling around in my project bag under the stroller and try as I might, I could not pick up the twisted knit stitches properly.  Since I'd only done about 8 rows, I was fine with ripping and starting again.  While ripping I realized that the large was going to be much too wide, so I cast on a size smaller.

Take two and guess what I found in the middle of my skein?Two of the six strands in my yarn were broken.  So annoying.  I cut out that piece and continued.  I did my wrap and turns for my short rows and everything looked great.  Then I started picking up the wraps and everything went to hell.  Not really, but I wasn't happy with how they looked.  I'm going to look up some youtube videos on picking up wrapped stitches so that this attempt is more successful.  I have done the first six rows for the third time and am about to start my short rows.  Wish me luck, third times a charm and all that.

Upcoming project
I have a lot of yarn, needles, notions, project bags, what-have-you.  With multiple projects on the go, it's hard to keep organized.  I have some great organizers, all from Namaste. But even so, things can get a little messy.  We do live in a small condo, after all.  This is what my stash currently looks like:

There is a second wicker basket of yarn up on a shelf and a needle case and scissors on the coffee
table.

I bought these bins at Winners and they match the green in some of my wall art.  I plan to use them to declutter and pretty up my pile o'stash in the coming week.

So, what have you been up to this week?

WIP Wednesday: Rafi's Dress, Week 2

I  was going to start this post by saying that I wasn't able to get very much done this week on Rafi's dress.  But, looking at last week's WIP Wednesday post, I actually did the majority of the body of the dress.  All that's left is about 5 rows of the body and then the ruffled hem and binding off of the arms. With her birthday less than a week away, I need to get a move on!  Next week I hope to be posting the finished product.

WIP Wednesday: Rafi's Dress

The Pattern

Currently on my needles, is the Maxi Dress by Elena Nodel from her blog Knitting Adventures.  This is turning out to be a surprisingly quick knit.  It's knit top down, in one piece (no seaming!). 

This dress is destined for my adorable neighbour, Rafi, who is turning two on June 6.  Her parents are fantastic people who have been so generous to Kivi and me since our Pumpkin arrived.  They are always dropping off something new for us.  Last week it was a teething toy that they said was Rafi's favorite thing to gum.  The week before it was homemade curry.  They gifted us bibs and washcloths and on and on.  Not to mention the advice and support around becoming parents. We are so lucky to have friends like them! 

The Yarn

I'm using Mission Falls 1824 Cotton 

and Estelle Cotton Cloud

I got a terrific price from Haley at Knitomatic on the Mission Falls because the line is being discontinued.  I paid about $3 a ball.  Not too shabby. Rafi has a dark complexion so I think the fuchsia and browns will really suit her.

The WIP

I was able to accomplish a good chunk of the dress driving to and from Ottawa this past weekend. I'm knitting on 4.5 mm circular needles (16 inch length) and making size 1-2.   If I was to do it again, I think I'd go up a needle size, because I'd like this to be a summer dress and while the fabric isn't think, it would be airier and lighter with a bit more drape.

Rafi is a tiny little sprout, so I really hope this dress will fit her!  I can't wait for her to try it on.

Work in Progress Wednesday

Crafty bloggers all over the web participate in Work in Progress (WIP) Wednesday.  Every Wednesday, I will be discussing my current project, complete with photos.  I can hear how excited you are.  Let's get started...

The Pattern
On my needles is the very popular Baby Sophisticate cardigan.  This pattern was published in Stockinette in April 2009 and according to Ravelry, has been knit 1695 times.  Whoa!  That's a lot of cardis!  I'm making the 6 to 12 month size for my little one.  Other knitters have noted that the pattern runs a bit small so I took a few hours to read various project notes (again on Ravelry) and have found a few modifications that I intend to use.  I plan to cast on 1 stitch under each underarm when splitting for the body and sleeves and pick up 3 stitches on the underarm when starting the sleeves and then decrease 2 of them on round 5.  Thank you Susan for these suggestions!

But hey!  I haven't gotten to splitting for the body and arms yet.  I've just started this project yo!

The Yarn

I am loving knitting up the Taiyo yarn by Noro that I chose for this project.  I don't generally enjoy knitting cotton, but this stuff is incredibly soft and easy on the hands.  It's aran weight, 

40% Cotton, 30% Silk, 15% Nylon, 15% Wool and 100% luxurious!  The colourway is fabulous. Lots of greens, yellow, teal and purple.

The WIP

As you can see, I haven't gotten very far yet, but I'm very pleased with how quickly this is knitting up.  I'm also happy with the width of each stripe of colour.  At first I wasn't digging the mustard yellow but it has really grown on me.

I don't think I'll get very much (if anything!) done on this cardigan in the next seven days because I have just cast an adorable dress for one of the little people in my life whose birthday is fast approaching.  I'll tell you more about that project next week. 

So, what's everyone else working on?

P.S.  Some of my links are to Ravelry and I'm afraid you need an account to login.  If you are a knitter or crocheter, you must must must sign up.  You won't regret it, promise!