Apron from Bend the Rules Sewing

I finished this a while ago, but haven't taken a picture yet. I really like it, which makes me less inclined to where it when I might actually need it.

Alabama Stitch Book skirt

I finished this last week. It's out of Natalie Chanin's "Alabama Stitch Book," and I love the pattern. I didn't hand stitch the seams, but I like the way it came out.

In progress,



And finished.

Some scarf knitting

I started this a while ago, but picked it up again, planning to make it for my aunt. It's my first time knitting with Bamboo (Be Sweet, made through a job creation program in South Africa), and while it's very splitty, I like it -- it's really soft and drapey, and I like the colors. The only problem is, I totally misjudged how much yarn I needed, and ran out of yarn only 2/3 of the way through. Which sucks. I'm going to go try to find some tomorrow at the LYS. Really hoping they still have it, so I don't have to find it online. Wish me luck.

Another Pillow

I'm pretty proud of this -- I based it on an insanely expensive pillow I saw in Domino magazine. I drew the words free hand, then used the Sublime Stitching book iron on transfers, and embroidered for weeks while watching Netflixed episodes of Deadwood (this pillow has heard a lot of cursing and seen a lot of blood). I was worried that it made me look unhinged-- it reminded me of some outsider art exhibit I had read about, where some 19th century mental patient embroidered elaborate pictures on her pillowcases, and when I would show it to husband, he would just laugh at me. I wish I would have taken pictures while I was working on, because the finished product looks a lot better than the "in process" version. The last night, I drew in some vines and leaves, which really helped, and now I'm quite pleased with it.





and the back (this was the first time I made buttonholes!)



And how did I find lace that exactly matched the embroidery thread? By dying myself, of course! I used RIT, and since one pack can dye a lot more than a couple yards of lace, I experimented with a technique I learned when I was studying in India -- you baste a pattern into cotton, pull the thread tight, then dye the fabric:







It didn't turn out perfect -- I used regular sewing thread, and if I pulled the gathers to tight, it would break, so the designs aren't as distinct as I would like, but I still kind of like them.



I like the diagonal lines a little better.



Not sure what to do with them -- I might make some pillows, and accentuate the lines with some beading, but who knows when I'll get around to that.

I never posted this

I made this quilt a while ago -- it was my first quilting project, with fabric purchased with Megan on Cape Cod last summer. I got a big, expensive pile of Amy Butler fabric, so I would be sure to finish it. It's pretty busy, but I love it, and this week, I finally got around to making a matching pillow with the leftover squares and batting. I'm proud.

The front:



and the back:

Crafty Bastards

This morning I went to the crafty bastards craft fair in Silver Spring MD, and thought I would share my thoroughly fun and not totally practical haul.

I got some handspun yarn from Woolarina,



Plus some wool felt, to go with my pattern book from Sewing Stars



I also got some cool post cards, some bath salts from Biggs and Featherbelle, as well as some earrings from Tash McKelvy.



Because I'm worth it.

New Tablecloth and Napkins

I just finished this tablecloth and napkins, from the fabric I bought with Megan on her visit to DC. (Yay for not going to craft/fabric/knitting stores by myself!)

I'm going to consider this as my project from Joelle Hoverson's Knitted and Patchwork Gifts, although it's simpler than her tablecloth project. This project taught me that baby rickrack is much, much more sinister than it sounds.



The croissant is one of the last that Megan gave me for my wedding. Almost a year in the freezer, yet still so delicious.

Bag from Lotta Jansdotter book

This is the bag I made for Miranda for Christmas. The bottom is wool, the bird embroidered, the dotted fabric is Denyse Schmidt. I'm kind of proud of it, but the photo quality is somehow terrible. Bad things happen when you switch computers.

Project from "Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals"

On my "actually use my crafting books" kick, I give you George the Elephant King (or Georgina, the Elephant Princess."



made at my new sewing table:

New project

At my office, everyone gets a borders gift certificate for their birthday. Since my birthday was at the end of January, mine has been sitting on my desk for a while, and what I really want to do is buy a new craft book. Maybe sewing, maybe something else.

The problem is, I really, really don't need another craft book. Like, at all. I have so many-- I just got a book of stuffed animal patterns, plus my new one skein knitting book, knitting handbook, and all the sewing books I got after I bought my sewing machine (built by Wendy, Bend the rules sewing, Lotta Jansdotter and Amy Butler...) and I've hardly used any of them. So now I'm thinking that my next project should be to make something out of all the books I haven't read yet. That's a good goal, right? Because then, when I'm packing them up as I get ready to leave for the peace corps, I won't feel like and idiot for buying stuff and not using them before I put them in storage.

Or maybe I'll start right after I spend this gift card...

Wow, almost a year.

Time to post some projects. Mainly, I've been sewing, which I like a whole lot lately. I actually got a little obsessive. These are the two quilts I made from bend the rules sewing -- one for mom and dad, and one for my brother and sister-in-law.



and with cat shot



Here is the top for mom and dad's



and the packaged product.