Yarn Spinning Follow-up

Hi all!  This is just a quick post before I head home from work.  I finished my first skein of yarn!  I have to admit that the first half of the yarn has lots of little baubles in it, but once I got the hang of it, it went very well.  I do need to work on over spinning it (some places are still a bit curly but I think that will work out when I'm knitting or crocheting with it.

Anyway, here's the finished product!

Have a great evening!

Sofyann

Yet Another (and Another) Project...

Happy Independence Day!!  I spent a wonderful day with my family.  We all met up at Mom's house and my brother grilled us some of the best ribs!  They were so tender and juicy that the meat just fell off the bone. I made potato salad, brownies, and this great cherry cheesecake dip that I found on Facebook.  Mom made baked beans and carrot cake.  All was delicious!  We (kids) work too much so we don't get together all that often, so it's nice when we do.

Now on to my latest venture.  I can never seem to finish one (or more!) projects before starting a new one. Two weekends ago I was going through my yarn stash and found this great yarn that I bought from Michaels.  It's their Loops & Threads Impeccable Big! Yarn.  I love working with this yarn.  The color I forgot I'd bought is called Earth (see pictured below).

And I found this great pattern by Caron called Sophia Cardi.  Since my name is really Sophia, I just had to have the pattern.  And what made it even better is that the pattern is free! Here's what it looks like:

This cardigan is knit from the bottom up. I've finished the lace at the bottom, have sectioned off for the fronts and back and am now knitting the back.  It is knitting up lovely!  The ombre is working up great without major pooling of the colors.  I'm trying to decide whether to leave the sleeves as they are in the written pattern or change them up a bit and make the bottom of the sleeve in the lace pattern switching to the broken rib stitch at the armpit (like with the sweater body) for the top of the sleeve.  If I used the lace stitch, I'll make the arm fuller at the bottom to accommodate the 10 stitch lace pattern.   I would love to hear your opinion!

Here's a picture of the sweater so far:

The pic on the top is a close up of the back.  The pic on the bottom shows the entire width of the lower half of the sweater.  

On another note, I'm almost finished with the cream/tan scarf that I'm making in conjunction with the Craftsy lace class mentioned in my last post.  I just have the edge left to do...then I'll block it and post the results.

Oh...I also started the Craftsy class "Spindling: From Fluff to Stuff" with Drucilla Pettibone.  This class is to teach me to spin my own yarn.  It's going pretty well.  Let me tell you though, it's a lot harder than I thought it would be to make a nice even strand!  I'm using a Superwash Fleece (100% Merino Wool) that I bought years ago from Ursula's Alcove the first time I thought I wanted to learn how to spin.  I think it was at a medieval fair in Norman, Oklahoma, but it was so long ago that I really don't remember.  I'm not sure if she's still selling "fluff" but she has a website that's still active www.ursulasalcove.com and she also has a store on Etsy.com.  You can always message her and ask.  I also bought a spinning kit off of Craftsy.com.  It came with the spindle and three bags of fleece.  I decided to use the old fleece to learn on before I spin the new stuff in the kit!

Here's my first attempt.  I still need a lot of practice but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it.  If nothing else, I have more respect for those who spin their own yarns.

Well, time to watch all the fireworks around the city!  Have a great evening, enjoy the fireworks and stay safe!

Crocheting and Knitting and Painting Oh My!

Hi!!  I know it's been ages since I've posted.  (Sorry about the title, I'm watching Tin Man on Netflix while writing this.)  Since my last post, I've made quite a few things.  I've crocheted 4 summer sweaters, one fall sweater, a hat, a couple baby blankets, a teddy bear, painted 7 paintings and knitted a couple sweaters, several scarves and a couple more of those shoulderettes that I had made before (see link in my first post).

I'm still not finished with that lovely purple shawl that I'm knitting for my friend.  I am over half way done now though!  I think I've been procrastinating because I've never really learned to block my work and this project definitely needs blocking for the full lace effect.  So to help myself with this, I signed up for a lace class on Craftsy.com.   The class I took was Lace Knitting: Basics and Beyond with Eunny Jang.  She is a great instructor. I learned new ways to cast on and bind off so that a lace piece can be blocked.  I also learned how to read a chart and how to fix my mistakes...GASP!  I know, who would ever think that I could make a mistake!  Anyway, I now know how to block the piece (in theory anyway) so work can now resume.

Two sweaters that I crocheted are lacy tunics, made from motifs.  One is black and purple and one is ecru and white.  One is a sleeveless lace pineapple tunic and made from a pink variegated worsted weight cotton yarn.  The fourth is ecru and white, also lacy, short sleeved and short in length. I made it to wear over my sun dresses to make them acceptable to wear to work.  I'll list pics and patterns later when I relocate them!

The scarves I made while doing the lessons for the lace knitting class.  I modified the pattern for the final project to make it wider and longer.  The yarn I used was Solemate form Lorna's Laces.  It's a hand-dyed super fine (1) yarn made of 55% Superwash Merino Wool, 15% Nylon, and 30% Outlast Viscose.  The color is 76 Aslan.  It'll look much better when blocked.  I purchased the on the Craftsy website.  You can read about Lorna's Laces at http://www.lornaslaces.net/.  You can find out about yarn, patterns, and other things there.

My favorite part of the project is the knitted border at the bottom.  I've never done anything like that before.  I really like the way it looks.  As usual, I'll post another picture of it when finished. 

This is one of the other scarfs I made using two of the lace stitches from the class.  This one I'll be sending to a friend who moved to Texas.  As before, this one will look much better after it's blocked.

I've signed up for other classes at Craftsy...a sweater, a shawl, some socks (both toe up and cuff down), and a few other things.  I'll be posting pics as I go along.  If you'd like to follow me on Craftsy, I use the same name on there...Sofyann.

UPDATE: I finished the pink sweater I was working on in an earlier installment.  I don't have a picture of it yet but will post one soon.

TIP: I was reading my intro and this came to me!  For those of us that still rock it old school when it comes to patterns (meaning we don't keep them on an iPad or tablet), I have a great tip I learned on Facebook.  Purchase plastic page protectors and dry erase markers at your local office supply. Place your pattern pages in the page protectors and use the dry erase markers to mark off your rows as you go.  When you're finished, you can just wipe it off and store your patterns in a binder for future use.  This technique works great for both written and charted patterns.

I need to get a little work done around the house before I start dinner.  Rest assured, I am back and will be posting more often.  One of the classes I'm taking on Craftsy is how to design your own sweaters and another one on how to write patterns, so maybe sometime in the future, you might find a pattern or two of my own design!  Until then, have a great day!

Sofyann

Christmas, Baby Showers, and Other Assorted Events

The holidays are in full swing and I'm crafting fast and furious!  I've been knitting those ruffle scarves for everyone that seem all the rage this season.  I tried crocheting them but knitting seemed to go faster.  I've made 20+ so far and still have about that many more to go.  If anyone is interested in making them, I found this great video on YouTube that is really good.  The video is called "How to knit a Ruffle Scarf Tutorial - Mesh scarf" posted by Meladora1.  I've looked at several and that's the one I liked the best.

I'm also in the process of making a teddy bear and blanket for my grandbaby that's due in February.  My daughter-in-law's sisters are hosting the shower this Sunday and I'm working furiously to finish them.  I was hoping they would wait on the shower until after the holiday, so that I could take my time on them, but no such luck!  And true to form, I had issues with the bear.  I had bought this great yarn at a store in Guthrie which is about 45 minutes away from my home.  It is 100% washable wool and is the softest wool yarn I have ever felt!  AND I thought that I'd bought enough.  Alas, I got to the last paw and ran out.  There are a couple local stores that carried the brand, but neither carried the line I was using.  SO....instead of driving all the way out to SWAK in hopes that they would have one more skein of the yarn, I just bought new yarn from one of the local stores and started over.  The yarn I bought there was a wool blend.  I spent all my free time one weekend and got it all knitted, now I'm in assembly mode.  So far so good on that.  I was able to find the joints at Hobby Lobby in the doll section and hopefully I can get them installed without issue.

I'm also in the process of painting jewelry boxes for my three closest friends. I've got them sanded and base coated and now I just have to paint the designs on and varnish them.

AND of course I was hit with inspiration while in the midst of doing all this.  A couple years ago, I bought three skeins of Moda Dea Ticker Tape on clearance but wasn't sure what I wanted to use them on.  A couple weeks ago I was Christmas shopping and saw this sweater that screamed "Make Me!!"  So of course I had to comply!!  And I had the perfect yarn for it.  You guessed it!  The Moda Dea!  The sweater has a wide neck and a 5" fold over 'collar' with a split that was fastened with leather straps and buckles.  Immediately I thought about using the Moda Dea yarn for the 'collar' and a solid black for the body.  I prefer to make top-down sweaters (I hate seams!!), so I referenced my books of patterns to see if I could find something similar that I could reference to keep me from  having to do all those calculations.  I did find a pattern that with a few minor modifications fit the bill.  I've got the collar knitted and have started on the body of the sweater.  I don't have it with me or I'd post pictures.  I'll do that when I get home.

I promise to post all stores, yarns, patterns and pics when I get home.  Right now though, it's time for me to get back to work.  

Have a great week!

My Latest Creation - Addition

Hey all!

As promised, I'm letting you know what supplies I used to make the items I spoke of in my last blog and where to get them.  The tote and accessories were made from Daisy Kingdom Craft Kits that I bought at Michael's.  The link to the manufacturer's site is www.springscreative.com.  The site says that you can buy their kits from select Wal-Mart or Michael's stores and on amazon.com.  The Springs Creative site has a project area where you will find a variety of patterns, one of which is the Everyday Tote pattern that came with one of the kits I bought.

The buttons that I used were not from Michael's like I told you earlier but were bought at Hobby Lobby.  They were Favorite Findings Big Bag of Buttons - Ranbow.  If you want to visit their website to see where to buy them in your area go to www.blumenthallansing.com.

The yo-yos were made from a fat quarter that I had in my stash.  I don't remember where I bought the fabric or when, but you can decorate your bag and ensemble with anything you like...be creative and make the items your own.

If anyone is interested in how I made the Nook cover, you can just email me or leave a post and I'll try to explain how I made it.

Well...gonna do a little more crafting.  I still have a few scraps leftover and I need a cover for my Weight Watchers book and my book light!

Have a great evening!  Happy crafting!

My Latest Creation

Hi everyone!  I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted!  I've been keeping really busy this summer making baby gifts for friends and family.  I have also been remodeling tee-shirts giving them a lower collar and a little girlish flare with crocheted lace edgings.  But my latest creation I made this past weekend.

My friends are always talking about (and buying) Vera Bradley's quilted bags and accessories. I can't quite afford them, so I did the next best thing...I created my own!  I found two kits at Michael's on their clearance aisle that matched and brought them home.  One was for a tote bag and one was for accessories for the tote.  So Saturday I sat down and created a tote bag, wallet, cell phone case, purse organizer, and eye glass case. When I was finished, I had a bunch of extra fabric left over so I designed and created a cover for my Nook.

This is the tote and accessories.  The Nook cover is on the bottom left.  Beside it is the wallet, glasses holder and cell phone holder.

The inside of the Nook cover.  It has two pockets on the left and  the bit on the right folds over the left, snapping shut to look like a clutch purse.

I don't remember the brand of the kits, but if you have a Michael's in your neighborhood, just peruse their fabric aisle and you will see them.  They may not have this particular color set there any longer but they will probably have something you can use.  I'll be sure to check the brand when I get home an add an addition to this post with the kit information.  

Oh...one thing though!  The kits I used were just black and white, but I thought that they needed a little splash of color so I hit my fabric stash and found the pink fabric to make the yo-yo flowers and added the purple buttons for the centers.  The buttons were also bought at Michael's.  The are multiple sizes and colors in the bag.  You can find them in the sewing supplies aisle.  

Well...time to get back to work.  I'll check in later to post the brand of the kits (in case you want to look for them online) and with pictures of the other projects I've been working on.  

Enjoy your day!

Sofyann

How to Cheer Up a Friend

Hi all!  I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd last posted.  All I can say is that it has been a busy month.  This post is dedicated to a friend who is in the hospital.  She was admitted the end of last week.  They're still not sure what is wrong, but they're running tests and hope to know something soon.  In the meantime, I thought I'd make her something to cheer her up.  Remembering a pattern I saw last year when I was in a tote-making-mood, I dug through my computer and found it.  The pattern is called Spring Petals Backpack and can be found at the Asparagus & Mayonnaise website.  I know, it's an odd title for a blog, but they have some really cute things on there!  The pattern for the backpack on the right hand side of the blog under Patterns.  You will most likely have to scroll down a bit to see it (it's near the bottom).  There is also a matching wristlet bag (The Dragon Egg) and a messenger tote (Spring Petals Messenger Tote), if you prefer those styles.  Below is the picture of the one I made for my friend:

I used her favorite colors.  I think it turned out adorable!  All I know is if she doesn't like it, it won't hurt my feelings.  That just means I'll get to keep it for myself!  What I liked best about this bag is that it crochets up so fast!  I started this bag Friday night about 7pm when I found out she was in the hospital, crocheted most of the day Saturday, and finished up the straps Sunday morning.  They give you two options on the straps, one crocheted and one knitted.  I'll guess the crocheted straps would work up faster, but I like the knitted I-cord ones myself and so that's what I made.  The bag is made out of the Sugar 'n' Cream cotton yarn from Lily, so it will wear well and wash up well.

I took inspiration from this bag and am in the process of making her a little bag for her carry change, cell phone, or cigarettes in.  I'm using size 10 crochet cotton and size 7 steel hook.  It's going a little slower than the bag, if you can imagine!  Working with that itty bitty yarn and hook...what can I expect.  It will also be all one color, a light pink, since that's what I had on hand.  I'm also making it oblong instead of round so it used for whatever.  I'll post a picture of it when it starts looking like something!

I'm also thinking of making her some slippers.  Found this great book on Annie's Attic called Big Foot Boutique.



These eight pairs of crochet slippers are for people of all ages!

We listened! Big Foot Boutique is the most requested Original by Annie pattern that our customers have asked us to bring back! This 24-page book of whimsical crochet accessories includes cowboy boots, house slippers, high top tennies, work boots, track shoes, Mary Janes, ski boots and tennis socks. All are made using worsted weight yarn. Sizes are written for child's S/M/L, women's S/M/L and men's L/XL.


The book comes in regular printed form and pdf electronic download.  If you've never been to Annie's Attic, you should check them out.  I've been buying patterns from them for over 30 years!  They are fabulous!

Well, almost time for me to get back to work.  Enjoy your week!