Vertices Unite and Knitting Update

The first time I tried to knit Vertices Unite didn't work out very well. I think that was because of my choice of yarn. This time, I grabbed a bunch of superwash worsted (Knit Picks Swish) that Aunt Betty left me. This is great yarn.

I didn't pick the colors before I started. I mostly grabbed what I thought would work for each section. This is the somewhat lumpy shawl before washing. 

While this blocking might look extreme, it isn't. Very minimal pulling and pinning but the shape is still pretty awesome. For the record, I still have plenty of yarn left. I may never work through it all. I'm certainly going to try, though. 

I'm still working my latest Close to You shawl. I really like this patter for those single skeins I just couldn't pass up.

Tools (affiliate links):
Knitting needles: Knit Picks Interchangeable knitting needle set
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

Spooky Embroidery Continued

In the last post about this embroidered coat, I mentioned the better of the two pockets. Here it is! Perhaps not perfect, but better than the last one. 

Garment sewing is slow when you're only making one thing. I'm sure if I was making a dozen I would be at about the same point in construction as I am with just the one. I finished the lining and even used my sleeve board for what it is intended. Most often I use it to press bags once they are turned. 

I assembled the lining with the serger. Lining fabric is always so slippery and has a tendency to fray. It's almost sad this bright lining will be hiding under the coat. I'm hoping to make more progress over the next few days. Maybe I can have this done by Halloween. Though I don't think it's likely.

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
Sleeve board
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Kicking Back

I sometimes leave myself a mess do deal with the following morning.

This one was tiny. How tiny? Tiny enough to fit a Tiny Kitty Collier doll.

I picked up this doll second hand years and years ago on eBay. That was when I was a little crazy for Robert Tonner dolls. I still have many dolls hidden away in moving boxes. I suppose I should look to selling them off and putting that money into a retirement fund. Anyway, I decided to use some of the scraps from my Halloween sewing to make Kitty some fun lounge wear. It isn't perfect, but now she's set for All Hallow's Eve.

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors

Spooky Embroidery

What seems like forever ago, Darling Husband asked me to make him a coat with this pattern. It was for a costume. Since I missed the original deadline (he bought a coat from Amazon for that costume), I decided to get to work making the coat the way I envisioned it.

My vision includes loads and loads of black embroidery on black fabric. I cut and interfaced and sewed some pieces together. The back panels were joined before I added the embroidery.

After watching more than a few tutorials on YouTube, I figure out how to make these pockets.

I'm pretty pleased with the result, but I'm not likely to choose to add these pockets to another garment. This is the first one I finished. The second one came out better, but I didn't take a photo.

I added more embroidery. This embroidery is dangerously close to the seam line, but I think it will still work.

Because embroidery makes everything better. 

These designs make me so happy. Each of these designs is from Urban Threads called Gothic Nouveau.

As often happens, I am reminded how long it takes to construct a garment. I started working on this project on Saturday, and haven't made too much progress. I worked on it most of Saturday and part of Sunday. I even set up embroidery and worked on other sections while the machine stitched along. I must have done three or four embroideries while completing the three pockets. That isn't discouraging me, just reminding me that anything awesome takes time.

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Open Wide Pouches

The Open Wide Zippered Pouch tutorial designed by Anna of Noodlehead is my favorite pouch pattern. It is so easy for me to change the basic measurements to fit the fabric and zippers I have on-hand.

I decided it was time to use this fun trick-or-treat fabric to make something. The Open Wide Zippered Pouch was perfect. This is made using the medium size bag with a minor modificaton to make the perfect knitting project bag. Instead of cutting the fabric panels only 9" tall I cut them to 12" by 12". That way I get a deeper bag. I can fit two cakes of yarn and a working project in one. Great for shawl projects.

I had a small amount left over, so I also made this one using a 7" zipper. It's much smaller and I have no idea what I'm going to do with it. Too cute to not share, though.

Since I was using up the Halloween fabrics I went ahead and made a really small Open Wide Zippered Pouch. This one uses 5" charm squares for the panels and a 5" zipper. This one is really small, and not for the feight of heart.

See how small it is? This one is really only big enough for a couple cookies or some sweets.

I buy my zippers from ZipIt Zippers on Etsy. Great selection and service!
Free bag tutorial Open Wide Zippered Pouch

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Lobster claw clasps

Charity Quilting

I dropped off six quilts at the last meeting of the Annapolis Quilts for Kids workshop. I also picked up a couple of finished tops to quilt.

The first was this fun Batman quilt. 

The second was this fun Disney prints quilt.

According to EpochConverter I'm still on track for finishing one charity quilt per week for 2018.

2018 Charity Quilt Count: 47

Fleece Hooded Cowl

The wonderful designer behind sew desu ne? released this fun hooded cowl pattern for free! This is only one of the many free patterns on the site. If you want to try out sewing with fleece I highly recommend the tutorials and some of the great free patterns. Free patterns for both fleece wearables and plush critters are available.

The fleece hooded cowl is a great pattern. I didn't add any of the details to make the design into a unicorn or a dragon, but those are available options. I used KAM snaps instead of the buttons and button holes called for tin the pattern.

I trimmed up the scraps to make some super simple beanies. I cut the crown pieces using the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful. one of these days I'm going to write a tutorial for this so everyone can cut these out super quick. 

I made another one using some remnant fleece I had hanging out in my boxes and boxes of fleece. Winter is coming and I want to be ready with some fun fleece accessories.

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
KAM snaps
Quick Curve Ruler

2018 Leader and Ender Project Update

Last month I wrote a post about the 2018 Leader and Ender project shared by Bonnie Hunter.

I've been making slow progress, which is the point, with this project. I've been making four-patch and half-square triangle units for a while. I decided to move this to the front of the queue last weekend. I counted up my units and I'm still a little short. Don't worry, I am not likely to finish this anytime soon, so it will continue to be my leader and ender project for a while.

I made a few blocks using the units. If this works out, it will be queen-size. Because I like big quilts. Sadly, this project is not likely to leave much a of a dent my collection of batik fabrics. 

These units are satisfying so I may try to sew three or four a night after dinner over the coming weeks.

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
6.5" Easy Angle Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Cheryl Ann's Quilting Design Wall - 72" White

Charity Quilting

I quilted a couple more small quilts for  Annapolis Quilts for Kids.

This one I pieced a few weeks ago. 

The quilting included a little bit of "thread chicken". Less than two yards of thread was on the cone when I was done.

2018 Charity Quilt Count: 45

Barely Controlled Chaos

Anyone that has been in my sewing space knows that some parts of the space are neat and tidy. Others, are piles of barely controlled chaos. This is what my cutting table looked like on Saturday morning. No room to get anything done. I had to tidy just so I could get started.

The serger was still set up from my last project. Complete with a pile trimmings.

During the week I made these somewhat lumpy arm warmers using leftover fabric from last week's Halloween project. I haven't given up on arm warmers. I just don't think this is a pattern worth pursuing in the current form. I did learn a few things when I made them. I can make a fun cuff for a sweater with this idea. 

The Juki is still set up and waiting for my next sewing project. 

This pile of charity quilts was waiting to be trimmed and prepared for the next meeting of the Annapolis Quilts for Kids chapter.

I suppose I should admit that the only problem with the clutter is that I have trouble settling on a project when I can't find the cutting table. I need room to work. I need room to think. Excuse me, I need to go create.

Like a Monster

I saw a cute monster themed tote while we were in Miami. That gave me the idea to make up one of my own.

This is the first stitch out of a design I made using a couple images from Games-icon.net. The colors are questionable because I was trying to figure out a thing or two about my embroidery machine. I used a woven cotton for this test because I wanted to check the stitch-out and the size. Knowing a design measures x number of inches by y number of inches doesn't help when you're trying to build a three dimensional object. 

After that particular adventure, and some time with the embroidery machine manual, I stitched out this much more suitable monster face. 

Since the design was destined for faux fur, I needed a top cover to hold down all that fur. I used a water soluble wash-away similar to this one on Amazon. It easily tears away from the finished embroidery. I've used it on towels in the past and it washes away nicely. I don't anticipate washing this one.

Here is the stitching before I pulled the basting stitches and the unneeded film. Using the film also makes it easier to cut those jump stitches without endangering the fur.

The face is somewhat Predator-like. That wasn't my goal, but it pleases me anyway.

I used my standard cross-body bag pattern for this bag. It includes a zippered pocket on the back. Only the front is made with fur, the back of the bag is cotton canvas. The main part of the bag also closes with a zipper and has three pockets on the inside.

I'm so glad I switched to making the strap adjustable. 

A face only a mother, or a mad scientist, can love. As an experiment, this one turned out pretty okay.

Did I mention it's Halloween this month?

Tools (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q

Charity Quilting

A couple more cute little charity quilts for Annapolis Quilts for Kids finished this week. 

These are like potato chips.

2018 Charity Quilt Count: 43

Springtime Small Fan Crochet Shawl

This is the Small Fans Shawl, a free chart available on Ravelry. This is the second time (at least) I've made this pattern. It's easy to memorize and a good travel project if you can sit quietly to count. Not so great if you're looking for mindless crochet because you do need to keep track of what you're doing.

This is the pre-blocked shawl. I wanted to capture the difference between before and after blocking. While is it perfectly acceptable not to block your work, it can change how the work looks. It depends on what you're aiming for.

This is two different colors of fingering weight yarn. I have no idea what these are as they came to me caked with no labels. This is what it looks like when done, but before blocking.

As I've said before, I'm often a very aggressive blocker. I want the motifs to open up and show the effort I put into the piece. According to my Ravelry project page, I started this one in May 2018.

See how those stitches open up!

Compared to the before-blocking picture, the lace is opened up and the fabric is light and airy.

The finished shawl.

Tools (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)
Blocking mats: Balance From Puzzle Exercise Mat with EVA Foam Interlocking Tiles
Blocking wires: Knit Picks Lace Blocking Wires & T-Pins
Knit blockers: Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit