Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Aunt Betty Strikes Again

In case you haven't heard of Aunt Betty, you should check out my tagged blog posts on the matter. If you want a quick primer, you should check out this Professor Pincushion video which explains it all. 
Over the last couple weeks a friend of mine has been cleaning up her sewing room. Partly to clear the clutter and partly to make room to work. Some of that decluttering went to the thrift store and some came to me. I am like an overzealous fosterer when it comes to fabric. I love it so much I can't say no. 

That's right, five trash bags full of fibery treasures. What's inside? Well, mostly a thing I don't really have much of: knits. 
Let's save some time and post a couple collages. Here we have each bag of fabric dumped out. 
Then, each fabric (not in the same order, surely) but folded and stacked neatly. There are some wovens in there, some fleece, some denim. A generally fun mix of fabrics. I see so much sewing ahead of me. I may have to reinstitute Wardrobe Wednesdays while I work through some of this fabric. Remember, if you sew your own clothes you get to add pockets to everything. 

Pattern designers I'm supporting in this endeavor:
Ellie & Mac Sewing Patterns

Not a fan of printing on your home printer and assembling patterns yourself? I highly recommend PDF Plotting. They offer excellent service at a reasonable price. Save on shipping by sending several patterns at time. 

Monday, September 28, 2020

New iPad and Procreate

Somehow I managed to own this iPad mini for about five years and never dropped it hard enough to crack the screen and then, in one day I dropped it twice in about 10 minutes and this is what I ended up with. I decided it was time to buy a new iPad. 
If you already have an iPad setting up your new one is a snap. It is as simple as turning them both on and following the on-screen prompts. I was up and running in about 10 minutes. All my apps and files were copied over so the transition was painless.  
I picked up a case that I liked. These come in many different styles but this one was my favorite. 

I really splurged and also bought the Apple Pencil. I'd seen them and really wanted to give it a try. I also downloaded the art program Procreate because I have seen so many artists use it. I've been doing tutorials to learn the tools. Procreate is very powerful and you can get amazing results. 

Here is the second drawing I completed using a tutorial by Art with Flo. Flo makes learning the tool fun and you get to complete something without feeling like you're just learning the ins and outs of Procreate. I've done several of her tutorials and I've learned something new each time. The finished drawings show up in my Instagram feed as I finish them if you want to see more. 

Buy your own (affiliate links):

Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Space Gray
Apple Pencil
Fintie Case with Pencil Holder for iPad Mini 5

Friday, September 25, 2020

Cranky Socks

This pair was made using the leftovers from a couple of Knit Picks Duos. Both gradients paired nicely with some Uneek Fingering I used to make myself a pair of socks last year. These are just wonderful!
This pair used some different purple yarns from Knit Picks. I really like how these came out. 
So no one thinks I save all the matching socks for myself, here is a pair I knit last week using Knit Picks Static (the same fingering base as Stroll). These were a fun surprise and I'm glad I gave the yarn a try. I have a few grams of this left over that will find its way into another pair of monster socks. 

I'm planning my next Etsy shop update for Friday, October 2nd. I will add several more pairs of monster socks to the shop. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram (@beccascrazyprojects) and my Etsy shop Becca's Crazy Projects to get updates on what I'm doing and when the listings go live. 

Want more information about circular sock knitting machines, tools, and attachments? I recommend you head over to CSM Love. They have collected so many resources in one easy-to-use site. I used the site to find the Split Yarn Carrier by Chambord CSM

Hybrid Mount Mini Mast for Erlbacher Gearhart Circular Sock Machine

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Knitter's Pride Aqua Sock Blockers, Medium
Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)
RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc)

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Mosaic Crochet

I've been working on this mosaic crochet blanket for a couple weeks. It might look a little wonky but blocking will fix that. 
The fabric is very nice and has a nice weight to it. This is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. I'm just changing colors a I come to the end of a ball of yarn. It's so nice to not have to think about it too much.

If you want to check out mosaic crochet I recommend watching some of Tinna's videos on YouTube. She is very patient and has so much to share. She also has patterns on Ravelry.  

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Crochet hooks: Clover Crochet Hook Set (10 hooks)

Monday, September 21, 2020

Postage Stamp Swap

When I heard Mary (@mary_thecuriousquilter) was hosting a charm square swap I jumped in with both feet and my considerable collection of 2.5" squares of fabric. I've had some really good luck and some really bad luck with swaps in the past. I went into this one with high hopes and I was not disappointed. 

The first step, for me, was sorting through my collection of 2.5" squares. I have been cutting these little pieces of fun for quite a while now. This is what the collection looked like before I started sorting.

This is what it looked like after I had pulled 600 charms out for swap partners. Look at all that room for new fabrics!
I sorted them into two newbie packs (50 charms each) and five swap partner packs (100 charms each) and waited for the call to sign up. I was ready when the partner email went out. 
How does one package those charms? Well, this is what I went with. I'd read that many quilt bee block swaps use Glad Press-n Seal to wrap the blocks so they fit into a letter-size envelope. 
Fold it all up and those charms are less likely to shift about during shipping. 
Slip into a note, seal and mail. Then, wait for what seems forever for the charms from your partners to find their way to you. It felt like forever. 
Here are the 500 new charm squares I received in the swap. So many fun, new prints! I need to start working on a postage stamp quilt since I'm fairly certain I have enough to make a rather large quilt.  

Want to learn more about how these swaps work? Check out The Curious Quilter Blog to learn more. 

I'll talk about how much something like this costs in another post. I was going to include that info but I've already talked enough for one post. 

Friday, September 18, 2020

Cranky Socks

What it looks like when I'm knitting monster socks. The little ball of yarn on the left is the alternate yarn. The little hank on the right (just above the number 225) is the main yarn. I switch back and forth between the yarns every two rows of plain knitting.  
The heels and toes are knit with only the main yarn. This is to ensure I can keep good tension while knitting the short rows for the heel and toe. 
No two are the same! I love these more than I should admit. Want to check out the socks I have for sale in my Etsy shop? Check out BeccasCrazyProjects on Etsy. 
Follow me on Instagram @beccascrazyprojects

Making monster socks on the circular sock machine is possible because I have these two optional attachments for my machine. I'm never going back to the stock yarn carrier. Split is the way to go.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)
RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc)

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Knit Picks

I swear the people that wrote the new Blogger drafting tool had no idea how the old one really worked. So many features I relied on are now gone. Thanks for the "upgrade"

Last weekend I received my latest order from Knit Picks. I should stay away from their website because there are so many good things. 
This small box was packed with delightful yarn. 
Stroll Tweed was on sale and I have a soft spot for sales. This yarn is as soft as the rest of the Stroll line and perfect for socks, mittens, and gloves. 
Then there was the 10-ball set of 2020 Summer Felici. I love these self-striping yarns. They are just so much fun if you like self-striping yarns. My monster socks are made mostly with this yarn (sometimes a stripe or two of other yarns will find their way in). It is soft and machine washable. I can't wait to pair up some of these and get cranking.  

Sock knitting tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)
RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc)

Monday, September 14, 2020

Florid Bloom

I just want to say upfront that I really, really, really dislike the new Blogger interface. They made it easier for mobile users, which I support, but the changes pretty much make working with the tool on a desktop a complete pain in the ass. I'm not sure why they didn't stick with what works for desktop users and let the new stuff be used by mobile users. It's like they assumed everyone was using mobile for blogging and they could ignore the world of desktop users. I'm not averse to change, just change that seems to be for change-sake and provide little/no benefit for users. I'm going to give it a better try since it seems to be behaving slightly better than it did in June/July when they first announced the shift. That doesn't mean I'm happy about it. 

Part 2

This is one of the finished blocks for this quilt. The big pieces make the curved piecing simple enough to get a good result. There are few questionable seams in there but most of them are spot-on. 

I worked through these units over a couple weeks. The next part was joining them together into a top. This took careful marking and many pins. 

I'm not sure I have an appropriate backing for this one. I'll have to look in my collection. 

I seriously see a scrappier version of this quilt in my future. I have an idea on how to incorporate some grandmother's fans into the quilt. You'll have to check back to see how that turns out. 

Check out Part 1 of my Florid Bloom quilt. There you will find links to the book and templates I used to create this quilt. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Fiskars 14x14 Inch Self Healing Rotating Cutting Mat

Friday, September 11, 2020

Cranky Socks

What's going on here? The purple is my setup bonnet (used to load onto the needles to start the work), yellow is my waste yarn (usually a cheap acrylic of the same weight as the sock), and the black is the cuff of a monster sock. The hung hem is quick and easy and makes a great cuff. I make the cuffs on both socks in a monster sock pair the same so you can tell which one goes with which, not that it really matters with monster socks. 
Those tails will be trimmed when I finish the sock. Each end is woven in 10-12 stitches or so. A short tail (about 1/2 inch) is left so it won't come undone. 
I love it when pink, orange, and gray come together in stripy goodness. The green and yellow isn't bad, either. 
Ready for finishing up those toes. 
Last week this collection of cranky socks was posted in my Etsy shop. I don't know how often I will do shop updates but it you want to know when they happen you should either favorite BeccasCrazyProjects on Etsy so you will get notifications, or follow me on Instagram @beccascrazyprojects. I will post at least two photos leading up to the day of the update (most likely Friday or Saturday) so you can see what is coming.

Making monster socks on the circular sock machine is possible because I have these two optional attachments for my machine. I'm never going back to the stock yarn carrier. Split is the way to go.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)
RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc)

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Quilting in Black and White

Picking thread for a quilt is just as important, and fun, as picking the fabrics. In this case, I went with the lightest gray to coordinate with the white-on-white backing.
The quilting I planned and the quilting I got didn't match but I really like the result. 
Here is a view of the back of the quilt so you can see the texture. The wood grain ended up a little more organic than I planned but I really like the texture. 
Ready to box up and send by to the top maker for her to finish. 

And for anyone keeping track, yes this posted late (Thursday morning) because I hadn't moved it from draft to scheduled. 

Monday, September 7, 2020

The Bird Dress

I follow Cal Patch on Instagram and her sewing adventures are always a pleasure. Last week she shared her version of the Bird Dress and I was intrigued.
I've been collecting worn t-shirts for a while so this was the perfect project because it is designed to use those tees to make a color-blocked garment. Sadly, I took only one progress shot, this one before I attached the pockets to the front.
I made this using two black, two blue, and one maroon tee.
One of those had some words on the front that are now on the back of this piece.
The pockets are really the star of this garment. This worked up in an afternoon.

Tools and Supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron

Friday, September 4, 2020

Cranky Socks

Last Sunday I attempted to knit a sock to pair with one I had knit earlier in the week. I made it to the toe and realized I had made an error. This little collection of re-wound balls shows how that sock ended up. Sometimes I get more out of my yarn than a single use. 
On my next attempt I managed to finish that second sock. I love these scrappy monster socks.

If you would like a pair of socks machine knit just for you, stop by my Etsy shop and send me a note. I'm sure we could work together to create your new favorite pair of socks. If you have some socks yarn and you don't have the time to knit it up, maybe a sock tube is something you would like to try. Send me a message through Etsy for that.

Making these on the circular sock machine is possible because I have these two optional attachments for my machine. I'm never going back to the stock yarn carrier. Split is the way to go.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)
RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc)

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Florid Bloom

Part 1
I wanted to try out the Florid Bloom template set and Double Wedding Ring Quilts book from Victoria Findlay Wolfe. I pulled out my stack of 1930s reproduction prints and cut out some pieces.
This is where the Fiskars Rotating Cutting Mat came in handy. I don't use it often but sometimes I find the project that really needs a rotating cutting mat.
See how nice and neat!
I had a pretty good collection of prints but this project will likely get me to end of the 1930s prints.
Here is the first layout I did once I had cut all the arcs.
It sat like that for about a week before I cut the yellow for the little center slices.
I had just enough of this green to cut the interior pieces.
It wasn't easy finding coordinating prints from my collection of fabric. I'm trying to work exclusively from my fabrics and not buy any more. I have so much! After I took this photo I realized I hadn't cut the corner pieces. I'm trying to decide if I want to attempt bias binding and leave those rounded corners. I've got time to decide. I definitely see a super scrappy version of this quilt in my future.

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):
Creative Grids 6.5" x 24.5" Rectangle
Creative Grids 6.5" Square Ruler
Creative Grids 4.5" x 12.5" Rectangle Quilting Ruler
Fiskars Rotary Cutter
Fiskars Rotary Cutter replacement blades
Fiskars Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat
BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion
Fiskars 8-inch scissors
Juki TL-2010Q
Fiskars 14x14 Inch Self Healing Rotating Cutting Mat