Tuesday, December 25, 2012

A Long Nosed Mouse

I am drafting the pattern for this little friend... take a look at how she is made!

Long Nosed Mouse 1

Long Nosed Mouse 2

Long Nosed Mouse 3

Long Nosed Mouse 4

Long Nosed Mouse 5

Long Nosed Mouse 6

Long Nosed Mouse 7

Long Nosed Mouse 8

Long Nosed Mouse 9

Long Nosed Mouse 10

Long Nosed Mouse 11

Long Nosed Mouse 12

Long Nosed Mouse 13

Long Nosed Mouse 14

Long Nosed Mouse 15

Long Nosed Mouse 16

Long Nosed Mouse 17

Long Nosed Mouse 18
(this is all the yarn I had left after 2 Mice from the Knit Picks Shine Sport skein!)

Long Nosed Mouse 19

Long Nosed Mouse 20

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Knitting a Christmas Stocking and I Won!

I have been working on my first ever stranded colorwork Christmas stocking.
This one is for Clare.

Clare's Stocking 1.0

Two years ago I crocheted Helen's Christmas Stocking, but now that I am a little more talented in the knitting department it was time to knit one.

I am following the free / donation pattern Tis the Season Stocking by Kate Weston, but as usual I am adding my own spin to the design - mainly substituting my reindeer motif for the heart motif in the second chart of the pattern. The reindeer motif is from the free Knitty pattern Baby Norgi.

Knitting this stocking makes me crave more colorwork! I love it!

In other happy news, I won a prize from one of my favorite video podcasts - Knitting in Circles.

I won!

These are some really awesome stitch markers, such a cute little sock bag for them, and one of Aimee's Knitting in Circles buttons - which I am so excited to have! Thank you Aimee and Darren, I can't wait to use them when I finally knit a real pair of socks!


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Sewing a Mary Costume

Mary Costume

For someone who doesn't often sew, I sure am sewing a lot lately! I have always considered myself a utilitarian sewer... one who sews for need not beauty, but I think this last minute Mary costume turned out quite beautiful. I used a nightgown pattern from Making Children's Clothes by Emma Hardy.


The gown took two yards of light blue fabric and the veil is just one yard, hemmed, and pinned to the sides of Helen's hair. She is trying it out for our friend's daughter who will be Mary in her school's play this year. 

Just change the color of the fabric and you have the perfect tunic for any shepherd or angel.


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Clare's Sweater

Here is a look at Clare's finished sweater. This ended up as a mish-mash of patterns...
and a little of my own thoughts.

Clare's Classy Cables 2.4

Clare's Classy Cables 2.2

Yarn is Berroco Vintage in Lilac. Buttons are from Aunt Tillie's stash. Cables are from the Tuckernuck pattern. The baby is mine.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Sew a tree skirt during naptime

Crazy Christmas brain had me wanting to sew a "real" tree skirt for our tree this week. For the past few years... 7 years... I have just tucked a random tablecloth or piece of fabric around the base of our wimpy little fake tree. This year, I wanted an actual skirt.

This is not the recommended way to make a tree skirt, but it was effective.

First, a tree skirt needs to be round (well most of the time). I took geometry. I do not remember much. When I want to draw a circle - I trace a water glass. I need a really big water glass - or in this case - the lid to our sandbox.

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012


Tree Skirt 2012

The girls were very happy to help.  Then they were too helpful and I shut them in their room together for a few minutes so the wouldn't tear up my tissue paper.


Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

This is were I stopped... and restarted during nap time. I used my tissue template to cut a circle out of 2 fabrics. I used upholstery weight fabrics.

Tree Skirt 2012

Match right sides together.

Tree Skirt 2012

Cut a line from edge to interior, and a small circle in the center for the stem of your tree.

Tree Skirt 2012

Pin at least the center. Yes! I used pins!!

Tree Skirt 2012

Carefully sew around all edges leaving a 4 to 6 inch hole for turning the skirt right side out.

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

Flip! And top-stitch around all edges.

Tree Skirt 2012

Pretty!

Tree Skirt 2012

I think top-stitching looks so nice!

Tree Skirt 2012

Tree Skirt 2012

And the finished product! I like the red side best right now, but hopefully we will someday get new carpeting, and then maybe I will use the green side.

Tree Skirt 2012

Have you ever decided you needed something and improvised to get it done in one day? Or one nap time?

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Linen Stitch, Something New!

I decided to try out linen stitch to spread around the yarny love and make a bunch of bookmarks.... so far I have part of one complete. Linen stitch is not quick!

Linen Stitch Bookmark 1.0

I am using the leftovers of my Madelinetosh Lace in Mansfield Garden Party, and this colorway is PERFECT for lovely linen stitch.

Linen Stitch Bookmark 1.1

I love it!

To make a bookmark just like mine:

Laceweight Yarn
Size 3 US Needles

Cast on 17 stitches.

Row 1(Front): K1, P1, *K1, bring yarn to the front (YF), slip 1 purlwise,  bring yarn to the back (YB), repeat from * until 3 stitches remain, K1, P1, K1

Row 2(Back): K1, P1, *YB, slip 1 purlwise, YF, P1 repeat from * until 3 stitches remain, slip 1 purlwise, P1, K1

Repeat these two rows until bookmark reaches desired length, cast off.
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