A Sneak Sweater Peak

A sneak peak at the sweater for Baby Cousin. It's a lot of progress! But... in the grand scheme of things, is it really? The pattern at first was daunting and the picture doesn't show it very well. After that great eyelet yoke there there is a leaf pattern below it. I have since got a great "mental pause" system going that has made it mistake free. It's looking great! 



I am totally in love with the yarn. I went way overboard on the pink for Baby Cousin. I just found out that Baby K&K is a girl! I'm not really feeling the pink anymore, though, due to my previous binge. I may go purple or yellow. Maybe green. Plus, that little baby's mama isn't what you'd call a fainting lady. I've seen her pin full grown men to the wall before (she works in the penal system). That's going to be one tough baby!

I also just bought gobs of fabric for an enlarged Swoon Quilt. I've been dying to make one of these and finally just broke down and purchased fabric. So excited!! Since that purchase I am now on a spending hiatus. I have plenty of projects to finish and get started. No more fabric! For awhile anyways.

Happy Crafting!

"Filing" Away Some Tools

The Problem: A lot of tools, a little space, and some fancy metal files (not the paper kind) that were hard to tuck away.

The Solution: A fancy carrying bag made by yours-truly to "file" away the tools (haha, bad pun).

I set to work by asking the hubby to gather all of his files and hand them over. He had zero input on what it should look like or how handy it should be, so I went with my gut and started drafting. I started by laying out the files in a pattern I felt was pleasing to the eye; which to my eye, is height order.

I then measured them to see how big of pockets I would need, on average, to make them all fit. I also measured how far down I would want the pockets to rise up (which created a need for a separate pocket for those teeni-tiny files), how far down I wanted the flap to cover the top, and how many extra pockets to add in case of future file purchases.

The hubby did ask that the fabric be durable, so I went with a really sturdy linen that I had random scraps of. I also had to throw in some scraps of robots because I will not be blamed for making a boring item! 100% Scrap-made! Yahoo!

Neti helped test the durability of the fabric as I pieced it.

I must have gotten carried away in putting it together because I have no piecing photos! All of a sudden, it was just done.

(Inside, flap open)

 

(Outside, flap open)

 

Rolled up tight


I then called the hubby over to fill the bag with his goodies. I think it turned out awesome! (Sidenote: You may notice that the strings to tie it shut are on the same side of the bag, whereas in a previous picture there was one on either side. That was a mistake on my part, which I quickly fixed, the hubby none the wiser. Below is correct.)

He loves it! That's one happy hubby and that's one happy tool bag. He immediately started taking pictures and sending them to his buddies, bragging about his cool file holder that no one else had.



The hubby was also mortified that the files made it dirty. I told him to get over it. Tools are dirty and it's washable.

More baby quilts soon to come. My dear friends K&K are pregnant with a girl- their first! They live just on the other side of the mountains and I need to visit... and bring a quilt. I have the pattern all picked out, now I have to find the fabric. Also, Baby Cousin was born on Saturday night! How exciting! I have decided to hold on to the gifts until they make it back to the USA. I hope to meet Baby Cousin in August or September and present her with her gifts. Update on that sweater coming soon!

Happy Crafting!

Baby FM- Kickin' It

I almost forgot! Baby FM's mom is back at work and is loading us with adorable pictures. He's 3.5 months old now! I feel like I just got newborn pictures. You've gotta admit, what a cutie! And apparently he is loving his quilt! So glad it's getting used. Just wanted to share the baby love. It's so rewarding seeing things you've made with so much love get used and appreciated. No better feeling.

Happy Crafting!

To Grandmother's House We Go!

Two weeks ago I was able to spend a full week at what I like to call Home Home. This is my parents' home in Illinois, therefore it's not my home anymore, but it's my home home aka original home. You can never really stop calling it home, no matter how long you've been gone. It was a week away from the computer and anything with a screen (minus the TV and occassionaly some house hunting with the parents on Dad's IPad). But of course, this meant saying goodbye to the cat.

While at Home Home I got to sneak away while the parents were at work and spend a major amount of time with Grandma!! YAY! Pretty much the best week ever. She has an epic sewing room, which I now realize I probably should have gotten pictures of. Ironically, we have the exact same sewing machine! She pulled out a loner for me during my time there so we could sew together. It's older but just as fancy-pants and I had no issues using it. Well, I take that back. Neither Grandma or I could figure out how to wind the bobbin.

Here was our set-up. Perfect for chatting and sewing together. Grandma is on the left there but refused to have her picture taken.

The project of the week was the stroller/car seat baby quilt for Baby Cousin. She is due at the end of this month. I'm also working on that sweater for her, which is slow going so no updates yet. I think I'm going to wait for the Cousin's to come back to America before handing over the gifts, which will be about 2 months after the baby is born. It's probably going to take me that long to get that sweater knit.

I used a Moda Charm Pack from "Walk in the Woods" by Aneela Hoey which have little girls in red capes out on adventures! Knowing her parents, this will be an adventure having little girl, so it was only appropriate. 

The plan all starting coming together with the layout, which I loved! The pattern is so simple yet looks kinda hard. Those are the best kind. I laid everything out on the floor like I do at home. I think Grandma thought I was little weird on my hands and knees down there, but I'm just much more comfortable on the ground.

 

The quilting then began. At this point I had somehow convinced Grandma to let me switch to her machine for the quilting aspect of it. I did a lot of free motion quilting with the BSR and wasn't about to even try it on the older Bernina. Since we have the same machine it was like being home. I was super comfortable. Plus, the quilt is so small it didn't take long to get all the quilting finished.

During our frequent breaks for snacks and naps and dinner out on the town, I mentioned a couple long term projects I had in mind but was keeping to myself (and Grandma). She said, "oh yes, I think you'd mentioned that one before. I've saved all my selvage for you". And how! Look at that bag of selvege! (Thanks, Grandma!) 

And yes, I did get that in my tiny suitcase for the way back home. I finished the binding while watching a movie with the family and tadah! Finished! Don't you love the ties?! That will be helpful in securing this little quilt to the stroller or carseat. Genius! (not my genius, I copied)

My time at Home Home flew by rapidly but I was so glad to get back to the roots. It's nice being home now, but only because it's time to start the next project (and I'll admit, I missed the hubby, who complained about me being gone mostly because he was terrorized by the cat for a whole week).

As for the next project, I have a few up in the air. I'm thinking about getting some muslin to start some selvege blocks now that I have a massive quantity of them. I still have this one to quilt as well as some coworker envy over the stroller/carseat quilt above as she's just had a baby. I'm looking forward to this weekend already!

Happy Crafting!

Anticipation

It's about that time! I decided to take a vacation and spend it not on a beach but at home with the family. It will be a combination-adventure, spending a few days wedding dress shopping with the bride-to-be sister in Chicago followed by a train ride HOME with Mom. I anticipate a week of crafting! While Mom and Dad are at work I will be crafting with Grandma! You may remember that all those years ago it was the Grandma that taught me how to sew. I don't know how much fabric the sister and I wasted making "purses" which was the first item I learned to make. Needless to say, the quilts my Grandma turns out are spectacular. I hope to be that good one day.

I purchased the above fabric to make a tiny baby quilt that will attach to a stroller or carseat. My cousin is having a baby girl! Finally a girl to make stuff for!! I'm coming for you, Grandma! I got all the fabric cut and ready to sew.

A week filled with crafting doesn't denote quilting only (although the goal is to completely finish this tiny quilt). I will also be hanging out with the brother. Video games and knitting? The ultimate combination. I've been trekking along and am almost finished with the yoke of the baby sweater I'm making for Baby Cousin. I should even have enough yarn left over for a pair of baby socks or booties. Neti and I spent last weekend on the couch knitting and snoozing. You can see we were quite comfortable.

Can't wait to get home! My flight leaves in 7 hours. Hurrah! Next post will be from home. Maybe I should highlight some of Grandma's inspiration quilts.

Happy Crafting!

A Peek into the 30's

This weekend was GORGEOUS and what did I do? Shut the blinds so I could properly quilt, that's what! Don't worry, I did actually get out a bit and take a few walks with the hubby through downtown. I finished another quilt-- "A Peek in to the 30's".

I know that I've mentioned many times how difficult fun it is to have a little crafty-cat. Let's see if you would put up with her nonsense. At least one of us had fun. Ok, I actually love when she terrorizes me. I'm sure it's because she loves me, hahaha.

You saw a layout of the quilt last post but I want you to know that I worked hard for that layout.

Last weekend I sewed it all together and got it basted. This weekend was a focus on actually quilting it with a new (to me) quilt pattern I found online.

I had a handful of little squares left over from the front since I trailed in two corners so I decided to piece the back. I needed it to, because I barely had enough backing fabric.

I then quilted an Orange Peel design, which I LOVE and desperately need to practice more. I'm ok with the ok quilt job. It looks rustic. Haha.

I slapped the binding on it lickidy-split and wallah! A finished quilt!

I called it "A Peek into the 30's" because all of the fabric are 30's repros. I love all the fabric and love how intermixed they still look amazing together.

Here's the back...

I absolutely love how it turned out. I don't really have any plans for this one. I figured I could treat myself to a quilt now that I'm about to be back in baby mode for a cousin who is expecting in June. Yes, this June. I'm running a little behind on that one. 

Along with the baby quilt I'm sending a baby sweater. I went a little overboard because this cousin and I are close AND because it's the first little girl I've had to prep for! FINALLY! A girl! Too many boy things, I've been craving pink. I started up a swatch this weekend and blocked it to get my gauge. Perfect!

I also have the fabric to baste and quilt my Victorian Festive quilt. Can you believe this cat finally fell asleep?! Sometimes you just need to distract her with another sewing project.

A full week of crafts ahead and just two weeks until HOME with family. I can't wait to spend a week quilting and knitting with Grandma and fam.

Happy Crafting!

Guest Quilting

In desparate need of a sister's weekend I flew to Chicago to visit the one and only sister of mine. It was COLD and that's a little weird to say seeing as Seattle is usually still chilly this time of year. It was actually 20 degrees colder in Chicago! Regardless we did spend the day running around doing some scouting for wedding pictures (hence the park below) and choosing linens and looking for photographers and... well, the list continues.

While in Chicago the sister and I did what we do best-- vegetate. Either this blog or my constant chatter or a recent Seattle trip which included snuggling in my own T-shirt quilt inspired Devon to make one for herself and our brother. Ok, maybe it was the fact that the brother cleaned out his clothes for Goodwill. The brother's was up first. Devon had done SO MUCH! She was much more methodical than I, placing interfacing under each T-shirt and sewing them all together. We even spent time on the phone together calculating how much quilt batting and backing she would need. She even basted it! And then she stopped.

I haven't been able to get over to Bainbridge yet to get a new knitting project (a very particular one is in mind) so I went to Chicago empty handed. Devon seemed hesitant to quilt, as she never has before, and I know the feeling. With ants in my pants for a project while vegging I asked if I could quilt our brother's blanket and of course, Devon said yes.

 

A day of guilty pleasures (see the Lindsay Lohan version of Parent Trap up there?) and quilting with my sister. Things could NOT have been better. It was the best day ever!! And not only did I show her how to quilt, fix her machine of an annoying bobbin threading issue, but I also bound and finished the quilt!

It was pretty much the best when, while stretching my back and getting a cup of tea I overheard my sister and her fiance discussing my work. Fiance: "That was so fast!" Sister: "Well, she does this all the time, this was easy for her." Fiance: "You should get ours ready and when she's here next month see if she'll quilt that one". Haha! It's so nice to get recognized for something you are so passionate about. The hubby has to put up with my "look at this! look at this!" but these guys don't. Like I said, it was pretty much the perfect day.

I am now inspired to get quilting on my next project! I'm almost there! I'm a bit farther ahead than what you see below.

I have a quilting plan in mind that I am dying to try-- the orange peel. I just need to get to that point. The goal? Finish piecing tonight and spend the weekend quilting. Thanks again to Devie and the fiance for hosting me over the weekend. Devon, get that next blanket ready, I will see you in 21 days!

Happy Crafting!