Thursday, April 29, 2010

Sew to Speak: How To: Attach Bias Tape (with mitered corners)

Sew to Speak: How To: Attach Bias Tape (with mitered corners)

Great tutorial on mitered corners, which I already knew how to do. But it is great to share tips with others who may be reading my blog.
My quilting instructor showed us how to make our own bias tape, for our "Making a quilted-jacket out of a sweatshirt" and of course I don't remember how.
I must consult my notes and write down the instructions.
K.K.

Toe-Up Socks for Every Body by Wendy D. Johnson - Trade Paperback - Random House

Toe-Up Socks for Every Body by Wendy D. Johnson - Trade Paperback - Random House

What? I can barely make the tube sock I've been working on for over a year. Still on the first sock, doing a basic ribbing of knit four, purl four......and I just recently passed the 13" mark. Pattern calls for 16" and then the decreasing for the toe begins. I look forward to that day.
Right now I am feaking out because I didn't note what casting I used for the sock, and it will soon be time to cast on for the second sock. YIKES!!!!!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

The Denim Project

I've been buying denim dresses, skirts, shirts, and overalls from the local Methodist Church resale shop, (costs $1 for a dress) ripping them apart and making totebags. Some dresses have embroidered bodices that I use for pockets on my totebags. I also buy large, long, cotton dresses and cut them up for liners, pocket liners, straps, etc....(also $1)
I love sewing these.

My Sock Saga.....

Okay. Back in Oct 08 I bought this yarn to make a lace pattern sock. Couldn’t find dp needles here is South Texas. Finally found some bamboo ones at Michaels. Their only pair. Then I found that the pattern was too hard for a beginner like me. Found a new pattern for tube socks. Looked hopeful. Then realized I needed 2 skeins of yarn. Looked forever (months) and then found some while on vacation in Houston. Got home and cast on. Then couldn’t figure out how to connect the 3 double pointed needles. Bought the book “Visual Knitting” and connected the 3 dps. I didn’t like the cast on stitches. Frogged, re-casted and now I was ready to rock-n-roll.
June 2009 I joined the SOS on Ravelry and started to knit my socks.
SOS means Summer of Socks. I am sad to say I did not complete my socks.
OKAY. I am putting this WIP away. Too many other projects to do.
I’ll probably buy different yarn or look for a different pattern, or just frog back to ribbing and just knit all the way down to the toe. This pattern is just too confusing. It starts off fine in a ribbed pattern, and then starts to go all wonky. (the technical term meaning the stitching was going around the sock in a swirling pattern)
Aug 09 Measured again….pink ruler is 6-inches. Soooo, I guess I knit 7 inches before I quit.
April 20, 2010. Started to knit socks again. Someone (Hedgie) on Ravelry wrote that she just kept knitting in a ribbing pattern all the way down to the toes. Wow!! Why didn't I think of that?
So I started doing the same thing. NO, I did not undo the swirling stitch pattern. I just started the ribbing pattern from where I left off. I'm wearing these socks and the odd pattern in the middle of the socks will not affect the warmth of the socks.
My sock now measures 9 inches. The pattern states to knit until it measures 16 inches.....I will knit until I use up the entire skein. After all, I bought 2 skeins. One for each sock. I can't use any leftovers, as the yarn is stretchy and very thin. Hopefully I can finish by winter....heehee, just kidding. Maybe next year.

Craftzine.com blog : Ceramic Bowls Molded from Vegetables

Craftzine.com blog : Ceramic Bowls Molded from Vegetables
I could totally make and eat out of these awsome bowls.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Ravelry: KathiKraftyzales' My first pair of socks

Ravelry: KathiKraftyzales' My first pair of socks

I am working on my socks, again. One hour every night, while watching TV (actually, just listening) and have done 2 inches in 3 night.......this is taking too long.
?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Pam's Ornament

A special THANK YOU to Pam for the great ornament idea. My niece wants to make them in her class in Burbank, CA.....so this ornament is going from Texas to California....and hopefully other states.
It looks so much like the Ojo de Dios and Mandalas that I love to make.
I can hardly wait to make them this summer with my granddaughters.
I'm going to put a Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead twist to them for my annual altar at the museum, and craft table sales. I'll keep ya'll posted.

K.

Ornament as per Pam on Gingerbread Snowflakes

The above mini-ojo-de-dios is 4". The center pictue is Our Lady of Guadalupe.

This green, cream, and yellow ornament is 3". The center is a Crafty Chica Charm.

Here they are side-by-side.


By Hook, By Hand: Free Spirit Amigurumi Doll Pattern

By Hook, By Hand: Free Spirit Amigurumi Doll Pattern

This is where you can find the basic Amigurumi doll pattern that I used for my Anabela doll. I made some changes, but not much.

Anabela Amigurumi Doll

My grandniece's birthday was March 15th. I am very behind in my gift making, but got this doll finished after I recovered from a week in bed from food poisoning. Put her in the mail on Tuesday, and she should be delivered to her new mommy today. Waited until today to post this, as I didn't want to spoil the surprise. I call this my "Anabela Doll" named after my precious grandniece. The pattern is a basic Amigurumi Doll pattern by Beth Webber. The dress I made freehand, no pattern. The flower covers and inperfection in my crochet skills, and the wig was also free hand. Shoes were made because my mother thought she needed them. I used the doll pattern foot, and just stopped when it looked like a shoe. Strap is hand woven with yarn and a needle. My sis-in-law gave me a box of safety eyes, thinking I would find a use for them. Thanks to her I can make as many animals/dolls for a while. These are hard to find eyes, and noses.