I know this may come as a shock but, I’m finishing a quilt. A real one! I figured it was about time, seeing as though I have my a-maz-ing new sewing machine now.
Hand piecing everything + hand quilting everything = kinda boring.
So, just a little more quilting to go, plus the binding. I’m ready to have this four year project finished.
Wheee! Two blog posts and two completed knits in one whole week!
My lovely friend Allison had a birthday this past weekend, and being the lovely person she is, deserved something that was squishy and warm and red. I knew I wouldn’t be able to crank out a pair of socks in just a few days so I decided to go with a Darkside Cowl. I love how defined the stitch pattern is, but yet is still simple enough to wear just about with anything. It was also a perfect way for me to use a nice yarn and be finished in less than a month.
Allison is also a knitter and appreciates good yarn so I picked out
something I hadn’t seen before — Elsebeth Lavold Baby Llama. LLAMA! This stuff is super soft and squishy. I’m a little worried that it might pill and nub up a bit, but hopefully the softness will make up for any of that.
Pattern here, yo!
Crap. I’ve done it again.
I’ve been debating wiping the blog out and starting fresh (just because I think it’s pretty embarrassing that my last post was in October…of the sewing machine I bought in August) but I think I’m going to just leave it up. Nobody’s reading this pile anymore, anyway.
So, back to business. I finished a new hat.
I was skeptical about this hat for several reasons. As I knitted it, the brim seemed very odd to me. The picot edges seem a lot larger than I had expected and I thought it might look silly. I also was concerned with not having enough yarn in the end (I used two skeins Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight Baby Alpaca) so I decided to begin the decreases early. I think if this yarn was thicker and I was planning on using it as a winter hat, I would have ripped back and knitted it longer, but I’m satisfied with using it for a spring hat.
On Ravelry? See the details here. And hey, add me as a friend. I like friends.
…to the sewing machine decision! I really do appreciate all of the great suggestions about machines, and I have to tell you all that I really did a lot of investigating and checked out your suggestions. It’s amazing to me how many variables there are in sewing machines. That, and the prices. I think I was a little shocked when I started looking at how much a nice machine would run. But, after debating what I wanted, I decided to pick something that would do everything. And everything is what I got.
I ended up choosing the Brother QC-1000, and so far, I really love it. I had worried about picking a computerized machine (out of fear that it might be obsolete in a number of years) but from what I found is that the power of a computerized machine is so much stronger and can keep its stitches much more even. The cool thing about this machine is that it automatically senses the thickness of the thread and adjusts the tension and stitch power to keep the stitches all the same. When I first started top stitching my totes, I was shocked at how nice and even and not messy it looked, even when going over the handles and sides.
There’s so many features that I haven’t even had a real chance to work with yet, but I love the fact that it will be a long time before I run out of new things to explore on it. It’s such a dream to sew on, and I know that my finished products are looking a ton better. It’s fast, it’s smart, and it’s been a quick machine to learn, despite all the features.
And as far as features go, it threads itself, it cuts the thread at at the end of the seam, it sews front to back, side to side, and diagonally, it came with a walking foot, plus several other quilting feet (I have to get some practice with those soon!) and has more stitches than you can shake a stick at. Then, if I couldn’t find a stitch that I wanted it to do, I could upload a pattern to the machine and it would add it to it’s stitch library. It’s seriously, freaking cool!
So, I think I’m unofficially, officially shopping for a new sewing machine. Anybody got any suggestions?
As much as I really, really love my sewing machine, I think the problems that I’m having with it are outweighing the good. Emma, my machine, went in for a tune up earlier this year, and she ran much better for about 2 months. I’m having the same problems that I did about this time last year though–sloppy, uneven length stitches, sliding out of tension in the feed dogs, and weird jamming up problems. I would consider taking her back in to be serviced again, but I they had her for almost 2 months because they had to re-order a broken part. With Renegade coming up, I can’t be out of a machine for that long. Plus, I just can’t justify spending $150 every six months for a tune up. Buying new just seems to make more sense.
My next step is to start shopping. I’m looking for a machine that can be used everyday and not be worn down quickly. I think my current machine was meant much more as a hobbyist model and I’d like something a little tougher. I’m also looking to do quilting with it, but I don’t need any of the fussy embroidery stitches and functions. Emma is a Husqvarna Viking, and I’ve been really happy with the ease of using the machine, but I’m certainly not committed to that brand. I want to test driving some models, but if there’s something super good that I should look at, I’d be interested to know about it! I need any help that I can get.
Who’s tired of looking at my dorky face? How about some pillows instead? Would that make you all happy?
I was asked to make these for a custom order this past week. She wanted them done the same way that I make my patchwork totes. I hadn’t really thought to make pillows like this before (duh) but I like them way better than the log cabin style ones that I’ve made before. I think I may make a few more like these in other colors.
Why am I smiling like an idiot? Because I found out today that myself and my friend Amie Miller of Enamor have been accepted to vendor at the Renegade Craft Fair this September! I’m seriously excited.
These next two months are going to be full of lots of sewing!
I know that it seems like I’ve yet again, abandoned the blog, but alas, I am here. Sewing my brains out!
I’m getting ready for a show next weekend, and these are the latest edition to my goods that I’ll be bringing along with me. Journals! For as much as I’m obsessive compulsive about writing everything down, these have been perfect for me to make. Once I fill up one notebook, I can slide it out and put a new one in.
I’ve been using different colors of linen to line the outside, with three pieces of cotton to make it all pretty-like. I’ve also found a bit sturdier of an iron on interfacing that seems to work really well. I’m not sure of the name; so far I’ve been able to pick it out based on feel.
**Side note: Am I the only one who does that with interfacing? All the women at the craft stores don’t believe me when I ask for other interfacing than what they have on display, and they’ll tell me, “Oh honey, these are the only kinds they make. I’m sure one of these are what you need.” And I’m all like “no, I can tell the difference by touch, and this isn’t the same interfacing you had last month when I was in the store. I swear there’s a conspiracy.
So, these, along with oodles of pouches and bags and other sewing have been keeping me busy this month. Next Saturday I’ll be back in Ypsilanti, Michigan for the Summer Shadow Art Fair at the Corner Brewery. It’s always a really fun day, so if you’re in the area, stop by, look at crafts and have a beer! (You’ll have to buy your own, though.)
Oh.My.Goodness. I love having the summer off!
Let’s just discuss a few of the reasons why I love summer and my days off.
I dare you to deny that this is the best and weirdest tongue you’ve ever seen before. Who wouldn’t want to spend time getting soaked by something so full of chocolate-y love? I love being at home with Hudson.
Knitting socks on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon–another wonderful perk to having the summer off. Do I need to do laundry instead? Probably, yes, but we can wear old undies for just one more day this week. I’ve got plenty with holes that I’ve been hanging on to for just that reason.
Need I say more? Totally acceptable to have this in the middle of a hot day, while lounging on the patio, knitting socks that I won’t wear until October.
I’m sure I could enjoy all my flowers even if I had to work in the summer, but not in the middle of the afternoon, in the middle of the week. (I’m just pushing it now, aren’t I?)
Thank you for joining me as I list the reasons why I love summer, and why I love working for the public school system. Happy first day of summer to everyone!
Well. I sure was in a grouchy mood earlier this week. I’ve perked up considerably from the other day–I guess I just get frustrated about feeling like I’m trapped in a rut. I want so badly to be coming up with new things and making everything that ever crosses my mind but that’s just not possible, and I know it. FRUSTRATING!
I’ll try not to be so fricking annoying from now on.
So these are those hairpins that were in the photo from the craft show two entries down. I’ve had a lot of people say things about them, so I figured I’d show you a few up close.
They’re actually one of my favorite things to make for a show, because they really seem to make my table seem a whole lot fuller than it actually is. Plus, all of the colors really draws a whole lot of attention, and let’s face it–at a show, I’m looking for something that will do that. (Greedy Sarah.)
I love them for the fact that I keep every single last scrap of fabric now to make these. I have three bins in my sewing room (what the heck…let’s call it my studio) that I keep my small pieces in. I keep them organized by color:
1.) Blacks, whites and neutrals in one
2.) Green, blue and purple in another
3.) Red, orange, yellow and pink in the last
Color coding is very important to me, as you can see. You would never know this though, by looking on the floor and the desk and seeing that half of the fabric pieces never actually make it to the bins, because I don’t know how to clean. I just don’t think it’s possible for me to do.
So, regardless of all of that mess stuff, I had a bunch of hairpins left over from my show the other weekend, and today I decided to try photographing some of my favorites. I’ve put a few of the sets up at my Etsy shop, too. Just thought you might like to know that.