Friday, March 20, 2015

A CROFO and some SEWFOs and what I've been up to lately

Happy Spring!

Winter is officially over and Spring has Sprung!  I have been steadily crafting!

I continued my bag making.  Here is a picture of what has been finished:

So a total of 5 project bags finished.  I have the fabric cut for 2 more and then I think that will be enough for me.  If I make too many then I will feel compelled to have projects in each one!

I also finished a shawl:




This is the Half Circle Shawl by Anastacia Zittel and this was very easy to make and its uber soft and cozy.  I highly recommend this.


Finally,  I did a little mixed media art piece:


 This was fun to make! I used one stanza or part of a stanza from Maya Angelou's poem Phenomenal Woman.  I made this for my Coworker and now a few more people want them!  The image is Charlotte Chic rubber stamp from the greeting farm.  Turned out great!

And now, my writing:


I started taking a creative writing class with goal of finally writing my first Novel.  This was me, doing my homework.  I had to write 1000 words to be workshopped for the class.  I am both excited and nervous to share it tomorrow.  


What I have been listening to:

I started the Audio Book Game of Thrones yesterday and I am enjoying it so far.  The book is the first in a series and it is 800 pages!  So,  I was pretty sure that I would never get through it actually reading it so I am listening to it.  

Podcasts:

I have been enjoying a  few podcasts: 

These have all been really enjoyable! Check them out! 

Going to my writing class helped me realize how much I want to write a good story. And since reading makes you a better writer, I am amping up my reading.

What I am reading now:


And I have several more in the queue. 


Well, thats all for now. right now I have 2 knitting wips and I am planning to cast on Flax for my son tonight.  So hopefully I will have some knitting FO's and some more SewFO's in my next post.  

Bye for now! 


Monday, March 2, 2015

Soooooo, I've been crafting but not Posting!!

Time to document my crafty life!  

So far in 2015 I have finished a few things.  I have been into yarn for the past year.  Mostly crochet but I did pick up my needles and started knitting again in 2015.  I'm loving it.  Knitting still takes forever, but for garments I just love the look.  So,  what I have completed so far this year is mostly crochet, actually all crochet! 






All items are crocheted.  First two are free patterns on ravelry which I will link here:



The Third one I learned from a youtube tutorial which I will link here:




I used bernat baby softee for the the baby hoodie and it worked up nice and quick.  I used Vanna White yarn for the beret.  The pattern called for  a nice pom pon on the back but the person it was made for would not want that detail so I left it off.  I also used Vanna White yarn for the Trinity stitch hat.  

I enjoyed these Projects. 

As for knitting I have a pair of vanilla socks on the needles.  Slow going because I am just a slow knitter:


Its further alone than this now so I should be turning the heel soon.  Wish me luck! 

I am also making a sweater!  I'm being brave this year with plans to knit a sweater for myself and one for my son.  And a sweater vest for my husband if I can.  So I have my sweater cast on and its coming along well.  I'm using loops and threads acrylic  for mine because:

  1. Its affordable.  For my first sweater, I did not want to spend a lot of money on yarn, because knowing me I might peter out before I finish.
  2. I cannot afford to be a yarn snob.....maybe one day, but for now, I am cannot
  3. I don't really wear wool anyway. All of my bought sweaters are some form of acrylic
I don't have a picture of my progress yet but it is a free pattern on Ravelry which I will link here:


I am enjoying this one for sure and hopefully I won't come to regret the acrylic.  Maybe if I am uber pleased with the results I will do it again with a premium yarn.  

I am also making a Flax sweater for my son and a coordinating Barley Hat. I have the yarn.  I will be making his in acrylic for sure.  Loops and Threads baby yarn in a dark grey colorway.  I have not casted these on yet but when I get to a certain point in my sweater,  I will cast on the Flax sweater.  

So,  I have been watching lots of knitting podcasts lately and it seems that project bags have become a thing since last I knit.  So,  I naturally feel the pull to have a bag for each of my projects too!  So,  I bought some inexpensive unlined drawstring bags from Etsy seller GalianaCreations.  and I really like my bags pictured here:


I have another one as well but no picture.  This one is now holding the yarn for my son's sweater.  But I was so inspired by everyone's pretty bags that I decided to make some of my own.  Using this tutorial:



I made two of my own. The owly one is big enough for a shawl but is currently holding my February Lady Sweater.  The one with the elephant print is holding a bunch of Red Heart With Love Yarn purchased for the sweater initially but I ended up abandoning that yarn because it was just way too fuzzy.  I love these bags. I included a layer of felt in mine instead of batting because thats what I had. But it turns out that it makes the bags more sturdy and when they are opened, they work like little baskets.  They are not perfect but I am so proud of my work! 






I have plans to make a few more bags.  I have to say I am enjoying my sewing machine! 

So,  thats it for 2015 so far. I did a lot in 2014 but I did not document a lot here. I am planning to do more of that this year. 

As mentioned above, I have really been enjoying a ton of podcasts and vlogs.  Here are a few that I love:





There are tons of great ones!  


Anyway, thats all for now.  Happy Crafting!