10.29.11

We went to a Halloween party and got to wear our costumes a few days early!
Bonus:

Sweaterpants!

I was cleaning up my studio this morning and came across a bag of wool sweaters I'd bought at a thrift store and then felted in the washing machine, so I decided to whip up a pair of sweaterpants for James. And I made them too big/convertible (I can take out the stitches in the waistband to unfold it and unroll the cuffs), so they should fit him for a while, maybe even until it warms up again in spring!

I used the sweater's sleeves for legs, a piece of the body for the butt panel, and the neck for the waistband. That little patch going the wrong way on the left leg is covering two holes.

Otto's fall socks

Otto asked me to knit him a new pair of fall socks, so I picked up this yarn (Patons Kroy Socks FX) in a nice fall colorway. Nancy Lindbergh's Knit to Fit socks pattern (my favorite) on US size 3 needles. I decided to make them a little too big so they will hopefully last until next spring/summer.

Mei-tai carrier

UPDATE as of 7.13.11: I am selling this Mei-tai carrier. It is in great, barely used condition. Please comment or message me for details and pricing.



I finally finished up the Mei-tai carrier I've been working on. This is my own design, a modified version of one I purchased when Otto was an infant (which had a few things I didn't like about it).

The back panel is patchwork on the outside and a single FQ on the inside, quilted with simple vertical lines. The straps are double layers of fabric which also act as the binding for the back panel.

Outside and inside views:

6.12.10

I actually finished up James's blanket two weeks ago, but I just now got around to taking a picture of it.

Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic on size G hook, just a big granny square.

Pip's redwork quilt

I finished Pip's redwork quilt last week and finally got a chance to take some (not great) pictures this weekend after washing it. The finished quilt is 47" square, which is a bit big for a baby quilt, but I figure it will be good for lying on top of at first and leaves room to grow.

This is my own design, a nine-patch of nine-patches, with each of the blocks using 8 red & white prints around a center panel of hand embroidery. The embroidered designs were drawn by Sean. They are a mushroom, hedgehog, hotdog, cardinal, Fokker Dr.1 triplane (the Red Baron's plane), dinosaur, ketchup, lobster and cherries. Closer shots of all the embroidered motifs can be seen here.



I did the quilting in straight lines making boxes within the blocks, and intersecting lines in the sashing (can you tell I was thinking a lot about squares while making this?). There is also one line of hand quilting outlining the triplane, and some straight lines radiating out from the center of that block. The binding is the same small polka dot you can see in the main blocks.



For the backing, I used a large piece of slightly heavier fabric that I cut off the bottom of our bedroom curtains. It's actually red and off-white, but I love the print and it works with the binding (and I'm hoping the sturdier fabric will help it last longer since I'm planning on using it as a park blanket).

I'm working on getting the pattern/instructions for the quilt written up, and will have it available for purchase (with or without the embroidery patterns) soon.

I'm also working on getting better pics, because these backyard jobbies are not cutting it. But I wanted to post something because I am very proud of this quilt!

4.28.10

Working on amigurumi patterns... expanding the line of itty-bitty animals.

4.25.10

In progress: a mini-quilt (17" x 21") which will eventually be the back panel of a mei-tai style baby carrier.

"Hump Dumpy" lamp

I found this lamp at the flea market a while back, and finally got around to making a shade for it so I could put it in the boys' room. Henry loves it; "Hump Dumpy" is his favorite nursery rhyme character.

simple table fort

I made a simple table cover so the kiddos could have a fun fort to play in on rainy days. This project took 8 yards of unbleached muslin and a few hours of sewing.

It's made of three pieces of fabric: one on the top and two on the sides (this creates a doorway on each short end of the table). I measured my table (length=L, width=W, height=H) and cut out one piece L+1" x W+1", and two pieces L+W+6" x H+2". I finished the short ends of the side pieces by turning under 0.5" and sewing, then turning under 0.5" and sewing again. Then I attached the two side pieces to the top piece by matching the centers of the long sides and continuing around, using a 0.5" seam allowance, and overlapping the two side pieces with each other to create the doors. Then I finished the piece by sewing the seam allowances down and hemming the bottom edges so that the sides just reach to the floor.



The kids love it!