Ottobre - where have you been for most of my life?

I'm ashamed to admit that I have not tried Ottobre patterns until yesterday.  Where have I been?  Huh.  In the past year, I have expanded to using other patterns outside of McCalls, Butterick, and Simplicity (and the occasional Vogue - who I am kidding, fashionista I'm not, but I hope to change that).  I like the designs from Oliver + S and Lyla and Ben, and I was able to subscribe to Ottobre and Burdastyle. 

Tracing seems always seem like a pain in the ass though.  Many years ago, Burda had patterns without seam allowances, and that was my limit.  F that (as in forget that :P).  Of course, with age, I'm suppose to have acquired a certain sense of patience, temperance, and maturity.  Ok, it means I have to stop being lazy if I want to make some really cool stuff.

Hence, the following Ottobre is what I have must.  Mostly because it has the overalls.  And I looooove overalls.  For kids, that is, and babies.  My baby, in particular.

Last week, I woke up early and traced out my first Ottobre pattern.  Before anyone was up, post-coffee, and with my usual sewing accoutrements - Trangle and Speck (or Speck-a-roo as JJ likes to call her).  We'll see how it goes.

  

More recently, I have been getting into Tunisian crochet, double-ended crochet, crochet in the round, crochetnit, etc.  Whatever.  I tried it once around 1998 - can't believe I remember that.  It was sort of . . . meh.  But I have been seeing more patterns using this technique.  Whether that's because I'm finally paying attention or it has reemerged. Who cares, I guess.  Count me in..

I tried a color combination of brown, orange, and tan.  Yeah, I know, but I like it.  A bit reminiscent of the 70s.  Although I basically grew up in the 80s, I spent some time in the 70s, and, as SFR pointed out one time, I enjoy 70s music.  And I'm very partial to the granny square.  I'm absolutely convinced that the granny square vest CAN be revived!  (Once again, further proof that I'm no fashionista...hehe).

In quilting news, the Tucson Quilt Fiesta is here once again.  Sadly, I let my membership with the Tucson Quilter's Guild lapse - between the baby and work, it wasn't easy getting to meetings - so no volunteering or free admissions.  I am taking off work early today to check it out though.  The quilts should be pretty amazing, and its always inspiring!

Other upcoming events in the next month: the sewing and craft festival in Phoenix and, of course, the gem show!

Biz-e month

I didn't get another charger for my camera, but I figured I might as well use my camera phone. Hope the pictures come out all right.


Boy. January was a busy, crafty month for me. I decided to go through my UFO's and finish a few of them. Naturally, I had to throw in some new projects as well.


I crocheted these Warm Willies Fingerless gloves for work. My office gets a bit cold, and, since all I do is write at a computer, I wanted something to warm up my fingers.


I have to admit that they are a bit plain. The pattern is suppose to have a band across the back of the hand, but I decided not to sew it on. I think it needs a ruffled edge or maybe some beads. Hmm. . .



My next project is something I was really excited about. I mentioned that I used Crocheted Posey Purse pattern from Red Heart. Instead of the round handles, I used oval, and I omitted the crochet flower. I dunno why - :/.

The lining was purchased at Jo-Ann's with the intent of making another purse from the One-yard Wonders book. I thought the green with hints of purple was perfect for this bag.

This bag came together so quickly. I was just a crocheting fool at every moment I could get. I even crocheted while I had lunch with SFR, and that almost never happens. Ahem.



Onto the sewing . . .

I'm not much into New Year's resolutions, but I guess along with the new year I do feel a certain compulsion to reflect upon the past year and to feel some motivation to change. With that, I'd like to make more clothes for the kids, especially Em.


This is McCalls 6235 ,view D, size medium. Finished! The snaps weren't too difficult, but I did notice that there is a wide opening in the crotch area even though I followed the snap placement on the pattern.

I will have to add more around that area so it isn't gaping open. I sort of knew it would happen, but I just wanted to get this done without further delay.


It looks cute on Em. All this rush though, and it still a bit big on her. I'm not sure whether I will make this again though. Next time, I might omit the footed portion. I'll probably try out the other garments, too.







Next, is a pair of pants from Kwik Sew's Sewing for Baby. These were quick! I churned them out in probably less than an hour, cutting included. I serged the inside, and I used narrow binding for the hem to ensure a nice finish, especially when washing.

I plan to make a matching top, and I'd like to add some ruffles or lace to make it more "girly." The fabric came from a thrift store, but it was cheap and soft, so . . .








On a non-crafty note, I'm feeling a little . . .well, drab today. Hence, the rather weak post in terms of wittiness. The past few days here in Tucson have been somber with the recent shootings. Our community is rather devastated, and, while I haven't lived here in Tucson long, I have always been connected with and loved Arizona. Its such a sad thing, and I guess I'm sad, too.

Still here. . .

Still not successful in locating my battery charger. :( BUT, I have been extremely crafty lately. In fact, I have been completing a lot of UFOs! Most of it has been knitting and crocheting with some sewing here and there.

Just yesterday, I sewed in the lining in this great bag that I crocheted using this pattern: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/crochet-posey-purse. I absolutely love it.

I have been spending a lot more time in the sewing room, so I'm looking forward to showing you a lot of pictures soon! Happy New Year!

Grumble

Sigh. I am now forced to take a brief hiatus from posting pictures. For the life of me, I cannot locate the battery charger for my camera, so no pictures until I either locate it or buy another one (again). And, frankly, I might have a hard time coming off as interesting without pictures. I am a woman of few words. :P

In the meantime, I have been working on a few projects. I finished a potato chip scarf, and I'm working on a rippled scarf. I finished sewing M's romper, but, sadly, it awaits the addition of the snaps. (I told you.) As for the turkish bed socks, I finished one side (yay), and I casted on and started the second one. Take that, second sock syndrome!

Hopefully, with the little time off I have from work, I can dig deeper and find that battery charger within the next month.

Grumble.

Christopher who?

I meant to enter a post last weekend, but I was a bit wrapped up with the extra day off from work. Naturally, I am not the biggest proponent of Columbus Day, and, in fact, I'm still wondering why the federal government celebrates that lunatic. Wait - I take that back. Its makes sense. At least to me.

A few months ago, I cut out the pieces for a romper for M a couple of sizes bigger which was a good thing because I put it aside, thinking I would get to it within the next couple of weeks. Well, now its been about two months, and it will probably fit her now, assuming I finished it, like, now. So . . .here she is.

Since the time I took the picture, I did finish the legs, and I'm ready to attach the soles. I worry that, once put together, I will experience additional delay with attaching the snaps. Yipe. I hope not. Its pretty much the right size for M to wear now, especially with the weather turning a bit cooler.

Did I ever say that Tucson has been having some beautiful mornings? Now that the temperature has finally dropped, the weather is extremely amicable. Perfect for taking M for a walk, riding a bike (which SFR is doing as I write), and running (which I have started to do again).



This little ensemble is the Mouse's next project. I helped her make her first quilt several months ago, and, let me tell you, she was very diligent! Her first quilt comprised of simple squares from fat quarters she picked out from Jo-Ann's. She pieced them together and attached the border, and, in one afternoon, she tied the entire quilt in one sitting. No hesitation. Man.

The Tucson Quilter's Guild has an annual Quilt Fiesta near the beginning of every year, and, this year, I volunteered to man a table. I took the Mouse with me to fan the beginnings of what I am hoping will be a quilty Mouse soon. When we were done, we walked around and examined all the beautiful quilts, including those made by kids around her age. I think she was a bit motivated by the fact that others were doing the same and displaying their quilts.

She selected the cat fabric above, and I picked out the pattern, Shadow Box, thinking that it was a bit more challenging than her previous quilt but not too difficult. Last weekend, SFR, JJ, M, and I all went to Phoenix on a day trip, and, of course, we stopped by Quilter's Ranch. I picked out the poked-dotted black fabric for the "shadow" portion. I already have the neutral background, so maybe this weekend, we'll work on it.

I just have to say - I'm really excited about the possibility that the Mouse will get into quilting. Ahem.


At the Quilter's Ranch, I also bought this. I have been into browns lately. Browns, oranges, and blues. The black was a fluke. I almost never buy black fabric, but I do so enjoy dots.

Finally, some crochet. Here is the blanket that I finished for M. I started this baby blanket when I was about three months pregnant, and we weren't sure whether we were having a boy or a girl.

Sleep was an issue for me during my pregnancy. I was able to go to sleep, but, somewhere around 2 or 3 am, I would wake up and have a difficult going back to sleep. I bought those crochet hooks with the lights, thinking that I could crochet in the dark without disturbing SFR. Ha! Well, I don't think I actually used the lights, but I do like the crochet hooks. In fact, they were on clearance at Michaels, and I snatched them all. I could always use more size H, right?


























Hep Cat update: Kitty is on hold, for now. I went as far as I could, and I need to order some cat eyes which I have not been able to locate in the Pueblo.

Now. Off to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Finally. . . October

September wasn't a very good month for me. Work was stressful, and I wasn't feeling very well. So, for obvious reason, I wasn't very crafty.

October, however. . .

It's been so warm here until very recently with a brief appearance of rain. Ahhh . . . now its a few degree cooler and slightly more comfortable. I'm very into cardigans, so it looks like we'll be having cardigan weather soon. (Of course, I always wear a cardigan.)

Yesterday, I left work a bit early to pickup up da Mouse, my eleven year old genius bar, from school. She is attending BASIS middle school - very challenging, but definitely in her league. With at least 45 minutes in hand, I made a quick trip to Bella Quilts on Broadway. I haven't been there in a while, and, frankly, I'm not sure why. Here in Tucson, the quilts stores are either very east or very north of central Tucson, which is where I live. So, its a trek going to one of them, and Bella Quilts is probably the nearest one. Anyway, I stopped in, and, mind you, I was there for only about maybe fifteen minutes (because of the travel and traffic time) and, you betta believe, I walked out with some stuff.




Introducing Butterfly Town quilt kit. I just realized that I accidently omitted the pattern, but it's a butterfly pattern. I love the fabrics, especially the florals. I haven't decided which one of my four girls will be the recipient.






There was also a packet of 20 fat quarter reproduction fabrics that I snatched. I have always wanted a small variety of reproduction fabrics. I am thinking of making this for the Banana, my sassy, redheaded eight year old, a Sunbonnet Sue quilt with the fabric. The pattern and fabric definitely suit her personality.

I read a few blogs, too, about English paper piecing, too, and I'm anxious to try my hand at it. I love handpiecing, but I dislike having to mark out lines for the sewing and cutting lines. Hence, the diamond and hexagon pieces. Now to figure out the fabric . . .

Onto what I have been working lately:

I've had these squares cut out for quite a while.
I'm too ashamed to admit how far back. :(

I love pinwheels. In fact, I think the very first quilt I completed had pinwheels. I was in college, and I worked part-time at Clothworld (now defunct). Needless to say, I did a much better job shopping there than actually working.

I sewed up a few more blocks, and I am considering making Em her first baby quilt. Another shameful moment. Sniff. My little Em is almost eight months, and, sadly, I have not officially made her a quilt. I did, however, crochet her two blankets. Pic forthcoming!

Speaking of crochet, I recommenced working on
Hepcat. This is for JJ, my seven year old little miss know-it-all. Amigurumi is pretty cool, if not a little tough on the hands. I will continue to work on him intermittently.

I completed the peg arms, the muzzle, and two ears, but I could only find one. Since JJ's favorite color is blue, I will likely introduce a strong shade of blue, rather than the one used in the book.






And then there's the turkish bed socks. I am o-most (as JJ use to say) done! Of course, that's just the one foot. It's coming out very nicely, especially with the yarn. It might look small, but it stretches. I know its a bit dated and overused, but I like the teal-green-blue combination. In any case, I'm looking forward to wearing these when the weather turns cold, if at all.

Until next time . . .

Local Tucson Resident is Fed Up With Not Sewing!

I have been knitting here and there, but I'm jonesing to sew. A quilt block, to be exact. Something about sewing two pieces of fabric together satiates what seems like a primitive feeling inside of me. The soft roar of my sewing machine, the gentle push of fabric between the feed dogs and presser foot, and the concentration of making sure that I make that quarter inch seam.

So. After work yesterday, I rushed to the grocery store, returned home, discovered that the little one was napping, and proceeded to take advantage of whatever desperate minutes that remained before I was interrupted.

Sorry about the sideways pic. I tried to fix it but to no avail.

For whatever reason, I could not get the upper left corner of the center square to match up. I ripped it apart at least three times, but I couldn't get it to match. Bother. I did get the time to feed my addiction though, so I'm ok now. Ahem.