by Kat | Dec 7, 2018 | General, In This Moment
I have been quietly working through Michelle’s Just Five Things prompts this week. The started out easy with gratitude and I found the lists just flew from my pen! Quiet, warmth, and comfort started out easy enough, but for each of these prompts – that last list was a struggle!
And, then today’s prompt – receive
It took a long time to write anything down and I have been thinking much about the personal struggle I have with receiving.
You might be wondering what all this has to do with my TGIF post…
Well…Everything!
Thinking About – Receive… from advice, to help, to compliments – these are things that I struggle with. I am that 3-year-old standing there obnoxiously shouting ‘I can do it myself!’ My thoughts today will revolve around improving on being a more gracious receiver!
Grateful For – An early Christmas gift! (THANK YOU, Steve!!) In my prior sewing life, I had a lovely serger, which I used all the time. Sadly, that serger went to the Great Serger Heaven years ago but then one day Mary planted a seed… and voilà – Welcome to my new Brother 1034D serger! I am so glad that Steve noted this Amazon Deal of the Day and then gifted it to me early! It made sewing the Carseat Poncho much easier! The hood was a huge challenge. Perhaps it would have been easier if it was not lined – but my daughter lives in the great white north of Traverse City and Genevieve is in the “refuses to wear a winter coat camp” (Just like her mother was, btw – lol!) I also struggled with making “arm slits” and solved the less than perfect attempts with some smart little flaps! All in all, this is a huge win! Although, my suggestion if you are making one and don’t live in the arctic circle, you might want to line it with flannel! The serger got more of a work out with my Dress No. 2! I used it to finish the edges – and while they are harder to see than Mary’s – I too want to just show everyone how lovely they are! Also…I LOVE the alterations I made on Dress No. 2! I did inseam pockets vs. patch pockets on the front and I also did a modification of this sleeve hack. I sewed the smallest size of the nested pattern I have, and honestly – I could have made it a bit smaller. But, the fit in the shoulders is perfect and it hangs beautifully – I will try and get some shots wearing it this weekend and share them with you all next week!
Inspired By – All the RÅSKOG cart ideas! (Thanks, Honoré for the heads up on this idea! The new serger is going to require a bit of a craft room reorganization! So, I have been looking at ideas on pinterest. Maybe this weekend I will drag Steve to IKEA for another RÅSKOG cart!! Haha!
Fun, fun, fun – We are in the midst of a bit of cold weather and that kind of weather just screams for the perfect cocktail… I am going to give these a whirl this weekend – if you watch my IG feed you will see how they turned out later today!
Also, Amaryllis Watch has begun…
That is all I have for this week. And, honestly… it makes me so sad that there are only three more Friday’s in 2018. Have a good weekend and I will see you all back here on Monday!
by Kat | Sep 17, 2018 | General, In This Moment
The Sedum is just gorgeous this year and I caught this lovely little bee in my photos last week. Summer was full on again over the weekend, which I will count as a blessing especially with the rain we are having today. But, for all the summer weather it was a weekend of thinking, list making, and planning and, yes, my list for this week is long!
This Instagram post made me laugh. 50-60 pairs of mittens??? What??? Maybe I need to up my mitten game…but, all those mittens are surpassed by the airing of the socks…I just love knitters!
There was a bit of sewing and, I even finally got the binding done on Rock the Lobster! I could find no ribbon that inspired me for the sweater, so instead I made bias tape in just the right width to cover the zipper and the steeked edges. I am just thrilled with how this turned out. As for the sewing, I made another Esme tunic – this time with a bit more of a scooped neck from some repurposed blue chambray. It needs some adjustments at the neckline and at the armscyes, but once those are done I think I will be ready to sew a flannel version!
Now, I am off to tackle that list – have an amazing Monday everyone!
by Kat | Aug 24, 2018 | General, Making
It’s a 2-fer Friday! I finished up my AC-esque tee yesterday, I also finished weaving in the ends of last years End of Summer MKAL and I love them both!
I learned so much in the construction of this tee and I absolutely want to do this again! One thing I know for sure is that I need to practice stitches! Even a simple running stitch performs differently in knit materials. I see some more stitch sampling in my future! Ha! Also, AC patterns run small… holy cow. However, a quick fix of a side gusset solved that problem. I used one of Steve’s no longer worn Old Navy tee shirts which I cut apart and put back together. The front pieces are double layer (with a white tee shirt). I love how this double layer worked! It feels so substantial and is really much nicer than just a plain old tee shirt. I think for my first try, this worked very well!
Now, the End of Summer Wrap…it is huge!! I used Briar Rose Fibers Joyful and it is so soft! However, I am ashamed to say that just 3 partial days of knitting were all that stood between unfinished and finished. The unique construction of this shawl is also just wonderful! And, the huge rectangle shape is so wearable! It’s pretty sad that it languished in a basket for the better part of a year, however, I think this will be in heavy rotation this fall!
How about some links?
First up, Beth Brown-Reinsel has a couple of new Gansey books out: Gansey Style Accessories and Knitting Ganseys
Churchmouse Yarns & Teas has released a new fall collection that has some really lovely pieces! Plus, they included a little bonus hat pattern that is free!
Not a sweater knitter? This week has some lovely things for you!
The Sweater Was Strong this week:
And, finally… this one is for Carole! Beach Hair Don’t Care
That is all I have for the week! See you back here on Monday!
by Kat | Aug 21, 2018 | General, In This Moment
A series of tiny scissor snips and brilliance is revealed. I do like the texture, Vicki!
Sometimes, the process of creation is slow-going and experimental. I am thinking that a few appliqued stars will improve the plain back.
Then, some Cretan Stitch practice…
by Kat | Aug 20, 2018 | General, Making
In the ongoing reorganization of all things crafty in my house, I found several languishing projects that needed to be prioritized for finishing. Sometimes the best way to hold myself accountable is to post it here, out in the open for all to see.
This gives me the perfect opportunity to update my “Make Nine in 2018” goals. I have replaced some items from my original plan.
- Alabama Chanin-style t-shirt – neck and arm binding and some seam stitching are all that stand between me and a new top! A question for all you experienced Alabama Chanin girls…
should I cut out the insides of the stars or do I leave them as they are?
- Laura Aylor’s End of Summer MKAL from last year…seems appropriate to finish it, right?
- Strokkur… sleeves and yoke to go…This would be a lovely addition to my cooler weather wardrobe, so it is moving back into the rotation!
- Autumn Forest – I am not to the half way point yet, but this is a nice semi-mindless and portable knit!
- Two more Esme Tunics… one flannel and one with bell-sleeves!
- Another Uniform Top
- Tegna is underway and I am almost done with the lace portion!
Sadly, this is not the entire list of things I have languishing but, these are the things that I have prioritized for finishing! The others I am pondering…do they stay, or do they go!
I also realize this looks like I have made nothing from my first “make nine” collage… I have made oodles of Esme Tunics and Tops… and I love them so much, they are like my uniform! So, an updated with some knits switched out for the following reasons… I foolishly put 2 items on my list that required me to spin the yarn in order to then knit. I am so out of practice with spinning and I don’t think a sweater spin is the place to work out those kinks. Consistency and all that being important in sweater knitting… so they have moved off the list to be replaced by things that I want to finish.
Last week, Karen shared some great inspiration for completing things. I am taking a page from her and setting aside time each day to work on this list until it is complete.
What are you making today? Do you have a “must finish” list before the season changes?
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