novamade

walking feet across a striped star

I made a thing! I meant to blog about this in pieces--in process as it were, but obviously, that didn't happen.  In any case, look at this little mini quilt! I am so pleased with it. It's not perfect, and I don't care at all. There was a great deal of learning involved, which was really the point. Also, I finally got to use some of the fabric I purchased in France 8 years ago (8 years!!). So, there's that.

I was never one for the mini quilt, but now that I am interested in exploring processes of quilting (literally--like the actual quilting of a quilt), it's sort of a helpful thing. I knew that I would use this mini-quilt to try out straight line quilting with a walking foot. I tried it a few years ago and it was a disaster. I am pretty sure I had a faulty foot because when things work as they should, the quilting itself looks amazing, a lovely quilt is produced in an efficient way, and the act of quilting doesn't make you hate your life. 

This walking foot did have a hiccup on me, but it turns out that it needed to be cleaned and oiled a little bit. Once I took care of the walking foot, it took care of me. There is a section or two that are not as cleanly quilted.  Meh. This is still the best quilting I have ever done. And I do mean ever.

I did add fabric to the edge (see above--see the seam right next to binding, yeah, don't care) and pieces of the quilt top (center of the star--not going to lie, I felt like a genius when that worked out) as I was piecing it together because things didn't match up properly (one of my French fabrics was really bias-y).

Also, I used the walking foot on the quilt binding as well just out of curiosity.  It's the prettiest machine sewn quilt binding I have ever done. I mean, you'd not want to do it for a quilt going into a show or anything, but a gift that going to get washed 80,000 times, yes.

I have no idea why I have not employed this tool earlier. Every one of the sewing machines I have ever owned came with a walking foot (or even feed foot, if you prefer) I believe. Like I said, I did try it once before, but I should have tried again. Reading Jacquie Gering's Walk was very inspirational, too. So, I am sure I will gain further inspiration as I work through that, but I am loving this straight line quilting right now.  It's a beautiful thing. You will see it on a ton more quilts. Probably soonish.

The Thing: Striped Star Mini Quilt (link goes to a great pattern/tutorial so you can make your own, you'll need to design your own quilting plan though--the one provided is pretty simple, which is fine, of course)

The Thing's Designer: Purl Soho /Purl Bee (obviously a specific human, but I am unsure which one)

The Thing was Made with: Cotton fabric, cotton thread, cotton batting and considerable patience

The thing Measures: app 21" x 21"

the ruby that wasn't

I crocheted a blanket. A throw. A lap thing. It’s not huge, but that was intentional. This blanket started out as a Ruby. You remember that, right? I thought I’d make one for my family (I have no idea why...seemed like a good idea at the time?).

I made two hexagons and realized that Ruby was not a journey that I would be taking again anytime soon. But I had all this yarn. And then an opportunity presented itself. Someone I spend a great deal of time with really loves this yarn (I mean, it is soft) and she commented that she wanted a blanket made from it really badly. And thus, a mission was assigned whether she realized it or not.

It’s not overly fancy, but it’s not meant to be. It’s a small blanket to keep a special someone warm while she studies. I have one of these crocheted by my husband’s grandmother (the erstwhile Ruby, actually), and I use it when I read and study in my office (it's decades old and made with Red Heart with some questionable color combinations--it has charm and character and it's indestructible).

I’d like to imagine the giftee will do the same with her's when she is off to college in Colorado next year. It’ll be a little graduation gift. A little something to let her know that she is cared for and her presence is missed.

The Thing: Lap Afghan/Mini-throw?

The Thing’s Designer: Me, I guess (It’s granny striped because I didn’t feel like doing a bunch of motifs)

The Things was Made With: Vanna’s Choice (Lion Brand) Yarn, Various Colors

The Thing was Crocheted With: J Hook, 6mm

i guess we can have nice things, actually

The alternative title to today’s post could be, “that’s what he said.” So, I finished a thing, or two things, really.  They aren’t really anything for me to brag about per se, but they are the finishing touch on a project done by Son, the Elder. So, obviously, I am going to brag about them.

My kid built a couch, such as it is. Last year, he decided that he wanted a couch and he couldn’t find what he was looking for so he decided he was going to build his own.  Great.  He opted to figure things out on his own.  As in, no research. Like, there are all things--tutorials on the internet and books and plans out there, but no…let’s reinvent the wheel. So he planned what he wanted, did some trial and error (prototyping, if you will or you must) and made the couch the way he wanted it.

It’s not the way I would have made a couch. But it’s not my couch. Also, I wouldn't have made a couch. This is why Ikea exists, but that's me.

He was pretty satisfied with the way things turned out structurally, but then when it got to covering the cushions he was pretty specific in what he wanted there as well. He also expected that I would do it for him. He basically wanted two slipcovers, as in pillowcases.  I told him there were YouTube videos!  There were tutorials involving staple guns (I thought I’d finally have an excuse to get one!).  He totally shut me down when he said, “I’m a boy. Also, I hate germs. The cover will get dirty and I’m going to want to wash it. You can’t wash something stapled on. So, something like a pillowcase that will come off easily, please.”

Sensible, I guess.  And he asked nicely. But a staple gun, you guys.  Staple gun. I guess I have to give it to him, he knows what he wants and if he can’t find it he’ll just manufacture…oh, wait, it’s like I’m describing myself.

Thing(s): Slipcover/Cushion Cases(?)

The Thing(s)’ Designer: Me and Son, the Elder

The Thing(s) were Made with: Upholstery (Heavyweight) fabric from Jo-Ann’s

The Thing was Made with: a few sewing machines, but that’s another story for another time

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a tale of sweater woe

While going through my the kids old clothes to store stuff away, I came across a sweater that I knit last year (one that I actually finished!).  I never blogged about it because, the whole episode gave me a sad.  So I went digging through my digital files to find this FO shoot. Again, these pictures, they're  so 2012 (they were taken a little over a year ago, actually).

 

So Mister asked me to make him a sweater of his very own, he wanted it to be green.  He picked out the yarn at Maryland Sheep and Wool (okay, the last one I went to was 2012, so it's been a while).  When he picked the yarn out, I told him, "you are going to think that's itchy when I knit that up, let me find you something else."  But no, someone wanted to be independent, and I am all about raising autonomous and self-reliant kids, so fine. I bought the yarn, I think I even talked about that somewhere, actually...here or flickr.  In any case, I found a great pattern, he said he liked it.  I knit it, and then he tried it on, did a little modeling for the blog...and then said he was taking it off and wouldn't wear it again.  

 

Say what?  Yeah,  it was "itchy," and "tight," and "there's no buttons."  What?! Okay, to be fair, the kid has really bad eczema and is pretty sensitive with the things he wears, but seriously?  I didn't want to be that mom.  So I just said fine, washed the sweater and tucked it away.  I guess I was hoping he would change his mind about it; no.  So I have this cute sweater which I am adding to my gift pile, I guess.  It makes me sad, because my kid looked really cute in this thing.  The neck did stand up a little; but, the yarn is pretty stiff, I think the yarn will relax...with some wear, cleary by someone that is not my kid.

 

pattern :: Soledad

pattern by ::  Annika Barranti

yarn :: Cestari, DK, in Green Heather (2 skeins)

needles :: US5

size ::  4T

 

The pattern was well-written and easy to follow.  The sweet  additions of the cables and their placement add up to all around excellence or rather, magnificence in my book.  If either of my kids would wear a more fitted pullover sweater, I would totally knit this again.  But since they won't and they are bigger, I guess I will have to knit something else.

boo.

We have no power, we have no water; but, we have Halloween spirit, apparently.  Our town canceled Halloween since 99% of the town has no power because of Sandy; but, we still have a house and we are fine.

The Littles wanted to be ghosts this year.  No seriously. Of all the things they could have been.  Ghosts.  And well, you know me, I like to make dreams and wishes come true.

Happy Halloween!

xo(xo)

Okay, so the birthday quilt isn't done yet, but you know what is done?  This set of two baby quilts.

 

If you remember my string pillow from last year, then this should look familiar.  The funny thing here is, these quilts aren't even the main attraction, as it were.  These quilts were put together from leftover blocks that I didn't need for a twin-sized bed quilt (that one just needs binding--which is, honestly, becoming the story of my life).

 

I originally started these last year for a friend of mine with twins but her twins are too big for these now, they are toddlers.  These are "baby" baby-sized quilts (as in tiny!)--approximately 27 inches square.  Fortunately, another friend of mine has decided to accomodate my gift-giving needs and is having twins in two or three months.  So if she is reading this, when she opens these next month at the baby shower I am throwing her, she should just pretend to be surprised. Ahem.

I mixed strips from "vintage" linens (I have discussed this already, go clicky!) with some coordinating solids to make the string blocks.  I did an "x" and an "o" because I could; and, well, it seems like a good idea at the time. The quilting was done on my old trusty Kenmore, so it was basted properly and then quilted with straight lines...a little echo quilting action, but really, "a bunch of straight lines".

The baby quilts are infinitely cuter than the twin-sized quilt will be when it's done (it is a proven thing, small things or things in miniature are just cute); but, when I finish the bigger quilt, if you all could just ooh and ahh, a little, it will make me feel as though it was time well-spent.

the second of twelve :: irish coffee

I was a little iffy about the whole short-sleeved wool sweater thing, to be honest. But now that I have actually knit a short-sleeved wool sweater and worn it about, I totally get it. It's a seasonal conversion piece, really. And when one works in a library, particularly in special collection and archives where temperatures are always chillly (especially when that "one" is me)--a piece like this is terribly useful.

The road to this sweater was a long and winding one. I bought this yarn at my very first Rhinebeck (Little Mister did not exist yet and Little Sir--the one who will be 6 years old at the end of this week-- was 7 months old); that, my friends, was a long time ago. Anyways, when I bought the yarn, the intention was that it would be my first sweater. It was supposed to be a Cardigan for Arwen, and for a while, it was.

I knit the back and one side...but I blindly followed the pattern, as you do when you are a new knitter and don't know what's what. There were variant gauges , the sleeve was too long and I was also about three sizes larger than I am now when I started it. I put it down because I knew there were some issues. So it sat in a bin somewhere for years. I found the project last year while clearning and finally decided to rip it all out. I usually hate frogging projects, but honestly, it was taking up space. So I ripped it out and was, surprisingly, rather unsentimental about the whole thing. 

I have wanted to knit one of Thea's patterns for a while, and hey, green yarn, Irish anything...it seemed like a good match.

I really enjoyed knitting this. It wasn't difficult, nor was it all that time consuming. It was an enjoyable knit. The pattern was extremely well-written and the alternatives for customizing the piece to fit your particular brand of body are a nice touch. I wish the yarn (Wild Apple Hill Farm wool--no website--it's rather Bartlett like) had a little more drape in it, it did soften considerably after a soak and the first block. I suspect that it will soften even more and drape the way I want with another soak.

So that's two down, ten to go.

1/24 :: a test, and an explaination

Some of you are probably wondering where the sweaters and quilts are.  I have them (some), but today, let's talk about quilts since I haven't really done that and it's March.  The first quilt I am trotting out is a small test quilt I made (pretend like the quilt is on a white wall or that the background fabric is not the same color as my family room wall.  Apparently, beige is the color of my life right now).  It's a little wonky (the way the quilt is hung on the wall exacerbates the wonkiness) and has some minor imperfections.  It doesn't really matter.  The whole point of this quilt was to practice quilting on a quilting frame. 

I spent the last year buying a mid-arm quilt frame system.  Instead of buying a package like a normal person, I bought the components of my frame over the course of a year because...well, that's how I do things, apparently.

I bought the frame first...and then I stained it.  As quilting frames go, I have found Grace frames to be 1) affordable, 2) reliable, and 3) well supported (the customer service is beyond fantastic).  I think it does need to be said that I am in no way affiliated with the company (aside from being a customer), nor am I am paid endorser of the company or its products, okay, so now that that's out of the way...  The frame is sturdy.  It holds a sewing machine and it works!  Regarding equipment of any scale, I am  sort of like the Dyson man, I feel like th thing should just work.

The reason it took so long for me to get this thing operational is the sewing machine situation.  I thought I would use a machine I already owned on it...but then thought better of it, so bought another machine (a Juki--it's a workhorse), but then I needed a new carriage (the carriages are machine specific, fyi).  I was getting a new carriage at the same time as the Grace company started making aluminum pro carriages (as opposed to the wooden carriage)...so I ended up having to send a carriage back and getting  a new one (well, I didn't have to, but that's what the company offered to do for me...see, they are good like that).

And then I tested a Juki/frame set up at the International Quilt Festival last year and realized that my quilt-frame life would not be complete without a stitch regulator.  K got that for me for Christmas because he just became annoyed with the monster in the room.  Seriously, it's huge.  I have the queen set up (I now wish that I got the king set up (I bought this well before the new versions that can easily convert came out)--learn from my mistake.  If you can accommodate a king set up, get the king set up).

So I practiced.

And then I practiced some more.

 

And then I thought I would try a quilt.

I love this thing (the quilt frame...the quilt, like I said, was just a practice piece--I like it, but am not enamored).

And that's why I feel pretty confident that I will finish 24 (not 48) quilts this year.  They won't all be quilted on the frame...but well, most of them will.  I am okay with that. So one down, 23 to go.

mittens are not sweaters

 

While it might appear that I am expertly avoiding the task of sweater knitting or quilt-making, do not be fooled. I am going to wow you with brilliance shortly (I am not kidding about this, prepare for a craft attack of shock and awe); but, for now you can be underwhelmed (or at least average-whelmed) by some mittens.

Little Mister loses mittens like it's his job. He is down to one store bought pair for the rest of the season (which has actually been pretty mild, if we are being honest); and, everyday we pick him up from school, the big question is always, "where are the mittens?" It's taken me a awhile to realize the stupidity of this conundrum, because here are the facts:

• I know how to knit (I know, shocking),
• mittens are actually pretty easy to knit (I am speaking of basic mittens without bells, whistles and accoutrement),
• mittens, particularly those for a child, are a pretty quick knit.

So yes, I knit a pair of mittens. I had to do something with the extra skein of handspun that I wound up for the Valentine's Day hats. The yarn was supposed to be Little Mister's hat, but the gauge was off, the yarn weight was more of a dk-light worsted yarn, and the hats were for heavy worsted, or aran weight yarn. In any case, I did a gauge swatch (I know, I do gauge swatches all the time now, I am just as surprised as you, really), and just knit based on a hand tracing of Little Mister's hand (which leads me to believe that Little Mister has big hands for a three year old; but, there you are).

So, while a pair of mittens do not a sweater (or a quilt) make, I made something pretty functional for Little Mister. And lets be honest, they are pretty fabulous (she says humbly, ahem).  He is a little annoyed that they are red and not green or some other color that he loves right now (like brown, or white--I have no idea), but really, he is just going to lose them anyway, so I suppose I will get around to a green pair eventually.

"wouldn't you love to knit me a hat?"

 

Little Sir has a birthday coming up. He has been talking about it for months now (probably since a week after his birthday last year, if we are being honest). He pretty much has an expectation that he will get something mom-made for his birthday (pressure, what?). But now all gift-giving occasions seem to warrant handmade gifts as far as he is concerned (somewhere along the way, making someone a hand made gift became equated with love and care for the giftee, which, well, yes). So now I am crafting goodness for every occasion imaginable. A week before Valentine's day Sir and I had a conversation, it went like this:

Sir: I love you mommy, don't you love me? [honestly, I should have known.  Nothing good can come out of a conversation that begins this way.]

Me: Of course I do.

Sir: Since you love me, wouldn't you love to knit me a hat?

Me: Sure, I can do that. Would you like one for your birthday? [obviously, he has no idea about the sweater and quilt things...]

Sir: I think it would be better if you knit it sooner. Maybe for Valentine's Day. And since it's for Valentine's Day and red is my favorite color, you could knit my new hat with red yarn. Maybe with some of that merino yarn the you made with your spinning wheel.

Me: That's a very specific request.

Sir: Yes, you should probably get started on it soon.

Me: Well, if I make one for you for Valentine's Day, I will have to make one for your brother too.

Sir: Well, I guess so, but mine is the one that needs to be done on time. [oh, snap!]

Two red hats were not in the cards, which was all for the best since Little Mister had no desire for a red hat (as it is not his favorite color right now). He wanted a green hat, because that is his favorite color right now.

So that's what he got,  a green hat (or, sage, if we are being specific).

Special K did not want a hat, actually, he probably didn't want anything; but, he got some handmade handkerchiefs made with the most ridiculous fabric I felt he would tolerate.

And while this post is many days (weeks, whatever) after Valentine's Day, know this: I finished these hats and the handkerchiefs on the 13th. All of it. Okay, maybe I finished the handkerchiefs at 3 in the morning on the 14th, but everybody got their gifts on time.  So there's that.