Saturday Sleeves and a Quiz

Posted on Posted in sewing, what makes me tickTagged 3 Comments

I sewed in the sleeves on my Halloween shirt today. I did a pretty good job, but if you look carefully, you can see a little puff on this one. I may take the seam in a bit, but I’m going to get the collar and front placket on first. If I can get it all sewn together tomorrow, maybe I will be able to make all the buttonholes this week and sew the buttons on so it’s ready to wear by Saturday!

Sleeves have always been a challenge for me in tailoring. I usually try to avoid setting them in after sewing the side seams, but sometimes you don’t have much of a choice — like with this pattern. I had to sew the underarm seams before sewing the sleeve plackets and cuffs.

Which rolls me right into Karen’s latest quiz!

1. What craft skill are you most proud of? Not an entire craft, just a little skill that you feel makes you a practicer of your craft with a capital C.
2. Do you have a secret mistake that you made for ages and when you learned you were doing it wrong you wondered how you managed for so long?
3. Is there an item that you’ve made so many times you feel like an expert? Is there one that even though you’ve done it over and over you feel like an amateur?
4. Would you like to teach your craft? Have you? Do you feel like you’re giving someone a special gift when you do?

1. I’m always proud when I can make a garment I can actually wear, and do wear. I’m proud when something fits and suits me.

2. I still get turned around on slip slip knit (SSK): Do I slip knitwise or purlwise? What is the default? Also, the first time I sewed a tailored blouse, I had the sleeves in backward. I never made that mistake again, though.

3. I don’t feel like an expert on anything, but I do feel like I’m intermediate to advanced on most sewing and knitting. There are some things I have done several times but I don’t do often enough to feel skilled. There are also some things that I do a lot of, but materials can vary a lot so the results also vary. That’s something I just go with.

4. I have taught knitting, sewing, and felting to children and adults. I’ve always enjoyed it and I think students have always learned something, as have I. Even if that something is, “Break the rules. Trust yourself. Make lots of mistakes and learn from them!” I don’t have the headspace to teach right now, though.

I hope you will join in on the quiz!

I was driving home after a storm and pulled over to get a photo of this rainbow.

Feel Good Friday FO

Posted on Posted in socks, finished objects, holidays, knittingTagged , , , 11 Comments

I finished my Halloween socks!

Yarn is TurtlePurl in Bewitching and WeeSewNSew’s solid high twist mini for the heels and toes.

Pattern is a recipe based on Hermione’s Every Day Socks.

What’s next? I’m going to finish knitting my Broom Riding Cowl and sewing my Halloween Shirt. Then next month, along with a theme of thankfulness, I’m going to knit for others! And dive into my Mom’s Franca sweater and some socks for one of my kids.

I’ve got some interesting things going on in my garden. Could call it a second summer?

I think these peppers will be edible. I guess it pays to be lazy and wait until spring to clear out the garden.

I’m reading this book. I heard an interview with him on NPR about his new memoir, and I’m a fan. One time, I saw Peter Frampton as a guest on the Today Show at the start of baseball season, and he performed “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” on the Talkbox. I love that. It made my eyes twinkle with delight. I bought a copy for my sister, too, who is also a fan. I don’t normally purchase books, but I had to support this. I special ordered them from our local book store. I felt good about that, too.

It must be Feel Good Friday! What are you feeling good about today?

Yarn Club!

Posted on Posted in fiber love, yarn8 Comments
The Border Mill North Coast Tweed

I think have one more month of Fairlight Fibers Yarn of the Month Club. I have loved every single hank, but this one — this one is my favorite.

I’m not sure what I’ll make. It’s toothy, which I like, but that means a cowl is out. Maybe gloves or mittens? Or a hat?

I’m going to miss my special deliveries. I’m all set for December, as I’ve ordered a yarn advent calendar. But whatever will I do next year? At least next year won’t be 2020 anymore. That will be special enough.

Nerd Alert! 🤓

Posted on Posted in art, holidays, inspirationTagged , , , , 16 Comments

I received my official Time Team fleece! I’m thinking about dressing up like Mick Aston for Halloween. I have the white hair and stripey knit hat. I need some round glasses, and I will be all set.

Someday I hope they will offer all 20 seasons in a DVD box set. I watch them over and over again on YouTube.

My ballot was counted. 👏
The view from my yard. 🍁 😯 🍂
Have you seen a carpet of wet leaves?
You probably have.

Here is a link to the art show. It’s all virtual this year.

SpooOOooky Year of Projects Update

Posted on Posted in holidays, knitting, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs), Year of ProjectsTagged 19 Comments

Sewing

I did a good enough job with the cuffs on the sleeves of my Halloween Rachel shirt, but I made a mistake. HAHAHA it makes me laugh. Can you spot it? No, I’m not fixing it.

Knitting

I’m plodding away on my Broom Riding Cowl. It’s tough to get a good pic while it’s on the needles. But I wanted you to see how the colorwork shows up (on parts of it at least). In places it looks like clouds are covering the moons, which I like. I wish I were enjoying the knitting more, but I guess I don’t like looking at a chart on every row.

I’m ready to turn the heel on my second Halloween sock. The stripes are lining up like they did on the first sock, which is awesome.

I haven’t cast on my Celtic Colours Mitts yet, but it’s still International Cast On All The Things Month for two more weeks.

This has been a Year of Projects Update. You can read my original list here. You can find out more about the group here.

Today is our Blogville Knitters Virtual Knit at 1PM Eastern. If you are new and would like to join us by Skype, please DM your Skype ID to me on Instagram or Ravelry.

Last Day of Staycation: A List and some Pics

Posted on Posted in art, holidays, life, what makes me tickTagged , , 14 Comments
  1. I framed my felt piece and I love it. Thanks to everyone who left kind comments and bolstered my confidence. My friend Sharon said (in our Mother Artists at Work private group to everyone) “Be proud of your work!” She’s right. We should all be proud of our work.

2. I’m going to try to make 2-3 more pieces before the end of the year. This will help me gauge if a solo show next September is something I can manage.

3. I mended my favorite thrift store cardigan with the help of a Katrinkles’ Darning Loom. It accidentally? came out in the shape of Ohio. When Hannah told me she liked visible mending, I didn’t think I would like it. I was wrong. I like it! The gold is my turmeric dyed Cotswold. Also, elbow patch.

4. Bob and I hiked a total of 20 miles while we were on vacation. I will be applying these to my Move 4 Fair Trade mileage.

5. I voted by mail. I followed all of the instructions and took it in person to the post office. That was on October 7. I have been tracking my ballot, and it still hasn’t been marked as received. If my vote hasn’t been registered as counted by November 2, I guess I will be voting in person on November 3.

These are my anniversary gifts from Bob: a silly shirt that reflects my philosophy of life and the new Bill Callahan album.

Here is our Halloween watched list so far:

I will continue to add to this list and post it again at the end of the month.

Are you watching any spooky or spoopy stuff for Halloween?

Pie for Breakfast and a New Craft Room

Posted on Posted in holidays, inspiration14 Comments

Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving, and Bob made pumpkin pie. So I had pie with eggs for breakfast today.

I got my craft room put together this morning. This is an open room near the kitchen, by the laundry room. It feels good to have my yarn and fabric out so I can be inspired to make things. I still have two large tubs of wool fiber, which I’ve stored in the laundry room closet with the dyes. It’s nice to be so close to the laundry room since the ironing board is in there.

My staycation is winding down, and I was not as productive as I’d hoped I would be. I did manage to totally decompress, though, which was badly needed.

Tomorrow is our anniversary, and I think we’re going for a final hike.

The Doldrums of Creativity: A YOP Update

Posted on Posted in art, holidays, knitting, life, Uncategorized, Year of Projects13 Comments
View from our driveway. We live here! 🍂🍁

I had so many creative plans for this staycation. Then, at some point last week, I stopped doing anything productive. I read an entire book in one sitting, and I hiked. I don’t regret it.

Felting

Haze Over Maize, Granville 2020: wool and cotton floss

I finished a piece for the upcoming group art show. I was trying to skip the photo stage and create something from inspiration. I spent a lot of time stitching on it. I enjoyed the process as it was very meditative, but am not thrilled with the product. I’m not sure what I would do differently. It is too big for my barnwood shadow box frames, so I had to order a new one. I’m tempted to try to make something else instead of submitting this, but I’m not sure that’s realistic. I think it’s fine but I wish it were better.

I tried felting angora yesterday, as an experiment, and it was a disaster.

Knitting

I’ve almost finished my first Halloween sock! 🎉 And I have cast on almost all the October things.

Today this blog post about The Doldrums of Creativity was in my inbox. (FYI When I share things, I do not get compensated in any way. I’m not an influencer or anything like that.) It was a helpful read. I really like the part about having faith in your ideas.

This has been a Year of Projects Update. You can read my original list here. You can find out more about the group here.

Blogville Knitters Skype today at 1PM Eastern! Then my kids will be here for tofu Sloppy Joe’s and Nightmare Before Christmas.

My mums did not disappoint this year.

Socktober It To Me Monday

Posted on Posted in art, knitting, mittens and gloves, scarves and cowls, socks, yarn12 Comments

My Halloween Socks are whizzing by. Striped yarn is Bewitching from TurtlePurl and solid is Deluxe 4Ply High Twist from Wee SewNSew. I love the look and feel of both these yarns, and they aren’t bad together. Time to start on the gusset!

I’ve started my first landscape for the show. This is prior to the wet felting stage. It’s drying now and then I will do some needle felting and stitching. I’ve been thinking a lot about some of my first experiences with art, specifically Fauvism and Expressionism, and I can see how this is influencing me right now. I blended most of this wool on hand cards to get the colors I wanted.

I think the pattern in my Broom Riding Cowl is showing up enough to carry on.

Bob and I went hiking on Saturday to Christmas Rocks, one of my favorite spots.

I cast on my Arrowhead Cardigan. It’s Cast On All The Things Month.

Next cast on will be my Celtic Colours Mitts purchased while on last year’s vacation in Nova Scotia.