New project!

Hello everyone!

For the next project, we decided to return to the original idea of this sewalong - knitters who wanted to sew. What are the things that knitters really want to sew? Knitting gear, of course! Get out your fabric and thread and figure out what you need to make your knitting life easier. Needle holders? A zippered pouch to carry your notions? That sock project bag you've been meaning to make so you can throw away that grocery bag? (raising hand)

This project will last from April 1 to May 31. If anyone finds any good tutorials or ideas, please post them! If you would like to join in, send in an email by April 8.

Happy sewing!

Since there has not been a new assignment posted, I am sneaking this kitchen item in. This apron is intended to add to the French air of my kitchen, begun with the hot mitt below. McCall's 3979 is the pattern.
This apron is constructed oddly -- you sew the pieces wrong sides together and then encase them with bias tape. It makes for fiddly construction, but when you're through at the sewing machine, you're finished -- no hems.
This pattern gave me an opportunity to practice princess seams and topstitching in a relatively nonthreatening context. I mean, I'm going to cook in this, wipe my hands on it, lean against counters covered with cleaning supplies... how bad can I feel about poor-quality topstiching?
Next time, I'll do better.
I have put it out in the garden to add to the insouciant charm of the whole thing.

I also intend to make a quilted table runner using these Provencal fabrics, but there is no way I will finish it in time to sneak it in to this month's Sew? I Knit!
I am therefore just offering you a photo of the fabrics. These are from Keepsake Quilting -- the French Garden medley and the Country Hen medley.

My plan is to make a patchwork runner (I realize that this is not very French, but I understand that American-style patchwork has become popular in France lately) and then applique it with flowers. Further insouciance there.

With sufficient wine and garlic, this should transform my kitchen into a South-of-France haven of joie-de-vivre. And, yes, insouciance.

I have a successful oven mitt. This is from an out of print Ondori book.

You can read details at my blog here. I hope to make more kitchen items, as my kitchen is in need of an update, but this is a good start.

repentance and good intentions

I did sew Christmas presents, and you can see my omiyage here at my blog, and the table runner I made as well, if you care to go back a couple of pages there. But the fact is that I didn't ever get around to posting here and I am sorry about that. I intend to do better with the current challenge. My kitchen linens are aged and shabby, and I look forward to replacing them with something pretty. I am thinking about Provence, sunshine, quilts of blue and sun-drenched yellow, rose-petal hues... Anything but the dreary winter outside. Off to search for suitable fabric.

Great - i have a list already!

I love this idea. I just made coasters for a friend. I posted about it on my blog. My partner loved them so much and requested i make some for ourselves. I think that counts for the 'kitchen/cooking' things.

I also am making an apron (for the Tie One On group) so i'll add some pot holders to that project so that i can truly make it a S?iK! project!

LUCKY GIRL

Here I'm! still alive!!! but I haven't finnished my christmas proyect (shame for me). No problem, I think it matches with the new theme: Let's Get Cooking, because I was doing a xmas apron with its oven mitts, so I guess I have some extra-time to get it ready!!! lucky lazy girl!!!

Lolita Blahnik from Viento del este, viento del oeste

Hooray for Kitchens!

I'm excited about this theme. I have been wanting to sew and embroider a curtain for our kitchen window, and my potholders are mighty shabby...I could certainly whip up a few new ones. And an apron! I need two--a cute one for cooking (the cooking isn't that great, so I need to look as cute as possible while I do it to distract my fiance!), and a sturdy one for pottery. A look through my fabric stash is in order, I would say.

one more reason to get off my lazy

sewing bottom! this sounds awesome! thanks for counting me in! I am contemplating the fabric I will use right now. and this invite also got me off my lazy blogging bottom to start a new blog. Thanks!

Sounds great!

I have some great & funky fabric & a vintage apron pattern that is crying out to be used, and now I have a very good reaon to get off my butt & make it!!

Next Project: Let's Get Cooking!

Hello fellow Sew I Knitters! The next project is titled, "Let's Get Cooking." The theme for this project is to sew anything cooking or kitchen related. In need of a new apron, or oven mitts? Now's your chance. Dining accessories looking a little outdated? Sew up a new table runner, placemats and napkins. Anything is game as long as it's related to cooking, eating or the kitchen. We're now on two month rotations for each project, so this one goes til March 15.

Happy Sewing!

New sewing book.

Hurray! Thank you, lovely hostesses, for announcing that the newest sewing challenge is nigh. In the meanwhile, I got the best book for Christmas, and thought that the Sew? I Knit-ers might be interested.

Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make With Fabulous Fabrics shows you how to draft your own patterns for a simple A-line and a straight skirt, then gives you oodles of different variations so that you never have to make the same skirt twice! For those that cling to their patterns like a life raft (that would be myself included), this book promises to set us free.

Christmas pressies for my 2 year old niece

Sorry I didn't get to post my Christmas to do list beforehand... but here for the record is my Christmas production that went to my domestic godesss two year old niece. I made the patterns up as I went along and the wee oven gloves were my first quilting project.





I can't take the credit for these little fish finger puppets - they were bought from my local IKEA. I did though make the bag featuring the sticky red star-fish motif.





HAPPY NEW YEAR - look forward to participating in sew i knit in 2007
Lx

Christmas Sewing!

I made my sister-in-law a nice big etched velvet shawl to go with a felted purse I made. She loved it!


The flower on the purse is made from shawl fabric and felt. I got the pattern from Threads magazine.

I got a job in a fabric store! Sew...I guess I'll be doing more sewing this year!

Patchwork pillow

Hi all...just wanted to share some pictures of this patchwork pillow I recently completed and gifted to my boyfriend's cousin (who has a fantastic eye for interior design and is the type of person who would appreciate something handmade and one of a kind).





I cut a bunch of my scraps into strips and sewed, sewed, sewed away. I'm pleased with the results and happy that I am making more time to sew (in addition to just knitting)

All Done!

Well, i did it, and in the nick of time. I celebrate Christmas four times - once with my honey at home before we go home to our parents' places, once with my family, once with his, and again with his extended family. Then, on January 7, i celebrate Orthodox Christmas too! At least there we don't exchange gifts, so i didn't have too too many to make!

I ended up making something for all 20 people on my list. Some things were small like transfer images on cloth hankies, while others were larger projects like 6 placemats. All in all, each person/cat/dog got an individualized gift and i think are quite happy with it.

I wrote about it on my blog, and have pictures on flickr, but i think it's the inspiration of this group that helped me kick it in gear!

And, luckily for me, my sister also made me gifts too - she made me a lavendar/flax seed massage pouch and a fabulous purse! Thanks sis!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Holiday Sewing Done

Actually, I finished before the holidays, but I didn't want to post pictures on the net before my recipients received their sewn gifts. The first picture is of the oven pad that I made for my Texas granny. It is sewn from some fabric that I got in Colorado on a recent vacation. It is an interesting design. It is like two hot pads connected by a padded section.

This picture is of two hot pads and three tea towels. I made these for my mom from some fabric that I picked up on the Big Island of Hawaii on recent trip there. She used to live in Hawaii and loves all thing Hawaiian. She loved these as well.

I also made three tea towels for my Kansas granny. These are made from vintage reproduction fabrics. She loves blue.

These three projects were made from a pattern that I ordered on-line. If you are interested, it is called Vintage Potluck.

They were pretty easy projects to make, although the pattern didn't give real detailed instructions and probably isn't suitable for someone's very first project.

I had a lot of fun making them and I always say that I am going to start earlier every year, but I never do. Maybe we should do Christmas sewing in July!

UPDATE

Remember my LIST? Thanks for all your cheering and well wishing - I'm almost finished and wanted to share a few pictures with you.



These are just a few of the things from the list - the rest are already wrapped (before pics - oops!). More info on the blog!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe
Etsy

My knitted gifts

Here are a few of my gifts for those I like and love. The Pink Princess handbag is drying from felting, then you have the Black Beanie and the Stacey Hat and Scarf Set. Hope the reciepents are happy with thier gifts.

a knitter's gift

Here is a total knock-off of an admittedly fabulous sock bag. My friend uses long metal needles for making her socks and requested one tall enough for them not to stick out. So, I modified the "stuff bag" by Mary Mulari. It is rip-stop nylon, I made it larger in diameter, taller, reinforced the bottom, added the strap for the yarn guide on the inside and wrist on the outside (sewn into/thru the seam.) I used the snaps that you hammer on, I like them better than the sewn on kind. I am so excited, I hope she loves it!!

Christmas trees

I spent today making some little Christmas trees to give out at a Sorority Christmas dinner. I started a little production line in the morning and by this evening I had 8 completed trees! Fun and quick. Come over to my blog to see more info!