theres a lot in progress here in the emilyWools craft room. this weekend i made:
1. a lace collar from a thrift store shirt (total cost: $3).
theres a lot in progress here in the emilyWools craft room. this weekend i made:
1. a lace collar from a thrift store shirt (total cost: $3).
i finished the baby blanket! i used a multi-color cotton batik and a polka-dot flannel. i spent a while in the fabric store trying to find two flannels that looked good together, but as i was unsurely carrying around several bolts i happened upon the batik and thought it was so pretty. i like the pink bias tape for the color pop, too.
the tutorial was easy to follow, but im a little disappointed in my sewing skills… you wouldn’t think it would be so difficult to sew three rectangles into a little quilt, but whoa was i wrong. it took a lot of patience to cut out each piece correctly, and then to sew the bias tape on to the blanket. i can only hope mom-to-be and baby Gemma enjoy it. it took about 3 1 hour sessions to complete, and it cost about $25 to make. i considered making my own bias tape, but i think i will save that undertaking for a future project.
i did it!!!! i finished my first shawl! its not perfect, but i cannot believe how good it looks. i furiously worked through the last of the edging on saturday, and then i bound off the top using the russian bind off, which is perfectly stretchy (but not TOOOO stretchy). when i finished it, i laid it out on the couch and i was pretty mneh about it– the top of it wasn’t straight, and you couldn’t really see the edging points at all.
so i blocked it! i soaked it in lukewarm water with wool wash for 20 minutes, and then gently squeezed it, and pinned it out. it took A LOT of pins to get every single edging point, but it was so worth it. As I impatiently waited for it to dry, i kept visiting it, which was a little silly. When i finally removed the pins and put it on, i was sooooo giddy! im so happy with it, and i love the color. i definitely feel a sense of accomplishment.
so the joyous day has come! i finally finished my first sweater (rav link). i started it during a tumultuous time in my life, and i brought it with me and knitted in some situations that carry heavy and difficult memories. it felt like i was knitting these feelings into the sweater, so i put it down for a very long time– over a year. at the beginning of march, i told myself i needed to finish this sweater by the end of the month. i made it JUST in time!
when i started this project, i had never done cables, increases, sleeves, or seaming– i was a complete knitting newb. i have learned so much! ravelry is so helpful.. i dont know how many times i consulted the forums about almost every step in the pattern. im really happy i did the icord bindoff.. it looks really smart and professional, albeit very time-consuming. my main disappointment is the stripes. they didnt line up at all.. but i dont think it looks that bad. i ALMOST ran out of yarn.. see how much extra i had:
ahh, my knitting mind feels so at ease. 🙂
(insert witty Arrested Development reference here.)
hello! i know i havent written in awhile but ive been making lots of things but they are surprises for people so i cant discuss them! two of the hats i made have been gifted already, though, so i can share about them:
first up is a trilobite hat made with cascade 220 .
i am finished with the arm warmers! they look and fit the recipient very well! they are very difficult to photograph, though. maybe if i used a real camera (not my phone) id have better luck. i still have to sew in the elastic and palm pad/reinforcement, but the knitting part is over. i am very happy with how they turned out. im also very happy i decided to incorporate finger holes.