Something Old, Something New
Hello! Hope all you Californians are enjoying this nice stormy weekend (perfect for sewing!). I have a small backlog of projects to share up on the blog and something exciting I’m currently working on.
First up: a pair of socks. I have been wanting to make a pair of crocheted socks for a very long time now. About a year ago I attempted to make a pair with some beautiful, super soft yarn. It was going all fine and dandy until I was 75% done and tried on the sock. The heel was on the side of my ankle!!!! Not cool! I immediately proceeded to throw the project into the darkest recesses of my walk-in closet and walked away for good. But, alas, the crocheted sock idea has once again appeared to me. This time I used some yarn my sister already owned and had no idea what to do with. The pattern was very easy, but I’m not a huge fan of the fit. I’m just now realizing as I write this that the poor fit is probably because I used yarn several weights heavier than the pattern called for. Duh! These socks have zero negative ease - so they pretty much wear like slippers. Which is fine… I guess.
Project Overview: Fuzzy Crocheted Socks
Finish date: 6/28/23
Yarn: I think it was from Hobby Lobby, 100% Acrylic, #4, and fuzzy!
Size: Women’s 7-9
Presenting… another pretty old crochet project. This bag was also made for my sister. I’ve been wanting to play around with a granny square project for quite a while now, but didn’t want the huge commitment of making an afgan. A bag was the perfect solution. I used this beautiful free pattern from All About Ami. This bag was incredibly fun to make; each square only took twenty or thirty minutes and you constantly switch yarn colors so you don’t have time to get bored. I enjoyed watching my little pile of perfect sunflowers grow until I had made enough. If you’re looking for a beginner crochet pattern to make something you will actually enjoy using, I highly recommend this Summer Days Daisy bag pattern.
Project Overview: Summer Days Daisy Bag - Sunflower Edition
Yarn: Assorted acrylic yarn from Joann’s
Pattern: Summer Days Daisy Bag by All About Ami
Finish date: 7/29/23
And while I’m here sharing really old projects I thought it would be appropriate to share my very first quilt. In the fall of 2020 I decided I wanted to make a quilt for my bed. But, since the closest thing I had ever made to a quilt was an oven mitt, I decided I better make a mini quilt first before jumping into my full sized bed quilt. I used fabrics I already had on hand to make a piano bench cover. At the time I was reading Victoria Wolfe’s Modern Quilt Magic book and decided to use the herringbone pattern from the book. Yes, that’s right, I though it was a smart idea to make my very first quilt using a technique that requires partial seams! But it actually turned out okay. The piecing went smoothly, but the quilting resulted in a quilt that is less than smooth. The back (which was an old sheet) has several tucks in it. I was satisfied with how it turned out, and I am just now starting to think about making a new piano bench cover. So it has lasted me quite a while.
Project Overview: My first quilt
Fabric: cotton stash
Pattern: Herringbone from Modern Quilt Magic
Finish date: late 2020
I know, I know, this is a long post. But I promise, I’m almost done. After boring you a bunch of old projects let me share something new I’m working on. I’m redoing my room! The thing I am most excited about is the plywood pegboard I’m going to order for above my desk. It will be nice to have my quilting supplies displayed so beautifully. I’ve relocated my fabric from messy stacks on the piano to these beautiful white shelves. Only my favorite fabrics will be on display here while I keep the rest (garment fabrics, flannel, batting, etc) under my bed. I hope this will continue to keep me inspired while keeping the room from feeling cluttered or busy.
Above my piano I am going to hang two or three shelves with baskets for storing WIPs and supplies. I’m also planning on making a new piano bench cover. I have a large empty wall on the other side of my room that is still stumping me. I can’t have anything that sticks out more than three or four inches, so the options are somewhat limited. A large art quilt could look nice hung there, but I think the wall needs something more. I also like the idea of a quilt ladder. A blackboard wall is a possibility too, but I definitely think that would dominate the room. What would you do with a huge empty wall? Let me know in the comments!
