New Clothespin Bag

The Old: 

 

The New: 

(Made from the leftover scrap of fabric I used in this favorite purse of mine.)

It's not much, but I sewed today! 

 

Really, I am cleaning my sewing room so that I can sew, but I took a detour to sew this clothespin bag. I like to hang out laundry in the summer months. 

(Yes, that is a bulldozer in the background. My husband is taking out a fence.)

Back to cleaning the sewing room. 

Ruth

Knitting Love

Not much sewing going on here, but I am slowly making my way through my unfinished knitting projects. 

The Rivulet Scarf is finished!  Now I have a scarf to match one of my winter coats.  :)

The Silky Drop Socks are also finished!!!  I love this yarn!  I love hand-knit socks, and I've started the next pair (see previous post).  I always like to have at least one pair of socks on the needles at all times. 

Sadly, no progress has been made on the Rambling Rows Afghan.   

 

But let me tell you about the Acer Cardigan!  I am so excited about this.  With the knitted cables, this is by far the most challenging thing I have ever knit.  It's the first "real" sweater that I've knit.  Well, it's not finished yet, but it's getting close.  I haven't worked on it in a few weeks because I'm sort of scared to sew in the sleeves and knit the front band and neck band (button holes and all).  What excites me the most about this sweater is that it's going to fit, I think.  And I know I'm going to love it come next fall. Happy, happy.

Ruth

Swiss Sheep Socks

I bought this sock yarn when I visited Switzerland in 2010. When I started knitting these socks this week, the yarn reminded me of the day we took a road trip through the Swiss Alps. One of the passes we traveled through was so high up that we were literally in the clouds. At one point we had to stop suddenly to let a cute hairy sheep cross the road. For some reason, these socks remind me of that fuzzy sheep in the middle of the road.  So I'm calling these my Swiss Sheep Socks. 

One day I want to go back to Switzerland.  My granddaughter is now two, and I miss her, my daughter, and son-in-law.  While spending my time knitting this yarn, I think of them, pray for them, miss them, dream of the day I can go visit them again in Zurich. 

Ruth

August 2010

http://www.flickr.com/photos/callmeruth/collections/72157624761912517/

Congratulations to Trish from www.overflowcreativity.blogspot.com, the winner of the Whimsy Couture giveaway!

Blessings,

Jessica

Marie's Pink Fig Easter Dress...last day to enter Whimsy Couture Giveaway!

Pattern: Lily Top by Pink Fig

Fabrics: from Marie Madeline, bought last year.  =) 

Thoughts:  I loved this pattern...it went together so quickly and easily.  This is a super simple pattern that looks anything but simple! 

I appreciate how well it is drafted--the back and front pieces are not just rectangles with a curve for the armcye, but they are slightly shaped and drafted specifically for the front and back.  Same with the sleeve pieces.--they specifically line up with the front and back bodices and I think this makes for a better fit.

I skipped the sash and pants (separate pattern) shown on the pattern, and added a little teal polka dot ruffle at the top of the bottom ruffle for some fun contrast.  

Note: this pattern has you use elastic thread in your bobbin to shir around the waist, neckline and sleeves.  This is a super fast and easy method if you can get your machine to do it properly! I had to loosen the screw on my bobbin in order to get the elastic to work....at first it was sewing too tight with no stretch at all.  Once I'd fiddled with it though, the actual shirring was a breeze.  Definitely practice on scrap fabric first.

My two greatest treasures on Easter Sunday!  

Tomorrow is the last day to enter to win three patterns of your choice from Whimsy Couture.  I'll be drawing a name Friday night. Check them out if you love sewing cute kids clothing!

Blessings, 

Jessica

Whimsy Couture Top, Giveaway, and Coupon Code!

Pattern: Whimsy Couture Easy Peasant Top PDF pattern

Fabric: quilters cotton from my stash. Yay for using up fabric that I've had for several years!!

My thoughts:  I made the size 4t for Marie and it seemed to run right on, size wise.  This was a very easy, simple design that went together quickly for a fun, mama-made summer top that looks great with jeans or shorts.

I opted to skip the elastic on the sleeves to create "flutter sleeves" and followed the included instructions to add a contrast band along the bottom.  The pattern also included instructions for puffed sleeves, ruffles along the bottom, a tuxedo front, and pockets.  Overall, it was a versatile pattern for a breezy relaxed shirt or dress.  Great for beginners!

For a chance to win your choice of 3 patterns from Whimsy Couture's esty shop, please like/subscribe to them on facebook (HERE) and come back and leave a comment on this post! If you are not on facebook at all, go check out Wimsey Couture's patterns, and leave a comment anyway.  =)  I will draw a winner next Friday, the 27th.

SewChic readers may also save 30% off of their entire purchase in the pattern shop with the code SAVE30.

Blessings to your day,

Jessica

Unfinished Knitting

During this past winter I found that I enjoyed knitting more than sewing.  I managed to finish a few knitted projects, but I accumulated four UFOs--unfinished objects.  Four unfinished knitting projects, and I'm quickly losing my knitting obsession as the warm weather is now here and I WANT TO SEW.  Oops, I know that I'm not supposed to use all caps when typing, sorry.  But seriously, I have a problem with letting myself go to the sewing room when I have these half-completed knitting projects cluttering the space around my knitting chair.

What's a girl to do? Sew or knit?

Oh, and ooooohhhhh, did you know that the new issue of Ottobre is due to arrive any day now?!!!!  (Yeah, I know I'm not supposed to use multiple exclamation marks, either).  But this new Otto issue looks promising--full of pretty new patterns for summer.  For Emily.  And I can't wait for my copy!!!!

Guess I should get off the computer and work on one or the other knitting project...or sew something...hmmm...maybe I'll go read a book.

Happy Sewing,

Ruth

 

Acer Cardigan:  

By far the most challenging thing I have ever knit!

  

 

Rivulet Scarf:  

Thank you, Tammy, for writing about this lovely pattern.

 

 

Silky Drop Socks:  

This silk-blend yarn is so soft.

 

 

 Rambling Rows Afghan:

I started this several years ago and pulled it out again this winter.  

It is now at the half-way point.  

At this rate, it may be another few years before I get back to it.

P.S.  You can see my knitting projects here at Ravelry if you  have a Ravelry account. 

I have this one lone skein of yarn that I bought for a specific project, 

but now I don't remember what.  Any suggestions?

The coming-soon Otto!

 

My poor son never gets his picture on the blog, so here he is!