Sommer Designs

You would think this has turned into a knitting blog.

Not that there's anything wrong with that - I have compiled quite the list of knitting blogs in my bloglines - inspiration central in my book. After I finished Airy, I did spend some time in the studio (as a matter of fact), although it was mainly to try to make sense, and organize the train wreck it's become.

Everything used to be so neatly organized. Now, it's bursting at the seams (ha ha!) with fabric and supplies. That can only mean one thing - and that's that I've been way too lax with my production and way too enamored with my newfound hobby. Somehow, I have to figure out how to work the balance. My hobby has to stay where it belongs, which is downtime (whatever that is).

But I'll start next week - after my vacation. (*wink*)

Back to my hobby: It seems I can't stay off needles very long. As soon as I finished Airy, I cast on my cowl for the trip. I just wanted to get the rhythm going! I'm actually glad I did, because once again, I ran into issues. I have a problem with k1,p1 rib - I stop, and then can't remember where I was. Do I purl now, or knit now? I know there's a way of looking at the last stitch to determine, but it looks the same to me.

I ripped out the cowl I was planning and started the Pashmina Cowl from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It's a better choice for a trip - around and around and around. I can pick it up and put it down anywhere. And this yarn? Delicious. Once you get some length, it has the most beautiful drape.

So, okay! I'm off tomorrow morning - spending some much needed time with the family alone and away from electronic distractions. Hopefully we won't kill each other - I plan to return completely and totally refreshed, and ready to jump back into the studio for studio work!

Business NOTE: All orders placed between March 31, 2008 - April 6, 2008 will be processed on Monday, April 7, 2008.

Enjoy your week!

[eek. I still have to pack!]

Glowing Colors: Panel Two - fini.

So, it doesn't look like I will make my self-imposed deadline of finishing this by the end of March. Once again, I put it down for an extended period, and once again, when I picked it up, I was kicking myself because it is such an easy, fast knit. Three quarters of the second panel was knitted/finished while watching Michael Clayton a couple of nights ago (loved! - that scene in the end, in the ballroom? - it's worth the entire movie!) (sorry. tangent.)

With this second panel, I tried to stop the sides from curling by knitting the first stitch of the purl side, but it didn't seem to help at all. I don't know if it's worth continuing with the third panel, especially since they will be pieced together in the end, and this is a bulky acrylic yarn that won't block.

I'm sure I could finish this in the next two days if I just rented a bunch of movies and sat on the couch, but I'm way too impatient to sit around knitting all day. Of course, I fantasize about days like that, but the reality is, I'd be jumping up every 15 minutes to do something. The curse of craft ADD!

In the meanwhile, I've almost got our Spring Break trip all planned. We are heading north next week - a night in Pismo Beach, a night in Santa Cruz (and hopefully, we will begin our exploration of colleges on the way - I can't believe we are looking at college in the near future! Yikes! When did I get this old?) and then two nights in San Francisco - which I can't wait for! It's been years since we were there with the kids, and now that they are older, I'm planning much different sites to see; ones that Scott and I will be able to enjoy and appreciate, and hopefully they will too. The two big boys are interested in Film School and Architecture - I hope SF wows their socks off. It does mine.

Of course, all this travel talk lends the big question: what will I bring to knit?

My favorite {little} visitor.

Oh dear. I know I said I was done with the Itty Bitty posts, but, dang, I can't help myself.

There I was yesterday, supporting Lupus Awareness like any other good vendor in Manhattan Beach, and in walks an Itty Bitty. Not just any Itty Bitty, but the Itty Bitty of my dreams and my worries.

Please meet little Miss Daisy G.  - in her Itty Bitty Upside Down Daisy hat...

Could you die?

Repurposing Vintage Tablecloths

I have a big stack of vintage tablecloths that I've picked up over the years; here, there, anywhere. That picture above isn't even half of my collection; I use them all the time in my display at events, so a good portion of them are in my bins, washed & pressed, and ready to go.

Some of them are in less than perfect condition; a few were in complete tatters - holes and stains. Some I even bought that way because the pattern was so beautiful. I still use that aqua Willendur cloth up there with the Dogwood blossoms - what you see is about the extent of the damage, and there are holes in a few other spots. But with my lifestyle (i.e. teenage boys), it's perfect to throw on my table everyday.

I've held on to these tablecloths in that condition for years, but since they are really quite unusable like that, I've tried to put my emotional dependence on hold, and tried to utilize them in another way. Interestingly enough, in my collection, most of the damage was on the unprinted parts. The portions of cloth with flowers or designs were mostly intact and in good condition. I don't know if the printing process stabilized the fabric more than the other parts, but I started placing my 6" plastic square ruler over them and started cutting (yes, as a matter of fact, if was painful).

I matched up the wrong sides and stitched three sides together, turned them right side out, pressed them and then added a few scoops of lavender. Stitched the opening closed (you could do that part by hand and have a more invisible seam, but I used the machine), and then added a vintage button to the center, a la pincushion-like, and that's it.

They easily became little tablecloth sachets. I can think of so many other things I could have done with those little squares, but this was fast and easy, and I think they're really pretty cute! You could have a bunch on hand and then toss them in with a gift for a little extra surprise. And the lavender...mmmm. Always a good choice!

Oh, and I had the most incredible craving yesterday for Udon soup - look what I made!

Glowing Colors breathes again.

The creative slump extended to knitting projects as well. Although, in all honesty, I've been obsessed with knitting little baby hats in my spare time, so perhaps the drive was still there, but this project took a long siesta. Remember this? I'm happy to say I'm in love with it again. (do you see Nosy Nellie there? Gracie inserts herself into every photo op. Candy would rather catch up on ZZZZ's.)

As you can imagine, it was mocking me from its' cozy nest in the basket next to the couch. It's a big basket, and it's hard to miss, and everytime I walked by, it jumped out at me as if to say, "LOSER! You can't finish anything!"

Well, I have news for you, Glowing Colors. Can so.

I'm halfway through the second panel. Really, it's ridiculous to put a project like this down because it's a super easy, super fast knit. Big needles, big yarn; knit one row, purl the other; repeat. Mindless, and pretty perfect for couch sitting, t.v. vegging (if I could just find the 24 hour Jon Stewart and/or Steven Colbert channel, I'd be set. I'd never have to leave the couch!).

 

(Nosy Nellie gets bored with me. Excuse my lame housekeeping, there are stray socks everywhere. No wonder we can't find the mate.)

Even though this is cheap acrylic yarn, it's really quite soft and nice to knit with. And I love knitting with two colors together. I love how one color works its' way into the next color, and so on. I'm challenging myself to finish this by the end of the month.

Oh, Lordy. Not another Challenge. I've totally fallen off the Dinner Challenge. Next week, k?

One more about the Itty Bitty, and then, I swear, I'll stop.

I'm feeling a little defeated, but I'm finished. I blocked the petals, but they didn't change. Much. They were made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK, which I would have thought would block, but it didn't. I tried the 'steaming iron with a towel trick' too, nothing. Could it be that they are just too small to make a blocking difference?

I sat down last night determined to finish this, no matter what the outcome. I ran into a problem with the last petal (which was the one with the hole) - there wasn't enough room for the entire petal, so I ended up layering it (which gave me an idea for another Itty Bitty, but I just can't go there right now!).

Okay, that last petal looks like crap.

I seriously considered not giving it to my friend. Why? Because it isn't perfect, and perfection is something I struggle with everyday. But in the end, I decided that I would give it to Baby Daisy, because there are some people in this world that understand handcrafted; and understand that it doesn't always mean perfection, but it does indeed mean love.

And, with all it's imperfections, I do love this Itty Bitty Upside Down Daisy hat. And I do love that little i-cord stem. I wish we all had the nerve to wear hats with i-cord stems.

What a blockhead.

*rolling my eyes at myself*.

You guys are spot-on. I did not block that hat. I did not. It did not tell me to in the book. I followed the pattern, and nowhere did it say, "now, block your petals. If you don't, they will look like white shriveled prunes."

They are currently splayed and pinned on my dining room table. I just got around to it this morning, so I can't even tell you if it worked yet. If it doesn't work, I might just make the petals over again. Luckily, I don't have to go there with the whole hat, but the petals, I might be able to manage.

Come to think of it, it might be good idea to make *some* of them over again anyway...

Thanks for all the great advice! I love you guys!

*group hug*

Itty-Bitty Hat Parade

I've been a hat-making fool - Itty Bitty Hats, to be exact. Baby hats, I've discovered, are the perfect project for me right now - totally mindless, and if they're simple, you are just going around and around and around.

They are easy to transport, and easy to pick up and put down anywhere, at any time, and at any place in the project. You don't even have to worry about finishing a row.

Luckily, I've had some people in my life who have recently had babies. The stripey set up there is for a friend who had little twin girls. Little twin identical girls. So I made them the same color, but switched the colors on each. I still have to weave in the yarns, but that's easy.

The other Itty Bitty is the pink hat. It has become a thorn in my side. The idea was so perfect. My friend Kathleen (who, if you are reading Kath, avert your eyes. But you shouldn't be reading - you should be cuddling.) who had a baby girl the first week of January. JANUARY! That was...years ago already! They named their sweet baby girl Daisy - and I thought it would be so perfect to make baby Daisy the Upside Down Daisy hat from Itty Bitty Hats! Great idea, right?

Wrongo, chongo.

Knitting the hat was no problem. You know, around and around and around. Even switching to the DPN's was no problem. Sticks all over the place was a little challenging, but I did it.

No. It's those daisy petals.

They are nothing like what they should be. They should be this:

Nice, straight, puffy petals that burst from the top of the Itty Bitty.

But, no. Mine turned out shriveled, short and crooked. Like a Daisy trying to bloom during a drought or sandstorm. Like a pesticide-ridden bloom, languishing in the setting sun of its' lonely day...

Mine:

The Proper Upside Down Daisy:

Mine:

The Proper:

Mine:

Pathetic. I don't know what to do. There is no way I can gift something like this, and the thought of little Daisy's keppi going uncovered and cold is just too sad for me to contemplate.

Is there any way to salvage this mess? Has anyone made this hat? Do I just throw in the towel and move on? 

It was a dark and stormy weekend...

We've had some serious weather lately. All last week, and this weekend especially, rain, wind, excruciatingly cold (okay, okay, it wasn't excruciatingly cold). It was a great weekend to curl up on the couch, knit and watch movies. Which, after I finished some bags that have been haunting me all week, I did (more on those later, okay?) (like, tomorrow.).

Don't you just love that afghan? I do. I came across it while browsing Ravelry about a month ago, and fell in love with all the colors - and it looks so warm and cozy! It's the Glowing Colors Afghan from Lion Brand Yarns, and the pattern is free! Never mind that it's sized for a child. I love it. I've spent the last month gathering all the yarn, going from one Michael's or Joann's to another looking for the required Jiffy colors and found all but 3 (I finally threw in the towel and ordered them online).

It's such an easy pattern too - all knit in stockinette stitch with two colors together. You knit the three panels separately, and then piece them together. Even I can handle that.

This was the perfect weekend to get started. I was feeling so lazy, it was gloomy, cold and rainy - all the requirements for a good knitting weekend, right? I had my tea at my side, my dogs at my feet, my cat...outside in the rain refusing to enter the warmth of a sheltered area (she is such a martyr). She'll just sit at the front door and meow, but she won't come in. She'll make us open the door, and stand there with the cold air blasting in, while she rubs against the door jam, but she won't come in. Whatever.

I started on Saturday and finished the first panel yesterday while watching Titanic, which I had never seen from beginning to end. One of my fears and phobias is the water and drowning, so this was a good choice for me. I noticed that my knitting speed increased as the ship was going down, and I started to hyperventilate as people were getting sucked into the dining room windows (did I just spoil anything there? I'm trying to work through a fear, okay, just deal with it). Ohmygod, it was awful. 

But I was mighty quick, and as my heart rate slowed, I was binding off. The only thing, the sides curled in like crazy, so I've set it out and pinned it down on the dining room table. I don't know if I should spray it with water - it's a simple acrylic yarn, does anyone have any suggestions? I started the second panel and am knitting the first and last stitch on the purl side this time, hoping that will stop the curl.

Anyway! I do love this pattern and the colors, I might even have time to work on it a little today. My kids are all home from school today; not sick, thankfully - but it's one of those district-wide student free days that are scheduled to torture parents after a weekend of rain. (kidding, Colin, I'm so glad you're home today! We can cuddle. Oh. You're 15 - you don't want to cuddle anymore.)

Also, I have to go make my shopping list. I was on a roll last week with Dinner Challenge, I can't throw in the towel now, can I? I'm going to head over to the Flickr Group right now and see what everyone made recently. I need inspiration.

Tutorial: Lingerie and/or Utility Bag

Happy New Year my dear sweet blog friends! I was cleaning the studio yesterday (I know, *gasp!*), and I came across a bunch of lingerie bags from a while ago when I offered them on my site. I think I pulled them a year ago...they didn't sell well (read: at all), and while it might have been a good idea, perhaps not a good product offering.

In the year since, I've used them in many ways other than their intended purpose. Turns out, they are the perfect size for shoes, and work well when traveling. They are also a fabulous project bag, especially now that I am knitting and have a few things going at once.

They are also quite easy to make, and that is what I want to share with you today!

To start, you'll need about a 1/2 yard of fabric, folded and about a 36" piece of twill tape or ribbon (plus, thread, scissors and...a sewing machine...duh.). I'm using a lightweight linen here. I've made a simple pattern with a 12" x 18" piece of posterboard. Place the posterboard directly on the fabric with one edge on the fold.

Trace pattern directly onto fabric, and then cut out. You'll end up with a long rectangle of fabric when open.

If you are using a plain fabric (like I am here), you can easily embellish the bag later with embroidery, stencils, patchwork or little die-cut pieces of fabric. I think I'll add some fun die-cut fabric pieces. I found some simple shapes online and printed them out to make a little pattern, and then cut them out of some fun fabric.

(Not shown: I also used the die-cut patterns to cut out a piece of double-sided interfacing to help adhere the die-cuts to the linen later.) Put these aside for now.

Next, take your main fabric, open it, and with the wrong side facing you, press the top 4 inches of the sides in. That's not articulated very well, but check out the photo above and below, and do like that! You don't have to measure with this project, just eyeball it.

Do this on all four corners/sides. Then, press down the two top edge pieces about 2 inches from the top. You could serge this if you want, I did not.

Next, sew this piece down about 1/4" from the cut edge.

Then, using your sewing machine guide, sew across again with a 3/4" seam allowance. By doing this, you are creating a little tube for the drawstring.

Next, remember your cute embellishment? Now is the time to attach it. If you are using a die-cut piece of fabric, first adhere it to the right side of the fabric with lightweight double-sided fusible interfacing.

You can then embellish it further with embroidery - I whipstitched around the bra & bikini shown above (but forgot to take a picture of it! sorry!).

Then, turn the piece wrong side out, matching up the top pieces, and begin stitching the sides together below the last horizontal stitch line. You can start at the 1/4" seam allowance guide on your machine, because that turned in portion at the top will end, and you will continue at 1/2" seam allowance down the side of the bag. *Just remember not to start at the very, tippy top of the bag or your won't be able to insert your drawstring!

If you'd like, you can clip the bottom corner of the bag. Then turn it right-side out and press.

Take your twill tape or a piece of ribbon and attach a safety pin...

insert it into the second opening at the top and pull it through to the end. Then, insert it into the other side and continue pulling it through.

Make a little knot at the end so that little guy doesn't go anywhere...

Cinch it tight, and you are done!

Oh, look. Now I have three new utility bags! A lingerie bag, a shoe bag, and (*slaps forehead*) a knitting project bag!

I know which one I'll be using!

I hope you try this! Contrary to my super anal instructions, it's very, very, very easy! Enjoy!