Tag Archives: Fancy Tiger

In Which I Sing the Praises of Craftsy!

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I’ve decided I want to learn to sew.  I got out my sewing machine and was prepared to have to try to find some instructions online on how to thread my 20+ year old Pfaff (which I love).  But it all came back to me.  Like riding a bike.  Apparently, I have sewed more than I had initially remembered.   So I thought about it and quite awhile back, I did make a couple of quilts which I machine pieced.  I also made some flannel floppy Santa guys somewhere back in the 90s.  So I have some sewing in my past.  I’ve never made a garment though (by myself that is).

I decided to see what craftsy.com had to offer in the way of sewing classes.  Turns out they have quite a bit to offer.  I found a free mini class on how to make a tote bag.  It was great.  I can’t recommend this enough.  The teacher explained every step so clearly, and I just followed along with the video.  I learned to box corners.  I made a pocket.  I made handles. I made a lining, put the lining in the bag and successfully sewed it in!

The bag is not perfect, but I am pretty excited.  I had actually bought this material back in 2006 at a quilting show in Nashville.  I’d never gotten around to making the baby quilt it was supposed to become.  I was happy to get to use it for the bag.

totebag-1

 

I asked Davey to take some pictures of me with the bag.  It’s still hard for him to wield my good camera, but he loves to take pictures.  He much prefers taking pictures of me over me taking pictures of him.

proudSo I think I am ready (maybe) to take on my next project.  I got some material on sale at Fancy Tiger (love that place) and a pattern for some pajama style pants and/or shorts.  I won’t have a video to guide me through though.  We shall see how it goes.

Super Scary Mochimochi

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Davey and I just finished our Halloween knitting project.  It took us several weeks but was a lot of fun.  I was inspired by my recent purchase of Anna Hrachovec’s new book Super Scary Mochimochi.

I love her books and patterns. I’ve knitted several of her teeny tiny guys too.  So when I saw that she had a new Halloween themed book coming out, I was thrilled.

I looked through the book.  The “Create your own Monster” patterns immediately caught my eye.  She included patterns for different monster bodies and various monster parts including ears, noses, feet, and tails.  You knit the pieces you want and mix and match them to form your own monster.  I decided that this would be very fun for Davey and me.

So I started knitting.  I just made a bunch of random pieces in different colors.  I used Cascade 220.

When I got it them almost all knitted up, I enlisted Davey to tell me how he wanted to put the pieces together.  He was happy to help me.

So we worked together and created four guys.  Their names are still subject to change, but here’s what we have so far.

Meet Cuke (his name is the one who needs the most work).

Cuke has quite the tongue doesn’t he!

Next up is Luigi.  His moustache is a weeeee bit crooked.  It may be that he is a little flustered because his ears do not match.  Davey was for this ear arrangement at first, but then he wished that I’d have made them the same.  Maybe Luigi wishes this too. But – monsters do not have to have matching ears.  It’s a rule.

Next up is Vampire Dude (again – name is still under consideration).

Vampire Dude has batwings for arms.  They are kinda hard to see.  He has quite the fangs, and he has bolts for ears.  He may be a little confused about his identity.

You may have noticed Burt and Curt in the background of the above picture.  Davey insisted that they have matching antennae.

It’s a motley crew.

When I got home from school today, I noticed that Davey had arranged the guys so they could look out the window.  I liked this too.  He’s a thoughtful kid.

I like seeing Davey’s little arm in the picture too..

So welcome Burt, Curt, Cuke, Luigi, and Vampire Dude.  (I don’t know if technically a two-headed monster should be counted as two monsters.)

Weeble Wobble Thursday

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I’m at the Little Gym again.  It’s turning into a good place to do a little blogging.

I think we are about to maybe get some snow again.  A 30% chance today has turned into a 90% chance, and we may end up with a few inches.  We love the snow, but we are starting to look forward to some Spring!

On our way to the Little Gym this morning, we stopped by Fancy Tiger to get some new yarn.  (Fancy Tiger is my favorite yarn/craft store in the Denver area. It’s the coolest.) I’m getting ready to start the next cowl in the cowl KAL, and I did not have any superchunky in my stash.  So I just had to buy some.  I ended up buying what the pattern calls for (I rarely do this!)  – Malabrigo Rasta.  So nice.  So squishy.

Just did a little photography at the Little Gym.

I can’t wait to start knitting this.  It should be super fast (famous last words) – on size 17 needles!

I finished the 3rd cowl in the knit along yesterday.  I like it a lot.  It wraps around my neck three times and is so is nice and comfy and warm.

Davey again agreed to model for me.

It’s has curves on one side – hence the weeble wobble.  This was accomplished with short rows.  Really neat.

He was explaining something to David here.

And Davey took some pictures of me.  I always like this.

ok time to cast on this squishy new yarn!