neenkster.com | Page 2

1st PJs

3 Comments

17-03-2013

donuts2 1st PJs Finally a new sewing project! The scrap quilt top didn’t really count. After all the knitting, I’m ready to go back to lots of sewing and finally start making some clothes for myself (if I dare).

Pattern: McCall’s 4244
Review: I was too lazy to draft my own pattern, so I bought the McCall’s pattern for 99cents. I initially made a size M, but it was way too big. And I had already french seamed it completely. Ugh..lesson learned. I took in 2″ of the crotch seam (making it a size S??), removed the extra hip width and fake french seamed it again. Zigzag stitching is a no-no for me. I did made the pockets but eliminated them at the end.
Fabric: $2.99/yard from JoAnn’s. I got 3 yards.

Deadline: I started these pants in November, but gave up after finding out how much too big they were. Now it’s finally finished…and pyjama season is over :( This is the first week of high 70′s F (ca. 25°C) in Texas :).
For: For the coffee drinker in the house -that wouldn’t be me! :)- who picked the fabric himself. I tried to tell him a couple of times this fabric is really, really girly, but he didn’t agree. Till he spotted the hearts last week…eh… Well it fits me as well, so I’m sure it will be worn :).

Just a picture to proof that it fits both of us really well:

donuts3 1st PJs

donuts1 1st PJs

Sausage Dog

No Comments

16-03-2013

knitting

the original draughty dog, with far too scary eyes!

Pattern: Draughty Dog from the book Knitted Nursery. When I saw this draughty dog, I knew I wanted to make Elena one.
For: Elena’s 2nd birthday
Time spent: 3 weeks (= while watching tv)
Yarn: The dog is almost entirely made out of yarn, from my mother’s closet. Stash busting!
Errors: The gauge for this project was off. Quite a bit, because for toys it’s better to use 2-3sizes smaller than recommended needle size. I forgot about that :-/. Should have started over on a much smaller needle :-/ I lined the body to prevent stuffing from coming out, it’s not that bad actually, and the lining will also provide some stability.

Also the dog has a bit of a birthmark (see pictures). I picked up 1 stitch too many, noticed it after a few rows, tried to take it out, but it left a hole. Tried to put it back in, didn’t work either. So I sort of double stitched the hole afterwards.

Click for more pictures –>

Louie the Lovebot

No Comments

07-03-2013

knitting, Pumpkin&Spike

louie1 Louie the Lovebot

Pattern: Louie the Lovebot
For: a very late Valentine’s gift
Yarn: gray Caron Simply Soft and blue from my mom’s yarn closet
A first: A few firsts actually! 1) the double stitching for the heart, I decided inertia was too ambitious, 2) jogless 2 row stripes (thanks to KnitDarling), 3) knitting a toy with 2 circular needles 4) binding off with 3 DPN, 5) Binding off with the kitchener stitch. Magic! So beautiful! I think that’s all the new things I’ve learned :)

louie2 Louie the Lovebot

louie3 Louie the Lovebot

louie5 Louie the Lovebot

Flamingo – a grad gift

2 Comments

06-03-2013

knitting

Pattern: Flamingo by Susan B. Anderson
For: My sister, who just graduated
Time: finished the flamingo in 3 days, except for the legs. I had never knit an i-cord before and had some trouble with it. Just didn’t look pretty and too fluffy. In the end (2 months later, that is….) I got a spool from my aunt and finished the legs in no time! I knitted over 3 nails, and after knitting 6″, I picked up the stitches to continue on 2 DPN to make the feet.

flamingo6 Flamingo a grad gift

punniken Flamingo a grad gift

The pattern asks for 2 pipe cleaners. I tried to use a straw, but that didn’t quite work. So I replaced it with a pipe cleaner.

flamingo medium2 Flamingo a grad gift

Congrats on graduating, Marieke!! :)

Embracing randomness

No Comments

05-03-2013

Craftsy, quilting

I just finished the first project for the Inspired Modern Quilts Craftsy class. Yeah… I couldn’t resist buying another one. What can I say? I love Craftsy!

I really want to make myself a modern quilt, but I reckon I need some practice. My first 2 attempts were a bit messy after all…

For this Embracing Randomness project I used the rotary cutter for the first time. Still need to figure out the easiest way to left-handed rotary cutting, ugh. I just don’t get a steady grip on the cutter and ruler. I roughly cut everything 3.5″, but roughly isn’t quite good enough if you want to perfectly align all the blocks…Practice, practice :)).

randomness3 Embracing randomness

The idea of this Embracing Randomness is to cut 80 (or how many you’d like) squares, mix them in a shoebox or bowl and randomly lay them out. After doing that with all of the squares, you can change things a little bit if you like. I didn’t change the direction of the dachshund print, I quite liked the randomness!

I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this quilt top. Maybe a pillowcase or cushion? Time will whisper the answer in my ear!

randomness Embracing randomness

randomness1 Embracing randomness

randomness2 Embracing randomness

$6 books

No Comments

05-03-2013

books, knitting, sewing

My new hobby is buying books for $6!

I love spending time in Half Price Books and online looking through Amazon booksellers trying to find a good deal.

I paid $6.97 (incl $3.99 shipping) for the Spud&Chloe, but paid $5.99 (excl. tax) for Sew Pretty Homestyle and The Perfect Pajama. I don’t just buy any book, I don’t want to hoard anymore (like I did with fabric :$). I have a specific watch-list and I only want to buy books that I’ll use :).It applies to clothing etc as well. Otherwise I might as well save the $ and spend it on a better item, even if it’s more expensive. It’s better to have a few things that you really like, than a whole bunch of things that were cheap and ‘okay’. I’m just trying to be wise with money, even if it’s only $6 :).

Sew Pretty Homestyle is a Tilda book. I’ve always liked the style of Tone Finnanger, but I know that most books of hers I just wouldn’t use.

I’m trying to make pajama bottoms, and the Pajama book offers a lot ideas for cute details.

And last but not least, Spud&Chloe was on my wishlist for a little while! Too cute to resist!

Maisie, Bunny and Quilling

No Comments

05-02-2013

crafting, crochet, knitting

Finished my 2nd hat this weekend; the Wheeler or Maisie hat. Not sure why this pattern has 2 names! Unfortunately it’s not long enough for my head. You can see that the hat is quite short. I do blame the pattern. I think I may frog the decrease rows and lengthen the middle section. I knit this head on 2 circular needles (picture here, it’s hard to see the see-through plastic needles) a method I quite like!

I finally decided on the nose color of my Spring bunny! I think it still needs a yellow flower in its hair…in time ;).

Yesterday evening I joined a crafty get-together. We learned the art of quilling. I’m pretty sure I’ve actually done this before, at the age of 10 or something. The get-together was really nice and a lot of fun :)