tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-110181952024-03-23T14:27:27.039-04:00Frog MonkeyMy adventures with knitting, monkeys, frogging, and all the other stuff.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.comBlogger545125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-52054313865922129012017-05-16T22:20:00.001-04:002017-05-16T22:20:51.968-04:00String Backpack tutorial (part of our Silver Award Project)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My 8th grade Cadette troop is finishing up their Silver Award. They worked with the local school staff and school district staff who support families in need. Our school has a food pantry and provides other support for families who need it. Our school district provides support for homeless students. <a href="https://www.scps.k12.fl.us/district/departments/exceptional-student-support-services/student-services/families-in-need.stml">https://www.scps.k12.fl.us/district/departments/exceptional-student-support-services/student-services/families-in-need.stml</a><br />
<br />
We had an event in the fall where younger scouts came and did crafts and had a snack and they donated hygiene items, or canned goods or hand-me-down jeans. We gave the food items and jeans to our local elementary school. We saved the personal care items for this project and supplemented the donations by purchasing additional items with troop funds. <br />
<br />
One of the girls in the troop wrote up this tutorial for how we made the bags:<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .85pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hygiene
Bags For Families</span></u><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 7.95pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 9.9pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>Get
the hygienic products to put in the bag. Including: 1 deodorant, 1 toothpaste,
1 shampoo or conditioner, 2 kid toothbrush (non gender specific), 2 adult
toothbrush (non gender specific), 1 container of wipes, 1 floss, 1-2 body
soap. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAMiu5EeD23JsxjTdG2nn0dqGsPcqVu0sIZKfJp04G4JmXh74Rng62e22rZSEbIJOSK6YoOEZ67yu4g91yKYxewpHBG5CbqK5uFX1v1X3NqugEHjYe05ZYYiu_t_hc2wl67A2/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAMiu5EeD23JsxjTdG2nn0dqGsPcqVu0sIZKfJp04G4JmXh74Rng62e22rZSEbIJOSK6YoOEZ67yu4g91yKYxewpHBG5CbqK5uFX1v1X3NqugEHjYe05ZYYiu_t_hc2wl67A2/s320/IMG_1157.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li>Measure
the length and width of your back or someone else’s, in inches</li>
<li><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 108%;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Pick
out the type of fabric you want to use, then cut out the length and width from
your measurements from step 2, we specifically used quilting cotton 45” by
about 15”<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc7Dau8yYvudC7dnSGYqtfcsU9a-CqOrId2C52n4UKOOfJvtHTEUk0mzYAH0Z2SeyFmAtPWURElzr_frlUQrCc8101WYfpeYgsMTcdPxumVbgkgYyKGVpdkKwItrBeUiuPfdx/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCc7Dau8yYvudC7dnSGYqtfcsU9a-CqOrId2C52n4UKOOfJvtHTEUk0mzYAH0Z2SeyFmAtPWURElzr_frlUQrCc8101WYfpeYgsMTcdPxumVbgkgYyKGVpdkKwItrBeUiuPfdx/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li>Then
get 3 pins and put them in the fabric along the shorter side of the fabric, and
prepare to sew (both ends), this is going to be a channel for the string and
make sure there is enough room to go through it twice<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbqCJ-_iI8FU3Fv2GMVzNoZvizP9WZ3YJaazPax2sgLvo-cXlsppZmUEqHq5uQKc6_B6MnRPFbJuTtpFbG9EL-Zz4Iwn936ewraStGWgAgxXHyNgsWyw6QB33yr6gIlkzzsCC/s1600/IMG_1162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbqCJ-_iI8FU3Fv2GMVzNoZvizP9WZ3YJaazPax2sgLvo-cXlsppZmUEqHq5uQKc6_B6MnRPFbJuTtpFbG9EL-Zz4Iwn936ewraStGWgAgxXHyNgsWyw6QB33yr6gIlkzzsCC/s320/IMG_1162.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tpuL03nJYQjeeTgX2pDD2EDAsft-YxlNdDpWMlorOnkUXIxxycP49Bqu11LWtiwfMtoJjQA5yOxe3ugevD4mPAzRTRUbWwFhC5KTEyTAr7mCjq8FNhMR_Hn5MUbn9p1KJNZU/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tpuL03nJYQjeeTgX2pDD2EDAsft-YxlNdDpWMlorOnkUXIxxycP49Bqu11LWtiwfMtoJjQA5yOxe3ugevD4mPAzRTRUbWwFhC5KTEyTAr7mCjq8FNhMR_Hn5MUbn9p1KJNZU/s320/IMG_1163.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li>Go
to the sewing machine and make sure to sew with a straight line all the way
thru, this will be the top opening of the bag.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiXRamFP7VAx2UbS2qrqNDc2RqbqESLtlheS2angstV8yHsK-Fkyg3SkZhB04OVqRtF43GyhGaBYDTJTsu37YpELj-rfsLz_iL7vHZphLLiGUlRUzlRwxNG_r8377ztuH_fjH/s1600/IMG_1191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMiXRamFP7VAx2UbS2qrqNDc2RqbqESLtlheS2angstV8yHsK-Fkyg3SkZhB04OVqRtF43GyhGaBYDTJTsu37YpELj-rfsLz_iL7vHZphLLiGUlRUzlRwxNG_r8377ztuH_fjH/s320/IMG_1191.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li>Fold
the fabric in half so that the 2 seams are next to each other, right sides together,
and pin. Sew these two seams - these will be the sides of your bag. Don't sew through the channel you made in the first step.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CgnwMZNsdS2xcBaod-VszGpLVUyxm-aP_X0JclY-xk8YJhs-6LaZeQNLw8aJHru10-QhQHkXESE_M1pgBwJJ9wcn3Cy5EfHtvmWBfI8V0nqxD-3qIHs742joxH2k_4zzphpa/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CgnwMZNsdS2xcBaod-VszGpLVUyxm-aP_X0JclY-xk8YJhs-6LaZeQNLw8aJHru10-QhQHkXESE_M1pgBwJJ9wcn3Cy5EfHtvmWBfI8V0nqxD-3qIHs742joxH2k_4zzphpa/s320/IMG_1204.JPG" width="320" /></a></li>
<li>Fold
the bottom of the bag up about an inch or inch and a half and pin it. Sew this
edge with a zigzag, it also needs to be wide enough for the cord to fit through
it twice. Get nylon clothesline or paracord, safety pin and a lighter<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIzxo_89BPa1-awfuQK11NS4DTBXZ9WJCEOOgdbFTpdRl3GhGYsKomAmijStZFVQQQGOpfU1vJdXRuU72QOh6ZPL9CG6b9ifnEganU-TQh3D2x8nF9lJocsnieqfacgF79sAb/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIzxo_89BPa1-awfuQK11NS4DTBXZ9WJCEOOgdbFTpdRl3GhGYsKomAmijStZFVQQQGOpfU1vJdXRuU72QOh6ZPL9CG6b9ifnEganU-TQh3D2x8nF9lJocsnieqfacgF79sAb/s320/IMG_1214.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9gbL2wvH03MFpksX-EUojIqBMCwHKDmVMujUhmb4qJPByq7Thprc_7vP94M2X-STDGH0GWwa_JFv5Ga0Q5w4eN5JZEAN7s8k4TIbfYRZVgvC1AOyXyu_byyro3jhiceJ9_zt/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9gbL2wvH03MFpksX-EUojIqBMCwHKDmVMujUhmb4qJPByq7Thprc_7vP94M2X-STDGH0GWwa_JFv5Ga0Q5w4eN5JZEAN7s8k4TIbfYRZVgvC1AOyXyu_byyro3jhiceJ9_zt/s320/IMG_1215.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_rHmKa32cKIwYl9zHSRhRllkGIvLza6pXT-R6g76w_Cp-J9lC5be1RMSZLeYyWKIgY2wojPiW1OzCV-5aGrOyJEIT71bEdZfjQBpFDojCMx8Pp-0rbIVd0j_ngnWsMsg7403/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_rHmKa32cKIwYl9zHSRhRllkGIvLza6pXT-R6g76w_Cp-J9lC5be1RMSZLeYyWKIgY2wojPiW1OzCV-5aGrOyJEIT71bEdZfjQBpFDojCMx8Pp-0rbIVd0j_ngnWsMsg7403/s320/IMG_1224.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li>Take
the safety pin and poke it thru the end of the rope or string you have selected
,start to sting the bag from the top all the way around, then thru the bottom,
back to the top and repeat again, then tie a square knot with the ends<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VnQO_4n5oX0pFjunAAH2IObw_BeRvL4k129Cr1wdaLyPjUErRhthhzIto7SiDl7aSUJv84IHGIZ-IQW0Mt0NzyVvi1C83w-UGjyL-v2zmkFuLe-seqx99jzFjN90bTHKIdzG/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VnQO_4n5oX0pFjunAAH2IObw_BeRvL4k129Cr1wdaLyPjUErRhthhzIto7SiDl7aSUJv84IHGIZ-IQW0Mt0NzyVvi1C83w-UGjyL-v2zmkFuLe-seqx99jzFjN90bTHKIdzG/s320/IMG_1160.JPG" width="239" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvp1c75lpvTPRjdLvvmoTZDvi9uWbAl8IRAZE5vfcJ9-cKAkXAjyukZhfdOXBU8gKIcjkOCEeh4Wr-_R5LuW1ZzTNLmr5SCQp9jqF933ilr9PX9WN4JwhohvtUz5QKj0Uc1a6/s1600/IMG_1234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvp1c75lpvTPRjdLvvmoTZDvi9uWbAl8IRAZE5vfcJ9-cKAkXAjyukZhfdOXBU8gKIcjkOCEeh4Wr-_R5LuW1ZzTNLmr5SCQp9jqF933ilr9PX9WN4JwhohvtUz5QKj0Uc1a6/s320/IMG_1234.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 108%;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">Tie your hair back. Use the lighter to m</span></span>elt the ends together, then melted the knot a
little to secure it even more. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBCK7nmIcvbTL7FCg5mmMN7j3PsSvzYXZjbXegC5MR0IW45BNZfCCUp91ZUK9YU3DORCGp5RzdrdD86x2gGZ9uUBkPiAMt3MWxfSVbeEB0CoqR9wLKXlsNN-5eiOstjp0mtoe/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBCK7nmIcvbTL7FCg5mmMN7j3PsSvzYXZjbXegC5MR0IW45BNZfCCUp91ZUK9YU3DORCGp5RzdrdD86x2gGZ9uUBkPiAMt3MWxfSVbeEB0CoqR9wLKXlsNN-5eiOstjp0mtoe/s320/IMG_1249.JPG" width="239" /></a></li>
<li>Gather
the hygienic supplies from the beginning and put them all in the bag </li>
<li>Close the bag</li>
<li>You’re done! </li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.75pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIe4ThxXgbmLLoTmvkfHufy5-QBwEijGTHGQPbV-o82M9YIEQ-7QQ1LzNfqWSsVD3JEuBoOtHj-_nExCG7E9fd4s1zrNF-9YqWs6g2dMBHt44Lt6R2dZjPkvO3kHJP0EGo6Da/s1600/IMG_1258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIe4ThxXgbmLLoTmvkfHufy5-QBwEijGTHGQPbV-o82M9YIEQ-7QQ1LzNfqWSsVD3JEuBoOtHj-_nExCG7E9fd4s1zrNF-9YqWs6g2dMBHt44Lt6R2dZjPkvO3kHJP0EGo6Da/s320/IMG_1258.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0in; tab-stops: center 28.65pt 121.45pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-57046240849467160102016-01-04T07:10:00.000-05:002016-01-04T07:10:05.711-05:00Last minute crafting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
The plans. Sometimes, they go awry.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was kind of late to the game for being organized for Christmas this year. So, I started a hat for my grandmother at the last minute. As you do.<br />
<br />
It was gorgeous, light blue Malabrigo. Like butter. Fun to knit. Would work great with her other recent handknits. <br />
<br />
\<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23715118149/in/album-72157594166173393/" title="Grandma's First Hat"><img alt="Grandma's First Hat" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1478/23715118149_58e452bff3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Then I realized it was hand-wash only. Not nursing home friendly.<br />
<br />
But my cousin has blue eyes and this would look great on her. And she lives where it snows. So, once I finished this hat, I took a second look at my yarn options and went for Plymouth Worsted and Cascade Pacific and came up with this. If I were to do it over, I would have done it differently (helix from the start).<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23454684044/in/album-72157594166173393/" title="Grandma's Hat"><img alt="Grandma's Hat" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5626/23454684044_5ed457c2eb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
My even more last minute crafting is new stockings. I realized that no one went to the attic to get the stocking box this year. So, I bought new ones. There was not much selection at the big box store at that point. And then I zipped over to the craft store for dark red perle cotton and sewing needles. My ambition was to add snowflakes or flowers or something great, but then I started doing their initials and remembered what my actual skill level is. And I went with slightly wonky, but mostly legible initials. <br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/24056842806/in/album-72157594196323602/" title="Modified Stockings"><img alt="Modified Stockings" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1593/24056842806_0a6e54c7f5.jpg" width="374" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-62348927110851306842016-01-02T06:59:00.000-05:002016-01-02T06:59:00.848-05:00Elf Shoes for the girls!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the one cold day we had this winter, the girls realized I had elf shoes and decided (remembered) they needed some of their own.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/4415153771/in/album-72157594166173393/" title="Elf Shoes for me!"><img alt="Elf Shoes for me!" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2792/4415153771_e5d3929e64.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Mine are from 2008. I still had more of that yarn, including an un-started 2nd skein. So, using all stash yarn, I made them slippers.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/24082921505/in/album-72157594166173393/" title="Elf Feet"><img alt="Elf Feet" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5656/24082921505_f5218c66df.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
<br />
It was pretty straightforward. But now was the tricky part. Our old washing machine was great for felting. But I knew the new one could go awry - after seeing the great elf sock disaster of 2014.<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/13933041612/in/album-72157594166173393/" title="elf socks"><img alt="elf socks" height="375" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2897/13933041612_4b5a0fed43.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
This time, I stuffed the socks with other stuff - dishtowels, socks, etc and put each one in a pillowcase. And just washed on a regular wash cycle, Hot water. This time, they did not felt enough and I had to run through it again. <br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23454684504/in/album-72157594166173393/" title="Elf Feet 2"><img alt="Elf Feet 2" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1666/23454684504_2090b56153.jpg" width="374" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
On the 2nd cold day of winter, after the socks were knitted, La was wearing my elf shoes and said she didn't like how the wool felt on her feet. El feels like hers are too big. But from a technical standpoint, they were a success.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-67037788551840965672015-12-31T16:36:00.000-05:002015-12-31T16:36:07.465-05:00More sewing with El.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
For pocketbook 2.0, the feature list includes: a zipper, a curved bottom, and two handle shoulder strap. <br />
<br />
She got a blue sewing machine for Christmas. Now we're figuring out where to set up her sewing table and I'm thinking about what projects will be fun and useful. We know a couple of babies, so fat quarter quilts. My folks could use some new placemats and my nephew brings cloth napkins. Our main things to work on are consistent seam allowances, locking seams, turning corners and remembering to put the presser foot back down. <br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23443400464/in/dateposted-public/" title="image"><img alt="image" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5634/23443400464_d1270fe617.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
The machine seems to be pretty good. I was really missing some of the features of my machine, like a light, the threader, a zipper foot, and seam allowance markings. But what it does, it seems to do well.<br />
<br />
<br />
El sewed the tubes for the straps, and then we needed to switch back to my machine once we got home. And, um, switch sewists. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23443434294/in/dateposted-public/" title="image"><img alt="image" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5735/23443434294_5497648e9a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
My first stab at the curved bottom was not curvy enough. I had her draw a line on the inside with a washable Crayola marker and sewed along those lines and it was finally good. Also, the inside edges are just pinked together, not hidden. Should be good enough for this draft. Also, I need to figure out how to do zippers better this year. <br />
<br />
Again, she's happy with this pocketbook and using it regularly. Also, I let her cut up some Kaffe Fassett stash for the body. Cause I'm nice and I love her.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-36261768147873921092015-12-30T16:23:00.001-05:002015-12-30T16:23:21.437-05:00Sewing with El.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This fall, E decided that she wanted to sew one afternoon. She was 7 at the time. I think everyone else was at a teenager movie, so we had some time and attention available. She sewed a bunch of pieces of fabric together. Scraps that I had near my machine, left over from something else. <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23963471502/in/dateposted-public/" title="image"><img alt="image" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5700/23963471502_0c0b5d5e00.jpg" width="374" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
She was having fun. Then realized she wanted to make a pocketbook. For a 7 year old whose mother carries her wallet, she has a lot of pocketbooks already. She decided she wanted one that had a crossover strap, a pocket on the outside, and a flap that folded over and buttoned. She drew a picture of her idea and then we picked out some fabrics from the stash. She had a thing in her mind and went for it. <br />
<br />
The sewing itself, though required a little more precision and technical skill than she has right now, so she supervised and I sewed a lot of it together. And she added a sewing machine of her own to her Christmas list. <br />
<br />
We ended up with this:<br />
<br /></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23703799299/in/dateposted-public/" title="image"><img alt="image" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5716/23703799299_331af0469a.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/23443527244/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC01499"><img alt="DSC01499" height="500" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1665/23443527244_579c380e55.jpg" width="375" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
She was really happy with this. Sometimes, you go through the trouble of making something and then there's something about it that you don't like and you don't use it? This bag was in heavy rotation. Until she thought of pocketbook 2.0. The adventure continues. Stay tuned.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-12844916522140488922015-11-18T20:16:00.000-05:002015-11-18T20:16:21.237-05:00A hat kick<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have no idea what I've been knitting this semester. I just know that right now I'm on a hat kick. Portable, easy, uses stash, haven't made one in a while, short attention span.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First I grabbed a skein of some kind of Donegal tweed that I got from my neighbor who was de-stashing (and wound it). And I just kind of started knitting a hat on size 7 needles. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I took a sleeve from an abandoned sweater and worked in a stripe, with the method from Cambria's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-missionary-hat" target="_blank">Missionary Hat</a> pattern. <br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/22505882164/in/dateposted-public/" title="Soccer hat in progress"><img alt="Soccer hat in progress" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5631/22505882164_c6269604c0.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
</div>
<div>
<br />
Finished in a couple of days. I'm sure it'll find a home at some point.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/22808449440/in/dateposted-public/" title="Soccer Knitting (Hat) - Done"><img alt="Soccer Knitting (Hat) - Done" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/775/22808449440_a927b7f545.jpg" width="374" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
So, keeping the same needles in my bag, I grabbed a skein of Lamb's Pride Worsted and took it to skate night. With this hat, I've had some trouble with division and remainders and fitting patterns into factors of the cast on number. 81 is not a great number for a 3x3 pattern. So then it got reduced to 78. <br />
<br /></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/22736294819/in/dateposted-public/" title="Scallop hat at skate night"><img alt="Scallop hat at skate night" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5767/22736294819_b5ec42d69e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
It turns out the factors for 78 is 6x13 (or for prime factors - 2x3x13), which was not overly helpful when I tried to figure out the scallop pattern. So there's a long, oddly shaped scallop at the beginning of the round.<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/22507373903/in/dateposted-public/" title="Scallop hat"><img alt="Scallop hat" height="500" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/636/22507373903_99b1a4a043.jpg" width="374" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
The dark blue is some kind of "regular wool" from the stash. Probably Paton's Classic or similar. <br />
<br />
That hat is on the decreases now and will probably be finished by the end of the week. <br />
<br />
What's next? Probably another hat. <br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-54482743380201750342015-08-09T22:39:00.000-04:002015-08-09T22:39:25.231-04:00Bootstrapping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two things. OK<br />
<br />
1. I have been sewing a lot of hexagons. I sat down with a 10 year old friend and did some math. To get a 56" square quilt (10 year old by 10 year old sized), I'll need a stultifying number of gray hexagons. And something like a countably infinite number of print hexagons (not-gray). So, they were starting to get a little unwieldy. It was getting a little risky to reach into the stack to try to find the one with the needle left in it. <br />
<br />
Here's the pattern I'm working toward. I'm calling it "<a href="http://www.britannica.com/science/hydrocarbon" target="_blank">hydrocarbon</a>" in my head. It is easier to see in a direct <a href="https://instagram.com/cjmngo/" target="_blank">overhead </a>shot.<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/20419345841/in/dateposted-public/" title="The Hexie Plan?"><img alt="The Hexie Plan?" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3721/20419345841_1f0d84b9e3.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
2. I bought a lot of 36 zippers on eBay. They were 99 cents but the shipping was $12. (it is OK to laugh at me.) It was unnecessarily fast shipping. They are mostly nylon sport-type zippers, tending towards the 7 and 9" size range.<br />
<br />
I did what any sane person would do. OK. I did what any person with 36 zippers and 1/2 a square yard of hexagons and a bunch of unearthed stash and scrap fabric would do. I started saving zipper pouch tutorials on pinterest and sewed some. That is where the bootstrapping in the title comes in. I don't know what it is called otherwise to use your hobby to make tools to use while you do your hobby. <br />
<br />
Here's the first. A Noodlehead <a href="http://www.noodle-head.com/2012/06/open-wide-zippered-pouch-diy-tutorial.html" target="_blank">Open Wide Zippered Pouch</a> Made more from the steps than the measurements. The fabric on the zipper tab is on the inside. This one holds the finished hexies. <br />
<br /></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/20226548789/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Big Mouth Pouch"><img alt="New Big Mouth Pouch" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3742/20226548789_f373a2687a.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Here's the second. It is from a <a href="https://modernquiltlove.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/perfect-box-pouch-tutorial/" target="_blank">box pouch tutorial</a> Again. More from the steps than the measurements. It is clever. I wanted the edges to be finished on the inside. I need to think about that. French seams where possible and maybe binding tape on the edges where it is not. This one has the thread, scissors, paper templates and unsewed hexagons and the last finished hexie with the needle stuck in it. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/20419404691/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Box pouch"><img alt="New Box pouch" height="375" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/445/20419404691_10eba4794e.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-74149540955679289972015-07-25T18:34:00.001-04:002015-07-25T18:34:59.762-04:00Hexagons and Instagram<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
So.....I recently bought an iPad Mini. For a software engineer, I'm kind of a Luddite. But, the last time I went to India for work, my daughter lent me her iPod. Wi-Fi was pretty available, at least in the hotel, and it was really nice to be able to facetime with home. And I've been kind of borrowing my husband's iPad a lot. And with two kids, it's nice to have two devices to hand out on car trips. <br />
<br />
So, anyway. I joined <a href="https://instagram.com/cjmngo/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. One of the neat things has been seeing what's out there in the world. I've been seeing someone make paper pieced hexagons. I don't know what she's making with them, but they're great. (hopefully this embed works.)<br />
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://instagram.com/p/5TFWhLsQwo/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_top">Loving this Heather Ross and C+S mashup tonight! 💖 #themassivehexieproject</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A photo posted by Kate Basti (@katebasti) on <time datetime="2015-07-19T00:48:49+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 18, 2015 at 5:48pm PDT</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
So, I looked up how to do it. Template and tutorial are <a href="http://mypoppet.com.au/makes/2013/05/how-to-paper-pieced-hexies-template.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Here's what I've made so far:<br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/19385551133/in/dateposted-public/" title="Basted Hexes"><img alt="Basted Hexes" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/488/19385551133_dfa088dd5e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
And here's what's next in line. <br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/19998757752/in/dateposted-public/" title="Hexagons to be"><img alt="Hexagons to be" height="480" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/295/19998757752_a4a0f242a3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Apparently, this is a process project. I'm not sure what they're going to be. I've been craving some not-knitting handwork and this is fun so far. When it gets tedious, I'll sew them together into something. <br /><br />
I'm going to try not to buy fabric for this, but I've kind of been thinking about these w.r.t. grayscale or low volume fabrics. Or a riot of colors. We'll see.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-71880911802155355642015-06-21T22:38:00.003-04:002015-06-21T22:38:52.634-04:00Wrapping things up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I started a project in February 2013. I finished it in May. Now I'm blogging the FO in June.<br />
<br />
It was going to be <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sonnenblume-2" target="_blank">Sonnenblume</a>, which has a beautiful lace motif. I got it to the part where the lace was ready to start and left it there for like 2 years, waiting for a time when I'd be ready to decipher the chart and just do it. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/9000601348" title="Sonnenblume by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Sonnenblume" height="360" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2887/9000601348_b02306780c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I got to a point this spring where I was between projects so I picked it up and looked at the chart again. It has patterning on both sides. The work, where I left off, had more stitches than I can really count. OK, technically I can count that high, but I almost never do. So, anyways, I wasn't even sure if the thing was at the exactly right number of stitches for the pattern. <br />
<br />
So I did what any sane person would do. I improvised. <br />
<br />
First, I kept knitting with the 4 increases for a while. Until I couldn't stand it anymore. <br />
<br />
Then I swatched a couple of simple lace patterns and looked through Ravelry for something pretty and uber-simple. I found <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/eyelet-lace-shawlette" target="_blank">Eyelet Lace Shawlette</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/black-death" target="_blank">Black Death</a> and maybe a few others. <br />
<br />
The initial pattern for the increases is this:<br />
Row 1: K1 YO K to 1 before center. YO K1 YO K to 1 before end YO K1.<br />
<br />
Row 2: K1 P to 1 before edge K1 (the edges might have been purled. Not sure.)<br />
<br />
<br />
I decided to do:<br />
<br />
Row 1: K1 YO *K5 YO* [repeat til 1 before center, fudging as necessary with remainders] YO K1 YO *K5 YO* YO K1<br />
Row 2: K1 P to 1 before edge K1.<br />
<br />
When I got to a good number of repeats and the rows were getting really long, I used a picot bind off. The bind off was super tedious. So I took breaks more than I should have - and it turned into a big mess and I broke the yarn when I was trying to figure out what was going on with it. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/18416788564" title="Blue Wrap by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Blue Wrap" height="480" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/404/18416788564_32e6fb74bf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Basically, the whole project was fraught with mis-steps and issues all along the way. But, it is pretty and soft and will be a nice thing to have. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-54113651868027523482015-05-09T22:41:00.000-04:002015-05-10T08:48:36.578-04:00My favorite mug<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
When I got back from India, I posted the following on Facebook:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Nice to be back home again on a Saturday morning. Up early making cupcakes with Ellie, drinking coffee that my husband made, in a cup my mom threw.</span></blockquote>
This is the cup. <br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/17285616809" title="My favorite mug by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="My favorite mug" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8821/17285616809_db26022944.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
My mom made it in 2007. She's been doing pottery since I was little (and I am currently in my early to mid 40s). There's a lot going for this cup other than the fact my mom made it: it is nicely made, a pretty color and holds a perfect amount of coffee (although some weekend mornings I need 2 cups.)<br />
<br />
It's nice to use something that my mom made - it feels connected to her. And I like that it' is used in everyday life. This is not something you take out only when it's Thanksgiving. This is something I try to use (if it's clean) on any day I don't need to use a travel mug. It may not have been made specifically to be an heirloom, but might end up as one if I don't break it by accident before then. Actually, maybe I should ask her to make another one just like it so no one has to fight over this one. <br />
<br />
My parents are both make things and it is neat to live in a makers' house. They made things like coffee cups and curtains, desks and shelves. In almost every room, you can look and see something they figured out and put together. I remember noticing it one day when I was in high school or college and thinking it was neat. I brought it with me - I like that you can look around my house and see things that I made and we are using. You can look around my house and even see things that my mom and dad made and that my grandfather made (I may be stereotyping, but aircraft mechanics are not stingy with the fasteners. I will show you sometime.) <br />
<br />
One of the examples that makers-as-parents set is that trying stuff is good. They can also set the example that coming up with a plan before you start is good too. There's a time and a place for each - it depends on if it is important to end up with a certain thing when you're done. Oh and other lessons: there are times when neatness counts, sometimes it doesn't matter if you're doing something wrong as long as you stick to being consistently wrong in the same way.<br />
<br />
Then there's the practicing the craft. All through my childhood there would be one or two nights a week for like an 8 or 12 or 16 week session where she would be at pottery or upholstery or something. I think she started taking pottery with some of her friends at a high school's community education program - probably on a lark. She stayed with it. She's studied at a few different studios. Due to family situations and scheduling, she was on hiatus for a while. But, she is back to taking pottery again and she enjoys it. This is great to see.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-55997921374126823852015-05-02T07:50:00.000-04:002015-05-02T07:54:29.589-04:00Quick Socks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Quick post for quick socks.<br />
<br />
My sister gave me two skeins of Borroco Sox for Christmas. Here is the first skein in sock form (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/2monkeys/64bit-socks-11" target="_blank">rav project link</a>). It's my usual vanilla 64 stitch stockinette socks (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/64bit-socks" target="_blank">64bit socks</a>). They're longer than I usually make, but these were more about the journey than the destination. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/17139828198" title="Stripey Socks by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Stripey Socks" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7658/17139828198_863ccbef59.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
p.s. Did you see how the stripes match up? Dude. I didn't even hope to get them to match when I started.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-3168121004806495442015-04-26T17:34:00.000-04:002015-04-26T17:34:11.726-04:00knitting in India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had to go to India for work again. This time, I didn't bring any metal needles with me - I learned my security lesson from the last trip. Also, I wanted the balance of easy/memorizable and interesting and using stash yarn. I felt ready for the trip when I found "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/neato" target="_blank">Neato</a>" by JumperCablesKnitting. <br />
<br />
The stash yarn was Plymouth Boku - a wool/silk blend with long color changes (similarish to Noro, but without flashes of hot pink or chartreuse). <br />
<br />
Of course, I was going with my usual mode of not using the recommended yarn, needles, gauge, etc. I ended up seriously winging it (ending in the middle of a repeat when yarn was running short) and making goofy counting mistakes (after several days of jetlag, apparently counting to three is much more difficult). <br />
<br />
The pattern was fun, forgiving, and made something nice. I gave it to a co-worker in India and am making another one out of two more skeins of the yarn (but in gray). </div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/17167210482" title="DSC00773 by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00773" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7721/17167210482_7ce177c9d1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/17142934076" title="DSC00791 by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00791" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7640/17142934076_1935e1e7a0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/17074046077" title="DSC00792 by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00792" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8742/17074046077_aab4655812.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-24587157450967298202015-04-10T22:22:00.002-04:002015-04-10T22:22:27.453-04:00Christmas sock yarn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
For Christmas this year, my sister got me two skeins of sock yarn (Berrocco Sox). They're both really pretty. I got the first sock of the first skein done. <br />
<br />
Lots of short attention span issues with the knitting lately. <br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/17056826082" title="Socks! by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Socks!" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7626/17056826082_a54645d90e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Soon: I finished a sweater for El and started a new project for my India trip.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-53384562876616103952015-03-29T10:55:00.000-04:002015-03-29T10:55:16.357-04:00Finished knitting (from Stash!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
I've been swamped with regular stuff - Girl Scouts, soccer, work, etc. Here are a few of the things that I finished recently. <br />
<br />
<br />
1. Haven't woven in the ends for this yet. It is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/favorite-scarf-ever" target="_blank">Favorite Scarf Ever</a>.It's all with stash. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16744586440" title="DSC00716 by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00716" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8723/16744586440_51d8d725b8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I started it with Socks That Rock in Thistle. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/2205706687" title="Finished "Eleanor" socks by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Finished "Eleanor" socks" height="150" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2051/2205706687_c54e08cef3_q.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
My original plan was to make large stripes and use up a bunch of sock yarns. But I decided to do two row stripes a la the knitting trend from a few years ago, where people were using two contrasting shades of Sock that Rock and working up this magic scarf in a feather and fan pattern. <br />
<br />
So, I switched to my leftover Zaurball <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/7564923572" title="stargazer lily socks by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="stargazer lily socks" height="150" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7564923572_337ccb558d_q.jpg" width="150" /></a>and a leftover purple Crock O Dye<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/5513853530" title="baby sweater - detail by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="baby sweater - detail" height="150" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5218/5513853530_7038338664_q.jpg" width="150" /></a>and let he magic ensue. It bothered me that the one end was the thistle, so I when I couldn't take it anymore, I used up the rest of the thistle and finished both the scarf and the ball of yarn. <br />
<br />
2. It got pretty cold here in February. I may have been in a situation where it made sense to give my warm, knit from handspun mittens away. I have to say that I really had to think twice about it - they're so soft and warm and they go with my hat. But then I remembered a skein of Noro that I had been saving specifically for mittens for myself. This is what I did with them - kind of basic long fingerless mitts. They may be slightly asymetrical in real life too - I was having trouble counting the rows with this yarn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16931053071" title="DSC00714 by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC00714" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7616/16931053071_e3dc82cba4.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-74008505957414678972015-01-11T08:30:00.000-05:002015-01-11T08:30:40.413-05:00Fire Starters<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I got to make some stuff with my mom over the break -- we made fire starters for an upcoming older girl camp out.<br />
<br />
Here's the result:<br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16200732932/in/photostream/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
Here's what one looks like before testing it. <br />
<br />
It is:<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Take a toilet paper tube, cut in half, then cut fringes into it. Press the fringes back to make it look like a flower.</li>
<li>Crumple up a 1/4 sheet of newspaper (we stayed away from the glossier circulars and stuck with newsprint-y ads.)</li>
<li>Melt a block of parrafin wax in a double boiler (that is OK to not use again!). We used a stainless steel bowl over a regular pot. </li>
<li>The foil trays were lined with newspaper and the tubes with newspaper were arranged loosely on the paper. </li>
<li>Once the parrafin was starting to melt, I used a plastic serving spoon that I don't feel strongly about to ladle the melted wax into/onto the newspaper, getting it pretty thoroughly, but leaving the fringes cardboard. </li>
<li>I set the trays outside to cool/dry and then cut apart the starters that were stuck to the newspaper - the wax runs through somewhat. </li>
<li>Once you're done with the project, either let the leftover wax cool where it is, if the pan is now dedicated to parafin OR move the leftover wax someplace like a foil pie pan so you can reheat it from there. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16015456569/in/photostream/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
Here's the collection. The large one is the bottom of a half-and-half carton. Mom says they used to use the orange juice cartons from our elementary school to make these.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16014200750/in/photostream/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
When I tested it, I got a pretty hot and tall flame and it burned for 12 minutes. <br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
foil pan or cardboard/newspaper lined old cookie sheet<br />
old newspapers<br />
TP tubes, small milk cartons, small paper cups, etc.<br />
double boiler that is OK to not use for cooking anymore<br />
ladle that is OK to not use for cooking anymore<br />
parrafin wax<br />
someplace to put leftover parrafin wax. We used a foil pie pan.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-75814156376247489722015-01-09T07:44:00.000-05:002015-01-09T07:44:00.452-05:00Handmade Gifts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Now that everyone is back into the swing of real life....let me show you the Christmas presents I made. Actually, I was really just the editor/art directory. The real credit goes to my daughters. At least one of them is still at a point where she's bringing home a lot of art work from school, some of it seasonal. <br />
<br />
I've been scanning them into a PDF at the best resolution I could find. Then around Thanksgiving, I opened them in GIMP (other photo software that can go between PDF and bitmap formats would work) and saved them out as JPG files. <br />
<br />
From there, I uploaded them to one of the many photo printing/photo gift sites and made them into a calendar, using one of their templates. <br />
<br />
We sent these to people who did not already have a supply of youthful art coming directly in to the house (e.g. grandparents, great aunts/uncles, etc.) along with a gift to their local food bank. <br />
<br />
The girls enjoyed looking through the finished product and I had them review the work before I sent it to print - after all, the work is their intellectual property, and at ages 7 and 12, they are old enough to have an opinion about what work they're proud of and what they want to see in the world representing them. We had to switch out October - the artist wasn't happy with it. We found another suitable October piece that was by the same person and had been shown in an area art show and was hanging on my bedroom door.<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16192030051" title="Handmade Gifts by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Handmade Gifts" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8596/16192030051_3d3d6e7d1d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
I've set aside some December papers to scan and start the project over again for next year.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-83929721547742910622015-01-07T07:22:00.000-05:002015-01-07T07:22:00.036-05:00A quick hat - sometimes I just want to see if it works<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I made another hat from my friend Cambria Washington's Missionary Hat pattern. Again, I probably didn't follow it to the letter. It's on 80 stitches and has 4x4 rib at the start. <br />
<br />
I had the turquoise and yellow-green kicking around near each other and every time I saw them together I liked how they looked - and thought they'd make great stripes. I think, actually, their values are too close for the transition bands and they would actually work better as stripes. Then I needed a third color and got some opinions. The architects in the room all picked orange. I went ahead and tried it because undo would not be too difficult. I like how it turned out.<br />
<br />
Do you ever notice how your environment influences your color choices? The blue and green match my daughter's sneakers almost exactly. The three colors together are very citrusy, and hence, you see them here together a lot. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/16193120952" title="Missionary hat by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Missionary hat" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7516/16193120952_578df49689.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Here are the details:<br />
Yarn: Ella Rae Superwash (blue) and Cascade 220 Superwash (quatro and regular)<br />
Needles: Size 7.<br />
Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-missionary-hat" target="_blank">The Missionary Hat</a><br />
Mods: CO 80, knit 4x4 ribbing<br />
For: charity stash</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-32780121265732268272015-01-05T14:48:00.000-05:002015-01-05T14:48:00.136-05:00Holiday Sewing - Onstage Tutu Skirt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I didn't do much holiday sewing this year. In fact, this is the only holiday sewing I did. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15963503507" title="Onstage Tutu by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Onstage Tutu" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7480/15963503507_7235176f89.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
We have a 5 year old friend who is always in princess dresses. I think most people my age have a kid who lives in costume in their lives. <br />
<br />
The other side of the story is that I follow Liesel Gibson on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/liesl/oliver-%2B-s/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. I started to see "styling ideas" for this skirt. The free pattern is here - the<a href="http://oliverands.com/community/blog/2014/12/free-onstage-tutu-skirt-pattern.html" target="_blank"> Onstage Tutu</a>. The pattern is clever and simple (as simple as it needs to be and no more), just like all of her patterns.<br />
<br />
A match made in heaven, right? Princess Dress Girl + Onstage Tutu Pattern. <br />
<br />
The skirt itself is kind of a voile or really thin/fine cotton. I was afraid only one layer would be too sheer and not really have enough body, so I doubled it, by basically making a really long hem. I think that if there is a place where it might fray and fall apart it is at the waistband-hem. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15963502117" title="Onstage Tutu by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Onstage Tutu" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7575/15963502117_fdc943e527.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<br />
<br />
The other issue I ran into that made it kind of tricky was that the - wait two issues - one is that the sheer fabric was about the same width (or narrower) than the skirt layer, so the gathering was not really a thing. The second issue was that it was not tulle or lace. It was more of a chiffon that needed a hem to keep from fraying. I think I cut it with pinking shears and just turned it up once, but I don't really remember for sure. <br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-83857863977194207522015-01-03T14:35:00.000-05:002015-01-03T14:35:00.066-05:00Those 70s socks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15963500477" title="Those 70s socks by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Those 70s socks" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8563/15963500477_d66e55d4f6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
These are my current "to-go" socks. They are my usual "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/64bit-socks" target="_blank">64 bit</a>" socks - I may have needed a break from reading patterns. The first one knit up pretty fast. I'm procrastinating casting on the second. I'm hoping for identical twins, not fraternal. I've had some good luck in the last few pairs of striped socks. Hopefully this holds out. The yarn is Paton's Kroy on 2.5 or 2.25mm needles. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-35079739493204103452015-01-01T14:28:00.000-05:002015-01-01T14:28:00.289-05:00Red Mittens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It might be because I'm still spending time in the picture book section of the library, but red mittens always kind of remind me of Jan Brett. And red hats remind me of Snow Day. These are the same pattern as the finger-less mitts for El. Only I might have done a better job of following the directions. They are approximately big kid sized in some red Cascade 220 Superwash that I had in the old stash. They were really fun to knit and I like how they came out. They could use a bath to smooth everything out, but....I like them. They are not destined to anyone in particular - so when a good charity opportunity comes up, they will be in the mail.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15526932714" title="maize mittens by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="maize mittens" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7557/15526932714_ea4a64e891.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maize-3" target="_blank">Maize</a><br />
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash<br />
Size Made: CO 32 sts.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-59891869396331303932014-12-30T19:30:00.000-05:002014-12-30T19:30:00.458-05:00Super Squishy Hat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I made this really pretty hat for a friend from high school. I wanted to use the yarn and this was the best use for it I could imagine. <br />
<br />
It is the Grassroots pattern by Melissa Schaschwary. I've been knitting these patterns that are much more purly than my usual and it hasn't been so bad. The lace leaf pattern was kind of fun. The hat is super squishy and soft and luckily still usable for my friend. <br />
<br /></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15916497566/player/" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
<br />
However, if you were making this for a regular winter hat for someone, I would say use a different yarn. Like a squishy, thick sock yarn would be fab. <br />
<br />
Here are the details:<br />
Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grassroots" target="_blank">Grassroots </a>by Melissa Schaschwary<br />
Yarn: MadlineTosh Pashmina<br />
Size: Made the smallest size and it was still pretty slouchy on my 12 year old. However, I have gauge issues (in that I usually totally wing the gauge.)<br />
I will totally knit this pattern again in another yarn. :)</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-62461789402917572372014-12-09T22:29:00.000-05:002014-12-09T22:29:00.211-05:00New Socks!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, in the recent cold snap I was pretty excited to wear my collection of wool knit socks again. I washed them and then had to squish them a lot to be able to close the drawer. First world knitter problems, I know. So, the socks I've been making have been getting longer and longer. Other than not liking drafty ankles, I'm not sure why that is. <br />
<br />
The yarn is Cascade Heritage Yarns Quatro. Aside from the yarn being kind of high maintenance from a splitting perspective, the socks feel super soft when knit up. <br />
The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunday-swing-socks" target="_blank">Sunday Swing Socks</a> by Kristel Nyberg.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15322669983" title="Sunday Swing Socks by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Sunday Swing Socks" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15322669983_bc99075bd8.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-68420416496628883892014-12-06T22:26:00.000-05:002014-12-06T22:26:00.033-05:00I am ready for another cold snap.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I finished my sweater! Well, OK, it still needs 2 buttons, but it's so close to being done!<br />
<br />
The book report: <br />
The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yoked-cardigan" target="_blank">Yoked Cardigan</a> by Hannah Fettig. <br />
The yarn is Cascade 220 (not superwash). The sleeves are a different dye lot than the body, but don't tell. <br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15755015920" title="Look! It's a sweater! by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Look! It's a sweater!" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/15755015920_17384fca8b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
It is short sleeve and comes not much past my natural waist. I live in Florida. I was thinking this could be a good layer over a long sleeve t-shirt when it is cold out, and be a reasonable temperature in the office too. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15942296585" title="My New Sweater! by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="My New Sweater!" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8626/15942296585_94e729feb5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I was inspired to finish it up when we had a cold snap in November. Now we are back to short sleeve weather. Go figure. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-65232632857218140872014-12-03T22:14:00.000-05:002014-12-03T22:14:16.769-05:00The start of another mitten tear<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last time I made mittens for El, I ended up making three more pairs of the same pattern. She outgrew her mittens, I made her these:<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15322661453" title="Mitts for El by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="Mitts for El" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/15322661453_39695bddb7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
They are the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maize-3" target="_blank">Maize</a> pattern from TinCanKnits' simple collection. They are simple, with clear instructions. Sometimes I have trouble reading and following directions - so any issues are with me and not the pattern. I knit the child size in Cascade Pacific (size 6 needle, maybe? not precise is the rule here.) I will knit more of these and hang on to them for a great donation opportunity. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11018195.post-73761016438109051482014-11-02T20:37:00.001-05:002014-11-02T20:37:41.205-05:00enhancements with the potential for feature creep<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
El has been wearing a series of hand me down dresses that she loves. They are cotton (t-shirt material), long enough to wear shorts under them, somewhat twirly and not overly pink. We are thankful to our neighbors for their delightful hand-me-downs. Recently I did some online shopping to supplement her set of pretty dresses and found a one that fit all of the criteria (plus it was pretty cheap). It was good, except it was plain. So, I hit the big box fabric and craft store for some appliques and found some ribbon in the stash. Today I unearthed the sewing machine and this happened:<br />
<br />
first the ribbon -</div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15698034172" title="embellishing a plain dress. by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="embellishing a plain dress." height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5599/15698034172_67622b4da7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Then the applique flowers - (the whole package, natch.)<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15698041722" title="pretty flowers by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="pretty flowers" height="375" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15698041722_f74155d2db.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Here's the whole bodice. The original plan had dragonfly appliques too. That's where the potential feature creep comes in. I felt like we needed to edit.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15076489034" title="post-embellished. by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="post-embellished." height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7543/15076489034_8961962839.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
And here's the whole thing all together. Yay - she still likes it. That is the moment of triumph.<br />
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83938766@N00/15511640970" title="embellished dress - the whole thing by 2monkeysmom, on Flickr"><img alt="embellished dress - the whole thing" height="500" src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3940/15511640970_c1f2c811cc.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14296058970615313823noreply@blogger.com1