PS

This is also probably the right place to deliver all my hard-earned thoughts and opinions regarding sewing, patterns, yarning, crafting, and holy cow what the hell have I been thinking all this time I can't believe my husband has been putting up with my rants for so long!!

Thanks hubs.

Phrase + photos + feels

I have gotten pretty caught up with photos lately. BUT I was just reminded by this post that part of the reason why I started this blog is to write. (She writes "the distraction of trying to string together coherent words is a soothing balm " and makes me groan with beautiful words and a reminder of what I've been omitting these past several months. (PS hope you feel better soon, Sanae!) (I'm talking like I know her. I don't, really, but I can pretend.)

Cute baby photo distraction !

Inciting thought and participating in a community are as important to me as producing hand crafts, and I feel sad now that I got caught up in this show pony parade for the last year. Not totally sad - regrets are not my style. But resolutions are ! So here's to writing more. Thinking more. And finding that spool of brown thread I bought last week but can't find for the LIFE of me gosh darn it...

moar distraction!! 

Another knit reference on Reddit

Again, I don't Reddit, but I have friends that do. Occasionally I find something worth sharing.

So when I was dutifully looking over this "I'm too old for this" thread, I couldn't pass this up:

Sounds about right to me!! 

Let me count the ways...

Remember that Study Hall Jacket I can't get enough of?

Just to refresh your memory :

Version 1 (and 2)

Hello Kitty style (hood hiding)

I've made ANOTHER ONE!

A goddamn adorable one, amirite??

This time I opted for the ruffled welt pockets and ruffled collar.

I mentioned previously that I'm not in love with the pattern. And after making it four different times, in two different sizes, experimenting will all the different cuff, waistband, collar and pocket options...I am really not happy with this pattern.
I am also putting off writing a review so I can gestate a positive outlook and potential remedy. (Since I've already got plans to make 2 more of these gosh darn cute things for upcoming birthdays.)

All in time.

Enjoy the photo, and good luck with last minute Halloween preparation!

Knitting on the couch? Underachiever, you.

Here's a glimpse at awesome:

 Courtesy of The Wonderist - read more about it here!

Thanks to W for sharing with me.

FO Backlog - Hello Kitty Hoodie

Not much time to write, but here are some pictures from my latest FO!

A Hello Kitty hoodie from the Pattern Anthology collection that was released a while ago. Guiltily, I have bought both collections released and am pretty damn sure I'll be buying their next one as well. (This time I'll remember to use the discount code, tho - whoops!)

To be totally honest, I'm not a huge fan of the pattern. I had a LOT of issues - but I won't get into it right now. However, there's no denying the end result!

Ta-da!

Mucked up this side's welt pocket, drat.

Rear View

Loving the ruched cuffs and waistband.

Looking at it now, I'd love to make it again with a fleecy white outer and adding ears and a bow a'la Hello Kitty - with a more subtle HK liner fabric. I definitely plan on sewing this pattern again (actually, this was my third go - see the Avengers jackets previous post) but with copious modifications from the original pattern.

FO Backlog - Avengers bomber jacket!

Just a quickie - here are some pictures of a recent FO. Two, actually!

My son's BEST friend had a birthday recently, so I decided to make use of my recently acquired Study Hall Jacket pattern and made matching Avengers jackets for the boys.

The freak-out factor was high on this.

Gotta say, it was a hit. The Avengers fabric is courtesy of Joann's and the sleeves are some old Ikea curtains I've been chopping up. I bought black ribbing and black fleece for the sleeves and interior - and it was totally worth it.

You can see his collar is sitting a little funny, but after some wearing and washing it looks way better. This is fresh off the machine - he couldn't wait to try it on - so the seams are fresh and visibly complaining. Of course I finished this morning of...'cuz that's how I roll.

BFFs 4 Lyfe

More soon!

FO : Baby doll knot top

What does one do on Sunday mornings, when everyone is sleeping?

Well I don't know about you, but apparently I sew.

A heart because a shrimp was too hard to applique. 

Thanks to some inspiration from a friend's Pinterest pick (yup, I'm still pretending that I don't need to open my own account) I fabricated this wee top yesterday. 

The original pin can be seen here.

(I'd out my friend but I figured I should ask her permission first)

Technically, not EVERYONE was asleep...

Q was supportive, however.

I didn't have quite enough yardage to make it a dress, unfortunately. 

Still working out the kinks, but it isn't too shabby! I had to move the buttonholes in towards the center a bit - after trying it on the kid I saw they were too far apart. 

Love those knots.

Oh yeah...although this sort of fits my baby girl (who's fat body I used to help me measure) it also fits my 4 yr old son! Who graciously allows me to use him as a little live dress form, AH DORABLE. His father will never let me take photos, though. (Not that I blame him.)

Thanks for bearing with the dry spell, guys. It's been a nutty summer but (as evidenced by this little number!) we're starting to acclimate to the new normal.

FO: Baby girl top

I saw the cutest picture, recently. Somebody blogged about an adorable shop selling adorable patterns of kids clothing. Can't find it for the life of me now.

Anyway - one top really stuck in my head. Too darn cute! So, sans pattern, I decided to give it a go.

Part of the reason why I am loving sewing so much lately is that my brain loves figuring out how to construct things I see. And sometimes it even works out! So I have to give the designer credit there, as soon as I can find her...

Would love to adapt it for myself.

FO: Baby Bow headband

Technically, I made the baby too.

That counts, right? :)

Just an easy bow with fold over elastic as the headband. I stitched the bow down over the FOE seam, so it's a smooth wear for those soft baby heads.

And sometimes my head.

Let's catch a breath of air, shall we?

If you're like me, then you are busy. And you probably like it.

Not only am I craft crazy, employed full time, and a mother of two - as of this Monday I will also be a grad student.

Busy, busy, busy.

In addition to the typical hubbub, I've had a lot of different changes in my world recently that have served as huge, soul-stretching opportunities for...growth. I say growth because that is the positive end-product and 'positive' is the name of the game when shitty things happen. (And I italicize the word because it is a little nauseating to be so goddam Pollyanna and putting things in italics makes it seem like I'm tilting my head a little, and therefore makes it feel less trite. Because head-tilting is anything but, natch.)

Consequently I've had to dial back on the crafting, posting, and anything else extraneous / not totally necessary. I have luckily been able to make a few beautiful things which I'll definitely be sharing soon - but the biggest project in my queue now is my own, squishy, disgusting, gorgeous brain - which, let's face it, will need all the help it can get!

So as today is June 1, not quite the midpoint of the year but close enough, I'll make a new theme for the second half of 2013:

finesse

1 : refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture

2 : skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering

So let's up the ante, everyone. It's time to get ridiculously fantastic at everything.

Reddit con't

I don't know where people find these, or why they make them, but a good knitting cartoon is hard to come by and SO APPRECIATED!

Here's another one for you from that comment thread I mentioned last time.

This is exactly how I look when I knit

Do you Reddit?

I don't peruse Reddit. But I have friends who do! And they are kind enough to send me relevant gems every once in a while.

Like, this!

Adorable!

Here's the link to the comment thread with [disputed] source info.

Do you Reddit?

A new level of functional crafting

My baby girl loves the Jenny Jump-up seat at her baby gym. So much so that my husband wants to buy one for our house! BUT, considering we have a tiny house and limited funds, it's something I can't personally justify.

HOWEVER...

You can make your own baby swing!

Gotta admit I'm a huge DIY fan, but this never occured to me.

What do you think? Would you make it?
Would you put your baby in one that someone else made?

Fat babies love costumes

Buzzfeed is always fun, and today a friend sent me a link to:

31 F**king Adorable Things To Make For Babies

There are some great things, and some "how the hell did that make this list?" things - but since 'adorable' is an objective label, I'm pretty sure I should let it go.

However, a few brought me to near tears...check out what made got added to my do list:

mermaid tail for baby!

Oak Leaf Pixie Hat

Sock monkey baby!!

UGH. so much cuteness.

Also a notable shout out to Totoro ! While I probably won't be making this (I happen to have some other Totoro item up my sleeve presently) it's absolutely worth a share.

pretty much requires me to smush my computer screen right now

Also worth mentioning - it was nice to see Shwin and Shwin make the list with their bow tie onesies! I just finished a few Sunshine dresses this weekend from their Sun and Surf collection contribution...pics coming soon.

It's also interesting that I'm already familiar with so many of the sites these items were collected from. Or more likely, a sign that I've been spending too much time web-trolling and not enough time actually crafting!

If you're craving more, check out this similar list, also by Buzzfeed:

29 Easy And Adorable Things To Make For Babies

(This one is way more my speed and again, makes me cringe to realize how much time I spend on the internet looking at crafts.)

Have you got any projects planned right now?


UPDATE: talk about MORTIFYING but I forgot to include a link to the Totoro costume - which was made by my secret online blog crush, Cherie of you & mie. She recently talked about her favorite made items on this other awesome blog and (perhaps not surprisingly?) she mentioned that the Totoro costume is the most visited item in her whole blog. I'm guessing because it is INCREDIBLY AMAZING. Just a stab.

Happy Easter!

I have a few projects going on right now, but nothing nearly ready to post about. My sad WIPs are crying with neglect, I'm sure, but MORE PRESSING THINGS ARE AT HAND!!

Most importantly - EASTER~!

Every year my extended family gets together for Easter and Thanksgiving. And this year, for the first time...(drumroll please)...we are hosting!

I have wanted to host for ages, much to the chagrin of my husband. The major thing holding us back has been our teeny, tiny home. It is about 750 square feet, and there is only one bathroom. We are expecting around 25 people to come over (and that's a small gathering).

Fortunately, Easter means lots of outdoor time! We are firing up the BBQ and of course, doing an egg hunt. (A new BBQ was actually all it took to get my husband to sign on to this.) The forecast was a little dodgy but I'm pulling for some of that dependable Los Angeles sun.

My family is all awesome so I'm not worried about having enough food (we potluck) the house being a disaster (people help clean) or being bored (8 kids and lots to catch up on with the cousins). Naturally, having a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old usually makes hosting such a large gathering scary - but my cousin pointed out a huge perk: this means we don't have to pack anything for the baby. Everything will be at hand. Score!

So although I'm looking at a fantastic, low-impact weekend, of course I had to find something to occupy the kids "just in case." It is also the perfect chance for me to try out the no-sew tutu I have been dying to try out.

My mom shared the idea with me, and it was easy to find a few, great tutorials. I didn't see the headband idea until too late - that seems like such a perfect waistband! Fortunately I have scads of elastic and tulle ribbon already - as well as scrap fabric. So the only prep I did was cutting and sewing elastic into waist-sized bands, and throwing everything in a bag. I plan on just handing it to the oldest, with a sheet of instructions, and telling them to go to town.

Other project I love I'm doing all by myself - papier mache eggs! (Try reading that blog post and NOT instantly wanting to do them.) Since this is something that needs to be done in advance it's going to be all me. I've prepped the tissue paper and pull strings, the only thing ruining my day now is that stupid liquid starch. I can't find it anywhere! I'll try a few more places on my way home today before I give in a make a binding agent (flour + water).

That's all for now...sorry for the lack of photos. I will have plenty to put up soon. Happy Easter to you!

Knitspiration: Knitting octopus

A friend shared this with me recently. I think she puts it best:

1. It is a knit octopus
2. Wearing a top hat (obviously!)
3. WHO IS KNITTING

HOLY COW!! 

Even more amazing is that there is a pattern for this guy! Check it out, and a cool blog, {here}.

WIP: Can you guess?

I'm working on something pretty amazing, and can't WAIT to share finished product photos.

But first, can you guess what it is based on materials?

There is a clue in this picture that should tip off the biggest nerds.

C'mon! Take a guess!

Giants Kouki Cardi Update: Elbow Patches!

My cousin sent a picture of the finished work!

Amazing!!

Moss stitch with the contrast stitching...beautiful!

She also managed to make excellent use of some leftover orange yarn:

Go Sharks!

So proud of our genetic crafting skills, and shared joy of embarrassing our children.

Sewing FO: Bib Round 2

MORE BIBS!! 

Those burp clothes weren't enough - but they were great inspiration! I wanted to try out the hemming style I did on those with something more complex, like, a bib. 

Presto Bib-o

These bibs (like the cloths) are terry on top and linen on bottom. Since I'm terrible at pinning my new method is great because it completely avoids that. 

Basically, I sew the three layers with the patterned fabric strip on top, facing down. Then I fold that over the edge (revealing the pretty pattern!) and use a pretty stitch over what is now four layers to complete the hem and make it cute. (I will take process photos another time...this happened too fast!)

New sewing machine magic - pretty stitch pattern.

See? So pretty. 

I love it! My new favorite.