So, I've had a slouchy beret pattern in my Ravelry queue for about a year. It wasn't until my friend started knitting the same pattern that I really got motivated to make my own . . . and realized I can't knit the same hat as her. I went back through Ravelry and found Debbie Stoller's All-Day Beret. The pattern is free from stitchnationyarn.com. The hat had an open, funky knit pattern that I loved and a great slouchy fit. The pattern recommends using 1 ball of Debbie Stoller's Bamboo Ewe yarn. Instead, I purchased 1 ball of Debbie Stoller's Alpaca Love (hey, it was on clearance in a deep wine color). Unfortunately, I wasn't thinking about the fact that a ball of Bamboo Ewe is significantly longer than one of Alpaca Love (177 yds. vs. 131 yds.). As such, I had to get a little creative in the finishing.
The pattern is easy to work and creates a reversible fabric (shown with WS out). Once I had worked about 7 1/2" in the pattern, though, I realized that I was not going to have enough yarn. So, I started decreasing rapidly at that point. I followed the pattern for the decrease rows and sort of skipped the rows in between. This gave the top of the hat a slighty pin-cushiony look that I actually really like. Because I had to decrease the depth of my hat, it doesn't have as much slouch as the original pattern would have created. I have a relatively small head and short neck, though, so the limited slouch doesn't bother me. Overall, great pattern and great yarn. There are plenty of other free patterns at stitchnationyarn.com. Take a browse and give one a try. Be creative and enjoy!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Iron Craft Challenge 11: Singin' in my Rain Boots -- Boot Liners
First I sewed the toe end of the liner (see photo). Then I attached the heel piece to the liner. Where the long side of the heel piece met the back side of the triangle, I stitched it upward. At the top point of the triangle, I continued stitching the heel piece to the long side of the toe piece. I turned the top edge of the liner over about 1/2" and stitched around it. When the liner was stitched together, I zigzag stitched over the seams to reinforce them, especially at the heel.
Keeping the seams to the outside, I slipped my foot into the liner. I put my foot into the boot and folded the top of the liner over to create a cuff. Through sheer luck, these liners fit perfectly--they are tight enough to my actual feet that they don't bunch up in my boots, but in the leg they are a little roomier to allow for my skinny jeans. I'm pretty sure I couldn't manage that again if I tried, but luckily I still have the pattern I made. These liners have allowed me to add a little sass to my $20 utilitarian barnyard boots. I have purchased patterned fabric to make cuffs for my next pair. There are endless varieties for these liners. They are also super warm. I hope you'll consider making your own boot liners and add a little life to your rain boots for just a few bucks. Be creative and enjoy!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Iron Craft Challenge 10: Fat Quarter Zipper Wristlet/Party Purse!
This week's Iron Craft challenge was to create something using a single fat quarter (other non-fabric materials allowed). I didn't have any fat quarters on hand, but since they measure about 18" x 22", I made sure the amount of fabric I used did not exceed that. I have been thinking a lot about law school graduation (by which I mean obsessing), and I plan on having a good time on graduation night. Dancing, drinking, karaoke-ing? Who knows, but I decided a tight-strapped wristlet is essential if all of my necessities (ID, cash, cards, phone . . .) are going to make it home with me at the end of the night. Like mittens on a string, I figure the wristlet will keep my stuff together while my mind is otherwise occupied.
I started with some of my husband's old dress pants (out of the same stash I made my draft dodgers out of). I cut four rectangles, each 4 3/4" x 6 1/2", and stabilized two of them with interfacing. I rounded the bottom corners of each rectangle. I sewed the two stabilized piece together, wrong sides facing out; I stitched along one short side, along the bottom and up the other side, leaving the top open. I repeated the process with the other pair of rectangles. I turned the stablilized layer rightside out, then tucked the other layer inside. I used seam tape to finish the raw top edge. Using a small, silver belt buckle I bought as part of a lot in a thrift store, I created a leather strap.
It took me a while to decide on the adornment for the outside. I thought about some sort of flower (although I didn't want to break the Iron Craft rules by using more fabric) or maybe some buttons. I wanted something more dramatic, though--I'm only going to graduate from law school once, after all. I love the look of the zipper details that I've been seeing on the necklines of dresses and shirts. I bought a heavy duty jacket zipper with silvery teeth and unzipped it before starting. I basically just curled, looped, and folded the zipper until I got a shape that I liked, then hand-stitched it. I made the entire zipper detail before attaching it to the purse. I tacked it into place with hot glue, then stitched it down. I haven't decided on a closure for the top of the purse, but I'm leaning toward a simple invisible zipper.
I love the way this wristlet turned out and I can't wait to use it. This process could also be used to make a camera case, small makeup bag, or a coin purse. Also, the zipper detail could be slapped on about anything (shirt, cuff, headband?). Be creative and enjoy!
I started with some of my husband's old dress pants (out of the same stash I made my draft dodgers out of). I cut four rectangles, each 4 3/4" x 6 1/2", and stabilized two of them with interfacing. I rounded the bottom corners of each rectangle. I sewed the two stabilized piece together, wrong sides facing out; I stitched along one short side, along the bottom and up the other side, leaving the top open. I repeated the process with the other pair of rectangles. I turned the stablilized layer rightside out, then tucked the other layer inside. I used seam tape to finish the raw top edge. Using a small, silver belt buckle I bought as part of a lot in a thrift store, I created a leather strap.
It took me a while to decide on the adornment for the outside. I thought about some sort of flower (although I didn't want to break the Iron Craft rules by using more fabric) or maybe some buttons. I wanted something more dramatic, though--I'm only going to graduate from law school once, after all. I love the look of the zipper details that I've been seeing on the necklines of dresses and shirts. I bought a heavy duty jacket zipper with silvery teeth and unzipped it before starting. I basically just curled, looped, and folded the zipper until I got a shape that I liked, then hand-stitched it. I made the entire zipper detail before attaching it to the purse. I tacked it into place with hot glue, then stitched it down. I haven't decided on a closure for the top of the purse, but I'm leaning toward a simple invisible zipper.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Iron Craft challenge 9: Customized Locavore Notebook
I started with a basic composition notebook. I used spray adhesive to attach a partial map of Michigan (which I hope to soon consider 'local' once again). I wrote two phrases on the cover and drew a heart around Genesee County--home. I used the same letter stamps I purchased for the zombie Valentines (see previous post) to stamp my notebook divider phrases (food, farms, shops, notes) on blue card stock. I cut them out and folded them in half so that they could sandwich a piece of notebook paper in the fold. I used packaging tape to attach the tabs on the appropriate pages. I also stamped food categories (beef, poultry, dairy, eggs, berries, greens) on the cardstock and glued these to the cover of my notebook, a reminder of the broad array of food that we can get from within 100 miles of our homes. Once I was satisfied with their placement, I covered the front of the notebook with clear contact paper.
Labels:
composition book,
craft,
customized notebook,
Food Inc.,
local food,
locavore,
notebook
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