A Year in Review

After perusing the end-of-year posts of various bloggers I follow, I realized I had yet to do the same.  I wasn't even sure I'd have much to show.  With school work occupying my time and energy most of the year, it felt as if little crafting had taken place over the year.  Lo and behold, there was crafting!

Knitting Projects

I managed to finish one pair of socks, slippers, a baby sweater, a substantial adult sized sweater, couple of frilly scarves and lots of little dishcloths (it must have been the year of the dishcloth, LOL).  Not my best year, but I'll take it.

Interestingly, I noticed that my sewing machine came into use more than once--and not just for hemming pants.  I made several useful hand towels for the kitchen and I managed to sew my own costume skirt, a hat for my son and alter existing clothing for his costume.

Sewing Projects

Not bad for a girl who can't really sew.

Hoping the new year brings more crafts my way . . . 

Made More . . . .

Stripey Towel with Solid Potholder 

Kitchen towels, that is.  In brighter and bolder colours.  Lovin' them . . . . !

More Bright and Cheery Kitchen Towels

Hopefully, I now have enough (although when I get the chance, I'll pick up a few more towels and potholders to make more).  Right now with five, I can keep one for a day or two before throwing it in the wash.  ;)

Kitchen Towel

Yup I've been crafting, but not knitting. Sewing. Made a few kitchen towels with potholder toppers.  Very easy and--most important--absorbent.  I've seen kits to make knitted or crocheted kitchen toppers, but the thin towels get drenched quickly.  Also, with the hard water from our well, light coloured fabrics get stained. My goal was to create an absorbent kitchen item in dark colours.

Kit from Mary Maxim

I made kitchen towels using matching potholders and hand towels (ones for the bathroom) purchased at dollar stores and large chains (bought mine at Walmart and 5 to a Dollar).

Step 1:  Fold towel in thirds, ensuring that the folded width matches the width of the pot holder. Pin into place.  With "wrong side" facing (that is, with the folds visible), sew across the middle, width-wise. This will ensure that the towel will never unfold.

Checking folded width of towel with potholder

Sewing folds of towel down middle, width-wise

Step 2: Flip over the towel to right side.  Place potholder in middle of towel, with"wrong side" of potholder showing.  Pin potholder to middle of towel.  Sew down the middle of potholder, width-wise.

Sewing potholder to folded towel down middle, width-wise

Step 3: Fold potholder so that towel hangs from it.  Attach button to potholder so that loop acts as buttonhole.

When attached potholder folded in half, towel "hangs"

Button sewn into place

Step 4: Hang finished towel from any convenient handle (preferably near a sink)

Sadly this great craft idea is not mine.  My MIL found something similar in a flea market in Florida.  So many thanks to the clever anonymous crafter who came up with the original idea.  I just improved upon it. ;)

Any Crafting?

What you ask?  Have I been crafting?  Of course not!  Even with all the time off during the holidays, you'd think I'd have got some crafting done.  For all my free time, I have very little to show for (except for some tentacles and a couple of teddy bear legs).  Although I must confess that I quickly finished my Barbie's new outfit.

My doll's new outfit

I'm not happy with my finishing (very hard to make neat seams with teeny tiny stitches).  Wonder if working the same pattern in the round will offer a better finish . .  . At the very least, I joined a neat doll and amigurumi group (called Good Things Together) over on Ravelry.  They have lots of helpful links (for knitting, crochet, sewing and prop construction), so I'm hoping it'll give me the inspiration to tarry on.

Despite my general lack of crafting over the holidays, there was much baking (and subsequent eating), game-playing, lots of movie-watching and general merriment--oh yes, and much napping, LOL.  Now that I've re-entered the doldrums of everyday life, I`m slowly getting back into my daily routines.

This weekend, the house slowly returned to pre-holiday order with the ornaments going into storage and the tree going outside.  And the gifts needing "re-adjustments" were tackled.  What re-adjustments?  Namely hemming.

I can sew--sort of and in a semi-straight line.  I've devised a technique for hemming that is relatively painless for the sewing-impaired.  You will need:

• a sewing machine
• a tape measure
• scissors
• marker
• pins

1) First have person wear the pants and then fold the pants up to the intended length.  Pin in place.

2) Before cutting, use tape measure and mark off in one inch increments on the wrong side of the fabric (see example below).  Depending how much has to be taken in, you can make marks on fabric at 2", 3" and 4 " from original hemline.

One inch increments on wrong side of fabric

3) Remove pins and cut off old hem with scissors (this part might be scary, but is necessary).  Only cut enough to remove old hem.

Cutting old hem after measuring off the one-inch increments

4) Now fold over raw edge onto 2" or 3" increment.  Sew into place using straight stitch (if fabric is really stretchy, you should consider a zigzag stitch.  Using a matching thread will hide from visibility on right side).

Sewing raw edge to desired increment

5) Fold over a second time, using the 3" or 4" increment (depending on how short the pants need to be).  Sew into place in same manner as in step 4. Why sew a second time? Most fabric tend to unravel after washing.  Sewing in place a second time prevents this from happening (Yes I know about pinking shears, but I don't always find them effective).

Folding over second time and sewing into place 

6) Viola!  You're finished!  Pants are ready to be worn.  No ironing or pinning required. Easy-peasy!  

Finished hem

I've been using this technique for quite a few years.  I don't know if it's the correct way to hem a pair of pants (psst, don't tell my mom the seamstress), but works great for jeans and cotton pants.

Sewing Stuff

Well, sort of sewing.  I'm hemming pants for my boys.  My heavens the children grow quickly!  Often the sizes needed are too long in the leg, necessitating a few cuts and **gasp** some sewing . . .

Vroom, Vroom Goes the Sewing Machine

Have I mentioned how much I dislike sewing?  I dislike it so much that I often forgo any ironing-- just to get the job done quickly.  And often I don't even pin down the hem (I know it's crazy, but its true).  I just eyeball it 'cuz I wanna be done with the whole affair (although I will  mark off measurements on the wrong side so I know where to fold the fabric--and yes, I did just use permanent marker).  Its rather surprising how often my hems end up straight (must be in the genes as my mom worked as a seamstress for many, many years).

Another Completed Hem

Two pairs of pants hemmed.  Four more to go.  Maybe I'll save those for next weekend . . . my nerves are feeling a wee bit frayed.  Perhaps some nice crocheting or knitting can soothe away the tension . . . . 

Hope your weekend was full of crafting goodness. ;)

Knitter's Lament: Not Enough Time

I'm a little disappointed in myself. The knitting has been sparse of late. I've managed to turn a heel and shape the gusset of my son's second ribbed sock. And my Blue Sprout has a little over 3" left to go before separating the sleeves from the body. As for the lace scarf . . . well, I haven't touched that since I started.

I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on myself. The last 2 weekends have been busy (birthday party and then a work-related workshop); so my free time has dwindled. The weekdays too have been a challenge now that soccer has started up. Both boys have practise twice a week--and not necessarily on the same nights.

At least I've caught up in my sewing--such as it is. Let's just say I can sew a straight line--sort of--and leave it at that. My skills are minimal at best. I've manged to make simple curtains, adjust pant hems and patch up worn-out jeans. The latter took up an afternoon last Sunday.

Usually I sew a little hem around the cotton patch and then I sew the patch over the hole. Since my hand-sewing is sloppy, I try to use the machine. Simple? Not if the aforementioned hole is in an awkward spot, thus rendering machine use rather challenging. But I persevered. The holey jeans are holey no more. My dear hubby and son can now wear their old jeans. And who doesn't love a comfy pair of jeans?