My Crafty Evolution

I am evolving as a crafter, I am no longer limiting myself to the fiber arts.  I am getting a taste of sewing and gardening and other miscellaneous hobbies (how have I gone so long without knowing the wonders of Mod Podge!?).  Having created a Pinterest account in the last few months might have something to do with it, but I have also made new friends who are just as eager to try different things and so we are exploring these new creative outlets together. I’ve already shown off the off centered bib and I don’t know what will be my next sewing project but I look forward to it.  My new friends and I have started a little vegetable garden in one of their yards.  Since I am restricted to apartment living I have started an urban garden that includes: black beans, raspberries, some flowers and herbs.  I never thought I would enjoy playing in the dirt so much, but it is exciting to see the little seeds sprout!  Here is how they are this morning, and since I am a mom now I couldn’t help adding the garden decor  (forget the gnomes):

Black Beans

Black Beans

Calla Lily and Chives

Cilantro – should be able to use it soon

Raspberries

Fresh off the needles: Baby Socks

Tuesday was the 6 months birthday of my little Japazilian and his little friend, M.  M’s parents watched them while the hubby and I went to one of his work functions (kinda sucks that it fell on this date).  So as a little thank you/ birthday gift for M, I’ve made these little socks for him (his mom loves the color orange).

Pattern: Baby Socks
Designer: Marie Connolly
Book: The Expectant Knitter
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Apricot

I knit them holding the yarn double and followed the 12-18 months instructions since there was no 6-12 months. I also continued the ribbing until it was time to turn the heel.  The only other mod I’ve made is when decreasing for the toes I always ended up with 8 stitches instead of 6, so on the last decrease row I K1, Double Decrease, K1.  The Double Decrease was slip one, K2tog, psso – for some reason I can’t remember the abbreviation for that technique right now.

Loved the pattern; quick and easy and simple!  I could have finished it in one day, if hubby was able to watch the baby for a few hours. Will definitely make it again.

I’m definetly NOT a seamstress

I’ve been considering learning how to sew for a while now – mainly so that I can enhance my knitted bags with a lining. And so I ventured out with a friend who has a sewing machine and we gave it a try. We successfully made an “off centered” Batman bibs for our sons – which is my way of saying lopsided. Considering this was my first sewing project since 8th grade Home Ec class I’m going to keep trying to improve my sewing skills.

After that experiment, I tried lining a crochet bag by hand and got a beautiful disaster! There is no rhyme or reason to it, I didn’t follow any tutorials. I just cut, pinned and let the needle and thread guide me. I even made a very awkward pocket on the inside and added a little metal ring where I can clip on my keys.

Obviously I am not qualified to give ANY sewing advice, but I can offer one small tip. If you have a purse that you no longer use, or that has a rip in the lining, or a stain in the front, or was just a really good find at a second hand store – tear it up! Just like a car chop shop you can use the parts of something old and put it into something new (sorry I couldn’t think of an example that didn’t break the law). For the bib, I used the inside lining of my old purse to do the backside and for the crochet purse I snatched the magnetic clasp to help close it! I also managed to salvage a small zipper, two purse handles, the cross body strap and a few decorative buckles. Not sure when I will use them, but I am sure they will serve a purpose at some point in my crafting future.