Crafts – Page 10 – deeperrin.com

My First Tote Bag

Published by dee on November 3, 2007

This blog seems to be dying a very slow excruciating death at the moment, so even though this isn’t knitting related, I’m posting it anyway. Hopefully I’ll get back to some regular knitting soon and will have something interesting to post.

A very, very long time ago I followed a link somewhere that led to another link somewhere that led to another link and eventually I found a pattern for this super cute little tote bag. I would link to it but I have no idea where it originally came from now. At the time, I had just gotten a new sewing machine and was really wanting to learn to sew so I copied the pattern and had grand plans of giving the tote bag a shot.

As usually happens with my big plans, I never got around to starting it. You see, it required me going to a fabric store and actually purchasing the fabric and supplies needed to make the bag and I never managed to find my way there until last week. I decided Thursday during my lunch break to check out one of the local fabric stores. I was on a search for some cute Halloween fabric so that I could make Zach a Trick or Treat bag that he wouldn’t drag on the ground. I was apparently a little too late to find Halloween fabric, but along the way I fell in love with some coordinating flannels and decided they would make the perfect little tote bag.

I couldn’t wait to get started on my project and started cutting the fabric that night. By the time I got all the pieces cut and the interfacing ironed on I had to quit and go to bed. I couldn’t wait to get home and start sewing on Friday. I didn’t actually get started until about 9:30 that night, but after many toddler interruptions and a couple of sewing machine difficulties, I finally finished it. My seams are far from perfect and I could have possibly measured a little more carefully, but I absolutely love my little bag. Plus, I’m very impressed that I made the whole thing from start to finish. It is my first “real” sewing project and it actually turned out okay!

I also bought enough material that I can make a second one (because I figured I would manage to screw up the first somehow) so I’m thinking of trying again and possibly doing some experimenting with the size. We’ll see how it goes!

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Vacation and Babies and Beanies

Published by dee on July 30, 2007

I’m a little embarrassed at how long it has been since I’ve posted here. My goal is to post a minimum of once a week and I’m not really keeping up with that. I did go on vacation for a week though, so at least I have an excuse.

While I was on vacation, I successfully completed the Grace Beanie! I made both of the hats to the left while riding in a car and they both turned out well. The pink one on the right is the gorgeous Grace Beanie. I used Red Hearts Baby Clouds for both hats. Now I just have to figure out which lucky babies on my list are going to be the recipients. I’ve got another Grace Beanie on the needles now in a lighter weight yarn and it is turning out really well so far.

Speaking of babies, I found out last week that I am expecting again. We are very excited to bring another little ~~monster~~ angel into our family. I also found out that a good friend of mine is expecting as well. She’s just a few weeks ahead of me, so we’ll get to experience everything together. How fun is that?

I’m guessing that I’m going to be knitting a whole lot of baby stuff in the near future. I might even try a baby cardigan if I start feeling really brave.

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I Got My Invite!

Published by dee on July 11, 2007

I’ve been sitting around patiently waiting for an invite to Ravelry for a while now. I kept thinking surely my turn would come up soon. Lo and behold, during a quick e-mail check last night I saw the invite sitting in my inbox. I signed up right away, but I don’t have much time to play there just yet. I have a feeling I could get sucked in for hours before I notice.

I’m really impressed with the site after getting just a quick look around. I think it will definitely be a great resource for me as I learn my way through the knitting basics.

Speaking of learning, I’m still working on that darn Grace beanie. I started (and actually finished) another one during a car trip this weekend. It was coming out perfect until I got distracted by a toddler and let my stitch count get off. I went ahead and finished it out anyway as it was just a test with some spare yarn. I’ll be starting another one soon to go with the blanket I recently finished.

I also knitted up another quickie infant hat over the weekend that I have yet to take pictures of. It may be a while before I’m able to post pictures though as we are heading out of town on vacation on Friday. I’ll have a very limited internet connection while we are gone unless I can find some free wi-fi somewhere.

Technorati Tags: ravelry, grace beanie, baby, hats, knitting

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One Scarf Finished

Published by dee on July 3, 2007

The last few days I haven’t felt much like being on the computer. That means I’m not getting some of the things done that I should be doing, but it also means that I’ve been doing more knitting.

Zach stayed at his aunt’s house last night, so hubby and I took the opportunity to have a nice child-free dinner out and then a quiet evening. My plan was to get ahead with some of my blog posts at Tot TV Watch as we’re going to be vacationing soon, but I just couldn’t motivate myself to write. After a couple of hours of staring at the screen, I finally put it away and pulled out the scarf I’ve been working on.

Before I knew it, it was 11:00. I was tired and my eyes were aching, but I was so close to finishing it I just couldn’t stop. I finally finished the scarf up. It was my first scarf ever and I am totally in love with it. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. It is beautiful and soft and fuzzy. I love it so much I’m going to have a hard time giving it away. I suppose I can always make another one.

While talking to my sister last weekend (about the beautiful scarf that she is getting) she said, “You know you could make something for yourself some time.” When I started thinking about it, the only things I have ever kept for myself were Zach’s baby blanket, the first afghan I ever crocheted, and a couple of hats. Everything else has been given away as gifts. Now I’m wondering, how many knitters and crocheters out there actually keep the things they have made. What percentage would you say you give away as gifts or donations?

Technorati Tags: knitting, crochet, scarf, gift, donation

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Snuggly and Warm

Published by dee on June 25, 2007

I decided this weekend it was time for a quick, easy project. I haven’t had a chance to research and figure out what I’m doing wrong on the Grace beanie yet, so I put it aside for now.

I got this great blue and brown novelty yarn in a sale a while back and have been really wanting to play around with it since then. I decided to pull it out and have a little fun with it this weekend.

Since I was going for simple, I decided on a scarf. When my sis found out what I was making she asked if she could have it. I still haven’t decided whether I’m going to give it up because I’m already a little bit in love with it. The picture does it no justice at all. It is so soft and snuggly! Plus, it is my first scarf ever.

I’ll have to post a better picture when it is all finished, but I may not get back to it for a few days as I have a certain little boy’s 2nd(!) birthday to celebrate this week.

Technorati Tags: scarf, novelty yarn, grace beanie

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Broken Hearted

Published by dee on June 18, 2007

So it appears that I may have gotten in a little over my head with the Grace Beanie. It didn’t look that hard from the pattern, but apparently I’m more of a novice than I like to admit. I did my swatch for gauge, then started in on the beanie. What I didn’t do was practice the heart pattern. That part didn’t go so well.

I was knitting along as happy as could be on the beanie when I discovered that the heart pattern wasn’t looking so much like a heart. The holes in the pattern weren’t lining up correctly. Trying not to get frustrated, I pulled out my trusty knitting books and double checked to make sure I was doing the slip, slip, knit and the yarn overs correctly. Apparently I was doing something funky with the yarn overs, so I decided to back up a bit and rip.

With my new knowledge, I started in again. It still didn’t line up. I decided to put down the beanie I was working on and grab a different yarn so I could see my stitches better. I figured I would make a quick swatch of the heart pattern and figure out what I was doing wrong. Three tries later and I still can’t seem to get it to come out right. At this point, I figure either the pattern is wrong or I am just doing it wrong. What do you want to bet it is the latter?

I’m still working on it though. I refuse to give up because I really want to make the beanie. In fact I have plans to make several of them if I can ever get it right. It is times like these when I wish I had some knitting friends around here to help me out.

Technorati Tags: knitting, grace beanie, slip slip knit, yarn over