Yay! SFP's! (Satisfyingly Finished Projects)

Wow, Finally!  The Quilt is finished and gifted!  It's been a 4 year project, with intermissions, but a true project of love.  Here it is:

And I got it labelled: 

Yes, a real SFP with the highlight on Satisfying!

I've shown the progress on this in earlier posts so I am very proud to put the Finished Project Label on this.  See, the 15 minutes a day motto really works!

Off the needles:  Cody & Sole shopped for yarn in Ecuador for a gift for me and were dissappointed until they saw some women spinning.  They asked about yarn and the ladies sold them 3 wonderfully natural hanks of yarn 1 was still natural, the other 2 were dyed  but all 3 have generous amounts of lanolin in them.  I immediately started knitting a project out of the Fall, 2009 issue of Interweave Knits that I was waiting for just the right project.  Big Montana Tunic.  It knitted up fast and I now have yet another SFP:

I'm on a roll now for completing things and have already dug down into the UFO pile and pulled out 2 things.  One a bag already cut out for at least a year, and a 15 year old Granny Square baby blanket that needs some edging.  Do you think I can be done with these by next week?

Socks:  Yes, I have socks.  I started these in a Totally Tubular fashion, as I talked about before.  The exception is that I started toe up.  I cast on 5, in the wrap method that Cat Bordhi explained in "Personal Footprints".  I increased up to 24 on each needle, magic loop method.  I knitted the stockinette tube till I reached about 10 inches and did the Bremen Sock pattern I downloaded for free on Ravelry.  I knitted to about 14" and bound off.  Then I went back and added the heel placed according to my 'Footprint' on the cereal box.  I think this is going to be my favorite method of making socks.  The afterthought heel has fit well and looked good on each of the socks that I've made.  These socks fit me PERFECTLY!

 I am on a roll and will have more SFP's next time!

Newborns are so much fun to knit for!

Be Wise My Sons: I have just finished my 2 newborn sleep sacks for Jackson and Gideon!

These were made from the pattern by Teresa Cole published in her blog "Comfort Wool Blog".  It's called the 'Owlie Sleep Sack' and the 'Owlie Hat'.  The pattern is written out so nicely that even me, a cable needle newbie, could figure it out. 

The owl detail was fun to see working out on the needles:

The sacks were done on a size 7, 16" circular needle then to close the sack I switched to dpns (double pointed needles).  My first time using dpns.  It was a bit of a challenge to get things right, and I struggled a bit with them on the first sack, but I breezed thru on the 2nd.  The advice I would give on switching to the dpns is to switch in between markers not at the marker.  That seemed to work for me and to do 2 'owls' per dpn, 2 or so.  If you have an easier way, just let me know.  The closing off by drawing the yarn tail through the remaining stitches and pulling tight was great!  I did enjoy making the sacks.

The Hats:  I've never knitted a cap before so this was fun.  The owl pattern is reversed, and easy to do.  They are so cute and little! 

 The patterns are free at Ms. Cole's blog, so go ahead and try them!

Oh, and the name:  Be Wise my Sons.  That is from a scripture at Proverbs 27:11:  "Be wise my sons and make my heart rejoice, so I can make a reply to him that is taunting me." 

Since owls are considered wise, I thought this is a nice wish for these 2 newborn boys to grow up with - be wise!

It's Totally Tubular, Man!

Doesn't it seem like the word 'Man' needs to follow Totally Tubular?  Well that's my newest sock pattern - Totally Tubular by Samantha Roshak.  The pattern is only $2.00 and comes with video links.  It's kind of cool!  The premise is that you can knit a total tube from cuff to cuff, snip to unravel in half, then add a toe to each half, then add an afterthought heel.  It sounds complicated but it's very easy and a great sock to take along.  Here are my results:

 That one was for my daughter and I didn't get a picture before she headed back up north.  She did say tho, that she loved the feel of the heel - which is just a toe.  As you can see in this pair for my son-in-law, they look kind of funky with two toes, but they both say they are very comfortable!

Then I made another pair for my son.  On all these socks I borrowed from Cat Bordhi's book, 'Personal Footprints' the method of cutting out a pattern of their foot on the inside of a cereal box.  It's so nice to have that on hand to add the heel in the right place. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

All in all, I really do like this Totally Tubular way of making socks.  I like doing an afterthought heel.  The drawback was, though, that there are a lot of ends to weave in.  But, as I now am enjoying making contrasting heels and toes, there are a lot of ends to weave in doing that the traditional way, too. 

One thing that may help if you try to use this method.  The 2nd cuff.  Binding off a cuff needs to be very stretchy.  I used a method I saw in the Let's Knit 2gether video podcast.  It was in the March 2009 show.  I'm adding a link, but the website is http://www.letsknit2gether.com/  Here's the link I use:  http://letsknit2gether.com/2009/03/  I use the first one, but I'm not a very tight knitter.  She has a few to try, pick the one that suits you!

 

Behind the yarn:  This is my section of things I'm doing that don't use yarn.  I got a new gadget, or toy.  It's a Soda Stream Soda maker!  It carbonates water and you can make your own sodas.  I tried their brand of syrups to add to the soda water, but I wasn't super impressed.  I like to drink plain club soda with lime and this works great for that.  I can make it fresh and it doesn't lose it's fizz by sitting around in a big 2 liter bottle.  I also love GingerAle - the real stuff.  I found a great real GingerAle recipe online at http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-ginger-beer/  .  I tried it, with first making his recipe for simple syrup, then using my juicer to make the ginger juice, and it was fantastic.  I'm a fan of Reed's Ginger Beer and I just hadn't found something I could make similar until now.  This GingerAle has just the 'bite' I was looking for and I love it!  If you like Ginger, then this recipe is for you.  All in all, again, I think my soda maker was a great buy and works well for us.

 

Personal Footprints - A step in the right direction!

I got a new book!  It's "Personal Footprints for Insouciant Sock Knitters" by Cat Bordhi.
I went to the Yarn Shop to get a book on knitting socks on 2 circulars, but saw this.  It's a very intriguing thought - making a footprint of your knitting subjects and making a sock.  I put off trying this new option in sock making until I had enough 'focus' time to read the book.  It actually is quite interesting, as Cat usually is.  I decided as each of my adult children came over for a weekend here and there to make a footprint on the inside of an empty cereal box (well some weren't empty yet and had to settle for a tupperware container).  So I also made one of my 9 year old grandson's foot and decided to start with his. 

I started on that, then quickly realized to get the fit perfect, you actually need the foot of the subject to start with.  With some guessing by using my foot, I started anyway.  They turned out to fit him well and I was so happy.  With the clear explanation in the book, they were a pleasure to knit.  I did both feet before I did the legs to make sure that they were exactly the same and recorded on my template as suggested in the book all that I did.  Here are the results: 

They fit him great!  I think there is a bit of room for some growth, but for not having him with me, I think the book 'stepped' me in the right direction!

So I decided to make a pair for my husband, one that wasn't so vanilla.  I picked the "Inlaid Pennants" from page 45 in the book.  Having his foot readily at my disposal, it was so much easier.  Again I found it better to make both 'feet', then open it up and start on the 'leg'.  That is such a handy way to make sure you get both socks finished and your feel for the leg pattern is still imprinted on the brain and is easier to use.  His turned out pretty good, too, don't you think?

He really likes them and wears them often on Sunday.  I think if you try this book, you will like it too.

I took some ideas from this book and tried out another new pattern and I will share that with you next week!  Don't miss it, you will really like the blending!

Until then, keep on your pegs and needles!

Progress comes slow but sure with 15 minutes at a time.

Yes, 15 minutes at a time.  Things are being finished and without real stress - I like it.  I was looking in my bookcase and came across Nancy Ziemans book "10, 20, 30 Minutes to Sew" and realized my organization lessons were right there.  Nancy breaks down sewing a garment into 10, 20, and 30 minute blocks just as I have been trying to do.  What a great system this is proving to be!

Accomplishments:

Simplicity #2427;  one down, one to go!  Wow, I haven't gathered for a long time and I'm seeing how my eyes and my hands have aged while trying to grab those little threads to pull.  After moaning that my old gathering foot won't fit my newer Bernina sewing machine, and impulsively ordering a ruffling foot to fit off ebay, I went in for one more try and low and behold, a gathering foot appeared!!  There was that beautiful foot #16 just hanging there saying 'why didn't you know I was here'.  Apparently the woman who I bought the machine from had it included in the purchase, and I never noticed.  Now, cheerfully, I can make ruffles to my hearts content. 

The settings:  Stitch length 5, Tension 6  

I'm listing these because I had a hard time finding directions to using this foot and had to find settings by trial and error.  Those worked for me and I think will work for most machines with similar numbers. (oh and by the way, I still have a ruffling foot coming - at least I will be able to make beautiful pleats :-)

Slades Sweater;  I ripped out the ribbed neck and, using a bigger needle and 20 more stitches, redid the neckline and it looks and fits so much better!

After nearly completing one sleeve and frogging it back because it became too big (I am winging my modifications for this pattern) I cut from newspaper a pattern of the sleeve, did calculations from my pre-frogged sleeve/guage swatch, had Pop double check my figures, and started again.  This really is being worked in 15 minute swatches of time.  I am leaving it on the table and when I sit to chat with Pop, or just relax a minute, I pick it up and knit on it.  It's going well and I think will work with the crocheted pattern on the body.  It'll be a patchwork sweater of sorts.

My Knitting Group:

I've started joining some friends who are knitting and crocheting together so I thought I'd share some pictures of how hard we all concentrate and work on our projects.  A couple are just learning to knit, their instructor is knitting a sock, and another is making a beautiful crocheted Lacy Top Cardigan.  I'm working on my Miley Tee and it is seen next to the white Lacy Top Cardigan crocheter. 

  We've all had our tummys filled with Alta's special recipe of 'stir fry' yummy stuff and we are focused!

Here's Alta with her nearly finished Lacy Top Cardigan, and Joanna with her first project - a scarf made from a beautiful spool of ribbony goodness!

And I can't leave out the instructor of 'the girls', Marilyn, working on her yummy sock:

That's it for now!  By next week I should be done with the 2nd gathery/ruffley dress and they should be gifted.  I hope I get a picture of those cute little cousins in their new dresses to show you all.  Look for a new post in 2 weeks with fun new completed UFO's that I'll do in 15 minutes at a time!

15 Minutes a Day!

Who knew - It works!  So the plan:  Check out your projects that you want to finish, but tend to put off.  Break it down into chunks that can reasonably done in 15 minutes.  I wrote my chunks down on paper, it helps.  I'm thinking 3 x 5 cards would work good with room for checking off.  I plan to do that next (I have a lot of projects to perfect this plan on).  So last week I 'announced' I would be working on Lindsey's quilt and Slade's sweater. 

The progress:

Lindsey's quilt:  All the blocks are quilted and the first border is 'Stitch in the Ditch' quilted.  I've started on the outer borders and have one side completed, but I can't do one full side a day as originally thought.  When I went to quilt them, the chalk marking that I finished last fall had worn off enough to need to be remarked.  So, I decided, since I had done so much free motion on the inner blocks, I could free motion quilt around the leaves and grapes.  It's good but it takes more time so I can only do about 1/2 a side per day.  That puts the quilting to be finished around the end of next week.  So far so good!

Slade's sweater:  I hit a block wall.  I stitched the shoulders together as planned.  Cast on the neckline and knitted a ribbing, that I thought was looking great - then after about an inch, I bound off.  I put it over my head to see how it felt and I couldn't get it on!  Yikes.  So I need a looser ribbing and a stretchy bind off.  I saved a video podcast from "Let's Knit Together"  on "Binding off toe-up socks" that gave stretchy bind off instructions for socks so I think I'll have to review that and try again on this neck.  I told my husband, who everyone affectionately calls Pop, that it was going back in the box, I'm done!  And Pop said that's not allowed in the 15 minute/day plan.  Sooo, back to the drawing board and I'll just give it another 15 minutes, or '2'.  Where's my 3 x 5 card ...

I've been able, in between all this to work on a sweater I had recently started.  It's so cute!  It' called "Miley Tee" from c2knits.  I'm making it in a Celery colored 100% cotton by Universal Yarns that I got at our local yarn shop, The Yarn Shoppe.  I'm knitting it after I do my other 15 minutes a day projects. 

Oh, and another sewing project - A friend and I are  making 2 cute little dresses for two friends's girls.  Size 3 and 4. Briana has been taking Fashion and Sewing in High School for a couple of years so she and I are putting her knowledge to use this afternoon and making up Simplicity #2427 with some variations.  Hopefully I'll have pictures to put up in next week's blog.

So, remember, 15 Minutes a Day, you can do anything in 15 minutes a day!

Finished is Better than Perfect!

So that's my new saying - Finished is Better than Perfect! I've been putting off finishing a few projects because I'm a bit insecure about how they'll look when finished. Hearing on my favorite podcasts that this is the year for them to finish - I am announcing to myself, my family and cyberspace that by December 31, I will have finished my UFO's. Ok, so now that that's said, I am going through my box (es) of UFO's (un finished objects) and deciding what is worth finishing. Some are so dated, I am considering my work and trying of things as a class I took and I have samples. Like my Crazy Patchwork 'Quilt as you go' Vest from the late 90's. I think it was dated to begin with but I learned to do Crazy Quilting and thoroughly enjoyed playing with it. So there's one box taken care of.

15 Minutes a Day:

Lindsey's quilt: I love the fabric that she chose for this quilt, I loved designing and putting it together. I was determined to machine quilt this quilt. There is where the postponing came. So now I've set it up, and am giving it 15 minutes a day. I can quilt a block in 15 minutes, so with 8 blocks to go, I can be done in 8 days with that part. Then I'll try to do one side of the border a day, so that adds 4 more days. Now, theoretically I can be done quilting by May 2. Next will be making and applying the binding, which I can devote 1 afternoon to. Next is the part I like. The sitting in the evening doing the hand sewing finish to the binding. So by breaking this project up in pieces, I can comfortably and pleasantly finish this quilt within a month. So that's another box! I'll keep you posted on the progress - hopefully weekly. So this is where I'll be for a few minutes every day:

Crocheted Sweater for Slade: Ok, so last fall I started this Crocheted Mock Cable Sweater from the book Fiber Gathering. I loved the picture and wanted to make it for one of my sons. Slade's the winner (the patient winner). I made the front and the fit was way off, and I had to pull it all out. Then I tried to make the largest size (yes my guage was right) and it was still too short in the arms and too too wide in the neck. So, loving the look of the stitch itself, I started again with my own idea. Now I'm stuck on the sleeves. I've given it a lot of guilty thought, and finally decided it's okay to vary the stitch on the sleeves. I do love the look of the stitch, but I don't like doing the stitch. My wrists start to hurt after a short time of it so I want to make plain sleeves. So now that's my other '15 minutes a day' project. The plan: It'll take 15 minutes to connect the front to the back. I think I'll knit the ribbing on the neck then and I think that will take me 2 sessions, maybe I'll be in the groove and just do it in one. Okay, then the sleeves. I need to plan out the decreases and length - one more 15 min. - then start. I'm thinking I can do the 2 sleeves in a week and put them on. Seeming up the sides, doing the cuffs, adding bottom ribbing should be another 4 or 5 days. That means this will be finished by 3 weeks. It seems the quilt and the sweater should be done about the same time. Looks like a gift day is coming up!