Wednesday, January 13, 2010

WIP Wednesday: She knits, she SEWS!!

Oh goodness, that was pretty lame, wasn't it?! I don't know why but a sportscaster just took over there for a minute. Perhaps it is from my brain trying to wrap itself around balancing knitting and sewing simultaneously...

I have a couple of small projects I am trying to rapidly finish up. I just got some of the best news from a dear friend of mine and I need to finish these projects up so I can get making things to celebrate. I can't post what ideas are going through my head because she sometimes checks in here *ahem* but I'll make sure to get some WIP pics up.

Back to my current WIPs:



K fell in love with this yarn the last time we stopped into our local yarn shop. She asked me if I would knit her and C some matching rainbow socks. How could I refuse that request? I started on hers and will do C's when I am finished. I found a free pattern on Ravelry for children's socks. I started out knitting what should have been K's size but the pattern runs small so I had to rip it out and start over with the children's size large.



Luckily they are a fast knit. I finished up the first sock and am about halfway done with the second. K is so excited about them she has been stealing the finished sock and wearing it under her slippers thinking that I don't notice.


Fabric sitting on my desk (which is a WIP itself) waiting to be sewn

The girls and I are head over heels in love with the Anna Maria Horner Folksy Flannel line. I just knew that I needed the set to make my first full size quilt. Technically, it's not a real quilt, it's just patchwork but I am still taking baby steps in my quest to learn how to quilt. If I do ok on this I can move on to more complicated quilts, or at least that's how I am seeing it right now.



I have sewn all of my 16 squares together, along with some help from my furry friends, and now I am just waiting for pay day to find a backing for it. I have quite a few ideas for the scraps that are left over but we'll see what I end up doing with them, I tend to change my mind constantly. Although, while we are on the subject of ideas, does anyone know of any good online sources for the log cabin style quilting process?


Calorimetry

K has been growing her bangs out since the hair cutting incident last summer and they are just now to the point where they are in her eyes driving her crazy. Her hair is very fine so regular headbands don't work and just pulling her bangs up with a hair tie on the top of her head just looks silly, so we needed another solution. Shelley to the rescue! Shelley posted this gift she made for Christmas and as soon as I saw it, I knew it would be the perfect solution. Not only does it fit snugly and hold her bangs back, it also keeps her head warm for those cold day inside our house and it's a great way to use up leftover yarn.



She has already requested it in every color under the sun. Since they only take about one to two hours to knit I think I can oblige.


C looks thrilled, doesn't she?


Back to work I go. I hope everyone is having a great week!
Happy creating!
--------------------------------------------------------------

I apologize for forgetting to add the modifications I used for the calorimetry. I followed some notes on Ravelry and did the following:

Using size 6 needles cast on 80 stitches. Follow the pattern like normal. When you get to row 5 repeat it 10 times. Do row 6 as normal and repeat row 7 until two stitches remain on either side, then complete row 8 as normal.

The next one I make will have a few more stitches added on though so that it will fit even longer.
Hope that helps!

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29 comments:

Kimberley said...

Hello Nicole!
I too am working on my first big quilt...one for Mia's bed, for her 5th birthday, which is in 9 days...(ahem!)...I love the socks! I thought the caliometry headband was adult size...what adjustments did you make for her?
Happy creating!
Kimberley

Nadja said...

Gorgeous! I love the socks and will check out the pattern--I have lots of little feet around here to cover, and they blow holes into cheap, cotton socks like there's no tomorrow!

kristyn said...

i think the idea of a sporty play-by-play craft-call is hilarious!

Anonymous said...

Great projects. I have a little one growing out bangs too and I may need to make one of those headbands, thanks!

Lisa said...

This Headband would be good for my daughter, too. A very good idea for girls with fine hair. Your blog is really beautiful.
Many greetings from Germany (The Waldorf-birthplace ;-)),
Lisa

Jackie @ Lilolu said...

I'm new to knitting but I think I can do this! I'm going to give it a try. Wish me luck.

Joy said...

Apparently you and Soulemama are of one mind. You and Harper will share a similar quilt. :) Love the headband and the rainbow socks! Would you like to come visit and teach me socks? For some reason they intimidate me. :)

Mackenzie said...

How funny, SouleMama just posted today about her AH flannel quilt too! I think they look so yummy. I'm working on a big de-stashing right now, some things I've had since I was 14 and well, I'm just not going to use them so someone else can! lol I've decided when I get my stash "cut down to size" that I'm going to treat myself to the flannel stack too.

FYI, the log cabin is super, super easy, so I'm sure you'll do great! Quilting is one of those things that can be as full of rules, or as relaxed as you like... www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com is my favorite place for inspiration. :)

Martha said...

It is all so beautiful. How cute that she is sneaking the finished sock away!
Is that Koigu? It's my favorite!!
Happy Knitting and Sewing!

Katie said...

Love the socks and the quilt. I am starting a log cabin quilt using the quilt as you go method. I just got Patchwork Style for the method, but while waiting for it I googled "quilt as you go log cabin" and found lots of free resources and tutorials.
Thanks for the inspiration, I am casting on some socks for my wee one today.

jenn said...

Hi! Love your blog, so very sweet!
Here is a great tutorial for "easy peasy log cabin blocks" by Larissa at "Stitches in Play". Her blog is just lovely!!

Unknown said...

ah! copycat! hahah i saw amanda's post too and now HAVE to make a quilt with ana's fabric. i'm waiting payday to buy my bundle and supplies..;) i love the folksy flannel line soooooo much...teehee. if i can swing it, i might make 2 twin sizes for the girls new bunkbeds they are getting at the end of the month..woohoo! (or i might be selfish and make just one for me and movie nights on the couch...LOL! muauahahah!)

xoxo give the girls smooches for me.

Jennifer said...

Great quilt. I love the sock and the headband, you sure have been busy. Great job.

luciana said...

Beautiful sock yarn. I love the colours! Your child size Calorimetry is wonderful. I only wish my girls would wear anytihing on their heads (other than hats)!

jenn said...

Oh me! I forgot the link.. I knew I forgot the link.. sorry!

http://stitchesinplay.typepad.com/stitches_in_play/2009/06/easypeasy-log-cabin-tutorial.html

healing hillary said...

darling projects. i am excited about your quilt!

Rachel at Stitched in Color said...

quilt looks great! I like how yours came together best ;)

Krisling said...

I wish I was brave enough to try knitting socks! But I am too much of a wimp.

I am making a patchwork quilt for my little boy's room and IT'S STILL A QUILT even if it's not a complicated one :D But I am impatient and suck at lining things up, so mine is a little uneven. Shh, don't tell!

Mama Rose said...

I'm so loving those socks your making! I crochet, but I really can't wait to learn to knit AND read the patterns-lol! The "Folksy Flannel" is my latest fabric obsession...the patchwork looks good :)

Adele said...

That fabric is so beautiful that I would say you don't need anything more than a patchwork quilt-- which is nice, because that is right about at my skill level, too. Did you get the fat quarters or order fabrics individually? Lovely projects.

FillingMyQuiver said...

Oh Nicole, I too am curious what adjustments you made to calorimetry to make it child sized. I have a 4yo whose hair is ALWAYS in her face and she just informed me, after looking at K's new headband, that she would like a green one. Any tips would be appreciated :)

FrontierDreams said...

Just wanted to let you all know that I added the mods to the calorimetry above :) Thanks!

gardenmama said...

Hi Nicole : )
You are a talented mama and I always love the colors that you choose! The socks are wonderful and the quilt is gorgeous! I make similar style 'head warmers' for my kids each year, I love how they keep their ears nice and warm. (or as a neckwarmer)

Tonya Gunn said...

Such sweet, sweet pictures... I love the headband idea - I have two daughters that would really like those.
Warm wishes,
Tonya

angela said...

I love the folksy flannel quilt I can't wait to see it finished. I really like the headband to. Thanks for sharing all the inspiration

Indigo, madder, marigold said...

sweet sweet sweet! Isn't winter nice that way...to hunker down and make stuff...mmmmmmm

Marina said...

Love the quilt fabric, I can tell it will be absolutely yummy!

And can I borrow your girls for awhile? I think Matteo is past the age where he'll let me put a headband on him ;}

FrontierDreams said...

Thank you all <3 <3

Thank you for the info on log cabin quilting, too. I am excited to try it!! (And I HAD to order the patchwork style book - yum!)

Joy - I wish I could come and teach you! Actually I learned using the easy toddler socks pattern (it's on my rav page) I think it would be the perfect size for Finn right now, too ;)

Adele - I ordered the fat quarters, pre wahsed them and then cut them to 17" squared each. I then used a 1/2" seam allowance to sew them together. HTH!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your blog!!! I just love it....thank you

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