What’s in my creative space today? I’m working on my crochet tote! All of the little bits are finished. The handles have been blocked. Tonight I’m going to watch some Battlestar Galactica and sew everything together. I’m so excited that this is almost done. I’m totally in love with it!
Visit more creative spaces over at Kirsty’s blog.
p.s. My daughter picked out the buttons. Didn’t she do a good job?
Last weekend my friend Jennifer drove up from Kansas City to hang out. It had been over 20 years since the last time we’d seen each other. We had a lot of catching up to do. She wanted to learn how to knit, which is a great way to spend your catching-up time. I cast on some wool to show her how to start. We kept talking and I kept knitting. Without realizing it, I had knit all of my yarn. What was I going to do with this gorgeous rectangle?
I folded my oversized swatch in half, whip stitched the sides and added a lining. The result: super duper cute clutch! The good thing about me finishing this so fast is that I got to show Jennifer how to bind off. She caught on quickly and is doing awesome with her first scarf. Another person successfully converted to the fiber arts. Yay!
Visit my etsy shop for close up pics of those lovely garter stitches.
stash: This is a great stash busting project. Yarn was gifted to me by a friend who was ironically destashing it. Denim lining from my garage sale stash. Thrifted zipper.
I was browsing through the Anthropologie website and saw this cute top.
I immediately thought of a pattern I have in my stash. (View #2)
Then I thought of another one. (View #4)
Clearly I need to stop thinking so much and start doing. My list of potential and unfinished projects is getting much too long!
Here’s the third shirt from last week’s garage sale purchases. These big, flouncy shirts came in style right after I had my daughter and I refused to buy any. I had just gotten out of maternity clothes. I didn’t want to buy shirts that made me look pregnant!
I really liked the band around the middle and thought it would make a nice apron. I love how this already had the ribbon and trim details. All I had to do was cut it up and add the sashes!
I’m not really an apron girl, but this just might make me change my mind. I just need to get over worrying about getting it dirty. I know, it’s an apron, but it’s so darn cute!
refashion: Shirt from garage sale cost $1. Sash made from the sleeves. Cute ribbon trim conveniently part of the original shirt. Love when that happens!
Last Saturday I discovered a little store called Stitches that creates custom drapes, valances, slip covers, etc. I found them through a garage sale listing on craigslist and I couldn’t resist the words “fabric sale.” I had originally planned to just look. I had no idea that things would be so inexpensive. I picked up a bunch of canvas remnants for 25 cents each (not pictured) and a few larger pieces for 50 cents a yard. I already have plans for the floral print flannel: pajama pants!
stash: Whenever I bring something new home I have to destash to make room. On the list this time: jeans I had planned to refashion into tote bags. I just don’t have time for all of the projects in my head!
Here’s the shirt from yesterday’s garage sale finds. I really liked the fabric, but the shirt was a little bit too frilly for me.
The first thing I did was cut off the gathered cuff and replace it with a simple rolled hem. Next I removed the ruffle and reattached the fabric with no gathers. Finally, I snipped off the ties, stitched the center closed and added a vintage button.
I like the shape of peasant style blouses, but I’m not a big fan of all of the frilly stuff. This turned out just perfect for me. Plus, I totally love that button!
refashion: Shirt 75 cents from a garage sale. Vintage button from my stash.
I found some cute shirts at a garage sale this morning. I’ve already refashioned two, but it was too dark to take the second “after” photo. Here’s the first one.
The top portion was a little tight and the bottom was big enough to be a skirt. Ha! A skirt! I cut off the top and sewed a casing for the elastic. It even already had pockets!
It hits just above the knee, which is about as high as I go these days. The fabric is lightweight and it’s going to be a nice, cool skirt for the hot days of August.
refashion: Shirt 50 cents from a garage sale. Elastic from my stash.
I needed a small, portable project for our trip to Kearney last weekend. In the past, my travel projects have mostly been socks. Now that my daughter is older, I prefer something that doesn’t require so many needles and won’t completely unravel if I throw it in my bag to chase her down.
I decided it was time to try my hand at granny squares and I think they’re looking pretty good. I finished one in the car on the way out and one during the day. (That’s the president of the local BMW Car Club holding my square over a Porsche. Isn’t it great how the fiber arts bring us all together!)
I’m planning to seam these together and make a scarf for myself. I’m really happy with the colors and the yarn is really soft.
stash: Yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease from a giant freecycle haul. Most of what I got that day has been given to knitting guild members to make squares for charity blankets. There were about five skeins of this colorway that I kept for myself. I’m not sure what I’ll do with the rest of it yet. Maybe matching wrist warmers?
It seems like everyone in blogland is making comfy pants out of vintage sheets. I don’t think mine are that old, but I still love them. They turned out a little big, but after my too-small skirts, I wanted to make sure they were wearable! I’ve adjusted the pattern a little for next time and can’t wait to make another pair. I’m also thinking of making a matching pair for my daughter with the leftovers.
refashion: Thrifted sheets are a great alternative to buying new fabric. You have a lot to work with and you don’t feel bad if you mess up! This sheet was one of my $2 deals and the pattern is Simplicity 3935 from a 99 cent sale.
Here is the second set of photos from the weekend. Larger pics in my gallery.
I had so much fun taking these, but don’t worry. Tomorrow I’ll be back with some sewing!
