Knitting Needle Roll

I thought I'd show you all my needle storage roll.  I was going crazy with needles everywhere and trying to keep little people from breaking them or loosing them.  I decided to make up a needle roll. 

Never mind the wrinkles...it's well loved.

It turned out really great.  I think the only thing I would do next time is make it slightly shorter or sew the flap farther down.  I end up folding past the sewn flap line.  No big deal but it's what I'd do differently.

Right now it holds all my needles with plenty of space for new ones I make.  It holds circulars, double points, and regular ol' straight ones.  I will add that my homemade needles are a good bit longer than the ones I had purchased at the store so I had to make it taller to work with those.

Sewing this up really didn't take that long.  Just a couple hours on a Sunday afternoon.  All the materials were from my stash so that made it free too.  I'm thinking of making a tutorial... what do you think?

Anyone else craving cinnamon rolls?

Good Knight Part 2: The Tunic

 

Remember when I showed you these arm bracers I made for a Knight's costume?  Well, I finished up the tunic a few days before the Knight and Princess party and thought you might like an update. 

  

The finished tunic.

 

A super quick rundown here.  I found an image the boy liked and set to work on the design.  I used Wee Folk Arts tip for cutting felt and it worked beautifully! 

 

It took forever to cut out but it was so worth it.

I then used spray adhesive to tack it down to the black part of the design.  After the glue dried (maybe 1 hour) I stitched around the Griffin with a running stitch.  Then I cut out a rectangle of fleece that was folded at the top.  You want your fleece to comfortably fit the length of your child front and back.

I cut an oval out of the folded edge for the neck and hemmed the neck opening.  Make sure it fits over your childs head before hemming.  I also hemmed the sides and added eyelets and lacing.  (honestly I'd have preferred black lacing here but Michael's only had brown that day.  Oh and use interfacing where you want the eyelets.)  The next step was to cut up the very center of the front and the back about 6 inches.  Hem that along with the bottom and add any decorative trim you'd like.  That's it!

This was pretty inexpensive to do honestly.  I already had the felt and eyelets on hand so I only had to purchase the fleece (about half a yard will leave you with plenty of extras), the lacing, and the red trim.  Less than $10 total.  If you have any questions about the directions please let me know.

An action shot at the party!  They had so much fun.  I'll try and show you more detail with the helmet and sword in another post (the helmet is my favorite part of the whole thing!).  I'll give you a hint though, the helmet is made from craft foam and the sword is a pizza box and some duct tape. 

 

The fair knight jousting!

 

Good times.

Repost: An Easter Craft

**This one was originally posted over at The Fipper Show on April 25, 2011 while we were travelling in Germany.  Sorry if I'm a little repost happy but they were all done before the crafty blog.  Plus...Easter comes around every year.**

While packing for this trip I realized we would be celebrating Easter while we were here. I talked a little to Fisher about it and we were trying to come up with a solution that didn't involve bringing their Easter baskets and eggs from home. I have really gotten myself into something here because any time we are faced with a problem like this his answer is always "you should just make it mom".  But this time we did. I had planned to bring some felt with me anyway for my mental health crafting. So here's how it went down.

Baskets? Check.

But what to do about the eggs? I refused to haul plastic eggs all the way to Germany!! So I decorated some felt eggs with embroidery.

I made the back out of two pieces that overlap like a pillow sham. Then they can be stuffed with candy.

All candy filled and nestled in the basket.

They each got 6. Here are Piper's.

Two of my favorite ones for Pipey.

Boy colors for Fisher.

Two of my favorites for him.

This one is my REAL favorite. Fisher did this one himself. His first time EVER sewing with a needle and thread!

Unfortunately I don't have any action shots for you. The way we are set up here they sleep in the living room. And the Easter baskets were set out for the Easter bunny in the living room. Late night pictures of filled Easter baskets + sleeping kids = bad Easter experience. But they enjoyed finding their "stuffed" eggs and eating all the goodies.

Happy Easter

Kristin

Basket Case: Repost

**Another repost!  Originally posted June 2, 2011 on The Fipper Show when my sweet husband was working out of the country.  This is a fantastic project for springtime. **


I discovered pretty early on that the best way to not get so depressed about James being so far away was to keep busy. I have completed close to a million sewing projects since he's been overseas. Well, maybe not that many. Lets go with a bunch. So here's a little project for you.

In Germany we were strolling around Marburg and I came across this little kitchen shop. In the window (like I'm going to take my children in a cramped kitchen store!!) I saw these great fabric bowl type basket things that were apparently used for rolls. After the sharp intake of breath, (cause seriously, those were cute) I started to figure out in my head how to recreate it at home. I can sew after all.

My first attempt was a little...large. That's a dozen muffins in there. I figure it'll be okay at family gatherings to hold rolls, hamburger buns, chips, etc.

Like large.

This is a much better size. Again with a dozen muffins.

Then I went a little crazy.

The smaller two are a different design and WAY easier to make. The bottom here is rectangular instead of round.

The possibilities are endless really with what to do with them. Flowers? I'd even put a jar in the taller (of the small ones) and put cut flowers in it.

But here's what I do with them. Cotton balls and q-tips. A nice way to brighten up a bathroom!

So there you go. My fabric basket making craziness.

Note:
I now use the large one in my daughter's room to hold her little socks and underwear.  It works out really well and she can easily reach everything.  I think they would work well for small toys too.  The medium size one is now on my kitchen counter holding all our vitamins.  Let me know if any of you are interested in some sort of tutorial for these. 

**Bonus**

Here's a bonus for you. I'm in love with this fabric. Can you tell? Anyway, I have an e reader. A Nook to be specific. My nightstand is basically shelf that is pretty far away from my bed. It's fine for a clock but a little tricky to reach to put away glasses and the nook when I'm finished reading at night. Solution: A nook and glasses pouch that hangs on the side of the bed.

I've been thinking for a while about having a separate craft blog. What do you guys think? Would you follow that one? Should I just keep posting crafts on here every once in a while?

Craftastically yours,

Kristin

The Knitting Bag of a Newbie

Pretty much the minute I started knitting I also starting thinking up all sorts of knitting related sewing projects.  I quickly made up a few project bags and a little pouch for holding my crochet hooks and scissors and whatsits.  I like to call it my "hooker pouch".

While we're talking about crochet hooks, take a look at that fancy new one up there.  It's like a magic wand and a crochet hook got together and had a baby.  It's a Brittany hook and it's super pretty.


It used to be, I would toss my hooker pouch and whatever project bag I needed into my purse and would head out the door.  Add snacks and water to that and I was dragging around a TON of stuff.  You should have seen me headed into gymnastics.  I looked like I was moving in.  The madness had to stop.  So...

I made a knitting bag.

Pretty isn't she?  She's the perfect size and filled with the perfect configuration of pockets.  Yep, totally customized.  Wanna see what's in there?  Let's start with the pockets shall we.

The outside pockets are just right for my glasses, ipod, and keys. 

The inside... out.  It's basically reversible.  I personally like the darker color to the outside but, in order to show you the pockets...inside out it is.  These pockets hold my gauge/ruler thingy, lotion, ink pen, a note pad, extra knitting needles, and my little tackle box of goodies. 

I grabbed this little tackle box in the fishing section one day while the boys were checking out fly tying materials.  I think I paid somewhere around $1.75 for this and it's just perfect. It holds all my tip protectors, stitch markers, row counter, and my measuring tape.  Not to mention it snuggles all happily in that there pocket.

It holds a surprising amount of stuff.  I'm usually carrying one or two project bags, my Knitter's Handbook (that i borrowed from the library and they're going to want back soon), tackle box, hooker pouch, and I usually have a little game in there for the kids.  That way if we're stuck at the tire place or the Dr's office they have something to do too.  AND I still have room for snacks.  (and my purse can stay in the car.)

This is the cutest little game by the way.  I bought it here.  I've gathered quite the collection of small travel games and they are wonderful to toss in your bag.  This one is especially great as my three year old can do it all by herself. 

So there you have it.  The knitting bag of a newbie.  Anything I should have that I don't?  Anything I'm carting around that I totally don't need?  I'd love your input. 

Happy Craftin'

Making Progress and Something New

In my quest to become a knitter I think I'm making pretty good progress.  It's become quite addictive and I've actually had knitting dreams once or twice.  (Is that normal?)  I do find it calms my brain down which I desperately need sometimes.

I've been learning to knit ribbing and to change colors.  I really like the look of the ribbing.  I like that I still have to think knit knit, purl purl, knit knit, purl purl.  It helps with the brain chill. 

I hope to learn how to bind off today as I'm headed to my sister's house later.  (She's an excellent teacher.)  I've also ordered a book from the library that I hope to pick up today.  It's another Debbie Stoller book called The Knitter's Handbook.  I have her crochet book I talked about here.  

I've also found my other crafting has become knit/crochet related.  Carly and I had gone to this fancy knit shop a few weeks ago and they were selling "project bags".  We both had a "what a great idea" moment with those.  What with tiny hands always reaching for our current projects and all. They also make it very simple to take your project with you.  So, we made our own. 

I have two different styles here.  The one on the left has a circular bottom which makes for a happy little area for your yarn ball to bounce around while you're knitting or crocheting.  The right side has a rectangular bottom which I'm testing out to see how happily the yarn deals with that.

I will say the knitting needles rest more happily in the rectangular one. For now I have crochet in the circular one. 

Here's an interior shot.  Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial for these.  They are fairly quick and easy to make.  I plan to have a few laying around so I can keep each project separate.

In other fiber related news... I think I'm also becoming a needle felter. I had done some 2 dimensional felting on another project (I'll share later) and enjoyed it very much.  Last night I started thinking about all the cute 3D projects out there and started trying it out.

It. Was. So. Much. Fun.  I made this cute little cave and bunnies.  (which also look kinda like mice? - so maybe bun-ice?)  My sweet Piper immediately claimed them for her very own and took off.  She's played with them nearly non-stop since last night.  She even slept with them.

I see more needle felting in my future for sure.  Along with knitting.

As for what I'm reading, I'm still working on The Exiled Queen.  I haven't mastered knitting well enough to be able to read while I'm knitting.  I have been listening to audiobooks though.  Right now we're listening to Classic Fairy Stories which we all love. 

I'm yarning along again with Ginny today (and all the rest of you). I can't say enough how encouraging and wonderful everyone at the yarn along has been.

Quick Kitty Inspiration

Piper was given five sweet little stuffed kittens for Christmas.  She loves them dearly and carries (at least) one everywhere she goes.  She talks to them, pets them, has the rest of us pet and talk to them, even lets them sleep in her bed.  Basically, they are very loved little kittens.

Well, yesterday she declared that the grey kitty (who's name is apparently "Concrete" - can you tell her daddy works in construction?) needed a bed.  So, in a perfect storm and quick and crafty I made "Concrete" a bed.

I'd gotten this basket back in the summer at our local "treasure" shop for something around a dollar.  I was keeping some of my sewing supplies in it but it was the PERFECT size for the kitties.  Then we went shopping in my fabric stash.  Piper picked out this lovely tie dyed fleece. 

Then it was just a matter of loosely cutting two circles of the fleece by following the base of the basket.  Sewing those together, stuffing, and trimming up the edges with pinking shears.

With one of the scraps we even made a little kitty "toy".

I think Concrete is pretty happy with his new digs.  This entire project from the beginning spark to completion took all of about ten minutes.  How's that for instant crafty gratification??

And just because it's so cute, here's a picture of my budding photographer/blogger/princess taking pictures of our project.

Happy crafting!

How's the Weather?

You'll come to find sometimes our sewing is a little bit crafting and a little bit homeschooling.  This is one of those times.

I love the Wee Folk Art blog.  Like, love it.  They have fantastic ideas and free patterns.  Well, one of their applique patterns is a sunburst.  It got me thinking... weather flags.  I thought this would be a good way for the kids to consciously observe the weather.

They did a fantastic job with applique block tutorial so I'll just tell you about my changes.  I made these an inch bigger on one side than the suggested 6" square. (to allow for the pocket.)  So 6"x7".  You'll fold that top inch down and stitch across making the pocket.  You'll be back to the 6" square now.

Look around online (or freehand) for cartoon style clouds, rain, snowflakes, etc. Wee Folk didn't have these but they have tons of others.

Print the design off, cut them out of wool felt, and hand stitch.  Cut a dowel rod (I think I used 1/4") down to size  (7" or 8") and thread it through.  Make the hanger with yarn.

We look out each morning (sometimes more, sometimes less) and match what we observe outside to our flags inside.  The only thing I think I'm missing is wind.  So I may add that one later.  The kids love them and more importantly they use them.  I love it when blogland is a springboard for your brain.

It's Friday so that means it's Peek of the Week over at Happily Home Sewn.  You guessed it, I'm linking.

I've got you covered.

A couple months ago my sewing machine got sick.  I know, super sad.  She needed a little love and some replacement parts.  Now, I don't know about you, but when I can't sew I get a little cranky.  I just need that creative outlet.  Well, my sweet mother in law came to the rescue!  She loaned me her machine while mine was at the doctor.  So to thank her, I made her (and her machine) a little present.  A machine cover or, as I like to think of it, an outfit.  (and I apologize for the not so great basement lighting.)

See, all nice and comfy in there.

Now, this is really just a rectangle with batting (A very small quilt, if you will) and some ribbon sewn into the sides to tie it closed.  I wanted to break up the flowered fabric just a bit so I pieced a little strip for the front but that's not necessary I did quilt around the larger flowers just to help hold everything together. That's not necessary either but really pretty.  You could easily tie it like a quilt if you wanted instead.

This was really simple and quick to work up.  That said, if anyone would like instructions just let me know.  It would make a nice Christmas gift for your favorite sewing enthusiast.

I'm linking up again with Happily Home Sewn and her Peek of the Week so head on over!