So busy right now... what are y’all working on?

[shortcake2675]

I finished this dice bag tonight. If I make another, I will likely move the embroidery down a little, then move the cord tunnels down a little. I’m not sure it will help, but it’s worth a try. It’s from an Urban Threads tutorial. And I wanted to scream a couple of times when the photos totally didn’t match what they were telling me to do.

Up next is the Brassie jogger pattern from Green Style in fleece.

2 weeks until I leave for Missouri. And for the first year in 7, I’m leaving the machines at home. At least that is the goal.

What are y’all doing?

[dragon's breath]

Looks good!

I took my machine to Denver with me when I had work training. After spending an evening with an old friend (from fifth grade! He gave me a tattoo...), I decided to spend less time in the hotel room than I thought I would, and did some tours and did some exploring instead. I took the machine because I've been working on bazaar stuff *sigh*. A former coworker asked if I'd be willing to do a table at one she was running. I had no intention of ever trying to sell anything I make, but I made an exception this time so we'll see how that goes.

I haven't taken photos yet, but I've made several small purses/bags with lanyards rather than straps, some coin purses, hot pads, skillet hot pads, grocery type reusable bags, reusable gift bags, and stockings. Oh, and some little craft kits for kids. I couldn't utilize my normal crafting time (nights at work), because you can't "run a side business on the job", which makes sense, but it's more stressful trying to fit it all in on my own time. I finished up the last of the lanyards tonight, so I'm finally done.

Not sure what I'll work on when I go back to work. Either finish a Christmas quilt top (from a block swap), or see if I'm in the mood to do something else.

[aprilsails]

Oh my goodness I am in full Christmas present operation. But also doing a lot of selfish sewing because my Seamwork subscription expired, and so I picked out a stack of pattterns for myself.

In the past three weeks, I have made:
- DD a quick knit hoodie dress
- Myself a quick knit dress (yay serger-but the neckline is wonky and I don’t want to pick it out. I was hoping for a wearable muslin. This is ok for at home). I bought more quilted knit fabric to make a better one and will baste the neckline this time.
- A wallet for a friend out of an old leather purse (yay refashioning!)
- A library book bag for MIL
- I am almost done a beautiful Christmas dress for DD (will AW the heck out of it)
- I am almost done a knit stair isle sweater dress for DD (will also be AW’d to high heaven)

And this is why I didn’t participate in any ornament exchanges this year. I’m debating making my Dad, BIL, and DH vests for Christmas as well. Don’t know if I can slide it in though.

I also bought some gorgeous plaid fabric that I am tempted to try and make into a maxi dress for myself in the next two weeks before my office Christmas party. Hmmmmm.

[oregonpachey]

I am working on a sweater for my mother-in-law exclusively. I will try and take a picture tonight with my progress. I only started it the day after Thanksgiving and I am almost through the body.

I was hoping to get some pj pants sewn for my boys for Christmas, but I may not get to them. It depends on how motivated I am after I finish this sweater.

[adhdfashion]

I made a hat.

[cmeon]

Lots of clay- up to my elbows in the stuff, most days. Bisque fire tomorrow, with the kids' ornaments for their teachers, then a day or two for glazing, two days of glaze firing and I should be done with clay for a little while.

DD wants to learn to knit, so we're going to work on that over winter break. She's left handed- I'm not- any leftie knitters around? What works best for you? I plan to try teaching her right handed knitting first, see how that goes- she is better with some things than others when it comes to flipping her hand dominance around. I don't really have a plan if that doesn't work- LOL- maybe just mirroring each other?

[mrspez07]

It all started with envelope pillow cases for my throw pillows before Thanksgiving, then the ornament exchange, and now I’m making bookmarks for the boys (and other people if I get my system down). I started with felt as the back to pieced strips, but I think they are too thick. So I’m going to do regular fabric for the backs.

The common theme in all of these projects? They have to be flipped right side out to finish. The pillow covers are the only ones that didn’t need a finish stitch around the perimeter and to be pulled through a tight spot (I keep stressing some of the seams).

After the holidays I need to focus on DS2’s twin quilt. It was supposed to be done by Christmas, I’ll be lucky if it’s the 4th of July.

[Captain Catnip]

I am attempting to knit Xmas gifts but am not sure how that will end up. I need to make 3 stuffed creatures, I am working on mittens and a scarf for one person, but he's aware of the mittens, I am working on the Reyna shawl for MIL, I want to make something for my dad with yarn I bought just for him; I'm torn on a tie or socks. I'm afraid he wouldn't wear the socks even around the house, which is why I was looking at ties, but I don't know. I don't see this all getting done. I still need to figure out everyone else, too.

[Michelle]

Jealous here. My day job takes up all my time this time of year, along with girl scouting. I have to do Christmas presents in the summer if at all. BUMMER. I'm living vicariously through you guys like I do every Christmas season.

[dragon's breath]

Yesterday kept me reminded of why I hate bazaars and never want to make anything I have to try to sell. Fairly slow day, got tons of great compliments, but people in my town are cheap (unless it comes to food!)

Anyway, two of the little bag/purses, and a few of the stockings (doesn't show the Star Wars stockings at all though).





I love to create things and give them away (to family, friends, donate, etc).  I hate sitting at a table, trying to sell my stuff.  I don't do it to make money, especially since I know I could never get any value for the time I put in.  I've had people ask me if I'd be willing to sell a quilt, but unless they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars in my time, the answer is "no".  However, I will happily make baby quilts for people I know, and I will make a baby quilt for someone I don't know (through someone I do), if they provide the fabric/pay for the fabric, or come up with a trade.  Mostly because I can make stuff for people while I'm at work, I just can't do it while trying to make any money from it, or "running a side business".  I'd rather spend my own time on stuff I want to do.

Sorry, mini rant over, lol.  I made enough at the sale to buy more fabric, and there is enough leftover I'll do the bazaar again next year, but only if I have the day off anyway.  I won't make anything new for it though.  (I will be giving some of the leftovers as gifts, so it won't go to waste either way )

[Captain Catnip]

Shawl is finished. I'm not casting on until tomorrow and have no idea what.

[aprilsails]

Dec 10, 2017 18:47:32 GMT -5 dragon's breath said:

Yesterday kept me reminded of why I hate bazaars and never want to make anything I have to try to sell. Fairly slow day, got tons of great compliments, but people in my town are cheap (unless it comes to food!)

Anyway, two of the little bag/purses, and a few of the stockings (doesn't show the Star Wars stockings at all though).





I love to create things and give them away (to family, friends, donate, etc).  I hate sitting at a table, trying to sell my stuff.  I don't do it to make money, especially since I know I could never get any value for the time I put in.  I've had people ask me if I'd be willing to sell a quilt, but unless they are willing to pay hundreds of dollars in my time, the answer is "no".  However, I will happily make baby quilts for people I know, and I will make a baby quilt for someone I don't know (through someone I do), if they provide the fabric/pay for the fabric, or come up with a trade.  Mostly because I can make stuff for people while I'm at work, I just can't do it while trying to make any money from it, or "running a side business".  I'd rather spend my own time on stuff I want to do.

Sorry, mini rant over, lol.  I made enough at the sale to buy more fabric, and there is enough leftover I'll do the bazaar again next year, but only if I have the day off anyway.  I won't make anything new for it though.  (I will be giving some of the leftovers as gifts, so it won't go to waste either way )

I just had a friend ask me last night if I would make a colour wheel quilt the same as the one I made for DDs baby quilt as a wall hanging for her friend (who I don’t know) who is an artist, as a Christmas gift. She would pay for supplies.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha omg no. Buy your artist friend some canvas at Wallacks please. If she is a creator herself she will appreciate the materials more.

I feel you on the bazaar thing though. I’ve done a couple of craft shows over the years and it is miserable making in a time crunch and then there is so much similar stuff out there. I swear my city is saturated with craft markets right now. I’ve stopped going because when I go with friends they complain about the prices and then I wind up going on an educational rant about fabric pricing and how much effort it takes etc and then they just ask me to copy things.

Maybe I just need new friends.

[panicked]

Someone come save me from my quilting hell. I still have two more to quilt/bind!

[shortcake2675]

Oh, goodness. Those pants are done and shipped. And then I cut an HTV shirt piece not mirrored, so I had to re-cut it at the last minute. Next up is a couple of embroidered fobs. And then a local towel order.

[shortcake2675]

After I stitched out 6 more ornaments in bright colors for my sister, I let the machine try a white only one. I love them!


And this is why I will end up finally updating to Studio 4. But it won’t go to waste, the older brother thinks it is hilarious.


I dropped my mock-up and it shattered, but I think I figured out how to present the ornament with my grandma’s signature on it to my sisters until we find beads from one or many of grandma’s costume necklaces to fill them.

[cmeon]

Here are some of the ornaments the kids made (cut out, chose glaze/ribbon for) for their teachers this year (they go with giftcards, don't worry- LOL). Some of them are 3-D printed cutters, the snowflakes and turtle are 3-D printed stamps.




I designed/printed a few hump/slump molds a few months ago, and finally have a few finished projects from using them.

[drloretta]

This is my opportunity to vent.

For part of my birthday present in November, my MIL sent me 2 catalogs with things she wanted for Christmas: a pair of cabled fingerless gloves and a cabled sweater vest. Cool, we'll order it. Oh no, she wanted me to KNIT them! Both. In the colors depicted. And she's allergic to wool.

Because I'm a sucker, I decided I could tackle the fingerless gloves with some alpaca I would get at my local yarn store. After 4 false starts (poorly written patterns, missing information, etc), I mashed together 2 or 3 patterns to create something I'm hoping she likes. But I already think she'll be unhappy with the length of the wrist section. Too bad, so sad, there are 6 days to Christmas and she'll be lucky to get them in time. The sweater vest will likely never happen, I don't have the time or patience for that for a long time.

Whew!



I made a cowl for my mom, I love how it turned out and I loved the yarn.



I dyed some yarn with KoolAid over the fall, and DD wants a pair of fingerless gloves "with hoods", because she borrowed some from a friend and is obsessed.

After 4 false starts on my Advent scarf, I finally restarted it yesterday and think it will work this time, LOL. I'm only 3 rows in, so nothing exciting to share yet

[cmeon]

Dec 19, 2017 9:32:54 GMT -5 drloretta said:

This is my opportunity to vent.

For part of my birthday present in November, my MIL sent me 2 catalogs with things she wanted for Christmas: a pair of cabled fingerless gloves and a cabled sweater vest.

You are SO nice. Not a sucker, but, definitely nicer than you need to be- LOL. This is really bad precedence to set- I think it's safer to just stop now.

The one glove is lovely, but, I can tell you enjoyed yourself a lot more knitting your mom's cowl. Isn't it funny how that works? It really came out beautifully.

[Captain Catnip]

Why did I convinced myself I could make most gifts? FML. I have a little more than half a pair of socks done and a quarter of a link/Zelda hat. Those need finished plus 3 stuffed creatures. Maybe another hat but ehh..

I need an extra day off.

[aprilsails]

One gift done and delivered, although I came up with the idea on Sunday morning and made it before DD woke up at 9am. No rest for a procrastinator!

[Michelle]

Dec 19, 2017 21:58:55 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

One gift done and delivered, although I came up with the idea on Sunday morning and made it before DD woke up at 9am. No rest for a procrastinator!

I am in love with this. it is sooooooooo adorable yet handsome. Do you have a link to the pattern by chance?

[aprilsails]

Dec 20, 2017 14:09:09 GMT -5 Michelle said:

Dec 19, 2017 21:58:55 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

One gift done and delivered, although I came up with the idea on Sunday morning and made it before DD woke up at 9am. No rest for a procrastinator!

I am in love with this. it is sooooooooo adorable yet handsome. Do you have a link to the pattern by chance?

The pattern is the Fancy Fox by Elizabeth Hartman. I got it as part of the Fancy Forest quilt pattern though.

ohfransson.bigcartel.com/product/fancy-forest-pdf-quilt-pattern

[Michelle]

Thanks Aprilsails!

[AJL]

I made a pineapple. I've sort of lost my quilting sew-jo and I'm starting with something small.

[dragon's breath]

Awesome projects! It's nice to make time for stuff we enjoy

I decided to make the guys (two brothers and a BIL) hot pad sets this year. It was kind of last minute, but it was fun to dig through my stash of fabric and find something each would like (they all cook, so hope it goes over well). I ended up doing Star Wars for one (those were already made, but fit him), sailing and wood for the other two.

The narrow ones are for skillet handles (which are great, since we all cook with cast iron). I am giving my son a set as well.





Also made a couple Christmas postcards with scrap fabric and ribbon (I mail them in a clear envelope).

[Captain Catnip]

NEVER.AGAIN. Someone, please, if I mention making Xmas gifts next year, TELL ME NOT TO. I managed 3 hats, a shawl, 3 stuffed animals (never again, those looked sad.) I have 1 mitten done, and just need to put afterthought heels in a pair of socks. Poor H was tired of hearing me curse and get angry regarding the projects today.

[shortcake2675]

Dec 24, 2017 23:55:28 GMT -5 Captain Catnip said:

NEVER.AGAIN. Someone, please, if I mention making Xmas gifts next year, TELL ME NOT TO. I managed 3 hats, a shawl, 3 stuffed animals (never again, those looked sad.) I have 1 mitten done, and just need to put afterthought heels in a pair of socks. Poor H was tired of hearing me curse and get angry regarding the projects today.

I always aim to start in July, but still don't sleep in December.  I still owe kids pajama pant because I ran out of time and refused to bring the serger with me this year.  I'll ship them to them in January.  

[audette]

Dec 25, 2017 0:13:28 GMT -5 shortcake2675 said:

Dec 24, 2017 23:55:28 GMT -5 Captain Catnip said:

NEVER.AGAIN. Someone, please, if I mention making Xmas gifts next year, TELL ME NOT TO. I managed 3 hats, a shawl, 3 stuffed animals (never again, those looked sad.) I have 1 mitten done, and just need to put afterthought heels in a pair of socks. Poor H was tired of hearing me curse and get angry regarding the projects today.

I always aim to start in July, but still don't sleep in December.  I still owe kids pajama pant because I ran out of time and refused to bring the serger with me this year.  I'll ship them to them in January.  

I usually cast on the first Christmas projects for next year in January.  But, I have a family that expects certain knits, and, well, I'm enough of a sucker to make them each year.  (it's a slipper pattern Grandma used to knit for us all, every Christmas, and I took up the burden when her arthritis made it too difficult to knit)  They aren't hard to knit, but I _hate_ sewing them up, so I'll have enough knit up for the whole family fairly quickly, and then wait months to finish the sewing and get them done...

Thankfully, I know they are appreciated - I occasionally see the worn-thru pairs on later trips to visit them.  Mom will wear mismatched sets, if she only has a hole in one slipper of a set...

[cmeon]

Heart rattles and bells freshly out of the kiln. I'll make more this weekend, assuming it warms up enough (it's FREEZING)! I have a lot more of this glaze load to photograph and another glaze fire in the kiln today, I'll add pictures here as I get new ones taken.

[winecat]

I'm taking a knitting class through the library and am making a 12 Days of Christmas mitten garland to learn color work. The original project for the class was a bit too advanced for me.