January/new year projects?

[cmeon]

Where is everyone? Monday, I finally put my rigid heddle loom together. I had it warped Tuesday, started a scarf Wednesday, and ended a scarf a few minutes ago (the weaving was done last night, I just had to build up my nerves to cut it off). It works great- even though I made tons of beginner mistakes. It didn't come with instructions (duh), so I had to learn as I went/glean what I could from Youtube.

So, yes- it's snot/swamp/rotting zombie corpse green. I'm going to fix that (probably with some blue). I have no idea why I bought this yarn (Arauncia Atacama in Swamp Zombie Sneeze- j/k, 504), but, it's super soft and warm and I have enough to make another (haha). It's about 6" wide and just over 6' long with the fringe. I haven't "wet finished" it yet, which will hopefully help even out some of my wonky sides and tension issues in the first half, I'll do that when I dye it.

I also printed a ton of stick shuttles, too- they work fabulously! I almost made mine out of wood (they're pretty simple wood projects)- but, it's cold in our garage this time of year, and they really were a super simple/quick print!

I really love having 3-D printers, they've been great for my other hobbies! The loom took less than a 2.2lb roll of filament, which we paid ~$15 for- and four poplar dowels (another ~$15). It's 16" of reed (workable width), and I can print it all over again wider if I'd like, print different heddle sizes, or add additional heddle blocks so I can do more complicated patterns (one day). <3

[shortcake2675]

Wow! Leila got the Melissa and Doug table top loom and I’m tempted to pull it out and make something while she’s at school now. That looks amazing.

I’m working on birthday presents (bookmarks I forgot to take photos of), and a couple other sewing/embroidery things. Mostly catching up on sleep though.

Will be making Valentines soon for the kids. Or at least cutting the pieces and letting them put them together.

[cmeon]

Jan 24, 2019 15:27:42 GMT -5 shortcake2675 said:

Wow! Leila got the Melissa and Doug table top loom and I’m tempted to pull it out and make something while she’s at school now. That looks amazing.

I’m working on birthday presents (bookmarks I forgot to take photos of), and a couple other sewing/embroidery things. Mostly catching up on sleep though.

Will be making Valentines soon for the kids. Or at least cutting the pieces and letting them put them together.

Valentine's day is really creeping up, isn't it? DS is 11 and a middle schooler now, so I don't think I'll be able to con him into handing anything out this year. But, DD is still fully involved, and I have a group of adorable little preschoolers I read to (ETA:some adorable preschoolers- how did I leave this out? LOL) every Thursday (and V-day is a Thursday this year)- so I need to get it figured out!

DD has the M&D loom, too- it's fun! You should definitely play with it! One easy trick that makes it a whole lot more usable with yarns thinner than the enormous stuff it comes with, is to warp twice through each slot and pass your weft back and forth between them, like you would for warp threads in separate slots. Weaving is so peaceful, and who doesn't need a little of that in their lives these days?

[shortcake2675]

I need to find some yarn then. Kids picked square animals. L wants a fox, K wants a croc.

[drloretta]

Tendinitis has struck again, so the crafting is SLOW. But a friend of mine just opened a store with retro and handmade goods, and all the socks I brought to her store have sold! Woot! Of all the things I've brought to her (mittens, hats, socks), I never thought socks would be the hot sellers.

[mala]

cmeon, I'm seriously considering a 3D printer now, and it's all your fault.

(In truth though it's something I've thought about before and I do think I'd get quite a bit of use out of it too.)

I havne't been in a crafting mood lately. I did get the loom from my mom and did one simple scarf with some random acrylic yarn. I have another piece on it right now that's also cheap acrylic I don't like to just to play with different patterns, but I may switch it out to something I'll actually use when it's done.

[cmeon]

Jan 25, 2019 12:29:13 GMT -5 mala said:

cmeon , I'm seriously considering a 3D printer now, and it's all your fault.

(In truth though it's something I've thought about before and I do think I'd get quite a bit of use out of it too.)

I havne't been in a crafting mood lately. I did get the loom from my mom and did one simple scarf with some random acrylic yarn. I have another piece on it right now that's also cheap acrylic I don't like to just to play with different patterns, but I may switch it out to something I'll actually use when it's done.

I'm sorry you're not in a crafting mood- you got the loom, though? It's all set up? I honest to goodness hate this scarf, I overdyed it and the color is better- but, it smells like (I imagine) a wet alpaca (would smell)- there's a lot of reasons this stuff sat around so long. I did what any rational person with a house full of yarn would do, I picked up some more- I'll hopefully knock another scarf off this weekend (a cotton blend- LOL).

[cmeon]

Weaving is so speedy- here's my second project. Again, not perfect (I have some "floats" on the back where I missed warp threads- and I don't feel like fixing them, they're not obvious with this yarn)- but, my tension and sides are much, much more even- happy about that. This yarn is so fun to use compared to the alpaca, Lion Shawl in a Cake. It's a cotton/acrylic blend, very soft, with a lot of fluff- I used it in both warp and weft again. It's a little wider (7.5") and a little longer (7'), but, only took a few hours to make (no big mistakes).

It's going to be a cold week (for FL), so I'm going to get use out of this one.

[mrspez07]

Working on a table runner with 3-4 squares of pieced fabric with a TBD border, where I take these, cut them again into strips perpendicular from these and sew them together in a different layout. I really love the colors. Sewing 1” strips is a lot smaller than it looked in the book!

[shortcake2675]

Jan 26, 2019 23:56:57 GMT -5 mrspez07 said:

Working on a table runner with 3-4 squares of pieced fabric with a TBD border, where I take these, cut them again into strips perpendicular from these and sew them together in a different layout. I really love the colors. Sewing 1” strips is a lot smaller than it looked in the book!
View Attachment

I love these colors! These style of cut and then slash and resew quilting projects are so cool!

[clippy]

I'm going to start playing over here if you all don't mind.
I've been crocheting off and on for about 3 years and this is my first granny. It's still a WIP but I'm close to being done for a baby blanket.

[Captain Catnip]

I'm still adjusting to a new job I started on Jan 2, and haven't knit more than a couple rows on some mittens. I'm hoping to get back into it in the next few weeks.

[mysticmuffin]

Is this a good place to join in?

I got a sewing machine for Christmas and my mom is visiting now for a while and brought her serger for me to play with. I'm not so secretly hoping that she leaves the serger behind.

I have sewed a few things for DD that I'm really excited about.

This super cute reversible cardigan:


And this pantsuit is in progress:

[oregonpachey]

I have finished three knitting projects this month and am 90% close to a fourth. Two pairs of socks, a Barley Light hat (free pattern on Ravelry) and I am just about done a Daisy Stitch hat.

[aprilsails]

I haven’t finished anything in ages so I haven’t been posting. Production has crawled to a halt since we are preparing our house for sale.

I did prepare a presentation on quilt as you go techniques for my modern quilt guild last night. Making up samples and testing techniques to assemble the photos has taken up most of my crafting time recently.

I’m also working on a new project (bun in the oven style) so I am crawling into bed seconds after DD goes down at night. I hate being this tired.

[cmeon]

Jan 29, 2019 14:44:38 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

I haven’t finished anything in ages so I haven’t been posting. Production has crawled to a halt since we are preparing our house for sale.

I did prepare a presentation on quilt as you go techniques for my modern quilt guild last night. Making up samples and testing techniques to assemble the photos has taken up most of my crafting time recently.

I’m also working on a new project (bun in the oven style) so I am crawling into bed seconds after DD goes down at night. I hate being this tired.

That's fantastic (the bun part, not the tiredness or house selling- those things suck- LOL)- congrats!! When are you due?

[aprilsails]

Jan 29, 2019 14:54:33 GMT -5 cmeon said:

Jan 29, 2019 14:44:38 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

I haven’t finished anything in ages so I haven’t been posting. Production has crawled to a halt since we are preparing our house for sale.

I did prepare a presentation on quilt as you go techniques for my modern quilt guild last night. Making up samples and testing techniques to assemble the photos has taken up most of my crafting time recently.

I’m also working on a new project (bun in the oven style) so I am crawling into bed seconds after DD goes down at night. I hate being this tired.

That's fantastic (the bun part, not the tiredness or house selling- those things suck- LOL)- congrats!! When are you due?

Mid-September so it is still early days. Luckily I seem to be dodging the worst of the symptoms, similar to last time, but chasing after a toddler all night is so exhausting!

[cmeon]

clippy, you're more than welcome, hi! Is the blanket for anyone special? It's coming along great!

mysticmuffin, welcome to you, too- what a cute model! I think I waited about 3 months from learning to use my first sewing machine to ordering my serger- ha! I never regretted that purchase, it's just so useful, particularly when you sew clothing.

oregonpachey, juggling projects keeps things interesting. Please share photos when you have 'em!

[cmeon]

Jan 29, 2019 14:58:51 GMT -5 aprilsails said:

Mid-September so it is still early days. Luckily I seem to be dodging the worst of the symptoms, similar to last time, but chasing after a toddler all night is so exhausting!

So EXCITING! And I really hope the house selling is pain free, it's a different beast when you have kid(s), for sure.

[clippy]

cmeon, - sort of? My best friend is actively TTC so I thought I'd get a jump start on a few blankets so I wasn't working on them during the summer.

[mysticmuffin]

cmeon It's so useful. I'll be primarily making clothes. I made the same shirt pattern twice, once with just the sewing machine and once with both, and the second is significantly better.

[shortcake2675]

I’m so excited for activity! clippy, welcome. And to mystic omg your tiny kid sewing is adorable, but I forgot who I was tagging.

Look, I finished something!

It looks so much better than I thought it was going to when I was screaming at it during assembly. In fact, I was sad to mail it, even as I wouldn’t use it and it wasn’t my name. If the teachers my kids’ have this year like it, I would love to make more for them.

[cmeon]

Jan 29, 2019 17:55:28 GMT -5 shortcake2675 said:

I’m so excited for activity! clippy , welcome. And to mystic omg your tiny kid sewing is adorable, but I forgot who I was tagging.

Look, I finished something!

It looks so much better than I thought it was going to when I was screaming at it during assembly. In fact, I was sad to mail it, even as I wouldn’t use it and it wasn’t my name. If the teachers my kids’ have this year like it, I would love to make more for them.

This would be SUPER popular at both my kid's schools- it's crazy how many keys a teacher or admin has to carry on an open FL campus. It came out great- and LOL at wanting to keep it (I get it) even though it's not your name, and you probably don't have the same key "situation" that teachers have.

[oregonpachey]

Finally got my pictures to upload correctly

[cmeon]

Jan 30, 2019 12:49:14 GMT -5 oregonpachey said:

Finally got my pictures to upload correctly

All are lovely! Great yarn choices. One day I really have to knit some socks, if only to say I've done it.

[cmeon]

This was my 3rd scarf, I used up the rest of the "cake" from the 2nd scarf (Shawl in a Cake, Restful Rainbow) in the warp and an iridescent sparkly gray SIAC colorway called Om Opal as the weft. It's perfectly sized for DD, and it came out of the wash just in time for her to wear it on "Wow Word day" at school, where kids dress like a word they want to teach others. She picked coruscate- heh- she had fun with that one.

Then, I made some cotton dishtowels and washcloths (all on the same striped warp- that was fun!), but,they're all in use right now. I'll try to get a pic when they get washed- LOL. They're really soft and smushy, though, for cheap kitchen cotton.

This was pretty edge practice- it's SIAC in Windchimes this time, used almost he entire ~440yds.

It's 10" wide, which feels too wide to me to be a scarf, but, I'm a Floridian-WTF do I know. It's in the wash now, I hope it shrinks just a little weft-wise. I did a hemstitch instead of knots on the fringe, super easy and I really like the look.

My SIL requested a blue/pink scarf, so that's up next- after that, I'm going to start weaving some patterns with pick-up sticks.