sewing mithril is tricky

Years ago, my friend Kim would pass her hand-me-downs my way; she would give me the best stuff. In one lovely sack full of second hand clothes, I found a beautiful silver sweater . . . and I have had it stored in my closet for five years, trying to find just the right way to use it. last month I decided that that time would never come. mostly, because I realized that Josu's dragon hat needed on arch nemesis of sorts.

and so I chopped off the sleeves of the beautiful silver sweater and after some creative, stitching, this chain mail armor beauty was born:



I will call it mithril;
and today, I will wrap it up with a note from Frodo, asking him to take good care of it - - reminding him that it was mined in Moria by the dwarves of old.
I think this will please my hobbit crazed son very much.

a dragon for Josu

My Josu loves, loves, loves dragons. every time we go down to our local coffee shop
it's pretty much a given that Malachai will bring along a book to be read aloud to,
and that Josu will bring paper and some sort of drawing medium;
and it goes like this this:
1. he begs me to draw a castle with him
2. he insists that there be a dragon in the dungeon
. . . and maybe one flying
. . . . . . and then probably another one - - claws up and fire spewing out its terrible jaws
so, behold (above) Malachai modeling Josu's handmade Christmas gift (handmade is so in this year . . . . )

I followed the basic instructions for this hat,
using a couple of t-shirts that had run their course in my closet.
I added a row of dragon spikes and a nice pointy tail.
it's all a bit off
but I'm hoping Josu will be so busy breathing fire that he won't notice.

p.s. I've sworn off sewing jersey knit forever

My Favorite Sling

I thought I'd share a picture of the sling I made for Landis. I love, love, love it! I found instructions here, and the cutest fabric at Joann's (which is so close to my house I can walk there, how cool is that). It was so easy. It took me a week because I had a newborn, and I sewed on it for 5 minutes at a time, but if I had 2 hours I could definitely do it in that amount of time. Jan Andrea suggests not using calicos, but the fabric she recommends offers no cute prints. So I chose a calico, and then doubled it and added a contrasting fabric, which she offered instructions for. You have to order sling rings here, but they're super cheap. So Landis loves being all snuggled up with mommy, and it's much better than carrying that heavy baby carrier around.

in light blue linen:

these pockets nearly did me in
they're not so tricky . . . once you figure the bad boys out . . .
(it was a two week process for me)
this was helpful for me, and this (which is in Spanish, but the pictures were some of the clearest I found)
I traced this pattern from Catherine's Japanese pattern book (remember that weekend, Cat?!)
almost two years ago. the original pattern is long sleeved, and shorter - - but I thought it would be nice as a summer dress so that I wouldn't have to worry about pairing it with a bottom piece; so I extended the hemline and capped the sleeves.

and if anyone happens on a pair of these at your local Goodwill, please snatch them up for me? they and the dress are meant to be together.

Also,I couldn't read the Japanese on the pattern . . . but whatever size this is, it fits Josu perfectly (we called it a shirt).

whim scarf

double your yarn (use a ball that's too short to use for anything else)
use fat needles (you did double your yarn, after all)
moss stitch (that way the edges don't curl)
a rectangle (or whatever, I guess)

sew on a button
and just force that button through any two stitches that you want (who needs button holes?)

oh, and the bias tape . . .

I really think that my favorite part of this coat construction was the lining bias - - trying to figure out what bias ends needed to be tucked into other biased seams, and in what order - - it was like one glorious, domestic puzzle

coat obsession

I have this problem - - I can't look at people's faces anymore; I only look at their coats; seriously, I can't help but take every coat I see off its hanger and examine the piecing and lining; every time I leave my Friday morning coffee with Rachel and Miriam, I have have a two minute coat consultation with Rachel (really, that coffee shop has some cute coat traffic).

and I just want you to know that you don't know realize all the possibilities until you start looking:
pockets? no pockets?
hidden pockets or external pockets?
pockets with flaps? pleats? gathers?
pleat in the back or no pleat? pleat at the shoulder blade or pleat at the waist?
piecing on the sleeves? on the front panel?
partial lining or full lining?
no top stitching? yes top stitching? three rows of top stitching?
double breast or single breast?
pointed collar or rounded collar?
(and the options go on and on and on . . . .)

It all started a couple of months ago when I saw this lovely little number and became convinced that if I could learn to make a classy coat (because really, that's 90 % of visible fashion here in Pamplona's late fall to early spring) my children would be in need of nothing else. I could dress my Selma in the most ragged and hideous of outfits, but with a cute coat on, no one would ever know!

I think there may be a verse about that in Proverbs 31.


I started this coat as a practice run; I figured it would serve as a template (because what I really wanted to use, of course was the blue velveteen), but I liked this one enough that I'll wait to use the blue velveteen for next year's coat. Or maybe I'll use the infamous velveteen for some bloomers that she can wear with tights and ballet flats (so, so Spanish, you know)

I insist again on creating my own pattern . . . sigh.

I found this top for Selma last year on the sale rack at a local shop. I loved it a lot. I put her into it for the first time this week and knew, knew that it needed a black wool jumper to go over it. so I ran home and told Rachel all about the "whip it up nice and easy" pattern I was going to create in about, oh . . . 2 hours time.
my first mistake - - I laughed at Rachel when she said she thought I should add an extra 10 cm. to the bottom width of the skirt. I could barely squeeze my poor baby girl into that first model.

once I found a size two dress pattern on hand, I re-cut the fabric, using the pattern as a guide
and tried it on my girl
took it in a couple of inches on each side seam
decided to put in a couple of pleats in the back to allow some give (per Rachel's suggestion - - I listened to her this time)
took it in at the waist another centimeter, gradually increasing the seam to about an inch and a half down at the hemline to remove the excess drape
and (many, many steps later) hemmed it up.

it's too short.
Rachel and I have decided that I need to try it again. maybe with the blue velvet I got in LA with Catherine (dare I? I really, really like the blue velvet!)
I am pleased with the back closure. it is simple and neat, and I lo-ove the little pleats suggested by Rachel. reversible is nice - - it involved very little extra work and kept the seams looking nice and neat. I am reminded, though, how exact the two pieces need to be cut and sewn (hard for a no pin-er or measure-er like myself)
suggestions, anyone? speak now BEFORE I cut into the blue velvet!

Clothes for tiny people.

I just blogged (briefly) about this creation.




The skirt I mean... although I can take partial credit for the girlie too!

It's made from just half a yard of fabric (I just had to have a little piece of this wonderful print!) While I was making it I kept remembering the trip with Naomi to the fabric district where, to some seller's chagrin, we kept asking for just 1 yard of fabric.

You don't want more? they would ask, puzzled.
No, just a yard.
Are you sure?
Yes. You see, we are making clothes for tiny, tiny people.

pixie

This project wasn't on my 2009 list of projects-to-finish. But, I saw this picture that Naomi had taken, and was inspired :

Do you see what I see? Of course you do: her little head is obviously freezing. In need of a hat. In need of a cute little....striped?.....hat. A hat in -- what else? -- green and pink. So. Because I have five different pink yarns tucked away into different corners in my bedroom, I figured that surely I'd be able to find one that matched this little dress....

I was right. And the hat pattern is one I've used before. Unlike Mom, I'm not so good with hats, so it's good to have something to start out with. The basic idea is (for a 1-year-old hat)...
hat base: Cast on 78 stitches (with DK yarn); knit in a round for 3.25 -- 3.50 inches
hat shaping: knit 11, k2tog, and repeat, all the way around to the stitch marker.
Following row: knit.
Following row: knit 10, k2tog, and repeat, all the way around 'till stitch marker.
Following row: knit
Next: knit 9, k2tog and repeat, all the way around......
etc.!

the shaping/decreasing continues until you have 19 stitches for a round hat, or until you have 4 stitches for a pixie. obviously, we went with the pixie. It started out as a mistake on my part -- I misread the pattern -- but then we decided we liked it.


Now, if only we could keep those little ears tucked in.

p.s. http://techknitting.blogspot.com/2007/01/jogless-stripes.html was a helpful introduction to the world of striping!

Knitting Needle Roll in 10 Steps

It is true, we worked hard this Christmas on handmade items, although there were several more in my mind that just didn't get done. Amaleah worked tirelessly (most of the time) on her little projects, but that's for later. This project was mine.

I made a knitting needle roll for Gran Newton. Now, I'm not sure how practical it is or if she'll ever use it, but I think for traveling it will come in handy. I searched the web for ideas, and sort of took bits and pieces combined with my ideas to get what I wanted. My primary help came from this website.

I will do my best to give somewhat of a tutorial on this, although I'm sooo not an expert. I think I forgot to take pictures of some steps, so bear with me.

STEP 1: Purchase 6 different colors of fabric, quilting quarter size, which is about 17 1/4 in. by 19 1/2 in. after washing; ribbon enough for 2 lengths that measure 28 in. each; and bias tape (bought or homemade), a little over 3 yards.

STEP 2: For the outside (a) and inside (b) fabric, you will keep it the same size. The other fabrics will only need to be adjusted for height. Here's what I did.

For fabric (c) cut to 14 1/4 in. by 19 1/2 in.; this will be the top pocket for long needles

(d) cut to 11 3/4 in. by 19 1/2 in.; this will be the medium size pocket

(e) cut to 9 in. by 19 1/2 in.; this will be the short pocket

(f) cut to 6 1/4 in. by 19 1/2 in.; this will be the little pocket for circular needles or double-pointed needles

STEP 3: Make a 3/4 inch hem at the top of each fabric (the shortest side), except for the back and lining.

STEP 4: On the back side of the lining, using a fabric marker or pencil, draw dividing lines on which you will sew to create the individual pockets going lengthwise down the roll. So, I measured out 10- 1 inch divisions, followed by 3- 2 inch divisions, followed by 2- 1 1/2 inch divisions, marking it from bottom to about 14 inches up (leaving about 3 inches at top for a fold over flap to keep the needles from falling out).

STEP 5: Pin the lining and the three highest pouch pieces together, aligning them up at the bottom edges.

STEP 6:Turn over and sew over the dividing lines on the back of the lining. (this picture is what it will look like when you turn it back over)

STEP 7: Pin the final pouch in place, aligning it at the bottom edge, and sew on the back not over every division line, but only over every 4 inches, leaving the last one at 3 inches wide.

STEP 8:Pin the outside fabric to the back side of the lining. For the ties, fold them in half and pin them to outside fabric at left edge.

STEP 9: Pin the bias tape all the way around, covering the ribbons, and sew. Then turn the tape to the inside and hand sew to attach.

STEP 10: Fold over the top three inches of fabric and iron (or sew a stitch if you like, I didn't get around to it!)

And here's the final product; cute enough for a cat to snuggle with...

what every boy dreams of

I've been eagerly anticipating Gabrielle's post - - detailing all her glorious home-made Christmas wonders. well, it hasn't come yet, so I have filled my restless waiting time working up this little sword and shield tutorial for you all (because I'm certain that Rachel would love to have one these swords to knit up a little cozy for, and that Amaleah & Julia, and Amelie & Immi have been begging their mamas for years now to provide them with toys for more aggressive play . . . )

This is the first year that I have involved Malachai in the process of gift making. it thrilled him. Yes, I did most of the skilled labor (oh yes, it did require skill - - great skill. stop laughing), but he was involved, and he was giddy with the secret of it all - - waiting anxiously for Josu's nap time to come so that we could work together . . . and skittish the whole two hours - - nervous that Josu would come out from his nap and find us working on his gift.

If, by chance, any of you feel the weapon-making bug bite, and have problems following the tutorial, just let me know. I'll do my best to clear it all up for you.

p.s. I craft better than I spell. I know.

The Sword:

The Shield:

it's time to start thinking about this!

I think will try layering bulbs in my 50L pots! is anyone else doing bulbs? any tips to offer?