Sewing Extravaganza

I put my sewing "skills" to work these past two days and made a bag I am proud of. My first project has MANY imperfections, but it's a tote for my knitting and any extra bag is good.
My main screw-ups were:
Using my rotary cutter and not making a straight line
Threading the machine wrong (the bobbin, too)
Sewing the top of my tote closed
Mainly, I just got very skilled at using a seam ripper and developed many new and interesting curses each time I made a rookie mistake.

Here she is in all her blue splendor:


And she's already been put to use in storing my Somewhat Cowl:


I don't have too much time before I have to go to work, so I'll leave you with some Project Spectrum shots I've been meaning to share. The movies I had to include because I watched them this week and was excited about their "blue-ness".

1. Periwinkle Fixation, 2. Blue Needle Case, 3. T-Pins on the Cheap, and Blue, Too, 4. AnotherBlueMovie-Bewitched, 5. Blue Plymouth Galway for Felted Bowl, 6. Blue-ish Rotary Cutter, 7. Periwinkle Fixation Socks' Heel Flap, 8. BlueMovie- AGoodYear, 9. My Blue Tools, 10. Periwinkle Fixation Sock, 11. Somewhat Cowl in my NEW BAG!!!, 12. My First Solo Sewing Gig

Cable Footies Finished

I went to the SouthEastern Theatre Conference this past weekend. And it was a blast!! I took some knits with me to wear: Le Slouch, Bejeweled, and the Bridgetown Belt Bag. I wore them all and felt oh-so-crafty when I could remark that I did, indeed, "knit it myself."

The weekend was also filled with lots of knitting time. I cast on the One Skein Cable Footies before I left and finished them this evening. I always finish projects in the evening when it's hard to take a decent picture, but I don't possess the patience to wait until tomorrow to take a picture.

This is the actual color and all that remained of the two skeins (I included a pad of Post-Its for scale).

Pattern: Cable Footies from One Skein
Cast-On: March 6, 2007 / Finished: March 14, 2007
Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool- 2 skeins, color 23
Needles: Clover Takumi 4.5 mm (US 7) dpns... the reason I used 7's instead of 8's wasn't that I checked my gauge, but because I didn't double-check the pattens spec's. But they still fit!!
Size: Small (Women's 7 1/2 to 8 1/2)
Modifications: None that I can think of besides the needle size.
Recipient: Hunter's mother... hoping that some knitty goodness can change her heart toward me.

Quick, small projects have been what I've been thriving on lately, but I'm not totally sure what my next small project will be. But whatever it is, I'll keep you posted!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I cast on a pair of Cable Footies from One Skein last Wednesday. I finished the first Saturday

and cast on the second yesterday and I am nearing the finish line. My second pair of socks has been fun-- worsted weight makes the project go by so quickly!! These socks are for my boyfriend, Hunter,'s mother, who enjoys hating me. Bribery works sometimes, doesn't it??


At Urban Outfitters, I bought Sew U and I CAN'T WAIT to learn how to sew. A little while ago, I played around with my mom's old machine and stitched some muslin, just to get the feel of the machine. I have a long way to go before I achieve anything wearable, but I'm still very excited.


College decisions have been nearly finalized and if I go to the nicer, more expensive school that I love, I will be making many sacrifices in the name of frugality. I'm hoping very much that I can take handmade objects to the next level. Wish me luck!

Le Slouch Off the Needles

I really wanted to finish this hat by last night and I did!!! During Lost I wove in yarn tails (something I hate!!!)
Anyway, Le Slouch is done and I wore it today in the nasty rain. But my hair certainly stayed dry!

Pattern: Le Slouch(pdf) by Wendy Bernard (one of my fav. designers)
Cast-on: February 26, 2007/ Finished: February 28, 2007
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Jean Née (50 cotton/50 acrylic) in a color I can't quite define (brown, gray, hints of mauve)-it's color 5, if you're curious. I used a little over one skein. This yarn is SO soft, I can't stop stroking it! And that sheen... I plan to use it for a sweater one of these days- my new LYS has LOTS in stock!!!
Needles: Clover Takumi dpns 8's and 9's
Mods: Well, it wasn't on purpose, but when it came time to pull the yarn through the rem 6 sts, I had 10 and was too lazy to do anything about it. It looks fine, so I'm not going to worry about those 4 extra sts.