Howdy folks! Another YOP week and I am happy to report...I am on a roll! Not sure how long this will last but I am thrilled to say the least!
I have another finish! A gift hat is done....YAY!
I made the mistake of not using a marker thinking that I could tell by the starting cast on tail where the next round started...........NOT! But this hat is mistake proof....there are mistakes as you can see the pattern change but it doesn't really matter...this is the hat pattern for me! LOL!
and not only that but I have started on another one...............this time I am using a marker....duh!
Erin mentioned this hat pattern in her post last week and thank you, Erin! It is the Man Hat by Haven Leavitt and it is a free pattern on Ravelry. I used size 8 U.S. circular 16 inch cable needles and then size 8 DPNs at the crown of the hat. The yarn is no longer made, I don't think, unless they changed the name to Hometown U.S.A.? It is Lionbrand Chunky U.S.A. that I got years ago in a scarf kit. The recipients are knit worthy but not wool worthy as they would wash and dry it without hesitation! LOL! This is acrylic and totally machine washable and dryable. The skein had 155 yards and there was plenty for this hat. It calls for a long tail cast on and they're not kidding......make it very long as the bulky yarn takes up more yardage. The author of this pattern calls it a 'no-fail' hat and she is exactly right!
I also finished a 'flimsy'. A 'flimsy', in case you didn't know, is a finished quilt top that has not yet been quilted. I am making 3 I Spy quilts for the grands for Christmas and this is the first 'flimsy' finished. I'm not sure if I will make the other 2 flimsies first or go ahead and finish this one completely.
I got the idea when a friend of mine was selling I Spy quilt kits in
her shop Daisy Patchwork
I don't think she has them anymore but you could ask as she does custom orders, I think, but right now she and her husband Chris are in France refurbishing an old farmhouse. She is on my sidebar called "Brambling in Brittany". I love her fabrics that she carries and her free-form quilting style. She's also on Ravelry as Daisypatchwork. They are 5 " squares that were pre-cut (charm pack) and I sewed it 8 squares by 8 squares. I want to get some soft fleece to use for the backing and also print out the rules of the game I Spy to include with the quilts.
I also worked on my cross stitch a bit...........finished up the pumpkin except for some tiny bits which I will put in later and started on the bottom area.............
I also finished a book on Granny Chic which is decorating and sewing............boho style if you like that which I do to a certain extent..............there's a couple projects in there I would like to try after Ms. Claus's workshop shuts down for the season! LOL!
Oh, I almost forgot....I ordered this PDF pattern which was like $16.00 and you don't get all the sizes but I did get from 5 to 12 childrens which is what I need. The only problem is when I went to print it off it was 69 pages!!!! Holy Cow Batman! It seems a bit pricey since I already paid $16.00 and I still have to tape it together...I hope it's worth it! Have any of you used their patterns before? I think they're pretty well known/liked but I could be wrong. Now comes the hard part......getting the parents to measure the grands for me....they keep forgetting............I should have started in the Spring! LOL! Of course, they're all busy trying to get everyone ready for school which starts next week in Iowa and one had a 3 day garage sale and the other was attending the Iowa State Fair .....one of the best in the nation and we can't forget all the sweet corn festivals up there and I am missing it all! Hopefully, I will get back there soon.
I plan on making these pj's in flannel. Who doesn't love flannel pajamas in the Wintertime?
That's it for this weeks Year of Projects. I will be working on these projects today along with a painting project...my entryway............I need to finish........I am behind on my Index Card a Day art project but I did do a couple this week.....this one was Day #3 and the prompt was 'vintage' and so I did a self-portrait! LOL! Pretty accurate too, I might say!
Day #4 was 'lavender'.........it's fun and does get your creative neuron's firing whether the creativity flows through your fingers or not is not the issue.....it is for your total enjoyment and remember...practice makes perfect.....I wonder if I will be improved by Day #61? We shall see or not! LOL!
Have a great week everyone and if you would like to see more YOPer's projects just visit this
link
Happy Trails!!!!
That is an adorable quilt and I can just imagine them playing the "I spy" game with it. I heard a mom and her daughter playing it in the grocery store this week. Brought back lots of memories for me. You have done a grand job on the hat and I am sure the second one will be just as awesome. The pumpkin is just as cute as can be too. I am very impressed with your drawing. I have a feeling, by day 61 you will be right up there with the all time great artists.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet....thank you, Marsha! I just hope to improve on all fronts.
DeleteOh Sam I LOVE your self-portrait!!! Very sweet!! I'm just waiting on my watercolour pencils then I'm going to be doing some painting and drawing...I hope I get them this week, they say Tuesday is the day. But I have lofty cheese making projects this week too. Life is fun isn't it? I'm using her index card a day ideas for painting. Right now I have two paintings I already planned, but then I'll try to get ideas from Daisy Yellow, thanks again for that idea!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your hat!!! and I LOVE that it's full-proof! I've been wearing one of Alex's old tuques the last few years, and I need something of my own! I will definitely be making that for me! :) The pumpkin looks great. And the flimsy! One day I'll add quilts to my list of hobbies...I just don't have the money to invest at the moment, but it's something I really want to do!
We both have lots on our plate and many interests to 'use it up, make it do, throw it out or buy it new'....as the saying goes. I do buy material but I have also sewn things using old clothing also saving the buttons and zippers. I used to make wool rugs from old wool clothing although there isn't much wool here in the South! LOL! I love how we inspire and motivate each other! Once gardening and outdoor work season is over I get a lot more done inside but I do have to use rainy days to work on Christmas or I would never get it done in time. Thank you for your comments....I always love them! Have a wonderful and productive week!
DeleteThat's very smart. I thought about hitting the local thrift store just for fabric...like old clothes that I could turn into other things. Why not? If they are in good condition, I'll reuse them! I love how we motivate each other too!
DeleteSam I just checked out the hat pattern. Did you follow the pattern on the original blog? How wide is the bottom of the hat when it's folded?
ReplyDeleteIt measured 9 1/2 inches so 19" inches for the full circumference....I was able to stretch it easily to 10 1/2 which would be 21 inches in circumference. If you want a better gauge/measurement for a hat you could try the Barley hat by Tin Can Knits on Ravelry which is a free pattern and part of their 'learn to knit series'. I must admit I'm not sure this hat would fit my SIL as he is a big guy. I may use the Barley pattern next or A Purl Soho pattern that you can get free for subscribing to their newsletter that has every size imaginable and several styles. I've made several of those before....they are not difficult. I was trying to use up this chunky yarn I had. Good luck...you have options now!
DeleteThanks for the links...I just downloaded a copy of the Barley hat, it's really cute and looks easy to make. Alex likes the "man hat", the one you knitted, so I'll have to make sure I have the right circumference for his head, I knit more loosely than tight. And thanks for the Purl Soho reference! I just subscribed to their newsletter and got the email to choose my free pattern...I think I'm going to download their "perfect fit socks"...mind you, they have one for a woman's robe (above knee and below) that looks tempting...maybe for a long winter's knit? :)
DeleteThe robe is a sewing pattern! Nix that, I don't have the printing capacity so socks it is! :)
DeleteMy goodness, you amaze me with all you take on. I have no plan, no focus. Just create for the sake of creating most of the time. You are definitely multi-talented. I'll have to check out your other index cards. I'm glad to see that you are actually doing it. :)
ReplyDeleteI take on too much and that is why my house is in chaos and I can't focus! LOL! It is also why I am trying to 'finish' things this year as opposed to starting new projects....I'm trying anyway. I don't do the index card each day but I am following it. I do like the watercolor pencils....more colors and easier to blend by adding water after the drawing is done. Yours are professional looking! Mine are definitely amateur but it's practice and it's fun and it exercises my creative side which really needs it! LOL!
DeleteSam the quilt is just so adorable and I'm sure the grands will love nothing more than snuggling up underneath them. I hope the grands get measured soon and I know all too well the back to school routine that's happening, for us the return to school is just a mere two weeks away. I love the hat and the fact that it's so quick and easy to knit make it the perfect gift knit pattern. You've gotten so much done this week you really are on a roll!
ReplyDeletethank you, Ruth! I just pray it continues! LOL! Also, I credit much of the motivation and inspiration I get to this group of creative people who give me the confidence! Thank you to all of the YOP participants!
DeleteI'm working on a sweater for me and I discovered a bunch of issues along the edge and part of me wants to rip it all out and start over but I won't because I've been working on this stupid thing for almost three years now. ::sigh::
ReplyDeleteYou go girl....it doesn't have to be perfect but if you won't wear it then maybe you should. I would maybe leave it for awhile? When I was young and would get frustrated with something my Mother used to tell me to walk away and come back later with a calmer attitude and a fresh perspective. It's too difficult to work on something or make a decision when you are frustrated. I feel your pain! You know how many things/times I have ripped out and started over but it's all practice that hopefully made me a better knitter in the end.
DeleteLoving that flimsy and I know the other two will be just as full of fun as that one. Your grands will love them. The pumpkin is very fall looking. NOO!!!!! I'm not ready for fall. Okay, I've got that out of my system! Ha! Your drawing are great and I especially like the self portrait. Love the hat too and will have to go to Ravelry and save it to my library for later. How come some of you bloggers are so multi-talented and all I do is knit and crochet? I had fun catching up with your week of projects. I hope your next week is just as productive.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
You have perfected your craft by staying focused on 1 or 2 areas.....me, on the other hand, I am like a fly on doo-doo...all over the place and more of a generalist....I can do it all but I am not really proficient in any one area. You, on the other hand can do anything in crochet or knitting! I've seen the proof with my own eyes! LOL! You are also fast....it doesn't take you 6 months to a year to finish things.....take heart.....your methods are much more efficient!
DeleteMy goodness you really are on a roll. All your projects look great.
ReplyDeleteThank you...I hope I can keep up the momentum!
DeleteI love seeing all your projects.
ReplyDeleteAnd vice-versa, Katrina! I always love your cooking and gardening adventures, your handmade items and the books you get at the library....I think if all our blogging friends got together in person we would never run out of things to talk about! LOL! I hope you are feeling better!
DeleteYour Man Hat looks great, Sandra. And your endorsement of the pattern is so ringing! I think I need a video tutorial for my first knit hat, but you're making me think I really need to get to making one one of these days (instead of just talking about it). Your Eye Spy quilt is full of so many things to look at (or look for). The three grand kids who receive these are going to love them! And LOL I love your subject matter for the theme of "vintage". You're a hoot! And you look great, btw. :^)
ReplyDeleteWow, you are quite the busy bee! I unfortunately could never get the hang of knitting, I can crochet however, but haven't done it in forever! I don't quilt, but I do sew, even though I haven't done that in forever. The last thing I sewed was a Snow White costume for my daughter and she's now 36..LOL, so you can imagine how rusty I am! I love to brag on my blog that I'm a Jack of All Trades, Master of None. I dabble in everything, it's not that I'm easily bored, more that I can be working on one thing and something shiny catches my eye an I'm off to the next thing...LOL. But I admire those that do lovely crafts like you do. My mom is like you as well.
ReplyDeleteLike the hat and your flimsy is great! Perfect for I Spy:)
ReplyDelete