Fabric Book

I made my first fabric book for my niece Megan’s second birthday.  For my first try, I am very pleased!  I have all sorts of ideas for ways to make these going forward.  If only I had more time…  :)

This book has a seasonal theme, and has room for pictures of Megan in the different seasons.  I tried to include ‘activities’ like zippers, pockets, and buttons.  My mom made me some books like this when I was a child, such fun!

Take a peek inside!

 

Spring:  bunny behind the flowers!

 

Summer:  butterfly comes out of pocket

Fall: leaf behind the zipper

 

Winter:  snowman has a scarf to tie

knitting and sewing the days

I swear knitting lowers my blood pressure, which is something I've been needing to do a little these days, as our family weathers some difficult times. I've had several small knitting 'kits' ready for me to take in the car or keep ready during naptimes, and I have finally made my Fetching mits. They are so great when pushing the stroller on walks on these cool days! I did not have enough yarn to finish them all in one color, but I like the combo of light pink and white. I had some Debbie Bliss Merino Aran, which is just slightly less yardage than the Cashmerino Aran, so that explains the addition of the white.





Another kit - kitchen scrubbies with leftover yarn. I'm always trying to improve my crochet skills, and these are a great way to do so! Ethan has been testing out this one and so far says he really likes it. I made three flowers and sewed them together through the middle. This is Lily Sugar and Cream cotton yarn.


A hat for baby girl... a Yankee knitter pattern for an earflap hat. I used some Plymouth baby alpaca yarn I got this spring at WEBS shortly after Coco was born. Love the colorway. The accent color on the trim has little gold sparkles in it, too, very lovely.



And some pants to grow in... these are a Simplicity pattern that I made in the 18 month size and then hemmed them up super high so I could just let the hem down as she grows. The fabric is some Joel Dewberry that I found on super sale at Hancocks of Paducah, I bought some contrasting patterned fabric in the same color combination and will be making a little top to go with the pants for a Christmas outfit, and I think I'll try to make some pants for AJ and maybe a bowtie?!?


Flowers on the backside to tell which way they go on!


Here are the first pair of Sandbox pants for AJ - another pair is in the making, these are great. I made them big so I just cuffed them up. May make the next pair a little shorter.


And here is the second swingset tunic for Coco in some Heather Bailey fabric I picked out while pregnant with her. I think this will look great next summer! It is an 18 month size and fits like a dress now.

Getting the hang of things here

I have been adjusting to life as a full time caretaker for my kids, and I was worried for a while that I'd never knit, sew or paint again, even though I have 'studio' space in the finished basement at our new place. Fortunately, I am getting the hang of life with a baby and toddler at home. I am always stunned when I manage to cut out some fabric or sew something. And I have knit a hat since being here (it's been a little over two months). Things are looking up!

Recent stuff:

Swingset tunic in vintage thrifted fabric, the 6-12 size (Coco is about 4 months here, and it is almost too small already!):



Lazy Days skirt in Heather Bailey Freshcut fabric, for when Miss Coco is a tad bigger!:


Hat for Emmaline (modelled by Miss Coco) in Cascade Eco wool with some crocheted Noro yarn for the flower (this is my own simple design):


And some arts and crafts! Fun with toilet paper rolls!!

tp city
Originally uploaded by stellesky

production

I haven't had any time! I have a new baby, an upcoming move, graduations, birthdays and anniversary parties, as well as transitioning from working full time to being home full time, ee gads. But here are some of the 'products' of the past several months...

Mommy putting her new baby in handmade stuff while still at the hospital!
Vine Lace Baby Hat by Sandi Wisehart in some leftover mulberry silk
Saartje's booties by Saartje de Bruijn in some leftover cashmere blend

Baby at home, in the fantastic Kicking Bag for Babies by annika with various leftover sock and lace weight yarns - very funky and by far the most used and useful handmade item during the first few cold weeks! (also note the handsome, haggard husband and the disheveled craft wardrobe, and the hideous wallpaper in our rented house).



Some triumphant sewing, something I haven't done in a while. this gives me hope for finding time to sew amidst little kiddos everywhere. This is the Buttercup Bag from Made by Rae. I love this pattern, very well written and a lovely purse. I made this for my sister's birthday, with some decorator fabric I found at a tag sale.


Here, a happy 2 month old in handmade gifts from friends... the onesie from a local friend, and the cardigan from Jeanne... and that smile is one of the best products of the past two months!!!

From stellesky

A Storm

I have finished a lovely sweater from Kim Hargreaves Heartfelt. It's Storm.



It is a little different than the pattern calls for -- I finished it inside out. I did this unintentionally, but I really like the way it looks. It doesn't look too bad on a big pregnant belly. I'm hoping this will be a nice spring wool to wear after the baby arrives. Note the buttons-- vintage glass cutouts given to me by my mother in law, from her collection.

baby bonanza

vine lace baby hats - pima tencel
Originally uploaded by stellesky

I have made 3 of these vine lace baby hats and I'm working on a fourth. This is a great pattern for quick, easy, and cute baby hats! Many friends are having babies, including several who are having their second babies around the same time that I am due. I decided to make some hats well enough in advance so that I could just pop them in the mail. I used leftover Cascade pima tencel from the Anouk I made for the red and purple hats.

I also made a preemie sized version in some leftover RYC Cashcotton in pink for my friend who's baby was born at 32 weeks (the baby was due around the same time mine is due, early April).


I also made a little hat out of some leftover
Indiecita Baby Alpaca Grande Paint for a friend who just had her second boy.


And finally, I finished a small baby quilt for my upcoming arrival. I had made AJ a quilt as well, and though I have less time and energy now than I did then, I managed to pull this one together. I appliqued the lace and the stripes of leftover fabric onto one of my husband's crib sheets from when he was a baby, and then combined hand quilting and machine quilting with a hand-sewn binding. I really like how the colors turned out, especially the bright blue binding.

baby knits

January was a productive month for knitting. I finished two knitted items for the new baby, coming in April.

First I made Helena, from Knitty, with Cascade Sierra Quatro. This is a great pattern! Very pretty, and knit up quite quickly. I used two skeins of yarn and literally had to patch bits together to finish this, for size 3 months. Very cute for spring!



Second, I made Anouk, also from Knitty, by Kate Gilbert. I used the Cascade Pima Tencel recommended by the pattern. I have always admired this little smock, and decided it was time to make it. I am not the best at intarsia, but I think it turned out very nicely. I knit this in the 3 month size. It is pretty tiny. I finished this on my birthday, but still need to find some cute buttons. I have some left over from Helena, but they are too small.



Now, just need to make a few little hats, and maybe some booties...

knitting in 2009

First two projects started and completed in 2009.

1. Mittens for AJ
Cascade Ecological Wool
embroidered with A's to try and motivate him to wear them once in a while...
Knit on vacation in the Poconos.


Stella's Hat
for Me
Using Noro Silk Garden yarn...
Knit mostly in the car coming back from the Poconos
This was the second of these hats I've knit. The last project I finished in 2008 was this hat in Ecological Wool for my sister Daeva. On the way to the Poconos.



And the needles are going like mad around here! Is it the nesting instinct kicking in already?!?

Haiku!

I saw this lovely Haiku sweater pattern from Knitty and decided it looked like a fun knit. I made it for my friend who is due with her second child about 2 weeks before me. Her first child is about 2 weeks older than my son! We are really in sync in the baby department :)

Anyway, this really is a haiku pattern. Simple, fun to knit, and easy to sew up. I used some leftover Classic Elite Yarns Waterspun in a pretty purple, and added some light blue buttons (they don't come out so well in the picture).

From stellesky