Knitted Round Pillow Project (simple tutorial included!)

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I completed this project a few weeks ago. But...I realized I hadn't shared it on the ol' blog at all!

Pillow!

This project came about because I wanted to start incorporating more handmade items into my home. So, since the accent pillows I'd bought years ago for our sofas were now definitely worse for wear, I thought I'd remake them - knitted style!

Want the simple instructions? I thought you might. It was really so simple that I didn't even write the pattern out, just came up with it as I knitted along. First, I found this link, which taught me how to knit a flat circle (thanks Alyoops!), then I simply made two large flat circles (approximately 19in. wide, I'm my case), crocheted one looooong band in single crochet (approx. 2.5in. wide), and crocheted all the edges together. Hint: I started seaming the edges together before I was even done crocheting the band so I could make it exactly as long as I needed. Stuff (and really over-stuff so your pillow holds its shape) and tuft with two large buttons on either side. Ta-dah!

Inspiration pillow shown here in all its faded, dirty glory.

I'm still on the hunt for the perfect large brown buttons, since you can tell these ivory-colored ones just don't cut it, but, other than that, I LOVE the way it turned out. So soft and cozy and I MADE IT. Yay. I'm currently working on the rectangular versions (in the opposite color scheme) for our other sofa, but that's been a little slower going since knitting flat panels just isn't as interesting as knitting the round ones were.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Striped Chevron Baby Blanket - Free Knitting Pattern!

Recently, I completed a baby blanket as a gift for a pregnant friend. It got some good response in the ol' Instagram community, so I thought I try my hand at writing a pattern and offer it for free to you fine folks!

As this is my first time writing a pattern out for others to actually be able to use, please be kind and forgive any errors made. Did I screw up somehow? Let me know and I'll be happy to help/fix the mistake!

So, without further ado - ta-dah! - the pattern:

Striped Chevron Baby Blanket

The Crafty Helper: How To Make A Seamless Color Change When In Knitting In The Round

Hello all!

'Tis my return to the ol' blog and I come to you with crafty assistance. I tend to think of myself as only moderately crafty (I ain't no Martha Stewart) but realized that every once in a while, I actually know useful tidbits I could share with others!

Today's lesson is how to make a (relatively) seamless color transition when knitting in the round. I learned this technique years ago and wish I could remember where/who from so I could give credit where credit is due. It's really pretty simple but can be a little confusing to understand at the beginning. (Note: this tutorial assumes 1) you already know how to knit in the round and 2) you already know how to add in a new color to a knitted project.)

Here we go!:

Ignore the messy nails - these hands have been too busy crafting to wait for fresh nail polish to dry!

For this technique to work, you need to knit at least two rows with the new color. Apply this technique any time you change color and, of course, don't forget to twist your yarn in the back to avoid gaping holes in your work.

When you're done, your work will look a little something like this:

Apologies for the lighting change - the day got away from me!

Not completely  invisible but way better than it would look like otherwise. If you look closely, you'll see that what this trick does is elongate the first stitch in the color change while hiding the stitch below it in the previous color. In my example, there are four rows of the khaki color, but the first column of the change actually only shows three stitches. Clever, right?

I hope this helps and I hope I was able to explain it in a way you could easily understand. Let me know if you have any questions!

I Made A Bag!

For those of you making fun of my oilcloth and/or sewing skills - suck it! I made a bag and, though it may be less than modest to say, I love it!



Things I learned:
- Wouldn't hurt to add interfacing for a little more structure
- Need to come up with a border solution I'm happy with to make the edge look tidy but not make the bag look lunch-baggy/juvenile
- Need to man-up and commit when pressing the sewing machine pedal so my stitches are neater (don't look too close - it ain't pretty)
- Don't forget velcro closure (doh!)
- I need to get more oilcloth!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Clearly, I Am Just TOO Talented

I sewed a rectangle!



Here's why this is an accomplishment:
A few months ago, I bought several yards of oilcloth with lofty ideas and ambitions about the kind of fabulous items I would soon be happily making out of them. I don't know what made me think sewing oilcloth would be easy but I discovered it wasn't. The plastic side kept getting stuck when trying to run it along my sewing foot, which caused big ol' holes from where the needle repeatedly came down in the same place. Such a waste of my pretty fabric!

So I did what I'm always happy to do when I get frustrated - I gave up.

But then!

I was googling something totally unrelated to sewing oilcloth when I came across a tip. Simply sew with a bit of tissue paper directly on your material to help glide it along and rip away when done. Easy-peesy! I wish I could remember where I read that tip (so I could give credit where credit is due) but I don't. If it was yours, thanks so much!

Unfortunately, I didn't really plan this item out - just sat down and started sewing away - so I'm not sure what to do with this somewhat awkwardly-sized bag. I'm thinking I'll fold it, attach a button, and make a pseudo-envelope clutch. That I'll never use cause when have I ever carried a clutch?


Regardless, yay for learning something new and putting it to use!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone