All Things Heather

No knitting here..just keep on walking..

Painting and chaos still reign in the Zolzer house. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but it still looks so far away. I'm ready for this to be done, mainly because I want my house back but also because I want the painters gone. Don't get me wrong, they are nice enough guys but they are starting to get on my nerves!  And they are supposed to be back this fall to finish the rest of my house and I don't want to burn any bridges by responding to their well meaning but critical remarks towards my analness.  Is that even a word, well if it's not it should be.

My main point in being here is to briefly discuss the new Interweave knits.  Finally, an issue that seriously rocks. Granted there are a couple "what were they thinking" patterns but the cute and WEARABLE patterns far outweight the WTF.  I've noticed in the recent years knitting books and magazines getting very "artsy fartsy" and while I like creative knitting and creative photography it's getting to be a bit too much. When you have to analyze the schematic for an hour to figure out what shape the garmet will be because the model is in some crouching tiger hidden dragon pose then you have kind of missed the boat.   As a whole, I lean towards the knitting conservative side and I don't want to have to work so hard to try to imagine how a garmet really looks.  Ok, I'm off my soapbox but I wanted to share my thoughts.  P.S.  If there are any knitting book or magazine editors out there who read this, which i know there aren't, but if there are - then how about adding a tiny photo of the sweater being modeled in a "normal" pose located next to the schematic. That way you can be as free as you want in the main photography but there is a quick reference photo for the rest of us boring knitters to refer to.  Halfway through a pattern is not the best time to realize that there was a third arm hidden in the neckline!

Take care and I hope to be back sometime in the next week with some real works in progress! 

20 fat quarters and counting...

Since I have begun to sew again, my interest in quilts has become renewed. I've always been fascinated with quilts, the way the are put together and the history they show. My first quilt attempt was a crib size one for my first born.  My lack of understanding of the quilt process coupled with some serious overzest led me to pick an overly complicated pattern that was never finished. 

Fast forward 3 1/2 years later and here I am again attempting another quilt. This time things will be different.  I've picked an incredibly simple yet clever  quilt called "turning twenty."   Twenty fat quarters make twenty squares that are turned twenty times.  Ok, so the turning twenty times part I made up but the rest is true.  This time the fabric will do all the work, no more overly complicated squares, just simple, quick piecing, the way I like it. 

I'm excited to get started but know it will be some time before my house is in good enough order to do it.  In the meantime, I'll just stare and hope this quilt turns out better then the last.

My hand sewing skills are a little rusty..

and this little bunny is a little rustic but the true love is made evident by the unseen salsa stain on her foot and the ripped seam at her leg.  And yes, I am aware that the poor thing doesn't even have shoes yet, hopefully a problem that will be remedied sometime this weekend.

This was my first attempt at sewing a "stuffed" animal and I'm relatively pleased with the way she turned out.  I need some practice with the "fancy smancy" hand stitches and next time it would probably behoove me to put the face on before I stuff her up but these are all lessons better learned while being learned.  Did that make sense?  A lesson better left unlearned though is how to stab your finger about a gazillion times with a sewing needle, I could have skipped that one!  Regardless,  I some how acquired a  HUGE bag of fabric scraps, some vintage, some not so I foresee quite a few more of these little guys in the future.   

 

Pattern - Bunny from Put-Together Book #1 by the uber talented Hillary over at Wee Wonderfuls.

Supplies - fabric scraps, wool felt, and stuffing.

Modifications - Well none really, I will say that if I continue to do these I will need to invest in a thimble.  Thanks for looking. 

Chaos reigns in the zolzer house...

I seriously cannot adequately express to you what a big cluster f*ck my house is right now. We are basically getting all the common living areas painted and re-trimmed, having all the doors replaced and getting some other odd and ends done.  Couple that pain with trying to keep two young children entertained and out of the painters hairs - well needless to say, I'm pretty much ready to jump off a bridge.   And it's about a billion freakin degrees outside.  I have lots more chatting and bitching to do but I'm exhausted and must go pass out! 

So I hope all of you are staying cool and stay tuned for some pictures one of these days, if I could find my camera.   

I'm still here!

Just laying low for a bit. We are getting some major (well major in my head anyway) work done in the house and it is seriously torn up. I've had to time for anything craft related including knitting, can you beleive that. Anyway, I hope to be back later this week with lots of exciting pictures!

Back to the Basics - Chickami Revisted...

Chickami is a great basic pattern that if done right, will likely become an important part of your wardrobe.  At least that's what I've heard, my last attempt at chickami didn't turn out all that great.  A perfect example of why its important to make sure your yarn choice does indeed fit the pattern you are knitting. 

So here I am again, back to basics, same Chickami but different yarn.  And this time she is done right. 

Pattern - Chicknits Chickami

Yarn and Needles - 2 1/2 skeins of Knit One Crochet Too 2nd Time  Cotton in Tahiti knit on Knitpicks Option Needles sizes 5 and 7.

Modifications - Really none, the yarn I used was a different gauge then called for in the pattern so I just knit the smallest size to compensate for the difference.  I wanted the end product to be fitted but not tight and it worked out perfectly.  I did make the straps a little bit narrower then the pattern called for so I fear that my bra will be showing but oh well,  I was going for something very casual so whats a bra strap among friends.    Thanks for looking.    

Chocolate Chocolate Verde Verde ...

Amelia has a favorite desert.  It's called "chocolate chocolate verde verde with banilla" cake.  (Verde - green in spanish, she's been watching a lot of Dora the Explorer.) Up until this time, it has been completely imaginary, she often whips them up in while in the shower, she's very talented, and it's a favorite to be served only to her special friend "dragon" while at Barbie's birthday party.  BTW..it is Barbie's birthday everyday in this house.  Today, I asked if she would like to actually bake one in the oven, rather then the shower and she was delighted. She confided in me that she was getting full from drinking too much cake so it would be a good change of pace.   

Although, I had a pretty good idea what she wanted she decided at the last minute that it had to be chocolate, chocolate, verde verde with banilla AND pink, hence the pink layer.   I'm sure this will become a regular in our house, who doesn't like green and pink cake with chocolate?

And Amelia definitely enjoyed it. 

Have a happy weekend!

Assume the position...

I think I could get used to this sewing thing.  Especially for little kids, it's fun, relatively easy, and if you screw up a little, they don't really care nor even notice for that matter.

Pattern -  Simplicity 5695 - size 3

Materials and supplies - Approximately 1 yard of Kaufman Frog Print and Pink Gingham.  (Kim and Brianna - I got the fabric from that shop on ebay, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, I spaced it!)  1/2 elastic, ric rac and matching thread.

Modifications - No modifications. 

Details - I love the raglan and elastic neckline. I think it looks very professional but is a snap to do. And the bow(which is hard to see in this picture) is dual purposed, it's cute but more importanly it lets Amelia know which is the front when she is getting dressed by herself. 

Although this dress is similar to the last, it involved a different technique - gathering.  The gathered bottom is very subtle but the concept is the same when making little gathers or big gathers, ruffles too. You basically just sew with a very long stitch and then pull on the bobbin thread to gather the material and stitch it into place.  I also added a ric rac border on the bottom, unnecessary but good to know. 

This picture is hilarious if you look at what she is doing. She was playing with a small plastic whistle and managed to get her finger stuck in it. End of photo shoot. Thanks for looking.

Baby blanket blues..

Or should I say pinks.  I've managed to avoid knitting any sort of baby items like the plague. Not for any other reason but that I'm a selfish knitter -  my husband continually reminds me of this every time I cast on for another sweater that is not for him nor my 2 daughters.   

A close friend and family member is having a little girl sometime in August (I think..I'm horrible with dates right now.)  And I've decided to make a baby blanket for her - GASP. What is the world coming too?  Notice I said make - not knit. I'm choosing not to commit entirely to knitting it, I may decide to sew a little mini quilt or fleecy sort of thing but as of now I'm leaning towards knitting.

The easy part - I've decided on pink and brown. I know, so last season, but I think it's a timeless combination I don't really follow trends. Secondly, if I do knit it, I will be dyeing the yarn as well - sport weight superwash. It's for a baby, so wash and wear is a must.  So this is where my decision making process grinds to a halt. There are so many uber cute blankets out there. I want something, nice, but more on the practical side. Something that can be snuggled with as she gets older or dragged around the playground in search for the perfect picnic place. 

Here are my options.

Option number one - Pinwheel blanket - Done primarily in a solid color pink with a brown border and maybe a couple stripes at the end.  Super quick knitting and virtually no finishing, unique shape!  Do you think it's a little boring?  Maybe not "sophisticated" enough?

Option number two - Snug as a Bug Entrelac Blanket by Parikha.  Isn't it a beauty - anyway, only 2 color blocks, pink and brown.  And I would probably back it with a pink and brown flannel. This blanket rocks! Traditional shape.  Downside - about a gazillion ends to weave in, plus the added work of backing it.  And don't tell anyone but I've yet to do entrelac. I know, and I call myself a real knitter.

Option number three - Mason Dixon Moderne Baby blanket - you all know, along the lines of the log cabin thing, just on a grander scale.  Maybe in 2 pinks and 2 browns.  Super cute too! Fairly quick and who doesn't love garter stitch!  I would probably put a backing on this as well. 

Options number four - just sew something!

So help me out. I've included a poll and would love to hear from each and every one of YOU! I will keep this poll open for the next few days, by then I'll be forced to make a final decision!

fiber fanaticism at an all time high...

The sewing bug has continued to poke and prod me and I'm now in constant search for  new and exciting fabrics to sew up.  This would be fun except I live in community nearly devoid of any sort of craftiness.  I'm limited to a Hancock's fabric and a lovely but very expensive quilt shop.  Thank goodness for the internet - that is thank goodness for me not my checking account. 

Right now I'm enjoying the "cutesy" phase and am ever searching for fabrics for my little prima donna daughter.  At a mere 3 years old, she is incredibly picky about what she wears but I've realized so far that if it at least has some pink in it there is a 50/50 chance she'll go for it.  Luckily, her little sister does not mind hand me downs and is delighted to help herself to the seconds. 

Exhibit A of recent findings, who doesn't love frogs and paired with gingham and ric rac.  I would say a bona fide match made in heaven. Stay tuned for the finished creation - which looks remarkably like the first dress I sewed but I'm a newbie here so give me a break and elastic is easy - what a tramp.