From A - Infinite Infinity Scarves

Many moons ago, I took a half yard of Liberty tana lawn and a half yard of chambray and made an infinity scarf for a friend.

The finished scarf was so elegant and easy that I decided I should make 10 more using various chambrays from my stash and a half yard bundle of Liberty that I had purchased during a slip of the credit card. Possibly a moment where I had taken leave of my senses but I figured I could have them on hand as gifts and maybe set a couple aside for my own wearing pleasure.

Although I had them cut and serged into tubes within days of planning this project they sat unfinished for months afterwards while I distracted myself with life and newer, shinier projects. I picked them up again when the occasion of another friend's birthday demanded that they be finished immediately.

I'm quite happy with how they came out and love how the mix of prints and chambrays gives each one a distinct flavour and personality. Perhaps the best part is having a treasure trove of beautiful handmade gifts on-hand and ready to go. Hopefully this will rehabilitate my reputation as a perpetually late (handmade) gift-giver.

From K - 241 Tote

During my last modern quilt guild meeting, I stumbled across some new woven Lecien prints in my LQS that I immediately swooned over. Without much deliberation, I decided I suddenly neeeeeeeded some of it in my life.

Enter Noodlehead's 241 Tote (and my new love!).

While searching for a good pairing for my bag, I kept coming back to a print from Sarah Watson's new line Arcadia that I just adore. Herb Garden in Multi, - I might need this print in an obscene amount of yardage.

With some help from great quilty friends (ie. enablers), I chose two Sarah Watson Arcadian prints for my primary and lining fabric, as well as two Lecien wovens for side panels and straps.

Noodlehead's pattern is so extremely well written and easy to follow, I would recommend it to even the most novice bag maker. I love the finished size, and how easy it is to customize. I am already narrowing options down for a second 241!

Also the lining has little mushrooms. I mean how can it get better than that?! So much whimsy, and I'm lovin' it.

From A - Chambray and Liberty Infinity Scarf

If you've been visiting this blog for any length of time, you'll know how I feel about Liberty of London's Tana Lawn. What I didn't mention when I shared my lap duvet a few months back is that I bought a half yard more fabric than I actually needed for the project so that I'd be able to make an infinity scarf.

With a dear friend's birthday on the immediate horizon, I decided that it was high time to follow through with my plan. I ended up pairing my precious Mauvey with some dotty chambray. The resulting scarf is lightweight, soft and drapey, making it a perfect layering piece for Spring/Summer or year round in my neck of the woods.

I didn't bother following a pattern for this project and just cut two 15" x WOF strips and serged them together. Total project time from sending fabric photos to Kelsey to finished was about an hour. It took more time to finish my text message conversation and cut the fabric than it did to dig out the serger and actually sew it all together.

Carefully wrapped and on its way to its final destination, I have to say that I already miss having this little gem around my neck. I hope my friend agrees.

From K - Finished Catnap Sew Together Bag

Time has been scarce lately and finding snipits of crafty time has been far more difficult than I'd like. Sewing is my jam though, so to keep myself sane I picked up a project that I can work on in small intervals. Let me introduce you to what's held my attention as of late - my new Sew Together bag!

I took the time to fussy cut some little scraps for the front of my bag, and chose a dark contrasting print from the same line for the background and back panel.

Last week I shared some progress pics and explained why I went with Lizzy House's Catnap line for this bag. Since then, I branched out by adding a gold metallic confetti dot neutral into the mix. I love how easily it fits in.

The contrast fabric in the pocket linings makes me unnaturally happy. Not too surprising since linings have always been my favourite detail. My catnap dress is a good example of that.

I don't have a tremendous amount of experience with installing zippers so I found the pattern directions to be extremely helpful. This bag is definitely the cleanest zipper installation I've ever done.

The details in pattern are so clever. I will definitely be making more of these in the future.

If you've made a Sew Together bag leave a comment below to let me know, I love seeing all the variations popping up online!

From K - Lowbrow Hat for Spring?

It's officially the first day of spring... Somewhere in the world I imagine at least. Just not in Canada. Definitely not in Canada. I typically find myself nearing a bit of a rut this time of year as I start to tire of winter and dream of spring. In order to fight the March blues I knit myself up a special end of winter treat to keep me excited for chilly mornings that make it practical to wear my new cashmere blend hat (and by excited I mean tolerant, and by chilly I mean blizzardy).

Let me introduce you to my Lowbrow Hat. I knit it with a skein of Plucky Knitter Primo Aran in Baroque and I couldn't be more smitten. So Mother Nature, you keep those winter winds blowing and I'll keep my new hat on my head. Deal? Deal!*

*but just to be clear today is the first day of spring so I'm more than happy for that to happen too. Like for real. The equinox is happening so hold your end of the bargain. Anytime Mother Nature, any time...

What are you doing to keep your head both sane and warm these days? Any and all tips are welcome!

From A - Sewing with Leather

Working with leather is one of those things that I have desperately wanted to learn more about. I love the idea of making bags with leather accents and small wallets and change purses as gifts for friends. There is something about a few pieces of leather that make the finished product seem so much more "professional".

While back in Toronto over the holidays, I signed up for a quick leather clutch class at the Workroom. In addition to being a welcome break from the intensity of a holiday with the in-laws, it was nice to spend some time back in my old stomping grounds.

Sewing with leather was much simpler than I thought it would be. After a few short hours, I had a super cute metallic leather clutch, lined with some paisley Liberty Tana Lawn, of course!

Have I mentioned my obsession with plaids and paisleys. I'll buy almost any fabric if it has paisleys or plaid (in fact, I bought two yards of this lining print when a 1/4 yard would have been more than enough). Ask Kelsey, she's talked me off the ledge more than a few times.

The leather I used for this clutch was paper thin so I ended up interfacing it to give the bag a little more body. The finished bag is professional looking and decadently elegant (I am especially taken with the little pleat).

This project has me hooked!! I've already found my next leather work class. Perfect timing since I'll have to make something with leather for our next traditional anniversary gift.

From K - Two Cabled Canucks

Over the Christmas break you might say that I became a wee bit obsessed with cabled knit hats. My pattern of choice? Cabled Canuck by Tanis Fiber Arts.

I have only ever cabled once before so it took me a few cast ons before I really got the rhythm and followed the pattern correctly. For my first attempt I used TFA Green Label Aran weight yarn in Shadow.

I have to admit, I almost shed a tear when I gave this hat away. I could not imagine a more perfect pattern and colour combination. It makes me swoon just looking back at these photos.

To be perfectly honest I ordered another skein of this yarn about 20 minutes after I started working with it. If I could only knit with one colourway for the rest of my life, I would be happy for it to be this. For someone who changes her mind often, that's saying something!

The details in this design are so well thought out and really speak for themselves. I especially love the snowflake that this pattern makes at the top, kind of like a cherry on top, non?

After I cast off my first hat, I couldn't help myself and cast on another using the same pattern and the same yarn, but this time in the Dove colourway.

I really love the purple undertones in this skein but it just didn't capture my heart in the same way. I'm not sure that I have ever made the same exact thing twice, but I just might have to make a second version f this hat in Dove.

Here is a pretty true to life photo of the two skeins side by side (left: Dove right: Shadow).

My order arrived with a new skein of Shadow and I'm anxiously hoping to cast on another hat soon. I promised myself thought that before I do, I'll finished up a WiP first. Luckily these socks are keeping my focus.

From A - Simple Satchel

Finally recovered from a few harrowing weeks of exams and the flu, it is time to show you a recent finish before I throw myself back into Christmas gift sewing.

Just over a week ago, in a flurry of exam stress, I dug out a project that I cut out back in August for a quick study break. A couple of relaxing hours later, I had a finished bag made using Guy Latulippe's killer Simple Satchel pattern in the small size. I really love Guy's patterns. This is my second (my duffle being the first). They are simple to make but you're left with a finished product that could easily be passed off as something you bought in a chic boutique.

 

I used a gorgeous navy herringbone print that I bought when Kelsey and I were in Seattle together for the bag exterior. It's home dec weight which makes it perfect for a nice and sturdy satchel. Some of the leftover Indian Summer fabric from my Eucalypt tank was a perfect match for the lining.

I ended up adding some lightweight interfacing to the bag to give it a little more structure but otherwise, followed the pattern exactly. The pattern was great and although my sleep deprived quilter's brain couldn't process the three dimensional bag instructions when I first read through them, they were crystal clear when I actually started sewing.

I am beyond tickled at how well the exterior print lined up across the seams. I made a half-hearted attempt to fussy cut as I was going along but this level of accuracy is the product of sheer luck.

 

This bag is a perfect size, it will comfortably hold an iPad or a book, a wallet, keys and some lip balm. The ADJUSTABLE cross body strap makes it the ideal thing to use when I'm running errands on my bike. This was my first time using bag hardware and it really adds a nice touch. I bought mine from a wholesaler called UMX after I couldn't find anything big enough locally. I bought enough hardware for three bags when I ordered so you can bet that there will be more of these in my future.

From K - Snowfling Mitts

Two months ago, when autumn was quickly fading into winter, I cast on a pair of mitts for the very first time (first successful time that is). The combination of a long roadtrip, a work trip, and a few furious knit nights, made for some seriously speeding knitting, and after two weeks I had my very own pair of Tanis Fiber Arts Snowfling Mitts.

To be honest I have been dying to make mittens to a long time but flashbacks of the Christmas mitten fiasco of 2002 kept flashing in my head, and I didn't think I could stomach the idea of another pair of mitts being stashed away, thumbless and forever to be unloved. **For reference - Amanda was convinced she would teach me to knit more than a decade ago and I had a paralyzingly fear of knitting thumbs (a fear that I only now just concurred).

 

This was my first real foray into colour work and I was surprised by how easy it. To be fair though my ability to pick it up quickly might have been helped tremendously by the pure fact that I cast these babies on after Thanksgiving supper with Amanda in close range.

These beauties have a cashmere lining that add the perfect touch of added warmth and luxury. I can officially say I'm hooked and another kit is in the mail. The more mitts the merrier!

 

From K - 16 Recent Finishes

Back in July I wrote a post where I mentioned an extremely over-ambitious goal that I set as a means of keeping myself focused and on track. My plan was to complete 15 Project in 15 Weeks between the dates of July 13th and October 25th. As my current WiPs are starting to pile up around me again and I'm feeling a tad bit overwhelmed, I figured it was high time that I reflect on what I accomplished during that time to help motivate me to keep on keepin' on. 

Until I actually sat down to write this post, I had no idea if I had met my target or not... and as it turns out I not only met my goal, but I evidently surpassed it by finishing 16 projects in 16 weeks. Wha?! *brushes off shoulder* All jokes aside though, I think it's good for us all to sit back sometimes and reflect on how far we've come and what we learned along the way - a task that I know many of us don't often do.

With that in mind, here are my 16 finishes:

Bags:

I adore making bags and was surprised to see that when looking back, I developed new skill sets with each bag I made. I learned how to glue on a metal frame, how to QAYG and how to sew with both strapping and duck canvas!

From Left to Right: Metal Frame Clutch, QAYG Pouch and Duffle Bag

Quilts:

In total I made four quilt: two baby quilts, a throw and a queen sized quilt (my biggest finish to date).

Clockwise from Top Left:

Black & White Kites Quilt, Salt Water Swoon Quilt, Pink Pluses Quilt and Sew Positive Baby Quilt.

Amanda and I also collaborated on a special lap quilt for our great aunt's 90th birthday during this time frame.

Wonky Star Quilt

Garments:

Over the past 16 months I also learned a ton about garment sewing. It was my first time sewing with both piping and voile.

Clockwise from Top Left:

Panda PJ Pants, Liberty Staple Dress, Wiksten Tova and Staple Dress in Seattle.

Knits:

I have been knitting up a storm as of late, completing two cowls, a headband and a pair of socks. I might also have 4 more projects cast on already... but that's for another day.

Clockwise from Top Left:

Honey Cowl, Licorice Twist Cowl, Hermione's Everyday Socks, and Antropology Inspired Headband.

Sometimes I find it considerably too easy to get caught up in my WiP list and gifting deadlines. Today I'm taking the time to celebrate my wins and look back at what I've learned in the process. I'm feeling pretty energized now to make some headway on my current WiPs: a manly Christmas quilt, a late baby quilt, a Christmas quilt and a beloved sentimental quilt that needs some finishing up.

Reflection was the perfect remedy for me today to get back at my machine. What do you do when you need to rev up your quilting mojo?

From A - Scarf Season

Fall is one of my favourite times of year. Although it doesn't look much like the kind of Fall that I'm used to here in California, I still feel myself reaching for my knitting and dreaming up all kinds of warm things to wrap the ones I love in this winter.

This little scarf is the first manifestation of this impulse. Something simple in every way, using an old version my all-time favourite Nani Iro print and a tiny bit of trim from Mokuba.

 

I followed this tutorial exactly and even bought the same trim. No creativity in this one but as the days get shorter and we brace for another winter, I am glad to have this colourful scarf to brighten up my wardrobe.

From K - Mastering the iPad cover

As summer ramps up I've been finding it increasingly more difficult to find free time for myself. This week was especially busy, and the very limited free time I did manage to find looked a little something like this:

I've spent nearly 15 hours this week washing, ironing and cutting wax print scraps for the two Ghanaian quilts I have planned. Needless to say, my living room looks like a hurricane of fabric hit it, and I'm biting at the bit to set up my new craft space. Big plans are in motion right now on that project (including the recent purchase of a convertible sofa!) and I'm hoping to be moved in within the next few weeks.

In the meantime I am fortunate to be spending the next five days at our cabin, and I've already found some down time to sew a small project.

On my Summer Sewing Hit List post I mentioned that I planned to make my sister-in-law an iPad cover. Today I spent my afternoon putting the finishing touches on her new case and I love the way it turned out. I followed this great tutorial by One Shabby Chick and then tweaked a couple things to customize it a bit.

Altogether there were three main edits that I made to the original pattern. I had the perfect green flanelette in my stash so I decided to line the inside of both my own case, as well as my sister-in-laws case with it.

I also decided early on in my planning process that I wanted to incorporate some applique into these projects. The photo below gives you a little glimps at the double applique technique that I used to highlight a little owl from this adorable Alexander Henry fabric. Keep your eyes peeled for a tutorial on this technique soon.

Lastly I decided that I wanted a full width fold-over flap rather than the narrow one that is shown in the pattern. To accomplish this I began by cutting my flap pieces to 8 x 4.5 inches and then rounded two of the corners on each piece using my rotary cutter and a coffee mug as a guide. Once the pieces were sewn together all that was left to do was add some notches around the corners (as shown below). I then simply turned the flap right-side out and continued along with the remaining directions.

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians and have an enjoyable long weekend. I  know that inbetween fireworks and bbqs I will be sneaking in another small projects or two, will you?