Dos Babettes

Today, I finished the border on Little Man's Babette Blanket.

This is my favorite blanket patter ever!  It's fun, interesting and surprising.

It's also 'chair confining'.  This isn't a blanket you can take with you.  There are so many different colors and you rarely use the same color in more than two rounds, usually just one round.  I had three bags of yarn, so traveling with this wasn't an option.  I didn't even change seats in the house.  I tucked my yarn bags next to one chair and that's where I've been hooking.  And hooking.  And watching TV on my iPad (Shameless, House of Lies, Girls, Homeland..so good).



Little Man's Babette

I finished at about noon today.  Three times since, I've looked at the chair and wanted to get back to the yarn.

Both Babette's Together

My next task is getting into my luxury basement studio.  I have to dig a path into it first.  In the Christmas rush, it got icky.  Boxes and balls of yarn and garbage and receipts and just stuff all over the place.  There is even a double sink, faucet, crystal chandelier and air hockey table in there.  No wonder I can barely move in there!

Once I get into the studio, I have to run some yarn through the knitting machine.  I have a couple purses I need to get moving on...I've been very delinquent.  Note to anyone that asks for a custom bag, give me a deadline.  I don't do well with "When you have a chance".  I need to work on that.

If I'm lost, look in the basement, until then, thanks for reading!



Back At It

Lasting one day, I'm back on the blog. I guess when "they" say, 'do something for a month and it will become a habit', I agree.

I missed the blog, I know, crazy. Enough about that...look what I resurrected from the basement!

It took me a couple rounds to get back into the stitch of this one.

There is one more big section on this Babette Blanket for Big Boy. Little Man is next, and I'm sure he won't forget that I still haven't made his!

It's a fun and easy blanket, easily adapted for a boy. The pattern is from Interweave.

120/366: 100% Complete

You've probably tired of my afghan talk.  This is the final installment, with final photos.

It's cozier than I thought.

It's more fulfilling than I thought.

It's perfect.

104/366: So it Seams

 

 

I am making progress on my Mystery Afghan. What I like most about this project, is that it is for me. Other than a scarf and a hat, this is the first big project I have made for myself, in any textile, in a long time. It's also my first full sized blanket.

30/366: New Life

A very good friend of mine decided after she had made 21 blanket squares that she had enough of crocheting and it wasn't for her.

Along with all her needles, hooks and yarn, came those little squares.  In pink, white and yellow, they didn't have much use in a home with two boys.

Two weeks ago, I was "hanging out" in the basement with my son and started organizing some things in my studio.  I came across the squares and decided to finish this blanket for my friend, who just happens to be pregnant with a girl.

I had planned on making a bunch more squares when I realized...blech, I don't like making these squares.  So, I changed it up a bit and made the squares bigger with two rounds of double crochet.  I stitched them all together and added a pale pink scalloped edge.  It's smaller than a bath towel and I think it's the perfect size for everything! 

But, the best part of giving and receiving a handmade blanket, was that two friends worked on it together.

Car Fabric

I may not have the daughter I thought I wanted to shop with and dress up and do girly things, but I have my O. This is one boy that appreciates fabric.

We went to JoAnn's and once we found this bolt, O had it on his lap and cried when the lady at the cutting table needed to make the one very fast cut. He loves JoAnn's. I think mostly because they have been doing major construction and the parking lot usually houses a couple excavators or dump trucks or diggers. Good times.

I bought this several months ago and just didn't know what to make it into it, and it became "car fabric". We would lay it on the carpet, and he would sit on it, getting mad every time it would bunch up when he twisted or stretched.

Knowing then that it was destined for a blanket, I finally did it. Using fusible batting, I stitched it together. Must say that I am not all that jazzed about the fusible batting, makes the blanket too stiff. Maybe washing will help.

So, as I was sewing in the basement (proper digs!) on my discount store table that shakes when I engage the presser foot, little O places his cheek at the side of the table and allows the vibrations to rattle that little, plump cheek. That boy surely makes me laugh.

Car fabric.

A Rest

I wish I were there.

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Instead, getting ready for a busy weekend chock full of a birth day, a birthday party with 11 five year olds (I know, I am crazy), a wedding and hopefully a visit to see precious Baby Julia.

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You may have wondered what I was up to, but I finally (mostly) finished the two blankets. One for the wedding on Saturday (completely finished, yet to be wrapped) and this one above for the shop (just needs short hand stitching). I ordered some labels from a gal on etsy and hoped they would be in before the wedding (thinking not) so that I could attach one. About the blankets. Big. Really big. They would make perfect - and I mean perfect - picnic blankets for the couple that has everything. The inspiration - the two person blanket (I need a catchy name, anyone?) to share with another and never see your toes.

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I have also been working on a Sam inspired blanket. Sam is often making our blankets into dresses (I know, I know) or capes. So, I designed (am continually designing and changing) a blanket with a hood, straps to wear as a cape, straps to roll the blanket up (like a sleeping bag) and most especially a secret pocket! They are cute, definitely need some editing and I will need to hide them from Sam, he thinks he is keeping them both. I will show you those as they get more complete.

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And most importantly, we are planning a 'Robot - Paint Your Own Shirt' party for Friday. I am desperately coming up with games and activities (not to mention preparing t-shirts and fabric paint) to fill a two hour period at our house. Please, everyone, pray for sun. I am not sure what I would do with that many kids (with paint) in my house. And while you are praying, just think of Tom and how much he would appreciate all the kids being OUTside for the party! I think he is secretly excited for this. He even thought he should make Jiffy Pop on our camping stove for the kids. Cute! I am sure I will have some pics from that day to come as well.

There are some more ideas swirling in my head and getting mixed up with thoughts of my new position/clients at work and making for a thick head. My neighbor laughed at me for not being able to finish a thought on multiple occasions. Guess I am in overload.

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Maybe because I am 'pulling a Carrie' as my mom says. That wedding on Saturday - yeah, I have NOTHING to wear. So, I bought a pattern and found an "unidentified content" fabric at WalMart for $1 a yard in steel grey. It is stretchy like those kids pillows that were big a couple years ago, real squishy and silky. Anyway...add that completion to your sun prayer - if you don't mind.

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You would think with all the stuff I need to get done, I would be working. Ahhh. That is probably a good idea...

Where Am I?

This is June.
Those are my feet (yes, the ones with the beginnings of a summer sandal tan line).
That, is hail.

We were warned, but I didn't imagine they would be THIS big. Our weather this past week was quite crazy, cold, rainy, thunderstorms with a bit of sun and hail mixed in.

It was loud, and bouncy. I have some video footage that I will attempt to post, but it was taken in large format, so it might not upload. In the video you can see the hail balls bouncing a good 2-3 feet after first impact.

Update on my fingers and head...fingers just finished the wedding gift and almost done with Heart Blanquilt (I just made that up - like it?). I also have two Sam' inspired blankcapes (I'm catching on) that need to be finalized - which is what my head is up to. Trying to figure out where Velcro or snaps or secret pockets should go.

This week is going to get crazy. My Sam is turning 5 on Thursday. Wow. Five. It was only yesterday...

What is 'You Old Reptile'?

No, not this picture. This is a project I am working on for the shop and for a wedding gift. I am actually doing three of the similar projects all at once. It isn't taking that much longer. If I measure out (of course not with a measuring stick or tape) a piece, why not cut three of the same? Or tear. I found this great linen on sale at our not so favorite mega fabric store for 60% off. I bought only two shades, cream and beige. I appreciate the crispness of freshly pressed linen juxtaposed with the comforting wrinkled texture of freshly laundered linen.
This is just the center (I know, you are all surprised by the hearts, me too) of the blanket #2. The blanket #1 is for a wedding and thinking about weddings and newlyweds and what Tom and I used to do B.C., (before children) I came up with this blanket. The blanket isn't the concept as much as its size. Tom and I used to sit on the couch, each taking an arm and sharing a blanket. Well, the blanket never seemed to be long enough, so this one will be.

Sewing goes SO much faster than weaving and am really enjoying seeing this blanket grow with each added piece.

I am thinking about my next project for the loom. Any suggestions?

Oh...and the title of the post. The answer is: The name Sam called Tom after Sam was told to clean up his stuffed animals. Classic.

Signs

The boys and I went to the fabric store a couple weekends ago. I never thought fabric could make little boys happy. O had a bolt of vehicles that he was naming off like a child recites the alphabet. He even cried when I gave the bolt to be measured and cut, as if it were a candy bar.
Sam found this neat sign fabric that he thought was a must have. Originally we were going to make pajama pants with all the fabric. Best laid plans.
Sam wanted a blanket, so of course, mom happily obliged - after all, blankets are much easier than pants!

Tom mentioned today that I might be disappointing my readers by not having much weaving highlighted lately. Well, I hope I don't disappoint. The difficulties I am having with weaving are quite simple to remedy, I am just procrastinating. Weaving, as one would guess, takes a long time. It is exciting at the beginning and at the end, but in the middle, well, blah blah. I have a warp on the loom, but haven't been 100% happy with my color choice for the weft (horizontal yarn). I need to remove some of the weft that is on the loom right now, and that just isn't any fun. The other bummer is that now that Mr. Loom in in the basement, the lighting couldn't be worse for pictures.

(And don't even get me started on the Three Stooges clock that says wacky phrases at the hour. )

Tom says I should get up early to take pictures while the light comes in through the small windows.

I say, you are all fine, the waiting makes it more special in the end!

Since I seem to do things after I state them in this blog - I will at least remove the unwanted yarn from the loom tonight (as long as the boys go to bed nicely).

AND...I received my first comment from stranger today. I thanked that stranger, and got another comment. Not that your comments aren't great (of faithful few), but it is nice to have a word or two from someone who has no idea who I am or what I do or why I do what I do.

Baby Julia Blanket

Good friends of ours are expecting a little pink bundle of joy.

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What to make...should I just buy something? So much easier.

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There were plenty of options on the registry, but nothing spoke to me. I didn't see anything that was scrumptious. Not a word usually associated with a baby registry, but I think you know what I mean. Something to last, something to curl up in, something to grow with the baby and not be donated three months after the first use.

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I was browsing the web or my self proclaimed: blogumping: to jump via links from one blog to another. I found a gal that made simple burp cloths out of flannel material. Cute idea. Then, I found some really adorable vintage looking fabric with children playing with dolls. After concluding my blogumping for the day, I couldn't find either site. Note to self, mark as a Favorite before blogumping again.

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I wasn't overwhelmed with my choices of fabric at our local chain store. I knew that the colors for the baby's room were lots of pink, with brown accents. The store shelves held lots of typical white flannel (no mother would gift to a new mother anything white - especially something intended for spit-up) with baby blocks in the usual pastels, little chicks, and Spiderman. Oh, and deer heads mounted above a fireplace (there has to be a project for that fabric).

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Then, I found it. White and green toile. Perfect. What girl doesn't like Toile?. Even if it is often pronounced incorrectly (twall as in fall). It is sophisticated, historical, and heartwarming. The toile led me to the coordinating stripe, which became the back of the blanket after I chose it as my favorite over the toile. I picked up a polka dot in green and pink and brown solid flannel. I know, here you go thinking I am crazy with the brown. It's a girl, I know. But the brown chocolatey goodness with the pink is perfect. And, it is a burp cloth, not a dress.

I had a great time making the burp cloths. Measured them by feel and fit. On my shoulder for the standard position. On the floor for a diaper change. Over the head for a mid-day snack (after second reading, this sounds pretty funny, no I don't eat snacks with a towel on MY head). They were all different, backed in opposing fabric and pink thread. Yes, pink thread.

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Then the blanket. Hmmm. What to do. I didn't have much left in the way of full pieces of fabric. Thoughts of my sister-in-law came through (Hi, Brooke!) and her amazing quilting. If you know me, you know I don't follow rules. It is no surprise that I can't quilt in the "perfectly measured-1/8" seamed-matching corners" kind of quilting. Brooke's work is breathtaking. She has a great eye for colors and patterns and her corners are PERFECT! Since I am not Brooke, I did it my "estimated-eyeballed-close enough" way. I stitched some triangular strips of fabric down the long side and after a couple cuts and lines of stitching, came up with this top. I wanted to keep it soft and thin, but warm and didn't sandwich my two layers around anything (neither batting nor interfacing). I think the final product came out great. My edges were a little wacky and a couple too many puckers, but I loved it.

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I think Julia will love it, wacky edges and all.

Two Notes:

I finished the night before at 11:38 pm, time to spare (and sleep).

I used Photoshop on the first pic with my eldest and the blanket. The light from the window was too strong.

Check out my new blog find: Tula Pink. I am also adding it to my list on the right (it's a Quilting Blog, Brooke!)

And welcome baby Ferris (his mom will be carrying his bottles in the pleather-skulled messenger bag!).