Fiber Arts Roundup

I've been so busy making things I haven't had time to share pictures in a little while, so here's a bit of a roundup of some projects I've been working on.

A friend of mine is having a sock monkey themed baby shower for her daughter, so a sock monkey was in order.  I used this tutorial over here since I've never made one before.   Note:  if you are going to try this, get a decently thick pair of socks.  I bought these because they were long and stripey, but they were really quite thin to work with.

She also sent me a picture of some really cute sock monkey slippers that she wanted me to make, but they were crocheted.  I kind of cobbled together a pair of knit slippers using the seamless baby booties pattern as a base and then just added the mouth, eyes and ears.  If I remember correctly, I added extra length to the leg portion of the slippers so I could roll it over like in the picture.

I also finished Diana's hat from Green Gables Knits by Joanna Johnson (of Phoebe's sweater).  I was definitely going to run out of the dark blue so I started adding in stripes of light blue in the decrease section to finish it off.  I love this view of it.

This is how it is meant to be worn...high up on the forehead and all slouchy,

but in all honesty, this is probably how I will wear it...

(very difficult to take a picture of oneself, no?).

When I was blocking it, according to the directions, I noticed a very obvious mistake I made in about the 9th row from the beginning.  I think I will cover it up with one of my big buttons.  I might just knit up another one with a pink (gasp) ball of yarn I bought for another project that won't be happening now.

I also finished up the striped scarf for N, which was supposed to be stashed away for his stocking next year, but it has been so bitter cold that I already gave it to him.  How could I not, when he was tearing the place apart looking for a scarf he could use?

I am much happier with it now that the edging has been added.  It is super thick, and super warm, and he has been wearing it to school and back (but not AT school, since scarves are banned).

Linking up with some friends today:

Keep Calm Craft On over at Frontier Dreams

Yarn along over at small things - although I'm not reading an actual book right now...just blogs.

Fiber Arts Friday at Wisdom Begins in Wonder

Some little desserts...for display.

I'm still working on the little felt food props to go with some of my dishes at the Carlisle Country Craft and Old-Fashioned Market Mercantile.

I had come across these little doughnut pincushions via Pinterest and decided I wanted to make something similar.

The size was determined by the scraps I had on hand...three strangely shaped oblong pieces.  I traced the inside of the packing tape roll to get the outside diameter, and a thread bobbin for the "hole".

 I decided to cut the "hole" a little smaller than I had traced it to allow for how much it would change while stuffing the doughnut.

 I stitched the "hole" first, and then stitched about 1 inch of the outside at a time, stuffing as I went along.  It takes a surprising amount of stuffing to fill one of these tiny little doughnuts.  A good solid hand full I would say.

 Nearing the end of the stitching, I stuffed as much of the stuffing in as I could fit, and  then stitched it shut and massaged the stuffing around to even it out.

 For the icing, I traced the same outside diameter, but then...

 ...I cut it all drippy and melty.

 And repeated the same on the inside.

 I stitched the icing into place with matching thread (In hindsight, it would probably be easier to stitch the icing and beads on first and then sew the doughnut sides together, but this way wasn't bad either).

 Added some "sprinkles"...

 ...and made a few different "flavours".

 I think they will be just the thing for the section of my table that is set up for dessert and tea.

 And I can switch them around as items (hopefully) sell.

In the meantime, we will use them on Wednesday at the Earth SmART Art Show at the school for the picnic bicycle display - photos of which I will share after the event.

Linking up with: Keep Calm Craft On over at Frontier Dreams
                        Fiber Arts Friday at Wisdom Begins in Wonder

Little knitting, little sewing.

Last time, I posted the little green pears I had just finished up.  I decided I needed to make some little brown pears to go on some of the green dishes.  I used the same  free pattern from Natural Suburbia for these and I think they are just adorable.

Next up, I knit this little bracelet to showcase one of my buttons (I'm actually out of stock of buttons, so it's kinda strange that I knit this now, but there are more in the bisque kiln as we speak).

I find there are certain things that people at shows always ask "what do you do with this?"  So this time, I will have a few examples ready for them.  This is just a simple I-cord that I knit with 5 stitches until it was long enough to wrap around my arm 4 times, and then made a little loop on the end to string around the button.

And then these darling little strawberries!  I found them via Pinterest, but sadly there is no source for them.  There are no words, but the pictures pretty much tell you how to do it step by step.

They were meant for the berry bowls...

 ...but I have a sneaking suspicion that they may end up on these dessert plates.

My plan is to have a table set with three distinct place settings, and this would work very well for part of the dessert setting, don't you think?

And I finally got around to filling the candle pods with their candles.  My house smelled so good yesterday with the scent of beeswax lingering.

What are you crafting this week?

Linking up with: Keep Calm Craft On over at Frontier Dreams
                        Creative Friday at Natural Suburbia
                        Fiber Arts Friday at Wisdom begins in Wonder
                        A Baby's Smile
                        From the Farm Blog Hop

Working on Costumes for the Carlisle Country Craft and Old-Fashioned Mercantile

Last year I attending the Carlisle Country Craft and Old Fashioned Market Mercantile as a vendor for the first time. click here to see pictures of last year's event

I had such a great time I thought the boys would like to go with me this year.  Well, not only are they coming, but S is going to be one of the buskers (magic) and N is going to be the "Gamesmaster" to help entertain children and add to the festivities.  Needless to say, costumes are in order - they're optional, but seriously, we all know that I'm going to make costumes - who can pass up a chance to dress up as a pioneer for the weekend?

Although there are hundreds of ideas out there for girls (I have been collecting a few of them on this Pinterest board), the patterns for boys are limited.  I have decided on vests, suspenders, pouches, hats and possibly a bow tie for S, and then just regular pants and a light coloured plaid button up shirt (if I can find them).

I started by looking for patterns on-line and in the costume section of pattern books at my local fabric store.  I couldn't find anything that was the right size and style.  But then, in the clearance section I found this one...it's NewLook #6036...for $1.00!

I actually bought a men's jacket at the Goodwill to take apart for this vest because I wanted the nice big pre-made pockets.  The boys each picked out their own with the fabric they liked ---funny enough, not even close to what I would have picked out for them (I would have picked brown tweed).  The lining on this one isn't from the jacket, since I sliced right through it while taking the jacket apart.  I think I might line the other one in plaid flannel for fun.

There is just one part that I'm not too happy with.  The jacket I bought had a lapel pocket and no matter how I positioned the pattern piece, I couldn't get it to fit and still keep the pocket at the bottom.  I ended up having to cut below the lapel pocket and make the front pattern piece out of two pieces, using a spare piece from the arm.  I'm hoping it will look better once it is ironed very carefully. (Note: the orange shirt was for contrast in the photo, and then somebody decided he looked so great he had to wear the ensemble to school this morning - as is...pick your battles, right?).

Also, this morning, N asked if I could add a button.  From the picture on the pattern, I thought it would allow space for button holes, but it turns out the buttons are just decorative.  I'm going to add button holes to both sides and lace it up, I think (like Peter in Monastic Tudor Farm on TVO - are you watching that?  It's the best one yet!).  On S's vest, I will add an extra piece to the pattern to allow for buttons - I think).

A note about sizing:  I made the size XS first after measuring my 14 year old.  It fits my 11 year old - and he's not big for his age.  I'm going to have to make the M for S. If you are going to use this pattern, I would suggest making at least one size bigger than the measurements suggest - I'm going 2 sizes bigger for S.

We also picked up this hat at the Goodwill for an extra $4.00.  They had leather cowboy hats and lots of straw hats.  The girl that was working said they often have them in.

Linking up with: Keep Calm Craft On over at Frontier Dreams

Game #3 for the Village Green

I'm still plugging away at making a few of the games that will be available for families to entertain themselves with at the Carlisle Country Craft and Old-Fashioned Market Mercantile in August.

This month's contribution is "Tic-Tac-Toe" ---and in true pioneer spirit it is made from a flannel shirt, 2 pairs of corduroy pants, and a few bits of felt scraps.

You'll want to change the sizes to suit whatever fabric bits you are using, but I'll give you the run-down just in case.

I cut the biggest square I could from the back of the flannel shirt (18" square) and then used the front and the sleeves for the bean bags.  I cut 9" x 4.5" rectangles, folded them in half right sides together, sewed one side and the bottom, filled  the just under half way with beans, and machine stitched them shut.  Although it would have been easier to add the Xs and Os before-hand, I wasn't sure what I wanted to use, so I hand stitched them on after the fact.

I made a paper template for the Xs and Os to make sure it would fit nicely, and then traced them on to bits of felt.  I chose to keep them neutral, but depending on the event, nice bright colours would work just as well.

 For the "game board" I cut 6 1/2" squares from two pairs of outgrown curdoroy pants and sewed them together in a 3x3 grid using a 1/2" seam allowance.  I ended up cutting a little of the sides so that I could turn the edges of the backing over instead of using seam binding.  After the back and front were sewn together, I sewed a line 1/4" from each of the seams to give it a quilted look, and to stabilize the whole thing.

I'm pleased with the result as it looks a little "boyish" - the boys thought I should balance out the games since they thought the Hopscotch looked a little "girlish" by the time it was done.

We tested it out...I was X's...

...and one of them never learns.

Enjoy.

Linking up with: Keep Calm Craft On over at Frontier Dreams

                        Fiber Arts Friday at Wisdom Begins In Wonder

A fun little sewing project.

This little number has been on my "Inspiration for the school art show" Pinterest board for years, but I hadn't gotten around to making it yet because I didn't know what to do with it after.  Now that I have a recipient lined up for it, I thought it would make the perfect project for this year's show.

If you are new here, every year the elementary school my youngest child attends hosts an art show where the projects are made of recycled/upcycled materials.  As the organizer, I like to contribute a project as well.

Mostly, I followed the directions over here but I don't have an AccuQuilt Go (I don't even know what it is) so I made my own template...

 ...from a cereal box of course.  I drew out a 3" square, marked the middle point at the top, connected to the corners and cut it out.  I think any isosceles triangle will work.

 I cut 60 of the triangles from random bits of scraps and clothes...

 ...and then put set them up in groups of three until I was happy with all the pattern groupings.

For assembly, start by following the directions here.  Tip: She doesn't say what to do after the 12th triangle is attached.  I kept adding in the spaces until I had a group of 5 at the top, with 5 in the spaces beneath that, and another row between the spaces beneath that.  Then I sewed the last 5 together into a "crown" and sewed that into the bottom.  I had to alternate between machine sewing and hand sewing throughout this project as it was very difficult to fit the layers through the machine.

My kids LOVED the finished project.  I believe the term "awesome" was used.  They would really like to keep it, but I have someone else in mind.  If I were to make another one, I think I would add the seam allowance to the outside of the triangle rather than inside the template (basically, make the template bigger) as this was very finickity at times.  Also, I don't think it really matters what shape your triangles are, so long as they are all the same, so I would be interested to try another one with really long, pointy triangles.

Completely superfluous picture of my sewing buddy.

Happy crafting all!

Linking up with: Keep Calm Craft On at Frontier Dreams
                        Fiber Arts Fridy At Wisdom Begins in Wonder
                        Creative Friday at Natural Suburbia