Knitting Funk, More Sewing
So, I’ve been somewhat in a knitting funk since the knitting olympics. I don’t think it’s because I burnt myself out, I actually think it’s due to the very beautiful spring we’ve been having here. The sun has been out, the garden is growing and knitting is just not what I’ve been into.
I did make Anthony help me rearrange my craft room some the other day, and I’ve been dreaming of sewing projects. I also have a few past projects that I have been meaning to share, so I’ll start with those.
Some fun napkins I made for a friends birthday. I got the fabric at Piece by Piece. It’s very satisfying making perfect little squares. I made two in each color and I believe they measure about 14″x 14″.
My purple and blue tea cozy to go over the giant tea pot from Bennington Potters.
I made the pattern up myself using a stack and slash (I think it’s called something else. That sounds too horror movie.) technique. I measured the tea pot and created a pattern that would fit. Made some bias tape for the edge. The main body is linen.
This is a bag that I made for my sister for Christmas. I had thrifted the red canvas, and it took me awhile to find the lining, but when I saw this, I knew it was the perfect match. I’m not usually an orange lover, but this just seemed too perfect.
I’m finally starting to think that it may be time for a real sewing machine. (I have a hand me down singer that doesn’t really have very good stitch length/tension control). I would love to hear what sewing machine you love and why you love it.
A small footnote, I’m now on Twitter! You can find me at stringsandyarn. Lots of smaller updates there!
Strings and Yarn 
I bet that it is just a matter of time before you get bit by the quilting bug. :-) My mom is a big time quilter and has a Janome machine which she really likes. She also has a Serger that she uses for other projects. She gave me her 30 year old Kenmore which is a heavy workhorse… and that is about all I can advise you in sewing machines. :-)
Loving this weather… so many plans for the backyard.
I’ve always heard it called stack and whack which is a little less serial killer, but reminds me that my dad used to answer the phone “Joe’s mortuary. You whack ’em, we stack ’em.”
I love to knit. I have a sewing machine (a gift from my mom, an AMAZING sewer) and I’ve never been able to really achieve something that I liked. But now, with spring outside, I really want to give it a try. You just motivated me!
About a sewing machine, sometimes a tune-up can be useful. We have a couple of excellent techs around here, though it’s not cheap. It might save you the full investment for a little while. Sometimes techs have good used ones for sale too.
Very nice stuff!
My sewing machine is a Pfaff, which I’ve had for over 10 years and it’s been used A LOT! I’ve never had to have it repaired, and it works like a dream. If it ever dies, I think I’ll go into deep mourning, lol!
I wanted to follow up with some more quilting stuff. One of my sister’s best friends from high school has a quilting pattern/fabric business that has some cute designs, if you want some more ideas etc.
http://www.thimbleblossoms.com/
She learned the art from her mother, Bonnie Olaveson who is a very skilled quilter and has her own fabric/ pattern line out.
http://www.cottonway.com/zencart/index.php