A Maker's Affair

The Trials of Moving

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:43:31 -0500

Hi Friends! This past weekend I moved into my brand new single lady apartment! It’s very exciting, but I also have a ton of work ahead of me… as you may have noticed, I haven’t posted here in a while so I just wanted to give you a quick update and let you know I’m still alive!

Everything is still in boxes and trying to find specific items is like an obstacle course and treasure hunt rolled into one. Sadly, this means I haven’t been able to so much as knit two stitches in the last couple weeks. The stock photo below illustrates the exact opposite of what moving is actually like:

Look at that smiling face and those neatly packed boxes. Lies! I will have some time this weekend to sort stuff out and hopefully get back to making because I’m going a little crazy without my crafts. For now, I will leave you with my adorable kitteh…

Introduction to Leather

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:02:35 -0500

I recently had the chance to work with a material that I’m not very familiar with - leather. My favorite fabric shop, Grey’s Fabric and Notions, recently got in some beautiful pieces, some large and some small scraps that are perfect for fashioning into accessories. I had to try my hand at leather working right away so I dove in with some simple accessories inspired tutorials I found at Oh The Lovely Things and Freshly Given.

On the left are a pair of quirky earrings and the right is a wrist cuff. I really like the look of the cuff when it’s on:

I loved working with the leather, it’s nice not to worry about finishing edges! I’d love to try making a small wallet next - I can just imagine the decorative topstitching now!

Weekend Escape

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:52:34 -0500

This past weekend I went home to Western Massachusetts where I grew up. It’s been quite chaotic around here lately and going home gave me a chance to slow down and refresh. I mostly worked on my current knitting project, a shawl which you’ll see more of later.

I spent some time admiring nature, a luxury I don’t often get in the city, and snapped this picture of a Black Capped Chickadee eating a seed.

Of course the weekend wouldn’t be complete without cats!

It was really nice to feel more relaxed and gather some new inspiration, and now I feel ready to tackle some bigger things… like my big move!

Etsy Wednesday

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:11:37 -0500

Hi friends! I know I’ve been a bit of an absentee blogger as of late so I wanted to touch base with a new Etsy Wednesday. This time I’m featuring some home decor items especially for the living room.

This Etsy Wednesday is also accompanied with some news… I will be moving into a new apartment very soon, and this time it’s all by myself! Sure, I’m a little nervous, having never lived alone before, but this means I’ll have the whole space to decorate to my taste which makes me pretty giddy!

Here are some items from Etsy that I think would be perfect for the warm, classic, subtly feminine living room I have in mind:

{Purple Vintage Wallpaper Inspired Coaster Set from No Sweat Coasters}

{READ Text Bookends from Knob Creek Metal Arts}

{Vintage Milk Glass Bud Vases from Becki B’s Remade}

♥

Couture With Susan Khalje

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:54:00 -0500

Is the fact that Susan Khalje has a couture dressmaking class on Craftsy on anyone else’s radar?!

Craftsy is a pretty great site which features online classes on a wide variety of making including sewing, gardening, knitting, quilting, and more. You pay to sign up for the class and then have unlimited access and can also ask questions directly of the instructor. Neat, huh? The first Craftsy class I signed up for is one by one of my favorite sewing bloggers, Gertie of Gertie’s Blog for Better Sewing.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Susan Khalje, she is quite the accomplished couture seamstress. She began in a couture house in New York and is now an editor at Threads Magazine. Imagine, taking what’s almost a one on one class with her - whenever you want - in your house!

Ok, I know I sound like a commercial for Craftsy but I’m that excited. What about you? Will you be signing up?

A Vintage Notion

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:51:46 -0500

Mention vintage to most makers and their hearts skip - whether it’s fashion and style, home decor, notions and tools, or methods and techniques, there is an appreciation for the past. There are different reasons for admiring vintage and one of them for me is honoring what led us as makers, sewists, designers, and stylists to where we are today.

My mother taught me how to sew I am not only appreciative for the technical skills she gave me, but sewing and creating was also one of the ways we bonded throughout my childhood.

Of course the love of vintage is not always so philosophical - check out the packaging and typefaces on these needle packs! There is something so charming about having such an ornate label on such a little envelope.

The image below of “The Perfect Pinker,” is what was used instead of pinking shears. Opposite the zig-zag wheel there is a smooth metal wheel and the fabric just glides through. How ingenious!

These notions were given to me by a neighbor’s (who passed away some time ago) family. She had all sorts of vintage goodies left over in her stash and I feel happy that I could preserve some tools which were used in a previous generation for making, an endeavor that I am passionate about today.

Do you have a soft spot for vintage? What’s the draw for you?

Mini Gardens

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:25:11 -0500

So I know it’s the middle of winter but I couldn’t resist writing about some of the exceptionally cute miniature planters that seem to be popping up in the handmade blogosphere.

{Shell-Potted Succulents from radmegan}

Succulents are hardy and easy to care for and if you’re apartment dwelling like myself, what a perfect way to garden in a small space!

{Micro Planter How-To from The Etsy Blog}

Happy Growing!

♥

Etsy Wednesday

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:27:15 -0500

Here in Massachusetts it’s been a very mild winter so far but it’s getting colder and rumors of snow abound. For me, cold weather, snow, and little sunlight mean my mood takes a dip so I thought this would be a good opportunity to feature some Etsy finds that promote warmth and comfort.

Why not make yourself a hot cup of tea with Organic White Jasmine Loose Leaf Tea from The Cozy Leaf?

Grab your tea and head to a steamy bath with some French Red Clay Soap from Rocky Top Soap Shop:

Then, why not curl up under this cozy throw blanket from Biscuit Scout:

If the throw itself is out of your price range, grab the downloadable pattern for the same throw and knit away!

Happy nesting!

♥

Holiday Fashion

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:05:00 -0500

Hi Readers! I thought about it was time to make a post about the dresses that I made for the holiday season. The first you got a glimpse of in this post where I was especially excited about the tulip sleeves. Here’s the finished dress:

For the base pattern, I used the Dirndl Dress that comes with the Built By Wendy Dresses book (which I highly recommend). I then made the sleeve modification as well as lengthening the skirt by three inches.

The next dress I wore on New Year’s Eve:

For this dress I used McCalls M6460 pattern and made version C. The only modification I made was unintentional… I didn’t use a contrast band of fabric for the hem because I was crunched for time. You may call me Ms. Procrastinator.

I wasn’t thrilled with the results and the main reason is because the chiffon I used for the yoke was so hard to work with! I definitely need more practice working with difficult fabrics. Feel free to pass on any useful techniques!

The last dress I made is definitely my favorite:

I used Simplicity’s 4070 and made version B. I made no design modifications, I only widened the skirt and the skirt lining in the hips (a mod a make to almost every pattern). Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture from the night but I wore this dress to my company’s holiday party paired with this beautiful updo from {this is glamorous} and some red lipstick.

So there you have my holiday fashions! Now on to some desperately needed everyday clothes. Work appropriate dresses, here I come.

♥

Silk Charmeuse, A Love Story

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:08:00 -0500

Stopping by the fabric store, or any crafty type shop is a test of my willpower. I nearly always have to suppress the urge to run around like a crazy person, pile everything into my arms and/or basket, and purchase it in the midst of a craft supply induced haze before I realize what I’ve done.

Occasionally I’ll visit a local shop on my lunch break if I need something for a current project. Today it was a packet of hooks and eyes, and a couple zippers. Simple right? Well then I saw this beautiful faux fur remnant for only five dollars that was perfect for the faux fur capelet project which has been floating around my head for the past couple weeks.

Ok, so if I have the fur, might as well get something to line my capelet with… It was then readers, that I saw the most beautiful silk charmeuse:

Now the picture doesn’t do it nearly enough justice but I swear, this charmeuse is like a field of flowers and a cup of tea by the fire all rolled into one, it’s THAT awesome.

For the capelet, I’m envisioning something along the lines of this:

Has there ever been a time when you’ve found true love in a fabric/craft/yarn store and just can’t leave it behind?

Handmade Dishes - Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:04:39 -0500

This time of year lends itself to such rich sights, smells, and warm fuzzy feelings. What better expression of that than maple roasted sweet potatoes with pecans? I made this dish for my family’s Christmas dinner and not only was it delicious, but it filled the house with a sweet spiced smell worthy of the holidays. {Recipe courtesy of Budget Bytes}

Find the recipe and step by step directions here to make your own heaven scented side dish.

Holiday Ornament Roundup

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:57:22 -0500

Here are a few of my favorite diy holiday ornaments that I’ve seen floating around the blogosphere this season!

{Felted Bell Ornaments, Washi Tape Ornaments, Pom Pom Ornaments, Clay Lollipop Ornaments, Simple Statement Ornaments, Candy Cane Marbled Ornaments, Vintage Felt Baubles, Balls Up Ornaments}

Happy Holidays!

♥

Chicken Soup for the Handmade Soul

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:37:00 -0500

You look familiar, have we met?

Yes my friends, I have been away for quite some time. I do apologize! My dream world is one where “life” never impedes on crafting and making, but sometimes it’s inevitable. I hope you can forgive my neglect.

With that said, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve been working on for my comeback:

First is my holly berry dress -

Only a sneak peak for now, but I promise more pics to come! Aren’t those the sweetest little tulip sleeves? I drafted them myself from this fabulous tutorial.

Next is a brand new endeavor I’m taking on in an attempt to expand my handmade lifestyle; I’m learning to cook! What could be more handmade? Not to mention healthy and money-saving.

My first dish is a creamy chicken soup with wild rice, courtesy of the fabulous blog Budget Bytes.

Last but not least is my DIY holiday display. I decided to forgo a tree this year in the interest of time and energy but I definitely wanted some holiday cheer and warmth in my space.

I took two wine bottles and spray painted one with silver metallic paint. The other is covered in torn strips of slightly opalescent stationary paper, adhered with Modpodge.

For the tea lights, I took plain glass candle holders and then spruced them up with some glitter via the project in Ruche’s Homemade Holiday guide. The wreath is a plain wreath from a craft supply store (I got mine at AC Moore) with a tiny felt bow on the lower right side.

The bunting is made from small felt triangles, hot glued to yarn, and the letters are written in glue and covered in glitter.

What crafts are you working on this holiday season?

Etsy Wednesday

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:24:31 -0400

I went to the front page of Etsy and knew exactly what I had to feature.

This gorgeous piece from memake is further evidence that my relatively new-found realization that I need more clutches is totally justified.

How about this chic clutch from SatuKallioDesign?

I love the pleats in this sweet clutch from olive tree textiles:

Check back soon for a clutch of my very own creation (made with supplies from my trip to Utah for the Sewing Summit!)

Color Inspiration: Berry

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:15:19 -0400

Even though my palette for the Fall Palette Challenge is fairly neutral, I always find berry tones appropriate for the season. They’re so classic and versatile! Try using this palette in an upcoming project.

{Birthday Cake from FoodGawker, Liberty of London from PurlSoho, Mulberry Earrings from A Nordic Rose, forever yummy from Essie, Marchesa Resort 2010 from A Glamorous Little Side Project}

Scarf Knit Along - Cables

Sun, 16 Oct 2011 13:14:05 -0400

Hi friends! This post discusses the last technique you need in order to make the Irish Hiking Scarf for our Knit Along.

A quick note before we get started - there’s now a flickr group where you can upload all your pictures of your scarf progress! I’d love to see pictures from all stages, and any problem spots that you need help with. You can find the group here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/hikingscarf/. Go post!

All right - cables. If you’ve never done them before, they’re actually MUCH easier then they look. Remember I said that you would need a cable needle or a single double pointed needle? Now’s the time to bring it out.

When you come to the point in the pattern that says C6F, here’s what you do:

1. Slide 3 stitches onto the cable needle

2. Hold those stitches (on the cable needle) in front of your work

3. Knit the next three stitches. It may feel a little weird because you have to pull a little to skip the stitches that are being held on the cable needle, but that’s ok.

4. Then knit the stitches on your cable needle, just as you would if they were on a regular needle. Make sure you start with the first stitch that you slid onto the needle.

5. Continue on with the next step of the pattern. In our case that’s P2. When you come to the next CF6, repeat from step 1!

There you are, all cables are as simple as that. The only variation you may see in other patterns is C#B. The number will vary based on the size of the cable desired and the “B” simply means you need to make sure the cable needle is held in the back of your work as you knit.

Go forth and knit!

Sewing Summit Wrap Up

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:48:00 -0400

I do apologize readers, but I must forgo this week’s Etsy Wednesday to report on something very special. This past weekend was the very 1st Sewing Summit, held in Salt Lake City and founded by the wonderful Erin Singleton and Amy Ellis.

It was an incredible experience! I got to explore the city, take some great classes and meet some amazing people.

First up was the Shop Hop where we went to three of the cutest quilt shops. Now, I don’t quilt (yet!) but these shops made my heart flutter nonetheless. They stocked gorgeous printed cottons, buttons, patterns, and countless other bits of loveliness that would make any crafter weak at the knees.

{Three adorable duckies at Pine Needles}

{Quilt Etc.}

{Material Girls}

Following the Shop Hop was the reception where the lovely Amy and Erin welcomed us and spoke about their vision for the conference. Congratulations ladies, it was a 100% success!

Then of course, there were classes. I was lucky to take Handbags, with Bari from Bari J, Photography with Vanessa from V and Co., and Tailoring along with Get a Vintage Fit in the BurdaStyle Classroom with Gertie from Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing. The classes were great and I picked up some new tricks and tips in all of them!

{Class with Gertie where she talks about tailoring a lapel}

Of course I had to get pictures with a couple of my favorite bloggers:

{Me with Sunni from A Fashionable Stitch}

{Me with Gertie from Gertie’s New Blog for Better Sewing}

To round out the weekend, I spent time perusing the city with some lovely ladies.

*Here I am with Stephanie (left) along with fellow Bostonian and roomie for the weekend, Lavender (right). Check out our finds from a vintage shop called Decades!

All in all, it was a really amazing weekend. I met so many awesome sewists, quilters, bloggers, and friends. Sewing Summit 2012, here I come!

♥

*Two pictures above pictures belong to Lavender at Threadsquare.

Scarf Knit Along - Knit and Purl

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 23:47:00 -0400

Today’s post will cover the most basic stitches used in knitting and the only ones used in the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern for our Knit Along!

So you’ve cast on your first row of stitches (42 for the Irish Hiking Scarf) and you’re ready for your second row. Hold the needle with the stitches on it in your left hand and the empty needle in your right.

Now, there are two ways you can hold your working yarn (the yarn coming from your ball.) The first is called the English, or Throw method where the yarn is held in the right hand. The second method is called the Continental method and the yarn is held in, you guessed it, your left hand.*

Let’s take a look at what both of these ways look like:

{Continental - held in left hand} {English - held in right hand}

If you’re just starting out and don’t already have a preferred method, try both and see which one is most comfortable for you - neither one is better or worse!

For the knit stitch, make sure your working yarn is behind your needles. To start the stitch, I usually think “up and back” because you want to insert your right-hand needle into the stitch from the bottom upwards, at the back of your work. Check out the picture for a little more clarification:

Now here’s where it’s different depending on your chosen method although the principal remains the same for both. Your goal is to wrap the working yarn counter-clockwise around the right-hand needle, pull it through the stitch, and slide the stitch off of the left-hand needle.

{Continental} {English}

If you have the working yarn in your right hand, use your fingers to wrap the yarn around the needle, then bring it through the stitch. If the working yarn is in your left hand, use the needle to pick the yarn and bring it through the stitch.

Slide the stitch off of the right-hand needle and there you have it - your very own knit stitch! Give yourself a round of applause.

Ready to purl?

Purling follows the same concept as knitting, but this time think “down and forward.” Make sure your working yarn is in front of your needles. To make a purl stitch, insert your right-hand needle from the top to the bottom and in the front of your work through the stitch on your right-hand needle. Again, wrap the working yarn counter-clockwise around the right-hand needle and pull it through the stitch. Slide the stitch off the left-hand needle, and you have a purl on the right!

{Continental} {English}

You may want to practice first before you start following the pattern just to feel comfortable with the stitches. Remember, you can always pull the stitches out and start again so don’t worry about wasting yarn for practice.

Once you feel comfortable with the knit and purl stitches, take a stab at following the pattern! Below is a little cheat sheet for the abbreviations that are used:

WS/RS - wrong side/right side (you don’t really have to worry about which is which for this scarf)

P - Purl

K - Knit

(Note: the number after the “K” or “P” is the number of stitches you should knit or purl. For example “K2” means knit the next two stitches.)

C6F - Cable 6 stitches forward

Next time, we’ll talk about how to create the cables!

♥

*Many lefties find Continental style knitting more comfortable, but go with what works for you! A quick Google search can also provide some lefty friendly knitting techniques.

Etsy Wednesday

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 21:51:16 -0400

Okay, so technically it’s Etsy Thursday… I wasn’t able to post yesterday because I was preparing to go to the Sewing Summit (more on that later!) but I still wanted to showcase some wonderful Etsy finds.

Friends, scarves have been on my mind lately. I’ve come to realize how versatile, useful, and fashionable this simple accessory can be. A nice cozy scarf (like the Irish Hiking Scarf from our Knit Along!) is perfect for keeping the cold out. Even in warmer weather, a scarf made from a lightweight cotton voile can be just the thing to pull together an outfit. In the middle of a blazing hot summer? Tie a scarf around the handle of your tote and head to the beach in style!

Here are some of my favorites from Etsy:

{PreciousKnits}

{Stacy Lynn}

{BrandybuckClothiers}

Scarf Knit Along - Casting On

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:15:05 -0400

Today we’ll be talking about how to cast on the stitches to begin your scarf. There are numerous ways to cast on stitches and many knitters have personal preferences. If you have a favorite, feel free to use it! I’ll explaining the simplest method, which will work perfectly for this project. All you’ll need for this step is one of your needles and your yarn.

Remember, if you are new to knitting it might be helpful to have some additional resources to help you along in these first stages. Don’t worry if it’s tricky at first, you’ll get the hang of it!

First, make a slipknot at the end of your yarn, leaving a small tail, and slide it onto a needle. (A slipknot is like a regular knot except you pull a loop of yarn through when you would normally pull the other end through.)

The loop of the slip knot will be your first stitch. To cast on the second, draw the yarn (attached to the ball) around your thumb and hold it gently with three fingers against your palm as pictured below.

Now, take the point of your needle and bring it around the outside of the yarn, away from your fingers. Then slip it underneath as seen below.

Pull your thumb out and use your fingers to grasp the yarn and pull the stitch taught to the needle.

You’ve made your second stitch! Repeat the process (beginning by wrapping the yarn around your thumb) and your stitches will look like this:

*make sure your stitches aren’t pulled too tightly - they should be secure but still able to move along the needle freely.

The pattern calls for 42 cast on stitches. If you feel comfortable starting the scarf right away, go for it! If you still feel like you need some practice, try casting on some stitches, pulling them out, and repeating a few times for practice.

Next up is learning about the knit and purl stitches (which are the only stitches that this pattern requires!)