Amber's (scaifea) 2021 Knitting/Sewing/Cross Stitch/Crafting Projects

Hi, everyone! Happy New Year!

Last year I started my thread with this: "I've recently started a new, part-time job at the local public library, so my crafting productivity will likely suffer this year. I still hope to spend *some* time in my sewing room, and I'll share what gets done there here." Boy, have things changed in a year. I loved that library job, but lost it to Covid layoffs after just three months, only to have another job I love fall right into my lap: I was asked to join the faculty at the University of Dayton to teach Latin and other Classics courses, so I've dusted off my professor's cap and returned to academia. I teach all my classes from home via Zoom, and still find a bit of time here and there for my sewing room.

Here's a look at my work space:





Happy crafting, everyone!

Current projects:
-A king-size quilt for myself (and my husband, I suppose), in the piecing stage
-a greyscale fractal pattern cross stitch project
-two knitted scarves: one with cables and a striped one, for which I'm using leftover yarn scraps and a random number generator to determine how many rows to knit for each color. It will turn out looking a bit like a Doctor Who scarf, I suspect.

ETA:
-a knitted baby blanket
-a knitted striped hat to go along with the cable scarf (and leg warmers I made last year)

My 12yo son, Charlie, has outgrown the mittens I made him (in Gryffindor colors, of course), and when I mentioned to him yesterday that I should order him some gloves, he said, "Could you make me another pair of these?" So, of course, I immediately ordered the yarn (along with some to make myself a pair of Slytherin mittens). So that project is coming up soon, too.

>2 scaifea: (and my husband, I suppose)

HA! How very kind of you, Amber!

>3 scaifea: I love this.

>4 lauralkeet: Laura: Charlie's at that age where I worry that any day now he'll start to think he's too old for certain things, so it made me so happy that he still wants me to make him stuff like this. I'm hoping he'll be like my brother was, who still asked my mom every year to help him make his Halloween costume, even as an adult (although my mom used to get exasperated that he never lost the believe that she could sew or craft anything and everything).

Those are some nice projects to start the year. Hope you get your yarn order quickly.

>6 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

I'm glad to hear you got a wonderful job (OMG, Charlie is 12!).

Good luck with the king-size quilt, I've done two, possibly 3 that size and I admit I like working with the smaller quilts much better :-).

Will be following all your projects as I have for now many, many years!

>8 avaland: Lois: Yep. 12. Yoicks.



I've done one king-sized quilt before this one, and yes, it's an undertaking. This one will probably take me yonks to finish.

>9 scaifea: Yoicks, indeed. My, he has grown! Relax though, my son was around 29 when I helped him with that giant sock monkey costume (oh wait! I 'advised' him... he did all the sewing). Geeky guys do odd things (he's 36 now) and to be honest so do my geeky girls (the oldest, 41, in her spare time, sews and sells fuzzy cube 'stuffies' for a VR "beat-saber" game. The other daughter & husband elaborately dress up each Halloween, usually with another couple - including the toddlers/babies. One recent year they presented as the entire Addam's family.

See, Charlie, may keep you sewing for a long time to come.

>10 avaland: Oh, I love that! Here's hoping my (not so little) geek keeps it up, too. *daydreams about making Halloween costumes for adult Charlie, his partner, their kiddos,...*

>11 scaifea: Ah, but should you not encourage him/them to create his/their own? I have given all my three sewing machines (post college) - nothing as nice as my own, mind you.

>12 avaland: Lois: Charlie knows the basics, and it by nature pretty crafty, but selfishly I'd rather do it for him.

Welp, I've already started another knitting project. The cable scarf is meant to go with the leg warmers I made last year, as I'm using the same rose-ish colored yarn to make it, and I've been thinking that I would also like to make a hat to complete the set, and I want to make it striped with the same *two* yarns in the leg warmers. I realized yesterday that I should go ahead and make the hat so that I can then just use up all the rest of the rose-ish yarn in the scarf (I like my scarves super long), so yeah. I started the hat. And I also forgot that I've got a baby blanket on the needles, too. *sigh*

Haha! Oh, Amber - at least you'll never run out of things to do! I recognise myself so much in this - constantly "Oh, and then I could do *this* too!"

>15 PawsforThought: YUP. Story of my life, right there.

I think that will look great - having all those things to match.

>17 dudes22: Thanks, Betty - I hope so! I kind of like the idea of having the same colors for all three pieces but different patterns for each.

I can't wait to see your creations, Amber!

>19 lauralkeet: Aw, thanks, Laura!

Project Update (since I don't actually have any photos to share yet):

I did finish the hat, but I'm going to wait to take a picture of it until I've also finished the scarf, so I can show all three pieces together, hopefully.

I'm still slowly working on the quilt, but it *is* slow, because winter means I am freezing all. the. time. and my sewing space is always to chilliest in the house. So, I've been avoiding it lately.

I've ordered the yarn for Charlie's new mittens, so hopefully that will arrive soonish.

I bought a small space heater for my studio; it’s in an outward corner of an addition so it’s a long way for the furnace to reach.

>21 scaifea: - My sewing area is in the basement and gets chilly. My husband made it like a room with a door and I got a space heater which helps a lot. I keep it at the end where I sew and, if I'm there for a while, I sometimes have to turn it down a little.

>22 avaland: - we were posting at the same time. - great idea.

>22 avaland: >23 dudes22: Ha! I have a space heater that I drag from room to room in the main part of the house, but I don't keep one in the sewing space because I'm never sitting down for long enough for it to make a difference (I need it blasting pretty much right on me to keep an semblance of warm).

I'm trying to pep-talk myself into venturing down there this morning still. We'll see.

>24 dudes22: Aren't we supposed to link pinky fingers and say "jinx!" when that happens.

2nd suggestion: have an electrician install a wall heater. We had this done in our family room which is the other, bigger part of the same addition. Some heat from the furnace makes it out there, but not as much, so we have this wall-mount electric heater to supplement (there is a gas fireplace in the room but it needs to be replaced).

>26 avaland: Ooooh, now *that's* an interesting idea... I may have to run that one by The Husband.

>26 avaland: The brand of ours says "Stelpro" and I remember he said it was Canadian. It's about 36x18"and sits about 12-15" off the floor. If the room has a high ceiling you might need a fan to keep the hot air from accumulating at the ceiling :-) It's a good investment if you are planning to stay there for a long time. Good luck.

There are ones that go closer to the ceiling too, I think.

>28 avaland: >29 dudes22: Great - thanks for the info!

The yarn for Charlie's mittens came today, so I've cast on and started those. Maybe I'll finish them before summer?

Two boxes sent to you yesterday, about 10 lbs of fun coming your way (couldn't find one box that would hold all). And I have some space on the shelves to fill! (thx)

>32 avaland: Wow, thank you so much, Lois! Now that's something to look forward to!

>33 scaifea: Of course, it could take a year to get there....

>34 avaland: *snork!* True.

Hey, look everybody! I finished a project!

Charlie's new Gryffindor mittens (same as the last pair I made him a couple of years ago, but...much. bigger. #gentlegiantcharlie):

I'm still working on the scarf mentioned above, but I may even get it finished today. I'm also going to brave the cold sewing space to work on the quilt today and maybe I'll take some photos of the squares I've finished.

Love the mittens!

Thanks, Julia! I can’t believe that I had to make them so big! His hands are now much larger than mine. He’s 12. Yoicks.

Yoicks, indeed! What size shoe does he wear?

Nice mittens, Amber! Do you have your own mitten/scarf set in Slytherin colors?

>40 rosalita: I think he's at a men's 8 right now? I honestly can't remember.

>41 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! I have a scarf and sock, but I bought more Slytherin colored yarn to make mittens and a hat, too.

>37 scaifea: Do you have a space heater down there yet! I've to use mine each time I've been in the studio this month. I finally put down that last thermal shade (I so like to look out the window from my sewing machine....)

I can't believe he is 14! Is he into other cool stuff?

Those are cute mittens. I've been using my space heater too.

>43 avaland: No space-heater, Lois. The room is too big and I move around too much in it while I'm down there for a space heater to help me much.

He's 12 - don't make him any older! He's into all kinds of cool stuff: D&D (he runs a virtual weekly game with some friends, who have named the group The Tall Narrator D&D Club, in reference to how tall their DM, Charlie, is), story writing (he's part of a creative writing club at school), and all sorts of art projects - and he is learning to crochet! Post vaccines, he wants to take either fencing or archery lessons.

>44 dudes22: Thanks, Betty!

I finished knitting the cabled scarf I've been working on forever last night, which completes the set along with the leg warmers and hat. (The middle photo has the truest colors. Also, please ignore the Pandemic Witch Hair):

Waving at Amber! Those are great projects, I like those hand warmers. A friend sent me a pair a few months ago, very useful!

>47 avaland: Thanks, Lois! (They're leg warmers, though.)

>48 scaifea: Oof, my bad. Still lovely as leg-warmers!

>49 avaland: Ha! Thanks!

I like all of them but I Love the cables on the scarf. (with a capital "L")

>51 dudes22: Thanks, Betty! Cables are so fun, I think, because they look so impressive when there's really nothing to 'em!

>46 scaifea: Well done, Amber! They all look really good, but the leg warmers are my favourites, because I'm a sucker for those kinds of stars/poinsettias. And as someone who's danced a fair bit, I know the value of leg warmers.

I commented on your 75 thread but why not add kudos here eh? Very very nice!

>53 PawsforThought: Thanks!

>54 lauralkeet: Ha! Thanks, Laura!

Lovely work.

>56 sallypursell: Thanks, Sally.

Oh, beautiful! I love the three different patterns that still coordinate

>58 melannen: Thanks so much! I'm glad you like the different patterns - I kind of love that idea of choosing one theme around which to make variations and I think it worked out pretty well here.

>46 scaifea: All the pieces are lovely! I was also admiring your hair when I see you called it witch hair. LOL

>60 lesmel: Ha! Thanks for the project *and* the hair love! I haven't had a cut in over a year now, so it's WILD. It generally lives in a messy bun, but that wouldn't look very good with a hat over it...

>61 scaifea: That is great hair. I'm coming up on a year of no cutting, also. Both my husband and I feel we are re-living the early 70s through our hair. Mine is thin, fine and now below my shoulders.

Agreed that your hair looks great, Amber. I had a small nervous breakdown back in October and hacked all of mine off with a pair of scissors. I felt really good about it, too! But then, when you look like me vanity is a foolish luxury. :-)

About 20 yrs ago my hair was to my waist. Then I stuck my elbow in it one too many times and I chopped it to my ears. Ever since I went pixie about eight years ago, I haven't tolerated any hair touching my neck. If I had to go a year without a haircut, I would be a national news story. As it was, I think I was a week away from shaving my head back in May when salons were allowed to reopen in Texas. I am lucky. My stylist rents a booth in a building. All of the spaces are rentals. There's no one in the lobby. All the doors stay closed. You aren't allowed in the building until your appointment.

>62 avaland: Aw, thanks, Lois. Mine is to my waist now (it grows *fast*) and it's always very coarse and thick, so there's a LOT of hair there right now.

>63 rosalita: Thanks, Julia. Ha! I've been tempted to cut a few inches off myself but haven't braved it yet.

>64 lesmel: I've had hair at all lengths through the years and even rocked a pixie cut for a bit. I'm sure your hairstylist is taking all the right precautions, but my anxiety won't let me feel safe even then.

I have you bet, Amber - I haven't had a haircut in over two (!) years! I have a hard time finding hairdressers who can cut my hair well (very curly, which isn't too common here) so I had decided to not cut it until I found someone I trusted. And then covid happened.

>63 rosalita: What does that last sentence mean? Somehow I doubt your statement.

>64 lesmel: Mine is hip-length, and has been most of my life. I sometimes cut it to donate, but then I can't wait until it grows out again. Still, I know what you mean. I get it caught on doorknobs.

>66 PawsforThought: Sounds like you win, then. Best of luck finding someone you like, post-vaccine.

>67 sallypursell: Don't believe her for one second: I've met her in person more than once and she is absolutely lovely in every way possible, and she has a gorgeous smile that makes everyone around her feel warm and happy.

>68 sallypursell: I haven't had hair this long in a good while. It's okay but not my favorite because it takes so long to dry and is unwieldy if I leave it down. I can live with it for now, though.

I may actually try to get into the sewing room today, folks. This semester I'm teaching two courses instead of one, and I don't have the hour or two here and there during the week to sneak in and get a few stitches done. I'm hoping to get a couple more quilt blocks together today...

>67 sallypursell: >69 scaifea: Amber is entirely too generous which will come as no surprise to anyone who reads this thread! I miss our bookstore meetups very much!

>71 rosalita: I was thinking as I typed that, "I miss those meetups so much!"

>62 avaland: and >64 lesmel: and >65 scaifea: and >66 PawsforThought: I envy folks with the extra long hair! I always wanted mine super long but never managed to get much beyond my shoulder or maybe mid-back thanks to the joy that is split ends.

I got cancer back in 2008, so I got my hair shaved off. Apparently I look great bald--good head shape or something. I got henna patterns on my head both times for fun. The first time my hair grew back it was great--roan and curly and looked great effortlessly. The second time, meh, it's now mousy instead of blond and definitely thinner than before. I looked like a dandelion puff for awhile until it grew long enough to weigh downward with gravity.

I've kept the hair fairly short since then because I got tired of having all the hair and no plan beyond a pony tail. Now I'm trying to figure out a good hair regimen in terms of washing and moisturizing so that it looks good and the wavy-curly shows well. If I ever get that sorted, then I'll think about going long again and how to style it from there.

>70 scaifea: Good luck! I keep thinking I'm making such good progress with stuff that surely next week I can dive into long-delayed sewing projects, but then I end up taking 2 to a dozen steps back and never get to the new fabric. At least I am actually getting to some of the mending though. Quilt squares are so ambitious and lovely!

>73 justchris: My thick, coarse, wavy hair usually looks pretty good with just a bit of mousse and an air dry, but that's if I have regular every-3-months visits to the salon to get it thinned out a bit. The thickness and weight are issues, so I mostly keep it in some sort of up-do now.

I didn't manage to get into the sewing room yesterday; by the time I got everything else done it was afternoon and my wrist was doing its occasional acting up, so I spent the rest of the day with my brace on and reading. It's feeling better this morning so maybe today?

>73 justchris: Just to correct impressions, my hair is only past my shoulders now, for the first time since perhaps the early 70s.

>75 avaland: Mine is probably about 1" long except on the crown; but the sides are touching the tips of my ears -- this is phase one of the "time to call the stylist" dance.

>73 justchris: My hair looks better when it's just below the shoulder (just long enough to be able to pull into a pony tail) but it's nearing my belly button now. Unlike Amber, I have to tell hairdressers *not* to thin my hair out because I want it to be thick, or it will look strange when it coils up.

Amber, I hope you do manage to get to work on those quilt blocks. I'm not getting much done at the moment, aside from downing copious amounts of tea.

>76 lesmel: this is phase one of the "time to call the stylist" dance
*snork!* Thanks for the early morning giggle!

>77 PawsforThought: I managed about an hour of quilting time this past weekend. *sigh* Last semester I was able to spend some time during the week in the sewing room, but this semester I'm teaching a course I haven't taught in 10 years or so, and the prep work is keeping me too busy for crafting time. Gah.

>76 lesmel: Ha! My stylist loves to announce to everyone that I'm in for my annual haircut, unlike her other clients. Sometimes I even manage twice a year.

I have Curly Girl and Better Than Good Hair, and I've tried following their recommendations, which include not completely rinsing out the conditioner for extra moisturizing. That just leaves my hair looking limp. Lately, I've been applying just a little bit of leave-in conditioner before blotting my wet hair, but again, limp! Last night I decided to leave off the conditioner, and this morning just dampened the dry hair and applied an oil mist. That seems to have a better effect. This hair business is so much work for the most basic of results for someone who's spent a lifetime ignoring it all. But now I have an office job, could be considered a "professional" and need to look better than unkempt. Field work was so much easier!

>78 scaifea: I hope you get into the groove enough to find more time to steal away into your sewing room.

>79 justchris: Thanks, Chris.

So, I still haven't been in the sewing room, but I wanted to relate a neat story:
I'm teaching Classical Mythology this semester, via zoom, and I have another faculty member auditing the class (she contacted me for permission in December, saying that she had a rough fall semester and wanted to treat herself to a course that sounded fun). In the background of her little zoom square I have been noticing during class that she has a beautiful log cabin quilt hanging on the wall behind her, so yesterday after class I asked her if she had made the quilt, and she did! So we chatted for a while about quilting, and she's thinking about making a myth-themed quilt! I've found another member of our tribe!

>81 scaifea: Oooh, a myth-themed quilt sounds very interesting. i wonder what myths she'll pick and how she'll do it.

>81 scaifea: what a fun discovery!

I hope you'll keep us informed on her progress. It sounds interesting.

>82 PawsforThought: >83 lauralkeet: >84 dudes22:

We've both decided that it was some sort of kismet that led her to audit my class, because we have discovered so much that we have in common. I sense an instant new friendship here and I'm loving it. I'll definitely keep you updated if she decides to make the quilt (and if she doesn't mind my sharing the details. I may need to try to convince her to join LibraryThing and our group...)

>85 scaifea: this story just keeps getting better!!

>81 scaifea:, >85 scaifea: Such a great story, Amber. How often does something like that happen in one's life, the answer is usually not often. Enjoy your new friendship.

It sounds as if hair length is all over the place, from almost gone, to enough to swim in. I love my long, long, hair, and I usually wear it up in a grandma bun--that way I look like the stereotype Mrs. Claus. When I go out I leave it down, and I get constant compliments, especially since it turned a dappled silver.

>86 lauralkeet: >87 avaland: I think she'd fit right in here, so I'll mention LT and this group in particular to her.

>88 sallypursell: Oooh, your hair sounds lovely! That's just what I want to happen to mine - and the grey is starting to show up here and there...

>81 scaifea: How great!

The dedicated quilter in my building is starting to get requests from neighbors. She doesn't do full-size quilts, mostly squares for hanging and occasionally baby blankets.

Time for an update since I have no actual finished projects to report:

I'm *still* working on piecing the quilt; last weekend I thought I was nearly finished with that part, only to realize that my dummy brain had been following the numbers for a smaller quilt size and I still have about half of the squares to go! I wondered why I had so much of each fabric left over. Yoicks. So yesterday I finished cutting out all the pieces and I'll get back to sewing the rest of the squares together today. This thing is taking FOREVER. It's this quilt project, the one I mentioned started waaaay back in June:

That's looking good. How many blocks were you short? But you can use the small ones for some matching pillows or a table runner. Two for one.

>92 dudes22: I was short...a lot. And "small ones?" I'm not following...

Here's how many squares I have left, all cut and sorted:



*sigh*

Oh - I misunderstood. I thought you meant that you had cut pieces for smaller squares instead of larger ones. I see now you meant that you just didn't cut enough fabric.

>95 dudes22: Aha! Okay, your comments make complete sense now! Oh boy, I'd be so angry at myself if that were really the case! Whew!

We've all been there in similar ways! You are doing the right thing (rather than storing and ignoring it for a decade or so, like some of us, ha ha).

>97 avaland: Ha! Well, since it's for my own bed, I want it finished soon...ish...

That's really attractive fabric.

Thanks! The colors are a bit off in the photo; their chocolate and tans and creams, and various shades of blue.

>100 scaifea: I think they work fine even with the colors off a little, but your description sounds luscious. I have a quilt in mind that is dark plum and chocolate, with a little B&W stripe--although I found some great birch-wood pictorial fabric which might take the place of the stripe.

>101 sallypursell: Oh, I love the sound of plum and chocolate together (both color and food wise)!

>94 scaifea: There's also something so appealing when all the parts are cut and just brimming with potential. How is it going?

>103 lesmel: Oh, agreed! It doesn't do much going during the week, when I'm too busy with teaching my own courses and helping my son with his online schooling. I'm hoping to get more done this weekend, though, and I also ordered (and already received! So fast!) the fabric for the solid blocks, which will go in between the pieced ones. I'm so pleased with it and I think it will look really good. I'll try to remember to take a photo of it - and attempt better photos of the other fabrics - this weekend.

I was just coming over here to see how the quilt was progressing. You audience awaits! :-)

>105 avaland: Ha! No pressure then...

Okay, so here's the pattern I'm using for the quilt:



And here are the fabrics, in a more accurate light, with the new fabric for the plain blocks and the borders in the background:



And then I forgot to add the fabric for the two smaller strips of border to the first photo, so here it is with the other border fabric again:



ETA: The fabrics are flannel, too. It should be a lovely and soft quilt, hopefully.

Oooh, very nice indeed!

I was just thinking if asking if they were flannels. Those make a great combination.

>109 dudes22: Thanks! I love the colors so much.

>107 scaifea: That looks really nice, Amber. I love the combination of soft colours and the soft fabric - flannel is so cozy. Some day I will do something similar out of my old pyjamas.

Of course it will be a lovely quilt! (banish all doubts!)

>111 PawsforThought: >112 avaland: Thanks!

>112 avaland: Lois: Thanks for that! A king size quilt is such an undertaking that I wonder if I'll ever see the end of it!

>112 avaland: I made a king-sized quilt when I didn't know better. It took me 2 1/2 years to do, but turned out nicely.

>113 scaifea: Oh, you will.

I did one quilt for our bed, king-size, finishing it in time to have it on the bed when we sold the Massachusetts house 2014. It's a bear to wash, but thankfully it rarely needs it. I do love it and we use it all the time. I've made more than a few queen-sized ones over the years, but nowadays I prefer to make smaller quilts (It's more like playing when they are small :-)

>114 sallypursell: >115 avaland: I've made one once before (for my parents), but at that point I was a full time parent and seemed to have more time. I'm still a full time parent, but now I'm also a part time professor again and only have time to sew on the weekends right now. So yeah, 2.5 years sounds about right. Ha!

>116 scaifea: Well, hang in there!

>117 avaland: Thanks, Lois!

I'm here and lurking on the threads; my craft projects are just slow going lately. But I did finish knitting a scarf this week and am in the process of blocking it, so I should have photos to share soon...

For my next knitting project I want to make some new felted coasters for my office, which we recently remodeled (so I want coasters to match the new color scheme of blue/white/light grey), but even though I've made these before, I can't find the right size needles in my stash. Yoicks. I have the hardest time keeping track of those things. So, I ordered a new set and will have to wait a couple of days. In the meantime I can't be without something to keep my hands busy during evening TV time, so I started a pair of socks that I've been planning on making for a friend. Once the new needles get here, I'll probably go back and forth between the two projects (not to mention the other couple of projects already on needles and languishing in my project box...).

>119 scaifea: - I think we all have projects in all those states, Amber.

>120 dudes22: Ha! Yep, I suspect so. It's a crafting habit hazzard.

>119 scaifea:, >120 dudes22: I'd be very surprised if you didn't have a couple of projects in process...;-)

>122 avaland: Ha! Fair point.

The scarf is still blocking (mostly because I forgot about it during the week - yoicks), but I did get started on the coasters. I've got one knitted, but I'll wait until they're all (both? more? I don't know how many I'll make) finished before I felt them. I've added one of the old coasters I made years ago for a sort of before-and-after-felting contrast:

I've always found the idea of felting interesting. I saw a project once to make Christmas stockings from old wool skirts that had been felted and I actually went to the Goodwill and bought one skirt. Which stayed on a shelf until I thought - "What are you thinking?"

>125 dudes22: Ha! I and *so* much thrift store stuff that I've purchased over the years, thinking, "I can do something with that!" and it's mostly all still stashed away waiting for me to do something with it.

>124 scaifea: Ooh, felting! I'm trying to get starting on a felting project too - felted yarn balls sewed together to make a trivet.

>127 PawsforThought: Felting's nice because it's such an easy thing to do. Good luck with your project.

>124 scaifea: Those are nice! Years ago I accidentally felted a child's Laura Ashley sweater which was so cute on my daughter and then became clothing for a teddy bear. Oops. But a few years ago I took a week-long class on various felting techniques. It was really fun although I haven't tried anything on my own.

>129 lauralkeet: Ha! The thrift shops tend to be filled with those sorts of sweater mistakes, and I'm always tempted to buy them up to make mittens or something out of them. Just what I need: another pile of Things To Be Repurposed.

I've only done the one kind of felting (stick it in the washing machine repeatedly until it looks like you want it to look), but I know that there are all kinds. A class sounds very cool!

>130 scaifea: I have some cashmere fingerless gloves which are repurposed from unwanted cashmere sweaters. Very nice.

>131 SandDune: Oh, nice!

>107 scaifea: Just catching up here, but I really like your pattern and fabrics. Flannel is so nice.

Did you actually set the two pieces in the middle out so that the swirl would link? If not, take the credit for it anyway, as it looks really neat.

>133 SassyLassy: Thanks! I *love* these fabrics and colors, too.

And ha! I didn't even notice that the swirls lined up in that photo! That's so funny!

>124 scaifea: Oo, the felted coaster is kind of cool....(in a warm sort of way)

>135 avaland: Thanks, Lois! I finally got round to felting them yesterday, so I'll post a photo soonish.

>129 lauralkeet: A whole week! Sounds fabulous! I've been tempted by felting. But so many skills, only one lifetime. My new pandemic thing was to learn sprang. First attempt utter disaster. Second attempt identifiable. Would like to try again, but when will I find the time?

>119 scaifea: Good luck on the projects!

>137 justchris: - I had to look that up - never heard of sprang. Type of weaving?

The coasters are dry!

Those are cute. Love the color.

>139 scaifea: So cool! (I guess I repeat myself here!)

>140 dudes22: Thanks! I love the colors, too!

>141 avaland: Ha! Thanks, Lois!

I actually spent some time in the sewing room yesterday and probably will today, too. The scarf is nearly finished blocking - just one more section to go (it's looooong and I only have so many blocking pens so I've had to do it in chunks). And the quilt squares are coming along.

>139 scaifea: I love these!

>144 rosalita: Thanks, Julia!

I've done a little bit of felting! Some even on purpose. It's fun, but wet-felting is so messy and needle-felting is so tedious. :D The felted coaster looks really nice.

>137 justchris: I took a sprang class once but haven't done any since - I would love to learn. I have a sprang hammock chair, and an empty hammock chair frame waiting to be filled with a matching one. But from the class it seemed like it was really easy to just end up with a giant tangle instead...

>146 melannen: I've only wet felted using my washing machine and only small projects. I am not here for bit messy projects or tedious ones! Ha!

>147 scaifea: I have only wet-felted in the washing machine accidentally. :D

But it's a fun activity for a summer fair or something - I did my first project with unspun fleece under a tent in a field in August with some teenagers, and splashing water everywhere felt good!

>148 melannen: My son, Charlie, and I did some messy wet felting on one of the field trips I chaperoned when he was younger. It was definitely...wet...

>149 scaifea: I am felting-stupid. What technique did you use for the coasters?

>148 melannen: Oh, yeah, accidental felting. I've done that to more than one lambswool cardigan...

>150 rosalita: I stuck 'em in the washing machine with a load of towels and put them through a quick cycle, cold water, no spin. These only took one go-round, but it depends on the project and just how felted you want them (I can still see the stitches in these a bit, so they *could* have gone longer, but I like 'em this way). Then you roll them up in a towel a bit to get as much water out as you can, shape them the way you want them, and leave them to dry.

I, too, never heard of sprang. Some good pictures appear at Wikipedia.

I finally finished blocking the scarf I knitted out of leftover yarn scraps. It's still slightly uneven in a couple of places, but I'm okay with that - adds to the slightly cobbled look I was going for:

That's nice Amber. Did you plan the color order or stripe widths in advance or did you just change colors whenever you felt like it?

>155 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! I tried to randomize it as much as I could; I dumped all the scrap yarn balls in a basket and picked them out at random when I was ready to change colors, and I used a random number generator to determine how many rows for each stripe.

It's nice and should be really warm.

>156 scaifea: Thanks Amber. I used a randomizer for a couple pairs of socks made with 4-5 colors. The "grab bag" method is perfect for a scarf with so many different colors, it keeps you from overthinking it.

>157 dudes22: Thanks!

>158 lauralkeet: I loved using the random number generator for this - I'm trying to think up other projects I could use it on now...

>138 dudes22: My apologies for taking so long to circle back! Yes, sprang is a kind of warp weaving technique. The yarn is warped in a continuous loop around 2 horizontal bars, one at the top and one at the bottom. The shed is formed by pulling/pushing warp strands forward/backward, then securing the arrangement with sticks at the top and bottom before the next round of push/pull shed formation.

It results in a mesh that can move and breathe--hammocks, mesh shopping bags, and hairnets being the most comon identifiable examples. It can be quite a tight mesh weave to make things like hats too.

>146 melannen: My first attempt was indeed a terrible tangle. Turns out, you need to tie off or otherwise secure the top and bottom edges before removing the project from the anchoring bars.

>153 sallypursell: Ooh, I haven't seen the Wikipedia article. I'll have to look it up!

My motivation is recreating a belt that's part of a gravefind from the 14th century (Bishop Timotheos, though I see the Wikipedia article doesn't mention the belt).

So far what I've managed is a tangle and a kinda, sorta bag that's lopsided. Baby steps.

>160 justchris: Cool! I first learned about if from someone trying to recreate the Lengberg Bras from the 14 century. :D Good luck!

>154 scaifea: Love the scarf colors!

>162 avaland: Thanks, Lois!

Quilt Update:
This weekend I managed to sort out the order I want the blocks to be in, so I can start sewing the top together next weekend. Whew, that was a chore, laying it all out on the floor and then adjusting the order as needed - king size quilts are...large. I took a photo for reference while I sew it together, but it's not a great picture so I won't share it here. Once I get it put together I'll try for a better one.

>164 scaifea: Yay for progress! And such ambitious project.

>165 justchris: Ha! I keep realizing just *how* ambitious over and over...

>164 scaifea: Looking forward to seeing the king quilt! I have made maybe two king-size quilts, and other generous queen-sized ones. Not sure I'm up to it anymore, but you are still a young thing :-) Still, I applaud your tenacity!

On the floor laying it out? (my knees hurt thinking about that, and one of my knees is titanium!) Might I suggest a wall set-up? I use 2-4'x8'x1" pieces of rigid styrofoam insulation with flannel fabric* stapled to it as a 'design wall'. The two pieces are not connected so one can be on top of the other if I don't need a large design space. I use them over part of a wall and one window but can also move them to the other side of the room and place them in front of the shelves of fabric.

*I believe we cut a foot off the top of the 4x8 so I could move it around more easily (really, the hardest part was getting the panels home from the store). My flannel is gray and has a grid, something Kaffe Fassett put out, but I don't see why just plain flannel wouldn't work.

>167 avaland: Ha! Yep, that was last weekend and today the backs of my thighs are *still* angry with me.

I would LOVE a wall board and covet yours every time you post a photo, but I don't have the wall space right now. I'd have to do some heavy re-arranging in the sewing room. Maybe someday...

>168 scaifea: OK, Short of giving up a few sewing machines...LOL...What about a three-panel folding screen covered with three pieces of flannel. You could fold it up when not needed... ('never give up, never surrender!"*) Admittedly, I have only had this board for a couple of years, if that.

*Galaxy Quest

>169 avaland: Ha! Maybe. I'll have to talk to Tomm about what he could put together for me. (And I love GQ!)

>170 scaifea: By Grabthar's Hammer I wish you good luck with that! (that's the extent of my quotes:-)

>171 avaland: *snork!* Thanks!

Oh, where is Amber? Come out, come out wherever you are.... Hoping your absence is only busyness elsewhere....

Ha! Oh, I'm here, lurking on everyone's threads. I'm still working on sewing the quilt top together, plus I'm knitting a pair of Hufflepuff striped socks for a friend. I'll try to get a good photo of the quilt top when I've got it all together.

>174 scaifea: I was just doing the rounds of the threads and realized after I posted here, that you were lurking elsewhere. :-)

>175 avaland: Yep, I'm enjoying other people's productiveness while not having any of my own, essentially. *sigh*

Hi, Amber! I've been gone for a few weeks, and I'm making the rounds to get caught up in messages. Good luck with that quilt top you are working on. I haven't finished a quilt for a while.

>177 sallypursell: Thanks, Sally! It's such slow going these days, but I'm getting there.

There was a woman doctor and a quilter who said, "I just sew a little every day, and unexpectedly, one day I have a quilt!"

>179 sallypursell: Ha! Well, as another woman doctor, I should follow that same motto, I suppose!

I'm still here and still slowing working on projects. This last weekend I finally got all the quilt squares sewn together and now I need to sew the two layers of border strips to have the top all finished. Whew. Such a big project. Then I'll need to order batting and backing fabric.

I finished a pair of socks for a Harry Potter fan friend - I used thicker-than-sock-yarn yarn to make them like slipper socks, so they look a little chunky:



And now I'm knitting another pair of socks for me, plus a baby blanket.

You sound busy! How is the weather there been this summer?

I can relate to multiple projects at the same time. Those would make good "wicked witch" socks for Halloween too.

>182 avaland: Hi, Lois. Busy pretty much covers it - we brought a puppy into the house, which of course disrupts everything for a little while and we're just coming out of that disruption stage. She's a cutie, though:



The weather in general has been pretty nice, but this last week and a half or so has been hot and gross. Blech.

>183 dudes22: Ha! Yep, I always have multiple projects going as well as multiple books.

And since they're Harry Potter themed, they're already witch socks!

Nice socks Amber! Is that self-striping yarn or did you use two different colors? I'm thinking the latter since you also worked the ribbing and heels in one color only.

>186 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Yep, I used two different yarns. The socks I'm making now are two different colors, too, but I'm only using the second color for the top ribbing, the heel, and the toe.

>184 scaifea: - Such an adorable border collie. We had one who lived to be 14 1/2 and she was much loved. But ours was missing the white strip from forehead to nose so basically a black face. (There's a picture of her on my profile - actually all 3 pictures are of her.) I love the one ear up on your pup.

>188 dudes22: Aw, yay for Border Collies! We lost our Tuppence last year - she was 15.

socks for a Harry Potter friend huh? They look black and yellow to me, Go Steelers!

>190 al.vick: Ha! Nope, go Hufflepuff!

>184 scaifea: That ear!

>192 lesmel: She's ridiculously adorable, isn't she?

So I finally got the top of the quilt completely pieced together. Pardon the awful photo - it's really difficult to get a picture of a king-sized quilt!



I've ordered my batting and backing and binding fabrics - I went with the mostly solid but slightly textured beige for the backing and a darker brown with a small swirl pattern for the binding. We'll see how it turns out.

I may treat myself to a trip to the fabric shop on Thursday - I want to make some quilted placemats for Halloween and I'm excited to pick out fabric for that.

>194 scaifea: Well done, Amber - that looks really good!

>194 scaifea: Nice quilt!

That is absolutely amazing Amber! Beautiful work.

Wow! I love the colors.

That's great, Amber. I like the idea of the dark binding.

Thanks, everyone! I was worried that I went too light with the plain blocks, but in the end I kind of love it.

>194 scaifea: That's really lovely! And amen to difficult photo ops on king size beds. The contortions I go through to get a good photo on my bed are a riot.

>201 lesmel: Thanks! And yes, it's crazy trying to stand on a chair and get the whole thing in the photo without it all looking distorted, plus the lighting... ugh.

>194 scaifea: Hurray for finishing the top! And king-sized is a booger to handle - so much fabric. So, brave you! (I've only done one, I think, and that's on our bed)

>203 avaland: I've done one other before, a Christmas present for my parents, so I'm apparently a glutton for punishment. My next big challenge is figuring out a space in the house big enough to lay the sandwich out for pinning...

>204 scaifea: - One of my favorite fabric stores will let you bring your quilt up and push tables together so you can pin it together. I'm not sure I'd ever attempt a king size quilt.

>204 scaifea: and is safe from puppy "helping" ...

>205 dudes22: Oh, that's a great service!

>206 lauralkeet: HA! That's an excellent point...

I like your quilt, too. Brown and blue is a favorite choice of mine, too. I have only made one king-sized quilt. It was a never-ending task, and I salute your persistence.

>209 sallypursell: Thanks! I love brown and blue together, too. I got the inspiration for these colors from a baby blanket of Charlie's, which was all soft browns and blues and beiges. And yeah, this quilt is taking *forever* and I'm (*gulp*) going to hand quilt it so it'll be another entire forever before it's completely done.

>204 scaifea: I used to have two old, heavy 6 ft folding tables I used to get out and put side by side. Maybe they are in the basement. If you want to pop over, I'd gladly give them to you :-)

>211 avaland: Ha! Thanks for the offer!

Okay, I think I'm going to try putting my quilt sandwich together today, folks. We have room enough on our bedroom floor, plus it's still in an area off limits to the pup and it has a door I can close to keep Mario (our older dog) out. Wish me luck...

Sewing Update!

The quilt sandwich is together and I've started quilting it, but it will be a couple of forevers before that beast is finished. In the meantime, I've just finished up my annual pajama project for Charlie. This is the first year he picked out mostly solids - he's growing up. I love the plaid he chose, though, and the pride flags!



Next up, I'm going to make some quilted Halloween placemats.

Funny, how kids grow up, eh? Nice choices and that is a terrific plaid! Good luck with the placemats.

>215 avaland: Thanks, Lois!

Okay, here are the ninja costumes I mentioned over on Mel's thread:

OMG those are so cute. Thanks for digging up a photo Amber!

>217 scaifea: Adorable!

Thanks, folks! Here's what we were going for:

OMG! Those are terrific! What a great mom!

Those are great although I'm not sure the dog is thrilled. Maybe he wanted the blue costume.

>221 avaland: Aw, thanks, Lois! Making his Halloween costumes is one of my very favorite things.

>222 dudes22: Ha! Mario actually loved going trick-or-treating that year with Charlie.

Nice! They both make great ninja!

I've finished up one of the placemats and just have to hand stitch the binding to the back on the rest of them:

>226 scaifea: Nice! I like the fabric with the cats and pumpkins (the others are nice too, but, you know, cats...).

>226 scaifea: That's really a nice placemat!

>226 scaifea: I love those!

>228 thornton37814: >229 al.vick: Thanks, folks! They're super easy and I really like how it turned out, so I think I'll look for other holiday fabrics and make up some more. Here's the pattern, if anyone is interested:

https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/table-runners/quilt-you-go-place-m...

>226 scaifea: Those are such cute fabrics!

>226 scaifea: - Simple but cute. I think I might have a few of those fabrics too.

>232 dudes22: Thanks! I think I did a pretty good job of putting those patterns together... Ha!

>232 dudes22: Yep. Super simple. Just the way I like it.

So here's what happened in the sewing room today - I had some leftover fabric from the placemats and decided to make some coasters:

>234 scaifea: Those are so cute!!

Those are cute! You get so much done.

>236 dudes22: Thanks! Ha! Yeah, it doesn't feel like I get very much accomplished.

love those!

>238 al.vick: Aw, thanks!!

The coasters are so cute!!

>240 avaland: Thanks, Lois!

So, it's that time of year: time to start working on Charlie's Halloween costume. This year he created his own D&D/anime character and gave me a sketch of what he'd like the outfit to look like:



I've planned it all out and been to the fabric shop for supplies, and I've even completed Phase 1:



If only all the phases were this easy - I literally just cut a wide strip of jersey knit...

>242 scaifea: Excellent start to the project!

>243 lesmel: Ha! Thanks! I'm getting the easy bits out of the way first.

The fingerless gloves are done and I have to say that they're super comfy and I'm definitely making some for myself! I have tons of knit fabric in all kinds of colors, so I may make several pairs! Here they are as modeled by Charlie, who was gracious enough to stop his video game just long enough to put them on and pause for a photo:



I also whipped up the mask/cowl yesterday:

That costume is really coming together nicely!

>246 lauralkeet: Ha! Thanks, Laura! The easy parts are all done now, so…

I made a bit of progress on the Halloween costume this afternoon, in the 30 minutes I snagged in the sewing room. But in other news, I actually finished up a knitting project last night - a new pair of sock for me:

I like the socks. Those are my two favorite colors!

>249 al.vick: Thanks! I love those colors together.

Those are really cute!

>251 dudes22: Thanks!

Amber, I love the colors, and the way you used them differently on each sock. Very nice and just in time for sock-wearing season.

>253 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! They’re a bit thicker than a usual sock, too, which will be nice for the cooler weather.

Projects Update:
I've been working on a prototype for the little satchel in the costume sketch - since I'm creating the pattern from scratch I didn't want to cut into the fabric I bought for it until I know it's all going to work out. So I got that sorted yesterday and am ready to make the real one now.

I also started two new knitting projects, a hat and another pair of socks. The hat will be a basic beanie/stocking hat in green and grey stripes (to add to my Slytherin collection), and I'm knitting the socks with a self-striping yarn:

I love that you always have socks on the needles, Amber. I usually do, too. They're a handy project to have around, good for TV watching or travel or waiting rooms or whatever. And self striping yarn is so much fun.

ETA: I have two -- count 'em! -- emails this morning promoting sock knitting / sock yarn. The temptation is unbelievable!!

>255 scaifea: That's a great looking yarn, I'm sure the socks will look great. I have multiple balls of self-striping yarn planned for socks, and I'm still looking at buying some more. They're great fun.
I look forward to seeing the Halloween costume come to life.

>256 lauralkeet: You're very right, Laura, and having socks on the needles all the time is very handy. I tend to use the same pattern over and over because I like it and it means I don't have to think too much about what I'm doing, which also makes it great for knitting while watching TV. And yes! Sock yarn is always particularly tempting. I got this particular one on super-sale a couple of years ago - only $2 a skein! The self-striping is so fun to watch come together, too.

>257 PawsforThought: I have at least 5 other sock yarns in my stash awaiting the needles, most of the self-striping.

My friend made me some self-striping socks last year which I love. And she just asked me if I wanted another pair and of course I said yes! That is a pretty color of yarn.

>259 dudes22: Aw, yay for knitter friends who give gifts!

Costume Update: The satchel is finished!







It's a little hard to see the lining there; here's what that fabric actually looks like:

It's so much fun, watching this costume take shape!

>262 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! It's fun on this end, too, so far. I always hit a snag somewhere or other though, and I predict it will be in the jacket-making process. But maybe not - I've made a fair few of those in the past and know the general idea. Right now I'm in the process of teaching myself how to make a baldric...

>261 scaifea: That satchel is fabulous!

>264 avaland: Thanks, Lois!

The baldric is almost finished, which means the only thing left is the jacket...

>261 scaifea: - That's fabulous!

>266 dudes22: Thanks!!

The baldric is finished!

I love the satchel!!

>269 lesmel: Thanks!!

I finished a couple of knitting projects last night - a baby blanket (not for anyone in particular; I just like making them and having a few on hand for new arrivals, so I tend to always have one on the needles) and a Slytherin hat for me:

Whew! The costume is finished!!

And the costume is finished!!

The sketch:



The results:





The jacket is fully lined with a satiny shiny fabric (we don't do things by halves here at Scaife Manor, or, as my mom would say, I have more time than good sense):



And I'm super-happy with how the collar turned out - first time I've made one quite like this:

The whole thing looks fantastic!! Well done!

That's really great!

>273 lesmel: >274 dudes22: Thanks!!

Wow, that looks amazing! Charlie is very lucky in his costumer!

>276 melannen: Aw, thanks! His costumes are the things I love sewing the most, and I look forward to it every year.

Terrific!

>278 avaland: Thanks, Lois!

That looks great, Amber!

>280 PawsforThought: Thanks!

So now that I'm finished with Charlie's costume, I decided to make something for myself. I *love* the fingerless gloves I made for him, so I made some for me, and I think they turned out pretty good! They're *super* comfortable, too:

That's cool fabric.

>283 dudes22: Thanks. I used leftover scraps from some pajamas I made for Charlie a few years ago. It's knit, so it's extra soft and comfortable.

Oooh, I love that they line up!

>285 melannen: Aw, thanks! I mostly just wanted to make sure that I had different parts on the top of each one; it just sort of happened that it pretty much matches up.

What a fun project!

>287 avaland: It is!

Here's Charlie in the full costume:

His choice in costume also incorporates appropriate masking. Such a smart kid! He looks ready to take on the world. :)

>290 lesmel: Ha! So true! He wore the mask to school the other day instead of his one of his usual elastic-behind-the-ears ones and said it's much more comfortable, so I've spent a couple of hours today making him some more.

That's a great job!

nice.

>289 scaifea: Looks great, Amber! And how great that Charlie can use the mask for non-Halloween purposes, too.

Thanks, all!

>289 scaifea: Great job on the costume! And my, Charlie has grown up fast.

>296 avaland: Thanks, Lois! He's not only taller than both Tomm and me now, he also taller than our fridge, and for some reason that one really blows me away. So. Tall.

I've been busy working on Christmas projects lately. I'm almost finished with a new set of quilted placemats (made with the same pattern as the Halloween ones), and yesterday I finished up sewing a fleece throw blanket for my parents:

What a nice gift!

>298 scaifea: Oh, what a lovely thing to give (and receive)! I love the lace-patterned bits.

Lovely gift, Amber....

Thanks, folks!

I'm working on more Christmas gifts, but will wait to post photos after they've been gifted - some of the recipients are LT members and although I don't think they would come here, I'm playing it safe.

Will look forward to seeing your projects whenever you are able to post them!

I finally finished something I can share before Christmas - another pair of socks (for me):

As I said to Paws.. "to me, from me" is not a bad thing. Nice looking.

Very nice socks indeed! I love the colors.

>304 scaifea: They look very comfy and cozy, Amber. And I like the colour scheme.

>304 scaifea: Those are great!

Thanks, everyone! Self-striping yarn for the win - again! I haven't worn them yet because this week is all about my collection of Christmas socks, of course...