Simple quilted placemats - sewing project

I definitely have a lot of learning to do still for sewing. But this was only my second attempt at making placemats using a cute pattern I purchased on Etsy. 

"Take Four" - I don't know why I thought this was a good way to learn to sew. Mostly it was about the fact that I wanted to try to make something small for the house, something that I could change out over the seasons - and somehow, I thought this pattern was just about right for me. It's a bit harder than I expected, but they turn out super cute. And it's a fat quarter friendly pattern - which means you can buy a set of fat quarters in coordinated fabric and go to town. 

Just don't look too close to my seams. They aren't as straight as I'd like.

Mod podged coasters

I have been making these every couple of months with all different styles. There is no end to the creativity. For gifts I've made used licensed fabric for star wars, deadpool, etc. Those are ok to use for gifts, but not for sale.

They turn out adorable and so, so VERY easy. 

Check out my tutorial and information on HomeMadeHappiness

Sewing project - travel case

 

Probably my fifth sewing project in my life... and it turned out pretty good. Not perfect, but I've only been sewing a few things in the last couple of months. 

I've got a second blog started for use with a future-not-quite-ready for the big time website where I will be reviewing projects/patterns/etc and discussing if there's any potential for turning the projects into something profitable (or not).

Let me know what you think: HomeMadeHappiness

2024, new life to my knitting

 My wrist pain has made it altogether impossible to enjoy knitting. And I've tried it all. NSAIDs (ibuprofen and two forms of topicals), wrist splints, etc. 

It's been two years since I've been able to knit. And it's been HARD. I've explored a lot of alternative crafts over the past few years. And while that's been fun and I've enjoyed them. It is not the same. I don't get the same dopamine rush, I don't get the same meditative, soothing, relaxing sensation.

But I found something, and it's even under $10!!!

I found a pair of fingerless gloves that have heating elements on the palms and back of the hands that is heated by a simple USB port. 

Affiliate link - USB Heated Gloves.

I've been wearing them while working (office work, so I'm on a keyboard all day), and in the evening. They've helped the pain ten-fold better than everything else I've tried.

Now, admittedly, I've been nervous about whether they'll work for my knitting or not. So far, I've spent about twenty minutes last weekend and twenty minutes yesterday - keeping my knitting time to a minimum intentionally. But my wrists don't hurt afterwards. I'm not sure if I'll ever knit as much as I used to... easily four to five hours every evening and most of my weekends. But I am definitely feeling more at ease with knitting again. 

I can't vouch for how long they'll last. I've worn mine non-stop since Christmas. For $10, I wouldn't be too terribly upset if I had to replace them occasionally.

I also bought a pair for my son who struggles with Raynauds. He's thrilled as well. He's even bought a separate battery pack for them so he can wear them away from the laptop. 

While the heating pads can be removed for washing, there's a velcro strip to hold them back in place that could be a little stronger; but the light velcro strip is reducing bulk so you don't really notice that while wearing the gloves. I just wouldn't take them out and replace them multiple times unless you really needed to. 

NOTE: No one has paid me to support these, though the link above is an affiliate one, so if you use the link and buy the gloves, I will get a small commission. 

Nothing, if not unpredictable

  Another wide gap between posts.

I really, really enjoyed the spur of creativity creating innovative baby hats.

I really, really enjoyed working on some charity blanket projects, which were really big and seemed to never end.

But, now my health has prevented me from knitting more than an hour or two a week. 

Still have the urge to create. Not a lot of talent, but I'm exploring other crafts.

Easter Wreath - made with mesh, pipe cleaners (or I should say chenille stems, as they are called now) a few odds and ends from the craft shop and an inexpensive, stuffed bunny.

Used a video tutorial from Dave's wreaths - #daveswreathsandthings #daveswreaths #howtomakeawreath

Mitered square scrap blanket

I've been having a bit of a go at making a twin-sized blankets with odds and ends of worsted weight yarn. Maybe around 60 yards per square.

Using size 7 needles (I knit pretty loosely, so you may find you want to go up a bit in size).

For the first square, I cast on 48 stitches with a stitch marker placed in the middle.

Each row after - I slipped the very first stitch with yarn in front, then I knit to the stitch marker, slipped it, did an SSK, and then knit to the end of the row. Repeated until I only had two stitches left - and just did a P2Tog (though I imagine an SSK or K2Tog woutld work as well, it's just with the yarn in front after turning for that last row, it was just easier to P2Tog.

Subsequent squares in the same row - or starting a new row - I would pick up & knit 24 stitches off of an existing square, and cast-on the 24 needed to start another square. Subsequent squares in an existing row, I could pick up and knit 48 stitches from two existing squares.

I'm weaving ends in as I go ... and if a scrap of left over yarn doesn't make the whole square - I'd switch, or add a stripe... and have some fun with it.

I did do a 4-color square once (probably won't do that one again, it was more weaving in than I enjoyed. 

I did it by casting on/picking up 12 stitches in color 1; 24 stitches in color 2; 12 stitches in color 3... made sure in each row to wrap the color I was working in around the next color and worked the decreases until there was no more color 2. Then switched all stitches in the next row to color 4. It was an experiment ... and it was ok. And it did let me use ever decreasing amounts of yarn - say 15 yards -ish each. But, yeah... I think I'd rather just crack open another skein of yarn vs trying to use such tiny left overs. 

As you can see, it's not finished quite yet... Plan is to do 20+ rows of 10 squares each. It goes fast than one would think, but it's still one of those things that can get tiring after a bit. So four squares here, two squares here... bit by bit, it's growing.

Edited to Add:

Finished January 2023. Hit a bit of a bump there where I was getting a little tired of the project. Mind the mess, we're human not automation robots keeping the house spotless.

Puppy Hat

ETA: Size 7 circular needles or double-points. Used scraps of Worsted Weight yarn.

Two sizes - preemie or newborn

CO 40 (48) sts (or any multiple of 8) with contrast color (I used blue)

Join in the round being careful not to twistKnit 3 rounds with K1, P1 ribbing with the first contrast color, cut yarn - leave enough of a tail to weave in endsKnit 1 rounds with just the Knit stitch with the second contrast color 

Knit 2 rounds with K1, P1 ribbing with the second contrast color, cut yarn - leave enough of a tail to weave in ends

Knit all stitches with main color for approx 4" (tweed turned out super cute)
Decrease round 1 - Knit 7 stitches, K2tog; repeat through end of round
Knit 1 round
Decrease round 2 - Knit 6, K2tog; repeat through end of round
Knit 1 round
Decrease round 3 - Knit 5, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Knit 1 round

Decrease round 4 - Knit 4, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Knit 1 round

Decrease round 5 - Knit 3, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Decrease round 6 - Knit 2, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Decrease round 7 - Knit 1, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Decrease round 8 - K2tog all stitches

Cut the yarn, leave enough to run through remaining stitches and tighten to close, weave in ends

Ears (make 2):

CO 8 with second contrast color

Row 1: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, K1 (10 sts)

Row 2: K10

Row 3: K1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1 (12 sts)

Row 4: K12

Row 5: K1, KFB, K8, KFB, K1 (14 sts)

Row 6: K14

Repeat row 6 for 2 1/2"

End Row 1: K1, K2tog, K8, K2tog, K1 (12 sts)

End Row 2: K12

End Row 3: K1, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K1 (10 sts)

End Row 4: K10

End Row 5: K1, K2tog, K4, K2tog, K1 (8 sts)

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam

.

Eye patch:

CO 3 with first contrast color

Row 1: K1, KFB, K1 (4 sts)

Row 2: P4

Row 3: K1, KFB, KFB, K1 (6 sts)

Row 4: P6

Row 5: K1, KFB, K2, KFB, K1 (8 sts)

Row 6: P8

Row 7: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, K1 (10 sts)

Row 8: P10

Row 9: K10

Row 10: P10

Repeat rows 9 & 10 for 1" ending on a Purl row

End Row 1: K1, K2tog, K4, SSK, K1 (8 sts)

End Row 2: P8

End Row 3: K1, K2tog, K2, SSK, K1 (6 sts)

End Row 4: P6

End Row 5: K1, K2tog, SSK, K1 (4 sts)

End Row 6: P4

End Row 7: K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts)

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam 

Eyes (make two):

CO 3 with black

Row 1: K1, KFB, K1 (4 sts)

Row 2: P4

Row 3: K1, KFB, KFB, K1 (6 sts)

Row 4: P6

Row 5: K6

Row 6: P6

Row 7: K1, K2tog, SSK, K1 (4 sts)

Row 8: P4

Row 9: K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts)

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam 

Nose:

CO 6 with black

Row 1: K1, KFB, K2, KFB, K1 (10 sts)

Row 2: P10

Row 3: K10

Row 4: P10

Row 5: K1, KFB, K4, KFB, K1 (12 sts)

Row 6: P12

Row 7: K12

Row 8: P12

Row 9: K1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1 (14 sts)

Row 10: P14

Row 11: K14

Row 12: P14

Bind off loosely, leaving enough of a tail to seam 

Place ears, eyes, eye patch and nose on the front of the hat until you like the placement. Ensure you seam items on VERY SECURELY with multiple rounds of stitches.