Stitch n bitch

[aimeefarrahfowler]

Isn't this something we used to do? Anyway, what crafty thing are you working on now? Comments/complaints?

[aimeefarrahfowler]

I really just created this thread so I can gripe about this blanket...

A friend of my mom's crocheted both of the boys baby blankets. Same pattern, just in different colors. Well, A ended up with both of them in his bed, which was fine because T wasn't using a blanket yet and now it's summer so it's not like either of them need a blanket anyway. Now the blankets are way too small for A, so I thought I would make him one just like his baby blanket, but bigger so he could use it on his big boy bed when it starts getting chillier.

So I asked my mom's friend like 100 times (okay, like 3) for the pattern and she wouldn't tell me. Then she said "it's just a shell pattern." So I picked out a shell pattern that looked pretty close and this yarn and after working on it for probably six hours, I realized it wasn't anything close to the baby blanket pattern, plus I really didn't like how the colors were pooling.

So I frogged all my work and studied the baby blanket and googled and googled and finally figured out she used a variation on a Catherine's Wheel stitch, which I've never done before. So then I found a pattern that I liked and did about 5 or 6 rounds and had to frog again because it was coming out way too stiff and the center rounds were all bumpy and didn't lay flat.

After I frogged it and went to re-roll the whole skein and start over, something terrible happened and i ended up with a huge knotted mess of yarn. I seriously almost threw it away. But after a thrilling couple of hours on Saturday night, I got it all untangled and balled again, went up a hook size and started over. This is where I'm at now.



I'm not crazy in love with the yarn. It's just some cheap red heart acrylic, that I'm hoping I can get to soften up when I wash it. The colors look nicer in person, but I kind of wish I had done solid stripes but hate weaving ends, so I chose variegated yarn instead (also, the baby blankets are variegated like this too). Anyway, I'm done frogging this blanket and I'm just going to push ahead.

[tribute17]

I think it looks great! I'm always jealous of people who know how to do this. I actually love being crafty but I don't know how to do any of this and don't have anyone to teach me. Eventually I will learn but not sure I have the time right now or the patience. It seems so daunting.

[bliz1712]

I actually like the colors. How long will this actually take you when it's done? I've never picked up this craft, but I am jealous of those that do. V's older half sister made a blanket for Eliza that took a long time I'm sure, so I can't imagine how long this will take. I counted crosstitch and those can take forever. Good luck.

[xanthepants]

I really like it - and I'm not a huge fan of variegated yarns either but I really actually like this one. Kudos! I usually give up on a knit projects when they give me that much grief.
I kind of took a hiatus post birthday party and now am having to mainly work on house prepping projects to get to ready for sale. I have a lot of painting projects but mainly its going from fun to beige/griege. So not too exciting! I did manage to make Coco a couple of summer dresses from the premade JoAnns pre-ruched stock. Does that count?

[aimeefarrahfowler]

tribute17 I taught myself how to knit and crochet, just from books! Back before there was youtube and online tutorials and all these great resources. You could totally learn! Just not from me. World's worst teacher here

bliz1712 I'm planning (hoping?) to have it done by the fall. In the picture it's about the size of a placemat and that took me about 2 1/2 commutes on the train... about 2 hours. It's working up pretty quickly, but at some point since I want it to be about twin-bed sized, it's going to be way too big to haul on the train in my bag. I've done cross-stitch before and it does take forever! And there is so much counting! I don't have the patience for it.

xanthepants I'd love to see the dresses! I am so not a sewer! I've made curtains, but that's it!

[lainikins]

That looks really great aimeefarrahfowler!

The last thing that I have finished is a slip cover for Emmett's little chair in the living room. We bought the chair with full intentions of me making a slip cover so it fit in better in the living room and we even bought fabric for it. I put it off for almost 2 years now. I was overthinking it and I was thinking it was going to be difficult to get it right. It ended up being so easy and only took one nap time to do start to finish. It went from this (but with gross chocolate stains on the white):
To this:

[vanessalc]

tribute17 the internet can teach you ANYTHING!
aimeefarrahfowler I think the blanket looks great.
I bought some pirate theme fabric and a water proof backing that was going to be for his party. Trying to decide if I should go ahead with the plan or do something different. Also on my list is a running belt for my phone.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

lainikins that looks awesome! I love it! What does Emmett think of his new chair?

[lainikins]

Jul 23, 2015 13:17:30 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

lainikins that looks awesome! I love it! What does Emmett think of his new chair?

Well Emmett is not one for change. He threw a fit when he first saw it and kept telling me he wanted his chocolate back. He has warmed up to it though.

[Riverdong11]

I'm slowly getting back into doing crafts and I'm loving it! I started a monthly girl's craft night with my friends, so right now I'm planning my project that I will work on Saturday night. I think I'm going to make a burlap wreath for my front door. I already have the wire frame, I just need to pick up some burlap ribbon. It shouldn't be too hard.

[justbeth]

I love that yall still make time for crafting. I really need to do this. I used to paint, and I looooooooove painting, but I can't even wrap my mind around getting out oil paints with a 3 year old in the house. Maybe once she starts preschool in September.

[starfishy]

I'm taking a sewing class on the 4th. I want to learn to sew and I think it will help with my anxiety because I need something to focus on. Wish me luck.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

Riverdong11 that sounds like so much fun! That kind of crafty thing, I am not good at! If it requires any kind of actual creativity, I get stumped. That's why I like crocheting and following a pattern. No thinking required

justbeth I usually do it on my commute on the train, or after the kids go to bed. It's like my version of meditation. I tried to crochet once when Alex was around and he was all "can I help you?" and wouldn't stop touching it.

starfishy that's awesome! I hope you have fun.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

so this happened



another huge knot. The guts of the pull ball I made came out and got tangled in my bag while I was working on it on my way home.

[somethingcleverer]

oh no aimeefarrahfowler, that's just unfair! Your blanket is really cute though.

I'm working on this market bag (ravelry pattern here) I like how it's coming out I just wish I made more time to work on it. I also kept losing stitches somewhere so I stopped counting because I think it was a problem with my counting. I've decided it'll turn out however it turns out and then I'll see if I want to make another.



Bottom of the bag:

[aimeefarrahfowler]

somethingcleverer that is really neat! I always see tote bag projects and think I should do one, but I never get around to it. I seriously need to put one on my list.

I had actually started making plastic bag yarn to recycle into tote bag (how meta, right?) But then I moved and lost what I had stockpiled, and then they imposed a plastic bag tax in my county and I got a bunch of reusable bags so now I don't even get that many plastic bags anymore. Cool, story, right?

[Riverdong11]

aimeefarrahfowler That's funny you feel that way about crafts. That's how I feel about knitting and crocheting! These are the types of crafts I can do. I've tried to teach myself to knit and failed miserably!

[trixi282]

I haven't done anything truly crafty since the quilt for J's room while I was in the hospital.

But I did stain and finish an in unfinished dresser from IKEA for her room too!

I don't have a picture of it on my phone though.

[mrsrek10]

Jul 24, 2015 10:43:54 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

somethingcleverer that is really neat! I always see tote bag projects and think I should do one, but I never get around to it. I seriously need to put one on my list.

I had actually started making plastic bag yarn to recycle into tote bag (how meta, right?) But then I moved and lost what I had stockpiled, and then they imposed a plastic bag tax in my county and I got a bunch of reusable bags so now I don't even get that many plastic bags anymore. Cool, story, right?

A plastic bag tax?! I have never heard of such! I keep all our plastic grocery/target/WalMart bags. I use them for stinky pull ups when I am not near the diaper genie. If you need plastic bags, I can gather you some up and mail them. I still can't believe they tax those there...

[cookiesandwine]

I've just been creeping this thread and being amazed at all the crafts you ladies are doing. Then I remembered I got a sewing machine for Christmas; I should get that out sometime and learn to use it...

[aimeefarrahfowler]

Jul 24, 2015 21:51:43 GMT -5 mrsrek10 said:

Jul 24, 2015 10:43:54 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

somethingcleverer that is really neat! I always see tote bag projects and think I should do one, but I never get around to it. I seriously need to put one on my list.

I had actually started making plastic bag yarn to recycle into tote bag (how meta, right?) But then I moved and lost what I had stockpiled, and then they imposed a plastic bag tax in my county and I got a bunch of reusable bags so now I don't even get that many plastic bags anymore. Cool, story, right?

A plastic bag tax?! I have never heard of such! I keep all our plastic grocery/target/WalMart bags. I use them for stinky pull ups when I am not near the diaper genie. If you need plastic bags, I can gather you some up and mail them. I still can't believe they tax those there...

Yep, you have to pay 5 cents tax for plastic bags. My county has it and I know Washington, DC (where I work) does too. There's probably other places, too. It's a PITA, but what can you do...

[aimeefarrahfowler]

Jul 24, 2015 23:13:50 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

I've just been creeping this thread and being amazed at all the crafts you ladies are doing. Then I remembered I got a sewing machine for Christmas; I should get that out sometime and learn to use it...

You just grew a baby. Ultimate DIY

I literally didn't think about crocheting until Tyler was like 6 months old.

[cookiesandwine]

Jul 25, 2015 8:33:28 GMT -5 aimeefarrahfowler said:

Jul 24, 2015 23:13:50 GMT -5 cookiesandwine said:

I've just been creeping this thread and being amazed at all the crafts you ladies are doing. Then I remembered I got a sewing machine for Christmas; I should get that out sometime and learn to use it...

You just grew a baby. Ultimate DIY

I literally didn't think about crocheting until Tyler was like 6 months old.

Lol never thought about it that way!!

I think I might attempt curtains once Sadie starts school in August. My grandma is a phenomenal seamstress and quilter so I'll probably invite her over to help!

[somethingcleverer]

I would love to learn how to sew. I have my aunts old sewing machine but haven't ever used it. I'm pretty sure I would need to oil it too. I think it would be so much fun to pick out the colors and patterns that I like and make them into clothes for the kids.

aimeefarrahfowler I'm always looking at plastic bag crafts too. They always seem to be more effort than I'm willing to put in to a craft. I did pin a bowl made out of plastic bags but once I read the directions I decided not to try it. I could see myself with a half done bowl and all these cut bags cluttering the whole house.

[lainikins]

So here is my bitch: I started a quilt yesterday. I am following an online tutorial (link) and I bought the amount of fabric that they suggested for the circles, but it is only enough for 3/4 of the circles I need. Grrr. She must have been using a wider width fabric. I wish they would tell the widths more with online tutorials. It makes a big difference sometimes.

[MissMusic]

I'm loving the things I see here! The blanket is gorgeous--I do like the wandering colors.

The knitting, the upholstering--we have an awesome bunch of crafters on this board. I looove seeing what other people are up to.

I just finished a Little Mermaid lovey. I am not good at doll hair and I go overboard every single time. For some reason I felt like making 5 or 6 doll loveys, and so here I am. I want to make a Red Riding Hood cloak for Peanut for Halloween, a Tardis hat (me and her, actually), and finish up a beach tote that I kind of hate doing.

[babywinks]

I'm not very crafty but I recently repainted some deck chairs. The paint was peeling off pretty badly but we got them for free so no complaints. I used a textured spray paint so it was a bit forgiving.

Before:

After:

[Riverdong11]

Here's the (almost) finished product. I need to find something decorative to put on it, but I'm really happy with how it's turned out so far.

[aimeefarrahfowler]

MissMusic that lovie is so cute. I bow down to your crochet skills. I'll just be over here making my old lady afghans

babywinks I love spray paint projects! It really looks like a new chair now

Riverdong11 that looks so nice!! what kind of decorations are thinking?

lainikins I'd love to see the quilt as you work on it. I've always wanted to make a quit, but there are just so many fabrics to choose from, I get so overwhelmed looking at them!