kittycafe

Eventually

Did you ever have one of those very productive days? Cleaning gets done as well as those projects you have been putting off for oh... quite a while?

Well, one day this week after waking up and cleaning the fridge first thing (I KNOW!)  I got out the sewing machine.

I had made a knitting needle roll way back when but my double-pointed needles were in a small zippered case that I had to rummage through and then measure to find four of the right size every time I wanted to use them. I cursed this method every single time and muttered that I had to do something about it.

But first let's go back a bit to September, the last-minute-the-day-before-school-because-I-can't-find-my pencil-case-ANYWHERE-Mom! (I did tell her to put her book bag together the week before)

I made her a pencil case, out of an old pair of her jeans, the night before school, thinking it was very nice indeed. 

 

She didn't think so. 

She refused to take it to school. This is the kind of thing they don't tell you about when you hold that perfect newborn baby in your arms: They go feral and turn on you in the teenage years.

So anyway, I was looking through my small stash of fabric for the small needle roll and came upon the same fabric and the remainder of the jeans. 

Perfect. I thought.

 

Now those little double-pointeds are organized and I never have to measure them again (Unless I don't put them back or drop them on the floor but let's be positive here.)

 

I had in fact two pairs of the Littlest's old jeans, so I got busy with a holder for the circulars as well. It helps that the jeans were skinny size zeros, so minimal cutting was required. One (half) leg did the strip down the middle. The fact that they were stretch denim was a bit of an irritation while sewing but I was going for rustic here. I thought this was truly inspired but then I found this. So, maybe not so original after all...

The fact that I have used old jeans three times now confirms my pseudo-hippy leanings, enough that the teenager will not be seen with me at all soon. All the eye rolling is quite enough. Did you know my name is apparently: "OMG" ? 

 

I had the unusual hanger for quite some time with the intention of making such a thing. I don't know where it was from. A purchased scarf or stockings? That will remain a mystery.

But they are done.

And organized.

I think the smug feeling will last as long as the fridge stays clean.

Which is unfortunately not long enough.

 

The Fair

My first words upon entering the fair building? 

"I can't believe I forgot my camera!"

Luckily I did not forget my winter coat; it was freezing out. Two years ago when we were house hunting we first visited the fair. We were melting from the heat in our T-shirts and shorts. This year, the temperature hovered around 3'C and mittens were required. Autumn is so unpredictable.

Speaking of mittens...

Even though my entry in the knitted mittens category was the most advanced knitting there they didn't get a ribbon at all.  Modesty aside, but really? The winner was a simple faux cable pair knitted  in what I strongly suspect was acrylic. I know!

I can't complain though because I did have a decent placing in the other categories. A first ribbon for photography, a country scene, a second for jam and decorated shortbread cookies and a third for ugliest carrot. Who knew a bit of interesting rot was acceptable in that last category?

The afghan was not completed in time due to the fact that it is now a love object for two of my cats. It is large enough to lay over my lap while working on it and therein lies the problem. As soon as it is placed there one of them will appear from thin air and burrow into it. As you know, it's impossible to crochet more than one row when this happens, as it can't be turned over. If you are going to suggest turfing the cat off the blanket, you don't know our number one house rule: No one throws a cat off a lap ever. That and possession is nine tenths of the law.

Yes they are the most spoiled pets on the planet.

The cold weather has had the expected result of igniting the knitting bug within me so you will be seeing some finished goods in the not so distant future.

 Try to withhold your astonishment.

Smalls

 

No not those smalls.

In a heat wave small projects are the only way to go.

This tiny teacup did not make the move unharmed. A large piece broke off the back of the cup quite cleanly.

Awhile ago I had glued it back on and then it sat waiting for inspiration. There were various ideas around the internet, like turning it into a candle but I thought the glue was toxic and would melt.

Eventually I came up with this pincushion, with a nod to the felted ones by Betz White.

I had a shower to go to on the weekend and I made a number of tawashi's(pdf) or washcloth/dishcloths, one to decorate the gift and three more for family members. I had made the spiral bath crochet version a few years ago (must update photo album, heh) and I was intriqued by this pot scrubber version found at Berlin's Whimsy, above.

I have a wee confession to make.

 All those knitted cotton dishcloths that are so popular?  I don't like them at all for dishes. They work in the bath for me but that's it. The scubber version I thought would be more effective.

Unfortunately iphoto ate the picture of my tawashi scrubbers. This is unfortunate because I can't bear to make another one. Painful, it was, knitting with nylon netting I resorted to a thimble for pushing the knitting needle through. You can click on the pot scrubber tutorial above if you are curious. I would think these work wonderfully; I don't know because I don't have one to try myself, having given them all away!

Rummaging around for a thimble brought me to this little holder. Now I have mentioned before that I inherited my grandmother's sewing machine and all her supplies. (The tea cup above as well, come to think of it) I have ignored this little crocheted hat in the sewing box for over twenty years. I never had a use for it and it seemed old-fashioned. I never really looked at it before. But the tawashi-making day I did.

When you open up the top, voila, a thimble and sewing needles. I'm really quite smitten with it now. An updated version would be fun or you may like it as is.

I found this acorn pattern at Roman Sock via Whip Up.  This is a fun project (and much easier on the hands) It is for holding sock knitting but I also think it would be irresistible as a little purse for a wee girl, a keeper of a snack for a teddy bear's picnic in the garden. The pattern call for single crochet only, easy for a beginner. I made two tops, the first was in a heavier yarn as recommended but I was not happy with it. I did line the body ( same lining as last project, I'm nothing if not frugal, predictable boring ) as it seemed too floppy, either from my yarn choice or crocheting prowess or both. And I put a fabric covered cardboard liner in the lid, for the same reason.

Here is the  lining shot, with a fakey, "oh look at my sock that I'm not really knitting" inside.

Now on to larger projects.