Posted on

Progress!

It has been a busy week or two or is it three since I started the challenge?  Ok, I checked back and I started on Jan. 17. It has been 2 1/2 weeks or 19 days!

In that time I have finished 24 items! Yay! (As of right now, today)

I have written 2 new patterns and listed them on both Craftsy and Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/178258980/crochet-fingerless-gloves-pattern-pdf

aqua fingerless glove

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177236880/crochet-blanket-pattern-or-crochet

2014-01-17 15.56.54

 

I have finished two major projects: the repairs on Kathryn’s quilt and the blue, white, red and grey crochet blanket

2014-02-05 12.48.18

 

 

IMG_3633

 

I have finished a bundle of little things, including 3 scarves, 5 headbands, and 2 purses.

How do I feel about the 100 item in 100 days Challenge?  I feel pretty good about it, but I feel a little pressured. I have started some new projects but they are going to take some time to finish them.  So, I am not sure if I can finish as quickly as I want to finish. My projected finish date was about April 28 or 29, if I complete one a day! Hmmm…

I really would like to finish up sooner than that. I have some shopping I want to do!=0)

 

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on

Today: Feb. 3, 2014

Today has certainly been very odd. Hubs was home for part of the day and then left for work halfway through the day. So it has felt off balance all day. We were out of bread, so lunch was a rather yummy potato soup made from hash browns, left over ham bone broth, ham pieces and home made biscuits.

Anyway all of this to say that I got a huge long three hour nap in the middle of the day. I got my next crochet blanket figured out down to the number of squares per color! We now have homemade bread and I have no idea what we are eating for dinner! Woohoo, it seems I am on a roll! Well, not really, but the blanket though is a beauty and seems to just roll of the crochet hooks. The colors are incredible. I am not going to give any sneak peaks this time until it is finished all 248 little 4″ squares! I think it would give it all away.

I have been working on a new pattern for fingerless gloves and after three pairs I am about ready to kick that into production. The pattern is simple and there is no sewing involved.

IMG_1392

 

It is a version somewhere between the red ones above and the grey ones below!

2014-02-02 14.52.04

 

So that is what I have been working on. OH, the sewing machine part came in and I have been working away on #10 The quilt. I hope to be finished with it soon as well. I feel a bit like Einstein to be able to diagnose and order the correct part for my machine!

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

Posted on

100 Items in 100 days…#15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

Here are some new Supply busters!

The red and blue scalloped scarves from a few days ago was joined with scalloped fingerless gloves. I finished several new headbands for our youngest daughter. So this would make numbers 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and finally 20!

I can’t decide which pattern to use with some new bright yarns. I have a new type granny square that  I am considering.

Which pattern would you suggest?

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

Posted on

#13 and #14

These are just a quick peek at #13 and 14 out of 100. I have to admit that it is hard to stay on track. I have been deleting about 15+ emails a day that have to do with sewing, yarn, craft supplies or patterns. I am also trying to use the patterns I have or free online patterns. #13 is a crocheted bowl using cord and variegated left over yarn. The other is a scalloped scarf like the red one only in bright blue and a little chunkier.

.

There you go two more down and only 86 left and no #10 isn’t finished yet, I am waiting on a sewing machine part.

 

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

Posted on

#11, #12

Confession time

The quilt is quietly killing me. Well, not very quietly, I must admit that there is a certain amount of huffing and puffing as I haul that quilt around, between and through the sewing machine. If you add in the fact that my sewing machine isn’t quite happy to be sewing right now, then you can guess what I am going to say next. After fussing about it to myself anyone who will listen, I moved on to crocheting, and modge podging. Something that will actually allow me to complete a project. These photos are just quickie phone photos but they get the job done.

I found this pattern here and it is wonderful.

http://www.creativejewishmom.com/2011/11/crocheted-skinny-scalloped-scarf.html

I also decoupaged some tea boxes with fabric as I was needing some drawer organizers.

2014-01-29 17.01.39

 

Here they are drying.

 

Talk to you later, My FIL just arrived for lunch!

Karen

p.s. I am in deep trouble. My father in law brought four more tubs of fabric from my mother in law’s stash. oh wow. He said I could make 100 more items…!

Posted on

Love’s Labor

There are certain rules that should be followed when sewing a quilt.

1. Always use a quality cotton fabric as the backing, never a twin sheet.  A twin sheet might be cheaper but you get what you pay for.

2. Always use fabric of about the same quality.

3. Always quilt the quilt as close as the label says you should.

4. Do not use Rayon thread as any of the decorative stitching, because rayon deteriorates quickly when washed repeatedly.

How do I know all of these things, because I once did all of these on one quilt. It became THE quilt to my daughter and now all of my errors and tightwaded-ness are haunting me. I took it down out  of the top of her closet to repair it. When I  saw how much repairing it needed I almost gave up, but she loves it. So it is worth saving. I have given it a new backing, new batting, patched all the holes, and it is slowly coming together. Basting it all together on the floor about killed me but it is reconstructing slowly. That really does look beautiful from a photograph but is quite the nightmare to sew on. Some of the fabric wasn’t cut on the grain and stretched. Some of it was a good quality and some wasn’t and you can now tell. So, it is rather wibbly wobbly in places. I don’t think she will care, if it isn’t perfect.

2014-01-28 16.08.35I have been wrestling it for two days and I am no where close to being finished with it, to top it all off my sewing machine is acting up. I am taking a break right now. I have ordered a new bobbin case. I hope that solves the problem but this repair is taking longer than I thought it would!

Talk to you later,

Karen

P.S. This is #10

 

Posted on

#8 and #9 of the 100 items in 100 days!

Here are #8 and #9 in the 100 items in 100 days!

I’m including the photos of the beginning of the project and then the finished product! Some I list in my shop and some I am using at home!

IMG_3650

 

This is a great cowl. Large enough to pull over your head if you need to but small enough not to be in the way! The buttons are handmade ceramic buttons. The yarn is dark charcoal grey and goes with anything.

#9

2014-01-24 10.35.45Here was the humble beginning of #9 a Head band with interchangeable flowers.

IMG_3676

Whew, this Challenge is a challenge but I am wading through it and I hope to get through #20 by this time next week. My sewing machine is acting up so I haven’t really been sewing much, but I am going to try.

Talk to you later,

Karen

 

 

Posted on

Use Your Stash Challenge #6,

Here are numbers 6, 7,  and 8!

2014-01-20 13.10.36

 

I love this purse. It has such a clean classic look to it! I had everything I needed to make this from my stash including the lining and the snap closure.

2014-01-19 11.27.22 2014-01-20 11.55.46

 

There is the tiny smidge of yarn I used to create the rose leaves!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Posted on

Use Your Stash #4 and #5

WoooHoo!

people are joining in!

Lou from http://louslabors.wordpress.com/ has decided to join in. She changed the rules to fit her goals!

I grew up with this saying being repeated over and over during my childhood.

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” 

It has had a huge impact on me as an adult. I do feel that it is wasteful to have so many crafting supplies and then to not use them. I find myself running out to buy a little bit of this or a little bit of that and I wondered if I could actually create 100 items over 100+ days without going to the store. So I started this challenge to use up my supplies. You can find  the original blog post here. http://www.chocolatedogstudio.com/2014/01/17/1-thing-for-100-days-challenge/

I have finished #4 and #5

 

#4 oatmeal colored scarf with brown edges

I completely used the oatmeal colored yarn. I almost finished the brown heather yarn. They were two complete skeins at the beginning.

2014-01-19 14.50.45 2014-01-19 14.50.59

#5 Shortened and Hemmed curtains for daughter’s bedroom.

2014-01-19 16.32.07

 

Sorry about the awful photo. The curtains look great and don’t drag on the floor.

How are you doing? What number are you working on?

Talk to you later,

Karen

My blog posts are running about a day behind what I am actually finishing up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

people

Posted on

#2 out of 100 Crochet Headband with flower

I am using an odd yarn ball of chunky wool blend yarn. It is washable so if it ends up in a pocket it won’t get felted in the washer.

I am using a light lavender to crochet the rose for the headband.

This is the pattern that I am using for the rose..

http://jasminblancboutique.blogspot.com/2012/09/tea-rose-brooch-tutorial-free-crochet.html

.2014-01-16 15.43.50

The headband and the beginning of the rose.

2014-01-16 15.55.52

2014-01-16 15.57.13

2014-01-16 16.08.54

 

There it is! Two completed now only ninety eight to go! My daughter loves this and it fits quite well.

Talk to you later,

Karen