Neatly Tangled

Sewing right along…

Posted on June 30, 2013 by deb | Comments Off

I finished my Flip-Flap Bag today, with the exception of the button on the top flap. I don’t have a suitable one around and I’m likely not to even bother, given that I would then have to remember to find a suitable button and sew it on. On the other hand, if I use the bag it will probably bug me every time I see it…so I’d give it a 50-50 chance.

I don’t have a pic at the moment because I’ve been using my cell phone as my camera and it doesn’t care much for low light, which is definitely what I have right now. I really miss my old photo setup…I had a little corner with proper lighting and background and an agreeable camera and taking a simple picture wasn’t such a complete pain in the ass. Oh well.

Next up I want to make a very simple bag from this tutorial at Diary of a Quilter. I need the practice at making a nice straight seam, and it’s wicked cute. Is it possible to have too many cute bags made from semi-random fat quarters? (Yes, the addiction is already taking hold. I’m doomed.)

Luckily, I’m off work the 4th and I’ll have an extra day to play. Hopefully I can get some pictures, too!

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Posted in Sewing

Just updated WordPress…

Posted on June 23, 2013 by deb | Comments Off

and all of my plugins, installed a new one, and switched out my theme.

Very simple, but I’m feeling like a real badass right about now.

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Posted in Blogging

Making a Muslin

Posted on June 15, 2013 by deb | Comments Off

This is a term I just heard last week, because I’ve been sewing for about 30 seconds now and am thoroughly shocked that I stumbled across such a useful concept in such short order.

This is especially true because it seems that the compulsion to design is not limited to crochet or even knitting, but apparently extends to sewing as well. I made my girls two identical skirts from a Sewing for Dummies pattern as my first real project. The second one I’m designing myself. It’s a very specific thing and I could not for the life of me find a pattern that was close enough to what I wanted. I made a quick mockup for feasibility and got ready to make the real thing.

But then I heard of the making a muslin thing, and I’m so glad I did. I decided to do it. I’ve been working on this on and off all day and I’m not more than half finished. Turned out to be more complicated than I thought to put this together. And I’m not doing it using fabric that I’ll be bothered by destroying. I’m very pleased. Means the project will take two weekends instead of one, but it will be worth it for a truly awesome finished project. Yay!

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Posted in Design, Sewing

I seem to be going through a phase where all I want to do is knit.

Posted on October 23, 2012 by deb | Comments Off

I am so not complaining about this.

Right now I have Shapely Boyfriend , Turn a Square, and a pair of house socks for the boy on the needles. This is a *lot* of knitting for me all at once.

I love it so, so much. Pics to come eventually.

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Posted in Knitting

New pattern time! Introducing Pretty Little Shells.

Posted on September 24, 2012 by deb | 1 comment

This is a “spa cloth,” y’all, made from KnitPicks CotLin DK.

Seriously soft when washed, beautiful to look at, generously sized, and an easy gift project that will still stun the recipient…what’s not to love?

Available through Ravelry, Etsy, and right here on the site.

1 Comment

Posted in Crochet, Design

Gah! I drive myself crazy sometimes!

Posted on September 17, 2012 by deb | Comments Off

I left the sweater I was knitting at work.

Fail.

I guess I’ll just have to work on one of the afghans I’ve got going. There are only…4 of them? I think. 3. And a giant baby blanket. I think.

Time to go through the WIP baskets, methinks.

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Posted in Crochet, Knitting, Life

A bit of design news

Posted on September 15, 2012 by deb | Comments Off

I was waiting for word on a submission, and I got it: I’m going to be self-publishing, which is my thing anyhow. No disappointment, because the design still gets to reach the world! It’ll probably take me a couple of weeks to get 2 samples finished along with a few decent images , because things are Just That Busy (are you as tired of hearing that as I am of saying it?) But I’m really looking forward to getting this one out there for you! 🙂

More soon.

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Posted in Design, Life

RHSS

Posted on September 12, 2012 by deb | Comments Off

I know it’s practically heretical, but I’ve talked here before about my love affair with RHSS (that would be Red Heart Super Saver, for any of you who have never had the pleasure of encountering an OMG-teh-ebil-squeaky-babby-melting-acrylic thread). There are…new colors. New colors that I must have. New colors that need to find their way into the giant-granny-square-blanket-that-may-never-be-finished. And scarves that won’t get ruined when thrown into the wash. And the sweaters I really want to make for the kids. And that big-ass blanket I cut up.

And we’re not even going to talk about Red Heart’s new With Love…

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Posted in Crochet, Yarn

Chains.cc

Posted on September 11, 2012 by deb | Comments Off

Have you ever heard of this site? I found out about it through the most excellent UfYH (strong language warning for that site, folks), and I’m trying to use it a bit to get myself back into habits that I’m sorry I fell out of. Like crocheting or knitting at least a little every day, or posting on my blogs, or household chores here and there.

Just a little in love with both sites (and completely *ahem* obsessed with UfYH).

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Posted in Life

Another ode to the granny square:

Posted on September 9, 2012 by deb | Comments Off

I’d love to put this in poetic for, because it’s fun. And a proper ode needs a proper form, yes? But alas, tonight is not the night.

I suppose this is more of a thank-heavens-for-the-granny-square, which always comes to my rescue when I’m too scattered or stressed to work on something more complicated, which can soothe me just by moving my hands through those familiar motions, which can make me fall in love with crochet again and again and again, and which can be stitched together into some of the loveliest afghans ever conceived.

Thank you, my very best yarny friend. Thank you, indeed.

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Posted in Crochet, Life