This Week in Crafting

Posted by Som Sat, 14 Jan 2006 06:47:00 GMT

Alas, I have no new completed projects to show off this week, but I'd like to talk about a few that I have in the works.

First off, I'm planning another purse. This time, I'm using the tote bag pattern from Sashiko, but I'm not ready to do the sashiko stitching yet. Instead, I'll be putting two applique snakes on the bag, cut from vintage kimono fabric. I'm really excited about this project, but I can't move forward until I find some freezer paper for cutting out the applique. Hancock's and the grocery store were a wash; I'll be checking Jo-Ann's tomorrow when I go to pick up an OTT-LITE for my dad's birthday. I used a 40% off coupon at Hancock's to buy a lovely red satin brocade for the purse interior. With some of the leftover fabric, I plan to make a little hanging chopsticks holder for my kitchen.

My newest love is knitting lace. The Airy Scarf projects left me wanting more, so I ordered two Heartstrings patterns: Lacy Serpentine Scarf and Beaded Lace Cable Mini-Study. The mini-study will be great practice, and I think the little bracelets will make nice gifts. Eventually, I'd like to knit an authentic Shetland wedding ring lace shawl. I know that's a formidable goal, but it's something I can work toward in tiny increments.

Finally, I found a great deal on some 50% wool/50% silk laceweight yarn on eBay and ordered three hanks of it:

Half of that yarn will go into the Lacy Serpentine Scarf; I think the sheen and drape of silk will work nicely with that pattern. Maybe I'll make two...

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Christmas Post 2: Gifts

Posted by Som Sat, 07 Jan 2006 01:49:00 GMT

Christmas was a real boon for my crafting supply stash this year. In addition to a self-healing cutting mat, a pair of nice dressmakers' shears, and a copy of Sashiko, my husband also gave me some lovely kimono scraps from Ah! Kimono:

With a bit of kimono fabric, I put together my very first kanzashi hair ornament:

It's simple and a little rudimentary, but I like it.

I also received a big ol' honkin' sack full of cotton fat quarters from my mother:

Those will come in handy for purse interiors, lap quilts, and some fabric balls I've been dying to make.

And I got a Barnes & Noble gift card from my sister-in-law. I purchased Mindful Knitting, Omiyage, and Kafka on the Shore. Expect reviews of those books, and Sashiko, at a later date.

So I should have plenty to keep me busy in the coming year: a sashiko duvet cover and pillows for my bed, projects from Omiyage using those kimono scraps, and learning to use knitting as a focus for meditation. And hopefully - hopefully - I'll get around to blogging a little more often.

If I have the time in between all these projects, that is.

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Stash Expansion

Posted by Som Sun, 18 Sep 2005 23:30:00 GMT

Maybe it's a holdover from my tribal ancestry; there was a time when your personal worth was determined by how many cows or horses or wives you owned. Or it could just be that I really, really like textiles. Either way, increasing my crafting stash always leaves me feeling content.

I bought the yarn for the Fuzzy Ninja Scarf I'll be making. I think the colors and textures will blend nicely, though this certainly isn't my usual style.

I had to hit Wal-Mart today for night-light lightbulbs, and right there in the middle of an aisle was a whole darn RACK of cotton fabric on sale for $1/yard. How was I supposed to pass that up? I think a few of these will make nice purse interiors. The rest serve general fabric stash expansion roles. Seriously, I needed some general-purpose fabric. Especially now that my sewing machine is working again.

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