Little Wit Knits – Unplugged

This year’s charity for Sticks N Stitches is Touching Little Lives. I like to make something for the charity to “hand in” as mine and the boy’s admission to the game (along with the cost of the ticket). In mid January I cast on for two buntings. The buntings knit up quickly although they’re not the best KIP knitting since folks always ask what you’re making and I couldn’t come up with a good cover story. So I kept bringing the general mood down. Ahh well, whoever said all charity knitting is all sunshine and lollipops? I found the flannel for the lining at JoAnn’s and the lady at the cutting counter was quite familiar with the charity. It was nice to be able to talk about the impact this local charity has in our community. So without further ado, here are the pictures:

Two views of the bunting

Description: Burial Buntings
Pattern: Knitted Burial Bunting by Nina Self from Touching Little Lives
Yarn used: .22 skeins of Bernat Softee Baby Solids & Marls Colorway Lemon (100% acrylic ) 140g / 455yds
Care Instructions: machine wash
Needle Size: US 8 (5.0mm)
Modifications: None
Finished Size: One size.
Date Started: 1/14/2009
Date Completed: 1/25/2009
Notes: I used a smidgen of yellow flannel for the lining and a smidgen of 3/8″ ribbon.

Close up of the bunting open.

Close up of the bunting, cinched up.

Close up of bunting lining.

PS – There’s still time for folks coming to Sticks N Stitches to whip one of these up. Next I will be casting on two preemie hats.

This morning I finally got around to sewing together the bag that was intended as a Christmas Gift and has been laying around cut up since Dec 26, 2008. Sooo maybe when it isn’t a pressing deadline (we hadn’t planned a get together yet) I am not so quick to get things finished. It took me about 6 (ish) hrs total to make this bag. About an hour cutting out the fabric back in December and about 5 hours today. I bet this would go a lot faster if I didn’t have such large gaps between sewing escapades. My Brother sewing machine and I were going rounds with tension and I never fully got it figured out. I have been advised that my bobbin may not have been the proper one for my machine. I will look into that when I start the second bag and see if that solves the problem. At any rate the pattern is written well as long as one knows how to read. We won’t discuss my fiasco of cutting out bits I didn’t actually need. Now I get to find a fun small project to make out of those. On to the pictures.

Full shot of the bag

Description: Christmas Bag #1
Pattern: Simple Bag by Joelle Hoverson from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts
Fabric used: So I am new to the updating of sewn projects. I bought all the fabric for this from Quilt Beginnings in Bexley. It took about a 1/2 yd of each pattern shown.
Care Instructions: Machine wash cool
Modifications: No mods
Finished Size: 15″ x 12″
Date Started: 12/26/2008
Date Completed: 1/25/2009
Notes: This makes a nice lightweight bag. If you want it to be sturdier for carrying heavier items it may be worthwhile to implement some type of interfacing.

Close up of the handles and top fabric

From another angle

Shot of the inside of the bag. I love this fabric

Today the boy and I got up super early to head to the DMV and get tags for his truck and renew my registration. Then we spent a fun four hours at his parents’ house dreaming up projects for our house and chatting. We finally hightailed it out of there around 12:30pm so we could get home to work on our project for the day. Last week sometime I saw this post on Little House in the Suburbs about a folding table they had made for their laundry room. I kept the tab open and showed it to the boy. Last weekend we went out and bought some MDF, wood glue, casters and self adhesive tiles. This afternoon we set to work. I took down the Christmas lights while the boy cut the wood. I also helped a little with cutting the wood but man it was cold outside. Then we brought it all into the basement and assembled it. We modified it a bit making it 2′ and tiling the lower shelf. Now we have a lovely 2′ x 4′ folding table with a shelf on wheels. This will be quite helpful when doing laundry and blocking my hand knits. I think we could even get away with using it as a buffet cart for any future parties in our basement. Check out the pics:

Full shot of the cart

Shot of the bottom shelf

Close up of the tile pattern

Of course now I have ideas for other things I can build around the house. Like a board that can be folded in half to use when cutting fabric. And there would be handles and hmm… I should see what I can get done!

Lookie what I got for Christmas from the boy!

Pretty cashmere.

Cashmere up close

I already have a project in mind for it. I just need to get a few other things off the needles first.

Last week I received an excellent gift from Velvet for the Helper Sekrit Pal Swap 2008. Which was rather amusing since I had sent Velvet a package as well. We both were able to successfully pull off our first international swap. I was quite delighted to recceive my package and I averted my eyes from the package contents label that is required with international shipments. I mean come on postal services, some of us want surprises! Inside I found all sorts of lovely goods.

There was an adorable mug with cocoa and an appropriately sized whisk.

Little chocolate snowmen

Lip balm

Fun stationery

Some handmade stitch markers!

Oh and this? Yeah it’s not much just some yarn handspun by Velvet! She says there’s round about 263 yds there and it probably weighs in at light fingering. I will definitely have to find something cozy to make with this.

Thanks Velvet for putting together such a great package!