Table runners

This was one of the first wedding projects.  It would have been easy except for the fact that I made 28 of them!  My daughter liked some table runners she saw on Etsy, however, they were $48 apiece.  Needless to say, she turned to her crafty mother and I volunteered to make them. 

I didn't keep step by step photos, but these are the steps I followed to make the runners:

• cut fabric into 4 strips across and 3' to 5' in length (depending on table size)
• sewed a narrow hem all around using my machine
• Cut fusible hem tape (5/8") in half lengthwise (I couldn't find any that was thin enough)
• Hemmed again by ironing and inserting fusible hem tape all around.(I did not want any stitching to show on the top side.)

 

Wedding Central

With the engagement of my daughter, my crafting has focused on wedding-related items for the past month.  Today, I made 36 of these paper flowers.  Believe it or not, they are made from coffee filters.  I used the instructions here but with these modifications/shortcuts:

• I folded 3 coffee filters at a time; after folding 4 times, I cut both corners off which avoided having to do other cutting later.  
• I used a hot glue gun to glue the floral wire to the first filter.
• I used duct tape to secure the filters after the 5th and 10th filter, then I used floral tape to wrap over the duct tape (seemed stronger).  
• A package of 200 filters in each size (4-6 cup and 8-12 cup) will make 40 flowers. 
• You will need:  coffee filters, floral wire, floral tape, duct tape, hot glue gun and glue, scissors

Hiatus

So, I've taken a considerable hiatus from blogging. In that time, I retired from my day job. Incredible as it seems to me, I feel that I have even less time now that I am not working.

So what has filled me time? A new commitment to exercise has taken me to the gym about 3x a week. I started reading again, and knitting more.

I'll try to post some of my retirement creations in the next weeks. First on my list is the only new design I've finished since retirement.

I call these January Mitts and they were made to go with my best-selling Cabled neck warmer. I knit quite a few pair getting the pattern just right. You can find the pattern on Etsy or on Ravelry if you are so inclined.

Stich Sampler Vest

Stitch sampler vest

Project info

Name

Stitch sampler vest

Pattern

Elongated Stitch Sampler Top by Suzanne Bryan

Craft

Knitting

Made for me

Size M

Needle and yarn

Needle: Size 3 circular

Yarn

Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton & Silk Hand Paint
2 skeins = 654.0 yards (598.0m)

Colorway: csp12

Dye lot: 8252

Purchased at

Mustard Seed Dreams in Pocatello, Idaho

Notes

I love the variety of stitches in this sampler, but I got stuck on two of them. One I found how to do searching the internet and the other one I got a kind response from the pattern creator.

For the double twisted drop stitch, I found this link useful
and for Esparta stitch, Suzanne provided this clarification:

I am sorry that those directions were not more clear. On row two you drop the extra wraps from row one, just work one stitch for each original stitch. Then again when you repeat row 1, you will drop the extra wraps from row 2. This pattern was found in the Mon Tricot knitting dictionary 1030 Stitches Patterns

7/15: finished knitting. I used almost all of the two skeins, about 600 yds; current wet blocking it which opened up the stitches and lengthened it a few inches. I’m still very glad I added length to the vest. I am thinking I will wear this open and may not bother with the buttons.

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Status Finished

Started June 19 2011

Completed July 15 2011

Daisy Chains

This is an adorable free pattern on Ravelry, Daisy Chain. The author has kindly assented to me using her pattern for a knitting class at my local yarn store. It was really a fun knit and the embroidery adds a very special touch. On the second one, I put a daisy on the back for fun.

Wordless Wednesday-hello tulips