Saturday, August 23, 2014

Using left over ends of yarn

As part of my commitment to using up my yarn, I collected similar weighted yarns and made a cardigan for a baby boy (of a friend). I ran out before making the collar and had to raid someone elses' leftover yarn stash so, it's not the greatest match.

Crocodile scarf


I figured this scarf was Aidan's speed. I finished it near the end of the winter so he did not wear it much yet. I'm hoping he will use it more this coming winter.

Leftover yarn

There was a bit of yarn left over from making the adult pair of owl socks so I made baby socks.

Owl socks


Okay. I love RED. I have come to like the owl, as trendy as owls have become lately. I have also been thinking that making socks is something I want to master. Socks are small and are good as a portable project. I can do two at a time (meaning I finish the PAIR at the same time). And, they are practical. But when you buy beautiful yarn like this, they are expensive.

Leafy Sweater


I told Maya I would make her a cardigan - if she could tell me what kind of sweater she wanted. Her only request was that it was green, earthy, and had a leaf motif to it. So, I blended two free ravelry patterns together to get this sweater done. At some point, I realized that my first sleeve was knitting wrong but rather than undo it, I chose to just make the second sleeve match.

Brain Cap


I don't remember where I first saw this but I felt compelled to make it right away but lost steam. I made the pinkish cord a while before I made the base cap. Sewing it on - with a symmetrical pattern - was much more difficult than I had imagined. Aidan doesn't really wear this hat. Not this year anyway.

Christmas gifts - 2013

I made caramel popcorn and gluten-free almond crackers this Christmas and then put it all in mason jars...and made reusable fabric jar labels from fabric.

Purse/Bag



I made this for a friend - part of an annual secret santa gift exchange:) I used a pattern by Amy Butler (http://www.sewmamasew.com/2010/09/free-amy-butler-pattern-blossom-handbagshoulder-bag/).

Felted bag with scrap fabrics



This bag turned out very different from how I envisioned when I started. I'm not an experienced knitter or felter so it was an evolving project. This project was the result of my decision to use up my yarn...for which this bag was made from 100% wool and then lined with cotton fabric.

bearded hat with 3 different mustaches...Christmas gift for my dad.




Saturday, October 5, 2013

A simple design that took forever...

It didn't take forever because of the work involved in this project.  Other commitments took over and this sat on the back burner for almost a year. I didn't have a pattern but was inspired my something I came across - a knitted Japanese shawl of some kind. I thought I had enough of the wool when I started and realized that I would surely run out so, I bought something complimentary for the middle.

It's a 4-in-1 project (scarf, long-sleeved cowl, shawl & poncho). 

It's just a long rectangle with 4 buttons with 4 corresponding button holes on each end....but no buttons or button holes in the middle (a width of your shoulders).





Basket Weave Socks Pour Maya



Sunday, December 30, 2012

My first (trial) 2-at-a-time toe up socks

Since then, I managed to make a pair of cable (thin yard) wool socks and another pair that looks like a maze (I'll have to post that one later - they are in the laundry).  I almost gave up on making 2-at-a-time socks after 3 determined, earnest, and failed attempts...over a 2-3 year period.

Kimono Style tops for (friends') babies


Monday, September 3, 2012

Patchwork Tablecloth & Reversible Napkins

For a housewarming gift...

Friday, July 27, 2012

If only...

Hooked rug with Maya and Joanne (friend) as part of a cod moratorium art exhibit at Five Island Art Gallery.

Teardrop Purses

Same pattern, different fabrics.

Zipper closure with a partition inside.

Fortune Placemats

I made these for a Christmas exchange gift.

Each place mat has 16 possible "fortunes" to pick from at the end of their meal. You pick a slot and pull out (attached by elastic) a fortune.

With matching napkins.

Double-sided, dark versus light pending tableware.

Hanging Slots/Folders

Each fabric is a family member's slot (with their name on it).


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Double-sided napkins

I was telling my friend on day that I was planning to make napkins and serge the edge. She convinced me (very quickly) that I should try making double-sided (and more substantial) napkins. I put 'fortunes' on each side of every napkin. This was for my cousin who is getting married this month (missing the wedding - in Ontario).

Friday, July 8, 2011

Ode to Newfoundland


This is a hooked rug that was made with Maya for a show in conjunction with Festival 500 (an international choral festival in St. John's every other year). It depicts a coastal scene that is inspired by the Newfoundland Anthem called "the Ode to Newfoundland". You'll see that there is an abstract figure running through the horizontal middle that follows the melody line of the anthem...with harmony lines coming off of it (in different colours representing the different choirs/voices, culturally representation at the festival, etc.).

Monday, March 28, 2011

Maya and her new red coat


Maya has almost grown out of the last 2/3 or 3/4 coat I made her so she requested a red coat with a faux fur trim...it's still rather big. It'll probably be something she'll wear more next year.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Re-inventing a belt

I saved the belt buckle and made two of my own double-sided fabric (with uber stiff/thick interfacing stuff) adjustable belts to attach.


Friday, May 7, 2010

Cosmosaic

Maya and submitted a hooked rug for a gallery exhibit entitled "Hooking Our Heritage" (soon to be posted on http://www.fiveisland.ca/index.php). Scott is our link to the Irish heritage theme...and so we opted to do something that captures our family's collective heritage. The concept was actually inspired by Scott (as he kindly reminded me this week) - and the rug is divided into four quadrants: Innu tent in Labrador, downtown Tokyo, Mennonite farm country in southern Ontario and Irish countryside (all shown respectively below).





Scott and Maya.
Joanne and Maya.
Myself and Mom.
Maya.
Mom/Grandma and Maya.