Crocheted Octopus

This was a really easy project so I think I'll be trying some more of these little crocheted animals!  

Since I'm a bit out of practice with my embroidery though, the face took a bit longer than the actual crocheting did!!  But I like the way this guy turned out, and my little one really likes to grab his legs and fling him, so I think it was a success all together!!  

Jumbo the Elephant

I'm pretty happy with the way this guy turned out!! I love his ears... I used some Amy Butler fabric squares I had from a charm pack, and some ribbed border from an old, felted sweater for the backs. Both were reinforced with some iron-on stabilizer before I blanket stitched them together .

I wish I'd stuffed the front legs a bit more. They're just not quite sturdy enough. But they hold okay.

Sew Free Update

Well, since it's been a while since I last posted, I thought I should do an update!

All the elephant pieces are done! I'm probably about halfway through sewing them together now. Here's where it stands now - check out that cute little circle at the bottom there! That's the last foot I have to sew on... I should probably get it attached before I lose it! This guy worked up pretty quickly - though I did goof on the second part of the patter when I was supposed to switch every "K" call out for a "P" call out... I was on autopilot and just started making the same side again. Good thing I caught myself and was able to use what I'd knitted for the gusset, and only tear out about ten rows.

But I got a bit bored with sewing and wanted to be making something, so I went to the library and picked up some books... I got this one about Amigurumi, and my husband picked out the octopus... I haven't crocheted in ages, and it kind of hurts my hand to work so tightly, but it is very fast. My little one really likes to hold and throw this toy already, so I think I'll be making some more.

And because what's one more iron on the fire, I've picked out another pattern and some yarn to make myself a shawl. It's from the book Beautiful Knitting. I've never done any open work, so I thought this might be a good time to try! I really love this yarn - I used it for a baby blanket, and I think there should be plenty for this project as well.

So now I just need to finish putting together Jumbo the elephant, select some ear material, and embroider his face on. I need to wrap up three more octopus legs and put them on, and do his face up too. And I need to get started on the shawl.

Time for some knitting!!

Well, I just dropped my sewing machine off at the shop!! It'll be there a couple weeks at least. Ouch, that hurts! Maybe it'll give me time for some prep work for some new projects.... Though my DH and I just agreed on a spending freeze, so I guess I'll be limited to my stash - so either every quilt back will be pieced, or I just won't get around to finishing anything!! Neither prospect is all that great!!

So I guess it's time to pick up my knitting again! I could finish something I've started already... but that's no fun. My friend got me a neat book of knitted toy patterns for Christmas, so I started making the elephant from this book, out of celery green soy yarn from my yarn stash! :)

Since I don't have a picture of that, here's a picture of my little one wearing a pair of socks I knitted for her before she was born... she finally fits in them!

My Great Grandma's Quilt

Wow, how cool is this?! My Grandpa dug this out of his crawlspace the other night for me. His mom made it, but we're not sure when. He said it doesn't look like her usual ones, because they were usually more scrappy. She used to first make her dresses from the feedsacks, and then with what was left, or maybe after the dresses were worn out, she would make quilts.

After a very rough and quick count, I found more than 80 different fabrics in this quilt. There is no border, but the top wraps around to form a border on the back, which is made from a large piece of green flowered fabric. It fits jsut right on our double bed.


The quilt is both hand pieced and hand quilted, though my grandpa remembers his mom sewing on a foot treadled Singer as well. A couple of the patches are worn through, but other than those, this quilt is in remarkable shape. If anyone has any suggestions on how to replace a patch on an old quilt, and also, on how to wash one, I'd love to hear them!! For now I think the quilt will rest gently on our guest bed... at least until anyone visits!

The pillow on the bed was cross-stitched by my Grandma from the other side! I love having all this family history right in my own home! And I do apologize for the striped baby outfit in these pictures... I know it's a bit overwhelming!

Ribbon Snuggly

This was not my idea, but I love making these!!


My baby just loves them, so I'm planning on giving them to some of the other babies I know for Christmas... I used this tutorial from oh Fransson to help with the appliqued initial on the other side, (not shown since this one is a gift!) But it was my first machine applique, and I think it went really well!! I never really knew what to use that buttonhole function on my sewing machine for, (besides the obvious, but I'd never tried that either!!)

By the way, thanks to Tonya at Lazy Gal Quilting for the gift certificate to the Fabric Square Shop! Woo hoo! I love winning stuff!! Now I just have to commit to some fabric!! They have such a great selection, I don't know how I'll choose!!

Knitting Needle Keeper

So I finally got around to making myself a holder for all my knitting needles so I don't have to dig through a messy box to try to find matching pairs in the right size!

I'd seen one of these in a knitting shop and I drew myself a picture, but when I went to design mine I didn't look at the drawing... now that I look at it, mine is probably at least twice the size of the other one, but it seems to accomodate my whole collection, (including crochet hooks!) with some room to grow. I might need to make myself a small version for current projects though.

I just finished it up last night... didn't even take too long once I put my mind to it! And I think the next one will be much faster now that I know what I'm doing.

Here it is loaded.... (for scale, the longest needles are 17".)

The center pockets are for my circular needles. The two zippered pockets on the left are for my stitch markers and yarn needdles and cable hooks etc.

Here it is with the flap closed so the needles don't fall out the top....

Here it is all wrapped up.