A Lesson in Double Knitting

Despite my near five years experience in knitting, I really don't have that much actual skill to show for it, other than being able to knit a bad ass hat and some toys.  Which, is good, it's more than some people can do... my friend Phil can only knit square or rectangle things still...

So, the project I took on for this week seemed challenging enough, and was directly translated into a swap project!  DOUBLE KNITTING.  I know...scary for a novice knitter, but not so much for me!  I referred to several different sites to get the help I needed.  First up, was one of my favorite go-to sites for any knitting predicament I find myself in, called, of course, Knitting Help!  Here's a link to their double knitting video, but there's lots of free videos available there to look at and refresh on or learn something new!

Double Knitting Video from Knitting Help

Second, and a bit more detailed on how exactly to start and everything is this nice site I just Googled and found.  The power of Google is great!! 

Double Knitting Cast On/Bind Off How To Site

And, here's what I came up with!  :)

More Bows!

My not so secret love of bows has escalated rapidly with the addition of these way too cute Perler bead bows I've been jamming out the last few days.  I'm up to four different designs now, and... wow... I just can't decide which one to wear today!! I love them all.  I'm going to be posting them on my shop soon!  I want to get better clips for the backs, but I've figured out how to glue and bend them properly now, so I'm really happy with how they turned out.  Can't wait to bead up some more tonight! Also, will be posting the re-do on the Pac Man necklace here soon, once I get to playing with more clay, and posting that in my shop, too!  Can't wait! :)

Pixelated Magic

So, with this 8 Bit Swap I'm all up in, I've come to find myself very much in looove with the 8 bitty pixelated awesomeness that is the magic of 8 bit games.  They have such character, despite not having much in terms of definition.  You can make anything pixels, so why not do it up??  I invested a small amount of cash into getting myself a little Perler bead starter kit, and I've been having too much fun!! 

So, there's no real limits, I think, to pixel-ing something.  I was thinking you could get a whole bunch of peg boards and make a huuge picture or something... it'd be real cool, but, I'm not sure about what I'd do or use it for... But, just ideas :)  I made some junk, check it out!  The bow has a clip attached to the back that looks really good in my hair, but I was unable to get a decent picture of it in action, but the 'shroom is just a thing.  Maybe I'll use it as a coaster on my desk or something...

8 Bit Awesome!

Ah, so, it's been about a week, and I've gotten a bit done in the crafting world.  Work has been busier than usual, plus with the semester starting, I've had less time to dedicate to super fun crafty things, but, the last two evenings were spent collecting and now fully assembling a necklace for my 8 bit themed swap!  I'm going to assume that my swap partner is NOT my spoiler, so I'm going to post pictures of this anyway, because I am just that excited about it!!!

So, this is about 12" of silver plated chain, several jump rings of varying sizes, several head pins, some polymer clay, glass pearl beads, and a little bit of 8 bit magic.  :)  I won't lie, I'm actually WAY impressed that this has come together so wonderfully.  I'm SO in love with it, you have no idea.  I can't wait to make another couple.  I feel like they might be big sellers in my shop :)  I've already got a whole bunch of people who want them, I may set up a few custom listings!! :D

Swap Projects Completed!

Here are a few more projects I completed for recent swaps!

 Here is a lovely cowl I knitted.  It's the first one I attempted, and after an unfortunate coffee explosion it needed a good wash, but otherwise, it turned out beautifully! 

I really love that double column leaf pattern.  I've done it a couple times before on different things, and it's always turned out very nicely, despite some minor complications.  Once you get it though, you get it.  I remember the first thing I did with any sort of lace work like this, and I was so frustrated with the whole project, I considered giving it up and scrapping it.  Thankfully, I didn't, and now this is one of my go-to lace patterns for something pretty.  I love nature themes, and this totally fits the bill.

Up next, we have what I called the Tyrell Mitts! 

I love how the lighting picked up on all the brown tones in the yarn, which I really loved.  It's a yellowy yarn, which, normally I'm not a fan of, but the green and browns with it make it really very nice.  These were a pain at first, mostly that weird hemmed cuff, but after I figured out where they were going, it made sense, and the mitts turned out really nicely.  There were a few missed stitches here and there, but they've kind of got that leafy look to them as well, so it doesn't actually make it look too off, since I think they're on the "back" of the mitts anyway.  (Facing inward while wearing.) 

Here, we have my favorite projects from the swap, because jewelry is always my favorite thing to make. :)

My first attempt with these was with some cheap shrink plastic alternative, but, needless to say, it didn't work out.  I did go with the trusty polymer clay, as I should always do.  I really need to work on my sculpting skills, and gain a little more faith in the skills I already possess.  These turned out beautifully.  The purple ones, or my "House Dayne" ones are polymer clay rectangles cut out and hole punched, painted, and I placed a little paper star I cut out and painted (I have a terrible hand at tiny painting even basic shapes) and coated with a nice layer of Dimensional Magic.  The second ones, "House Tyrell" are basically the same, I cut squares and shaped them, then added a paper cut out of the Tyrell sigil which I glued on and let dry.  Then a little paint to make spiffy, and a nice coat of Dimensional Magic to seal the deal.  Add a few findings, a couple beads, and golden.  :)  I really LOVE how they turned out.  I'm honestly very impressed with myself.  I wish I got more "In the process" pictures, but, my camera skills and apparatus were terribly wonky at that point.  Now that I sadly have a better quality camera in a cheap phone, I'll be using that, since I absolutely love my phone and it's awesome technology and snazzy apps and junk.  Dude, I Instagram.  WHAT??? I KNOW.

Anyway, I do plan on updating more frequently as I plan on doing more and more crafts.  I've been unfortunately slacking on my monster knitting.  I've lost my knitting motivation lately.  Not sure if it's just my hatred of this awful yarn or I'm just tired of knitting circles on my trusty US size 6 needles... Or maybe it's my complete and utter disappointment in the entire community of big box stores that can't figure out how to carry a multi-pack of felt for a reasonable price.  I really only want like, 5-10 sheets of assorted colors for like $10.  Not fifty sheets for $30 :X  I'm not going to use that much EVER!!  I may just break down and buy it, though, if I can't find what I'm looking for.  Felt is definitely a medium I could use to practice sewing with, and I could make fun things out of it.... Tis a thought. 

More later, because sewing is a new thing now!  I'm trying to make at least two projects a week for the time being, and I'm doing alright thus far!  I made one yesterday!  I think I'm going to structure this blog a bit more, too, but not entirely.  Maybe make a point to do at least ONE post a week, by a certain day, and update on my projects for the week, along with the bigger ones, instead of just willy-nilly.  Life needs structure, and I'm willing to give it a go.  :) 

Sewing Success!

So,  if you know anything about me, it's that I like to do some crafty shit.  What you may not know is that I'm not particularly skilled in it, despite how much of it I do.. .Haha.  Specifically, sewing.  I'm an awful seamstress.  I'm working on getting better, though!  So, in my boredom yesterday morning, I was parusing through Instructables (best site EVAR) and was looking at all kinds of random things until I came across a whole bunch of sewing tutorials.  I pinned a few, and today, out of boredom and necessity I decided to enact my New Year's Resolution!!  I picked an item off one of the boards and made it!  I'm still trying to figure out how to log them, maybe I can move them from one board to another and make another board of projects I've completed... either way, I'll figure it out.  But here goes! 

 I used some fabric that turned out to be too thick for bows and a zipper I found in some plastic I bought from the thrift store at some point or other.  I should go back there.  I had like, probably five or six choices in zippers, but went with the second longest one for durability.  Here's the Instructable I used.  And here's my result!!  Not too shabby, right?? :D

There are only a few things I was unsure about.  I looked up a few different ways to put in the zipper, as the tutorial wasn't really clear on how to do it exactly, for one who's never done it before.  I figured it out pretty easily, though, went with the exposed zipper look for ease and preference.  I like to see that it's closed, I guess, haha.  And the rest of it was pretty easy.  I had a few problems with the machine itself, as it was unfortunately having some issues for whatever reason with the thread I was using.  I think it was thicker than I normally use, or it was losing stuff inside the machine, because it kept getting stuck, especially on the back stitch.  There's really only one or two spots where it's a little funky, but otherwise, I'm really quite happy with it.  I want to practice a little more with sewing before I start doing anything bigger, but considering I can probably make tons of these little bags for not more than two bucks, I don't see why not!  :)  I still have a bit of extra fabric and a tiny zipper left for another matching pouch to go with this one.  I might attempt that one tomorrow :) 

My blogging will become more frequent and more imaginative in the coming months, I promise!  :D  I'm starting to find my crafting to be more lucrative than I originally thought, and I'm really excited to get to work on this blanket I told you about already :)