4KCBWDAY2: A Mascot Project

This blog post is part of the 4th annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.

Introduction to the Topic:

Day Two (Tuesday April 23rd): A Mascot Project.

Your task today is to either think of or research a project that embodies that house/animal. It could be a knitting or crochet pattern – either of the animal itself or something that makes you think of the qualities of that house. Alternatively it could be a type or colour of yarn, or a single button. Whatever you choose, decide upon a project and blog about how and why it relates to your house/creature. You do not have to make this project! It is simply an exercise in blogging about how you come to decide upon what projects to make. Try and blog about the journey which inspiration and investigating patterns, yarns, stitches, (etc) can often guide you through. You may wish to make a collage or 'mood board' to present several ideas, or even sketch out your own design.

My Bee Moodboard

When I search for a project, I first think of what projects I have in my old red binder where I filed projects before the invention of Pinterest. Usually, I don't think of anything from there. So, next I go to Pinterest and take a look at my Crochet and Knitting board. If that does not inspire me, I go to Google, which is where I ended up for my bee crochet project research.

My findings:

1. Naturally Dyed Merino Yarn on Etsy - I love this color and that it's naturally dyed. Favorited.

2. Bee Amigurumi - This is the type of project I love. It's super easy. It's super cute!

3. Salted Honey Artisan Caramels - yum. yum. yum. I got a little distracted from finding a crochet pattern when I came across this image and went straight to its source to read more about it! Can't you just taste it?? Favorited.

4. Yarn Ball Pure Beeswax Candle - When the caramels took me to Etsy, I thought I'd look around there for some bee inspired crochet patterns and instead found this great beeswax yarn ball candle! Isn't that clever? 

5. Bee Movie - Any time I hear the word bee, I hear "Thinking bee! Thinking bee!" because The Bee Movie has been one of my daughter's top two movies for her entire life of four years (the other is Madagascar). I'm pretty sure I've watched or at least heard the movie at least a couple hundred times.

6. Bumble Bee Hat Crochet Pattern - I saw this and the next few adorable patterns before I got distracted by the caramels. I'm just not sure if my kids will be into it. They're pretty picky these days. So, I'll have to ask them and get a definite answer before I invest.

7. Bumble Bee Amigurumi - Isn't this a lovely picture? I love how they placed the crochet bee in the flower. This one originally brought me to a fabulous page with loads of free amigurumi patterns. Love it!

8. Baby Bees - I just love these. They are so cheerful. They were made as a teacher gift, a pretty unique idea. I never thought to crochet dolls for my kids' teachers. I might have to give it a try this year.

9. Crochet Covered Sea Stones - Where else but Purlbee! Very fitting. I've seen these stones before and love how the crochet cover softens the hard stones.

                                        Source: purlbee.com via Jessica on Pinterest

This is a typical pattern search. A little flighty, right? And I still haven't made a decision on what to crochet - also typical. Usually, in the end I choose what I think will be the easiest on that I will still love. So, in this case, if I really have to make a choice, it would be the crochet covered sea stones. From looking at the pictures, I don't think they would be too difficult or take too much time. So, I've pinned the free pattern and tutorial! Now, I just have to find the perfect day to make them.

Now for the House Mascot, I would have to choose the Bumble Bee Amigurumi. It represents the house because it's a bee. It is on a flower. It looks like it's eye has just spotted something else. It's attracted. It will not be on this flower for another second, but will flutter over and away to the shine that has caught it's eye. And on...and on. Bzzzzzzzzzzzz......

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Kids Clothes Week Day 1

"Look what I got from Kids Clothes Week!"

This is day one of Kids Clothes Week Spring 2013! I have loved this idea from the first time I saw it a couple years ago. I attempted to participate in the fall (here), but didn't have much success (here). So, this year, I actually cheated a little and started sewing early. I knew I would not have an hour a day to sew every day in a week. It's just not possible with my work & life schedule.

However, I really wanted to at least try to blog every day about things I've recently sewn. So, after I posted my goals for Kids Clothes Week, I started sewing a little bit each day. I can get in about 15 to 40 sewing minutes on an average day, with an off day now and then where I get lucky with an hour. Part of the problem is that I have trouble sewing at night. Literally every time I attempt to sew after the kids go to bed, I end up sewing pockets in backwards or the right side to the wrong side, or any other mistake that involved ripping out multiple seams. What you'll see this week are things I've made for my kids over the last two weeks. Here is the first...

A batman t-shirt. Every boy needs one of these, right? Well, any boy that's into super heroes like my little guy. He had Spiderman, Superman, Darth Vader, and Yoda, but did not have Batman.

To make it, I bought a long-sleeve t-shirt 2-pack from H&M and a pair of yellow shorts for super cheap from their sale rack. Then, I found the Batman logo in a Google images search, printed it, cut it out and used it as my pattern for the applique shape.

I cut out the logo, pinned it on and stitched around the outer and inner edge a few times to make sure it's secure. It worked for the dinosaur applique t-shirt that is still a favorite, so I thought I'd stick to the same technique.

As you can see, I've got one happy guy who is very proud of his new Batman shirt!

If you're interested in participating in Kids Clothes Week, click here for more information.

Or you can take a look at all the great kids clothes that people are making by taking a look at the Kids Clothes Week flickr group!

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I'm linking up to some of these fabulous parties.

4KCBWDAY1: The House Cup

This blog post is part of the 4th annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.

Introduction to the Topic:

Bee, Manatee, Monkey, or Peacock?

Choose your house. You may be a combination of more than one of these noble beasts, but think about which house best embodies your qualities and declare your place. Post about your crafting outlook/style and why you chose this house. 

If the sorting hat had been made out of yarn, it would have most definitely sent me to the House of Bee. According to Eskimimi, "Bees are busy and industrious, but can flit from one interesting project to the next as bright and shiny things capture their interest." This is me. Mainly the flitting, which is evident in all of the unfinished projects I accumulate. 

But also the literal attraction to bright and shiny things, like Glitter.

                                                                     Source: boards.weddingbee.com via Jessica on Pinterest

And the Sun.

 

                            Source: summmerlovin.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Which is why I started this blog in the first place - to help make up for my lack of the brightest thing - the sun. I flit from sewing to crochet to knitting...and then quickly whiz back to crochet and then zip again over to sewing. And just today I was considering sketching again with pencils and charcoal...if this busy bee can find the time, that is.

Serger Tension

My serger has sat for four months due to some intimidation and some lack of time. I finally found the time last week to figure it out. My manual was very helpful, but I was having major issues with my serger tension. I could not figure it out. After searching around for help, I found this great tutorial on YouTube that provides a way to know your serger's tension. I've written it out here so that I'll always have a record of it. If you want an even more clear and detailed description, please visit YouTube to watch "The Secret to Taming Your Serger." 

If you want a quick tutorial, here is my serger tension test:

First, thread your serger, making sure to have a different color thread in the left needle, right needle, upper looper, and lower looper. 

Next, cut four rectangles out of white cotton: 5 inches (13cm) x 15.5 inches (39.4cm). Fold the fabric in half lengthwise so that you now have the dimensions that are the same as the above diagram. Label your fabric according to the diagram. The lines should be spaced 1.5" (3.8cm) apart. Each space should have a number (1 to 9). Make one for the Left Needle, Right Needle, Upper Looper, and Lower Looper. Make sure to note the color of thread.

Next, start at the top with the tension of the specific strip set to the lowest tension which in my case was 1. Serge until you reach the line. Then change the tension to 2. And so on. You will feel the tension tighten as you continue to serge and adjust the tension to higher numbers, all the way to your highest tension setting which in my case was 9.

 

After you have serged the edge of your strip, take a look at it and decide which number has the best tension for that specific thread (this is where noting the color of thread is important). Mark a star in the space.

For my right needle, I number 3 and number 4 looked the same, which I thought a bit strange, but I marked them both anyway. My serger was bought used, so I have no idea what it has been through! I was also surprised that my right needle was 5, but that's what was best.

Once I completed this serger tension test, I made sure that all my tension dials were set to the best number, and gave it a try. It worked! I will keep these strips forever because I know that they will be a very important reference.

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I'm linking up to some of these fabulous parties.