Counterpane Craft Journal

Handmade Gifts for Knitters

counterpane — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:09:30 +0000

So my mom taught me how to knit when I was six. I'm not a great knitter, but one of the reasons that I enjoy knitting is that it is something that I can do alongside my mom. We can fill hours pouring over patterns on Ravelry, or searching for yarn sales on the internet together. No matter what else is going on in our worlds, we can sit and chat about whatever project is on the needles at the moment. That's why this Mother's Day I went with a knitting theme for my Mom.

When deciding what to make I snooped around the internet for ideas, and then I closed my eyes and pictured my mom knitting. What kind of knitter is she? Well, she knits to relax, so I made her a herbal heating pad with flax seed to drape over her shoulders while her needles click away. And she travels quite a bit with her knitting, so I made her a knitting needle roll. Both projects use small amounts of fabric (you can use scraps!), and can be completed by a beginning sewist.

KCWC Day 5 - Knickers!

counterpane — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:12:12 +0000

So this is my last project for the Kids Clothing Week Challenge over at Elsie Marley this year. We are headed off for a weekend adventure with great friends, and there will be no time for cutting and sewing where I'm going.

I have wanted to make knickers for my kids forever. I like the old fashioned look, the practicality of covered knees, and the comfort of a wider leg. I've never actually attempted them before because my girl thinks they look "wierd", and I hate to sew items that I know will never be worn. Lucky for me, our 4 year old boy thinks they are "so cute" and volunteered to try a pair out. Green Light!

These knickers are not the knickers of my dreams, but the first garment of a made-up sewing pattern never is now is it? They turned out a little too large for my skinny 4 year old, and the johdpur-style patches may not be perfectly placed, but now I know what to do for next time. The important thing is: I have a kid who may want to go in to the world wearing handmade knickers. How cool is that?

KCWC Day 4 - Modern Smocked Dress

counterpane — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:41:31 +0000

So I had big plans yesterday for day four of the Kids Clothing Week Challenge at Elsie Marley. Unfortunately the boy's knickers (yes, I said knickers) that I had set out to sew ended up in a heap under my sewing table after my third do-over. I threw them way back behind my huge bin of scraps in a moment of frustration, and when I went to fish them out for a fourth try I found the leftover Drop Cloth fabric from my spring top project a couple of weeks ago. Determined to make at least one more finished garment for KCWC, I incorporated the Drop Cloth leftovers into this little number for my girl. It's picture day at school today and she insisted on wearing it with a bun perched high atop her head to reveal the smocking. She's such a smartie pants that one.

KCWC Day 3 - Quick Change Trousers

counterpane — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:32:06 +0000

KCWC Day 2 (sewing with knits)

counterpane — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:24:14 +0000

So it's day 2 of the Kids Clothing Week Challenge (KCWC) over at Elsie Marley. After my last blog post, I checked out all of the great stuff that other participants have made on the KCWC Flikr board. That was a bad idea, because it made me want to sew. So that's what I did. I stayed up WAY past my bedtime and made these two outfits for my girl.

Outfit #1:

Pattern: Tee for Two Dress by Figgy's Patterns. Leggings from Izzy and Ivy's Sweet Polly's Playclothes pattern pack.

Fabric: Black cotton interlock knit, and multicolored knit jersey (no longer available, but originally from Fabric Fairy).

Vintage accessories added by my girl S - these pics were taken after she wore the outfit to school today, so please excuse the white goo on the bottom of the dress. Glue? Yogurt? Who knows...

Outfit #2:

Pattern: Tee For Two Dress by Figgy's Patterns. Leggings from Izzy and Ivy's Sweet Polly's Playclothes pattern pack.

Fabric: Marled purple bamboo/cotton knit (from Santa Fe Fabrics), paired with Cobalt Blue Mini Ruffle polyester/spandex from Ruffle Fabric.

Notes:

KCWC Day 1

counterpane — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:35:08 +0000

So this week I will be participating in the Kids Clothing Week Challenge (KCWC) over at Elsie Marley. What the heck does that mean? It means that I will be sewing for my kids (at least) one hour each day of the week, taking photos of what I make and sharing them on the KCWC Flikr page. It's a sew along folks!

This is what I have to show for Day 1:

Kokka Custom Quilt

counterpane — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:33:40 +0000

2012 Spring Top Sew Along with Made by Rae

counterpane — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:25:21 +0000

I've been planning to pack all week (I promise), but then on Monday I caught up on my blog reading and realized it was time for Made by Rae's Spring Top Sew Along. One click over to the sew along Flikr page, and I fell a little bit in love with the tops made using Wiksten's Tova Shirt Pattern. After about five minutes of indecision, I purchased and downloaded the pattern, reading it through as a I fell asleep that night.

It's Friday, and after a few stolen hours of sewing, this is my entry to the Spring Top Sew Along. The blue fabric is a cotton linen blend that I picked up at Purl Soho a year ago, with J ay McCarroll's Drop Cloth fabric in blue as accent. The earring and bracelets that I am wearing are all made my mom, Lynn Rudnick. Perhaps my love of turquoise is genetic...

Tees for Two

counterpane — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:59:42 +0000

So I warned you it was coming. I told you I was going to make some t-shirts, and now I'm hooked. I mean it. I'm in way over my head here.

This little number was my gateway shirt. I made it using Figgy's Patterns uber-simple Tee for Two pattern, and some amazing European cotton knit that I've been hiding away. Initially this shirt was a bit long on my girl, so I added a length of elastic ribbon to the side seam, and voila, instant ruching. After all, who doesn't want a little ruffle from their waist all the way to their armpit? But seriously, this little baby had me at hello.

And then there is the ninja monkey knit. With some of his old baby t's cut and repurposed into sleeves, my four year old believes that this shirt has special powers. Could be his current obsession with Lego Ninjagos speaking, but who knows... these ninja monkey chopping, slicing, and squishing their way to victory are allright.

The guitars came a day later, and if you look, you'll see that I went all out with this shirt. I used my serger for the inside seams and for the first time ever I used a double needle for the big finish. Who knows, perhaps I'm ready for the harder stuff soon. Adult T's anyone?

Jump In to Spring

counterpane — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:49:50 +0000

So it's officially Spring. Has been for over a week now. March 20 was the first official day in case you missed it, which is not likely if you have school aged children around reminding you of every single holiday known to man like I do.

How did I celebrate Spring? By taking the corduroys off my boys, and making them some cotton/linen pants of course. Here are my little man's new favorites. Next up...t-shirts.