Crafting's Mystery-factor

Greetings!
Working on another new project this week. A knit tank top from Burda Style. The pattern is free!

I had been given some slubby silk/cotton blend yarn and this seemed like the perfect thing for it. I don't usually care for racer-back styles, so I planned to modify it. As it is turning out, I ended up with less of a 'Y' shape, but still it still goes in pretty far across the back. Not what I planned exactly, but since it will be worn layered anyway, I think it will still look great. Kind of hard to photograph, but here are some progress shots.


back of tank - in progress

Loving the texture!

back finished!

This material is really stretchy. It looks ok on the mannequin, but she's not as big as me! I think it is going to be too short, so I am going to make the front and then see if I need to do something creative to add length to the hem on the whole thing. Just goes to prove that there's always a bit of mystery in any crafty project!
Have you ever made something you weren't sure about as you were doing it? Did it turn out ok... or did you end up modifying... or is it left unfinished? Would love to know.
Ciao for now, crafty people.

Optimistic Project Status

Hello there! Well, with the long weekend, I have been working on crafty stuff and gathering ideas for more. So here's where things stand at the moment on some of the things I've mentioned in previous posts. In case you're wondering.
Progress:
Knitting the cardi-wrap and relaxing in the airconditioning. Finished the left front panel and on to the right one. 
Starting a new crochet project: The Acorn Shrug. I have this one saved on Kollabora [fun DIY site--so many cool, creative people there], but the pattern and the yarn is from LionBrand. It's  Wool Ease in "Sienna".

 I think this color was discontinued because I got it cheap back in the winter from their site. Not really sure about the color --almost the same as the example!--or the style (for me), but it is an easy project to work on between other things.
Stalled:
Next steps for the summer sundress sewing project involves ironing. But I really want to wear the dress! #conflicted but still optimistic that I'll actually finish a summer project before summer is over! 

Parallelogram Pillow. Knitting done and bound off! Need pillow form. Need to decide on fabric for the backing. Need to block the yarn--will take forever to dry in this humidity.


So many other ideas not sure which ones to start on next!
...but more on that next time.
Hope you had a fun and safe 4th of July Weekend!
Optimistically,
Elisabeth

Parallelogram Pillow Plus

Hi everyone!
Spending a rainy Sunday being crafty, well sort of. Lately it seems I'm doing more un-doing than doing. I picked back up on the wrap cardi knitting project. The lace was intimidating me, but now I am addicted to it! It is so fun, even if I have to undo some rows because I am forgetting some of the yarn-overs if I am not paying attention. For every 14 rows of the repeat pattern, I have to undo about 3!

70's sundress

And then there's the sundress I mentioned in the last post. The top part I was fussing over is figured out, but the side seams puckered like crazy after I did them. So I picked them out and am examining the machine for tension problems. Here's the pattern. I scanned it last week. 

And here is a picture of the parallelogram pillow I started as an easy project to take to Knitting & Boozing. Now it is almost finished, at least the knitting part. 
I found that parallelograms are a fun and easy way to add texture to a project! The parellogram pattern is for a multiple of 10 stitches. I cast on 42 stitches and alternated k/p for first and last stitch to make an edge.
I think I've achieved a square, but it is very stretchy so it looks like a rectangle. Next, optimistically, I plan to block it to see what size closest to a square it is--hoping for 12x12. Then I'll sew it to a lighter grey fabric back. Maybe the closure will be mix and match geometric buttons? We'll see.
Have you been up to anything crafty this weekend? 

Sewing tk

Hello friends and happy Spring--at least where I am, it is finally lovely weather!
I don't know why the abbreviation for "to come" is tk instead of tc, but that's how I write it, learned from my copy-editing experience.
Recently, my friend Kadee and I went to a sewing pattern party at Brooklyn General. What a wonderful shop, and FULL of sewing enthusiasts there for the Colette Patterns visit! Sarai of Colette Patterns is a lovely lady. I did stop and say hello despite being shy about it--I have been reading her blog for, like, years after all. She also seemed quite shy but was enjoying being in New York from far away Portland. Kadee and I were so inspired we bought patterns and fabric and, as former Brooklynites, vowed to return to our old Brooklyn neighborhood again soon!

Colette Sencha

I didn't take pictures, but here is the link to the Coletterie 
blog where Sarai wrote about it.

sundress in progress

I bought the Sencha blouse pattern. Sewing ahead!
Looking forward to making it and also finishing the black sundress I started 2 summers ago! Got the interfacing, still fussing over the adjustments I made to the pattern. See March post.


And of course instead of plotting to use from my existing stash of fabric, I bought some more! ...you'll see, I hope soon!




Optimistically,
Elisabeth

March!

Well another week has gone by! Mine intermittently included some crafting. Met up with the Why Leave Astoria blog group "Knitting and Boozing" on Wednesday at Mosaic, a comfy bar/lounge, for some knitting fun. 2 new knitters and one pro... and me, wherever I fit in. The new people I met were great and I was able to work on my teaching skills! I was working on a pink cowl that I started on Superbowl Sunday.

just getting started Feb. 2013

and now it is being stitched up into a circle and then to block and finish. Almost there!
Besides that, I've been itching to sew something and couldn't figure out what to work on, so rather than starting something new, I figured why not working on FINISHING something already started. Striped Sundress, started 2 (maybe 3?) summers ago. I am going to LOVE this dress, but I think I'm afraid of making a mistake since I am veering off of the pattern. Instead of gathering and adding a band across the back, I put in elastic which looks great!

back of dress, with elastic

Then, for the front, instead of gathering, I put in some small pleats, which I am not so sure about. I made this dress once before and the gathering made me look busty and the band all the way around made it shifty and uncomfortable. Got my confidence up, but then realized I need some lightweight interfacing for the front band. So, will get back to that one. There's the optimism for today!
Hope you all had a great weekend. Until the next time...
...remember March is not just Craft Month, it's also Crochet Month! Let me know what craftiness you are up to.
xo

On to the next thing...

Well, I finished with project #1 for the Evernote Knit-Along! I was so excited to participate in this DIY challenge that somehow thought I'd do at least 2 of the sugested projects by the end of the month. Well, that didn't happen, but I did start another new knitting project from a vintage pattern book that I will reveal an upcoming post.
Here are the armwarmers. They were an easy fun project and the pattern is free at
www.redheart.com/free-patterns/lettuce-knit-arm-warmers

It's hard to be lighthearted about projects today. Fortunately where I live in Queens was not hit terribly hard by Hurricane Sandy, but I'm saddened by the devastation and worried for the people affected. Please reach out to help. Here are some ideas: Astoria recovers site lists needs and volunteer opportunities. Occupy Sandy is a link full of ideas. And there's the Food Bank NYC and New York Cares and of course the Red Cross where you can donate on their site or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to their Disaster Relief fund.
Knitting and crafting can be a comfort in difficult times, have you ever used working on a creative project to help you come to terms with tough times?

Fall Knitting--DIY in Progress!

I decided a few weeks ago to participate in the Evernote knit-along. Oh yeah, but I've never used Evernote, am already working on another knitting project and am kinda busy. Well, kntting is great stress-relief, so I'm making progress!

Armwarmer #1 of the Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Lettuce Knit Armwarmers in progress. And I'm learning that Evernote is a fun way to collect and organize info!
What is your latest work in progress? What have you learned this week? Do tell.

More starting, less finishing.

What does this optimistic crafty lady do on a hot day when confined to one room of air conditioning? Why, start more projects of course! Like cut out the pieces for this great lantern fabric!


and this "Jiffy" pattern that should be easy to whip up!

Forget about ironing those pattern pieces in this heat, or maybe finishing already started projects like this oranges dress (mostly finished, but needs alterations).

Nah. What else can I start?! 
Once I'm finished starting, time to settle down with a glass of wine and my knitting (Vogue Knitting wrap cardi)--a step toward finishing something!


Look how far it is getting--about 1/2 way across the back panel!





I hope your weekend is going great and you are staying cool. Are you finishing anything you started?

Started! A new knitting project.

Starting from scratch with this whole blogging thing, though I have been reading them for years! Today learning to create links! 
Began a great new knitting project from Vogue Knitting Magazine Spring/Summer 2012 issue. It's the cardi wrap. Making it in a forest green DK wool. Not so summery, but I love it! And I'm Optmistic that I may finish it by fall! Pics to follow soon.

Welcome to Optimistic Crafts!
So many started projects, so many ideas for new ones. Here I'll share what I am working on and what inspires me to want to learn and create crafty things. I hope that you will be inspired too--and be optimistic that you can do it yourself!
--Elisabeth