Pessimistic Crafts

Since the last time I wrote, I did NOT get selected for The Fiber Factor, the Certified Instructor Program in knitting at FIT was CANCELED, no knitting, crocheting, sewing or crafting of any sort has taken place. BOO!
It is not like me to be pessimistic though, so do check in on progress on The Fiber Factor. The first challenge is "Knit Your Life" which immediately makes me sing Morrissey's "Sing Your Life"
On that note, things I love...
Embroidery! (of course I have yet to do any)


Luck is on my side embroidery

embroidered sunglasses --can't stay in the dark forever!

..and the things I loathe...
...well, not being crafty lately!
It's hard to be a pessimist though when it's spring and there are projects to do and life to live!
....so sing your life...la da da da da...
and let me know what you love and loathe lately.
Optimistically,
Elisabeth

Holy Cowl(s)!

Ok readers, once again I skipped 2 weekends! At least the 2nd skip was for good reason. I decided last minute to enter this contest at thefiberfactor.com to attempt to be a part of an online knitting project-runway-type competition! As an amateur designer, but long time knitter, I hope I have a shot! I'm betting there are some fantastic entries. I just couldn't let it go by without trying. It's been a few years since I've made an original design and I would love to challenge myself to do that! Watch the site to see how it all unfolds, I mean unravels! I'm excited! 

Holy Cowls! I couldn't resist using that title because...

I finished a cowl! And took a picture of another one finished a while ago.

Cowl #1: Knit cowl for yarn experiment--how much does one skein make? Finished!

So now my curiosity is satisfied on how much area one average size worsted weight skein covers. it measures 32 inches long and 12&1/2 wide knit with with size 9 needles, 48 stitches across in Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted weight yarn (3oz.,197 yards). Color Azalea Pink. It looks nice with curled up edges, but optimistically I will block/flatten it to be 100% finished.
Cowl #2: Crocheted cowl, photographed! I made this last year, also a one-skein project. I didn't use a pattern, just worked in loose double crochet with a big crochet hook. I wasn't testing yardage on this one, but it worked great in one-skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick.

Next, back to sewing projects! And a meetup with the Knitting & Boozing group from whyleaveastoria.comon Wednesday night—if you are in Astoria, join in at Winegasm. Such a strange name, but I'm looking forward to good wine and snacks! Each time I go, I meet some really nice people who live in my 'hood.
Since it is Crochet Month, I’ll leave you with a crochet tutorial link from The Purl Bee. Try testing your skills or learn something new. Let me know how it goes!

Happy crafting everyone!

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

Time in the New Year

Greetings readers! It has been a long time. Blogging has been low on the to do list lately, but not for lack of wanting-to-do!

pomodorotechnique.com

Despite the fact that my work/day job is to keep people and time organized, my home and personal project life seems to be ridiculously unorganized these days. Back in the fall sometime, I read something on Tilly and the Buttons blog about the Pomodoro Technique. Have you heard of it? I helps you focus on setting aside 25 minute increments to focus on projects. Ideally you'll get the cute tomato (pomodoro) timer to help!
It is supposed to help "eliminate the anxiety of time". Ha! Is it just me or is there never enough time to do everything you want to?

Well, I did actually finish a few projects since I last wrote. One cute thing I made for the holidays was this fair-isle mice pattern. I used bigger needles and changed one to stripes instead of fair-isle. These would be a fun cat toy gift and could even have some catnip stuffed inside. (I just used regular poly-fill stuffing) Here is the original, and mine.


super-cute!

cute, but not as cute

Another thing I've beeen working on since the fall is this awesome vintage sweater! The pattern is from a 1939 Polar Yarns book.

I will show you the finished one in the next post. I swear, optimistically, that it will be soon! And I did actually finish it!
Making time for crafty-ness and sharing it is an essential part of my goals for 2013. Signing off for now, wishing you better-late-than-never New Year good fortune. What have you been making lately? What are your 2013 aspirations?

Knitting Class and When Will There Be Sewing Time?

Wow! This week I taught my first group knitting class--well, half of it--after hours at the office. We got through casting on and knit stitch. I think I left them hanging a bit when we all had to break for our evening commutes. Part 2 is purl stitch and the details on how to turn what they're doing into a wearable project--scarf or cowl!

Enthusiastic students and me at Knitting Class Part 1

NYC is already starting to have the excitement and hecticness of the holidays. Not much project time these days with a busy schedule. Over at Tilly and the Buttons I found Tilly getting ready to be involved in a tweet chat thisafternoon about finding time for sewing. How relevant! I've been squeezing in a little knitting, but that's about it.
Optimistic that the Thanksgiving weekend will have some time for sewing as well as showing you some of the knitty DIY items in progress.
Any crafty plans for Thanksgiving? Whatever you are up to, I wish you good times with family and/or friends. So much to be thankful for!

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.