Optimistic Suspense

Hi all!
So exciting! I just figured out how to edit the HTML code to change the Optimistic Crafts font on my logo/heading! The rest of my formatting still needs some work, but I'm getting there.
Speaking of getting somewhere...

Hmmm. Wonder what this is?...Well, I know the answer, but for now, friends, I will create a little suspense!  ...and go back to my DIY web-learning. What have you been learning/crafting?
Have a good week!
Optimistically,
Elisabeth

Optimistic Crafts

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.

Dolly! And doilies, and 80's vests, oh my!

Hi readers!
Recently I was able to acquire a treasure trove of vintage yarn craft and needlework patterns booklets dating from the 30's up to the 80's. I am in heaven flipping through them for ideas and just plain fun! Among the treasures...

I found my knit dolly! [made by a family friend for me when I was little]

 from Coats&Clark booklet 1973

mine--a little worse for wear!

And doilies!

And lots of 80's vests. Yikes! (I'll spare the pics on that subject).

That aside there are also some really awesome silly-cute things and many many fashionable pre-80's garments. Can't wait share more of these with you soon for great crafty inspiration! Also working on improving the blog design (don't forget I am still a beginner, after all), and there are some very optimistic things in the works to tell you more about soon! 

All the best!

Optimistic Crafts

Optimistic Crochet & Finished Sewing!

Hi again!
Here in New York it is finally cooling down. Happy to get out of the air-conditioning for a bit, even though it has been really productive to sit, relax and work on yarn projects! Anyone else agree? Do you craft when the weather is hot?

Acorn Shrug is growing!

This Acorn Shrug project is a bit tedious! Even though it is any easy stitch, it requires careful focus to catch the back loop every time--that's what makes the ridge-y texture. Unlike with some of my knitting, I can't catch up on Netflix while I work on this one. So maybe I need a good audio book. Any suggestions?

In sewing news, I totally forgot to share with you another project I worked on a couple months ago! PJ pants for my hubby! He's been playing pool a lot so when I saw this fabric I couldn't resist! I sneakily worked on them over the course of several times when he was out. Ta-da! A finished project!

Keep up the craftiness everyone--and stay hydrated in the heat!

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

Slow Summer

Greetings crafty friends! I hope your summer is going well so far. Mine has been a little slower than I'd like in the craft department, but optimistically I hope to report some finished projects soon... and of course will be starting more in the meantime since that's my M.O. 
Speaking of SLOW. The Slow Movement is something I've had my eye on for a while now. It really ties in with the DIY Movement, and perhaps you've heard of the Slow Food Movement? Not a new concept, but one I think is relevant. This is probably not the best article about it, but here's something about Slow Crafts if you want to do some reading on the subject. 

More inspiration I've found lately comes from Buzzfeed DIY. There are these projects for using leftover yarn . I want to do almost every single one! Especially this one:

Cork trees! Already thinking of cool weather!

I also like these ideas for upcycling old sweaters: sweater ideas. I have a few old ones I was thinking of giving to Salvation Army and now I am for sure going to make these arm/wrist-warmers from one. My old sweater is actually pretty close to this color, too!

I put the tree idea on my Pinterest page. You can check out all my yarn inspiration there @ OptimisticDIY...and while you're at it, follow me on Twitter with the same handle, if you like. (I'm not tweeting much, yet though).
Keep cool and keep crafty,
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?