Spelling Bee - A Doll's Sweater Vest

Petite Purls is live!  I'm so excited about this issue. I have been contributing regularly to a craft column there (you can see those contributions here and here and here). This issue includes my first Petite Purls sweater pattern, Spelling Bee - yay! This little doll sweater vest was such a joy to make. It all started because I wanted to make a sweater vest that would work for boy dolls too–only we don't even own one! My son is a huge doll lover and it infuriates me that American Girl (okay I know it says "girl") doesn't make any boy dolls! Well they make baby boy dolls. But, what I want (and my kiddo wants) is a historical BOY! that did super cool things. I want to see a boy doll that scores the soccer goals, gets read to at night, and yes, participates in the school "spelling bee," just like my son. I named this little knit vest, in honor of my middle guy, for all that he does and loves. 

photo by brandy fortune

I did happen to notice, however, that the vest looks just as adorable on a girl doll as it does the boy doll. Guess what? My daughter wants one for her doll, too. I think Lucy is just frustrated she can't eat the doll.I love the little button closure at the collar.  I think they make for perfect button practice for those small 6 to 9 year old fingers.

photo by brandy fortune

The sweater vest knits up super quickly and uses only one skein of yarn. Great for a gift to the doll lover amongst your family and friends. Check out the pattern on Ravelry, if you prefer.

My plan this weekend is to get a couple of knitting projects rolling so that I've got things to take with me on some upcoming trips. I'm excited for an adorable beach sweatshirt I have planned that will be good for boy or girl. I'm also designing a sweet little beginning lace neckerchief for my students that I'll just have share with you. Not to be forgotten, I have three more great chunky knit projects that I'm excited to post about, too!  There is just so much to do and SO little time!

Hope you all have happy weekend plans!  xo anne

Anxiety and Gratitude

So I've been a tad overwhelmed at everything running through my head the last few days. I just got back from the Makerie retreat where I got to spend time with loads of fabulous creative people. I renewed connections and built new friendships. I relished spending a weekend engrossed in creativity and felt privileged to be surrounded by amazing talent everywhere. I will write about the inspiring words I heard from the teachers at The Makerie and about what I created there, soon. I've realized, though, that creative retreats are not exactly relaxing for me. I become energized, almost frenetically so.

I think I get creatively over-stimulated–so many new ideas, so many possibilities. I woke up this morning, my entire being spinning and churning–sick and filled with anxiety. Sometimes this happens to me. I am almost debilitated for the day. I'm never sure where these anxiety-ridden days come from.  Today was a day just like any other. It makes me wonder: Is the anxiety because of all the posts on my docket? Is it over getting my regular work done? Or, is it anxiety that my dreams may actually come true. Or, worse, anxiety that they may not?  I was thinking it was one of those days that is best put behind me by going to bed as early as possible, when . . . .

things changed. After picking up my kids today, we headed to an appointment for Charlie. I was in the waiting room knitting while Allie read to me and Baillie giggled at Calvin & Hobbes–a completely mundane scene, but it gave me a rush of relief. I took a long, deep breath. Was it the knitting? Was it the every day-ness of it all? At that moment, I felt simply grateful. I am grateful for my family, for my blog, for the creative lovely people I spent the weekend with. And, most of all, I am grateful for the growing creative being that is expanding and exploding in me every day.

As if to confirm my sense of peace, I got the most marvelous email from a reader today that suffers from Alzheimer's. She cannot hold anything small due to nerve disease and she struggles with simple tasks. She recently saw the finger-knitting tutorial and the woven finger-knit rug and thought  . . . I can do that.  She expressed grateful thanks and kind words, explaining how difficult it was for her, but how the process helped her cognitively and mentally, as well. I am inspired by her perseverance and work and the aid of those in her community to help her accomplish her goal. Congratulations Robin, your rug is beautiful and imbued with the love and effort and care you put in to it. To know that there are those out there benefiting from and enjoying the work I do and the ideas I provide fills me to the brim with gratitude and peace. Thank you all.

Musings from A Beginning Quilter - a Sew, You've Always Wanted To Quilt Guest Post

Here is another wonderful guest post for the Sew, You've Always Wanted To Quilt series. I am excited to introduce Camille D'Angelis. Camille and I met at Squam, where I was lucky enough to sit next to her while we clicked along with our knitting needles, listening to the Yarn Harlot one cozy evening. We laughed and giggled away, all the while ooh-ing and ahh-ing over each other's knitting. A beautiful friendship was born.  A talented, published author of two fabulous novels, I was thrilled when she agreed to write for flax & twine.  I can't wait to see her again this spring, but this little post has me tied over for now . . .

I gave away the first quilt I ever made, and I don't have a picture of it. Crazy, right? But this was 1998, I was seventeen, and I had met a boy deserving of such a gift who happened to live 300 miles away. It was a twin-sized "stained glass" quilt, the panes done in a full spectrum and stitched into place with black bias strips--very '80s (or early '90s), but still rather dazzling. It felt as though I sewed enough bias strips to span those 300 miles. Being even more starry eyed than the average seventeen year old, it never occurred to me that I should take a picture of it in case we drifted; but drift we did, and though I wish I'd taken a photo I've never once regretted giving the quilt away. That boy is one of the kindest people I've ever met.

The stained glass quilt, from The Complete Quilting Course by Gail Lawther.


I'd intended to keep on sewing, but college and travel prevented me from reacquainting myself with my machine. It was eleven years before I began my second quilt project, also a gift.

My dear friends Ailbhe and Christian had waited a long time for their baby, so their gift had to be really special. I used Purl SoHo's zig-zag baby quilt tutorial with some really fun owl-y backing fabric from Alexander Henry. Baby quilts are a great way to build your confidence: they're more fun than placemats and much more practical than quilted wall art.

My third project is also a zig zag, but on a way bigger scale: a queen-sized quilt, a wedding present for one of my very best friends. We pored over Flickr sets and quilting blogs, and Kelly loved this zig zag from Red Pepper Quilts so much that I resolved to make one in a different color scheme--fuchsia, teal, purple, and green.

Over the years Kelly and I have traveled quite a bit together. We have fond memories of Pauline's Country Quilts in Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, Ireland, where she found a finished quilt covered in penguins to bring home to her penguin-loving mom in 2005. I'm using some of the yardage I bought in that cute little shop in Dunfanaghy for the backing panels--I love the notion of using fabrics with happy memories attached. Decades from now she can turn the quilt over and run her hand over fabric we bought together in one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland.

Kelly and I went to another quilt shop in New Jersey for most of the fabric, admiring our choices over cocktails afterward.

My sewing machine, too, is a happy connection to the past. I've inherited three machines in all: two Singers (1940s and 1960s-era models) and the circa-1980 New Home on which my mother sewed my earliest Halloween costumes. I use the New Home because it's in the best shape, but someday, when I can afford it, I'll have my grandmother's vintage Singer restored. I use the New Home atop the sewing cabinet that houses the vintage Singer!

I suspect people think I'm a bit batty when I tell them about the wedding quilt project, and there's no denying it's a huge undertaking. But I started well in advance of the wedding, and I'm pretty confident I can have the "sandwich" all ready for quilting by wedding time. Maybe I shouldn't admit this on the interwebs, but I have more fun sitting down to my sewing machine on a Friday night than I do dolling myself up to go out. The growing pile of colorful pieces beside the cutting mat, the simple geometry of all those half-square triangles, the soothing hiss of steam and the back-and-forth motion of the iron--it's such a satisfying series of tasks. Sure, it's a big project, but I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Just a few more white squares...

(Naturally, it was only after my half-square triangles were nearly finished that I came across this way more efficient "trick" from Amy Gibson. This probably won't be my last zigzag quilt, though, so I will make use of that technique next time.)

Once I get those last purple half-square triangles sewn up, I can press these strips and begin sewing them together.


The lesson I have learned in the making of gifts is that you can't sew or knit something for just anybody (that is, someone who simply doesn't have "handmade taste") and expect them to be over-the-moon thrilled about it. You save your time and energy and creative sparks for a very, very good friend who consistently and volubly admires your handiwork--someone who will just about keel over with excitement when you tell them to close their eyes and hold out their hands. My family and closest friends are ideal recipients in that regard, which is why I find giving things away even more pleasurable than knitting or sewing for myself.

That said, I am absolutely not giving away my next quilt project: Lizzy House's Castle Treasury.

I picked up the pattern at last year's June Squam, along with a few fat quarters from Lizzy's marvelous 1001 Peeps collection. She says this pattern is not for the faint of heart, but I'm not scared. I guess it'll take at least a dozen quilts before I can stop calling myself a beginner, but maybe I'll improve faster if I dream big.

Camille DeAngelis is a novelist and compulsive knitter. Her two fantasy novels are Mary Modern and Petty Magic: Being the Memoirs and Confessions of Miss Evelyn Harbinger, Temptress and Troublemaker, both for adults, although she is currently writing a novel for children. She blogs about travel, crafting, books, and the writing life at www.camilledeangelis.com, and you can find her on Ravelry as MaryModern. 

Many thanks, Camille. For more quilting posts, please check the Sew, You've Always Wanted to Quilt gallery here or by clicking the button below:

A Tweed Pouf Ottoman - an Easy Chunky Knit

Yippee! It's time for another chunky knit.  When I started teaching knitting locally at Common Threads, I wanted to pick a project that would really catch the eye, but was easy enough for beginners. I thought a knitted pouf was perfect. I found a free pattern for a pouf on Pickles, a beautiful Norwegian yarn company–their pouf pattern is named Puff Daddy. It is beautifully done with their new Fat & Happy yarn, which looks amazing though a tad on the pricey side for me. 

Pickles' pattern was straight-forward and easy to follow, but not detailed enough for my liking and for teaching purposes. I wanted to teach my beginning students how to read a gauge, knit a swatch, compare measurements and adjust their knitting or needle size accordingly. I also wanted them to be able to get the yarn locally and at a low price point. Using Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick and Quick from Joann Fabrics seemed a great solution, especially when you get get it on sale. At 40% off, the yarn for this pouf cost under $60 total.  It comes in tons of fabulous colors, too.  I also love that this yarn is fully washable, so I can just throw the whole thing in the wash when it gets dirty and pop in the dryer with some tennis balls to poof it back up again.  

Pickles uses 1 strand of their Fat & Happy in their latest Puff Daddy pattern.  For my pouf, I used three strands of the Thick & Quick at a time. I knit it up using two strands of Pumpkin and one strand of Butterscotch to get the tweedy look.  Here is my take on the Pickles Pattern:

Yarn Requirements: 12 x 6oz/170g (106 yds/97m) Lion Brand Yarn Thick & Quick

    

Needles: Size 19 (15mm)

Gauge: 6.25 stitches and 11 rows across 4 inches of garter stitch. 

Pouf Measurements: 24" diameter, 14" high.

Directions: Cast on 42 stitches (instead of Pickles' 35) and knit in garter stitch for approximately 50 inches.  Cast off. 

To Finish: Sew together the two short ends of the rectangle, however, Pickles does not describe a method for this. I teach my students to seam these ends together by placing the cast on edge side by side with the bound off edge, right sides up. Line them up stitch for stitch. Thread a length of the three pieces of yarn in a large darning needle. Secure the yarn and bring the needle under the stitch just inside the cast on edge and then under the corresponding stitch on the bound off side. Keep threading under these stitches consistently, and it will bring the two edges together and make the piece appear seamless.

For assembly, I followed Pickles instructions, stitching and cinching the long ends of the piece the way they describe However, I still had a small hole remaining at the end.  Perhaps because I started with a greater stitch count?  I simply stitched this closed with yarn and needle and secured the ends on the inside.

Once one end is closed tightly, you stuff it and then close the other end.  My advice here is to use as much stuffing as you can.  I used one king-sized comforter and ended up wishing I had used more stuffing. The yarn will stretch some and the stuffing will collapse some with use. 

I am thrilled with how it turned out.  So is everyone in my family, including Lucy our 10-month old puppy. Luckily, she seems to like to cuddle up against in instead of using it as a chew toy. Though heavy to work with at times, it knits up pretty quickly. It would be great for a child's room as well–a virtual bean bag.  My beginning students have loved it too, as its a sizable project they can really feel good about.

For other great and easy chunky knits, please check out the 6 Easy Chunky Knit Pattern gallery here or by clicking on the button below.

Be sure to visit Pickles for their other fabulous free patterns and, of course, their gorgeous yarn!  Here is a photo of their version of the pouf in Fat & Happy.  They have also done a bunch of other pouf patterns you should be sure to check out. 

One more thing I had to share - I ADORE this free Pickles pattern for their two way dress - how cute is this?? It's definitely going on my list.

A Modern Pin Cushion by Annik Miller - a Sew, You've Always Wanted To Quilt Guest Post

As part of the Sew, You've Always Wanted To Quilt series, I am excited to introduce my second guest poster on flax & twine, Annik Miller. Annik and I grew up in Minnesota together and attended the same school.  We just recently reconnected and discovered our joint love for making. She is a beautiful and talented sewer, quilter and mother who blogs her sewing and quilting adventures over at Mini Mushrooms. I feel privileged to know and learn from her.  I am honored to have her posting on my blog.

A huge thanks to Anne for inviting me to do a guest post on Flax & Twine. I'm so excited to be a contributor to the quilting series!

In this tutorial, I'm going to show you how to make a fresh and modern little pillow-shaped pin cushion while covering the basics of piecing a quilt block.

Materials

fabric scraps in 3 different colors or prints

rotary cutter and mat

clear acrylic ruler

pins

point turner (optional)

sewing needle

measuring tape (optional)

2 small buttons with the same number of holes

thread

pin cushion filling

A note about the filling - ground walnut hulls (sold at pet stores as lizard bedding) make excellent pin cushion filling. My second favorite is wool batting. Check Etsy if you need a source. My third choice is polyester fiberfill which is readily available from sewing and crafting stores.

A note about the fabrics -This project uses very small amounts of fabric so it's a great opportunity to use up some scraps. I'm using solids because I love their simplicity, but small scale prints would look great, too.

Cutting Instructions

Use your rotary cutter and ruler to make the following cuts:

-One 1 3/4” square from the center square fabric.

-Two 1” high by 2” long strips and two 1” high by 3” long strips from the middle square fabric.

-Two 1 ¼” high by 3” long strips and two 1 ¼” high by 4” long strips from the outer square fabric. Cut a 4 ¼” square from the same fabric for the pin cushion back.

Construct the Pin Cushion Block

Use the standard ¼” quilting seam allowance for this entire project.

I highly recommend using a piecing foot if you have one. If you've never used it before, make a test seam to check that it's actually ¼”. You may need to move your needle a position or two to the right or left to get an exact ¼” seam. If you don't have a piecing foot, Measure ¼” from the needle and place a piece of blue painter's tape on the bed of your sewing machine to use as a visual guide.

This diagram shows the order in which we'll sew the pieces, starting at the center of the block.

Sew the two shorter middle square strips to the opposite sides of the center square, right sides facing. These are pieces 1 and 2 on the diagram. Notice that I've had you cut the 1” x 2” strips slightly longer than necessary. Allow a 1/8” overhang on each end.

 

Press the seams flat just as you've sewn them. This is called setting the seam. Next, press the seams open. Quilters typically press seams over towards the darker fabric, but we'll press all of our seams open.

Using your acrylic ruler and rotary cutter to trim off the excess fabric from the middle square strips. The piece should now measure approximately 1 ¾” wide by 2 ¾” long. We're squaring up the block as we go.

Working one side at a time, pin one of the longer middle square strips to the center square, right sides facing. The in-progress block is on top and the narrow strip on the bottom. Place  pins through the pressed open seams so they don't accidentally fold over as you sew.

Remove the pins as you sew, before you get to the needle.

Repeat this process on the other side of the block. When both sides are sewn, set the seams then press them open. Once again, use your ruler and rotary cutter again to trim off the excess fabric.

Use the same method as above to sew the outer square pieces on to the pin cushion block. Start with the shorter pieces. Pin them to the edges with the seams.

Press, then trim the excess fabric then repeat with the longer strips on the other two sides.

Press the seams open, then flip the block over and press it again on the top side of the block.

Make the Pin Cushion Pillow

Put the block piece and the pin cushion bottom piece together, right sides facing, the block on top. Pin the seams.

Sew a ¼” seam around the perimeter of the pinned blocks, leaving an opening about 1 ½” to 2” long along one of the edges with no piecing seams. Reinforce the stitches on both ends so they don't tear out as you fill the pin cushion.

Snip the threads then trim off all four corners of the cushion close to the stitching.

Turn the pin cushion right side out. Use a pair of tweezers or a point turner to help you turn it right side out if the hole is too small to do so with your fingers.

Use a pin or a point turner to turn the corners out completely.

 

Press the pin cushion on the top and bottom. Press the opening, too, Make sure the seam allowance is folded under and is perfectly aligned with the sewn edges.

Fill and Finish

If you're using wool or poly fiberfill, use your point turner or a chopstick or similar tool to push the filling into the four corners. Fill the pin cushion to the point where you think it will overflow.

If you're using ground walnut hull to fill the pin cushion, a funnel (or one made with a sheet of paper and some tape) will make the process much easier. Fill the pin cushion almost but not quite full.

Find your hand sewing needle and matching thread. Knot the strands and trim the threads so that only about ¼” remain.

Use a simple whip stitch to sew the pin cushion closed or use a ladder stitch for a nearly invisible finish.

To do a ladder stitch, bring the needle in to the left side of the opening from the inside, as close to machine stitching as possible. Bring the thread through the fabric then across to the right side and slide it into the pressed fold.

Make a very small stitch through the pressed fold. Pull the thread through until it's taught. Go directly across to the left side and repeat the same tiny stitch. Continue in this manner until you reach the end of the opening.

Knot the thread, then slip the needle back into the pin cushion and out through corner. Snip the threads. This is called burying the threads.

Time to sew in the center buttons. Use a measuring tape to find the center of the pin cushion or make an educated guess. Mark the center of the center square with a pencil.

Thread a needle with a long strand of thread that coordinates with the buttons.

Bring the needle in through the center mark leaving a 2” tail. Knot the thread through the fabric once or twice.

Snip the 2” thread tail so that it's about ¼” long. It will be hidden by the button.

String the thread through the button hole and start sewing back to front over and over again until the button holes look full.

When the buttons hold the tuft on their own, knot the thread. Bring the needle to the front of the pin cushion, leaving some slacked thread in the back. Bring the needle back through and make a double or triple knot through the loop. Pull the knot tight. Bring the thread back through to the front and trim close to the button.

Enjoy your new pin cushion!

Many, many thanks, Annik.  If you want to learn how to make a basic baby quilt from scratch, under Annik's thorough tutelage and via easy and clear photo tutorials, check out this series that Annik has been doing. What an amazing way to step in to quilting.  For more exciting beginner quilting posts to come, keep checking the Sew, You've Always Wanted to Quilt gallery here or by clicking the button below:

Hidden Kisses - a leather and yarn diy bracelet

I've been on a mission to create more fun jewelry that my boys would like to wear.  I've mentioned this before, but I dig it when boys wear bracelets (and rings!).  My daughter loved this bracelet too, so I really think it could be for either girls or boys.  I like to think of x's in the bracelet as kisses, but don't tell my boys that!  I made each of the kids a different bracelet for their Easter present, so I'll be showing you tutorials for them over the next week or two.

I love to think of this bracelet getting worn in and raggedy as my eight year old wears it through the summer. He seems to be the messiest of them all, but also the most sentimental–I know he won't be taking this off any time soon. As the days go by, the yarn and leather will get dirty and the bracelet will start to pick up that boy patina that only boys seem to be able to accomplish. By the end of the summer, it will carry little bits of our travels from the sands of Nantucket beaches to the mud of local CO mountain streams and even to the ancient cobblestone dust from Rome! (so excited for that trip!)

These bracelets are super easy to make.  You could make them longer, as well, to wrap around the wearer's wrist multiple times.  It closes easily with yarn through a loop in the bracelet that's low profile enough that it won't irritate the wrist.

This bracelet is part of my commitment to make only handmade gifts this year.  For more great tutorials and patterns for easy to make handmade gifts, check out my year of handmade gallery here or click the button below:

The complete photo tutorial for the bracelet is below.

Materials:
Leather lace/cord (at least 15")
Yarn (I used a scrap of 100% linen yarn leftover from this gorgeous project)

Cut two lengths of the leather cord, such that there is enough to go around the wearer's wrist plus a 1/2 an inch.  Place the two pieces of leather cord side by side.  Fold the two pieces over approximately 1/2 an inch.

It should form a loop like this below. This is the "clasp" of the bracelet and where you will thread the yarn at the end to tie it on to your wrist. You could glue this loop before you add the yarn if you want it uber-secure.

Fold a length of 18" of yarn in half.  Take it in the middle and wrap it around the folded end of the leather a couple of times.  In the photo below, the piece of yarn pinched in my hand has 9" of length and the other half of it, hanging off the end of the bracelet is approximately 9" in length.

Secure the leather loop with the yarn as pictured below, by making several "locking loops" and bringing each one over the end of the bracelet.  Note the tail of the yarn goes underneath the loop. Repeat this multiple times, pulling tightly, until the leather loop is secure.

 It should look like this when you're done.

 

Now begin the cross pattern, bringing both lengths of yarn to the front and crossing in an X.  Then bring both pieces of yarn to the back, creating an X on the back side of the bracelet.  Bring to the front and make another X, etc.

Repeat making X's in the front and the back until you reach your desired length of bracelet.  Try to space your Xs such that they look fairly consistent.

When you get to your desired length, stop and flip the bracelet so you are working on the other end. Repeat the "locking loops" to secure the crossing yarn to the end of the bracelet.   As at the beginning, twist the loop such that the tail comes out from underneath.

 Bring the twisted loop over the end of the bracelet, and tighten.

 Repeat this process with both lengths of yarn.

 Repeat multiple times and trim the yarn ends.

Knot the ends of the yarn for ease of threading through the leather loop at the other end of the bracelet.

Trim the leather ends, leaving about an 1/8" sticking out past the yarn wraps.

 Now, tie the yarn ends through the loop at the beginning of the bracelet.

 Finis!

Happy making!
xo, anne