scaifea's 2018 knitting/sewing/cross stitch/crafting projects

Hi, all! I have no idea what my first project will be for this year, but I think the first thing I'd like to do is try to organize my To Do list. I'm tempted to try something like Airtable for this - anyone else do this sort of thing?

What is Airtable? *kitty ears perk up*

airtable.com

It's a spreadsheet/data sorting online thing. Clearly I don't know much about it yet, but I'm sort of interested if it can help me get my thoughts organized.

I currently am using Bullet Journal style tracking for my projects. In fact, I need to update my tracker in my journal.
Airtable looks interesting. Looks like it might be a good tool for genealogy research.

>4 lesmel: I think bullet journals are not really my thing, although I get that so many people like it. I'm also not certain that airtable will work for me, either, but I'm willing to explore it a bit.

As a whole, bullet journals aren't my thing; but I do like some aspects...like a projects tracker or blank pages because I don't long hand write every day. Airtable really does look interesting! I already have an idea for using it for my work life.

>6 lesmel: Cool! I'm glad it may work for you!

Airtable does look intriguing. It might be a better option for me with organizing genealogy repository research than what I'm currently using.

>8 thornton37814: Lori: I'm so glad I mentioned it if it turns out to help folks here in whatever way!

I keep my knitting to-do list in my bullet journal, but only because I like having all my stuff together in once place. And I'm sure my list is much shorter than yours!

>10 norabelle414: Nora: I have so many different projects I'd like to do that it's ridiculous. And overwhelming. That's why I hope I can find something to help me get it organized!

>9 scaifea: I just put a query on Facebook to ask if any other genealogists are using it. So far, no one has responded--not even the ones who really stay on top of things like that.

>12 thornton37814: Interesting. Maybe there's bad blood between the genealogists and the airtablists...

>13 scaifea: I guess I'll find out if anyone says anything. I just wanted to see if anyone had used it. I wanted their thoughts.

>14 thornton37814: Ha! Sorry, Lori, my weird sense of humor creeped in there. It'll be interesting to see if some of them do use it, or if they have even better suggestions. You'll report back, I hope?

>12 thornton37814: Did you post to the Technology for Genealogy/ists group on FB? I was thinking about posting there tonight. Heh.

>16 lesmel: I did not. I just posted to my profile because I'm friends with so many of the ones who lecture on tech topics.

I am not at the knitting level (either in terms of quality, which doesn't matter in this context, or quantity, which does) but I just keep track of patterns/projects I think I'd like to tackle on Ravelry. That wouldn't work for what you need, I gather?

>18 rosalita: I'm like you. But I keep it all on Pinterest.

>18 rosalita: Julia: I'm on ravelry, too, as you know, and I love it for keeping track of my knitting, but I want something that will help me organize across crafts - knitting, sewing, quilting, cross-stitch, paper crafting,... - plus, I want something that can help my juggle etsy projects vs. personal ones. I've been tinkering with Airtable the past few days and I think it will do what I'm looking for. I just need to figure out how it works in a bit more detail.

>19 judylou: Judy: I can't allow myself on Pinterest. Way too distracting and rabbit-holey.

>20 scaifea: I get you! So easy to resurface and discover whole hours have passed you by!

>21 judylou: Exactly. And I can't afford that in my life. Plus, I'd rather spend the time I allot myself on the interwebs right here on LT!

>20 scaifea: Oh, now I understand. That makes sense to put all your craft projects in one place.

>23 rosalita: I really need to get that done because it's driving me nuts not being more organized about things. I want to be able to make an extended To Do list and be able to see at a glance what projects are meant for the shop and which one for me or other people, and so be able to stagger them in a better way.

Just making an appearance on your new thread to say I'll be checking out your projects again this year (haven't we been in this group for-ever?!)

>25 avaland: Hi, Lois! Great to see you! Hopefully I'll have something to report soonish...

First finished project of the year - it's not a huge deal, for certain, but I have some Christmas fabric that I've been trying to figure out what to with and decided to try whipping up some cloth gift bags. Here's my first try:



The real challenge will be if I'll remember that I have them - and then where I put them - once Christmas comes back round.

The gift bag is cute! Are you going to make a variety of sizes and shapes? Is that something that would sell in your Etsy shop, because I could see people buying those.

>28 rosalita: Thanks, Julia! I was thinking about making some up for the shop in different sizes, but haven't 100% decided yet. I think I want to move toward everything in the shop being made from upcycled materials, so I'd have to figure out exactly what to repurpose for these that would make sense. Christmas sweaters, maybe, for the holiday ones, but I'm not sure how easily I could come by those in the thrift shops. I'd more likely make general purpose gift bags and not holiday ones. Maybe out of old fancy dress fabrics? And then maybe funkier ones out of goofy tshirts? This bears more thinking, clearly.

ETA: Some of the ones I'm making now will be upcycled, too: My mom gave me an old Christmas tablecloth that she doesn't use any longer and that I loved as a kid, and I'm going to make some bags out of it (and possibly something else, too, but I don't know yet - I'd love to make myself a skirt or something out of it, but it's kind of wild fabric (for my usual dress ethos, anyway). At the same time, I'd like to make something out of it for myself as a nice keepsake, because I love the tablecloth so much (early Christmas family memories of cozy Christmas dinners and such).

>29 scaifea: I like the way you're thinking! Christmas sweaters — you could make bottle bags out of the sleeves. :-) And fancy dresses is also a great idea; something soft and silky or covered in lace? Awesome.

>29 scaifea: Yay! I'm glad you think so! Sometimes I think I have great ideas for things for my shop, but worry that I'd be the only one who would think so kindly about said ideas...

I think your ideas are great. I'm a big fan of recycled items. Maybe for the tablecloth, you could make yourself a smaller table topper for an end table or maybe a Christmas tree skirt? I love the idea of wine bottle holders from sweater sleeves.

ETA: I actually bought a pillow for my bed for the winter that looks like it's a cream sweater material with big wooden buttons on it.

>32 dudes22: I LOVE making things with recycled fabrics and materials. I just love the idea of making old things useful again.

No on the tree skirt, though, because my husband crocheted ours and I love it too much ever to replace it.

So, I've mostly been just puttering in my sewing room and not getting much done (although I did make Charlie some new Harry Potter curtains), but here's what I've been working on lately - zipper pouches:

Nicely done!

>35 avaland: Thanks, Lois! I spent some time today digging through my scraps and putting together possible outside/lining fabrics for more pouches, which is, in some ways, more fun than actually making them...

>36 scaifea: Oh yes, pawing and digging through, and the fondling of fabric is definitely a very satisfying.

Lovely. Your work is very neat. Like the colour matching too.

>38 captainsflat: Thanks, Jasmina!

Today's sewing efforts: matching pencil pouches for Charlie and his BFF:

>34 scaifea: - That’s cute. I did a couple of book bags (@5x7) for Christmas gifts a couple of years ago, but never made one for myself.

>40 scaifea: - those are adorable.

Thanks, Betty! I think it'll be a great way to use up some of my fabric leftovers, and I have a ton of zippers, too. I'm thinking of smalling it down, too, and making some coin purses.

Oh man, I love that Mario fabric! Those look great. :)

>43 .Monkey.: Thanks! And I know, right? I was so excited when I found this fabric, oh, a couple of years ago. I made Charlie (my now-9-year-old son) a pair of shorts out of it that he loved.

That's awesome. :D I'd totally rock a purse with that, lol.

Love the pencil pouches, Amber.

Thanks, Laura!

Ah, a reminder I need to make some zipper pouches myself. I bought an Amy Butler book of bag patterns and I'm excited to make *something* from it.

>48 mabith: I have a ridiculously large stack of bag patterns and books of bag patterns. You'd think I'd make some of them at some point...

Adorable pencil pouch. I hope Charlie never gets to a place where he doesn't want his mum to make stuff for him! Maybe 5 or 6 years ago, my son came to the house with fabric in hand and said he needed to use my sewing machine and was going to make a sock monkey costume for himself (he is over 6 ft tall). He would not let me help because he didn't want anyone to say his mother helped him; however, he did help me engineer the head, but I couldn't help him sew it. Bet that is taking up space in a closet somewhere. I eventually bought him his own sewing machine.

>50 avaland: Thanks!

Charlie has already had a few simple sewing lessons, by request, which is awesome. How fun to buy your son a machine!

My step-son is a pretty good sewer. He made us Christmas stockings a couple of years ago.

>52 dudes22: Excellent! Good for him!

Yoicks. Apologies for not posting much at all here, folks. Been a bit busy with moving stuff (finding a new house, prepping the current one for the market, suffering through showings (= packing two dogs and a 9yo in the car for an hour at a time and keeping the house *way* more immaculate than I'm generally comfortable with), and packing for the move (happening at the end of July). So I've not been sewing or knitting much, but I did just finish this small project, which is what I've been doing instead of packing as I should - a gift for the school librarian, who has been kind enough to let me hang out in her library for the past couple of years, shelve books and help kiddos find good reads. She's also become one of my most treasured friends and one of the things I will miss the very most when we move:

What a perfect gift! And so nice of you to do something like that in the midst of everything else going on with the move.

That's adorable! I like the selvages you used in the borders. And Dr Suess is so perfect for a librarian.

>55 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Nice and crazy, I think you mean. Ha!

>56 dudes22: Thanks! I think she'll love the Seuss theme; I made it with a wall hanging for the library in mind.

Love the use of the fabric in your teacher piece.

>58 mabith: Thanks! I've had that stack of fabric for a few years, having bought it to make something for Charlie, and then he announced that he doesn't like Dr. Seuss. So, yeah. I'm glad I finally figured out something to make out of it!

>57 scaifea: No, if you were crazy you'd be making a second wall hanging right now to present to the new school library. "Hi, I'm the new library-fanatic mom; you'll be seeing a lot of me around here!"

>60 lauralkeet: Laura: *whispers*...Don't think I haven't been pondering it already...

>61 scaifea: HA! I am not surprised.

Extending much sympathy re: the craziness of moving, buying, selling...

That's a lovely gift. Hope you get settled soon. We miss you!

>63 avaland: Thanks, Lois! Ooof, tell me about it - today we're dealing with buyers being ridiculously nit-picky about the inspection. Oy.

>64 scaifea: Ours waited until the closing, when we were all dressed up and came in a small car, to tell us they want us to remove all the things we left for them in the basement (you know, the paints that match those on the wall, extra tiles that match the kitchen or 3-season room floor and so on). Between the signing itself and the handing over of the check, we went and packed the hubby's Honda Fit top to bottom. We were not happy campers (but our revenge was our knowledge that they paid 28,000 over the asking price to get the house).

>65 avaland: Oh my god, I would count my lucky stars if I bought a house and there was some matching paint, tile, etc left... Being a crafty person I'd appreciate non-matching supplies as well!

>66 mabith: I know, right?! I'm not worried that we'll run into the same nonsense with our buyers...

Lovely librarian gift. I understand about keeping house at a level that is not your level, it is very tiring and frustrating. I hope you enjoy the new house and new library as much.

>68 captainsflat: Thank you!

Well, we've moved and are settled into our new house, for the most part, and I finally remembered to take a couple of photos of my new sewing room - I spent a happy afternoon today getting back into my projects:

>70 scaifea: WOW. That is a super-terrific amazing space! And so well lit, too. Is it larger than the space you had before?

>71 lauralkeet: Laura: I know, right?! Yes, it's quite a bit larger than what I had before, and that's saying something! Tomm has promised to build cubby/shelves all along the now-plastic-tub wall eventually.

Well, the sewing room is in working order, and I'm also back to my usual knitting in the evenings, too, which feels great. I've finished two long-standing projects in the last two days, both for myself!:

Nice! I still like you even if you are a Slytherin. 😀

>74 lauralkeet: Ha! Thanks, Laura! Charlie is still scandalized that I'm in Slytherin House...

>70 scaifea: - That's a nice space you've got. I need to work on a design wall for the space my husband made for me I've seen a few ideas but I wanted to make sure the room was the way I wanted it before I decided on the size.

>73 scaifea: Hey, you need to make a hat to go with the scarf and socks. Winter's coming. Seriously, those are very cute.

>76 dudes22: Thanks! Good luck with your space!

>77 Lyndatrue: Ha! Maybe I will... And thanks!

>70 scaifea: It looks wonderful! Spacious and sooooo neat! I see a lot of creative things coming out of that room in the future! Glad the new house accommodates your creative habits.

Socks & scarf are terrific.

>79 avaland: Thanks, Lois! I'm so pleased with the space, and now that I've got it sorted I'm eager to get to work in there!

Envying you your new space. What kind of lighting do you have: daylight bulbs, regular bulbs, you get the idea.

What a great space to work in!

>81 SassyLassy: I don't know what kind of bulbs are in there now - they're what was there when we moved in - but I'd like to get slightly brighter bulbs soonish.

>82 mabith: Thanks!

I had a big overhead, newer fluorescent that is full spectrum (like an Ott light) installed when I had some work on the outlets. I've been very happy with it. I still have an old Ott light I use near the machine. The corner room I use is NW facing & with woods on both sides, so very little direct sunlight.

Which is all to say that if you can get full spectrum fluorescent bulbs, I would recommend them (and they would last for a long time).

HERE'S a short article on lighting for artists that might be helpful.

My husband put led florescent lights in a few places in my new sewing room and they're great.

>84 avaland: Thanks for the tip, Lois - I'll keep those bulbs in mind!

Happy 10th Needleartsaversary! I was just wandering through old threads and it seems you and I have been hanging around this group since 2008. I miss some of the others who have been here over the years, but some are no longer on LT, others have been lured away by life changes, and still others have been gobbled up by Facebook. Here's to persistence!!

>87 avaland: Wow, 10 years!! Happy Needleversary to you, too! (I've finished a couple of little projects recently, but I keep forgetting to post them here!)

So, I really have been sewing, but I keep forgetting to post my stuff here! Latest projects have been testing out new projects for my etsy shop, Charlie's annual pajamas, and his Halloween costume (he wants to be Haku from Spirited Away - costume is finished, but I'll hold off on photos until there's an actual Charlie in the costume). Today I finished up a commission for a friend's costume. He wants to be The Golux from James Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks and needed the "indescribable hat." Here's an illustration from the book:



And here's the finished product:

Very clever!! I think you did a great job on that.

And Charlie is a Miyazaki fan, is he? We approve. We have a little DVD collection of his stuff, maybe 5 or 6 movies. I think Howl's Moving Castle is still my fave, but Spirited Away is awesome, too. We tried Kiki's Delivery Service on Oliver recently. He watched about half before wanting to do something else (not enough cars & trucks apparently, but then, he is only 3 1/2).

>90 avaland: Thanks! And yes, we love Miyazaki! We haven't watched Howl yet, because I want him to read the books first. We'll get there soon, I think.

>91 scaifea: Gosh, I just checked and he's even done LeGuin's Tales of Earthsea!

>92 avaland: What!? Excellent!

That hat is wonderful and I did a little squeal at that being a Halloween costume choice (big Thurber fan).

>94 mabith: Thanks!! I was pretty proud of it, honestly, and I love that that's my friend's favorite book!

Christmas projects for our nieces, finished. Those dolls were a PAIN:

>96 scaifea: They *look* like they'd be a pain, but they're awfully cute. Hopefully the girls they're intended for will love them, too. :-}

>97 Lyndatrue: Thanks, Lynda!

I agree with Lynda - they are really cute. I bet your nieces will love them..

>96 scaifea: Those are adorable!!!! And with matching dresses! (stuffing those arms & legs must have been a bear!)

Hope we will see more of you in 2019. Happy holidays.

>99 dudes22: Thanks!!

>100 avaland: Lois: Ohmygod, those legs and arms. I wrote a note on the pattern flap: "If you ever think of making these dolls again, DON'T."

And yes! I'll definitely make a new thread (and hopefully remember to post my projects!)

>96 scaifea: I predict the dolls will be a big hit with your nieces, especially with the matching dresses!

At least the frustration has such an adorable end? I love those dresses, they make me think of Shirley Temple so my inner child is very envious (I had two modes as a kid - complete tomboy and Shirley Temple devotee).

>102 thornton37814: Lori: I hope so!

>103 mabith: I love that style dress for little ones and It was easily adaptable for the doll dresses, too. I do hope they like 'em.

One more post for this year - I finished Charlie's homemade present yesterday, finally! He's a huge Miyazaki fan, so I think he'll love it (I hope so, at least):

I'm not familiar with the character, but that is so well made. Well done Amber!

>106 lauralkeet: Thanks, Laura! Oh, you should check out My Neighbor Totoro - it's so lovely!

>105 scaifea: It's cute. Like Laura, I don't know this character, but I'm sure Charlie will love it!

>108 thornton37814: Thanks, Lori!

>105 scaifea: You make me miss having a young one or so about. That's just so very cute, and heartwarming. They grow up so fast. :-}

Love the Totoro! Was it difficult working with that fabric?

>11 scaifea: We do, too!

Yes and no. When you cut it, that fuzzy stuff gets EVERYWHERE. But sewing it wasn't as difficult as I expected it would be. Lots of pins, of course, to keep it from creeping, but it wasn't bad. And it's soooo soft.

ETA: I used felt for the eyes, not, whiskers, and belly things, because I didn't want to try to hand sew that other stuff to itself. Plus, I thought the felt would look more defined.

>105 scaifea: - Whatever it is, it's cute..

>113 dudes22: Ha! Thanks!

Here's a still from the movie, My Neighbor Totoro:



(Actually, I don't remember this in the movie, but these are the main characters, at any rate.)

I love it!!! Happy New Year. See you on your 2019 thread!

>115 avaland: Thanks, Lois!!

I've started a new thread for the new year:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/301767#