what to do first...?

I've got a long list of projects I'd LOVE to work on this weekend.  I'm feeling pretty crafty right now and all these projects are all over the spectrum - knitting, sewing, hair bow making, jewelry making, etc.  I really should learn to focus on just one thing at a time.  Oh well. 

Also this weekend, We've got to get some progress made on de-cluttering this house.  We decided that we will work on the final touches of getting our bedroom back in shape - so mostly just getting the last of the clothes put away somewhere.  Next, we will tackle the kitchen.  My main project in there will be to get the table and shelves cleared off of all the junk that has gathered and maybe clean out the pantry.  There's so much stuff in there that we have likely forgotten about and is probably stale by now anyway.  Time to get it out of this house!

So on top of my house cleaning that has to get done, I'm wanting to do all sorts of fun stuff.  I'm being realistic knowing that it won't all get done... but I do want to at least accomplish something.  I should probably start with the netbook case that I've been working on... it's so not going well though.  I tried following the pattern, but it's not written out very well... because I'm totally missing something.  I'm going to be having to make some adjustments to not waste what I've done so far.  We'll see how that goes.

I also need to hem a skirt for a friend, and hem a pair of my own pants.

I need to make these earrings for another friend.

And I need to make some hair bows - a big sister/little sister combo.

I'd like to work on this dress that my sister asked me to make for her, but I haven't heard back from her about any plans to get together - so this probably won't happen.  I'd also like to make one for myself, so maybe I'll gather the materials for mine at least.

I had saved this pattern in my stash awhile back, and now would like to try making it for my girls.  I've got the pattern printed out... next I just need to cut and tape it together.  Then choose my fabric for the top. :)  We all know that's the tough part... ;)

I'd also like to make this skirt for myself... the pattern has been sitting around here for almost 2 years now.  I'm having trouble picking out which fabric to use as well.

Let's see what else...

I want to make some more progress on my Garter Stitch Swing Cardi.  It's kind of taking awhile because I keep laying it down to work on smaller, quicker projects.

And speaking of smaller, quicker projects.  I need to make another of these hats for a friend at work.  Also, I need to make some flowers to go on a few of the hats that I have already finished.

So you see, that's quite a long "would like to do" list and I know I won't finish it all - but maybe having this little list will help me work on things in the right order and get at least some progress made. :)

WOW

I hadn't realized It's been so long since I've posted anything... Geez... I'm sorry about that.  I really had the best intentions of keeping this thing going.  I'm not giving up just yet, just consider the past 2 (almost 3) months a bit of a vacation.  I'm getting back on board to post again, at least once a week. :)

So yeah... I have actually been busy with lots of stuff, just haven't found the time to post about it.  A big thing that has kept be busy, and tired in the evenings (besides the kids) is that my DesiLea Boutique co-hort, Desiree got married!  Yeah!  We have been spending lunch breaks at our "real job" running errands for her wedding... so yeah, if you've ever gotten married or helped anyone who has then you realize why that's been keeping us busy.  Of course, that means our Etsy shop went on a bit of a vacation as well.  We are working on some ideas to re-stock the shelves (or pages, however you want to think of it) and will have things back up and running sometime this summer.

I have actually been crafting stuff too... I've gotten back to my yarn crafts and have been busy obsessing over buying new supplies (cause you can never have enough, right?) and browsing through all sorts of patterns for all kinds of projects.  By the way, have you ever looked through all the patterns and such that they have available on Ravelry?  I warn you, it can be addictive... but there are some really awesome patterns out there and so many of them are 100% FREE!  Even better, right?

So far, I have crocheted a few hats, and flowers and stuff like that.  I've started a crochet sweater which took a wrong turn so I frogged it (what?? It means that I unraveled the whole thing and it no longer exists :)  ).  I started a knit sweater, and ended up putting it down for a few days... when I came back to it I noticed that somehow I managed to knit a hole into it, so that was frogged as well.  Now, I'm using that same yarn that I started the other two sweaters with and trying once more to make a sweater with it.  I figure that either 3rd time's the charm or I just need to give up and try a different yarn (maybe it's bad luck or something?  LOL).

Like that? That's the Garter Stitch Swingy Sweater by Jenn Pellerin that I am currently working on.  It will be black and I hope to find some really fun buttons to use on it.  I'm going to worry about actually completing the sweater first though before I go to look for buttons.  Good idea, right? 

My favorite thing about the pattern is that it's kind of a guideline/formula to follow to knit your own sweater in your own specific size.  I just hope that I've done the math correctly, and this ends up fitting me.  If not, then I can probably find someone who it will fit and save it as a Christmas gift or something.

So yeah, that's what I've been up to.  I'll be back soon with more fun stuff... promise :)

My Adventure into Loom Knitting

I'm anxiously awaiting the delivery of my 2 new wooden hat looms that I ordered from DA Looms.  They make them special for you when you order, so it can take a little while to get them... but from the hype I read online, it's totally worth it.  I got an email that they have been shipped, so I should get them this week! :)

I have tried the Knifty Knitter Looms, and they are fine... but I feel like I really need to have only chunkier weight yarn, or else things look too spread apart.  I also have a really awesome Adjustable Sock Loom by Knitting Board, and a (soon to be tried out) 28" Knitting Board as well.

How did this whole loom knitting thing start out you wonder?  Well, as most of my new craft adventures begin... I was browsing through Hobby Lobby (or sometimes Michaels - but this time it was Hobby Lobby) and came across the Adjustable Sock Loom.  It came with all the pieces that I needed (just choose your own yarn) as well as an instructional DVD. 

You see, my Mom taught me how to knit (with knitting needles) when I was a teenager.  She taught me a few times actually, as I tended to forget the specifics after not knitting for awhile between projects.  I learned the most basic stitches, and how to cast on and off... that's it.  I successfully knitted quite a few scarves over the years.  That's about it.  I currently have a throw blanket sitting on a pair of circular needles that I started, oh about 3 years ago.  It kinda takes me awhile to work on knitting projects :)

So when I saw the sock loom kit, I thought "How cool would it be to knit my own socks?"  The loom is adjustable so you can make anything from a tiny baby sock to a large mens sock.  I got it home and found some time to watch the instructional DVD and learn how to get started, and that was that.  It was so much easier and quicker to knit on the loom than it usually takes me to knit on needles.

For my first attempt at knitting socks, I figured it would be wise to start small... so I started with a toddler sized pair for my daughters.  It started off well, and the sock turned out pretty cute, except I totally mis-measured and it turned out a bit too long.  From the top to the heel, it was perfect, the heel fit my oldest's foot perfectly, and the width around her foot was great.  It was from heel to toe that it turned out a bit too long, and so just looks a little funny, and well, it unusable.  I didn't bother trying for the second sock in the pair.  I'll try again... with hopefully better measurements.

The loom made it so much easier for me to get a good stitch, to not drop stitches and I can even follow patterns now without loosing my place.  I especially like that I can stop in the middle of a row and not loose my place on a pattern.  Of course, I still only know how to do the basic stitches for now, so my extent of a pattern is a basic knit 2, purl 2 ribbing.  Basic, yes... but still looks great and serves some practical purpose (especially with socks, or hats).  It's going to be so much easier to add and subtract stitches too... now I can make things in shapes other than just a square or rectangle :)


Here's a little sneak peak at something I've been working on...

Cute huh?  It's a gift for a friend of mine's baby shower... I've got a little less than a month to finish it, think I can do it?  Oh, I think it can be done :)  I'll share the whole thing once it's finished and been given to my friend - Don't want to spoil the surprise :)