2017 Makes

I was inspired by Arrowmountain's post on Instagram to take an inventory of what I made in 2017. Being a procrastinator through and through, it is no surprise that it took me almost two months into 2018 to write this post. Partly, I was waiting to get my last two makes of 2017 photographed, and blogged and that is now done. So here you go.

Here are my maker's stats for 2017

• 22 finished items
• 19 made it to the blog
• 11 Tops
• 3 Dresses
• 3 Skirts
• 2 Knit hats
• 2 Swimsuits
• 1 Pair of pants

Patterns Stats

• 3 Self Drafted
• 3 Megan Neilsen
• 2 Blueprints for Sewing 
• 2 Papercut   
• 2 Vintage
• 1 Simplicity
• 1 In the Folds      
• 1 Colette         
• 1 Built By Wendy 
• 1 Deer and Doe 
• 1 Tilly and the Buttons  
• 1 Charlotte Kan  
• 1 Closet Case Patterns 

After rounding up all my makes for last year I realized that I was much more productive than I had imagined. I call myself a slow maker and a procrastinator. I am those things, but apparently I am pretty productive when I am enjoying what I do.

I participated in #sewphotohop on Instagram last September and it really helped me hone in on what I needed to make, and have a solid plan. I did not make the two skirts, but everything else on this plan was completed. I focused on tops, and added some much needed pieces to the upper half of my wardrobe. I never made a solid Winter sewing plan, and here in Texas Winter is already waning. I do need to do this exercise again to focus my attention on what I really need in my wardrobe. 

I loved putting the fabric swatches together and seeing where my color choices overlap and work together.

The Woes of a Wanna Be Knitter

Here are a million photos of one hat because it can be worn a million ways. Okay, four ways. I made it a little slouchy with the option to fold the ribbing up for a more fitted look. It looks good inside out, outside in, folded and unfolded. I adore this hat!
 

My hat was made with the Honey Hat pattern, but only as a starting point. I decided that this gorgeous hand dyed yarn would be best featured in a more simple stitch. I only used the pattern for the sizing and to get started with the ribbing and then continued on in reverse Stockinette stitch to the desired perfect slouchy length. The yarn is Anzula Cricket in Dark Matter (love that name) purchased locally at the gorgeous shop West 7th Wool. This yarn is 80% Merino Wool, 10% Nylon and 10% Cashmere. It is just as soft, squishy and luxurious as you can imagine. I adore the jewel tones and the resulting marbled look.

Now lets talk about the woes of a wanna be knitter who lives in Texas, shall we. Every year I get sooooo excited to knit, and I am going to knit up soooo many things. I go to the local yarn shop and ooh and ah and find the perfect lovely yarn for my first of many projects to come. I ever so slowly knit up said project, it may take me a month like this hat or several years of knitting (in the cold months only) to finish the first project of the season. Then I get to wear that precious item exactly ONCE before it gets too hot. And then it IS too hot and I am out in the garden working, or sewing up Summer clothes and swimsuits, with absolutely NO desire to have wool on my lap. I will say that in the years of scattered practice my knitting skills have grown, but I do not think I will ever be a fast knitter. It just isn't meant to be. I will however continue to knit that one special project each Winter in Texas and I will covet these pieces and wear them on at least one cold day each year.

The newborn hat was made in January and took me forever. I think the newborn recipient wore it once (he was a big little guy) but that's okay because I learned a lot and it was gifted with love. Sorry for the bad phone pic, but I couldn't not share. This is the Easy Peasy Newborn hat, a free pattern intended for leftover sock yarn. I purchased a 100 yard skein of Madeline tosh sock yarn and taught myself how to knit on teeny tiny double pointed needles. I attempted the magic loop technique but failed miserably and had to start over on DPNs. This hat actually came before mine, so the practice on DPNs came in handy when it was time to finish up my hat. The yarn was difficult for me to work with because it split a lot and I am not used to working with this weight of yarn. In the end I learned a lot and I am happy that I persevered. I think this hat found a home on one of baby River's stuffed animals and I am happy with that outcome.

2013 A Year in Review

I love looking back on what I have made and accomplished in a year. The process gives me a sense of fulfillment. Even if I haven't stuck to my plan or accomplished all of my goals I can see all the wonderful things that have happened. I did quite a bit of sewing in 2013. It was definitely my crafting focus. I mostly sewed for myself and Karlie, with a home decor project and one knit and one crochet completed. I would always like to make more, but here is what I completed and photographed last year.


I still have a couple of un-photographed pieces that I completed for myself.  I tend to go on sewing binges and make a few things.  I don't have a sewing room, so my machine and everything else get spread out on the dining room table.  Eventually I get tired of looking at it or we are having company so they get put away for a while.  I have so many more sewing projects cut and ready to go, so I have high hopes for this year.  I love sewing for Karlie as the projects are always high on cute factor, and easy with no fitting woes.  I do want to knit more this year.  I have conquered knitting to the extent that I can read patterns and it isn't totally alien to me know.  However I am the slowest knitter ever and can't imagine making a sweater, though I really want to!

You may be wondering why I never share jewelry anymore. That is because I rarely make new designs these days. With working full time my jewelry making is mostly limited to items that sell on Etsy. The rest of my time is devoted to selfish sewing and crafting. I did finish two new pieces just in the nick of time for Christmas, and both of which I am very proud of! The first is a Mother's pendant which was commissioned by a friend.

 The second is a Pendant for my mom that I started a Year and a Half ago! It went smoothly at first and then just came to a point where no matter what I did I couldn't solder on the prongs that I had planned. Finally it dawned on my to just change my plan and make it work. It isn't the best crafstmanship I've ever done, but considering my stale skills and the fact that it was a new design for me I am pleased. I love the little flower with the Peridot center. Karlie's birthstone is a Peridot and her middle name is Rose, so this is sort of a Grandmother's pendant for mom.

This time last year I had declared 2013 The Year of The Home. I made one pillow. I did do better with houseplants and with arranging some of my collections better. I do still want to give our home more love. With a big roof replacement pending and possibly more long overdue renovations, perhaps this year that wish will come true. In 2013 I ran a 10K and kept on running throughout the year, when the weather cooperated. We joined a gym but didn't stick with it, but hope to get back soon. Frank actually liked working out for the first time ever, which was a big change! We took a real vacation and I hope it's not another nine years before the next one. One of my biggest joys in life is traveling and going on adventures with Frank, so I hope that we can enjoy more of that together. We do as many small adventures together as we can, going on local trails and wandering through the woods. I had the best birthday yet last year! It included friends, family and a picnic in the woods with Frank.

For 2014 I plan to continue my selfish crafting. I want to get back in the gym and continue running outside as much as possible. We are going to attempt the Whole30 challenge, cutting out alcohol, sugar, dairy and grains for a month. I am also focusing on being more grateful. Life is never perfect, but I have a lot to be thankful for! Happy New Year Friends! xoxo Ashley

Belated Belated

This is a super belated sharing of Gretchen's super belated Birthday gift. I started this project after her birthday, which is six days after mine in November. I don't think I got it in the mail to her until early February. I hand dyed some ombre yarn, which was a cool technique to learn. I knit it in endless stockinette and I'm a slow knitter anyways. It is just a big triangular scarf. I like the way it turned out.

I love the stippling effect that the dye created.

I intended this doo-dad to be a brooch but I thought it came out too big, so it is just a thing-a-ma-bob to look at. I embroidered on felt and stuffed it with polyfil.

I always enjoy making things for friends, sometimes I'm just a little late doing so.

A Scarf for me

My lovely friend Robin gave me a gift certificate to Madtosh Crafts for my birthday. I used it for this gorgeous Tosh Vintage yarn. I think this is the nicest yarn I have ever worked with. I picked the yarn first and then had to find an appropriate pattern. That was hard! I spent weeks obsessing and having such a hard time choosing but finally went with the Saroyan scarf. It really isn't hard at all and is a perfect intro to lace knitting. It is going faster than expected too. I can't wait to wear it with my gray jacket, I picked the color just for that.

Unrelated to knitting, but exciting none the less, my husband Frank and his friend John have just launched a Band Camp page for their new musical venture, Wire Nest.  Check it out, you just might dig it.