Almost time!

The holidays are coming way faster than I would like but isn't that the norm?!  My list of to-do has grown smaller and smaller which I am ever thankful for but until December comes I am not able to really post any of the projects I've been working on.  That being said I do know how long it has been since I've posted any thing at all so a small bit of spoiling is in order.

My brother-in-law requested an apron for the holidays and since he even drew up exactly what he wanted I see absolutely no harm in posting a picture of that ... though I did add some personal touches and flair to the apron that were not requested (I've got a problem with wanting little details in the things I make ... it is a good problem to have though.)

This was quite the learning experience for me because I've never really sewn on a machine with denim.  Sure I've made purses and water bottle holders from old jeans but that was when I was all about sewing by hand; connecting with what I was making and blooding my thumbs to the point of frustration simply because the sewing machine scared me.  At least I now know that denim and french seams do NOT splice!  But this did end up being the biggest apron I've made and I won't lie when I tried it on I totally felt like I was 3 again trying on my dad's coveralls.

Not only did I get some sewing done but I also taught myself a new craft.  For quite some time now I've wanted to learn how to crochet and since I was all sickly and snuggled up on the couch why not at least be productive?!  So I set out with the one crochet hook I some how ended up with and a thing of yarn I bought when I was all "I can knit with a loom" and went to town.  Armed with a book my grandmother gave that was published in 1978 a chain stitch was simple to learn but as you can imagine everything after that just didn't make a lick of sense to me.  Of course I was way too lazy to get on the YouTube to see if I could find a great tutorial for the super visual learner so I just wung it ... one day I'm going to realize that 9 times out of 10 that doesn't yield the best results.

 

But hey at least Gus enjoyed my sitting still for long periods of time though the yarn seemed to grab her interest more than my wishing she'd just sit down and keep me warm.  Now on the to-do list: learn to make a hat!  I have to say this crochet thing is probably the best craft learning experience because if you mess up or don't like what you make just a tug on the yarn makes the whole thing disappear and you've not wasted a single thing.

Work, work, work!

I've been buzzing all over the place like a  little worker bee recently.   The pile of projects continues to grow, unlike the hours in a day but c'est la vie!  For the past week I've done some sewing in the form of a denim apron for my brother-in-law which is 90% completed (I'm too scared to cut a split in it), a block of stacked coins made from all the orange fabric in my stash, and a small amount of embroidery.  

Other than that I've been working on a bit of the electronic side of the wonderful world of crafting.  I finally bought myself an inkjet printer which means I'll be able to print designs directly on fabric, which also means I need to begin learning design programs in hopes to create my own embroidery designs or be super lazy and just print then sew. 

Also thanks to the new printer I was able to download some new sewing patterns and actually spent last night putting one together in hopes to make my own Halloween costume.  I've tried following patterns before (purse) and didn't do so great as I basically said "I got this" and sewed things together without following directions ... lesson learned as it still sits unfinished in my craft room.  But I'm planning on doing better this time around as the idea of looking like someone from Once Upon a Time that just stepped out of the enchanted forest  sounds delightful! Hopefully I'll get the first part finished soon so I can check the fit before finishing the costume up ... I should diy a dress form one of these days but with an ever changing body size I'd hate to make one then gain or lose weight.  Oy the life of a crafter and the desire to make everything with your own hands!