I hope that you have had some great family time in the last week, as I certainly have!! I ended up with 4 days in a row off and with the last months craziness around here it was GREAT!! I slept in everyday and had a hard time getting up this morning. I guess I was getting used to it...ahhh sleep, glorious sleep!


Well now it's time to get back in the swing of things around here and boy am I ready to move forward!! There is so much I want learn this coming year, but I really want to concentrate on my sewing/quilting.

I am having a hard time focusing on one project at a time and have discovered that unlike knitting, sewing requires a bit more focus and a neat sewing area.

I am really happy with this fins and my hand sewing

I knit Huck the Dead Fish Hat by Thelma Egberts for his gift. I used fabric for the tail and fins and learned so much doing it! I want to be able to ultimately combine my 2 skills into one finished garment, but still have some learning to get there. I look at every project as a chance to learn and grow and while the hat isn't perfect, I made it filled with love and that's what counts right?

I am happy overall and would love to make this again!

I would make a bigger dorsal fin if I did this again, but am really happy with the movement that the fabric lends to the tail! It really swishes along...even though it's a dead fish :D ha ha!!




I definitely need practice sewing the tail to the hat and used my machine for this one, but if I do this again I am going to hand sew it, as I wasn't thrilled with the outcome.

I did consider making some sort of binding to cover the sewing, but decided that it is better as is for this project.




If you are curious as the colors and yarn I used it was Lorna's Laces Greenline Worsted (discontinued) in Tahoe and Zombie BBQ, although you could easily use Lorna's Shepherd Worsted in the same colors now which I've linked to for you above. I carried the yarns up the inside of the hat, as I am not big on weaving in the ends and will always take the easy way out. I just changed colors in a random fashion and loved the pattern, as it was super well written and easy to follow.

For now that's it, as I am off to cut some fabric orders for all of you!!

As always happy knitting, crocheting and sewing!!

Jeanne

The lips of the fish are the brim

We are all running around the shop like little beans with our heads cut off, as tomorrow is almost here! Wow I can't believe that another Thanksgiving day is coming up and I don't have my holiday gift creations done yet...what have I been doing since last season??

Shevawn is a great model, I can't wait to get the fins, tail and eyes on

Well let me tell you, I have been knitting, sewing, gardening and working on various other projects too, but do you think that any of those knitting, or sewing projects are gifts? Nope!!!


Oohhhh wait! I just remembered a Dead Fish hat I am knitting for a certain young bean  (Huck TURN AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER!!!) using some fun stash yarn that I have. I think he will have fun playing with his Dead Fish hat and I think I am going to use some fabric for the fins and the tail to complete the whole look, what do you think?

Top skirt, red bottom skirt and bib

On the sewing front I currently have a quilt to finish, as well as this charming apron to complete. The apron is a gift, but I can't say for who at this point, as I am pretty sure they read the blog, hee, hee.  I will also be teaching some of the beans how to work up their own apron at the beginning of December, so I will be well prepared to share all my apron tips by then.

My pocket...isn't it cute?

In other news I just met with the neatest gal, Cindy and we are discussing the possibility of her teaching The Chameleon Hand Bag class here in the shop.  Perky Brouillette and Pat Lui are the designers and Cindy has their permission to teach this fun class! I am super excited to make one of these cute bags and would love to hear your feed back on this project.


Cindy is quite the sewer and quilter and she is also considering putting together a beginner class for us that would cover the very basics of sewing and quilting. Tools, fabrics, threads and what not! I don't know about you, but it is always nice to have a good foundation for any new skill.


At any rate I hope you enjoyed reading some of my ramblings and I hope you have a great family day tomorrow!


As always, happy knitting, crocheting and sewing!

Jeanne

The weather here is like spring...wow! The high today is supposed to be 66 degrees.

With the warm weather we had a little subversive visitor and one of our down spouts was yarn bombed!! K4Ps is a local yarn bombing crew here in Reno and I have been waiting for them to get around to us.
I think they did a great job don't you? It will be interesting to see how long it stays up.


So with the warm weather it got me thinking about projects (like I need anything specific to get me thinking about projects, ha ha!) and in walks Amber with her finished heart out of Greenline DK in Chagrin. The Chagrin is sold out, but there are some other beautiful colors for hearts!

So now I don't need to think too hard just follow the leader, yippee! How about a knit heart for Valentines Day? I am in love with this anatomical heart and want to get this going NOW!! She worked up her heart with US 5 DPN's and I think it turned out perfectly!!


She found the pattern on Knitty and is going to work up another heart with the Zombie BBQ...woo hoo!! The working title around the shop is the 'living' heart, ha ha!

I think I will work my heart(s) up in the GreenlineDK Zombie BBQ (why mess with a great idea) and I will only need 1 hank for the project, thump, thump!




So this got me thinking about the upcoming holiday of love and I started looking for knit hearts...what do you think about these lovely little treasures from Berroco?




This free pattern will make approximately 15 hearts from one hank of Peruvia, so what's not to love?

Of course the problem with getting ideas is that well it gives me ideas and one thing leads to another and I am not finishing other stuff (which is my New Years resolution, sigh) right?

I am limiting myself to one big project like a sweater and a small project like socks, but I am sorry these hearts are calling my name!! I guess I need to revisit my resolution and say at least 2 small projects at a time...phew that was close!!

Okay with that knitting rationalization out of the way where's my needles?

As always happy knitting and crocheting!!

Jeanne