lizzieBee crafty

And so the madness begins.

2012-01-03T13:16:00.000-05:00

My biggest handmade concern is The Dress. The dress budget is ideally no more than $200, which is much lower than anything from a bridal salon. I wear a size 20 dress, in street sizes, which means it's very difficult to find a fashion size large enough to fit. Also, the style I prefer, a simple tea-length gown with sleeves, is hard to find in any size. These three factors apart could stop me in my dress-buying tracks, but together they effectively bar me from anything I could purchase off the rack.

I thought about having a dress made for me, but the only dressmaker I know of who specializes in larger-than-fashion sizes is not only exceptionally busy, but won't think of making a couture gown for less than $300. Oh well.

Et violà, the idea to sew the dress myself is born.

Simple is the key, but finding a pattern to work from is almost as difficult as finding an entire dress off the peg. There's a lot of debate over how exactly it will go...

... but I have found the colors I like, and some gorgeous Chantilly lace I'm dying to use.

We shall see! Any thoughts?

New Year, New Purpose

2012-01-03T00:09:00.001-05:00

Lovely new year shoes!

Here's the plan - in the new year I'll work at making the life I live in my head match the one in reality. More crafting, more fashion, more family. More living!

I want to document the journey somewhat, so my first goal is to use this new fangled blog. I'm looking at some category-prompts to get kickstarted:

crafting materials that I have to share;
my op shop treasures;
finished projects (all kinds);
trials and tribulations;
and finally, of course... Wedding prep!

The date is less than a year away, so I'll be documenting everything I'm (we're...) doing. Don't worry, one post a week at most... But since we're considering going completely handmade, to the dresses and my gown and beyond, it'll be fun to share.

Happy New Year!

Cabling, and Baby Gifts

2011-11-25T22:36:00.000-05:00

There's no harm in posting a draft from a year-and-a-half ago, right? I don't even have pictures, so this will have to do.

----

I used the Modern Cabled Baby Bib pattern, which I've had my eye on for awhile. My boyfriend's sister-in-law is expecting twins this fall, so it was a perfect excuse to make some baby patterns I liked.

The thing that surprised me the most was how tiny they turned out. I'm thinking I'll make an up-scaled version for when they're a little bit older, and by default, bigger.

The second thing that surprised me, was how easy the cabling was. Obviously, some cabling patterns are harder than others, but in my head it always seemed like some sort of mad science. Not so much in practice!

All in all, I was delightfully surprised. The pattern is written very well, and if I can make the bibs look good, anyone can. :)

I also made a pair of matching car seat blankets, using this car seat baby blanket formula. They were fast and easy, and look really cute. I've already given one, with a promise of another. I didn't want to go to the baby shower empty handed!

The only problems I had were gaping stitches on the sides of the buckle hole, so I'll have to work on tightening my stitches there in the future. I want to make another for the receptionist at our dentist's office. She admired the blanket while I was working it and waiting for the Boyfriend, and her daughter is having a boy this fall. I'm thinking blue and brown will be a pretty combination. :)

That's it, so far! Practical and cute is what I'm trying to go for, and I think I'm doing pretty well for our new arrivals.

Presents, Past, and Future

2011-11-25T17:19:00.001-05:00

The value of stashing away small completed objects is incalculable. It saved me so much time to have a set of coasters/scrubbies ready and waiting to be wrapped up and given as a birthday gift.

I've been trying to have more small projects like this on-hand, especially as it closes in on the gift giving season... My sister's birthday is two days before Christmas, and my parents will celebrate their 28th anniversary on New Year's Day... Not to mention innumerable hostess gifts.

My plan is an entirely handmade Yule this year. Of course, there's a rider allowing me to buy gifts for those who don't appreciate homemade. Saves me a lot of anguish!

Only time will tell if I can pull it off or not.

On My Needles

2011-05-28T22:00:00.002-04:00

There are always more projects in progress than I really have any excuse for. Currently, I've got the beginnings of a dog sweater which will, I hope, make it onto the dog once the weather turns cold again.

Most of my other projects are less immediate:

a black fun fur cowl - it seemed like the thing to do at the time, and really, what else can I do with novelty yarn? Not a lot.
knit lace market bag - I get ever other row wrong somehow, but I love the colors... And it's a cotton market bag. So.
pink baby hat - I started this one to make a set for my nieces; turns out they both hate hats at this early stage. I'll either frog it and find something else to do with it, or finish it and donate it.
bow-style keyhole scarflet - a random project with a leftover skein. Having completed/mostly completed projects I had started with no real ideas for a recipient really saved time last year
hexagon granny cat mat - the cat sleeps on everything remotely soft. Maybe if he has a mat he'll stay off the towels.

I vaguely remember more, but I'll pretend they don't exist, since I don't see them anywhere nearby.

The good news is I did finish some things lately: A cowl, a beret, some quick wrist warmers... A giant orange cheeto (cheese puff...) for a friend. That gets its own post at some point, though.

And... A pink variegated placemat - a simple single crochet project that has been through 5 incarnations of linen stitch and garter stitch. I switched to crochet to make it go faster, and finally finished it for Mother's Day.

And of course, the little guy you see up at the top of the post!

What the heck is that??

2011-02-14T01:31:00.004-05:00

Grabbing a skein of lace-weight out of one of my stash baskets turned up a horrifying sign - bug carcasses on the yarn. I wanted to see the brand (Patons Lacette) and check for some easy lace patterns to try my hand at... Not face the evidence of my poor stash storage.

This appalling assault on my stash seems to be caused by the 25% mohair, but a quick Google search didn't really win me any golden ideas on how to clean out the skeins. I can only hope I'll be able to figure it out, especially since my first instinct is to throw all 6 skeins away and comb through the rest of the yarn in that basket.

If anyone has any ideas, let me know! Short of rewinding each skein by hand, I'm pretty stumped. Perhaps this isn't the type of problem I should try to solve at 2 a.m.?

First Thread Project

2010-04-14T02:14:00.005-04:00

This is my first time working with thread, the same project I had fun counting out with my tablet mouse. But, wait, what is it?

A haute couture necklace?

No, it's just the starting chain of a shawl. Good use of stitch markers, though. You could whip up a necklace for every outfit, and cannibalize it for a project. You'd never run out of markers!

414 is the final chain count. If I can get the cat off of the thread, I'll be able to start the real work!

What is this blog you speak of?

2010-04-13T00:11:00.002-04:00

I haven't been posting, here or on Ravelry, but I have been working! I've finished up a few small stuffed toys and a kitchen set as a gift to Mum for Mother's Day. I'd like to get some pictures posted, and since I have a new camera courtesy of some friends (as a birthday gift!), I'm much more likely to get that done.

I'm working on a shawl as a wedding gift for a friend, and it's been fun fiddling with the numbers. I pulled out my new Bamboo drawing tablet, so I got to make notes and do the math in a pretty, color coordinated way instead the usual way... That often involves the back of an envelope or receipt.

Pictures to come! :)

New Technology...

2010-01-09T21:54:00.005-05:00

Sometimes I'm not too sure about it.

Mum got a Cricut for Christmas, and since she then had to go out of town, I get to "test it to make sure it works". There is a learning curve.

For those who don't know what a Cricut is, it's an electronic die cutting machine. There is a perfectly good Sizzix roller around somewhere, but this is much cooler and a lot noisier. It scares the cat - bonus!

The part I'm having the most difficulty with is removing the paper from the sticky cutting mat. I was expecting a smooth rubbery surface of some kind, to which the paper would adhere... In actuallity it seems to be some sort of industrial strength "temporary" adhesive. Here's hoping it gets easier with a few usages.

And I had such grand ideas of adding die cuts to everything, too. HA!

I have been crafting, really.

2009-11-25T04:58:00.005-05:00

Here is an illustrated example of proof! I've been actually fairly active with regards to needlecraft, but most of the items have been ignored after they were finished or they were posted on Ravelry and not here. That's something I'd like to remedy, but for now... There's a cute little bunny. Enjoy.

Slightly related, I've noticed that when I am particularly tired it's very hard to hold onto the yarn and that makes it very hard to work. My left hand is especially weak compared to my right, and it goes completely useless when it's tired. Traitor!

I've got some fun things on the hook for Thanks Giving, so I'll see about getting some pictures of those up. I should also see about finishing those, so that's what I will do instead of trying to come up with something mildly interesting to post. :3

Travel Size Soap Saver

2008-07-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

I wanted to make a soap saver for my travel size soap so I grabbed my hooks and some cotton yarn and tried it out. Hopefully I'll be able to take a better picture, as this one is from my cell phone.

I used a 4.00 mm/US-G hook and worsted weight cotton yarn of unknown origin.

Finished size is approximately 2 in. x 4 in. for the actual bag.

Travel Size Soap Saver
Starting with an adjustable ring, ch 3, dc 8 in ring. Pull tail tight and close ring.

Row 1: * 2 dc in first st, 1 dc in next st, repeat from * around. Sl st to top of ch 3.

Row 2: Sc in each st around, sl st to first st.

Row 3: Ch 3. Dc in each st around, sl to top of ch 3.
Row 4: Sc in each st around, sl st to first st.

Row 5: Ch 3. Dc in each st around, sl to top of ch 3.

Row 6: Ch 3. * dc2tog, dc in next st, repeat around from *. Sl st to top st of ch 3.

Row 7: Ch 3. * sc in second st, ch 1 * repeat around from *. Sl st to second st of ch 3.
I used this row to keep the soap in instead of using a drawsting, which tends to wear and break over time.

Wrist strap: Ch 30, attach to same st.
This row can be skipped if you don't want the wrist strap, or can be made longer or shorter to preference.

Edging: Ch 3. Dc in same st, ch 1. 2 dc in next ch 1 sp, ch 1.

At some point I'd like to improve the edging, but this is what I did this time, so... :) If anyone has any comments or suggestions please don't be shy, this is definitely the first pattern I've tried to write for other people to use.

Ouch, My Hands

2008-05-09T02:01:00.000-04:00

They don't really hurt, perse, but they are tingly and a little numb. Working on a project nonstop for the last four hours didn't make them very happy, but I'm quite pleased with the finished piece. I won't say what it is, because it's a gift for Christmas, but it's part of an entire set that I'm putting together-- hat, scarf, gloves, and whatever else I can think of, perhaps a bag to carry it all in, or a lap blanket. I have quite a few skeins to work with!

I'm thinking of going back to the Dollar Tree for some more yarn-- they had piles and piles of fun fur, ribbon yarns, and other novelties for a dollar... Considering how much they usually cost, I was quite pleased with about 20 skeins of yarn for 20$. I don't have any idea what I'm going to do with the yarn I already have, though, so I probably won't get anymore. Bummer.

"Gourmet Crochet" Patterns

2008-05-08T12:17:00.000-04:00

Gourmet Crochet has the most adorable doll and toy patterns, as well as wearables for babies and ladies. I'm going to be buying several of the pattern books, hopefully my pocket book can stand it!

Fun Times at AC Moore

2007-12-07T23:57:00.000-05:00

The AC Moore has a lot of stuff on sale, so I went a shoppin' tonight with my family. One of the things I got was a bamboo crochet hook, at a much reduced price. They must be getting rid of them or something, because they were less than $1.50 apiece. Trying it out now, it's very strange--I've only used steel and heavy plastic hooks. The bamboo is so light, it's completely different from my favourite steel hooks. That, I wasn't expecting. I'd like to try a wooden hook, because it might be a little more weighty, but those are a tad expensive.

Besides the awesome hook, I got 2 gorgeous balls of Jai-Alai in pink, burgundy, & green variegated, some stamps (it's impossible to find Chanukkah stamps!), and some mini-tree ornament hooks. Fun stuff.

Kitting Satchel -- count me in!

2007-11-11T23:07:00.001-05:00

What a gorgeous bag it is, isn't it? Jordana Paige's The Knitter's Satchel™ in "Grape". It comes in purple, what more could you (I) want?

I'm definitely adding this to my wishlist!

Revelry is spot on with their advertisements, for sure.

Ravelry -- beta

2007-11-11T23:00:00.000-05:00

I got my invitation email to Ravelry. It's a very cool site, the features are awesome, and I can't wait to get started with inputting all my gear and projects into it!

If you haven't signed up for the invitation waiting list, you should. I heard tell of the site opening the beta in May... That's a long time to wait!

Cute Heart Pattern

2007-04-29T15:44:00.000-04:00

A very cute pattern from Suzie's Stuff.

It's a small heart, but it's nicely executed.

Definitely one to save for later! :)

I'm Not Dead

2007-01-23T01:31:00.000-05:00

But I haven't been taking pictures of anything... Nor really finishing anything. I've got some old projects I have photos for and a few drafts of posts laying around, I'll get to it eventually I suppose!

Classes have started up again so I will hopefully have the opportunity to work on projects between times. The new year is a busy time, but it'll settle down eventually.

On that note, I'll go find my planner so that I can get my work done in time to enjoy my birthday (soon!).

Current Projects

2006-11-08T05:08:00.000-05:00

Originally....

Saturday, November 04, 2006
Current Projects
5 caps to donate for Chemo Caps
3 men's caps FIN, 1 woman's cap WIP, 1 women's cap TBS
1 pair of camouflage pants (TBS)
2 camouflage caps (TBS)
2 set scarf/hat/mittens (TBS)
1 bath set - basket, puff, soap buddy, washcloth (TBS)
Inumerable scarves!

A bunch of other crap... xD

posted by lizzieBee @1:08pm

Hello and good afternoon. :)

2006-11-08T05:06:00.000-05:00

Originally...

Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Hello and good afternoon. :)
This is my first post in my crafting blog, I'm looking forward to filling it up with pictures and comments about my stuff. I love to share, even if with only a few people.

I can be reached through email at eliza@lizziebee.net or on AOL Instant Messanger at Lizzie bee Crafty.

posted by lizzieBee @ 1:08 PM