New Banner/Header!

So I made a new header for this blog. The grey one had been a bit bland to me for a long time, since the “grey phase” I had for a while has been gone for a looong time :D But now everything is new and fresh and I’m happy.

The background for the banner is a weird necklace/headband thing that I crocheted using a sort of popcorn stitch. I haven’t quite decided if I want to wear it or not, but I like the texture.

I also considered using an embroidered flower I did on a kimono I made, but while taking photos of it I realized that I only ever teased that project, but never showed finished thing.

So here’s the kimono (been used as a dressing gown for a while now, so not really in prime-posting-condition, but…):

I used the same tutorial as Catherine Daze, adjusted to my measurements. The fabric was less than ideal though, a bit too stretchy.

The embroidery itself was based on something I found by googling “traditional Japanese embroidery” (seriously pretty stuff, by the way), or something along those lines. The end result was good, though in hindsight I can’t really think of why I decided to use so much time on something so everyday as a dressing gown :D But I suppose it was good practice, at least. I should do more embroidery anyway, it’s very relaxing.

– Sadie

Portal Pot-holder

Hi!

I wanted to make something for my friend’s new apartment, so I came up with the brilliantly original idea of a pot-holder. After seeing the scullholders in Stitch ‘n Bitch Crochet, I knew that what I had to make was a pot-holder inspired by the signs from Portal (an appropriate gift from one Portal fan to another).

So I settled on the one with the cake for one side of the pot-holder, and a companion cube for the other, since the rest of the signs would’ve been too intricate for such a small piece.

Version 1 (for my friend):

The companion cube isn’t based on an actual sign from the game, but on a necklace I have, since simplicity is the key here. The cake is also simplified slightly.

I ended up making one for myself too, though I changed the pattern a bit, since in the first one I had to clear up some details with some extra black yarn. Overall I think the first version looks a bit better, but the second one is nice and simple to make.

Version 2 (for me):

I used a 100% wool yarn by the Finnish company Novita, which was 50g=135m, crocheted with a 3.5mm hook.

The pattern is all single crochet, with the end result being about 16cm  x 18cm.

Here are the patterns for the version 2 pot-holder:

Each square represents a single crochet, and the colours are changed according to picture. Here’s a video demonstrating how crocheting with two colours works. I was annoyed by how much the other colour showed on the right side when crocheting from the wrong side, so I only crocheted through the other colour every other crochet, when working from the wrong side. Oh god, I’m so bad at explaining stuff like this. But this is what my wrong sides ended up looking like, so maybe some of you can figure out what I’m trying to say:

This lead to a much cleaner look on the right side, so I think it’s a good strategy.

To finish off, I crocheted a black border around each piece and then crocheted the two pieces together, wrong sides together, and added the loop.

I would really want to make more similar pot-holders, with varying themes and such, so maybe different fandom related pot-holders will be my staple gift from now on, until my friends start to think I’m a little loony or something :D

 

– Sadie

 

Finally, A Finished Crochet Project!

I crocheted a shirt/blouse! It took me about half a freakin’ year or so, but now it’s finished.

This has been a ridiculously long project, mostly due to the thin cotton yarn (I used a 2mm hook), but also because I’m not the most industrious crochet-person, and because I was silly enough to make this without a proper pattern/instructions. But in the end it turned out really nice, so I guess it was all worth it. The shoulders are a little weirdly shaped though.

For the most part I used this stitch, along with a basic double crochet. For the hems I used this really cute stitch. I used some basic sewing patterns and my body measurements to make the pieces, which I then sewed together.

 

The neckline I finished using single-fold binding made from a strip of basic black knit fabric.

Before binding:

After binding:

I even crocheted a little test strip, just so I could see how the binding would work:

 

All in all, I’m glad this project is done, but next time I’ll be sure to either a) make something small, b) make something really lacy, c) use thicker yarn.

– Sadie

PS. As you can see, I’ve cut my hair! Actually I did it quite a long time ago, but since there have been no pics of me for a while over here, I haven’t had the chance to show it to you. Yay :)

My New Favourite Skirt

Hi!

I’ve been a very bad blogger recently, sorry about that. I mostly blame university, and the fact that I had a phase of uninspiredness (yes, I’m aware that’s not a word) that started sometime in the summer and is only just coming to an end. But now I’m back in business and have a ton of projects planned, so I think I’ll make up for taking such a long break.

The Skirt

The sewing-blog appropriate hipter-pose… or maybe I don’t look melancholic enough to qualify?

This is basically just a six-gore circle skirt with pockets. Also, it has no side seams — just for fun. The waistband is petersham ribbon. I used the same fabric I made vintagey shirt #1 from. It’s a really hard farbric to work with, I have to say! Thin as hell and doesn’t weigh a thing… It was impossible to keep it still while cutting, so the finished product is a little lopsided.

I wore this with  a separate underskirt I made from some leftover lining and some of the bias tape I made from the same blue silk as the skirt. I was thinking I could maybe make a proper 50’s petticoat for this, to make it more festive from time to time.

The skirt closes with three hooks and a snap.

Lastly, a sneak peek into crocheting:

It’s just a test piece, but I think it turned out pretty nice (as in you can actually tell there’s a pattern).

I also bought myself a huge set of bamboo crochet needles:

They range from 12mm to 2mm.

Hooray!