October Craft Thread

I don’t have lots of energy at 47.  Lol.  I’m a “lazy parent” and don’t do for my kids things they can do for themselves.  They both know how to run the washer and dryer and make basic food.  If I’m feeling nice, I wash their clothes and throw them back into their baskets for them to put away.  Most weekends I do everyone’s wash.

Last weekend, my kids discovered the neighbors below us.  We have a vacant lot next door that slopes down into their backyard.  We’ve had “Lord of the Flies” happening.  Spears and swords and kids running through the lot next door and our yards.  It’s great!  They’re outside, I’m inside getting stuff done.  Lol.  

Grading will have to get done tomorrow, unless the 10 year old gets a call for open gym.  I need to figure out a better work/life balance.  Hopefully a few tweaks to my teaching will bring that for me starting next trimester (Nov.5).

You guys inspire me so much. I do quilt and I can knit but I decided yesterday to buy some wool and a crochet hook to make what is called a prayer shawl—basically a rectangle with a fringe!! I had to rip out a few times last night but I think I got the hang of it—it’s all half double crochet stitch.

Emelle

Proof real men wear crochet. You’re welcome.



Photo from Lion Brand on IG.

Extra points if he made it on his own!


I have a craft to share! Yesterday was my only class at quilt festival for this year (another one was cancelled). My goal now with classes is to either learn a new technique or craft. No more partially finished quilts coming home to just sit in the corner and taunt me (hexagon quilt I'm looking at you!). I learned to make an umbrella! It was a fun class and I have a 95% complete project. Just need to do 8 small tacks by hand and then waterproof. The fabric I used is Agate by Kaffe Fassett.



  

**GypsyGirl** you made an umbrella! That is so awesome. Seriously who knows someone who made an umbrella.

That is SO cool. I'd love to learn to make an umbrella.

The umbrella class was taught by Judy Gautier of Bungalow Quilting & Yarn. It's her pattern and she sells the patterns & umbrella frames. Great instructor and so nice. Are all Wisconsin people that nice? We did get a laugh when she talked about how cold it was in March down in Brownsville, TX. Wouldn't think someone from Wisconsin would think South Texas was cold!

I just looked at buddy and his vest again - is that a scrunchie on his wrist?

Laura Heine was going to teach the Flamingo Teeny Tiny Collage class.  I've not done collage work before and thought the mini quilt would be a good way to start.  And besides, a girl can never have enough flamingos!        She cancelled the class mid-Sept, so I've had time to get over my disappointment. 

As for the umbrella class, it really wasn't difficult but tedious at times.  A lot of pinning and cutting (one panel at a time x 8).  I also chose to do facings on each panel rather than a rolled hem.  It didn't help that I hated the sewing machine and the lighting left a lot to be desired (forgot to take my own Ott light).  If I make one again, I'll try the rolled hem on my Bernina.   Not a project you make to save money (but then what is?), but fun to have.   

That’s Jason Momoa and he’ll put his long hair in a bun so yes, it’s likely a scrunchie.

**GypsyGirl**, collage has long been on my list to try. I follow Tonna Zieske (norskquilter) on instagram and I just love her landscape collages!

I’m sorry you’ve been overwhelmed at work jeremysgirl . I was like that last month and it’s very wearysome. But what a fab pin! It looks really cool, especially with your skull clothes. I think that will be a favourite with you.

After I finished the tree panel on the autumn blanket I wanted to do something that didn’t need much attention before starting the next panel. Also I am determined to make some inroads into my yarn stash which seems to be a whole separate hobby.

I’ll come back on the desk top to link to the patterns but the coloured piece is just DC in alternate back and front posts and will eventually be the cowl. I know the patterning by the yarn looks a little odd but I can live with that and love the colours. The beige one is a knitted vest with which I’m using two strands of yarn to get the right ply. It’s nice and soft and snuggly.



This is the cowl pattern  nanascraftyhome.com/sassy-ribbed-cowl-crochet-pattern-tutorials/

and the vest www.etsy.com/listing/537841060/knit-pattern-patron-tricot-daria-knit

LOVE the projects! gelli plate printing is scary to me for some reason! Umbrella making? That sounds AMAZING! (and yours turned out fab!). Momoa.... yum in anything he's wearing but he's absolutely rocking that vest! Skull shawl pin? quadruple love! That's perfect for october!

Working on getting weekend time to craft. Between kid to gymnastics, cleaning house, laundry, getting caught up on grading, not much time to craft but I will carve out time.

I cleaned out 13 large 3 wick candle jars... now what to do with them? I have a red frosted, blue frosted, black frosted- the frosting is just painted on so if I sandblast it, the space will turn frosted white/clear. The rest are clear. Any suggestions for projects? I think I'll make bowl from 2 of them for my kids teachers for christmas and put snowflakes on them or maybe their names and put candies in them. Not sure what else.