What Is It?

I love to watch the TV show "Ask This Old House" -- especially the "what is it" segment where the guys bring in weird tools/gadgets and the others try to guess what it is. Here's my entry......


What is it? A hot water bottle cover? Giant tissue holder? Pajama bag? No, no, and no.

It was supposed to be a box bag for my knitting.......but the interfacing I used was too thick and I couldn't easily do the folding/seaming to get the required shape. The zipper and lining don't look too bad......it's just a shame that I can't think of anything to do with it.


Spurred on this [lack of] success, I practiced another zipper installation.....this one is just OK. Don't like seeing the zip ends (memo to self -- use long zippers and cut them).....and the zipper itself it too close to the top. But the lining is fine! I guess I could use this for stitch markers/holders, small rulers, etc.


I already have the fabric picked out for the next episode of bmom - Bag Lady.

Sewing -- Using a Pattern

It's been a long time since I actually used a pattern to sew anything. But I really wanted a new bag and this one seemed like it would work (look at Lily Beth). I didn't want to buy any supplies, so I used fabric and notions I had on hand (except for the button....I had to run out and get a cover-your-own button). I'm really happy with how it came out. The lining is a little wonky, but who sees that? And the button isn't a secure enough closure to use this as an everyday purse....so I might use it for knitting or other stuff. But the top stitching came out great.

And I really like the overall size. A notebook will fit in.

If at First You Don't Succeed......

I was getting tired of crumpled up patterns in my knitting bag.....so I thought a pattern holder would be a great idea. Most of my patterns are printed on standard paper....so this little bag was supposed to hold a folded pattern, plus a pencil, some stitch markers, etc. Great idea, right? Too bad it came out a little toooooo small to fit the pattern. Those seam allowances are not a 1/4 inch. Maybe more like 5/16 if one factors in the fabric fold. Shoot. Back to the drawing board.

Mid-Week Update

Today was a yucky snowy day. Not just snowy (that would've been OK) -- but snowy with sleet, rain, and ice on top. We were out in the rain/sleet doing the snowblowing and roof raking.......gross.

But snow days create time for projects........so we have some progress to report. First -- a completed re-usable shopping bag. It's modeled after a Target bag (size and shape), with short, squatty handles (that's what a Target bag has). I'm not sure about the handles -- they need to extend longer into the bag (a for sure mod) and B-Dad will have to test run them to see if the length and placement is correct. One of the fingerless gloves is done. But....no progress on the blue hat? Well, I did make a hat (it was done), but I didn't like the fit, so I frogged it and have restarted. The cookies are oatmeal raisin and just seemed right for the day.


Remember I wanted more snow to test out the felted mitten covers? Well.....I have to report that they're a success. My hands were toasty warm today. The fit needs to be tweaked, but the concept works!

Do My Eyes Deceive Me???

Last week my eyes were bigger than my stomach.....or I bit off more than I could chew......whatever........I didn't finish any of my goals. This week, to add insult to injury.....I added two new ones. But what's amazing is that the two new ones are sewing projects. Woo hoo!!


At the top we have fabric squares for a new quilt. Now I need some background fabric....fortunately, there's a sale starting tomorrow at the LQS (local quilt shop). The denim on the right is for a reusable shopping bag for B-Dad. One that has no advertising. And the jumble of yarn is a Swallowtail scarf, fingerless mitts (red), and ponytail hat (blue). All are moving along -- it's just that none are finished.

Better Late than Never

Our new kitchen window has been in since November -- with no "window treatment." [I think that's a silly expression.] Even insulated, the area around the window got pretty cold in the winter. And since the window faces front, overlooking the patio and front door -- we couldn't even pretend not to be home when someone came!

I'd decided to make a roman shade -- the simplicity fit the room, it wouldn't be wet from the sink when pulled up, and I'm too thrifty to actual buy something pre-made. The first attempt used dowels -- but didn't look good and definitely didn't fold up well -- so I took it apart and tried again. This version has plastic rings on the back (from the knitting department at JoAnn's) and some nifty velcro that's a combo sew on (loop)/stick on (hook). Ignore the cord at the side; we haven't put up the dohickey to wind it on, so it's looped around the cabinet knobs. This came out so well, I'm making more for other rooms.