Mar 4 2012

Clutch Prototype Complete

After taking over a month off from blogging, and basically two months off from crafting anything to completion, here we go.

If you follow me on Facebook, you may have seen some knitted ‘swatches’ that were to hopefully turn into iPad covers or something along that order. So yesterday I forced myself to go to the sewing machine and try and complete at least one of them. I should never have picked my favorite swatch to start out with on a prototype, but there are days I don’t think all that straight. So I picked up my ‘roots’ piece and found a great cotton fabric for the lining in my stash. Measured a gazillion times on how the Timtex lining should be cut and took off with it. I learned MANY lessons on trying to make this TOO sturdy and cushy for holding electronics. OK, I’ll back off on the next one.

Folded with Timtex lining inserted and magnet placed. Actual knitted piece was made using a bulky acrylic yarn in a splendid mossy color.

A poor photo of the other side of previous picture. Shows the back and flap that will be shaped by Timtex.

One of my favorite fabrics EVER - happy to have enough left in my stash for this prototype. Iron-on fleece has been applied for cushion.

Peak of flap, on the inside and attached to knitted swatch.

Completed showing other side of magnetic snap on flap. One fatal flaw that cannot be fixed - placement of that darned snap - it's 1/2" off and totally is disgusting to me. The stitching around the flap is off, too, and ripping would have been a nightmare, so it stays.

Sometimes, me being a perfectionist when it comes to my products, it’s hard to get past all the flaws I see and continue on. I must have been thinking this thing was going to go through WWIII on the battlefield the way it’s constructed. There isn’t an iPad or Nook out there that needs this kind of protection. It’s overkill. So now that the lessons have been learned, the red, purple and gray swatches can be constructed with more ease…. let’s hope.

I have a project coming up next that is ready to cut out of black and white print fabric with red accents. It will be a special gift to someone who more than deserves it – she knows who she is……. and I’ve decided to blog the process of the unique design bag she’s going to receive. Plus, Bill keeps asking me if I’ve started this project yet – so I know he is as anxious as I am to see it completed. So keep tuned in – I’ll try and do better at keeping the blog rolling, and not just throw stuff up on Facebook.

Happy crafting and may you all have a blessed rest of the weekend and relaxing Sunday!

Jan 29 2012

Lots of Half Finished Work But Getting Organized

So January isn’t over yet, which means there was still time to get regrouped for 2012. Did a bit of knitting, not much sewing. The sewing area was a disaster area – who was it that threw that bomb in there? So yesterday was moving “the room” day and getting some things organized and either thrown away, ready for eBay, or set aside to finish. You’d be amazed at how much I threw out. Many of you saw on Facebook how my new end of the family room looks so I can watch the TV that has more than basic cable on it.

This photo has four (4) projects that are knitted and ready for finishing into product. I’m really LOVING the really large “swatches” of cabling. But the deep purple piece on the left is going to hopefully be a stable in the store. It will end up being an iPad envelope sleeve when it’s complete.

purple, blue/yellow, turquoise, green fleck

The turquoise and green fleck has fabrics matched up to them already to get sewing on. When you ask? Not sure – but keep watching. Still not sure where to put all the interfacing types – it just seems the bed has always made a great spot for them! LOL

Interfacings........ ugh

One of the nightstands is still piled high with coordinating fabrics – each with a purpose. But where to put them? I sure don’t have a clue!

Plethera of Fabrics

One of our cedar chests has come to rest in the spare bedroom jammed full of the beautiful yarns I’ve collected. Someday, someday….

Cedar Chest FULL of Special Yarns

During all the organization of the ‘new’ area, I came across a lot of patterns for baby, toddler and kids clothing that I had every good intention of using. So those have been divided up and once done here, I’m off to eBay to get them all listed and outta here! The spare bedroom closet is jammed packed with crafting things, half of which need to fly out the door also. But another day for all that.

And then there’s always the ironing pile……… Ha! Happy Sunday everyone – and happy crafting. Keep those ideas rolling.

Aug 22 2011

Moonlit Prairie Cable Knit – Second in Prairie Series Originals

Wanted to share another design that’s in the works and on the needles. This one is using the Lamb’s Pride Bulky from The Brown Sheep Company here in Nebraska. What a fabulous yarn this is turning out to be to work with. The plan for this bag is to make is just a little taller than the Prairie Land Cable bag that just got felted this weekend.

This one talks to me and tells me it has to have ‘Moonlit’ in its title. There may be surprises coming along on this also, so please check back in from time to time and see how it’s morphing into the 2nd Original in the Prairie Series of designs. This will be a one of a kind, also – unless I get the nerve to write the pattern.

Aug 20 2011

Prairie Land Cable Knitted Handbag – Part 2 in a Series

This project with Brown Sheep Company yarn just gets better and better the longer it gets worked on. Today was the day to take the original knitted bag from a previous post…

Knitting Completed - Photo and description in previous TygerLily post.

The original size before any altering got done was about 20″ wide and 14-1/2″ tall, and that was laying flat with no shaping. I am in love with this oatmeal color. And as I’ve said before this Burly Spun from Brown Sheep Company is a joy to work with during the knitting process.

Since there was a little time today, and the washing machine was available, the knit piece was put into a sweater bag to heat up in the washer and give it some agitation. The good kind, mind you. :)

Knitted Purse ready to 'felt'

I didn’t plan on it fitting to a tee like this, it just happened to work out. Doesn’t matter once it gets all heated up. A pillowcase would have worked too, but I could see during the agitation process exactly how much ‘felting’ had been done and if it needed more.

It took over 1/2 hour of HOT water agitation to get it even close to where I wanted it.

Upside Down Felted Bag

This picture may not look right to you, and you would be exactly right. Once he was all finished getting beat around in the washing machine, he came to rest on two cracker boxes (inside) to dry into the form desired. The bottom of the bag is about 3 inches deep. This is where he will sit until he is SO dry and formed that we can escort him down to the sewing room to give him a proper lining and handles.

To give you an idea of how much he melded together, this finished size is 16″ across and now only 9-1/2″ tall. It’s absolutely perfect. The cables softened up beautifully and are hugging themselves just a little tighter. Honestly, this is exactly what was in my head when I started this project while on vacation!

Please watch for the steps on completing this purse. It is the first in what will hopefully be a “Prairie” series of one-of-a-kind handbags. This one will be “The Prairie Land Cable Bag”, unless a better name comes along. :)

Thank you, Brown Sheep Company, for your fabulous yarns that can only inspire us knitters to do better!

Aug 14 2011

Prairie Field Cable Knit

After enjoying a marvelous week on the road, travelling across our own state of Nebraska, it’s time to dig a little deeper. We experienced something so wonderful out past Scottsbluff that it encourages me to get a little more serious about my hobby.

Visiting Brown Sheep Company is something highly recommended for anyone who is interested in textiles. The pictures in our heads of their quality production and product will not soon go away. We have no pictures to share as there were no cameras allowed in their production area. Trust us, it was incredible.

The first piece knitted was using Brown Sheep’s Burly Spun, an incredible soft and silky 100% wool in a bulky weight oatmeal color. Never have I enjoyed knitting a TygerLily creation as much as this project. And just about every inch of the two hanks purchased was used to knit this cabled bag, reminding us of the fields and prairie we enjoyed on our trip.

Prairie Field Cable

This project was knit on circular needles over 122 stitches. The base is garter stitch (on 10-1/2 US changing to 13 US for body) in hopes of having a sturdier bottom panel. It is still quite large as far as bags and purses go. The next step in the process will be to felt and form it to a workable proportion. I am hoping that the thicker bind-off at the top will add a little more thickness to the opening. But if not, there are other ways to strengthen the lip. Still thinking of the perfect lining for this, but know that it deserves to sport some leather handles. The felting should soften the cables on the front and back, and at that point it will get its final name.

For those who are wondering why WordPress, it is because we are getting serious. This is just hopefully a step in the right direction. As fun as Weebly was, discussions between my husband and myself have led us down a different path of seriousness. But even in the most serious of hobbies, there’s always going to be fun.

Please keep checking back to see what other ideas are getting worked on.