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.

Dec 29 2011

The Ultimate Challenge (and a free knitting pattern)

While surfing around the web on Christmas, we came across the greatest and funnest Ultimate Challenge ever! Somewhere along the line, I have been blessed by being called “McGyver” and people ask me first when they are ready to throw something out if I could use it or make something out of it! So here’s the deal………
Now Seeking America’s Most Talented Crafters!!!

Are you ready to show America your unique, creative skills?

Do your friends refer to you as the “MacGyver” of arts & crafts?

Can you create, design, build and implement visually stunning
and out-of-the-box creations on the fly?

A MAJOR CABLE NETWORK & the Executive Producers of “CUPCAKE
WARS” and “HALLOWEEN WARS” are seeking Arts & Crafts Designers
for a new competition show.

Each episode will feature Arts & Crafts competitors who battle
against each other for a $10,000 prize and an opportunity to
publicly showcase their craft masterpiece!

Casting Males & Females, (18 and over) with fun and upbeat
personalities that can think on their feet!!!

If this is you, we want to hear from you ASAP!
Email craftcasting@gmail.com the following information:

-Send us your full name & contact numbers
-Tell us what city you live in
-Tell us in a short paragraph about you and your specialty
-Pictures of you and samples of your work

Here is someone’s YouTube audition. Don’t think I could actually do that. But I could sure use some help writing up an audition email!!! Any takers on that one?

Can’t leave without throwing in a free pattern. Found this lovely thing this morning and will put it into my own library – it would be perfect on the front of a handmade purse. Don’t ya think?

Click the photo and you’ll go directly to Berroco for the free pattern download. ENJOY!

Oct 30 2011

Geometry Lesson & Repurposing

With running the JournalJunction on Etsy, there are days that I need to get my geometry skills honed up and used. So I decided to run with abandon on a project that’s been sitting on the ‘fun’ side of things for months. If you remember back a bit, one of the doctor’s I work for was letting go of some of her little girl’s clothing. And I’ve been hoarding those treasured items for long enough. First item out to repurpose was a darling little knit shirt with incredible embroidery on the front. It is listed over at the Journal Junction if you want more photos.

Base Cutting and Placement of Pocket made from Embroidered Girl's Shirt

Complete and listed - with a very precious photo I keep by my computer.

It was a good morning to be thankful for all God has blessed us with – in so MANY ways. As much as we wish Lily would be here and celebrating her 5th birthday soon, we know she is somewhere far greater…. and that she’s sitting with Jesus or throwing a ball or two around with her uncle. Yeah, have to think of all the good stuff. :)

Blessings to your Sunday! Say “I Love You” – often.

Oct 23 2011

Personalized School Planner Cover

Skyline of where I live.... Lincoln, NE

Another challenge came down the pike over a week ago from a shopper over on Etsy. I let her pick the main fabric she liked and when the shipment of fabric came in on Friday, it was time to get down and dirty. Geometry skills put in place. Oh, yeah, I didn’t take geometry. Well, let’s put it this way, I had a ruler and my rotary cutter at the ready. Yep, that’s it. Measure, cut. Measure, cut. Measure,cut, sew……….. and here’s the finished entry for her approval.

Special Challenge School Planner Cover

Open Cover with an assortment of pockets tucked away.

Not sure if she will like this or not, but I’m sure keeping my fingers crossed. With me still in the learning phase of using the embroidery module on the new sewing machine, everything personalized takes a lot more time – and THINKING! HA!

So here is this morning’s update. Now it’s time to meet co-workers for the Breast Cancer Making Strides Walk here in Lincoln, NE. It’s a beautiful day and a great cause.

Thanks for stopping by and now GO DO SOMETHING CREATIVE!!! :)

Oct 2 2011

Season’s Royal Messenger Bag – The Process One Week Later

I had something totally different on the schedule for this afternoon, but after finding the perfect element to THAT project on the internet (which means time out for order arrival) there was time to continue on with Season’s Royal Messenger Bag. This is going to be the 4th in the Prairie Cable Series of bags. My only hope is that I’ve started with it being big enough, before the felting process. The pictures turned out pink today. I’m bummed. Just remember this is a jewel tone royal purple wool yarn – using size 13 US needles throughout. Entire bag should use about three hanks of wool. Yeah, we can say $$$, but well worth it.

So here is the big guy, bag portions and strap handle completely knitted. And this is all the teaser you will get until the FUN FLAP gets completely finished.

What a BIG boy he is!!! He's cable-icious!

Thick Burly Spun Brown Sheep 100% wool in Amethyst

Time to get flap-crazy!!! Let’s all keep our fingers crossed – it has to be deeply textured and full of fun. Maybe next weekend there will be some felting going on around here.

Oct 2 2011

Celebrate Life! Celebrate October!

Image via Wikipedia - candy lollipops!!!

Let’s start the day off right with some links to all sorts of crafting ideas to remind ourselves of what October is all about: Breast Cancer Awareness. Remember that clicking the photo will take you directly to the pattern! Most of these are FREE to download.

For Quilters

Cancer Ribbon Quilt Block

For Parties, Get-Togethers or Walking Stickers – PRINTABLES

Breast Cancer Awareness Printable

To Crochet…….

Filet Crochet Survivor's Ribbon Scarf - (link takes you to where you can download the pdf pattern yourself - prayer shawls with some great information on what other awareness ribbon colors mean.)

To Embroider (not free)

Pattern for Embroidery for sale on Etsy (fundraiser)

For Knitters

Knitted Pink Prayer Shawl

To Crochet

Crochet Afghan Square (or even a dishcloth!)

For Re-Cyclers and Up-Cyclers

Recycle - Upcycle a Bra Into a PURSE!

For Sewing

Sewn Reversible Chemo Cap

For Cross-Stitching

Counted Cross-Stitch Ribbon Pattern

Please go and celebrate life! Hug those you love and often. Never let them walk out the door without an “I love you”. Be grateful. Be caring. Make a difference.

Sep 24 2011

Steeples On the Plains Handbag – Update on the 3rd Bag in Prairie Series

Team TygerLily had one LONG meeting last night. It was overdue. Do you ever have those times when you know you just need a good swift kick in the keester to get you back on the right track? I truly believe that’s why we make one fantastic team.

So to get things started on this bright sunny Saturday, the turquoise knitting just HAD to get worked on. As I said in an earlier post, when the yarn is gone, the piece has to be finished. There is no other way! Decided to take a pic of it outdoors since it’s SO gorgeous outside to get it’s ‘before’ picture.

Steeples on the Plains - The Before Pic

I wanted to try a new top edge to see how the felting would work, so hopefully you can see the last few rounds were a basic K2 P2 ribbing. Being careful not to run out of yarn on the bag itself, there was enough left to do a flip-over closure. I was absolutely going crazy with excitement over the way just the basic knitted piece came out – and the felting was about to begin. So after about 20 minutes of some hot agitation, the bag came to rest back on the WII box covered with a garbage bag. And out on to the porch for it to dry and take on the perfect boxy shape we wanted.

Steeples On the Plains - Felted and Drying on the Deck

Yeah, I know our furniture needs a facelift, but that’s a project for next spring – maybe. :) Anyway, there she sits, upside down and her tongue hanging out, soaking wet. But not for long. The K2 P2 ribbing was the perfect top edge and the flip over closure could NOT have worked out better. There is a very richly colored paisley pinwale corduroy just waiting for the gal to dry so it can become the perfect lining for what we believe to be a perfect bag.

At some point, and maybe not this weekend, we will be welcoming our 3rd in the Prairie Series: Steeples On The Plains Handbag. Excited? You better believe it! Made from 100% wool from the outlet shop at The Brown Sheep Company in Mitchell, Nebraska.

Go get a little creative yourself – and enjoy the journey.

Sep 1 2011

Autumn and a FREE Scarf Pattern

Woke up and realized that today is the first day of September – the beginning to my favorite season of the year. Autumn. Fall. An Indian Summer. It’s just another great excuse to get those fall and winter projects in order and get your supplies all put in place.

One of the things the TygerLily has on her plate will include this sensational Burly Spun Wool by Brown Sheep that I was able to nearly steal over on Ravelry. It’s color is called Amethyst.

Brown Sheep "Burly Spun" Amethyst purchased from a member of Ravelry

The camera never EVER takes a good picture of this color, and this is just a great example of what the color is NOT. It appears in the photo that it leans more towards hot pink, but it is a deep rich royal purple and it’s perfect. This yarn will get made into another bag in the Prairie series, and dedicated to our first daughter Season, and her birthstone color. I looked hard for this color and was rewarded in the end with this fantastic shipment of lusciousness.

There are many things on the needles this week, but no pics (there just hasn’t been time). So let’s have a little fun and look at this pattern for a knitted scarf. The pattern is free, and like I mentioned before, fall is coming!

TIGER EYE LACE SCARF

Click on Photo for FREE Downloadable Knitting Pattern

This would be extraordinarily pretty in some hand painted silk, or a cashmere. Oh, how I love cashmere. The name of this scarf really caught my eye. Just CLICK on the photo and you’ll be taken directly to the scarf’s pdf pattern. It’s just sitting there ready for you to download and start knitting! Thank you, Barbara Walker.

Are you thinking Christmas gifts yet?

Aug 28 2011

Free Knitting Chart Maker

With only a few minutes of surfing while enjoying my first cup of coffee this morning, this wonderful website came across my screen. I don’t know who Jacquie is, but she just made my life easier if I decide to write any of the Prairie series handbag patterns out to sell.

Bookmark her chart maker at: http://jacquie.typepad.com/Charts/knitChart.htm and let your computer do all that drawing for you – for FREE!!! There will be a link in the sidebar also, mostly for my own selfish needs.

She hasn’t posted in quite a long time, but her last post was her own design of a knitted iPad cover along with the directions to make your own.

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!