Drumroll, please

Surprisingly, two knitters won (sorry, non-knitters/family members!).

Ikkinlala is the first winner, whom I've already e-mailed to find out preferences of yarn weight. Winner #2, because what's a contest without a second prize, is Indigomouse.

I will e-mail you shortly as well! Thank you so much to all 11! of you that commented, and who hopefully, enjoy my internet sharings. I thoroughly enjoy documenting my crafts, and appreciate your ears and eyes. <3

One year old

It's my blogibirthday!! In the past year, I've finished 21 projects. That sounds like a lot, but most of them are one skein or less, so don't be impressed. Here's the breakdown:
9 hats

2 scarves/neckwarmers

4 pairs of gloves/mitts

2 purses

1 cozy

1 sock (my worsted practice sock)

2 shrugs/sweaters

Of the 20 projects I completed, 14 were gifts.

I'm out of town for the weekend, but I will announce a winner (or maybe winners??) on Monday. Thanks to everyone who participated! Good luck!

Celebratory giveaway

This month marks a milestone for me. A year ago, I finished my first knitting project. I also started this blog. In honor of my impending blogibirthday, I've decided to have a little contest.

You can win some yarn or fabric if you're an addict like me.
If you don't knit or sew, you can still win! I will make you a little crafty item (like a hat, tote bag, pouch, etc.) in your favorite color(s).
I will also include a few random treats/trinkets in either prize.

Here's how you can win:
by 8:00 PM CST on October 25th (my blogibirthday), leave a comment on this post with an interesting random fact about yourself. I'd also love to know about your favorite etsy shop. I will randomly select a winner, or maybe two.

I really enjoy the hobbies I've picked up in the last year. Here's to many more years of crafting!

Sewing with birds

It's addicting. The projects move quickly, the fabrics are intoxicating, and the results get better every time. Since my last post, I've completed three more projects.
First up, another zipper pouch:

I streamlined my zipper installation and things went much more smoothly this time. I love this fat quarter I got from Joann's, and the one I chose for the lining:

The inside is so bright and I think it works well with the bold outside print. I suppose this will be a gift, or maybe I'll keep it for myself!

Next, I made another tote bag. It's so sunny!

I used coordinating Timeless Treasures prints that I purchased on etsy. They came in the mail last Thursday and by Saturday, I used up two of the three fat quarters. I love the birds!

Here's the last sewing FO:

I just finished it last night, and I'm gifting it to my aunt. Her birthday is next week, and I'll be visiting her at the end of the month, so the timing is perfect. Again, I love the birds. The exterior fabric is Joel Dewberry, and I used two coordinating fabrics for the trim, straps and interior. I didn't add pockets to this one, as I felt the birds were bold enough to stand on their own.

Another item off the list

I started my Something Red (and Yellow) back in March, just before I left for New Mexico with Sarah.

I finished fixing the button band bind off this past Sunday afternoon (with Bella's help, of course!). Approximately eight months of needle time later, I have my first actual sweater (I'm not counting the shrug, cause that's how I roll).

Details:
Something Red, by Wendy Bernard (Knit and Tonic)
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool Merino, red, 3.4 skeins; Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, yellow, .5 skein
Needles: Size 5, size 7, size 9 (bindoff only)
Time: 8 months

Thoughts/Mods: I now know that when it seems like the armholes are going to be too big, I should stop knitting them. I did my first cutting on this project. The sleeves were incredibly wide, so I tried the sweater on, pinned the sleeves where I wanted them, sewed them together realllly well, and cut the excess chunks off. It's not the neatest surgery ever, and there's still a little lumpiness under the arms, but it's vastly improved, and a lesson learned.

Also, I've learned that I should probably use the line under my bust as the measurement to knit for, rather than actual bust. The few garments that I've made so far seem to be on the big side, so I'm going to try this new rule of thumb as a guideline.

I only did one increase round during the ribbing, as it seemed to be large enough without more.

My button band isn't perfect, and I had to undo the bind off, as it was super tight and bunchy (that's a technical term!). When I redid the bind off, I used a size 9 needle, which loosened it incredibly. It looks much better now.

I really like the raglan sweater model. It's very intuitive, and the beginning develops really quickly. Typically, I'm not a fan of much ribbing, so I don't know if I would ever make this again.

I only did about one inch of ribbing on the sleeves.

I'm happy this is complete, and I learned so much from Something Red (and Yellow).