Finished Project Round-Up: Knitting, Cross-Stitch & Still More Sewing

Seems like I've been sharing a lot of sewing/quilting projects here lately, but I assure you, I am still knitting, and have recently completed a couple of hat projects, a scarf, and even a pair of socks!

First up is the March Hat by Meghan Babin, which I made using some Plymouth Yarn Homestead Tweed I was gifted during the holidays and a Knit Picks faux fur pom. This pattern, which is available for free on Ravelry, features a simple yet stylish design that's easy to memorize as you knit.

I also knit another hat for the donation bin using two strands of fingering weight yarn to create a tweedy effect. I based this project on the Mash it Up pattern by Babs Ausherman, but went a little off book as I knit, especially when it came time to do the crown decreases. The gold color is Shibuiknits Reed in Pollen and the lighter color is reclaimed from a past project, I'm not 100% sure of the name of the indie dyer or the colorway but I think it might be a sock yarn from KnitCircus.

Next up is a cabled scarf that I modified from the Bowerbird Wrap pattern by Alexis Winslow (the original pattern appears in her Graphic Knits book, which I reviewed here). I used two skeins of Shalimar Yarn Breathless DK in Concord Grape and a small amount of leftover Miss Babs Yowza from my stash to create this squishy scarf. I have enjoyed wearing it as the winter season winds down, but I may end up donating it since I already have plenty of scarves and cowls for myself.

One of the biggest finishes so far this year is a pair of socks that I started back in November of last year. I ended up knitting almost the entire first sock before trying it on and discovering I didn't like the way they fit - the stitch pattern I chose just wasn't stretchy enough. After some frogging and restarting with a different pattern (the Sunshine Socks by Cookie A), I was able to knit a pair of socks that fit perfectly. I used a skein of Enoki Fingering from Gnome Depot Fiber which I bought with the last sock pals project yarn (speaking of which...I feel like we are overdue for a new round of sock pals!?).

I'm still working through the cross-stitch project backlog, and my most recent finish is a super-cute cat cross-stitch kit from DMC. I ended up substituting some sparkly Aida cloth instead of using the plain white Aida that came with the kit, and then framed it with a gold frame with a white mat, both from Target.

I also have two new sewing projects to share! First up, I made a quilt-as-you-go pen organizer using some leftover fabric, the 5" square template from Daisy & Grace/Missouri Star, and this free tutorial from the Missouri Star website. I used some of the leftover fabric from my quilt-as-you-go table runner that I made at the start of the year and it's been a useful addition to my desk.

Last but not least, I made a wall hanging for my craft room which features a kitty quilt block to represent Robin, Tilly and Lulu. I used the Pins & Paws quilt block pattern and a mix of fabrics from my stash, including Moda Grunge for the cats and Debbie Maddy shibori dyes for the backgrounds. The border is a batik with a subtle stitching design from the Sew Fine batik collection, and the backing and binding are a tone-on-tone black dot design. The loops and swirls pattern on the finishing (done by the Missouri Star machine quilting department) adds the perfect touch.

I'd love to see what you're making this spring, make sure to give me a follow on Instagram and say hello!

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

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