Thursday, January 10, 2013

I Can't Think of a Witty Title for Knitting!

...Though I really wish I could...

Anyway, my brother got me knitting supplies for Christmas, as well as this book that teaches knitting. Thus far I am still on lesson one. However, I totally know how to knit now! Or at least do a garter stitch. And I am making a scarf.

I started it over like 3 times, but it is finally nearing completion (it's sadly not completed yet because I forget to work on it a lot) and knitting is a slow-going process.

I definitely recommend the book that I linked "The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting" if you want to teach yourself. It has a few practice patterns and goes by lesson on specific stitches and patterns. They're all beginner patterns too. And the book covers just about all you need to get started.

I really like knitting. It's quite relaxing and like 10 times easier for me than crocheting. (I really don't like crocheting. It hurts my fingers and I always mess up the patterns I'm doing).

Anyway, here is what I am working on. Just a basic scarf ;)




Also, I updated my post of my first embroidery. I cleaned the blue pattern ink stuff off and stuffed it! Check it out. 

Oh yeah...and I'm back in school! More classes this quarter than before so my crafting will once again be sporadic, but I will try!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Hand Embroidery!

First, a note on my Christmas projects. I ended up not seeing one of the people I made some things for so I have no idea when I'll be able to show those items. Perhaps not for a while :/

So on to other things:

In the past I've tried machine embroidery (which you can see here *clickclick* and here *clickclick* on my attempt at a 365 craft blog), but never had I tried hand embroidery.

...Never before a couple weeks ago! When one of my good friends got me a very exciting Christmas gift. All the supplies I needed to start learning how to embroider by hand!

I believe everything that I used was from www.sublimestitching.com. I spaced out and didn't keep track of the specific floss colors I used, but they were from the "Parlour" and "Flowerbox" pallets which you can find on the website (some of the colors were not in those pallets...I found them in a box I had or got them from my friend without packaging, so I have no idea what brand or colors. Oops). And of course, this pattern was from Sublime Stitching. It's called "Shy Boy" and it comes on a pillow case (which I plan on stuffing with a pillow and displaying on my bed). I have "Shy Girl" as well and plan on finishing that as soon as possible!

Sorry it's very wrinkly. I have yet to wash it and get a pillow for it. You can see, some of the washable pattern is apparent beneath my stitches. But overall, I'm happy with the results. It was fun to experiment with different methods of color use. I really like the colors I used in the mask. It started to become somewhat peacock themed! I think I'll get more experimental with Shy Girl.

P.S. My friend who got these embroidery supplies for me is, herself, an awesome embroiderer! She does some amazing projects. Stay tuned for updates, as I may direct you at her blog (if she ever gets around to making one) or other places you might be able to see what she's done when and if she decides its time to display it. ;)

UPDATE:
Here it is, ink cleaned off and stuffed with a pillow!