Feline Friday- Yarn Bombing

I love the idea of random public works of fiber art!  My main thing is sewing, but I do dabble in knitting and crocheting.  I got really excited when I discovered these recent yarn bombings:

This one was along Monument Ave., Richmond, VA for the 10K in April each year.  There were pompoms hanging in the trees too.

I love this tree in Hampton,VA!  So fun and colorful. 

It is one street over from the Air and Space Museum.

Emma has not been yarn bombed, but she thought the picture would fit in!

(The afghan was a silent auction piece and I don't have the name of the maker).

Easy T-Shirt Fix Up

So my daughter had this pink t-shirt that I really like (cute shoes!).  She out grew it and, with her permission, I cut the front off.  I centered it on top of a white t-shirt and stitched it down.  This would be great for covering up stains or just for enjoying an out grown shirt.

Multicolor Knit Cape or My Cape of Good Vibes

 I sewed this many years ago (15 years maybe) out of knit scraps, just for fun.  Here it is displayed next to an instrument my husband made.  Here are more of his guitars.

 Emma is helping me spread out the cape.  The shape was dictated by the size and shape of the scraps.

 Here is the other end.  I couldn't get the whole cape in the picture.

 I simply overlapped the fabric pieces, zigzagged and then I trimmed any excess.  That way it looks tidy on both sides.

 Here is the back or inside.  The binding was attached with a zigzag also.  Knit doesn't unravel, so the raw edges aren't a problem.

The appliques are all from the same print knit.  I think they tie it all together.  It was really fun and free to sew.  You could use the same technique to make smaller scarves (I did that too).

Pattern Review: Butterick 5495 Knit Top

 I love this top!  I usually have good results with Butterick patterns and this is no exception.  Instructions are easy to follow and the top goes together very quickly.  I made a size smaller than my measurements instructed me too (oops, picked up the wrong size!).  But I love the results and get loads of compliements.  My daughter even wants to borrow them!

 I used a Norma Kamali slinky rayon knit for the one above and a different Kamali knit for the long sleeve version below.  I also made a green polka dotted sleeveless top.

I have to admit I skipped the stay stitching steps and several other steps too in the name of speed.  It worked fine.  Sewing knits doesn't have to be hard or scary, in fact, I used a straight stitch for all of these.

Sweater Remakes- Laptop Cozy

 Recently, as I was cleaning up my sewing room, I came across a couple of felted wool sweaters.  Perfect for a laptop cozy!  A crew neck and a cardigan, neither one large enough for the project, so I used both.

 I just cut and sewed what seemed like the right size.  It is great using sweaters because they stretch and are very forgiving if the size isn't exact.  I added a pocket and a flap out of the cardigan sweater.  The buttons were from the cardigan also. 

 I thought buttoning and unbuttoning 5 would be tedious, so I made only 3 functional.  Since the flap is felted and won't unravel, I just stitched it on without edge finishes- super easy.

 I was on a roll, so I made sock cozies for my daughter's camera, phone and nintendo!

I made them narrower at the open end so they would be snug and not slip out.  My daughter (11yrs) just rolled her eyes at me when I showed them to her, but I know she secretly loves them!

Pattern Review: Simplicity 3775

Looking forward to spring, I sewed this cute knit dress from Simplicity 3775. It went together very easily and quickly and I love the results! (It looks better on).

I used my serger to sew quick rolled hems on the sleeves and skirt.

Actually, the fabric was super cheap on sale, so I was testing out the pattern to sew later out of this velvet burnout knit, in the long sleeve version. I am thrilled with the first dress so I will start working on the velvet one next!

T-Shirt Hem Ideas

I've been noticing a lot of t-shirt edges left unfinished. Here are several examples. The yellow shirt has a double neck band with the edges left raw to curl.

My son's shirt has 2 sleeves, both left unhemmed. The bottom hem is traditional and then has a second strip of red added under it.

This gray shirt was hemmed and then the hem was cut along the fold line. The knit used is unique because it reverses to blue, but it is a single jersey knit.

This dress has several tiers, none of them hemmed. How easy is that?!

Alteration: Turtleneck to Crewneck

My daughter had this sweater, but didn't like the turtleneck. I cut off the neck, leaving 1/2" seam allowance. I took a lavender t-shirt knit and cut a strip long enough to reach around the neck. I then turned under 1/4" on one side of the strip. I hand sewed the strip to the neck edge (turning under the sweater neck edge as I sewed). I whip stitched (invisibly) the other side of the strip to the sweater. She loves the sweater now! The lavender strip is completely hidden when she is wearing it. This simple alteration saved the sweater.

Sewing Sites to Check Out

Here are a few sites I visited yesterday. Add a comment with your favorite sewing, knit, crochet sites!

http://www.trendhunter.com/ -runway fashions
http://www.colorlovers.com/ -color forcasts
http://www.diystyle.net/ -lots of free projects!
http://www.expressew.com/
http://www.threadbanger.com/ -edgy with lots of how to's
http://www.sewing.org/ -downloadable "guidelines" on different topics
http://www.burdafashion.com/ -really good
http://www.simplicity.com/ -good basic techniques
http://www.butterick.com/ -great free downloads

Now its your turn. What are your favorites?