The Stitch Up

February Projects

I've made my list of projects for the month along with my goal date to complete them and I've entered it all into my trusty Weave App.  I thought I'd list them out here so I can track my progress over the next few weeks and I can also use the motivation to get these projects done!

First up, Quilted Canister Sleeves.  This project by Handmade Mommy is so great if you've got jars or canisters on display in your kitchen.  My kitchen seems big to me compared to the kitchens in the condo and town houses we've lived in over the past few years.  But there is no dedicated pantry and I'm having to improvise space for things like flours and sugars.  Right now I have a collection of glass jars ready to be filled, sitting on top of my cabinets.

Since they are going to be out for everyone to see I've been looking for cute labels or something but these quilted labels are going to be perfect.  I sorted through my fabric and found these three fabrics that I think will look good and match my kitchen:

I haven't decided if I'll just use the fabric labels as the pattern suggests or embroider the labels, but I'm anxious to see this complete.

Second up is a variety of projects for my sewing room.  I need a sewing machine cover and I also want to make up a few matching storage and organizing items.  Stitch Magazine has a great idea for a sewing machine cover - it combines a cover with an organizer:

It is really cute!  After I choose fabrics for this project I'm going to decide on fabrics for some embroidery hoop wall organizers that are also from Stitch magazine:

and also patterns for a pencil holder and some baskets from 1 2 3 Sew, a great book with some easy home decorating patterns.

The last project I'd like to get done this month is a set of throw pillows for our basement.  We have a sort of outdoors theme downstairs and my plan is to make denim pillows and embroider a few wildlife patterns onto them.  A couple of the patterns I"m thinking of useing are:

and

We'll see how these turn out.  I don't really have a pattern for the pillows, I'll just be winging it more or less.

In addition to my February projects I have some ongoing items that don't have a deadline. I like to have something to work on in front of the tv at night after work so I'm going to still be poking along on my tea towel,

And I barely started this Soft As Lamb scarf, but even though it's supposed to be easy, I'm thinking to switch to a cowl I saw on Lion Brand which looks like it might be a little simpler.  Either way I haven't made much progress as SOMEONE thinks any yarn movement is an invitation for attack:

The last thing I'll be working on is another Spanish Quilt Square.  This one will be the Infanta by Velazquez:

I'm hoping to have that started by the end of the month.

I've got a lot to keep me busy this month and I"m hoping it will all get done before my Weave app starts sending me notifications that I'm behind!

Hooked it UP!!

Another project done.  I shock myself.  This time it's a crochet project, but just like my last project the timing is a little off.  I probably won't be wearing a snow hat anytime soon, but I like to think that I'm really ahead of schedule rather than woefully behind. 

This was my first time crocheting in the round or making a hat so I used this book for reference:

  

I really liked this book.  It had specific instructions, but also provided different ways to individualize your hat - you could make it a bit long to roll it up, make it a straight pull on with a finished edge and make some different flowers or leafs to pretty up the hat if you felt the urge.  I made a roll up version with a flower and leaf on a pin to make it a little bit "special".

   

That's the finished product and here's my attempt to capture the hat in action with my iPhone:

 

Normally I don't wear a hat and jacket in the bathroom but it seemed the best mirror for a self portrait.

I'm pretty pleased to have finished another project and now I'm on to finishing up the sampler I started a year ago in my class at the Royal School of Needlework in England.  I'm really looking forward to finishing this sampler and getting it framed and on the wall!  

I've seen on some of the craft blogs that I read, bloggers keeping a list of the projects they are working on and plan to start posted on their blog.  I'm torn on whether this would be motivational or just stress me out and make me realize that I dawdle forever on some pretty simple projects.  I keep a written list of things I am working on and want to work on but it's pretty easy to just avoid looking at that list and no one else sees it and realizes that I haven't done anything for weeks (and sometimes months) at a time.  I'll have to give this some more thought.

In the mean time I need a project to work on after the sampler that might be seasonly appropriate.  Something related to Spring or Summer?  Feel free to offer any suggestions!