Baby Bibs galore

I have been working on baby bibs in the sewing room. (Not for me!)

A good friend of mine is having her baby shower this Sunday, she is expecting her first and it's a boy. I wanted to make something to go along with the gift card I had Melissa pick up for me. Another friend of ours is going to pick me up Sunday to take me to the shower. It will be nice to get out and spend some time with the girls!

The other set of bibs is for another new baby on the way, my co-workers twin sister is pregnant with her first and I wanted to give them a little gift to welcome the new baby.

Piles of bibs... 

finished ones on the left, unfinished on the right. 

(almost finished, I still need to set the snaps)

I used 8 different fat quarters, on several of them I sewed rick-rack from my stash on the front. 

The pattern was a free download I got off the internet. I altered the directions to use interfacing.

I used a woven fusible interfacing for one half of the bib and the other half I only interfaced the area of the snaps.

I did not fully interface both halves because I felt it would make the bibs too stiff.

Normally, this bib project would have been a quick one spending just a couple hours in the sewing room from start to finish. However... with crutches and using one leg and a limited time frame per sewing room visit... it has taken me a but longer to get them done. Oh well, :) at least I am back in the sewing room again!!

 The knitting continues and this time I am making a striped scarf. I am having fun with it and it will end up in a lucky Christmas package.

Knitting project #2 completed

I am affectionately calling this my 'vacation' scarf. 

I had plenty of time on the 2 day drive to and from Chicago to Lower 'Slower' Delaware to work on my knitting projects. 

I have finished this second lavender scarf and even had time to start on another one! I am having fun playing around with the yarns that I have been given. Not having any yarn experience. I am continually surprised by the different characteristics. 

 My mom modeling the scarf in 90 degree weather!!

I am making the most of this opportunity to play with knitting, still have not made up my mind as to whether or not I will just play for now or if I will keep up with the knitting after I am healed and back to normal life... we shall just have to see what happens!

In the meantime, I think that I am mobile enough to try a venture into the sewing room and finish up with the Amy Butler handbags that have been patiently waiting to be finished. :)

Some Sewing Inspirations

The healing of my broken leg is taking a tremendous amount of patience... Luckily for me, I have plenty of things to try and keep me busy. Magazines have been a part of my distraction.

As I peruse the latest fashion magazines I have been picking and choosing items that I like and that inspire me. I plan on having plenty of inspiration to move me once i get back into my sewing room!

Here are some of my favorites!

And finally a shot of the progress on my latest knitting project... just about half way done :)

Knitting project number 2

I have started on my next project and have decided to go with another knitting project, as well as another scarf. Although this is more of a fashion accessory scarf vs my last project which was more utilitarian.

A friend of mine gave me a bag full of baby girl yarns in white, pink and lavender. I really don't have much use for baby girl yarns... so I have had to get a bit creative. I do know plenty of women both young and old and middle age as well! 

In the book I have used to learn this process of knitting it had an example of a scarf that had an accent yarn knitted in the first 4 or 5 inches of both ends. So I decided to go with this technique with the lavender yarn to make it more grown up and playful.

I have only started on the first couple of inches but am pleased with the results so far! 

The lavender baby yarn

 The multi-colored eyelash fun yarn

The 2 knit together

Mel: loving her new winter scarf!!

My first knit project is complete!

I have completed my scarf!! It took a while but I must admit that the first week post surgery is pretty much a blur in my memory! The amount of pain medication that I was taking really precluded me from taking part in anything other than laying in bed in my own little zombieland!

This week it has been hovering at 90' and here I am working on a full on winter scarf. It is made from a nice thick yarn and measures about 8 or 9 inches wide and about 80 inches long. It will be perfect for my daughter as she bundles up for Chicago winters.

 All done! and I added corner tassels for some fun.

My daughter boyfriend has been staying with us as my 'Day companion' while I am layed up. I got him to play dress up with Melissa's new scarf! What a great sport!

Now I need to pick my next project... I have a bagful of yarn that a friend gave to me as well as a care package of crafts from my mom. I really am looking forward to getting back in the sewing room. I am sooooooo close to be finished with the Amy Butler purses I was working on before my accident. 

I just need to spend some more time healing as well as make some modifications to the layout of my sewing room to make it a bit more friendly to my current situation.

A little bit of knitting

For a full accounting of my knee surgery please checkout my other blog... The Aspiring Equestrian. There is a link to the right on my sidebar.


The surgery was a week ago today and was the most painful thing I have ever gone through. I have spent much of the past week flat on my back with my leg raised up to keep swelling down. So, other than contemplating all the sewing and crafting projects that I want to be doing... I have not been doing much of anything.

Yesterday, I was finally feeling up to doing a bit of knitting. I probably have about 30 inches of the scarf done. I am very happy with the project so far. It is easy, the colors are pleasing, the stitches are thick and even. 


I am living vicariously through all my blog lists sewing rooms! Keep the inspiration coming :)

Trying my hand at something new

My broken leg is going to require surgery. It is scheduled for Monday. Until I start recovering from the surgery I am stuck either in the bed or on the couch with my leg elevated and packed in ice to keep the swelling down.

I decided to teach myself to knit. It is something that I have always wanted to try but just have never had the time to do or the willingness to stop doing something else to learn. Well, what a perfect opportunity.

My husband took me the store in the trusty wheelchair and I picked out a good book with a dvd to go with it and then some yarn and needles and away I went! 

Either it is easier than I think or pain killers give you an extra relaxed sense about things or maybe I was just happy to have something to do! But the first try was just casting on and practicing some knit and purl stitches. I was so excited after doing about 10 rows that I slid the whole thing off the needle to proudly examine my work and yup... as you can guess... I unraveled the whole thing! And cracked myself up in the process. Guess I forgot to turn the page and learn how to bind it off or cast off!  

 1st try, stitches so tight I could hardly move them!

On to a test piece for a project.

Look Ma!!! I'm knitting!

A completed 'test' patch

Now... onto a project, of course, the easiest project there is. A scarf. consisting of 20 knit stitches repeated until it is 84 inches long. Even a pain killer addled mind can hopefully handle this project!