New Camera

I got a new camera this weekend and I'm so excited! I got a Nikon D3100 to replace my old (10yrs) Nikon D100. My old one just wasn't shooting as well anymore and I had to do way too much Photoshop and the pics still weren't looking good. Took the new one out yesterday and did some shooting. Loving the way they turned out. The colors from this new camera are amazing! Almost makes me want to re-shoot my whole etsy store...

Another Scarf

I've been working on knitting another scarf. This one is done with a stitch pattern called Wheat in the Wind from Craftcookie. I like the way it's turning out so far and it seems to work up pretty quickly which is always a bonus.

I'm using Lion Brand Wool-Ease for this project.

I'm kind of starting to get the sewing bug again, but I also have a few more knitting projects that I'm working on. I am going to try and work on those first, but no promises.

Husband Beanie

Since I first started crocheting and knitting I've wanted to make the perfect beanie for my husband. See he has this store bought beanie that he's been wearing for years, he loves it.

This is it.



Now I've always wanted to make him one that he loves just as much...okay, more. Well to say the least my abilities have been pretty limited up until recently.

I've searched the internet for a pattern similar to this one to no avail. Finally I found a pattern for a hat that taught me how to do the diamond cables, which was a good start. So I got out the circular needles and after some trial and error ended up with this.

Do I think this will take the place of the store bought one? No. But it does have a better chance of actually getting worn than some of my previous atempts. I'm working on another one that has larger diamonds and the moss stitch texture inside of them, but that one won't be for him:) Will post pics and hopefully a pattern when I'm done. I made this using Stitch N Bitch's Bamboo Ewe.

Here is a photo of the beanie I made that taught me how to do the diamond cables.

It turned out a little too long for me, but it's cute and was great experience. Here is the link to the pattern for it.

http://www.stitchnationyarn.com/Patterns/snowtracks-cap.html

This one was made with Lion Brand Yarn's Fisherman's Wool.

Just for fun here are a few of the beanies I've made for my husband over the years...

      











Knitted Scarf

These aren't the size needles I used, but the bamboo

 photographs better than the aluminum ones:)

I started working on this scarf when we first moved up here and were living in the hotel, well I finally got it done a few weeks ago. I tend to start a project, then move on to other things, then pick it up again later.

I loved this color, it's Mermaid in Stitch N Bitch's Bamboo Ewe. This is a super soft yarn to work with too, I only wish they had more color choices. It hasn't gotten cold enough out to actually get to wear yet, but it seems like I won't have to wait too long.

This is also my first knitting project in a lacy type knit, this pattern is actually supposed to be leaves (which you can see if you look at it long enough). It's about 6 feet long and about 8 inches wide.

See the leaves?

Pleated Pouch

Still trying to get the motivation to work on a tutorial for my bag. Haven't been feeling so hot the last week or so. Not sure if it's just the change in weather or not. I've even been using my 'jiggly vest' like a good girl (and I hate using that thing!). Well anyways my point is that I haven't really worked on anything new, but here is one that I worked on when I was on my huge sewing kick a few weeks back...

I'd seen a cute little pouch on etsy years ago and always wanted to try and make one so when I had some extra linen fabric on hand I decided it was time to give it a whirl. Of course I just went for it without a pattern or a real plan of what I was doing. I thought it turned out really cute and have already used it as a clutch purse when I didn't want to take my bag (but I am probably biased).

I guess these don't really show the scale at all but it is 10"x5.5", big enough to fit my wallet. Not a coincidence:). Maybe one of these days I'll find someone to model some of these things for me. Just a note for all of you eagle eyes out there...yes my last few projects have been brown and yellow(gold)...I can't help it, I'm still a Wyoming girl at heart.

New Bag

So I've been working on a few projects at the same time (as I tend to do), so I'll be posting those up here soon. First I want to show you the bag that I just finished.

I've been needing a new purse for awhile and since I liked the way the wallets turned out I decided I'd make my own. Well I took a trip to the fabric store and bought this dark mustard colored linen. In my mind I could see a cool slouchy bag and I was super pumped about it. I was even going to line it with the white leafy fabric from one of the wallets. Well lets just say that the bag did not turn out even remotely close to what it looked like in my head (and it's pretty ugly, but it was experience I guess). But on the plus side I now have a bag for knitting projects.

So I still needed to make a purse. I went back to the fabric store and looked around at all different fabrics. I wandered for what seemed like forever and I was beginning to feel like it was a lost cause, then I saw it...the perfect fabric. Exactly what I needed to make my bag. All my feelings of despair left me and I was ready to try again!

I decided to try a different style of bag, but my main thing was that I wanted an adjustable strap so it could be a shoulder bag or go across my body. I looked online for awhile and found a style that I liked...pleated body with a yoke across the top, and I went for it. Grabbed a pencil and paper and started making a pattern. Here's what I ended up with...

I wish the color didn't change so much (it's really a darker mustard color).

I raided an old bag for the hardware.

I think it turned out quite nicely, I'm very happy with it! It's a little bigger than some people may like, but I love big bags. Just might do a tutorial with my pattern.

More Wallets

Okay so I've completed two more wallets, one for my sister and then one to keep. If you missed yesterday's post, I found a great tutorial on how to make this wallet: http://elily00.wordpress.com/tutorials/wallet/
The instructions are really easy to follow, I highly recommend it if you're looking for a sewing project!

I'm feeling more confident with my new sewing machine, although my sewing skills still leave a little to be desired.
But I think I've had my fill of wallet making (for now) and it's time to move on to a new project, when I find what I'm going to do next I'll let you know. For now here are the two wallets I've gotten done in the last two days.

My mom gave me this fabric a couple of years ago,

I've been saving it for the perfect project.

At first I wasn't sure about using such a plain color

on the inside, but I think it was the right choice.

Bought this fabric yesterday with my sister's wallet

in mind, luckily when I sent her some fabric photos

she picked this one.

I love the 70's colors inside here, I really thought

about keeping this one for myself...