I did it! A big thank you to Jane for her excellent flip video skills.  The background clanging is courtesy of Fatty.

Now to add the button bands and weave in the rest of the ends....

Have a great weekend!

Happy Friday to you!

Thanks for all the steeking tutorial links - I read them all, debated which way to go, and then got busy.  Originally, I thought I would definitely use the sewing machine to secure the stitches because that is the way I did it long ago.  After reading the different tutorials and because I was a tad concerned about shoving a handknit pullover through the machine without distorting the fabric, I got out the crochet hook.  I spent over an hour last night while watching the Olympics getting the first side crocheted.  I was a little worried that the crochet wouldn't hold well after cutting.  But, I don't think I need to worry any longer.  I had to tear out my first 3 inches of crochet due to an error on my part and wouldn't you know that the yarn was super grabby and very hard to get out.  Phew.  Now for the second crochet row which should happen today or tomorrow.  Then I'll cut.

I've been sewing this week, too.  While cleaning the sewing room, it dawned on me that if I just made the projects that I bought all this fabric for, then I'd have a cleaner room and much more space.  I started doing just that and have already gone through the better part of 10 yards of fabric.  It feels good.

I hope you have a great, relaxing weekend.  I'll be back as soon as the steeking is finished.

And I am getting a little nervous about cutting this pullover to make it a cardigan.  I did it once before and it worked out fine, but that was over 15 years ago.  Anyone have a good steeking tutorial they can recommend?

I love any reason to pull my colored pencils out of the art cabinet and use them.  Charting the fair isle pattern for my sweater was the perfect excuse.  As I sat and knitted the first few rounds of the yoke, I thought just how much I love fair isle knitting.  And then I remembered that I said the same thing the last time I did it and wondered why I don't do it more often.

I have received numerous emails and comments asking me about whether or not I will sell guitar straps like the one I made for Jane.  I really want to and I am looking into figuring out just how to make that happen.  I'll let you know as soon as I make a decision either way.

I enabled threaded comments a week (or two?) ago.  I really like it this way because it allows me to respond to people quicker and more efficiently and it allows you to comment on other peoples' comments, too.  A virtual conversation, of sorts.

I haven't forgotten about the snack pdf.  I just haven't had the time to get it together.  But I will soon.  We have added smoothies to the mix and they have been well received.

Staying up late to watch the Olympics is making me super tired and a bit crabby.  I am going to do my best to go to bed early tonight.  Or take a nap.  Or both.

I wish I had a personal organizer who could come over and help me sort out the studio.  The mess is epic and there is a lot of fabric and other stuff that needs to go, but I feel paralyzed every time I look at it.

The sun is out and I am happy for that.

My copy of Alabama Studio Style written by Natalie Chanin and published by STC Craft|Melanie Falick Books arrived last week.  To say I had been anxiously awaiting its arrival is an understatement.  Natalie's first book, Alabama Stitch, is among my favorite craft books.  It is jam-packed with inspiration and projects unlike any other craft book I own.  I was hoping that Alabama Studio Style would be just as wonderful and I am not disappointed.  It is absolutely beautiful to look at and the range of projects and recipes is fantastic.  They include a skirt, tunics, dress, tops and many items for the home.  I am already dreaming about what I am going to make first.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to chat with Natalie about the book.  Here's what she had to say.

Erin:  How did you decide on the projects that make Alabama Studio Style so beautiful?

Natalie:  I think that we learned a lot about putting a book togetherwith Alabama Stitch Book.  There was just so much that I didn’t know thatfirst time around and I was very naive about how difficult it is to make abook!  With Alabama Studio Style, I knew that we wanted to include adress, more home furnishings and recipe sections.  From there, I made alayout board on the wall that pretty much indicated each page in the book –this was something I did not understand the first time around.  WithAlabama Studio Style, I feel that the book as a whole was very thoroughlyplanned.  I collected fabric swatches, colors and techniques together foralmost a year before ever starting to make the projects.  After I feltthat we had a good flow from color and style, we started making projects, writinginstructions and putting together the recipes sections to go with the projectsin the book.  From there, everything just started to fall intoplace.

Erin:  One thing that I absolutely adore about the new book is thatthere are a few projects with little or no embellishment (like the plaintank).  Did you make a conscious decision to include some simpler piecesthis time?

Natalie:  That’s a great question!  It was a very conscious decision toinclude the plain garments – we call them Basics in our studio.  The garmentpatterns included in Alabama Studio Style are really my favorites and thepieces that I wear everyday and work into my wardrobe. While I love veryembellished tops, skirts and dresses, I also love the simpler pieces foreveryday living.  For example, the camisole tunic is one of my favorite piecesat the moment. I love to wear it over pants or a skirt and then to layer other piecesover and under it for these colder days.  A little secret: I sleep in thecamisole tunic – very comfortable and looks great.

Erin:  Oh, now I am going to have to make one for a nightgown too!  That's brilliant.  Alabama Studio Style has stitches and techniques that compliment the onescovered in your first book, Alabama Stitch, but that also work really well ontheir own.  Was it important to you that the techniques in both bookscould be used together as well as separately?

Natalie:  Thank you, I am so happy to hear you feel this way! It wasreally important to me that the books work both as individual books and as anintimate part of one another at the same time.  We worked really hard towardsthat goal.  I can’t wait to see how people interpret the two, take theinformation and then move beyond.  

Erin:  The possibilities do seem endless!  I think that is why your books are so inspiring.  Just like Alabama Stitch, Alabama Studio Style is a visual treat.  Whatinspired you to chose the color palette for these projects?

Natalie:  I wanted the projects to really feel like part of a whole.  Idid tear sheets, and fabric swatches and thought about this for almost a year. Alabama Studio Style is also such a part of my home and personal life – most ofthe book was photographed in my kitchen and living room - that many of thecolor palettes are also very personal to me and the colors that I choose foreveryday living.

Erin:  It's very obvious to me that you love what you do - it's evident in both of your books.  I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.  Thanks, Natalie!

. . . . .

You can also have a chance of winning a copy of Alabama Studio Style (or the STC Craft book of your choice) by visiting STC Craft|Melanie Falick Books and commenting on this post.  To read more about Natalie's book, follow her on her blog tour and visit her blog.

Thanks for visiting.  Back here soon.

Kate has been asking for a knitting lesson for a few months.  On our second snow day last week, I took the girls to our local yarn store and with their help (thank you Jane and Cindy!), Kate learned to knit.  I cast on for her and she used knitting rhymes to help keep her remember exactly what she was supposed to do. The rabbit goes through the hole, around the tree, peek back out, and off we leap!  Within a half an hour, she was doing it all on her own.

As a mom that loves to sew and knit, I have found that if I am over-enthusiastic about any one craft, my kids tend to drop it like a hot potato.  To that end, I played it really cool, giving Kate a few pats on the back and patiently fixing every little mistake that she made.  I quietly encouraged her and let her do the rest.  Every day, she has picked it up, knit a few rows and put it back away.  She took it with her to Jane's guitar lesson and the two of us sat in the waiting room knitting and chatting.  She pulled it out and worked on her scarf while watching the Olympics last night.  Even Jane, who hasn't knitted in well over a year, decided to pull out her yarn and needles.  I cast on 15 stitches for her and after a quick lesson, she was knitting away too.  It was one of those moments that I will never forget - all three of ussitting on the couch, watching Olympics, knitting in hand.

 

I have no idea if this will last so I am enjoying every dropped stitch and unintentional yarn over that needs fixing while I can.  Back here soon.

I've just updated the shop with some camera straps including some made with my dwindling stash of Flea Market Fancy.  If you feel inclined, please take a look.

Now I am running off to the 4th grade valentine party and then to run some errands before the weekend.  I hope you have a good one.  We plan on watching the Olympics!  Yay!

The girls and I made some cute valentines for their parties at school later this week.  I think I saw this idea somewhere last year, or maybe even the year before, but I can't remember where.  If someone knows where the idea originated, please tell me so I can give that person credit!  Here!

To do this yourself, take a photo of your child with their hand(s) held out from their body.  The girls stood in front of a white wall so the background would be neutral - a red or pink wall would be super cute, too!  We took many photos with lots of different poses.  I let the girls choose their favorite.  After uploading the photo, I added text in Photoshop.  If you don't have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, there are other photo editing programs like Picnik that are free.  Make sure you take into account where the lollipop will be on the card when you put the text on it!

Once I was satisfied with the layout, I printed the photos 2 up on card stock.  I made them 4" x 6", but you could certainly print them smaller, if you like.  After cutting the photos out, I used a craft knife to make an X above and below the hand.  You could use a hole punch instead of the X's if the hand is close enough to the edge of the card.  The girls wrote their friends' names on the back of the cards and then threaded the lollipops through the X's.

They were fun to make, easy and pretty fast, too.  I had everything I needed on hand with the exception of the lollipops.  I think the large bag cost about $3 making them one of the most inexpensive projects I have done in a long time.  For other ideas, valentines that we have made in the past can be seen here and here.

Anyone have a good game for a 4th grade valentine party? We are playing Bingo, but are looking for something else to do as well.  Maybe something a little active, but that doesn't take too much space (the classrooms are small)?  I was thinking some kind of relay, but I'd love any suggestions.