421 Bye Bye Stash and a Tutorial

I have decided to make resolutions ... not resolutions for just this year though.  I am making life resolutions.  One of the biggest resolutions I want to stick to is committing to using up my craft stash.  I have a room overflowing with fabric, paper, yarn, and paint! Literally overflowing... You probably think I am kidding, but Hoarders called to ask if they could do a show just about my Craft Cave. I told them "Heck no!" because they might throw away a piece of pretty paper.

One of the things in my room was the book and kit I Taught Myself Knitting from the Boye company.  I used their book I Taught Myself to Crochet several years back and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. They provide words and pictures, so no matter how you learn it is perfect. I knew I wanted to use their knitting book when it was time to learn to knit. I bought it at least two years ago with a coupon from Michael's. I think I paid $8 and considering all the stuff you get it was a BARGAIN! However, it has sat in my room virtually untouched all this time. I did take it out and learned how to cast on, but I got distracted by kids and put it back. Over the years I have flipped through many knit and crochet books, and I have been disappointed countless times because some of the projects I love are knit. I will be intimidated no longer! A few days before New Year's Eve I broke out the book and a ball of yarn from my stash, and I got to learning.  I cast on ... I learned the knit stitch ...

 And then Connor had a meltdown ... Katie had one of her BFFs sleeping over and they were both playing with their pillow pets, but Connor did not get a pillow pet. Santa must not have been thinking clearly. I wasn't about to buy him one, and I knew he would probably rarely play with it anyway, so I set about creating a pillow pet-ish creature for my boy.

First I found one of the oldest pillows in the house, and I cut it in half.

I had this lamb-y type fabric leftover from Connor's Viking costume from Halloween 2009, so I brought it out for this project. Lay it out in a double layer, place a half pillow on top and cut around it. (I have mentioned I am a lazy crafter, yes?)

I was also too lazy to break out the sewing machine... So, I hand-stitched around it leaving an opening large enough to turn and stuff it.  Notice I did cut it out on a fold, so that was one less seam to sew. *taps forehead* I am always thinking .... of ways to be lazier. Turn it, stuff it, and stitch it closed. You now have a pillow ... congrats!

Connor asked for an elephant. Clearly from my fabric choice it would be more of a Wooly Mammoth. And clearly, from the shape I freehanded out of the other half of pillow, it isn't much of either. I did tell you that Connor was a bit upset ... and I still needed to cook dinner ... I was in a bit of a hurry.

And, as usual, I stopped taking pictures of the process in my haste.  Once again, I lay the fabric down in a double layer. I went right sides together so I could trace around my pillow piece.  Trace it. Cut it out. Stitch around it leaving one side of the head open to turn and stuff. Stitch it closed.

I just stitched the head onto the pillow very securely with lots of stitches, and then I stitched some eyes on his face.

Voila! Wooly Mammoth (or an anteater according to my husband) I also forgot to put velcro on his sides.

  

 Easily fixed, a ribbon around his tummy and he is a "pet" ... Connor seems to like him at least!

And eventually (the next day) I was able to work on my knitting a bit more. I am still not great. I dropped some stitches, I probably added a few too. I did learn to knit and purl... I just shifted back and forth between stockinette and garter stitch whenever I felt the urge.

I ended up with a rectangle ... not very inspiring or impressive (not that what I did changed that). I stitched it together along the long sides and made a tube. Perfect for Katie to have an arm warmer thingy. Not a very good size for me though ....  

It is a start toward using my stash. Hopefully I can make a dent in it this year. And even better, hopefully I can come up with some fun crafts to make and share.

Also, I am going to start posting some links to projects I love. I have seen so many great ideas on other blogs, and I just want to share them. If you have a crafty blog please leave a comment with the link and I will add you to my CRAFTY links.

370 Camp Katie's House

Somehow I managed to volunteer myself to teach Katie and Mia to sew. I am not a seamstress. I can sew straight lines, and I have been known to knock together some quilt blocks on occasion. My mom taught me to sew when I was in Girl Scouts. I remember my first project. I sewed a pair of simple shorts. The fabric was yellow and had comic strips on it. Dagwood if I remember correctly. In college I started making quilt blocks. Sewing by hand at first until my mom bought me my first sewing machine (yes, that is the one the girls are learning on as well, although I have since bought another). I have tried to sew clothing ... it never goes very well. I have sewn stuffed animals and a doll, and that is a little better but only because it is not an exact type thing. In other words, I am not the best person to teach ANYONE to sew. Much less an eight year old and a seven year old. But here we are, "camp" started Thursday.

I would have preferred to have Connor down for a nap, but it didn't happen this time. The girls were very excited. AND SILLY ....And of course Connor could not be outdone by the girls stickng their tongues out.Mama Carrie's Tips for a Successful Sewing Camp

1. Let them pick out their own fabric.

(1a. steer them toward the sale tables)

Katie and I dropped into Hancock fabric. I couldn't resist the Siren's call of 50% banners all across the front of the store. Katie could not resist all the color. Apparently I am raising a hippie chick ... albeit a very materialistic hippie (one day I will explain the irony of this to her).

2. DO NOT LET THEM USE THE NEWLY PURCHASED FABRIC! Break out the old stuff that you bought off the dollar table when Walmart had a real craft section.

3. Start small. A pillow seems like a simple enough project.

4. If at all possible, pre-cut squares of fabric (even better if you pre-cut them 3 years ago for another project that you never got around to actually doing, so that you did not have to really do anything)

5. Helpful Hint, do not have a fire in your house. This does not seem related, but trust me, the cleaning people will put your stuff where you CANNOT find it!! That tomato pin cushion that has been on a shelf in your "craft room" for eons is now no where to be found. Cleaning people have no respect for your organizational skills.

6. After finally rounding up enough pins, teach the kids to pin together their two squares of fabric.

6a. COVER THE TABLE WITH SOMETHING THAT YOU DO NOT CARE ABOUT

7. You will give up and end up pinning the squares yourself. Otherwise there will be a pin every inch.

8. Do NOT use the squares you have pinned together. Grab two more for them to practice sewing speed.

9. Carefully explain the importance of keeping your fingers clear of the needle.

10. Remember to lock your stitches, they will not get it or remember it, but do it anyway.11. After sewing around three sides, STOP.

12. Turn the fabric right side out and say "look, its a little bag". They will now discuss how it looks like an American Girl "sack race" bag ... This will get them off on a tangent where they will talk about their American Girl dolls. (try not to bang your head on the table, this too shall pass)

13. EUREKA! You can turn these "bags" into "purses" Grab another piece of fabric, cut in half. Fold in half and sew along the edge. Repeat. Turn over the raw edge, pin on the handles ... Sew it yourself because the girls have lost interest by now.

14. Try not to laugh uncontrollably when they start talking about selling purses ... and making hundreds of dollars. Use your Mom voice to explain to them that maybe when they get better at sewing they could do that. (do not crush their dreams ... do not crush their dreams ... do not crush their dreams)

15. Be thankful that the girls are only 7 and 8 because they really love the purse you just made. They are incredibly proud of their accomplishment. You are an AWESOME mom (for now)! Take a few pics to commemorate the occasion. They will never be this happy over a crappy purse again.

16. Put up their pinned squares. Maybe next week we will make pillows. There is a whole summer ahead of us, and I am in no hurry.

17. Oh, and don't forget that the two year old wants his own bag. Do not put handles on it because Dad would not appreciate you making his son a purse.

18. Rub your temples. Take some Tylenol.