Creativity by Knitgirlll06

Hey, it’s been a while but I’ve been busy with a few things and I’ve made some time to get some sewing and knitting in. I made this top using McCall’s pattern 5640 using this very vibrant print in Rayon. I’ll be wearing this with black capri pants.

The next project I made was this dress using a shirt pattern that I liked how the bodice was and knew it would make a very nice dress using this linen fabric. What do you think about it. This was New Look pattern number 6515.

I’m also working on this pattern in brown. This time I decided to add a sashing between the bodice and the skirt of the dress. So what do you think of my progress so far?

I have some knitting going on too and finally completed my SIL’s diagonal scarf and have the matching hat on the needles so I’ll share those with you soon.

Stay tuned as I will be showing off a few more tops and a pair of capri pants that have been sitting on the back burner for a while.

Hello again. I’m not blogging like I desire but school is dominating my time. I’m not complaining as I’m 1 quarter away from graduation. Hurray for me. Now on to what I’ve been up to. Let’s see where do I begin. There has been some sewing, cooking, and crafting going on in the wee hours of the morning. First I’ll start with my sewing. I made this top in green and white print back a few months ago to prepare for the spring but in Ohio we’re not really having spring as the furnance keeps running. Anyho, I made McCall’s 5401 and wanted to try it in the gauzy cotton in melon and magenta. Here’s my melon version and I really hate the collar on this on and will be taking it out but not sure what collar to add. I’m open to suggestions.

I loved the first one it’s in March archives and this one will be getting deconstructed in the collar. I used gauze fabric for this one and really like the way it hangs but not how it works for my body type. So what type of collar do you think this top can take?

My next new thing is stitch markers I’ve been making them for a while but never shared them on my blog and thought it’s about time. I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t. Here’s my latest endeavor.

Would you be willing to purchase these little beauties? I don’t have time to be with the local Ravelry knit group here to pitch this idea so that’s why I’m asking you for your input. I have other ideas I’m working on and I’ll share them with you all next week.

As you have noticed I’ve started including some of my meals on my blog because my youngest thinks everyone should know her Mommy can cook. I think she’s prejudice because of our relationship but thought I’d include this aspect of my long loved desire to cook. Today I decided to try my own take on stuffed bell peppers.

Ingredients

This makes 14 servings

• 2 lbs. ground Round
• 7 bell peppers
• 3/4 cups of onions, red & yellow peppers (you can purchase this in the frozen food section)
• 2 1/2 cups of cooked rice
• 1 12oz. can of Tomato sauce
• 3 12oz. cans of Roasted Tomatoes
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
• Salt & Pepper
• Parsley
• Basil
• 2 cups of Cheese of your choice to top (I used Mozzarella w/sun dried tomatoes) This is optional

Preheat oven to 350 F. Cook your rice according to package instructions. Prepare your ground beef season with Salt & Pepper. Simmer Tomato sauce and Roasted Tomatoes until ready to top peppers. Stir occasionally. While this is cooking prepare your peppers and place halved peppers in baking dish and drizzle with EVOO and Salt & Pepper place in oven uncovered for 15 minutes. When ground beef is a third of the way done place seasoning mixture in and let cook until meat is done. Drain. In a mixing bowl combine Rice, Meat mixture, Parsley, Basil, and 1 cup of cheese mix and place mixture in pepper halves. Place sauce around and on top of peppers. Place in preheated oven loosely covered for 45 mins. Garnish with remaining cheese and serve. Hope you enjoy yours as much as my family did. Here are the pictures

I just want to say thanks to everyone who came and shared your thoughts with me and helped me celebrate my 3rd Blogversary.  I wished that I could give something to everyone.  Without further ado the winners are: Crochet~ Bianca, Quilting ~ Kristen, Knit~Sabrina, Sewing ~ Vloula. I will be contacting each of you to get your addresses and let you know when you’ll be receiving your prizes.

Congrats to you ladies!

I noticed that I’ve been blogging for the past 3 years as of April 29th and thought I’d have a little party with favors. Since I quilt, knit, crochet and sew a gift from each would be offered. What I’d like to know from you is what propelled you share your crafting life with all of us out here in blogging land? For me, it was a chance to meet others with the same interests, glean as much knowledge as I could from the more experienced crafters, and share my accomplishments and failures with you while building a sisterhood of sorts with each of you. I will be running this contest for 1 week and will choose the winners by random draw and post here May 8th. You have until midnight May 7th to leave your comment answering the questions posed in this post. Good luck and thanks for participating.  5/1 I forgot to mention that with each prize listed there will be an additional prize catered to the winners personal taste.

Quilting Prize

Knitting Prize

Crochet Prize

Sewing Prize

As time has gone on I have tried to step it up a notch as you learn what draws people to your blog. No, I don’t have this down just yet but there has been remarkable improvement. I hope you’ll continue to stop by from time-to-time and be a witness and encourager of my growth.

This weeks post will have to be postponed until next week due to illness. Mine. I have some type of allergic reaction to something and my back, chest, stomach and thighs are broke out. So I haven’t done much if anything productive in the last 4 days.

I’ll be back next Friday.

Blogging, Creating, Rearranging………Repeat. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past week. I keep telling myself that I’m going to meet my goals of creating more items and dwindling the stash. This is a very challenging charge to take on but what is the true measure of a knitter, quilter, crocheter, sewer. Is it the fabric and fibers? Or maybe it’s the needles, stitch holders, sewing machines, serger, patterns, cutting mats, scissors? No, it’s the completed project that makes a crafter’s world worth it. Now before you get all testy, let me explain and this is solely my opinion. I have projects, fabric, and fibers everywhere in the apartment and a very unfashionable wardrobe of scrubs and factory work clothes. My solution is to destash all of my crafty goodies and create some items that enhance my wardrobe and provide smiles and joy to those who are gifted items that I make.

Moving on to creating I’ve been working on my sewing mojoe and felt that making skirts would get the juices flowing. I’ve made 2 skirts so far this year and wanted to share my latest one in progress. I’m currently working on this skirt please check out the details below.

Here’s my zipper placement. If I do say so myself, I think I did a nice job. now all I have to do is the hook & eye.

Here’s a better look at the zipper.

Then to add a little spice I thought this embroidery design would add a touch of whimsy. What do you think?

To incorporate all of my crafty goodness I present my 2nd Soldier Cap from Afya Ibomu in pink. I just started to crochet again and it’s just such a rush to complete a FO in 1 day instead of weeks or months like in my knitting. I already have another one on the hook and should be done with it tomorrow and have a request for 2 more.

I’m trying to decide what other crochet projects I ‘d like to tackle this year, but in the mean time, I’m taking on my second sweater Flair here’s the progress I’ve made so far. I’m really looking forward to having this done by April. Yes, I did say April, no pressure I want this to be an enjoyable knit. Who knows what challenges I’ll encounter on my way with this project.

Now, on to rearranging. I’m currently taking this opportunity to gain while I rearrange. This allows me to gain knowledge, try new things, discover my true style, step out of my comfort zone and stay on task by planning out my fashions and other crafts. I hope that you will chime in with your suggestions, expert advice and friendly encouragement.

Until the next time Be blessed, be positive, be truthful, be joyful, be at peace and be creative.

Here’s my latest post on my SWAP~Sewing With a Purpose post on my fabric exclusive blog. I’m working on creating a wardrobe for myself to save money and to hon my sewing skills. Please click the link and take a look. I’ve added some more fabric to my stash and I’ve finally found my brown and pink fabric to match these shoes and this fabric

This is how good they look when put together and I’m thinking this should be a dress.

I can’t wait to put my outfit together. You know 2 years of waiting makes for an exciting thrill. I just hope that I can put it together in a flattering way. The whole thing of designing a wardrobe is new for me.

I’m proud to announce progress on both projects on the needles.  The 2 socks on Magic Loop are going well and last night I turned the heel on them and will be binding off tonight I hope.  My experience with this method was a little trying at first, but overall I’m very pleased with my determination to continue and what I kept thinking while knitting was this is going to make sock making more productive and my socks will be equal instead of one being a little off.  The question I’ll post on Ravelry is how do you bring your heel in if you do a partial heel flap going into your short row heel.  It always seems as though when I’m knitting socks Toe-up that I run into this situation. 

 The Green Gable is making progress and I was able to try it on the other night and I thought the top would not be right the pattern looks wonderful and after it gets down a little further I will finally take some pics with it on and post them here. 

 Ravelry has taken a back seat to MySpace because I was able to reunite with a few friends and that was nice.  Today I went to the book section to see if I could upload a few more of my books that I hadn’t been able to get on there before.  I love Ravelry so much as I find it has offered an evolution in my knitting organization and thought process towards pattern planning and yarn choices.  I’m still not buying any new yarn as I’m determine to make a dent in my stash (this goes for my fabric stash too). 

 Hope you’re making progress on your projects and I’ll be back to post soon. 

I finally decided to get on the Magic Loop craze and I purchased the 32″ needles from KnitPicks  and the book so I’ve finally figured it out last night and as soon as I complete my STR’s footies for my DD I will try my footies on the Magic Loop.  I also purchased Afya Ibomu’s  “Get your Crochet On!”  my oldest DD looked through it last night and decided on three patterns so I’ll be back into crochetting. 

I have to send a shout out to Erica B. for being interviewed on the Podcast Inspirational Wednesday   and also for making a splash in the local papers in Birmingham, AL.  If you don’t know who she is you need to check her out.  She’s a phenominal sewer and knitter and I love looking to see what she’s going to do next.  There are some very talented crafters all over and the WWW (world wide web) is great for allowing us to connect. 

I’m currently working on Green Gable for myself, my second footie for my DD and looking to start some pillow covers to convert my living decor.  I have posted my progress on the GG and the Footie on my Flickr  stream on the sidebar so have a peek and let me know what you think. 

I have discovered since my last post that it’s very informative listening to Podcasts.  There is the newest podcast from  Knit Picks  is really great and they give so much wonderful informative resources.  I have added about 10 podcast to my list and am loving listening to them while driving to work and school.  I will go into depth once I have had a chance to listen to all the newer podcasts. 

I made several purchases this week and you can see them on my Flickr roll on the sidebar.  It was getting difficult to ask someone to help with winding my sock yarns so I broke down and ordered a Swift from JoAnns and from Amazon I purchased an Escali scale as it has recieved the best rating from customers and I purchased “Get Your Crochet On!  Hip Hats & Cool Caps”  by Afya Ibomu who appeared on Uncommon Threads   with Allison Whitlock.  I was really impressed with Afya on the show and although I don’t really crochet as much since teaching myself to knit I really want to make some of these hats for myself and some of my friends and family.  

I love being able to create things and present them to people and I now need to knit for myself.  I’m a full-sized woman and trying to adapt patterns to fit me has kept me from creating garments for myself but I do have the book Big Girl Knits and will try some of those items for myself.