I know that this stitch pattern must exist out there somewhere in the knitland. Pretty much any stitch pattern is, but I came to this on my own. I love woven basket stitch for it’s simple texture, it also lays nice and flat. For a face cloth though, I wanted something a little more bumpy, so I added in a couple rows of a little something something to make it nice and gently scrubby. I love the way it turned out. I am hoping to make a bunch more for Jason and I. I recycled a whole sweater of 100% cotton yarn and it’s just perfect for this project. I also learned a little trick about weaving in ends on a 100% cotton face cloth, something that has always evaded me before, so I’ll show that to you in this pattern too.

Download the pattern here (pdf).

I’m hoping to make some significant progress this weekend on the dresser, getting the apartment cleaned up (we are actually having people over on Saturday, what?, amazing, so I need to finish whipping this place into shape), and finishing a book for review on Monday. You know I’m happy to say that getting the apartment cleaned isn’t a daunting task at all sense I did such a huge clean up last week. It’s more just a putting things away, hiding some piles of craft stuff waiting to go on ebay in the bedroom, and vacuuming… not bad at all!

I’m doing well on writing two patterns a week to try to get ahead in my pattern posting, so hopefully I’ll finish up a pattern this weekend to send it off to my lovely group of pattern testers on Monday. Hooray! I have a nice felted crochet market bag in the works.

Have a good weekend and keep it crafty!

++ Kristin Roach ++

ps - I updated the archive last week and it should now include all the patterns that have been published up to this week (which I’m adding right after I post this), so cruise through the archive to have easy access to past patterns. Oh also, would you like me to catalog the how to’s (like what I did on Wednesday)? I’m going to start writing more, another category in the pattern archive maybe that’s just “How To’s”?

Well, not much to report today. I don’t have the dresser anywhere near sanded all the way so I’ll hold off posting about that until Tuesday.

This is the image that inspired the color I picked out for my dresser. Granted my ridiculously bright green isn’t quite as elegant (nor is the style for that matter), but it’s all me and I love it and Jason liked it too so it works for use. I love the green/gray color combo though, so beautiful! Plus all I’ve seen it in is the bright sun, which is quite different than an indoor setting, but it’s still going to be really bright, haha.

You can see the parts of this project so far here:: Introduction :: Part I :: Part I :: Flickr Set

I know I’m not quite even close to having the dresser finished, really just half way, but my mind is already racing to the next project. I’m thinking next on the list will be a new duvet cover and pillow cases. Curtains would be nice as would some things to hang on the walls… what do you think? sound good to you?

On a note of not Craft Leftovers, but redressing the bedroom project all the same, we just got a new mattress. So that’s another check on the list of things that needed to happen to make the bedroom nicer, cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing. We did the typical just out of college thing for the past few months… two twins together, haha. Two sheet sets and they weren’t on the same level even because mine was on a platform and his was on box springs. I can actually make our bed with ease now! Hooray! That was huge.

The other huge step that I’ll be working on tomorrow is getting all the laundry done and making a “laundry station” (do I see another craft leftovers projects in the works maybe a 3 section laundry hamper?).

I have the project for tomorrow all set, so check back for that around noonish tomorrow.

See you all then!

Kristin

Shortly after I learned how to knit I read about how one could recycle a sweater for the yarn. Sweet! Cheap yarn I thought! I went to the Salvation Army and picked out a sweater I thought would be good for recycling. Huge, an XXXL, and 100% cotton. It was all cream colored and pretty nice. I took it home and gave it my best shot. Which failed pretty miserably at first. I wasted so much yarn that first time around. I still got enough to make into a sizable bath mat. I used the pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting (what a great knitting book).

After a whole lot of trial and error over the last three years, I’ve been able to get the recycling of sweaters down pretty well.

Here is what I do:
First you need to pick out a good sweater. Larger is better as it will lead more yarn of the same type and color. I try to stay away from cardigans because it’s just more seams to take out. Anything with lots of color changes is out. My favorite is something that is a natural fiber (cotton, wool, cashmere) and has minimal synthetics in it. It is really personal preference. Look for what would be easiest to unravel and what you would like to knit.

I’m just going to assume you are going to take my advice and go with a pull over, so you will start with the collar. Find the bind off edge. Don’t use scissors. In fact, I’m going to make that really clear DO NOT USE SCISSORS. Seriously, it will make your life miserable in short and long run. As soon as you do it, you will realize that it is a huge mistake. It will give you all these little short tangled strands that will suck your soul away… so back on track. Find the bind off edge. The yarn end will look like a little lump or a little end sticking out. It should be woven into the ribbing of the collar, go ahead and unweave it and the bind off edge should come unraveled pretty easily.

From there, take out the seams in the following order:

You will then have these pieces:

The arms are pretty straight forward, same as the collar, find the bind off edge, unweave the woven in end and wind it off. The sweater front and back are a little different. You will unbind the one shoulder, then the next, then the bottom of the neck edge.

If you have a ball winder, this is a great time to use it. Just slip the yarn end in and wind your yarn right up.

Look at all this great yarn I salvaged from this one sweater:

Another great use of sweaters from the thrift store is to felt them. Diane of the Crafty Pod talks all about it here in this great post she wrote up about it.

And that’s it for today. I am going to spend the rest of the evening updating green prairie fibers so check that out tomorrow around noon and I’ll see you all tomorrow evening here!
++ Kristin Roach ++

Today was the day to start putting the drawers back together. They were all painted and as dry as they were going to get in the humid weather we have been having lately.

This is what I started out with this morning:

First I put the drawers back together. It was an easy matter of some wood glue along the seams and some nails to tack them in place until it dries. You see it’s not really the nails that holds things together, it’s the wood glue that creates a permanent bonds between two piece of wood that are next to each other.

Once dried, I screwed all the handles back in.

And here is where I stand. I’m going to sand down and paint the rest.

Where that one drawer is all banged up, well that’s really bugging me so I’m going to touch up where the sides of the drawer aren’t painted, but showing. I’ll move that one so it’s on the bottom so hopefully it won’t be too noticeable.

So I have the issue with the drawer being more banged up than I would like or really can do anything about. And then I have another issue. There are only 3 wheels! So I’m starting the search for one more of these or something similar:

Next on the agenda is sanding the rest of the dresser, then painting that. I’m hoping to have it finished and moved in by next week.

See you tomorrow!

Kristin

I first read about Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Céline Dupay when it came out 2 years ago. I’ve wanted it ever since. Every time I have seen it at the book store or online I’ve been tempted to buy it. I carry it all around and eventually put it back on the shelf and head home empty handed. I’ve never had the chance to look through it really thoroughly and see what it’s really all about. I just thought the projects were really cute, but in the back of my mind I thought “I have so many sewing books and patterns and projects already, I need to do those first.” I still want it though, 2 years later it’s still in my wish list, and lately I’ve been cruising through my projects this summer too(I’m down to just 3 knitting projects from the 17 I had at the beginning of the year!). I just saw it at the library and checked it out. I’m convinced. This month is the month. I have a $10 gift certificate and this is the book I’m buying.

I read through it and fell in complete love.

I want to make this, this, this, and this:

(the image in the book is blurry, not my picture)

You see, on top of the really cute projects, this book is also loaded with great information on sewing. Wonderful for a beginner or someone wanting to learn the proper way of basic sewing techniques:

And information about the fabrics and supplies used for each section:

I really like the book is arranged too. It starts out with what you should have in your sewing box (including a strong magnet on a ribbon to pick up stray needles, brilliant!) and moves through The First Steps, The nesting instinct, Warm and cozy, Kitchen essentials, Beautiful Bath, Romance, For the little lady of the house, Out on the patio, and then follow up appendies, index of projects, address book for sources and acknowledgments. A great book all around.

As the intro to the book states:
“Whether you’re a complete beginner or you already know something about sewing, this book if for you! In these pages are over fifty easy-to make projects for home and wardrobe, all with a wonderful sense of French style… So, if you’re ready to take the plunge, make a date with your sewing machine…”

Céline Dupay also co-authored Make Your Own Handbags, which I have not heard of before, but am looking forward to reading. The images from it which I found here look great.

You can also see what people have made from Simple Sewing with a French Twist here on flickr.

Have a great day everyone! See you tomorrow with an update on the dresser’s progress.

Kristin Roach

ps - I decided to extend the sale to Tuesday midnight over at Green Prairie Fibers and will be adding new yarn on Wednesday (scroll down to see the new yarn as it’s drying).