A Day at the Park with Figgy's

Lucky us! We were contacted awhile back by Shelly of Patterns by Figgy's about having my Oliver model for one of their new patterns.

So the other day, off we went to a gorgeous local park in super cool new duds.

We had so much fun! I got to preview the new Fall line of patterns (they are so awesome!) and we get to keep the pants and shirt! How cool is that?

Happy sewing all!

Summer and a Dress

Normally I can't claim such perfect timing, but somehow I managed to finish the first sundress of the season right before the first day of summer (in Portland, anyway) and super close to the summer solstice.

It's based on the sundress pattern in Carefree Clothes for Girls. It was super easy with the added benefit of no buttonholes (Why am I afraid to try buttonholes and zippers?). This book was translated from Japanese and an interesting difference about sewing patterns in Japan is that they don't include seam allowances. So you either have to add them yourself, or cheat like I did. I just made a dress one size larger than I normally would. It worked quite well.

The only things I changed about the pattern were to skip the pocket (although I think I would do one in the future) and to use ric rac instead of lace at the bottom, like this super cute version on the Purl Bee.

I'm definitely going to be making more of these (especially considering the sizeable stash-building bundle of fabric I brought home from The Fabric Depot's most recent sale... Ahem.).

Happy sewing—and summer—everyone!

Meet Posy...

My new knitting companion. Doesn't every knitter need a kitten—even more than a yarn swift?

Happy knitting everyone!

Pretty Foxy

Have you ever seen such a sweet little fox?

Forty Winks Fox

I so love the patterns that Nicole Vos van Avezathe (also known as Follow the White Bunny) designs, and this one is particularly lovely. I mean, look at that fox's fur! Isn't it perfect? 

This pattern is very detailed, so if you're a novice and a bit intimidated by the look of this pattern, don't be, Nicole's got you covered. And if you're really new to embroidery (like me), check out these earlier posts she did for Crafty Bird on getting started with embroidery.

Happy stitching!

Just in Case It's Summer Where You Are...

I've put a super cute girls' jumper pattern by Emilie Rebekah on the site today. One version of the pattern is perfect for a sunny summer day. (If only that were the forecast here in Portland.)

Betty Jumper

And then there's this adorable sleeved version, perfect for all you Pacific Northwest mamas with young daughters to sew for:

 

(No, I'm not bothered at all by the cold, rainy summer we're having. Why do you ask?) Well, we may not be wearing sundresses over here yet, but I have to say that it's great weather for sewing. By the time summer does arrive we'll be all set with mama-made summer clothes!

Here's hoping the sun is out where you are!

Wig Wonderful!

What's the next wave in ultra-cool embroidery patterns?
Why, wigs of course!

Wig Wonderful Embroidery Set

As you all surely know by now, I love everything SeptemberHouse designs, and this is no exception. It used to be that wigs—to me—were either associated with my grandmother, who actually did wear a (quite obvious) wig, or a somewhat forgotten toy I had as a child that involved make-up and various colors and styles of wigs.

But now I have a whole new appreciation! Just look at these lovely ladies! I especially like the one with the blue hair. So elegant and so hip at the same time!

Happy stitching everyone!

Woohoo! A Magpie Patterns Flickr Group!

Ok, maybe you don't think "Woohoo!" when you think of Flickr Groups, but then you probably haven't been planning to set one up for oh, months and months and months.

Now that there is a Magpie Patterns Flickr Group (with one whole image already!) I can't believe it took me so long to set it up. It's, um, really, really easy.

{Currently, the one and only image in the Magpie Patterns Flickr Pool}

So ok, now it's up to you. Join the group and show off your work! I'm so, so excited to see what everyone has been making!

Happy crafting!

An Embroidery Zoo

Well, it seems like summer may have arrived in Portland finally (fingers crossed) and we simply had to take advantage of the sunny skies with a trip to the zoo. Where, I realized, there are almost as many animals as Penguin and Fish animal alphabet embroidery patterns.

The latest addition to the Magpie Patterns shop is K: Koala. So cute.

I'll be adding the rest of the missing alphabet this week, so stay tuned. Each pattern is sold individually, but if you'd like the whole alphabet let me know. I can send all the files your way for a discounted price.

For a little inspiration (and a recap of Quilt Market by Alyssa, Penguin and Fish designer), check out this post on the Penguin and Fish blog, particularly the amazing alphabet quilt.

Happy stitching everyone!

Elijah Elephant

With all the knit monsters, bunnies, and bears in my shop, I'm not sure I should admit that I've never made a knit toy.You see, when I was growing up all our toys were made via sewing machine. My (very industrious) mother even sold custom-made bears (that were completely awesome). But she didn't start knitting again until I was an adult, and even then, she's only ever made clothing.

I know, it's not really fair of me to blame the fact that when I think of handmade toys I think fabric on my lovely mother, but I'm going to anyway. Let's at least pretend that as a result of all the incredibly awesome handmade toys my mom made for me (dolls with their own wardrobes, bunnies that seemed to multiply of their own accord, bears in a multitude of sizes and colors, etc.) that I've been conditioned to think this way.

But clearly Rebecca Danger, of Danger Crafts, and Ysolda of Ysolda Original Patterns, have every intention of de-conditioning me.

There's Sammie, the oh-so-adorable Sock Monster:

 And Otto, the sweet little polar bear:

And now Elijah the Elephant, quite possibly my new favorite:

Isn't he sweet?

Well, it's been confirmed. Elijah will have to be my first knit toy project since my three-year-old just walked in and, upon seeing Elijah's picture, declared, "Oh! I want that!" (in a sweet, non-demanding voice—swear). Not that I bow to every one of his whims or anything like that, but really, when your three-year-old son falls instantly in love with a small gray elephant, how can you deny him?

Happy knitting everyone!

Sewing for the School Play

My daughter's kindergarten / first grade class recently put on a play in which there was a golden apple, lots of Greek gods and goddesses, a wedding, and a little mischief.

As with most grade school performances (I would imagine), parents were asked to provide the costumes. And I have to say, everyone looked fabulous.

We decided to go with the classic, ancient Greek chiton, bright fuchsia Umi tennis shoes, and ivy crown. As Hestia, goddess of hearth and home (how perfect is that?), my daughter also chose a broom for her prop. Excellent choice, I think.

The play was a rousing success—standing ovation and all.

Now that the chiton is no longer needed, my three-year-old has requested that we turn it into an astronaut costume. A fabulous idea, don't you think?

Next stop, Jupiter!

This? No, maybe like this...

So, I started this sweet little sweater from Vintage Baby Knits a week or so after Norah was born, which is going to be my excuse for why I completely missed the second panel of seed stitch at the bottom. I was a little, tiny bit distracted.

See where the red flowers are? Yep, that's supposed to be that missing panel of seed stitch. I know it's silly but I really, really liked that part of pattern. But by the time I realized I had missed it I was nearly finished and didn't feel like pulling the whole sweater out (it's knit from the bottom up).

So I tried to make up for it by adding a little red pizzaz in its place. Here's the first attempt with heavier wool.

Almost, but not quite right. I tried again with a lighter weight yarn, making the flower shape a little more delicate.

Better. Not quite as cute as the missing panel, but close.

Does anyone else out there improvise when knitting? Or rather when you make a mistake? As long as it looks like I planned it, it's all good right?

Happy improvisation!

Mmm...more shopping

Well, the internet gremlins are still at work on the Magpie site (but don't let that keep you from stopping by since they only seem to be interested in my ability to add new patterns, the rascals), so I've done a little more shopping. Seems like the right thing to do in a situation like this.

Today, instead of jetting over to Fabric Depot with baby Norah, I was once again browsing Etsy and found far more sewing-related goodies than I bargained for. Does anyone else ever lose hours and hours at a time to wandering around Etsy? It is frighteningly easy to do!

Linen Pincushion by Namolio

Isn't that just lovely? I know, I know, I could make one myself, but when? My work-in-progress baskets (and bags and bins, ahem) are stuffed full already. And this one is already made!

In the Woods cotton tape by Lillalotta

So cute. Actually this shop has a lot of adorable tape, and I had a hard time choosing. The wooden spool tipped the scales for me on this one though.

Swedish Storage Box by Harmony Craft

Wouldn't that looks so nice in my studio? Yes, yes indeed.

Bright as a Button Necklace by It's Beautiful

I love this necklace for obvious reasons but also because my three year old son loves to tell the baby that she's "as cute as a button." Maybe this necklace could be the reminder of that sweetness—even when he's thirteen and has a blue mohawk.

Hand-printed Linen Fabric by Maramiki

Sigh. Oh I love this. I used to be an associate director at an art and ecology center on the Oregon coast where we offered residencies to artists, writers, and musicians. This fabric reminds me so much of that amazing time when I was surrounded by natural beauty and a constant flow of nature-inspired art by residents from all over the world. 

Happy sewing everyone!

Knitting on the Brain

While I was roaming around the Puget Sound last week the Magpie Patterns web site decided to take a little—unsanctioned—vacation too. For some mysterious reason (at least to me, a very non-tech-savvy crafter) I can't upload new patterns. Everything else seems to work. Just not the new patterns bit. Hmm.

And so, while someone far more tech-savvy than me figures this mystery out and then fixes it, I'll be knitting, sewing, stitching and um, shopping.

So today, instead of showcasing the newest patterns by fabulous designers I'll share some of my favorite knitting-related finds from Etsy.

Fizz Pop by Spun Right Round

Clearly, it's not enough that the yarn is awesome. Isn't Fizz Pop perfect? And hopefully I'm not the only one old enough to remember the rockin' song, You Spin Me Round, by Dead or Alive. I love it.

Saffron by Springtree Road

Yum. I'm pretty sure whatever you made with this yarn would be scrumptious.

Handmade buttons by Phydeaux Designs

Aren't these just gorgeous? But I wouldn't expect anything less from the fabulous Phydeaux Designs, a favorite knitwear designer in the Magpie shop.

White Yarn Bowl by Bunny Safari Pottery

This is one of those things that I would buy for the sheer beauty of it. I love pottery and wish I could make something like this myself, but first I would need to master the potter's wheel (or take my first pottery class for that matter).

Ball of Yarn Necklace by Crumpet Cake

I love, love, love this necklace. I'm pretty sure I would love it even if I didn't knit.

Keep Calm and Carry Yarn Poster by JennieGee

This is my motto. Seriously. I can stay calm in just about any situation if I've got a knitting project handy. And I know I'm not the only whacky knitter out there that takes her yarn everywhere she goes because I met someone standing in line at the post office working on a scarf. My kind of lady.

Happy knitting (or shopping!) everyone!