Tag: Non-Knitting Projects

My Knitting Life · Non-Knitting Projects

Sewing and Knitting: A Happy Combo

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I wanted an eyelet-style dress, but not in white which seems to be the predominant color of eyelet, especially during the summer. So off I went on a fabric-hunting expedition, but with gas at $5.00/gallon, I only went virtually. I shopped online at Fashion Fabrics Club and bought an excellent burgundy eyelet, more geometric in design than floral. For the dress I used McCall’s M7948; at about $7.00/yard multiplied by 3.5 yards, I got a great deal! (It never ceases to amaze me how expensive Joann’s sub-par fabric is.)

About this fabric:

Thing 1: it’s dry clean only, but I’m confident that I can carefully wash it.

Thing 2: It frayed very easily as I was sewing it. It’s a good thing I’m an experienced seamstress!

The fabric is lightweight, and the dress is billowy and comfortable. But because sometimes air conditioning in the summer is a little aggressive, I knit a simple shawl to go along with the dress. The shawl is the Souvenir Shawl by Maria Samuelsson on Ravelry. It’s a great pattern to use up a skein of yarn that just had to be purchased on vacation (better a skein of yarn than a t-shirt, right?)

It’s a 100% self-made outfit! I love it when people say, “I like your dress!” or, “I like your scarf!” At which point I say, “Thanks, I made it!”

What yarn is this, you might ask? It is Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere in the February 2020 Pop Up colorway. I bought this when The Loopy Ewe lady was retiring and had a big sale. But don’t worry because The Loopy Ewe lives on! Visit their site, help a new owner of a previously loved LYS by grabbing some yarn!

My Knitting Life · Non-Knitting Projects

COLD BREW CHEAPOUT!

nancyknit1 Comment

Want to make your own cold brew instead of paying for it? Here’s how to make it at home:

First of all, I purchased a clearance box of cold brew packets and learned from them to make my own. I got out my kitchen scale and weighed the packets to make sure I used the same amount of coffee. Each plastic-wrapped packet contains two filter-wrapped packets which makes 64 ounces of cold brew. Since each packet weighed 62 or 63 grams, I will need to use 120 grams (4 oz.) of coffee to make 64 ounces (1/2 gallon).
Get out a half-gallon pitcher and put about a quart (32 oz.) of water in it. Get some #4 cone coffee filters, a stapler, and your favorite coffee. You will also need your kitchen scale.
Measure coffee evenly into two filters and staple each packet at the top. (You might have more success using 3 coffee filters and only putting 40 grams in each. It’ll be easier to staple.)
Coffee dry weight should be between 125 – 135 grams. I’m not sure what that is in ounces…you can check Google!
Carefully submerge the coffee packets into the water. You’re trying to get the air out of the packet and saturate the coffee.
I like to mark what type of coffee I’ve made with a piece of tape and a sharpie marker. I value my sleep and only drink decaf in the afternoon and evening!
Put it in the fridge, wait 24 hours and then bring it out of the fridge. Carefully remove the coffee packets. If one of the packets bursts, you’ll have chewy coffee!
Fill the pitcher with water.
Leave room to add some ice to cool it down if you’re like me, and not so good at waiting for the fridge to cool it down. Enjoy!
My Knitting Life · Non-Knitting Projects

Making in the Quiet Days

nancyknit1 Comment

I’ve been knitting through these quiet days, but I haven’t finished as many things as I thought I might. Yes, there has been knitting in the evenings, but also sewing, stitching, and general peaceful projects to try my hand at.

First, I’ll mention that I bought an embroidered wool skirt at a second hand store (4 years ago?!), not because I wanted the skirt, but because I wanted to turn it into something else. I finally settled on turning the skirt into a bucket bag. Wow! That’s a change, huh? Check out the pictures:

From $7.99 skirt…

To bucket bag!

OK, so I cheated and bought some leather handles from Amazon ($15) even though it took a week for Amazon to ship because everyone was obsessing about toilet paper in March.

I knitted some socks too. Two pairs. From 100 grams of the main yarn. To squeak out two pairs, I used some contrasting yarn for the cuff, heels, and toes for the larger pair. I just made a stockinette stitch leg and used the Arne and Carlos afterthought heel to show off the yarn and to just get this yarn out of my stash! Someone at church passed this yarn on to me. Thanks!

The pair on left is top down and 64 stitches; the pair on the right is toe up and 68 stitches.

I hope you have found some peaceful quiet times during this pandemic to relax and work with your hands!

My Knitting Life

Itchy

nancyknit1 Comment

I almost can’t stand it anymore. Everything I have on my needles are projects I’m tired of, or long-term projects that I’ll be working on for years to come.  The “years to come” projects are two afghans made of tiny mitered squares.  So I’m waiting for deep winter to work on those.  I also have three sweaters on the needles. Oh, and I have two pairs of socks on the needles.  And a laceweight scarf, Kernel.  Plus a cotton table-runner.  You can check these out on nancyknit’s Ravelry page.  I like these projects. Well, I love these projects, but not now.  I’m itching to start something NEW!

I want to knit some gloves

and a vest

and I want to start a new sweater.

But I guess I’ll be disciplined and try to finish some things.

Here’s my dream list of items to have on the needle.  If I can keep these items on the needles, then I feel my knitting is under control:

Socks: 1 ladies” pair and 1 men’s pair, plain, ribbed, or simple cable

Fingering: 1 lace project like a scarf or socks, or 1 pair of stranded socks

Sweaters: 1 ladies’ sweater and 1 men’s sweater

Home: 1 project for something around the house

So, I guess I’m doing well, except I have one too many sweaters on the needle right now.  I guess I’ll wait to start something new. Hmmph.