Achievement Unlocked: Knitting Dish Cloths

A while back, like a year or so ago, I decided it was high time I learned to knit. I grabbed the needles I inherited and dove in, head first, as usual. I looked up videos on YouTube and struggled and struggled....and struggled.

Last summer, I had a great opportunity to visit my mentor and help her out. In return, she showed me how she knits and it literally opened the door for knitting. Seriously. Without her, I probably would have given up. I had a great start, but I did not like it.

Before, knitting felt clunky and I thought it should feel smooth like crochet, no matter the skill level.

After, I was whipping up my first dish cloth.

Continental Knitting made sense. I scoured YouTube. I watched the video my mentor sent me. I got it. I totally got it. It was similar to crochet and I made a dish cloth. Pictured here is dish cloth number 2. Dish cloths are easy to do and a chance to explore stitches. I do the same with crochet...if I'm not crocheting in the round (which I love!).

Lessons Learned:

• More like Achievement Unlocked! I can knit! I like knitting! It's easy and makes sense.
• Mentors are cool people. Even if I'm not in touch as much as I want to be/should be.
• My craft skills include: sewing, crocheting, knitting.
• After I get the first step, I can teach myself stuff!
• Knit dish cloths are actually a lot nicer than the crochet ones I've done...which is a bummer and awesome...

Project: Tank Top Totes

Somehow I've become known as the "person who will take your clothing" among family and friends. Part of this is that I can wear some of the clothing. Part of this is that they know that I turn jeans into bags. Another part is simply that I sew. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes it's not.

I recently came into possession of a bag of clothing from a family member. As I sorted some of the nicer stuff, the stuff I wanted to refashion, and stuff I could wear, I came across two tank tops that I liked. I don't generally wear tanks because my frame is strange. Also, one was a little too large for me and the other, while I loved the fabric, I would never wear it.

I kept thinking about the one tank top. I loved the fabric. I wanted to make a bag with it, but how?

To Pinterest! I have a board dedicated to bag ideas. I remembered I had a DIY Tank Top Tote Pinned, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I looked around a little more and found this tutorial from SaltTree. Now that I liked. I took the two tanks and whipped them up. Yesterday, I got to test them out and the cashier was very impressed with my bag!

Here's how I made my first one. This was a gray tank top. I pinned the bottom and tucked in the side seams:

I used pins which is amazing for me.

I'd probably skip doing this on the inside next time.

 After that, I sewed the bottom, turned it inside out and ta da! Instant (new favorite) bag:

The second bag, I just simply pinned and stitched across the bottom. The fabric is really stretchy and this is the one that got the compliment. I can't wait to use this one at the thrift store and any other store (not the grocery store. That's what the denim ones are for).

Enjoy! I know I'll be looking at old tanks I get rid of differently now.

Gardening 2014 - April 22 (Or, how I keep whining about my Brandywine Tomato seeds)

First, we keep having beautiful days! They are lovely. I love it.

On the flip side we're still getting into freezing temperatures at night which has annoyed me as I have three potted plants now. I've given up on the herbs from last year and the lettuce seeds I had outside (I can't keep them wet enough). I do have "globes" for the living plants which are basically plastic jugs, cut in half and put over the plants at night. We then throw a moving blanket over the whole set up and keep the pots close to the apartment itself.

So far it's working. Just have to remember to do this tonight as there is a frost advisory.

I haven't had much happen in the garden department. We did buy plants last week and I lost some sprouts, gained some others, and am trying desperately to get some Brandywine Tomato Sprouts...period. The old seeds (5-10 years) did sprout, then they got mold and died. I tried again. Nothing. Something else sprouted in the container so a few days ago, I just moved the old seeds and put some High Mowing ones in. The other High Mowing container has a sprout as of yesterday (What? That's been sitting LONGER) and I have Cherry Tomato Sprouts.

It all confuses me and I'm being sort of lazy because I've been (yep) sick off and on the last few weeks and busy, busy, busy (which probably caused the sick last week).

But hey, so far so good. I lost a broccoli sprout (not sure how that happened right now), gave up on a few others and keep trying to get Brandywine Tomatoes.

Garden Status:

Seed Sprouts:

• 1 baby broccoli plant (waiting on the 4 inch size to transplant. Also, technically two but from the same spot. If I can split the sprouts and get two plants, I will!)
• 2 Cherry Tomatoes (pictured left)
• 1 (MAYBE) Brandywine Tomato
• Some random weeds in a seed pod that I'm waiting to see what exactly they are before I say "good bye" to them.

Purchased:

• The Farm Variety Broccoli. We love their broccoli and the price was right so I'm giving it a try.
• Marigolds (to be planted with tomatoes. Some are outside, some aren't).
• Snap dragons (they are just pretty).

Lessons Learned:

• I am impatient at gardening, but I do like it.