And this is why I get nothing done at Stitch and Bitch

Could you say no to those eyes? Really, it is impossible.

I try to spend every third Thursday of the month at my favorite yarn shop Nease’s Needlework, in Decatur Georgia. And every time I bring a big bag of work, more than anyone would ever get done in the few hours, with me. And every time I am lucky if I can get 3 stitches done because Celesta has some sort of spell on me. I spend the whole evening playing monster, baking cakes and cookies, and meeting her “friends” who can fit in cupped hands.

Quick Sew Funky Christmas Stockings

My husband and I for the first time are in a house this Christmas. We have hardly any Christmas decorations and have not had the time or energy to go shopping for them this year. So on my day off today, I whipped up some stockings. Want to make some last minute decorations for your place? Good, because I got a tutorial for you.

MATERIALS
1. Two types of contrasting fabric. I used recycled fabric from an old pair of pants and about half a fat quarter of quilter’s cotton.
2. Sewing machine or hand sewing supplies
3. Freezer paper & pencil or erasable fabric marker
4. Loop turner and knitting needle (optional)
5. Adobe acrobat reader
6. Printer and Paper
7. Scissors
8. Iron

STEP ONE – The Pattern
Download pattern and print. Cut out pattern pieces along the outside of the thick gray line. The gray represents the seam allowance. Tape piece A & B together to form stocking shape.

STEP TWO – Cutting
Tip: Iron on freezer paper to fabric to mark your pattern. Then cut shape out. Peel off paper before sewing.
Trace the A&B shape on to fabric, then repeat making sure to flip the shape over.

In contrasting fabric, trace shape C four times and shape D once. Cut all pieces out of the fabric.

STEP TRHEE – Loop
Fold shape D in half long ways right side in. Sew along long edge. Turn inside out (with loop turner if you have it). Press flat. Fold in half horizontally and press flat again. Set aside.

Click on image to enlarge

STEP FOUR – Cuff
Take two of shapes C and pin them together, right sides in. Sew along all edges except the longest side. Make relief cuts at the points and valleys. Turn inside out. Use knitting needle to help get crisp points. Press flat. Repeat with the other two shapes C.

STEP FIVE – Attaching the cuff
Pin the long, raw edge of one cuff to the top of the wrong side of one A&B shape.

Sew along edge. Press flat making sure the edges of seam are on the side of the AB shape. Repeat with other cuff and AB shape.

STEP SIX – Sewing the Stocking
Place one stocking half down, right side up. Take loop and place in just under the cuff fold to the inside. Place other stocking half on top. Pin the layers together making sure you put one pin in loop.

Sew along the bottom part of the sticking, do not sew on cuff. Make relief cuts along the curves.

Turn inside out, and then press flat. Turn cuff over. Clean up and cut loose ends.

STEP SEVEN – Decorate

Yay!

Odds and Ends… Lots of ends

For the last few days I have been working on lots of quick projects while trying to finish some projects up.

First I had to make a toy before I went nuts and destroyed the sweater I have been working on. Still working out the pattern but these little guys are fun to make.

And Blake, the hubbie, wanted a case for his DS. So I tried my hand at case making. Took 3 tries for me to come up with something I like, above is a too tight case that is about a half inch to short. My case is coming soon, after I get new needles for my sewing machine… I kind of broke 3.

Oh and ends… lots of ends. I am almost done weaving them all end and then all that is left is sewing the arms on, 4 more ends to weave in and the sweater is done.

Why the hurry to finish everything? I have a commission for a new Kitsune. This one will be a little different than my last one. Looking forward to revisiting my old work.

Oh well.

No NaKniSweMo for me. I think I will finish in the next few days but I am a little sad I could not make my deadline. But hey if some people don’t fail it is not special for those who do. Next time I think I will try a smaller sweater, not a men’s extra large. Well I got to get back to knitting this ribbing, I will go nuts if I don’t get this thing done soon.