The power is out due to the storm but we are all doing well.

Merry Christmas from Hell Frozen Over.

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Stitching Along

Major General Clarence Tinker is my subject for the Okie Stitchalong. I was afraid to do a portrait, but I like it so far.

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Quilt

I'm required to wear plain scrubs these days. There was a time when I dressed like a Hospital Weird Al. The prints are horrible and unflattering and I actually agree that solid colors look more professional. I can't believe I wore these scrubs in public. Ouch. I am a crafter, though, and I couldn't throw away 30 lbs of fabric without trying to rescue it first.

There are a lot of memories (not to mention blood borne pathogens) lurking in this mess. (Just kidding about the diseases. I've washed and ironed any and all forms of hepatitis to death.)

I cut the tops into 5 inch squares and did a simple 9 patch. The backing is an old sheet. I am really proud of myself for recycling so well. My dog likes it.

I probably have enough 5 inch squares left to make another twin sized quilt. I also have at least 20 lbs of scrubs that haven't been cut. I have a lot of sewing to do.

Apple candy blanket

A simple blanket for Isabel--thermal knit bound with satin blanket binding.

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Toy soldier

Toy soldier embroidery with handspun wool.

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I made a flannel rag quilt for my bed this week. I'm in love with it.

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Dollface

I took an embroidery class today. I don't have to be so serious all the time.

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Laundry Magic

I'm working on many projects at once right now. I've started working crazy hours and I don't have as much time to do things as I used to.

Instant gratification projects are really making me happy. I felted a pair of slippers for my BFF. I make her the same pattern in a different color every year. These little clogs are quick and easy. Since the original pattern isn't available online anymore, I might write up my modifications someday. I've made at least 5 pairs of these, but never a pair for myself. I can add that to my list of things to do.

Once these clogs are dry, I'm going to give them a haircut to get all of the fuzzies off.

I also made a really fun baby blanket. The technique is all over the internet, so I won't bore you with the details.

(You stack some flannel, sew on the bias, slice the top layers, then launder.)

The coolest thing was throwing the sewn and cut flannel into the washer and pulling chenille out of the dryer. I am so easily amused. I'd recommend a flannel ragg or flannel chenille baby blanket to anyone who is interested in starting a basic quilt. A crooked seam won't matter much and the end effect is really fun.

I've already bought more flannel to make a larger blanket for my daughter. The only thing I'll do differently this time is to sew the bias lines closer together.

In other news, I've decided not to beat myself up for crappy pictures anymore. If I waited for perfect pictures, I'd never blog. I won't apologize for it anymore, either. I'm not a photographer. I do my best with what I have. Perfection is for crazy people.

Completed project

I made a Wisp. I used a yarn my best friend gave me for my birthday. It's Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball. It's more of a sock yarn than lace, but I wanted something soft around my neck. My 6 year old has adopted this scarf, though. It matches her coat.

I've been documenting all of my artsy-fartsy projects at my other blog http://meetmeinthedayroom.wordpress.com. Stop by if you're into embroidered weapons and similar nonsense.

TASER, 2009, wool and cotton 11 by 16

Report to Target immediately!

I found Cindi Paige's Christmas Eve pajamas. Don't lie, you think they're hilarious.

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I'm such a proud mama.

Isabel's first embroidered masterpiece.

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Miss Isabel has taken up embroidery.

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Hand carded rolags for spinning floss.

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Spinning Floss

I've been dying and spinning embroidery floss for my latest projects. I've been using a tightly wound single. This allows me to twist the fiber tighter or looser depending on the effect I'm trying to achieve. I've had a lot of fun experimenting with dyes.

If you want to see some of my handspun in (embroidery) action, check out my Art Therapy blog.

I knit a bit

This was my traveling to OK project. I love entrelac and Noro Kureyon. Together? Forget about it.

I was a little disgusted by how many Eucalan washes it took to get this shawl clean.

Here is the first wash.

Here in the 5th wash.

Here is the 10th wash. Ew.

We are getting settled in Oklahoma. I'm going to reserve judgement for a while. I don't actually know if I like it here or not. It's really hard to say yet.

Quilted Portraits and Stitched Scenes

This is the first time I've even had my work shown in a gallery, so I'm really excited. Here is 360SEE Gallery's words about the show.

Quilted Portraits & Stitched Scenes is the first exhibition at 360SEE to feature fabric and fiber artwork.
While fiber art is often abstract and can feel unaccessible to many, this exhibition shows amazingly well executed fabric pieces that are approachable both in subject matter (portraits, scenes, and the depiction of representational objects) and in (painting like) presentation.
The exhibition will feature (6) wall hanging portrait quilts by, practicing architect and fine art quilter, Luke Haynes. Subverting the traditional quilting form by integrating modern concepts, Haynes' art transforms the comfortably familiar into the visually evocative.
The large Haynes' quilts will be joined by embroidered / stitched pieces by Alexandra Walters and Gillian Bates.
Montana via Kansas City based artist Alexandra (Alex) Walters, explores the identity of illness and the promises of drug marketing from the perspective of a military wife and mother with her sewn series of (5) prescriptions piece titled The Promise of Pills. These "painterly" stitched pills and bottles done in silk, cotton, and rayon floss evoke the promised mood altering result of each medicine with a well chosen found fabric background.
English artist Gillian Bates will round out the exhibition with (3) illustrative feeling works comprised of stitched line drawings of people and scenes colored in with scrap fabrics on canvas.
Works by:
Luke Haynes
Alexandra Walters
Gillian Bates
All of the pieces in this exhibition are exclusive to 360SEE and embrace the sustainable minded media choice philosophy of the gallery.

Here is a review of the show from Claire Haasl: http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/art-talk-chicago/2009/09/zoloft-on-cloth-360sees-high-concept-quilts-reviewed.html

I'll be back

We're moving to Oklahoma this week. I packed more yarn and fabric than I did clothes. TTYL.

Just like a peasant cap

Pattern is here. This was yarn salvaged from a horrible sweater. Just horrible.

He doesn't ask for much

David asked me to make him this hat. Urban Outfitters sold a nasty acrylic one a few years ago and my husband wanted a wool one. He never asks for anything, so I made it.
It's lined with merino wool and the colorwork was rough, thrifted tapestry wool. My only regret is that I didn't make it in John Deere colors. My husband is gay for John Deere. Ask anyone.

Packing

We leave for Oklahoma in a few weeks. I have been sorting through bins of craft supplies and finished projects. It's amazing how much I've made in this house. This bin of socks and mittens is only part of what I knit. So many were given as gifts.

These tubs are full of handspun yarn. I sold a bit and knit a bit and gave quite a bit away, but I still have almost two full tubs. I am kinda proud that I managed to spin my boredom and sadness into something wonderful and tangible.

We might not get base housing for up to 6 months. We'd prefer to buy a house, but the paperwork from the VA is holding up our loan. We don't want to rent and be stuck in a lease for a whole year. We really aren't sure what we'll do. We'll likely be spending quite a bit of time in TLF (temporary living facility) while we scramble to find a place to live. I made this giant tote to make living out of a suitcase more pleasant. I made up the pattern as I went along. I used fusible batting instead of interfacing and the bag is both sturdy and cozy. I might make some more as gifts when we get settled in Oklahoma.

Meet Me in the Dayroom

I updated my other blog, Self-Guided Art Therapy. I'm still not sure which posts belong here and which belong there. I don't want to repeat myself too much, but if you are interested in my fiber art, the new blog is where it's at. I think of Knit-R-Done as a craft blog.

The best thing would be to subscribe to both blogs. I'm just saying.

My latest piece is Lithium. I hope you like it.

Arm Flab Cozies

At a certain age, a woman's upper arms start to "flutter." That's the nicest way I can say it. I don't mind wearing sleeveless shirts and dresses around the house, but I don't go out in public that way.

The first arm flab cozy is a handspun linen Whisper Cardigan. I modified the pattern to suit my yarn, but I didn't take any notes. I enjoyed spinning the linen. It's a bit rough against the skin, but it's absorbent and cool to wear.

The second arm flab cozie is a top down raglan without a front. Sorry that the modeled photos shows bulging, sunburned cleavage. My husband was being sneaky when he took the picture. Bamboo actually feels cooler than bare arms. This shrug was my best friend in Korea.

The third one is a One Skein Wonder. I used the leftover cotton yarn from a skirt I knit last year. It's the warmest to wear, but I like it enough.

I made a hat

I knit a leaf beret. The pattern is from Melissa of www.knittingschooldropout.com fame. I modified it a bit because I wanted a beanie, not a beret. I didn't have the right yarn for a beret. Plus I have a huge noggin. I don't want to call more attention to the vast size and Charlie Brown-esque roundness of my giant head.

The yarn is some handspun I've had sitting around for over a year. I like the deep forest green with the leaf pattern. I love the look of the leaves in the bulky, bumpy handspun.

I've got a lot going on right now. Some good things are happening. I'm working on showing some of my work in a real, grown up gallery. I am really excited about this. It's nice to know that all the pain I've slogged through this year has been turned into something good. Validation is a great selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. For reals.

I recorded a piece for Insubordiknit's podcast. I forgot how bad I sounded while I was battling my allergies this spring. I hope you take the time to listen to this podcast. It's all about fiber arts as therapy. You know I relate to that.

Sewing Again

I've been inspired to sit at my sewing machine and make fun stuff again. I finally caught up on all of the old Threadbanger podcasts and couldn't wait to start. If you like crafting, you really should check them out.

The first thing I made this week is a pencil case for my 6 year old. If you can't tell, it's a puppy. I modified the zakka bunny pencil case from Zakka Sewing to suit Isabel. She loves it. Rather than pick apart my mistakes, I've decided to throw myself into making stuff without being critical. I'm enjoying. I think I might be relaxing. I can't be sure.

I've been sewing underwear, too. I used the Cheeky Panties pattern from Burda Style to recycle t-shirts. I have a stack of old tees ready to reconstruct. Apparently, any time I buy my husband a t-shirt he sneaks it downstairs to the GIVE AWAY basket. Meh. His loss is my gain.

I went to Joann's and bought some proper lingerie elastic. Even without the right kind, these knickers are wearable. I've made a few adjustments to the pattern to fit my booty. Now all I have to do is sew.

Celebrating my heterosexuality* with socks

*To all of my gay friends, I know you don't mind as long as we don't make out in public.

I know most of you prefer your socks to match--probably almost all of you do. If you love the symmetry of twin socks, I support that. Most of my handknit socks are heterosexual. Two socks give me two chances to making something unique and special.

I used to wonder why I think of socks as individuals. I think it comes down to two reasons. The first reason came from my second stepfather. He referred to sock mates as "brothers." I really hated that guy. Everyone knows that socks have mates. They pair bond like humans.

The second reason is probably that my dad is an identical twin. I was raised with the attitude that the more two people look alike, the more they are really exactly the opposite. I guess I've always thought that being exactly like something else is somehow bad or boring.

Maybe I'm just thinking about my marriage too much these days. I have to start a new life with my husband after being single for a year. How am I supposed to pick up the pieces of our old life? The thought of living together again is frightening.

I knit this sock couple from Knit Picks Risatta. It's probably the best elastic yarn I've used, but I don't really like elastic yarn--it splits and feels weird. One is knit from toe up, one cuff down. I made up the cable patterns as I went along.

Whatever their differences, these socks are mated.