Month: January 2025

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Last week in making.

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In an attempt to be productive while dissociating, I am prioritizing daily creative acts. And I’m going to try to document some of it too. Last week felt especially creative, so here’s what I did.

Fine Things Community Pottery Studio

I joined a brand new studio and successfully threw two pots! I feel really nervous not having the traditional support of a class, but I’m excited to explore some ideas outside of the scope of local classes. Here are the things I’m planning to work on:

  • Nerikomi patterned pieces (this technique excites me so much)
  • Tiles for my fireplace renovation
  • Chess set for my husband
  • Hand-built plates using MDF forms I eventually make
  • A tabletop lamp?

Painting Workshop

I attended a really lovely painting workshop taught by Allie Yacina at Happy Anyway. I am obsessed with sketchbook artwork and Allie has an incredible practice, some of which is currently on display at the shop. The morning consisted of creating color swatches using a primary palette, thumbnail sketches of a still life, and then a final painting. I left so inspired, I spent way too much money at the art store. Acrylic gouache is a fun medium and I learned just how creamy Caran d’Ache pencils are.

Cast on a New Sweater

Portuguese practice.

In additional to just starting the Port Jacket, I learned the Portuguese knitting style. I wanted to try this method out because I read it can reduce hand pain and give you better purling tension. I’m not getting amazing results doing German short rows with this knitting style, but I’m hopeful it’ll get better with practice.

Shirt Sewing + A Weird New Shelf

And lastly, I made a lot of progress on this button up. All that’s left are the cuffs and buttonholes. I also bought and installed this so-hideous-it’s-kinda-cute towel rack that I’ve had my eyes on for months. I wanted something on the wall here where I could hang works in progress and in-use patterns. I also moved my small “design board” over to this wall too. It’s way easier to access now that it’s not behind a table. You can see I have quite a few outerwear projects planned!

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Feeling ALIVE!

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I had no idea how much health issues had slowed down my desire to play around with materials and make stuff. But now that my thyroid medication seems to be at the right dose and I no longer have a uterus (thanks to fibroids), I’m BACK BABY.

It’s really exciting to feel like I’m actually awake during the day now. And I want to celebrate my newfound productivity by cataloging my recent makes. First up, I just added the binding to this wall hanging I made years ago.

I refinished this “gentleman’s cabinet” which you can read more about here and here.

This thrifted stool got a much comfier seat. The rope basket turned cushion cover was already made, but I added the fabric and drawstring bit to keep everything in place. There’s now 2″ of foam too since the plywood was much too hard of a seat. I finished this project by splattering some acrylic paint on it because why not?

I’ve actually been finishing some sewing projects outside of work! I made a dress out of fabric that’s been in my stash for YEARS, a quilt coat with fun yarn ties, several new machine covers (also using old stash fabric), these amazing mellow yellow Cloud Sweatpants, some basic tees, and I batch cut out like ten more projects. I’m planning to share more about some of these makes in upcoming posts.

I finished two sweaters in December and started playing around with duplicate stitch.

I got out my tufting gun and was a total beginner again. This process is so challenging and I hate not being in control, but I’m willing to keep going! The ultimate goal is to make little rugs for all the steps leading upstairs for Otis.

And I’m trying super hard to reestablish my logbook practice. In 2018, I captured a trip in one of these sketchbooks and I’ve missed so many travel adventures since. This practice is one of my proudest accomplishments and I’m determined to pick it back up.

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Hysterectomy Recovery Project

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As I mentioned here, I had an almost overwhelming amount of knit WIPs. My goal was to finish at least two of them before the year ended, and I did! One of them was this sweater that I started about 3 weeks post-op.

PATTERN: Seaway Pullover by Ozetta

YARN: Purl Soho Linen Quill, colorway Baked Earth (discontinued)

SIZE: M

NEEDLES: US 7 needles for the body and US 6 needles for the rib

The pattern calls for a DK weight, but I had this worsted yarn in my stash that I thought would look really good with these understated cables. It’s such a pretty color and the drape is lovely. I’m kinda shocked it was discontinued.

I have some tension issues on the right front that was knitted flat. My purl rows were a little loose for some reason. Maybe I can blame it on the surgery? Thankfully I feel like it’s only really visible in photos. I’m pretty pleased with this sweater and learned that cables are quite easy.

I had a lot more yarn than the pattern called for, so I decided to make it a turleneck. I still have one whole skein leftover that I’m pondering how to use.

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Making Supplies Cabinet | Part 2

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Before
After

The gentleman’s cabinet is done! It still needs a coat of wax, but it’s upstairs and looking so much better. This thing is solid wood, so I was able to sand out a lot of the deep scuffs and scratches. It’s still sporting some imperfections, but I’m calling it *character*

I am okay with the stain color. It’s a bit more orange than I thought it would be and it kinda makes my eyes vibrate. There’s absolutely no way I’m going to re-sand it though!

I’ve still gotta figure out what goes in each drawer, but I know it’s for sure going to be a home for interfacing and bulkier sewing supplies. I think the big divided drawer is going to be perfect for yarn and knitting WIPs too.

I’m excited to find some art n’ things to style the top of it. The extra surface has already proven super handy and adding a light to this dark corner has lengthened my nighttime making sessions.

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Made a really good sweater.

I am a huge Ozetta fan and when she posted a sneak peek of this pattern back in 2023, I knew I’d make it. I even used the same yarn / colorway because it was just SO GOOD.

I started this sweater in February of last year, but didn’t work on it from April to December.

PATTERN: Clay Sweater by Ozetta

YARN: WoolDreamers La Rinconada (DK) purchased from Close Knit

SIZE: M

NEEDLES: US 7 needles for the body and US 5 needles for the rib

The body knitted up really fast, but then I took a break to work on a portable summer project. I finally picked it back up in December and finished the sleeves in about two weeks.

The sleeve decrease instructions confused me, so I just repeated the size M sleeve instructions 4.5 times, ending on row 8 and did a bunch of K2togs to get down to the correct number of stitches.

I love the “stripe” that runs up the sides and down the sleeves to hide the jog in the the purl rows. Ozetta always includes little details that just make her patterns so beautiful.

This yarn is absolutely great in sweater form, but my hands hated knitting with it. I think it’s minimally processed so it’s kinda sticky and gripped even my metal needles. This sweater is 100/10 and I’m going to wear it all the time.