Black – Page 4 – Hopefully Creative

Rainbow Spot Socks

Using your self-dyed yarn to make some socks is very satisfying.

So next to having a stash of yarn just pre-dyed, I now have also accumulated a stash of undyed yarn. There was a temporary stash of self-dyed yarn, but I’ve knit most of that up by now. It made the starry night sweater, the red-black neck warmer and this new addition: rainbow spot socks. I chose some yarn called Blue Faced Leicester Superwash / Nylon Sock weight for my new sock project. The yarn was dyed using this tutorial by Nicole Frost.

The plan was to create a yarn with different coloured spots on a black background. So 10 cable ties were wrapped on the dry yarn, which I then dumped into some black dye in my pot on the stove. I let it simmer for a little bit and then put the newly dyed yarn onto some plastic wrap. The cable ties were removed and different dyes were squirted onto the still white spots. Red, yellow, green, turquoise and blue and those repeated. It worked out really well. This sock yarn was then wound up into two little connected balls and left to languish in the hoard for a while.

Recently, I decided that I did want to knit it up and see if I can still knit some socks, this time preferably some that I could actually wear. At some point in the fairly distant past, I bought the Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist. It’s basically a recipe for making a heel in a sock and uses a cardboard cutout of your foot to get the proportions right. I paired it with Two at Once, Toe-Up Magic Loop Socks by Knit Picks Design Team for the details on how to make a toe and cuff. First time, I knit about halfway up to my foot, tried it on and it was just too big. So I frogged the whole thing and started again. Sweet spot for this yarn seems to be cast on 10 stitches per 3 mm needle (20 total), and increase to 22 per needle, around 50-55 rows before the heel. These ones are a tiny bit loose in length, but perhaps some laundry will be helpful for that. I have worn them for a day and they were comfortable so I’m pretty happy. They did only take about a quarter of the ball of yarn, so I should have enough to make another pair – that I’ve totally already cast on… Hopefully I get those sorted soon too!

Unseasonal Neck Warmer

Knitting a self-dyed gift that is slightly out of season.

Last January, my father was not super content with the weather. It was cold out and that made his neck and/or shoulders act up a little bit. So I decided to knit him a cowl. Contrary to my own popular belief, I didn’t actually start or finish this project in time for the winter weather. It also quickly turned distinctly un-wintery, so the project got put back on the ‘to start’-pile.

Cue the emergency-more-yarn-purchase in June, and I decided that I might as well buy some nice yarn to dye for this cowl thing I’d been planning. I got two skeins of Merino Superwash/Tussah Silk Chunky Weight yarn. Since my dad likes wearing red, I decided that I would dye them red with black. There was no real pattern, just alternating red and black sections. When steamed and dried, it turned out that here were still some white-ish parts too, but it still gives a lovely effect. I then set out to find a pattern. I chose Biker’s Cowl / Dickie by Elaine Phillips. There were only a few changes in that I used fewer rounds in the neck and in the body as I didn’t have enough yarn to do all the pattern suggested.

The knitting only took 6 days. It was pretty much smooth sailing even if I did have to frog the last few rounds in order to get the finishing started before the yarn ran out. I actually manged to finish it right in time for his birthday. However, because I didn’t actually go over to see him that day, it had to wait until last Wednesday to finally be presented to him. We’ll see if it is nice come winter, if we have a cold spell this year that is. I am happy with it though, and to me it felt real soft and smooth.

Teacup Holster

Finally getting that unnecessary project of the table does make me feel good.

Ever had that thing where you watched a video on YouTube of someone doing a project and then you decided that you also needed to do that project? This happens to me quite frequently and it generally ends up with me just collecting the materials and then either not starting or not finishing said project. In this case, the materials for this Teacup holster have been laying around my house for a good few months since this Rachel Maksy Teacup Holster video sparked my interest.

Last week, I finally got around to both starting and finishing it. I looked up some more examples on Pinterest and started to make a design. I got so fascinated by it that I completely lost track of time and went to bed way to late, but ey, suffer for the craft or something? In any case, with my paper model ready to go, I set out the next evening to cut the shapes from leather. At some point in the past I’d bought a bag of scrap leather from a purse maker in town and I used those bits.

The main design included a bag to carry stuff in, a holster for the teacup that would actually cover its bottom, belt loops and a teaspoon holding section. I wanted to make sure that I could loosen the different straps so I used different closure methods. Some screws for the saucer strap and belt loops and a ‘mirrored’ swing hook on the front. I was counting my swing hooks and found that I had 11 and one was the wrong way? It seemed fine to use that one for this project. It hangs a little more than I would have liked, but that might be due to the suppleness of the leather and that the saucer holder is maybe a little too big?

All of it is hand sewn and I managed to bend and break a few needles in the process. I don’t think my fingers approved of this project, but it is finished! I don’t know if I will ever use this thing. However, finally managing to put that cup and saucer that have been on my dining table since January away feels good! On to the next impractical project!

1880’s Corset

I made a start on a dream costume with an 1880s corset

A while time ago, I found THE outfit that I need in my life to fulfil my newly developed ultimate Victorian Librarian fantasies.

Walking Suit – ca. 1889, House of Worth, Accession Number: 2009.300.73a, b from the Met Museum

Of course I’ve since been scouring the internet for fabrics like this. Cut velvet dotted stuff for the skirt and jacket, and lace for the blouse and sleeve cuffs. I’ve not been able to find anything that’s remotely similar and in my price range for either. I did find one fabric at Mood that seems possibly close for the cut velvet but it’s in the United States (i.e. shipping is exorbitant) and it wasn’t there in any nice colours. For the lace, I haven’t even figured out what I’m supposed to use as a search to get what I’m after. So the only thing I’ve got going in that area is RSI from scrolling through Etsy stores. If you’ve got any suggestions, please let me know!

The difference boning makes, left with boning and right without

However, since old-timey outfits should start from the foundations outwards, I have made some progress in this project. I made the corset. The pattern I planned to use is a corded late 1880’s spoon busk corset from Norah Waugh’s Corsets and Crinolines. I had it all drawn out, copying and enlarging and generally faffing about. Then I discovered that Ralph Pink has a number of the corsets in the book available as free patterns, with seam allowances and everything. So I quickly printed that out, made a mock-up and decided to add some width, between 0.5 and 0.7 cm, to each panel, and cut a bit off the bottom.

It was constructed using a single layer red and silver (?) on black coutil with boning channels made of some vague synthetic fabric that was reinforced with interfacing. I used exactly 0.5 m of the coutil and basically have none left. Especially since I was also taking care to mirror the panels exactly, such that the corset is symmetrical. Next, the cording was sewn to the front two panels. Then I put the project on hold for months because I was scared to continue. During Eurovision I got myself to cut the boning channels and iron them to size. Then I waited a few more weeks before finally stitching them down, cutting and installing the boning and grommets and binding the edges.

It’s not perfect. The bottom edge sticks out too much in front. I had to unpick some of the boning channels because they were to narrow for the boning to fit through. The cording is close but not exact. It’s just a tad bigger than I thought it would be. All mostly nit-picky things. I think it would certainly improve from doing some more seasoning (i.e. wearing). However, I’m still pretty proud of myself for actually finishing the thing, especially after the amount of procrastination I’ve been doing on it. The one thing that is still missing is flossing, but with 14 bones per side, I’m not sure I’m up for that yet.

Lemon Bra

Using the scraps to make a whole new wearable project. Almost entirely with findings from the hoard.

When a project gives me lemon fabric offcuts, I apparently make a bra..

For graduation this summer I started work on yet another pantsuit. This one was made of travel-fabric (not sure what it actually is called in English), some sort of very stretchy, no-crease knit fabric. It has a lovely lemon print and it is nearly finished. However, it doesn’t yet hold up to my penchant for putting lots of things in my pockets. So I’m still looking for a solution to that before I can call that project done.

While preparing for watching the Netherlands lose at the European football last Sunday, I found the tiny offcuts of the lemon project and impulsively decided to make a bra. I still had the pattern from the blue lace bra, the Boylston bra from Orange Lingerie. The hoard had nearly all the findings ready to go; foam, picot elastic, strap elastic, stabilizing tule, underwires, underwire casing, closure, sliders – the only thing I had to go out and get were two rings for the straps. The lovely lady from the local haberdashers found two rings for me and let me have them free of charge. She seems to really enjoy seeing people make things.

I got to making, and by the end of day one, all the fabric pieces were sewn together, it looked mostly like a bra. Then I took a day off to get my vaccine and play some Dungeons and Dragons online. On Tuesday, I got the rings and attached all the other bits. While I did have to rip things out because I lacked some accuracy, the thing went together pretty easily. I wore it yesterday when I went out for a 12 km skate an it didn’t bother me at all. That, to me, is the sign of a good bra. “Not being annoying”.

All in all, I call it a success so far. We’ll see how it will hold up to regular wearing and washing. The blue lace one is still doing well, so I hope that this one will too. For next projects, there’s a cherry fabric in my stash that is waiting to be made into a bra (and a dress) so I can continue to make a Bowl of Fruit Bras. That’s a worthwhile mission, I believe.

House Bear

Made a cover sweater to fulfil my ultimate baby bear dreams.

My body temperature regulatory system is out of whack sometimes. That means that I’m cold, most of the time. You can regularly see me walking around the house in a second sweater. It’s large, beige, has thumb loops in the sleeves and a hood. It’s hideous but I love it. I decided recently that I needed another like it. Something fluffy, warm and preferably a little whimsical.

So I put a mat on the floor that I could pin into, put some pattern paper on that and grabbed the original. I spread the sweater onto the paper and started drawing the edges and pinning the seams of the pieces. It took a while, but I eventually got all that I needed. I cut those pieces from a black fleece blanket and freehand cut some ears. The pocket bags were cut from an old discarded jersey top. I sewed everything together by treadle and got out the overlocker to finish all those seams. That last step was very relevant because this fabric sheds like you wouldn’t believe.

The thumb loop and all visible edges were finished with jersey bias tape, same as the beige original. I discovered that sewing with the nap was so much easier, so I had to do some interesting manouvering to make that possible. Since I finished it about a week ago, it’s been in regular rotation as something to just chuck on. It might not be the prettiest, or most elegant thing I’ve ever made, but it perfectly does the job it was intended for. Time to live out my ultimate baby bear dreams!

Repeat Fish

Making another black fish, last seen in 2017.

This one is slightly different from all the other plushies of late. The first big difference is that it’s made of regular fleece, not wellness fleece. The second is that it’s not a pattern by CholyKnight. The third is that this one has safety eyes, not felt features.

The fabric choice means that it is not as cuddly but it does hold its shape pretty well. I’ve used this pattern before, you can see the previous fish here. However, I cannot remember where this fish went. I think it might have gone in the stomach of the Toothless gift, but I’m not sure at all. I remember that I lost a fish at the time, which was one of those things that I didn’t think was possible but it happened.

The pattern is by Astrocat on Deviantart here. I think it used to be available without logging in, and I still had the pieces from when I made it before in 2017. All the fins are doubled and turned. I still really like these types of fishes. I think they are so pretty with their wavy tails just bobbing about in an aquarium.

Next up, a plush based on a fish-eating creature.

5 Minute Hair Accessory

Sometimes you just have to impulsively make a 1900s hair accessory, I guess.

After waking up with something resembling curls this morning – damp hair twisted into buns on top of my hair had that effect – I decided to try a new hairstyle. ‘New’ might not actually be the right term as it was inspired by the turn-of-the-previous-century styles. What extensive Pinteresting and YouTubing in the past has taught me is that you need a hair rat. That rat can then give you the kind of extra volume around the crown of your head that is needed for the look. I did not own a hair rat, so I set of to make one.

In came my stash of old pantyhose and tights where I grabbed a black one. Since my hair is dark brown with grey, I figured black would be easiest to camouflage with the hair I have. I used about 70 cm of a tights leg, stuffed it and sewed the ends together. This turned out way too big, my hair could not cover that amount of tight. So I wandered over to the treadle and zigzagged a seam about 4.5 cm from the edge. Turned it right side out and started stuffing it again. This attempt was better, but because I have bangs, there is much less hair at the front of my head and the coverage was scarce at best. So I took out almost all the stuffing, just leaving the ‘seam allowance’ (i.e. half the width of a tights leg) of the front 12 cm section. This worked wonderfully well.

I walked around with the tights on my head for most of the day, taking a sweater off too a couple of times. Edwardians seem to love the messy look, so that wasn’t a problem. For the majority of the day, there was just a hair tie on the bun and nothing else. After a while, I added a few pins to the back of my head to keep some strays up. Is it historically accurate? I doubt it with polyfill innards. Does it get the job done? Yes it does, especially when you would add a hat. All in all, a successful spur of the moment project!

Nautical Box Quilt

This time it’s a small quilt with animal appliques!

With an impending addition to the family of friends of mine, I needed gifts. I asked them what they wouldn’t mind receiving that I could make and they said a box quilt. So I set to work on the planning stages, while making a lot of other things too. I have no self-control I guess.

I’d acquired a bunch of nautical themed fabrics ages ago, when I was online shopping for my cute animals quilt. I figured nautical would fit because my friend was already creating a whale toy at the time. So I set off to find a pattern on the internet. Eventually I came across the ‘Babe in the Woods quilt, 42 x 50″, free pattern at Maywood Studio‘, and decided that I liked it a lot. To fit the theme, I replaced the three animals with more aquatic versions from shutterstock, where I amended the whale to be a little cuter. I got some suplemental fabrics from the local market and set to work.

The pattern was first scaled a little further down to create an end format of around 100x80cm. Apart from that I followed the pattern pretty exactly. The appliques were made with a sticky cotton that was stitched down. Not sure that was the right choice because it does look a little Jack Skellington. I sewed the whole thing together on the treadle. For the back, I chose a yellow whale-fabric because whales. It was a little thin though, so I fused some of the same cotton that formed the animals to the back.

The edging was one of the squares from the quilt pattern, I just happened to choose a fabric with tiny stripes. This turned out to be very handy because that meant I could achieve a very constant distance between my stitches without having to pay much attention. Now, when it was finished, I was afraid that it would be a little dark and not to their taste. Soon up, the other one I made..

Blue Lace

First time bra making – it was a success, even if taking pictures was quite the failure.

It was July and I wanted a new project. I’m not entirely sure what came over me, but I decided to order a bra making kit and a bra pattern. I guess that I mostly wanted to see whether I (and my sewing machine) could make something that looked as complicated as a bra. The answer was yes. I managed to create my first bra and it fits really well and is very comfortable.

The pattern I chose was the Boylston bra by Orange Lingerie. I’d read some good reviews, I liked the shape and figured it was worth a try. The kit was nr 201 koningsblauw from Kantjeboord, I also bought some foam because I like my bras to be shaped. Once I had everything ready, it was off to the races!

I did some measuring and then I taped the cup pieces together out of paper to see if they would fit. They fit remarkably well straight out of the package so I continued on. There were no clear instructions on working with foam and I hadn’t googled well enough to find a suitable tutorial to follow so I just.. muddled along. The way I’ve done it is not the cleanest, but it works, so who cares. It’s only me who will see it in real life after all. The next one will follow some sort of tutorial to nicely finish the edge though.

In the kit there was some blue lace. I put that on the outside of the bra cup and then just folded in little pleats at the bottom until the lace lay flat. I then mirrored that on the other cup and sewed it all down with little stitches. I then added the side pieces in a black stretch stuff with a mesh overlay and the back pieces from just stretch. On went the elastics and the underwire casing. Off to the shops to find a fitting underwire, and then just sew the casing closed. I redid the straps a couple of times and probably made a bad decision there, using something stretchy for the fabric straps, but it seems to hold up quite nicely.

Since I don’t really feel like putting my torso on the internet and I don’t have a nice mannequin, you’re getting the bunny again. Bunny is apparently pretty similar in circumference, but he doesn’t have the goods to fill the cups or the shoulders to hold the straps up. Black and blue also has no intention of getting photographed nicely, however, I did have fun dressing up a giant rabbit in lingerie.

I’ve actually been making quite a lot during these coronatimes, but I don’t always feel motivated to write about it. There are no less than 5 other drafts waiting for me to finish them, so you’ll eventually get an ecclectic mix of stuff I’ve created over the last few weeks and months.

Tag: Black