Hello

Looking through my ravelry profile (some that has also been neglected as of late) I wandered over to my blog as a whim. Something I've been meaning to do since I started working at Crafty Planet (which will be two years in January!)

Needless to say a lot in my life has changed in the last four years. Highlights include: Graduating from college, living by myself (no roommates!) for the first time, having a full time job.

But I'm still knitting and quilting and trying to make the world a better place.

Recently through my knitting group The Yarn Mission, I had the opportunity to design some patterns. Now that they are officially on Ravlery I thought I would share them here.

Presenting:

Stunfisk: Its skin is very hard, so it is unhurt even if stepped on by sumo wrestlers. It smiles when transmitting electricity.

 (c) Patience Zalanga


Luvdisc:  Its heart-shaped body makes it popular. In some places, you would give a Luvdisc to someone you love.

(c) Mary Richardson

When i was dreaming of names for my first sock pattern, I jokingly thought that it looked like the pokemon Stunfisk. For a while I thought of that name, along with a few others I was bouncing around. But then I came back to it. And after a conversation with my sister I realized the cultural significance of Pokemon in my life and knew that it had to be the name. So when I dreamed up a second sock I knew it had to be named after a different pokemon.

Both patterns are for sale on The Yarn Mission's website. And kits partnered with the Neighborhood Fiber Co. a black indie dyer are also on the site.

I will do my best to blog more in the near future =) and update to show some of the stuff I've been making.

Chaining it together

I know I am late to this party. But after having it suggested to me in a few books/ tutorials etc. A finished quilt top ago... I decided to try chain piecing. And holly balls what have I been doing? it makes life a lot easier, saves thread, and in the end you have this fun banner thing to play with for a little while until you cut it apart.

What am I making you ask?

I am using Salt Air by cosmo cricket. It is just a layer cake but I am using it to make a quilt for my sister. Maybe she'll like it better than the first one. I am using a moda bakeshop tutorial which keeps this super super easy. but it is giving me some practice with triangles. After this quilt I am going to tackle the harder one.

The quilt that I will make my roommie Krista for giving me a wonderful and awesome sewing machine. that one involves octagons. eeep. 

 Here is what a finished block will look like. Right now I am piecing the half blocks. but it should be really cute. I like the diamonds in the center. and it is extremely simple. perfect for getting some summer quilting done.

I think this is my favorite print. 

Seriously though. If you haven't tried chain piecing you are missing out. it makes for a lot more sewing and a lot less random loose threads (an added bonus). How about you? have you tried it? Do you hate it? or do  you, like me, think it is the most ingenious thing since sliced bread?

FO Friday: Soul Blossoms

Oh crap. Over a month without posting. oops.

That is the quickest way to loose followers/ if anyone was reading this they are not anymore!

But just because I haven't been blogging though doesn't mean I haven't been making stuff. I am stopping right now because I have to do things like write a senior thesis. But I did finish this actually close  a month ago. But then I washed it so it was crinkly and delightful.

Here is the back! It is semi pieced because I don't know how to do math properly (apparently)

This quilt is made out of a FQ bundle (with A LOT left over) of Soul Blossoms by Amy Butler and the sashing is muslin. It provides a really nice contrast.  both in texture and look. The pattern is mostly from Jera's Rainy Days  tutorial. I changed the size of it a little bit though.

It is quilted with a loopy design (my first time trying it!) with a verigated aurfil. The verigated was definitely a lot more subtle than I thought it would be.

           

That is all I have for now.  I hope every one has a wonderful weekend!

Mondog #10: Scraps

Selvedges are not the only thing you can tie to your dog.

Fabric scraps work quite well for the accessorizing pup as well.

Have a happy mondog everyone!

If you have a puppy to submit to me please email me at Chen (dot) AD (at)gmail(dot) com
I would love link your blog tumblr etc.

Sunday Stash: Apples and Smiles

For Christmas when I was trolling etsy (as I do frequently) for fat quarter bundles I really wanted one. But I can't resist looking at what else the store might have. And there was a really good deal on on the Little Apples fat quarter bundle

Everyone freaked out over her Sherbet and Pips line and I am going to be completely honest i didn't really see it. I don't think I was a fan of all the pink really. Because the Little Apples. I wasn't quite sure when I bought it but a fat quarter bundle that was less than $6 a yard is too good to pass up.

And maybe it was the turtles or maybe it is the colors (because I love the color scheme of little apples) But I LOVE this line.

I had to wash this fat quarter bundle (top my dismay) but because I have a side loader right now and washing fat quarts is so much easier than the mess that happened last time.

My camera is still gone (in Wisconsin) and my phone cannot take these beautiful pictures I may have stolen them from Sir Bubbadoo I hope she doesn't mind. Please go check out her website and drop her a comment.

Happy Sunday All!

If I were a fabric...

I'm pretty sure this is the fabric I would be

It has rainbows and unicorns and has glitter on. It is a Japanese import and really hard to find. I scoured etsy and only came up with two fat quarters.GAH! Must find moreeeeee!

Did I mention I loved it so much that I bought it in two more colorways? currently I am looking for the black one. If you know where it is please send it my way. (Must have ALL THE COLORS)

WIP Wed: Some Rainbow Love

When I chose handspunrainbows as my crafthandle I was really expectng to post a lot more about rainbows. Like seriously a lot more. Rainbow isn't even one of my biggest words in my word cloud. How weird is that?

So here is the start of my current rainbow quilt. If you remember a while back I posted about having this idea for a rainbow quilt. Well it took a while and I had to buy a large chunk of grey fabric (which I love and will be using 

These are the Blocks I have so far. Well. The parts of the blocks that I have so far. I am working on chain piecing the crap out of them (which I actually hadn't done before)

I have strips cut for the rest of the quilt but that is about it right now. Will update you all on my progress as I go along. Because I will finish soon. (or it will become one of THOSE WIPs)  But right now I like it enough that it won't.