Crocheting: Dog Sweaters

FINISHED

Yes, I made the dogs crocheted sweaters. Peanut really seems to like hers, Lucky just looks humiliated. Lucky’s doesn’t fit her as well, I didn’t want it to be too tight in the front because she has several extra chins and a serious turkey neck and already has problems breathing. (Which incase you weren’t sure which dog was which that should clear it up.) I used Jiffy Think & Quick yarn it is my favorite. There was no pattern I just made it up as I went along, even crocheting one section of peanuts while it was on her body. Jason doesn’t approve of the sweaters, so we only wear them when it is cold and he isn’t around. I thought making Lucky’s in Bear’s colors would help Jason come around to the doggy sweater idea, but it didn’t. Oh well, I think they look super cute!

Metalsmithing: Pin Project

FINISHED

I finished my pin! (Those are flowers not the bird’s feet.) I even made my own pin back. It is a good thing my camera isn’t very good with the close-ups because the pin back is a little crude. Which is fine since it is the back and I suppose my first attempt. I probably could have sanded the final piece it a bit more and maybe even polished it, but the pin back was so much work that I was kind of excited and glad to just be done with it. I did a ton of practice rivets on a scrap piece of metal and they were looking pretty good. I felt very confident to move forward and try it on my final piece. So of course I do my first rivet on my real piece and it is way too huge, oh well!

I am just excited about how cute it looks on my coat. I love the color contrast of the bright purple-pink and the copper. I think a lot my future pieces will be cut-outs that are similar with pretty fabric adhered to the back. I also have plans for pieces that are sewed to cute bags. I think I like the idea of combining basic metal pieces with fabric then sticking strictly to intricate metal works.

Sewing: Dog Coats

FINISHED

I feel like posting something I’ve actually finished. I made these dog coats for Peanut and Lucky in the late fall of ’09. The coats seem to be doing the job of keeping these shorthair pups a little bit warm on cold days. I used an old coat of mine that was made from a waterproof material and a fuzzy blanket to create these. I just made it up as I went along there is was no pattern, or my own pattern I guess you could say. The existing pockets of the coat made for cute little pouches where you can stash a poop bag on the back of the newly designed coats. I also worked the existing belt of the coat and belt loop into the new dog coat design. I originally used velcro as a fastener both on the neck and under the stomach, but have replaced them for snaps to help the coats stay on better. I embroidered Peanut’s with of course a peanut and Lucky’s with a clover. And I just realized how bad it looks see the word ‘finished’ over those very sweet doggy faces, but I think I’ll leave it anyway. No animals were harmed during the making of this blahg post.

Sewing: Robe Project

WORK IN PROGRESS

The robe we are working on in my sewing class. It is coming together. I should finish it in the next class. So far I have belt loops, sleeves, sleeve cuffs and a body. Just need to work on finishing the edges, the belt and adding a hood! The last picture is of the pattern we are using to make the robe. The fabric is super fuzzy (it is the same as those fuzzy blankets you see everywhere I think they are called Serasoft) and is leaving tiny pieces of itself all over my apartment as I cut the different pattern pieces out. It will take months to remove I’m sure.

Crocheting: Wool Eater Blanket

WORK IN PROGRESS

This is a wool eater blanket I started making a few months ago and it is probably going to take me a few more to finish it up. I want it to fit on the top of my queen size bed. It truly is a wool eater, I have come to the point where every round of color is more then a skein of yarn. The first picture is the view of what is technically the backside, which I think will be come the topside as I like the look of it a little better. The pattern is by Sarah London Textiles. It was a little confusing to get started since this is written in Australian crochet terminology. Although, I think it probably helped that I am not too familiar with American crochet terminology. This video helped me a lot: crochet wheel stitch. However, the video does not use the same number of stitches as the Sarah London pattern. I know confusing, but it will make perfect sense... eventually.

Metalsmithing: Project 1

WORK IN PROGRESS

I started my metalsmithing class yesterday. Above are some shots of the beginning stages of my first project. The quarter is just for a size comparison. We have only worked on sawing and filing so far. I’m not exactly sure what it will end up being. I am think I started my metalsmithing class yesterday. Above are some shots of the beginning stages of my first project. The quarter is just for a size comparison. We have only worked on sawing and filing so far. I’m not exactly sure what it will end up being. I am thinking it might end up being a pin. We do riveting next week so I will probably rivet the three pieces together as shown in the second shot. ing it might end up being a pin. We do riveting next week so I will probably rivet the three pieces together as shown in the second shot.