Halloween Stockings

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. Each year I go more and more out for the holiday and it is with great sadness that we can't decorate our classrooms for Halloween. All the same, I tried these as an experiment and somewhere along the line they became my Halloween Stockings.

I saw a pair of fishnet stockings, somwhere, online that was knitted with regular knitting needles. I thought, hmm... I bet I can do that with a knitting loom... and I did!

The back of the socks, laying side by side. They are sewn up the backs with orange ribbon and tied up in a bow on the top.


The back in action


The front side of the sock. In the cuff of the sock I sewed in elastic to hold the socks up.


I do intend to write up a pattern/tutorial for it.

Mr. Raines

The Pretender (1996-2001) was a TV show on NBC that I fell in love with. One of my favorite characters and villans is Mr. Raines. Pure evil in every shape and form. I sketched out this pattern from a computer image I drew several years ago and tested some DMC colors. This is what I ended up with:



This will be one of the free patterns offered on my website, when I launch it.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

Knitters everywhere were making swiffer covers and I jumped on the bandwagon. It was pretty simple. Just knit a flat panel and sew up the sides and then slip it over the swiffer.



I'll probably make about a dozen more. I hate paying for those swiffer covers at the store. They are so expensive. Plus, these are more environmental friendly.

More Cross-Stitch

I just love these mini cross stitch kits you find at the craft stores for $1.99. They are nice, quick projects to work on. I like to use them to take a break from the big projects I'm working on.

First up are the Disney ones: Ursula (from The Little Mermaid) and Piglet and Winnie Pooh from Winnie the Pooh


A second Disney batch: Little Nemo (Finding Nemo), The Wicked Stepmother (Snow White), Lightening McQueen (Cars), Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh)


I Love Dogs:


I think the Racoon is absolutely adorable!

Star Wars Cross-Stitch

See? I wasn't kidding, it is a big part of my life (even though I'm 24 years old!) Actually, these were cross-stitched many, many years ago but when I was googling online - instead of prepping for the next school year ;p - I stumbled across a Star Wars website that I I had built about 10 years ago. I had completely forgotten about it. On it I found these photos - I do still have the completed patterns.

They were supposed to be Christmas Ornaments, however, only the Jar Jar one has been made into an ornament (when I dig out my Christmas materials in November, I'll try to remember to take pictures and post it).

Here they are, in all its geekyness...

The Naboo Crusier:


Qui-Gon Jinn:


Jedi Master Poof: (my 2nd favorite Jedi Master... Ki Adi Mundi is my first ;p)


Darth Maul:


Lott Dod:


Jar Jar Binks: (This one has since been made into an ornament)


Battle Droid:


There is also a Queen Amidala one but she hasn't been finished (and still hasn't 10 years later!), when - well... if - it ever gets finished, I'll make sure to post it.

The Star Wars Collection

Star Wars has always been a large part of my life. It was a big part of my middle school years and and some of the high school ones. I still remember the exact moment (I was about 10) when I was introduced to Star Wars (long story and maybe I'll share it another time). ANYWAY, before I leave you down the looney road of my brain, the point of the story. Back in my late elementary years and middle school years, Beadies (those critters made from pony beads) became famous. Everyone had them and kids like me were obcessed.

However, I couldn't find ANY Star Wars patterns anywhere. And I looked. Believe me, I LOOKED. So while sitting in Mr. V's English class in 8th grade (bored silly) I grabbed some notebook paper and started sketching out my very own Star Wars patterns.

Since I'm looking to launch my own craft pattern website/business (it will include both free items and items for purchase) I went looking for some of my old cross-stitch patterns and art work and stumbled upon these beadie patterns filed away along with my sketches. So I promptly converted them to the computer (to be shared soon) and went out and purchased about $12 worth of pony beads.

Here's the end result:

First up is Prince Xizor. The main villian of the Star Wars Novel Shadows of the Empire one of my favorite novels of the Expanded Universe. Hmmm... maybe I should go pick that up.


Four lightsabers: red, purple, green, blue


Mara Jade. Another character from the Expanded Universe. This was made before my anti-Mara era (about the time the NJO books were being published) and was based on a model photograph.


Jedi Luke from Return of the Jedi. I just love the little black glove. :)


Princess Leia's most famous look from A New Hope.


Princes Leia at the end of A New Hope in her ceremony outfit.


Princess Leia in her Ewok dress. I've always wanted one of these for myself. How sad is that?


A Jawa. Yes he is a little square, but they always - for some strange reason - bring a smile to my face.


Han Solo. My first love. :)


Darth Maul's double ended lightsaber. Simple but effective pattern.



This second Star Wars collection is entitled the Itty Bitty collection. These are minature versions of the ones above.

This is one of the very FEW prequel critters I completed. Remember these were designed just after the release of The Phantom Menance. Emperor Palpatine. I think he's so darn cute even if he is evil.


Itty Bitty Luke Skywalker in his farmer's outfit. I'll probably design a bigger farmer boy Luke at some point.


Itty Bitty Princess Leia. She's one of my favorites. Sssh... Don't tell.


Itty Bitty Han Solo


I will have photos coming within the next few days of Itty Bitty Jabba the Hutt, Itty Bitty Darth Maul, Itty Bitty Jawa, and Leia in her Hoth outfit and Endor command outfit.

What's Cookin?

I've been working on quite a few different projects over the last few weeks, but haven't had time to either finish them or post them. My family was out visiting two weeks ago and then I was in Boston last week... I just returned on Tuesday.

So here's what I have for you: two new purses. The first one I did following a New Look pattern and the second I did without a pattern.

This is the first one, which I consider to be more of a tote bag than a purse.

The Pattern: (New Look 6391)

This was actually the first pattern I purchased because I wanted to try something easy. This was much harder than I thought it would be, BUT that was due mostly in part to the fact that I didn't know what interfacing was, or how to dart, or how to machine baste, etc. I spent a lot of time looking up sewing videos on the internet and calling my mom (who lives 2,000 miles away...)

The Purse:

I found both fabrics at Hobby Lobby in their fabric scraps bin. I love them but didn't know what to do with them at the time I purchased them.

A Close up of the fabric:


I just love it!

This second one was inspired by some purses I saw for sell at those booths in the mall. They had them in all different shapes and sizes (as well as matching wallets and cell phone holders) that ran for $50-$80. I saw them and thought "hey! I bet I could make those".

This beast, which I've been calling the "moster purse" has taken me the better part of two days. However, to my credit, I've never attached handles OR a zipper before.

Well... here it is in all of its glory:


The zipper. I messed it up a little on each end but considering that this was the first time I've ever sewen a zipper, I'm plenty darn pleased with myself.


And a few action shots...




I took pictures and made notes of the whole process for my reference, so at some point I will probably write up a tutorial for it.