You Are My Sunshine!

Continuing the theme of up-cycled denim skirts I created this one using a short denim skirt and a party dress.  I attached the skirt to the bottom of the denim and removed the flower trim from the bodice of the dress and used them as trim for the skirt.  It required a bit of hand sewing to secure the flowers but I love the yellow added to the skirt.  I am humming "You are My Sunshine" as I write this!  This skirt is also for sale on my Etsy shop so if you are looking for a unique skirt that is casual and yet says "PARTY", jump on over to https://www.etsy.com/shop/FreshMakedHome

Up-cycled Denim Skirts

I have been trying a few new techniques for updating denim skirts.  I've seen a lot of jeans made into skirts and skirts with gathered tiers added but when I saw a skirt with a knitted lace flounce I just had to try my hand at the look.  I added a row of blanket stitching using size 3 cotton in off white. I used an embroidery needle making it quite easy to get through the denim.  After the blanket stitching was in place I used cotton yarn and picked up one stitch in each blanket stitch.  I choose a simple 10 stitch repeat lace pattern and began the knitted section repeating the pattern until the yarn ran out.  The finished skirt is about 18 inches long.   I love the look!  If you like it the finished skirt if for sale on my Etsy shop. 

Imperial Wrap

 
 
 

 

Knitting adds some measure of calm in a busy life.  I have had the privilege of working with Blue Sky Alpacas designing patterns for their wonderful collection of yarns.  The Imperial Wrap is knit from Blue Sky Alpacas wonderfully soft Royal Alpaca.  This yarn is so wonderful to knit with, it just glides over the needles.  I love it.  This is a simple design which would make a cozy wrap for any occasion.  

Baby Blanket

I made this baby blanket for a baby shower for a mom who has Russian heritage.  I wanted to do something special for her first baby due in just a few weeks.  The doll figure was imported it into my Viking software to make the embroidery.  I changed out the tummy design for each doll and included two for the center square.  Simple stitching around the dolls added some quilting within the white squares and I followed a couple stripes in the colored blocks.  I found the print at Joann's and thought it fit the theme.  Using the print as a guide I used bright pink on the back and framed the squares with a orange cotton that was in my stash.  The squares are all 10 inches.  I use 10 inch squares a lot because it really makes the math easy. You can get 4 squares out of 1/3 yard of 44" fabric with a bit left to square every thing up.  Needing only a small amount of fabric for the contrast square you can choose a designer fabric and not blow the budget.  The solid colors I used are standard quilting solids.  I would not have used the orange and pink together without the inspiration given in the accent fabric.  All in all the shower was a success with the mom receiving a wonderful assortment of things for the new baby. 

The Mittens Were Hung by the Chimney

I thought it would be fun to hang some mittens by the fireplace.  I saw this idea somewhere using miniature mittens; but, being the practical one that I am, I could not see putting in all the time to knit mittens that no one could wear and with 12 grandchildren someone can always use another pair of mittens.  These were knit using 'Spud and Chloe' Sweater. That is my grandmothers tea pot.  It says Lipton on the bottom.  I wonder if she saved stamps to send away for it ... or maybe box tops?  My sisters and I would get the fun job of putting all those S&H Green Stamps and Gold Bond Stamps into the books to be sent in for redemption.