Handmade

OK, so I'm a cliche', to a degree. There's no question that there is an arts and crafts movement afoot, my sense is in response to the over-commercialization of our goods. People just want to feel more connected to what they own and buy, at times. Knitting is my main muse in this arena, but I also enjoy jewelry-making, general crafting, cooking from scratch, and am starting to do more sewing. I also intend to learn how to embroider. It really makes sense though - my mother made many of our clothes, and we did much cross-stitch together, as well as tended a nice size garden. Ok, my mother tended it, but we reaped the benefits. It was the 70's. But I'm finding a lot of the 70's ideals coming back around, like homesteading, growing your own food, canning, knitting and sewing your own clothes. Generally being more self-sufficient in these times of super-stores, global warming and receiving our food from 1500 miles away. John says I'm a 70's girl anyway, in look and thought, and I think he's right. So here are some pictures of my handmade X-mas and a few other projects that I'm working on.

My family exchanges stocking gifts - so most of mine were knitted. I'm pretty proud of myself, because it was my intention to knit most of my stocking gifts the past couple of years, and it just didn't happen. So I'm making progress. Here's a scarf that I made for my brother in law - a simple pattern of increases and decreases made in a beautiful Noro yarn - silk garden, I think. Not only did I like the results, but Drew loved it, which is great! I didn't get to witness him opening the gift though, and I think he was scared, based on the other gifts that he witnessed. See below for what else he saw.
These wrist warmers actually have a cable on the outside and are pretty cool, but definitely a bit intense. I need to make myself a pair of these in a bit calmer color, which I already have. For some reason, my knitting always ends up going to someone else! This pattern is from Rowan, a fall issue from several years ago. Awesome!

I also made a hat for my mother out of manos yarn, from a pattern from the book Last Minute Knitted Gifts, one of my favorite knitting books. Creative and simple patterns. In addition, I made two scarves from the book, one for my Aunt and one for my grandma. In the link above, you can see an example of the pattern that I used.

And finally, evidence of sewing! My mom and I started curtains for my old home and didn't get them finished by the time I moved to NH, so I modified them and they are now hanging in our spare bedroom. Bucking broncos on one side and sweet yellow and cream gingham on the other. Grommets at the top and bottom, hanging on hooks so they can open like a flap and be turned around.

Here's evidence! I finally set up my sewing machine and got to it. This is actually a picture of me making long tubes of fabric sewn together to keep the draft out from the bottom of our doors, filled with inexpensive macaroni.

Here's a glimpse of a final products. The curtain is folded up once and secured on the hooks - the gingham is on the underneath side. Now it is time to move onto other projects, like painting the bathroom a pretty light turquoise color instead of hideous maroon! A terrible color in a small space with no windows. John got his motivation going and actually did all the primer painting, which is half of the battle. A vast improvement already!