Custom Project Bags

Well I suppose I should post about my own little business. A few months ago I started sewing knitting and crocheting project bags. The first one I made was for my friend Michi.


She couldn't find exactly what she wanted anywhere so I told her I would sew her one to try out and see if she liked it. She "says" she likes it - LOL! She picked a wonderful fabric called "Habitat" I have no idea where or when I bought it and have not been able to find anymore of it anyplace!



After Michi said that she liked the bag I was off and rolling. Well I opened a Hyena Cart anyway. My little shop Chaco Creations is off to a small but steady start!
So far I have only offered customs. I have had one "in stock" item. It was a bag made from the "Knitmare on Elm Street" collection from Michael Miller.
I used the pink version (although I do have the teal and green versions also). It came out great! I was so happy to offer this bag - although a part of me wanted to keep it for myself.




The second custom bag I made was for Krystl. She chose a cool Indian inspired paisley fabric. Hers is the only bag I thought to take photos of with a project & yarn actually in it. I'm going to have to remember to do that more often in the future! Krystl says she loves the bag. The one improvement I made from Michi's was the drawstrings. I worked it now so that it is a continuous piece without a lumpy seam to disrupt the closing and opening of the bag. It involves more hand finishing - but I think it is worth it!

I was asked my Nicole at Laines Magnifiques to work on a collaboration for her shops 6 month anniversary celebration.
We chose a cool fabric with colored circles all over it on a light green. Nicole hand dyed yarn to match. I need to get photos from Nicole of the yarn because she did a wonderful job of matching the bag fabric! It was very impressive considering that she only had the photo of the material that I had emailed her when she was dying the yarn.
It only took a few days for the collab to sell! Yah!!

My only disappointment so far with sewing and selling bags is the one that didn't make it to its new home. The lady who ordered this custom actually won the slot in an auction for a fundraiser I hosted for the Missouri Midwives. She chose this beautiful floral print with cream and purple flowers. The coordinating fabric is a matching purple. The bag turned out so well. I shipped it off to her new home in GA and while the delivery confirmation says it was delivered - she never received it. I only had a half yard of this fabric so there is no reproducing it for her. This is the cautionary tale as to why insurance should be purchased. It would not get back an out of print fabric but it would allow for another bag to be made without the loss of money on either side of the transaction.



For a full look at custom bags and needle/hook rolls I have made so far go check out my Gallery.

Baby soakers!

I bought this beautiful yarn from Family Pendragon - It is called "Indigo" and is BFL Aran. I LOVE this colorway it knits up so pretty!!

I made the Little Turtle Knits soaker and Easy sweater for a good friend's new baby!! I had the soaker done and the sweater almost done when the "little" guy was born. He came out at 10lb 5oz!!!! Both Mom and Baby did great though and are happy and healthy.

Well of course I knitted up the small sized soaker and when I sent it to my friend - it fit.....barely! So she asked if it was possible to (and did I have enough yarn) for a larger sized soaker. The sweater will fit for a while.

I know I didn't have quite enough for another, larger sized, soaker so I contacted Melissa at Family Pendragon and asked it a quick custom would be possible. She said yes and they had more BFL Aran in stock. So she and her partner at Family Pendragon dyed up another 8oz of yarn for me in less than a week! I recieved the yarn last week and as soon as I get done with my present project I'll be knitting up a sized medium soaker to match the sweater!! Can't rave enough about Family Pendragon!

Right now I'm knitting up a sweater for myself. I'm using some wonderful Licorice Twist from Little Turtle Knits and a pattern from the Big Book of Knitting (Simply Knitting). I'm only a little way into the sweater and I love the way it is looking. I've upped the needle size to an 11 so that it is a much looser knit - good for summer into fall. Also because I don't know if I calculated the yardage right when I bought the skeins!

Oh and I scored a yarn bowl from June at Rising Sun Earthworks! I'm not really sure how I got it as they are pretty heavily stalked! Must have been my brothers fast connection since I got it while visiting my family in New Mexico.

It has been 2 months??

OK - I really need to do better at this! It has been a pretty busy couple of months with all the colds running through our house! I've gotten some knitting done and even a bit of sewing!!

I knit a hat and scarf for my husband....but I think my daughter uses the scarf more around the house dressing up!

It is Nashua Handknits Vignette in Earth! Beautiful stuff that. I loved working with it and it was really easy to knit with. I didn't use a pattern for either the hat or scarf - just some basic knitting....

It's a New Year!

Where did the time go? The end of the year came so quickly with travel and holidays. I did get a chance to visit my LYS before leaving for Christmas. I ended up walking out of there with 2 beautiful skeins of Noro Iro (color #18). I just fell in love with this colorway and the yarn is so soft! I've never knitted with it before but have friends who love Noro - so thought I would give it a try! I got the Iro to make a hat for my son. I made the Elf Pixie Hat from Craft Bits! http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=908


Used size 13 needles and it went really fast!! Turned out super cute - and only used part of one skein! I think the little dude will be getting a matching sweater or something!! I did re-do one of the ear flaps - got my knit/purl sides mixed up and wanted them to match. So instead of having one ear flap pink (like the very tip of the hat) it is now red.

I also walked out with a skein of Noro Silver Thaw (color #5) - it was on the sale rack - how could I not? I'm not sure what I'll be making with it but just love the colorway...maybe I need a new hat.....

Owls

Well I'm done - finally!! I started on this set a month ago for a swap. I knew there would not be enought of the beautiful Nurturing Threads http://hyenacart.com/NurturingThreads/
BFL yarn for the longies. I luckily had some undyed BFL that worked perfectly. It was a little tricky making sure the length of the legs was even - but I think I did a pretty good job (major patting my own back!). I used Belladonna designs pattern - but added the ruffle on the bottom to spice the longies up a little!






The Shirt is appliqued with an owl - a favorite of my swap partners so I hear! I used a spray on stabilizer that washes off after you are done appliquing - it worked well. Just wish I had gotten smaller needles for my machine - I forgot that I had broken the last one and so my needle was a little large for the applique. I'm hoping that the shirt holds up without any holes developing around the applique.


Now I just hope my Swap partner likes them - I'm always nervous when I make something for someone. Never sure if they will like it or if my work is good enough to give away.

Kool-aid

I dyed yarn...for the very first time! I was trying to match a piece of fabric that I have and want yarn to coordinate with. I don't know how well I did - I'm going to wait until the yarn drys before I judge. I did get splotches of the wrong color in places I really didn't want it - but hopefully it is not to bad and when it is knitted up will not be noticable!
I used Orange, Pina-Pineapple, Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade, and Tamarindo for colors. I mixed a little of the Tamarindo with both the orange and the Pineapple to darken them a little. I know I need a larger/flatter microwave pan - other than that I think it went well.

Trick or Treat

Well it was a good night - Molly had a blast going trick or treating. She was a little timid at first and we had to tell her to yell out "trick or treat" when we got to a house - but all in all I think she had a great time. Josh still doesn't know what is going on - but had fun being on Daddy's shoulders and going for a walk. Molly was more interested in asking what each of the candies were than eating them - makes a mama proud!

Still very behind on projects. Have 4+ quilting projects that need to get done before the end of the year (ya right!). I also need to get a few knitting projects for gifts done!
Oh for more time in a day!!