Waste Not Want Not: Scrappy Projects the Fabric Edition
If I know one thing about knitters and quilters it’s that we all have a stash. This would most likely be that Tupperware or basket of some sort that’s overflowing with the evidence of your many projects over the years. Whether it’s that have-to-have skein or fat quarter that you can’t decide what to do with, that left over ball (or 3/4 of a ball) from that sweater for your mom, or those endless quilt scraps one thing remains the same: we all have a stash of ‘leftovers’.
I think, however, that leftovers could be too negetive a word for this colorful array (remember that time you were really into pink and purple together?) of mixed up fibers. Instead of looking at your stash as projects past or undone or unfinished you should look and see the endless possibilities! I have discovered a wealth of scrappy projects that bring back lovely memories of projects past. I also really like that they tend to recapture whatever it was that I liked about the original project.
So after my big ‘finish that project’ push it is safe to say that I have a few leftovers. Firstly, I have a ton of leftover fabric. I learned the hard way (2 or 3 times) that you should always buy more fabric than you need because if you don’t you will make too many mistakes and the quilt shop will be out of the crucial fabric you need. I haven’t had that problem with yarn yet, but the pessimist in me says it’s only a matter of time!
Once I started looking I found a lot of projects for my crafting leftovers. Some were in books (Last Minute Quilted and Patchwork gifts was very helpful in this area) and I also found some cool projects online with free patterns. I wanted to make projects that used scraps and small bits but I didn’t necessarily want them to look that way. Although I think there are a lot of nice scrap quilts out there I dread the idea of something super mishmashed and out of place looking.
My first scrappy project was from ‘Last Minuted Quilted and Patchwork Gifts’. It’s pretty easy and a great way to use a dull quilting needle and your quilting scraps. To make it you sew scraps of fabric (appealing placed in strategic fashion) onto the front of a simple notebook. Seems really easy but I never would have thought of it! I love the way this project captures the colour palette in the quilt and makes something plain into something fabulous. I also thought it might be nice to make some mini-blocks and sew them on. A slightly ‘quiltier’ look if you will.
Another great scrap project is (of course) the scrap quilt. My mother (and quilting hero) Pat, is working on (and has been for the last couple of years) a beautiful scrap quilt using very small (1 inch after sewing) squares of her past projects in a ninepatch pattern. The use of the cream and navy to ground the quilt really shows off all the tiny little patterned pieces.
Whenever she pulls it out I love to look at all the little squares and remember all the things she has made for me over the years. The dress I wore on my first picture day, the funky dress I wore (with a sort of army type boots for some reason) in the 90’s. There are also little squares from the quilts she has made for which I fondly remember hanging on the walls of my childhood home. I love this sort of project because I am a big fan of all things historical and nostalgic. It reminds me of why we make things by hand in the first place: because they are unique pieces of art that are made to be passed from one generation to the next. Enough sappyness, go to your stash and remember the joys (and almost certainly the small frustrations) of projects and people past.
These are only two little examples of the many things that can be done with scraps! There are some great examples of scrap fabric projects on the Purlbee blog. I really like the ABC fabric magnets and I think I will be making them after my next quilt is finished!
Knitography
In writing my own blog and in reading other blogs about knitting and crafting I always appreciate a really good picture of a project. I like to know exactly what it will look like up close, far away, on a person, on a hanger, the list is endless. I want to be able to see as much as I can before I committ to making something. Showing off your work, however is only one aspect of photographing your projects.
I also like to photograph my projects in order to keep organized and to make the gift giving process more complete. I think that if you are going to put so much effort into anything you knit you should always try to make it easier for you to repeat your success. I can’t remember the last time I knit something and I didn’t have some sort of alteration or helpful hint that I wish I’d had before I started. I like to leave myself little notes like: ‘perhaps this would be better knit in the round’, ’use longer double points, not the little short sock ones’, or ‘add 4 extra stitches’. This way, if I repeat the pattern or lend it to a friend they or I can benefit from my experience. This is where the photograph comes in: always take a picture of the finished product to keep with your pattern. This will help you remember how the project turned out and how you will alter it next time, especially if the finished product has been given away. It’s a great way to keep everything straight and organized.
Another great use for knitography is taking pictures of your own creations. If you are making your own patterns or greatly altering the ones you have you may want to type them out and keep a picture with them. This way you won’t forget your alterations or the pattern you have created.
Yet another great use of a knit-pic is to be used as a tag. This will also work for your quilts or other crafty gifts although you might want to use a smaller picture since you won’t need to attach any yarn or buttons. You can attach your 4×6 pic to a piece of cardstock that is 4.5×6.5 and on the back you can print the care instructions, materials (is it wool, cotton, alpaca, etc). This is also a good place to attach your little extra yarn (for possible *gasp* repairs) or buttons.
This way the recipient of the gift knows exactly how to care for the gift and which garment the instructions are for. It’s a really nice finishing touch if I do say so myself!
Finito!
Well, I have talked a good talk about the projects I have started and it is about time I talked about some finished ones! The first project I finished was my red alpaca skirt. I used the pattern in Susan Mischner’s ‘Greetings from the Knit Cafe’ but I substituted Blue Sky Alpaca’s Sport Weight 100% alpaca. I have now made 5 of these skirts: 3 for me, one for my mommy and one for my friend Robin. It has been a very flattering and successful pattern. Although I’m not really a girly-girl I do love a funky skirt!
It’s always so nice when you find a pattern that just really works for you. I am especially impressed that the yarn substitution worked because when I started my first of these skirts I didn’t really understand how to make yarn substitutions and I really just winged it! Now I know that you need to substitute based primarily on gauge (how many stitches per inch) and for some projects you need to be careful of the fiber (if it calls for mohair, it is unlikely you want to go with cotton, for example).
The second project I finished was a toque that was requested by my friend Kim. Kim has some sinus issues and needs to keep them covered and warm. This past Christmas I made her a toque out of a lovely yarn from Mirosol. It has silk and alpaca and it’s lovely to work with. Kim loved the toque and only 3 months later she is ready for another one! Although Kim always wears blue I figured I would help her to branch out (DANGER: do not attempt to help anyone branch out into new colors unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure they will like it, it will only lead to heartache). Her Christmas toque was green and this one will be a plummy purple. I decided to with the ever warm (and a personal favorite) alpaca. I went with Blue Sky’s Worsted weight which is a blend of alpaca and wool and oh-so-soft. I knit this one up quick because I really wanted her to be able to wear it while it’s still kinda cold out (it hailed today at my house, for real!)
The last project that I managed to complete was my beautiful cashmere toque. I am happy to say that all fights between my husband Gary and myself over who gets to wear the good toque are over! The pattern is the Devin’s Toque from Handmaiden. I could make this toque over and over again, it’s so soft and luxurious and easy to make. Big fan.
Linen Shawl
So as soon as my LYS, Urban Yarns, got Euroflax linen I started plotting a project to try it out. Although the yarn felt rough at first I was promised that it would become silky soft after some use. I was skeptical, believe me, but the more I thought about it the more I had to try it! The colours were so alluring, the pattern so delicate and lovely, and the online advice for working with linen promised a lovely drape. The other upside to the Euroflax Linen is that it is machine washable and dry-able! My mission was clear: find out whether or not the rumors were true about knitting with linen.
I found a gorgeous online pattern from Louet, the Lacey Shawl and picked up 3 skeins of the linen in a lovely green. I started to knit with it and I was still unconvinced. How could something so rough and string-like become a soft and lovely shawl? I even had to take it out a couple of times and it didn’t really get any softer. The pattern was going well, the name describes it perfectly. I began to think of how I would make this shawl with something else, not this rough linen.
When I completed the project I was still unsure. I bought some soak hoping that this would help the situation. I put my completed shawl in the washing machine (something that always makes me a smidge nervous). When the wash cycle was over I pulled it out ( all in one piece, hooray!) and put it in the b with the soak. I still wasn’t sure but I was going to give it my best shot! Once it had soaked for 15 minutes or so I put ‘er in the dryer and crossed my fingers! Well, my fears were unfounded. The shawl came out soft and lovely with a nice drape and a kind of sheen to it that I find quite becoming. I have also heard that 2 washes is better than one so I will definitely be giving that a try!
Short Scarf with a Button
Well, short scarves with buttons are all the rage here in cold Vancouver and I am right on the band wagon! I was inspired the other day by a scarf my trendy friend Robin’s mommy bought her. I thought: I can do this but with my own little flare and some gourmet ingredients! I immediately set out to make one for myself although Robin (ever supportive of my crafting endeavors) wanted another one for herself as well. I hit my LYS and Button Button and I was all set! I had cashmere, alpaca, wool and some great buttons. I found that buttons are really the key to the scarf although they are really the least amount of work (unless you are making your own button I suppose).
My first attempt went pretty well. It was a lovely purple number made with Blue Sky Alpaca’s Worsted weight yarn. Alpaca is a delightfully warm fiber and the worsted weight comes in a variety of vibrant colors. Who wants a mousy boring scarf? A hand made scarf should be the focus of your outfit! Robin chose a cool black-and-white button with a bunny and a frog on it. It was a little out there for me but she is really the fashionable one so I differ. This pic is of the scarf with a different button. Long story.
Next I vowed I would make something for me. I used black Mirasol yarn which is made up of alpaca, wool, and silk. A delightful yarn with many different colors within the black. In the sun it has hints of blue and orange. I had some neat bird buttons kicking around from an abandoned project which I felt would work for this project too. I abandoned my original single button design to create something new with two buttons instead since I couldn’t bear to separate the two. I absolutely love this scarf! It’s warm, unique, and a little trendy.
Once I finished those two I was on a little bit of a role so I made another purple scarf (I originally bought too much yarn for Robin’s) and a pretty springy blue scarf. I don’t really need that many scarves so I put a couple up on my Etsy store. I’m so enamored of these scarves I just want to make them in every color and with all different buttons! They don’t take long and they really showcase the colors, fibers, and stitches. A perfect project for any beginner or pro.
