Week 4 Project - "Mini-me"

After two nights' work, I have made William a pair of sweat-pants and a t-shirt out of my old "rags". This was my first "reuse" project - but probably not my last. It was also the first ever baby/toddler clothes that I've sewn. I don't sew much with stretchy fabrics, since I don't have an overlock machine (serger). I have been wanting to get one, I am just not sure how much I would use it, given my already busy life. For these pants and t-shirt I used my sewing machine's "fake-overlock" seam and it actually worked really well.

 

I love this style of pants for William, with wide leg cuffs and waist. They are not that easy to find here in the States, so I have a feeling I will be making more of these "mudd-byxor". I mainly improvised the patterns from William's existing ward-robe. I got sewing instructions help for the pants here, and they were really easy to make. For the t-shirt I just drew the pattern from another shirt and sewed it together.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle!

Week 4 Project - Reuse #1

Everyone that knows me, know that I am quite passionate about recycling and the environment in general. Recycling is such an easy thing to do, and it makes such a big difference to planet Earth. This week's challenge is the middle one of the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. As I was cleaning out my closet a few weeks ago, I decided to keep a few of the tops and pants that I was going to bring to Salvation Army, and remake them into clothes for the baby. Since we are already 3 days into this week (plus Chris and I are going out tomorrow night), I know I won't have much time for this weeks challenge. That being said, I hope to make 3 pieces of clothing for William. A pair of pants, a shirt and a hat. Here is a sneak peak of what I have to work with:

Week 3 Project - sweater finally DONE!

OK, I admit, I finished the "not so Pippi-sweater" a day late. Here it is:

I love how it turned out! Now, I gotta get ready for work.

Week 2 Project - DONE!

I did it! I knitted the body of the sweater in 1 week. I decided on raglan sleeves.

Check back next week for the finished sweater.

Week 2 Project - "Not so Pippi sweater" (stage 1: body)

I bet every Swede out there knows the Pippi sweater, but I doubt many people elsewhere have any idea what this sweater looks like. You may not even know who Pippi (Longstocking) is, nor that she is Swedish.

When I decided to knit a sweater for William in the very thin Organic Cotton baby yarn, I told the hubby "this might be the end of my knitting career". I can handle knitting/crocheting hats, botties, socks and mittens but I am not very good at large (you may not think a toddler sweater is large... but it is still considerably larger than my comfort zone) knitting projects. I usually run out of motivation half way through and drag and drag to finish it. Thanks to the challenge and the accountability to my dear (imaginary?) readers, I will HAVE TO finish it.

So week 2's challenge is stage 1 of a sweater for William. I plan to knit the body of it this week and then do the sleeves and assembly next week. The sweater will have some resemblance to a Pippi sweater - but it will not be so Pippi after all. Actually it is only the split neck opening with the strings that will be Pippi about it. And maybe the fact that it has stripes... That's it! William's "not so Pippi sweater" will be brown and green... Here is a sneak peak:

   
Check back later for the finished body of the sweater, and next week for the sleeves and the complete sweater.

Week 1 Project - DONE!

Okay, the first project can be called successfully completed! Now all three of us have matching hats.

Week 1 Project - Visor beanie for hubby

First week's project should be a breeze. I have already crocheted matching beanies for William and I. Of course daddy needs one too! Check back later for his finished hat.

There are 672 quarter-hours in a week

So many ideas, so much inspiration, not enough time. Or is there? There are 672 quarter hours ("kvartar" as we Swedes would say) in a week. Surely there is time! With this mindset I am starting my weekly challenge: Every week of 2011 I will do a project (big or small, in full or in stages) and blog about it. Are you with me?