ZebraKnits

Up to something good

::Like sewing up some cushions to add more color and spice to the living room

Learned a new trick - applying piping using a zipper foot. Tricky on the corners but easy after I did the first cushion.

:: Some girly aprons (one for gifting and one for moi). Last time I made one was in 5th grade home economics class. Used basic instructions from the Apron Book and in future, will try something more than just basic.

::Gifted these tulip embroidered napkins ("serviettes" as I call them and sometimes people ask me what they are and I go into this explanation about napkins = diapers in my colonial English [or stolen from the french] and I still prefer to call them serviettes). No pictures - I forgot to take some before gifting!

::Despite my ramblings about my sewing machine little breakdown, I got her back in perfect running order within 24 hours after another dealer serviced her. By the way "Her" name is actually Gerda and her friend (the serger) is Heidi, both German. I better start calling them by their names!

::Finally, my new pair of socks from Jitterbug is done. I can't take full credit because I gave up them and kindly, my MIL finished them up for me. Am embarrassed to say, although  very excited with them and more importantly, inspired to actually knit a new freaking pair of socks all by myself!

Thanks to my ignorance with sock knitting - one sock is slightly bigger than the other because I started off with size #3 DPNs and when I realised it was looser, changed to small needles but was to lazy to undo it and start again. Can you see the difference?

More here.

on the positive side ....

Sometimes good intentions can be thwarted by unneeded situations. I had very good intentions of sewing up and completing these two aprons last Thursday for gifting but my sewing machine acted up (for the first time), right when I was about to put the trimming in place before putting all the sewn pieces to together. I mean I was about 10% close to finishing when the thread  and needle started breaking. After a few trials to figure out the problem, I gave up and called the dealer who is about an hour away, only to hear they are closed till today. Plus, mine will be #5 in the service line if I get it there sooner and who knows when it will be ready. Ughh! Luckily, am taking my stuff to my in-laws to finish on their machine. Hopefully, I can get it fixed in time since I have just got my sewing mojo going and can't afford to loose the momentum.

Not to despair about the sewing, I have a little embroidery project going. Embroidering these four linen serviettes for gifting to a friend. I have two more to finish. The tulips design are from spring MCIdees that I just traced. This is my first hand embroidery project in ages (I was in high school when I last did this). But this is a very simple project, nothing too fancy.

Knitting is going on silently here. Mostly concentrating on little projects from my stash. A few squares of the blanket have been knit. I will show the pictures later when I have time.