Easy Skirt

Another version of Stretch and Sew 445!

Changes from my last try:

- I used the Elastic Waist Facing method I learned in The Ultimate Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics Craftsy class by Linda Lee with this awesome Waistband Elastic by Dritz.

(If you use my Craftsy affiliate link you'll save 25% off her class. Cannot be combined with any other coupons. Expires January 11, 2018.)

- I altered the fit a little bit to make the hem about 2 inches narrower than patterned. It makes the skirt a little more body-conscious without being super-tight.

- The fabric is a knit I picked up at the Textile Center's garage sale in April. It is very fluid and drapey. I think it might be rayon? It doesn't curl at the cut edge and feels cool and dry to the touch.

- I serged my darts, instead of stitching them on the sewing machine. I love the results!

- I couldn't get a blind hem to work, so I initially used a fusible to bond the hem in place. The fusible came partially unstuck after the first wash. (I wash in cold water and hang to dry.) So, I coverstitched the hem in place, instead. It looks great and I don't mind the look of a coverstitched hem.

Changes for next time:

- PRACTICE that waist facing technique, so that it's a little more even. Other than that, I LOVE it. It's definitely going to be my go-to skirt for when I want to feel put-together and cute.

Thrifty Lined Shopping Bags!

If I had more time when I was working on Crafting the Resistance, I would have added this shopping bag! Instead, it's now available as a stand-alone sewing pattern on Craftsy and Etsy.

I designed the Thrifty Lined Shopping Bags to be easy to sew and fun to use. They are fully lined and can be cut out of a 40-inch-wide piece of fabric. This means they will fit on most quilting cottons, even if the yardage shrank a bit during prewashing.

These bags only require 1.3 yards of fabric if both lining and fabric are the same, or 2/3 of a yard of each fabric if they are different. You may find it easier to keep track of which layer is the lining and which is the outer bag if you use contrasting fabrics for your first few bags. 

Have you heard of the burrito method, but aren't sure you want to try it on a garment? I included step-by-step photos for using it, so this is a great first project to try that technique!

Craftsy's Cloudborn Yarn

When I heard about Craftsy's new yarn line, Cloudborn, I was curious. I mean, they already sell some of my favorite yarns. So, they should know a lot about what goes into a "good" yarn. But, knowing and doing are two different things. How would their yarns stack up? 

My sample package arrived and I love the way the colors go together!

First, the sock yarn. My sample of Cloudborn Superwash Merino Sock Twist is a hand paint called Slightly Serious. 100 grams of it (one hank) would be plenty to create a pair of socks. It's 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Polyamide. After a little googling, I'm 90% sure that Polyamide is what most people would call Nylon. It has several plies and seems well-spun. 

My Checked and Square socks would pair well with this yarn, I think. I may have to try it!

It should be hard-wearing even though it is very, very soft. And, I mean very. I think if you didn't want to make socks with it, it would also make a great Sockhead Slouch Hat (free pattern!) or an Autumn Dreams baby sweater. 

The Cloudborn Baby Alpaca Bulky is the softest of the soft. Don't expect it to be tough - 100% baby alpaca isn't going to be, but it is lofty, the color is even and even has a slight sheen. It would be darling as a Wee Speedy (free pattern!)

Last but not least in my sample pack is the Cloudborn Merino Alpaca Sport. 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Baby Alpaca. It's not a superwash yarn, even though the wool is superwash. The color I have has a heathered appearance - this is probably because the alpaca and the merino take up dye slightly differently. The alpaca will probably bloom with wear, so a complex stitch pattern may not show up well. But, these little RONA Wrist Cuffs (free pattern)? Divine.

This post contains affiliate links. 

I Made A Tshirt!

It's a little funky, but it's all mine!

The pattern is from this Craftsy class, but I couldn't have done it without also watching Linda Lee's Craftsy class. It's a little big on me, so it might end up just being workout/sleep top, but I'm still pretty excited!

(BTW, every single Craftsy class is on sale for just $19.99 or less, but this is NOT a Bl*ck Fr*day post. That is an affiliate link, though, just so you know.)

Sale on Craftsy Classes - Up to 50% Off!

Master a new skill for gifts that thrill, because there's still time to knit something lovely for the holidays (or yourself)!

Starting today and running through Sunday (11/1/15), get up to 50% off all online video classes at Craftsy, using my affiliate link.

My suggestions: A Giraffe, Save Our Stitches and, of course, my class!

LAST CHANCE for This Great Sale!

Today is your LAST CHANCE! Enroll in online Craftsy classes for up to 50% off and learn from expert instructors who don’t mind if you pass notes! 

Celebrate the Beginning of Fall with a New Skill!

Ready for learning that feels like recess? Watch your Craftsy classes in your pajamas- it's totally acceptable (and encouraged!) Right now, you can try as many as you want for up to half off.

BIG Sale Plus a FREE Craftsy Mini-Class: The Ins & Outs of Grafting

Grafting might be the biggest bugaboo in knitting. Even many experienced knitters HATE it. I only got comfortable with it when I had to do it A LOT, but even so, I need good light and a don't-talk-to-me face to get it finished.

Anne Hanson gets it, and can help you get it, too, if you check out her free class about grafting on Craftsy. (That is an affiliate link, btw.)

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And, you won't want to miss this sale for your best back-to-school ever! Get up to 50% off ALL online Craftsy classes from now through September 9, 2015 — no textbooks or pop quizzes allowed.

Craftsy Weekend Sale: Knitting in More Than One Color

Pssst, the end of August marks the end of summer (for those north of the equator). If you've been putting off learning how to make beautiful colorwork, now's the perfect time to try it. Patterns knit in more than one color are warmer than most single-color knitting and also open up a whole world of creative potential for your work.

This weekend, you can try any Colorwork Knitting class for $19.99 today with my affiliate link: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/LaraNeel_W7

Need a Little Help Finishing Your Knits?

No, I'm not offering to darn in ends for you. But, there is a sale going on at Craftsy on finishing classes. (If you use my affiliate link, it helps me, too.)

I have to admit, I have paid seamstresses to insert zippers for me. But, it would be pretty nice if I knew I could actually do it, for myself, if I wanted to.

Learn techniques for flawless finishing alongside the best instructors in the world! Shop the classes you need for $19.99 today (prices good through 8/17/15). Conquer skills for edge finishes, weaving in ends, blocking, seaming and much more.

Try Something New (for Less!)

2015 has turned out to be the Year that Lara Tries New Things.

1) Of course, still knitting! (LOVE IT)

2) Tried painting stuff. (LOVE IT)

3) Tried making all-natural bath and body stuff. (LOVE IT)

4) Am in the process of showing how little I know about sewing. (LOVE IT/ HATE IT depending on how many threads I have snapped that day.) I haven't written any blog posts about that, yet, since I'm still mostly jamming my machine and cursing.

5) Kicking up my biking game. (LOVE IT)

6) Studying French. I've done this before, but I'm trying a lot harder this time. (LOVE IT)

Starting today and running through Sunday, get up to 50% off classes that launched in the past year - including mine! Sewing, cooking, woodwork, knitting, the world is your oyster!

Check out the sale here.

(When you use my affiliate link, it helps ME, too!)

Happy Hands, Happy Feet, Happy Dance: BIG Sale This Weekend!

Those are all MY socks! Cool!

ALL of the sock knitting classes from Craftsy are on sale this weekend for only $19.99!

(If you use my affiliate link, it helps ME, too!)

http://www.craftsy.com/ext/LaraNeel_W3

Socks My Way: Stitch Pattern Savvy with JC Briar

I learned a few weeks ago that "Socks My Way" is now a series (of two, but it will probably grow) on Craftsy! My Socks My Way: Heel & Toe Variations class has now been joined by JC Briar's Socks My Way: Stitch Pattern Savvy. 

I haven't spent a lot of time on her class, but I love her concept. She takes you through adding stitch patterns to your socks. She goes into great detail about getting the best stitch count for you, with your gauge and stitch pattern, which isn't always easy when you have a deep, interesting or lacy texture. 

JC even covers how to make sure your lovely hand-painted yarn will play nicely with the stitch pattern you choose, which is so useful.

I've taken a class with JC in person, and I love that her matter-of-fact style comes through in the video. She has a true talent for taking complex concepts and breaking them up into pieces that are easy to digest. Check it out!

Unwind with What You Love: Craftsy Classes for just $19.99

This post contains an affiliate link, but you know that doesn't influence what I say, right? 

A lot of people have a holiday day off from their "real" jobs today (including me, yay!) 
Whether you have ten minutes or a whole day, you can watch Craftsy classes anytime, anywhere, forever. This weekend, try to find time to relax and enjoy your craft and enjoy some savings. Lots of classes are on sale for just $19.99.
I'll probably be digging through my stash, looking for ways to play...

Beth Brown-Reinsel's Twined Knitting Craftsy Class + Enter to Win!

This post contains an affiliate link, but you know that doesn't influence what I say, right? 

In this Craftsy class, Beth Brown-Reinsel teaches a wonderful folk knitting technique from Sweden, Tvaandsstickning. In English, we usually call it "Twined Knitting." The class includes a lot of techniques and a full mitten pattern in twined knitting.

I'm a sucker for a new-to-me cast on!

When I first started knitting again in college, my sister took up spinning. I stumbled across twined knitting early on - and so I asked Lisa to spin me yarn in the "opposite" way - with a Z-ply. It got her some strange looks from more experienced spinners, at the time! (If you don't understand more than 5 words of what I just said, don't worry, Beth explains it really well and there are also graphics in the class to help.) I made a pair of mittens, at the time, with the wonderfully unique yarn my sister made.

Even if you don't go full-scale into twined knitting (and, really, you could, it's fascinating), you could still get a lot of use out of this class.

The cast ons, cast offs and color work in twined knitting are absolutely fascinating. They really look more like magic than knitting, in a lot of cases. It's worth learning it for just those techniques. It would be fun to use them to make a really simple fingerless glove or even a dishcloth a little more fancy.

Beth shows an absolutely gorgeous sweater in the class that is mostly "standard" two-color knitting, but has lovely twined knitting at the cuffs, collar and bottom edge. Truly inspiring!

She's also a clear-spoken and relaxed teacher. I love her style. She's really good at breaking down complex concepts and making everything simple.

The pattern in the class is for a mitten, but since you learn how to increase, decrease, pick up stitches, cast on and cast off, you actually have a lot of tools here to forge ahead with your own designs. Hats would be easy, as would scarves and cowls knit in the round. A sweater isn't out of the question, if you have the will to try it!

Beth has offered to give one lucky reader of this blog a free enrollment in her class! Leave a comment on this post by 6/16/15 to enter. I'll notify the winner on 6/17/15. Good luck!

Last Day: BIG Sale on Every Craftsy Class

Try something new, explore something old, or just enjoy the chance to learn more about the crafts you love. The big Craftsy class sale (ending tonight), along with their love-it-or-your-money-back guarantee, is your chance to jump right in! (If you use my link, I get a little help along the way, too.)

Last Chance - Craftsy Class Sale Ends Today!

This post contains affiliate links, which help me keep my blog up and running - thanks for the support!

There are fewer than 24 hours left to shop Craftsy’s Make It Great Sale! Hurry and save up to $20 off 100s of online classes. (The banner at the top of the blog will take you to all of them.)

Why not take this chance to try something new? Some of my favorites: 

Rigid Heddle Weaving: Beyond The Basics

Foundations of Spinning

Gluten-Free Italian Classics

Foundations of Double Knitting

Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. But, you already knew that!

Furniture Upcycling

This post contains affiliate links, which help me keep my blog up and running - thanks for the support!

Trust me, no one is more surprised than me that I was SO EXCITED to see a furniture upcycling class on Craftsy. (I know, I really need another hobby. Too much time on my hands, you know.)

Dee and I took a woodworking class last winter and made cribbage boards. It was ok, but it didn't really grab me. But, I was in Home Depot last week and saw a display of chalk paint, and got really excited about the idea of painting without sanding. 

I painted a little before I made myself take a photo.

So, I ran home, grabbed an end table that we bought at an estate sale last summer, and went to town. 

Two coats of paint, a stencil and some wax later, and I'm hooked. I wasn't too worried about "ruining" what was clearly someone else's half-finished project, but now that I have that under my belt, and I've watched the Craftsy class - all bets are off. Garage sales and Goodwill, look out!

P.S. - Don't miss the big Craftsy class sale this weekend - through Monday! (The banner at the top of the blog will get you there.)

Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. But, you already knew that!

HUGE Class Sale This Weekend on Craftsy, Including Susan B. Anderson's Wee Ones

This post contains affiliate links, which help me keep my blog up and running - thanks for the support!

I had a great time selling books at Yarnover. However, one of the drawbacks of selling is that I couldn't take any classes!

I heard from one of the students that Susan B. Anderson's class about making stuffed animals was really fun. I love her work, so even though I haven't taken her Craftsy class on Seamless Knit Toys, I highly recommend it!

I love that the patterns don't involve seams. A lot of knit toys involve seams for structure and aesthetic reasons - but I still don't like to sew seams.

There's a whole other reason to at least check out her class - from today to May 11, every single Craftsy class is on sale. (The banner at the top of this blog would be a great way for you to get to them.) Plus, Craftsy has a money-back guarantee. If you don't like it, you don't have to keep it!

Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own. But, you already knew that!

Flash Sale at Craftsy!

The banner should be showing this, too, but I wanted to let you all now there's a sale on supplies this weekend at Craftsy! It starts today and ends at midnight on 4/26, so don't waste any time.