Eco Craft Swap

Here is the latest swag I made for a craft swap. The theme was Eco/Hippie, and my partner was really into trees, so I tried to go with as many tree-ish things as I could. I also made some cat toys for her kitteh and some fun gift tags made out of recycled security envelopes, done with some paper cut-out stamps I had of a butterfly and a dragonfly. I may do that craft again for myself for gift tags at birthdays and holidays!

The one thing that my partner really wanted was a pair of fingerless gloves. I found some really luscious malabrigo worsted alpaca yarn in a colorway called dragonfly. pretty. And the gloves have a mild waffle-weave on the top of the hand.

Then I tried something a little different. I made these fun pins with three different buttons glued together and some fabric leaves made with scraps. They turned out pretty awesome, I think.

My partner had these fun tree appliques listed on her Pinterest board, but there was not a pattern for them. I ended up writing up a pattern and made them for her, and also sent her the pattern, as she is a crocheter, so she can make some more for herself if she wants.

Finally, my favorite thing that I made for this swap. I do not consider myself an embroiderer, but I saw a really neat faux bois piece on her Pinterest, and decided to try it out. I put her and her boyfriend's initials in the middle of the heart that is "carved" into the wood. I'm totally psyched with how it turned out, and hope to make some more. Wedding presents, anyone?

Dress Re-Do

Okay, the promised Dress Re-Do. Again, I don't have a before picture, but here is the after:

My creation is the pink one. Cute, huh? Considering it used to be floor length, had an underskirt that needed to be moved up for "poof" had a layer of kitty-mauled tulle on the outside, and was 4 sizes too big, I think Miss Haley looks BEAUTIFUL in the after. (of course, she always looks beautiful, but I'm partial.) Thus, $16.00 dance dress. Not too shabby, I'd say.

A Rose is a Rose

So, I've been working on a dress re-do for a little 15-year-old friend of mine. Her mom had a dress that she wore in the mid 90's which was floor length, hot pink, had some seriously jacked up sparkley tulle as an outer layer, and was 4 sizes too big. So, I made it short, changed the skirt to a sequin lace, used the tulle for a sash, and used the leftover dress parts for a flower piece to add some interest to the top. As soon as I have pictures of her in it, I'll post the final product. I, of course, forgot to take before pictures. But here is the awesome flower I made:

It's made from the leftover 20 inches of satin from the main body of the dress. It was super easy to make, too. I'll make some more and post a tutorial. I finally have something to make with the random satin I've bought over the years! Yay!

St. Pat's Cabled Leg Warmers

I found an ugly scarf at a thrift store. It was green, the yarn was pretty obviously someone's early knitting project made from nice, Lion Brand Thick and Quick. It was pretty long, and the end was not woven in well, so it was going to be easy to frog. Thus begins my obsession with finding ugly scarves at thrift stores to frog for yarn-- I've found 3 more since. Thus also begins the origin of these leg warmers:

St. Pat's Cabled Leg Warmers

Materials:

• Approx. 1 1/2 balls of Lion Brand Thick and Quick (this is an estimate, since it was recycled yarn)
• size 13 DPNs
• Darning needle for weaving in ends

Notes:

*C2BP: Slip 2 stitches onto a Cable needle and hold to the back. Purl 2 stitches, then purl the two stitches on the cable needle.

*Piece is knit inside out because I hate purling and there is a lot of it, so I cheated so I could knit more than purl. :)

Directions:

Cast on 28 stitches and join for knitting in the round.
K2, P2 around for 8 rows

Rows 1-4: K2, P4, K10, P4, K8

Row 5: K2, C2BP, K10, C2BP, K8

Rows 6-9: K2, P4, K10, P4, K8

Row 10: K2, C2BP, K4, SSK, K4, C2BP, K4, K2tog, K2

Rows 11-14: K2, P4, K9, P4, K7

Row 15: K2, C2BP, K9, C2BP, K7

Rows 16-19: K2, P4, K9, P4, K7

Row 20: K2, C2BP, K9, C2BP, K7

Row 21-24: K2, P4, K9, P4, K7

Row 25: K2, C2BP, K9, C2BP, K7

Row 26-29: K2, P4, K9, P4, K7

Row 30: K2, C2BP, K9, C2BP, K7

Row 31-34: K2, P4, K9, P4, K7

Row 35: K2, C2BP, K4, SSK, K3, C2BP, K3, K2tog, K2

Rows 36-39: K2, P4, K8, P4, K6

K2, P2 for 5 rows

Bind off loosely

Weave in ends, turn right-side out, wear your awesome new warmers!

You are welcome to sell any items made from this pattern, but please do not sell the pattern itself.