Welcome to Episode #3 of the Curious Crafters. Thank you for your continued support and for sharing your crafting adventure with us! We so enjoy reading your comments, watching your FlossTubes, seeing your beautiful work on Instagram, and getting to know you. Inspiring! You can find us on Instagram @we.are.curiouscrafters.
Show Notes
What Are We Wearing?
Anna is wearing the Babydoll Dress designed by Nerida Hansen. The window pane cotton poplin fabric was purchased from Needles Studio. Anna adjusted the seam where the skirt and bodice meet to have a slight curve in front and to make the front slightly shorter than the back.
Carolyn is wearing Lizzie, another sweater designed by Julie Weisenberger of CocoKnits (my version of Ravelry). It’s knit using Shibui Knits Vine, which is a combination of paper, cotton, and silk. This was Carolyn’s first Cocoknits Method project -- from Julie’s Cocoknits Sweater Workshop book. This is a top down sweater with set in sleeves. Julie’s ingenious shaping techniques result in a fabulous fit for the shoulders and sleeves.
We’re Curious
Like many of you, Anna and I have an ever growing pile of finished — but not fully finished — cross stitch pieces. We were curious to learn how to finish these pieces ourselves and decided to start with a flatfold finish. Guided by the expert, Vonna Pfeiffer, we ironed, measured, cut, laced, and glue our way to two flatfolds. We are jazzed by the results! Are you curious too? Check out the tutorial, FINISHING: A Simple Flatfold with Vonna, The Twisted Stitcher. Here are a few photos from our flatfold afternoon.
Share Joy — Designed by Hands to Work and stitched & finished by Carolyn. Stitched 1 over 2 on R & R’s Espresso 32 count linen using the called for Weeks Dye Works threads. This pattern was part of Kitten Stitcher’s 2021 Advent Box.
A Merry Christmas Sampler — Designed by La-D-Da and stitched & finished by Anna. Stitch 1 over 2 on Weeks Dye Works’ Confederate Gray 36 count linen using called for DMC threads.
Finished Objects
Project Bags — Your beautiful project bags inspired us to sew a few of our own. We followed ElizabethAnnCanStitch’s excellent How to Make a Project Bag tutorial. All of our supplies — fabric, zippers, and fusible fleece — were purchased from Needles Studio. Did you notice? Anna incorporated leftover fabric from her dress in her bag!
Seasonal Etchings: Spring Bunny — Designed by Heart in Hand Needleart and stitched by Carolyn. Stitched 1 over 2 on Seraphim Fabric’s Chai 36 count linen using the called for over dyed cottons. Carolyn plans to finish this piece as a mini log cabin quilt block. This piece was so fun, she immediately started the Summer Fish etching block.
Sir Dandy — Designed by Hands to Work and stitched by Anna. Stitched 1 over 2 on Zweigart Platinum 36 count linen using the called for NPI silks. Anna plans to personalize this piece with her grandchild’s name and birth year.
Mom’s Reading Shawl — Carolyn knit this shawl for our Mom, who requested a shawl to drape over her shoulders when reading on a chilly evening. Designed by Carolyn and knit using 3 colors of The Farmer’s Daughter’s Juicy DK yarn.
Works In Progress
Frederika — Designed by Carriage House Samplings and stitched by Anna. Stitched 1 over 2 on Needle & Flax’s Pemberley 32 count linen using the called for NPI silks. Frederika now has a leg! Anna is wondering if the darker threads lie neater than the lighter threads?
Seasons of a Heart: Spring — Designed by Brenda Gervais and stitched by Carolyn. Stitched 1 over 2 on Needle & Flax’s Thornfield 36 count linen using the called for DMC & over-dyed cottons. Carolyn first tried stitching this piece on Fox & Rabbit’s Up in the Attic linen, but quickly realized the linen was too dark. She learned a valuable lesson about color “value” when choosing linen.
Vesle Vinterfjell Cardigan — Designed by Skeindeer Knits and knit by Carolyn using 3 colors of Tukuwool Fingering yarn. Wait a minute! Didn’t you say this is a cardigan? Carolyn will cut open the “steek” and add button bands to create the cardigan. .
#SchoolsoutSAl
Anna and I love our jobs as teachers AND are very excited for summer break. In celebration of more time to stitch we’re starting the #SchoolsOutSAL stitch along. Are you a teacher? Do you have kids or grandkids in school? Do you love the sound of kids running around the neighborhood in summer? Do you love your memories of the last day of school? If so, celebrate Schools Out with us by picking a project and starting on the day of your choice. Anna’s school gets out a few days after Carolyn’s, so we’ll start together on Anna’s first day of summer.
Thumbs Up
Carolyn gives a thumbs up to Best Press, @melthomass33 on Instagram (check her out!), and daily walks through my local public garden.
Anna give a thumbs up to the San Francisco Giants, drab colors — like DMC #611 — in nature, and her Gingher embroidery scissors.