Itchy fingers

I'm itching to start a project.  I tried making myself finish stuff.  I finished a rainbow loom bracelet (lattice braid from Amanda and Monica RLoomy) and three little tatted bookmarks.

It doesn't seem to help.  I still want to start something new.  I've got a bunch of yarn dumped out on my table.  Maybe I'll start a doll tomorrow, or maybe sew something for the kiddos.  We'll see.

Simple tatting

I'm not actually doing tatting penance, but I am tatting something else for a bit.  I found this in my tatting box.

A while back, a local magazine asked about doing a piece on tatting and asked for a simple project.  I was playing around with making a simple bookmark, showing the work at different stages.  The tatting article did get published, but this project didn't get used.  I figured I might as well turn the bits into something usable.  I'm finding the simple rings and chains quite soothing.

Two steps forward, one step back

I was feeling good about wrapping up unfinished projects, so I picked up a doily I've been working on for years and started tatting on it again.  I started the final row, still feeling good.  Then I realized I'd misread the pattern and missed a ring.

I had to chop off the final row.  It's a good thing I managed to take it off without nicking the previous row.  Still, I feel like I should do some sort of tatting penance for making such a silly mistake.

The machines are out

It's the day before Hari Raya.  The sewing machines are out and I only just managed to put the last stitches on the kids' baju raya.

I was actually planning to skip all the sewing this year.  The kids are big enough that new clothes just aren't that big a deal.  Then I looked at their sweet faces and remembered all the Hari Raya outfits I've made them over the years.  It occurred to me that it's not much longer until they are too cool to wear hand-made clothes.

So, yesterday, I found myself cutting silk crepe and strewing pins everywhere.

In a minute, I'll tuck away the machines and hustle the kids to bed.  Tomorrow is time for peace, grace, family and food.  I have a lot to be grateful for.

Selamat Hari Raya!

Incentive for chair covers

I finally finished my 8 chair covers, and just in time for Hari Raya.  It's nice to do a little something nice for the house for special occasions.

I kept myself motivated by allowing myself to make one rainbow loom bracelet for each finished chair cover.

This worked pretty well as incentive. The designs clockwise from the left are:

• Diagonalism by Claire's wears
• Royal Hearts Bracelet by SarahCJW, tutorial by Rena T
• Lovely Little Lotus by Claire's wears
• Diagonal Derp by Claire's wears

Then I came across the Edditude design by Ai lovestoloom.  I couldn't figure it out.  I watched the video 4 times and still couldn't figure it out.  I've been a crafter almost as long as I've been alive, so my ego took a bit of a hit.

I've spent the last few days obsessing over it.  After making my own short double edged hook and a bunch of head scratching, I finally made one.

Now that's done, I can stop obsessing and get back to the sewing that I'm supposed to be doing.

Bored of chair covers

Hari Raya is in two weeks.  This is the time when I break out the sewing machine and start sewing stuff to spruce up the house and clothes for the kids.  Right now I'm sewing chair covers.  The covers are turning the chair on the right into the chair on the left.

The covers are long overdue as the uncovered chairs are already looking a little yucky.

Unfortunately, chairs come in sets.  There are 8 altogether and at this point, I've done 4 covers.  I don't have much patience for repetition, so I'm starting to feel cranky and itchy fingered.  Maybe I'll go fold some origami or something.