Creativity time capsule

🙈 Cleaning out a closet that I haven’t been able to access for 9 years! I didn’t know what would be lurking inside but I’m happy to say it was mostly yarn, fabric, and old photos. 👼🏻

It was a trip down a rabbit hole of my creativity. I’m happy that I still like the same colors. I’m a little bummed out by the number of unfinished dresses that won’t fit me anymore and I’m super curious what projects I had in mind for some of this stuff! 🤷‍♀️

Needless to say, I’m really excited to rediscover this part of my life. It’s like my creativity was put on hold and I’ve just unlocked the time capsule it was hiding in! 🌈 I’ve cleaned up, cleared out, and I can’t wait to start making again!

So Daddy can keep his cool

Have you met my brother? That's him, the punk rock listening, Harley-Davidson riding, bad ass truck driver that spent the second half of his formative years tormenting this pesky little sister. And I adore him. I think he is hilarious and I know he's not nearly as tough as he shows.

Fast forward about 20 years and suddenly he and his brightly spirited wife are expecting a baby. A baby! That guy is going to HAVE A BABY TO CARE FOR. Holy shit. I mean, I'm sure he can do it, but I can't help but remember all the times he frightened me to the depths of my being and we were just going to see his girlfriend. I was about 8 and he was about 17 and he had been left with the responsibility of babysitting me for the evening. His girlfriend lived a few towns away and of course that meant miles of winding back roads for that freewheeling teen. I still shudder when I think about a particular single lane bridge over a creek nestled in a cornfield on Sauerkraut Lane that my brother would hit at such speed we would launch into the air and land with just enough time to squeal around the sharp elbow turn narrowly missing a hand built stone farm wall. We lived, and I'm sure his baby will too. Somehow.

The nightmares still haunt me.

But he's my brother and I wouldn't be the incredibly accepting individual I am today if it hadn't been for him. So what kind of gift do you make for that guy's baby? That guy that loves to be a bad ass. I mean he can't walk around with some fluffy fleece blanket with tiny giraffes speckled across it. He just can't. So I made this blanket and burp cloth set, because nothing says baby like black with skulls. Good luck little one.

DIY: Sassy & Simple Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Cases

Are you knitting needles shoved in baskets in your closet? Are your crochet hooks hiding at the bottom of tote bags? Then follow this tutorial on how to make a set of these Coordinating Needle Cases. They're fast, easy and can be made from scraps of fabric. Give them as a gift with a pair of needles tucked inside or keep them all for yourself.

Supplies
1/2 yard of cotton fabric in solid color (A)
1/2 yard of cotton fabric in coordinating print (B)
1.5 yards 1" velvet ribbon
1 spool thread
Scissors
Tape measure
Sewing gauge ruler
Pins
Needle
Iron and ironing board

You can choose to work on the cases individually or in tandem. Be sure all fabric is washed and ironed before you begin.

1. Cut - From Fabric A, cut two 16.5 x 15.75 inch pieces for exterior of knitting needle case and one 11 x 5.25 inch piece for crochet hook pocket. From Fabric B, cut one 16.5 x 9.25 inch piece for knitting needle pocket and two 11 x 9.5 inch pieces for exterior of crochet hook case. Cut ribbon into two 18" pieces for knitting needle case and two 9" pieces for crochet hook case.

2. Make Pockets - Fold and pin 1/2 along one long edge of pocket pieces. Iron flat.

Match the cut edges of the pocket to the matching edges of one of the exterior pieces with right sides facing you. Mark for pockets, with stitch gauge measure and pin 1.5" from left raw edge. For next pocket and following two pockets measure and pin 1" to the right from previous pin. Continue measuring and pinning increasing the measurement by 1/2" for larger pockets. If you have mostly small needles then make mostly 1" pockets, for a collection of larger needles create 1.5 to 2" pockets. Stitch at each pin from folded pocket edge to raw edge back-stitching at each end.

4. Attach ribbon - Match ribbon edge to right edge of exterior piece with top edge of ribbon. The top edge of the ribbon can be visually centered on the needle case. Pin with wrong side showing. Pin the second piece of ribbon, right side showing, with bottom edge 1/8" from the top edge of the first piece of ribbon. Stitch 1/4" seam back-stitching at both ends.

5. Sew case together - Pin exterior pieces with right sides together making sure not to catch ribbon in pins or stitching. Stitch 1/2" seam around perimeter leaving a 2" opening on left side being sure to pivot at corners and back-stitching at each end.

6. Turn, sew and iron - Trim corners. Turn work right side out. Stitch opening closed by hand with needle and thread. Press seams and edges flat.

7. Fill and enjoy!