Shoulder Bag

bag made from recycled sweater
source

Since the weather has turned chilly, you have probably taken your winter clothing out of storage. In the boxes or bags did you find a sweater that had a stain or snag or don't fit anymore. If you don't want toss it in the trash or in the donation box, you might try transforming it into a shoulder bag.

A tutorial for this project can be found on Perched on a Whim.

Adding Fringe

Hem-stitched Fringe
source

Craftsy recently shared and article called, Six Finishing Techniques for Weaving Fringe. Some of the techniques could also be used for knit and crochet items.

The techniques discussed briefly in the Craftsy article were:

Overhand knots
Fancy knots
Beaded fringe
Twisted fringe
Hem Stitch
Hem

click on the link provided above for more information

Ending Crochet Hook Confusion

Most of us work on more than one project at a time, and some projects are stuffed in bags and neglected for weeks (okay, maybe even months and years).

pin that identifies crochet hook size

Theresa (Ordinary Lovely) crafted an idea that with a little preparation will end the confusion of determining the size of crochet hook that was used for all those abandoned projects. Perhaps it work for you as well.  Click on the link above for step by step directions to how she created these clever reminder pins.

Note: this idea can also be applied to knitting or even quilting to mark rows and/or repeats. Letter beads could be used to indicate rows, charts, etc.

Lander Sew Sistas

Nearly every month the Lander Sew Sistas meet at the Lander Library to craft, and several Guild members participate in this group, too.

Last week, the Sistas met to make three-pocket scissor cases.

Mary H. (Guild president) formed
the Lander Sew Sistas group

Ingrid T. and Brenda H.(Guild member) work on the October
sewing project.

Jeni V. (Guild treasurer) fuses the interfacing to her
fabric. Katheryn E. standing directly behind Jeni,
visits with Sheri H. All three ladies are
Fiber Guild members

finished October projects (three-pocket scissor cases) on display

The October project was constructing a three-pocket scissor case, and the instructions can be found here.

At the end of each meeting, the group has Show and Tell.

Jeni V. shares her drop spindle from the
Maggie Casey weekend

Jeni V. knit the shawl she wore that day and shows the
shawl pin, made from horn, that she purchased in Dubois 

Nancy L. made this block from her husband's old shirts

Brenda H. explains how she made
the mobius scarf

Brenda H.  

Mary H. made bowls on her sewing machine from
rope and fabric. 

American Sewing Guild Neighborhood Group - Lander Sew Sistas
meets at the Lander Library - 2nd Tuesdays of each month
10:15 AM until noon
(time & dates subject to change due to Library schedule)

For more information, contact Mary H. via the Guild email, given near the top of the righthand column

Charity Opportunities

Rachel B. displays the bandage she is knitting
with crochet thread for the
 D.O.V.E. Fund Bandage Brigade Project 

Rachel B. presented a list of potential charity projects to the Guild members during the October meeting.

Local projects:

•  Abba's House in Riverton, WY
accepting handmade baby clothes and blankets of all sizes

•  Wind River Lutheran Mission in Fort Washakie, WY
accepting clothing for adults, teens, children and babies. As winter approaches, warm blankets, quilts, hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens would be greatly appreciated. For more information, call 332-4537

•  Fremont County Public Health - Lander and Riverton, WY
accepting baby hats

•  Other local places that MAY take handcrafted items (please call first for their needs)
Sage West Hospitals - Lander and Riverton
Nursing homes - Lander, Riverton, Fort Washakie
Help for Health Hospice
Center of Hope Detox

•  Quilts of Valor - quilts presented to U.S. Veterans (many given locally)
contact Stephanie Logan (Sheep Camp Quilt Supply off of Burma Road near Riverton) for more details call 856-1468

Wyoming Projects:

•  Project Linus - contact information on website

Rachel holds two wool helmet liners she knit
for the Caps for Soldiers project

National Projects:

•  Quilts of Valor (see link given above)

•  Halos of Hope - hats for cancer patients, patterns and specifics on website

•  For the children of Pine Ridge  (Ravelry link)

•  Caps for Soldiers - accepting hats, lap afghans, etc. see website for patterns and specifics

•  Knitted Knockers - prosthetic alternative for women who have had a mastectomy, patterns on website

International Projects:

•  D.O.V.E. Fund Bandage Brigade - knit or crochet bandages for leprosy clinics in Vietnam

•  Wool-aid - items accepted changes from time to time, check website for details

•  afghans for Afghans - items accepted changes from time to time, check website for details

This list is far from complete. The opportunities to knit, sew, or crochet for charities are plentiful. Please feel free to send other links to the Guild email provided at top right.

Getting Organized - Needle/Hook Inventory

Imagine wanting to start a new project and discovering that you cannot find the right size needle or hook. 

After frantically searching every bag and bin, you begin to wonder if you even own that particular size. 

Now might be a good time to inventory your growing knitting needle and crochet hook collection. 

Start by gathering all the items that you can find: look in bags, baskets, bins, and vases. Sort the items by size, length, and type.

(click to enlarge)
PDF available on StitchDragon website

Find an inventory sheet like the one shown above. 

Ravelry.com

If you want to create an online inventory, Ravelry has a needle inventory database file available. Log in to Ravelry and click on the "my notebook" tab. You will see a box like the one shown at left - note the needles & hooks section.  

You will be able to enter the number of needles or hooks you have for each size and type. 

Note that you will also be able to print a wallet-sized card, but this information will also be available anywhere you have internet access. 

Show and Tell - Sewing

Mary H. shared the bowls she made with her sewing machine.
The bowls are constructed rope and fabric. The one in
Mary's right hand, used 60 yards of paracord. 

Under dress

Mary is a seamstress and often does alterations for individuals. She explained that this project was started by a beginning sewist and was never completed, so the girl's grandmother asked Mary to finish the dress and outer dress. The slippery fabric is challenging even for experienced seamstress, and not a good choice for a beginner, but Mary said that some of the dress was sewn when she received it.

Over dress

The over dress was in pieces when Mary received it, so she assembled them and put in the zipper by "hand-picking." The two dresses still need to be hemmed before presenting them to a grateful grandmother.