CHICKPEA SEWING STUDIO

A Barrette you can make with puffy fingers

Before I start complaining I should show you a bit of fun. Barrettes are everywhere these days, and I know a three year old that could use one or two.  Karin posted a cute crocheted flower pattern a few days ago, which I had to try at once since she is my crochet guru. They are really fun, and last night while trying to elevate the tree trunks that use to be my legs I made a really tiny one. The yarn is very fine ( such as the one for dollies) with a tiny hook. The hole in the middle was screaming for my new favorite thing...felt beads! I hot-glued the flower to the clip, which is really a quilt binding help tool. Try one, and maybe find a nicer clip while you're at it!

On the other side of life, did you know that so close to delivery, while you are at your biggest ever, it's possible to suddenly swell-up considerably, retaining more water than you drink... disconcerting news on the Chickpea front. I was told to drink it all away, and at this point no will is left to appear skeptical. But it might not be for much longer, because today I had a 'real' contraction, the kind that radiates from the low back. I believe those are not the same as 'fake' ones... but I should I know, the first time around?

Little Basket WIP

My dear friend Karin of Orange Flower and I are trying our best to give you a nice little pdf tutorial for this really fun to make basket just in time for the weekend.So stay tuned on Friday, when those felted accents should shed their pins.

Little basket for diapering

Crochet baskets are being made on both sides of the country:
On Saturday I asked my friend Karin if she would help me make a crocheted bucket-style basket that could be decorated later. I wanted one to store a few diaper supplies for something I can just have around the house.
She delivered a beginner friendly pattern less than five minutes later, maybe I am exaggerating but barely :)
It's a mystery but I only manage those patterns that she writes, any other one I fail at badly. I think it's a comfort zone thing.

I plan on making quite a few more after this one, for tiny socks, bathing supplies and who knows what. I just have to get much faster at it!

I plan on using those buttons and ric-rac to adorn that first one, I had also made some really fine felt oak leaves but they disappeared Bermuda-triangle style so you just have to take my word for it! I think that I would love to use felt beads also.

In the works I have those three JC handmade Kidlets (pattern available here). I have been regarding them as a reward for cleaning out the stash last week. I am using little scraps for the front pockets and feeling less bad about throwing away larger pieces! I am not getting too caught up with technique here and just work on them when I have a few minutes to spare. Com to think of it they will be great for diaper supplies too.

My next random project will be a silly goose from the funniest pattern offered by The long thread.
Check it out, it's hilarious. They resemble the 'Creature Comforts' of Nick Park in the best way.

Lastly I wonder about that pattern from work, we need a store sample... Do I have time to make one of those cute bunnies?

Learning to Crochet little things

last Friday I casually asked  Karin if she could write me a crochet pattern for a tiny mushroom. No more than forty minutes later here it was complete with photograph! Did I mention that she is a terrific friend? The tiny draw back is that I don't actually know how to crochet... but that never stopped most of us crafters to try anything new. So a all bunch of web tutorial later, and one try-out mushroom, here is one i am not too embarrassed to show.

After such fun, Karin wrote me another pattern for a doll beret this time. I had less luck managing with that one, and ended up crocheting the all thing backward. Don't blow up the picture or you'll get a taste of bread crumbs and Nutella. We are out of breakfast cereals...