Amiga Knit Cardigan

I knit this Amiga Cardigan using worsted weight yarn. Amiga is a free pattern from Knitty.com.

I used I Love This Yarn, an acrylic variegated yarn from Hobby Lobby. I used 3 skeins to make this cardigan with my added changes. 

Whenever I look at knit patterns on Ravelry, I like to look at the projects that people have already made to get an idea of how the pattern looks worn on real people, how it hangs, what yarns were used, what variations people made, the colors of yarn used, etc. When I was looking at Amiga, I saw someone had used the Feather & Fan stitch around the bottom, which I really liked, so I saved the photo of it on my computer for future reference. I also noticed a lot of people chose to use stitches that wouldn't curl the way stockinette stitch curls if you don't add a stabilizing stitch before knitting the Stockinette stitch. Some opted to knit ribbing, seed stitch or garter stitch for the front band and bottom and around the bottom of the sleeves so those places wouldn't curl after knitting and blocking. If you look at the pattern photos, you will see all those places curl up on the cardigan, thereby making the length of the body and sleeves appear much shorter due to the curling. I also knit mine a bit longer as well.

It turned out looking nice, but much heavier looking than the original pattern. The acrylic yarn is quite soft and comfy feeling and I love the colors.

I like the Feather & Fan stitch I knit on the lower edge; it adds a nice touch. 

I added glittery buttons (from Hobby Lobby too) and I made 5 buttonholes/buttons, instead of just 2. The buttonholes came out a bit too large to hold the buttons in place, so I had to take a few stitches with thread to make the holes smaller later.

I am glad I added the extra buttons. I wore this out walking one cold morning before I fixed the larger buttonholes, and the buttons were coming undone and I could feel the cardigan slipping off my shoulders. You really need buttons or a shawl pin to keep this closed so it won't slide off.

I love 3/4 length sleeves. These are a bit wider sleeves that I would have preferred, but the length is nice.

Closeup of the Feather & Fan stitches.

Knitting garments for myself is such a crap shoot! Since I cannot try the garment on before knitting, I have to imagine how the style and fit will look on me. Most of the time I knit an entire sweater and try it on before I block it and if it looks or feels awful, I rip it all out!😜 All that work and yarn expense and time and I don't even like most things I make that need to fit me. I usually knit for 3-4 hours  each evening while watching TV and for months too. This is why I mostly prefer knitting scarves, shawls, hats and socks. While the hats and socks do need to fit, they usually do and it's not as bad to rip out as a sweater is if I don't like it!

When I find a great pattern that is easy to make and looks good, I like to knit more than one because I know it will work out in the end. I am knitting something right now that I have made before, but using up miscellaneous balls of yarn as I didn't have enough of one yarn and I want to use up my odd balls of yarn. So it has a variegated scrappy look to it which I like too. Will share once it's done.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses #74-75 for 2025

One more upcycled Starbucks apron turned into 2 purses to donate to Sew Powerful. Daughter had one more apron to give to me, so I made these. I used a 4-Patch Posey block I had made a long time ago for the flap on the left, along with additional scraps sewn to make the flap the correct size. The flap on the right has the Siren Starbucks logo and I couched yarn in a wavy grid onto the flap.

I had a yarn that had pompoms throughout the yarn, so I used that yarn to couch around the round Siren Starbucks logo embroidery. You can see the 3 pompoms around the circle. 

I used the same lining for these purses. I got an ink stamp made with my first name added and stamped it on a scrap of fabric to create the label. I finally ran out of the You Look Beautiful labels that I ordered a 1,000 of years ago. I still have those labels sewn on some lining flaps that haven't been finished into purses yet, so you will still see those labels for awhile along with these stamped ones too. I also pieced the apron neck straps together, along with some leftover pieces of neck straps from the last Starbucks aprons I made into purses, in order to create one purse strap. The other strap is pieced together webbing scraps.

Apron pockets became the purse backs with pockets. I added a fussy cut strawberries fabric appliqué

 the the left pocket to cover up an ink stain. Apparently my daughter had her pen in the pocket at one time and it leaked ink 😜.

Pin It Now!

The Incredibles Quilt Top

I think I got this Incredibles fabric from a donation somewhere. I decided I should make a quilt top to donate to Wrap the World with Quilts (WTWWQ) and I made this BQ-3 quilt from Maple Island Quilts. I added each of their super hero names in appliqué on the top and then added an orange print border. I will send this top to WTWWQ once I make several more quilt tops to fill up a box. WTWWQ accepts completed quilts or just the tops as they have volunteers who will finish the quilts by quilting them. I LOVE this! As I cannot quilt very large quilts anymore due to shoulder issues, so now I can make any size top an let them finish and donate the quilt. 

The quilt top measures 47 1/2" x 66".

I laid out the blocks on the floor first. I needed 2 more blocks, so I used white in those 2 as I didn't have any more Incredibles fabric. I thought it needed something else too, so decided on making appliqué names of each of the family and added an orange print border too as it needed to be larger and pop a bit more.

The finished top has the orange border and the names of the super heroes done in appliqué.

 I wanted to fill up as much of the white background as I could with Elastigirl's name, so I got creative in how I laid out the name.

Dash's name was the shortest and easiest to place.

Had to use a violet colored fabric for Violet's name.😄

Jack Jack's name shows up best on the black fabric, so most of his name fit over the black.

Mr. Incredible I did similar to Elastigirl.

I hope a child who likes super heroes get this quilt when it's quilted and donated.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purse #73 for 2025

For this Sew Powerful purse, I appliquéd a hot air balloon that I cut out from fabric. I added some appliqué clouds too. As you can see, I used denim jeans for the flap and removed the pocket, but the fabric under the pocket was much darker since it was covered by the pocket. Kind of adds some interest.

I pieced some webbing scraps together using ribbon to cover the joins and make the strap long enough. The body of the purse is also denim jeans that I upcycled.

Front pocket of the jeans was used as the front pocket for the purses, with the jean pockets adding some extra pockets.

The back jean pocket also provided a pocket on the back. This purse will be donated to a sweet girl in Zambia through my donation to the Sew Powerful Purse Project.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses #71-72 for 2025

2 more flowers made with upcycled rainbow tank top and texture painted flap background. One batik purse body and one upcycled denim jeans purse body. Also, one pieced webbing scraps made into a long enough strap. These were donated to Sew Powerful Purse Project.

I love these 1/4 Hawaiian quilt block flowers to use in the flap corners. I reduced the flower on the right. The one on the left is larger and folds a bit to the back of the purse. 

More decorative machine stitches on the denim scrap front.

Back of denim purse also is made of denim scraps and decorative machine stitches. You can see the pieced webbing strap on the left purse a little better here too. I had a couple of webbing pieces I had used for something else and I sewed a ribbon on one and rickrack on the other  and joined them together along with a light purple webbing scrap.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses #69-70 for 2025

Two more purses donated to Sew Powerful. I painted the white canvas background of the flaps with textures first. Then I appliquéd an upcycled tie dye tee shirt by cutting out a piece of the rainbow shirt using a portion of a Hawaiian flower quilt pattern place in the corner of the flap. Both have batik purse bodies. I even pieced scraps of webbing together to make the straps long enough on each purse.

Back with slip pockets.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses 66-68 for 2025

3 denim purses donated to Sew Powerful. These were upcycled denim jeans that I turned into purses. Decorative stitches, yarn couching and buttons were added to the flaps. I even sewed a decorative stitch on the one webbing strap.

Front jeans pockets for the front of 2 purses adds an additional pocket to the front.

Scrappy denim with decorative stitching on the backs of the purses.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses #64-65 for 2025

Another 2 purses donated to Sew Powerful. The purse flap on the left I stitched decorative machine stitches, rickrack, couched yarn, added French knots by hand, buttons, ribbon with words, and crystals. The purse on the right I painted the background using a stencil and added an appliqué flower with double stacked buttons for the center of the flower. I love creating and experimenting on the flaps.

Denim purse body on left and cotton print on right.

Purse on left I even stitched a decorative stitch down the webbing. Needed to add a fabric strip to make pocket wider for the right purse back pocket.

Pin It Now!

Paloma Tote Weekender Bag

I tested the larger size Paloma Tote Weekender size bag by Imazz Patterns recently and she has it for a fantastic price right now at half price!!!

Grab the 50% discount on Etsy - only $4.99 (April 13-15). No code needed. Go here to Imazz Patterns on Etsy.

Paloma Tote and Weekender Bag (pattern includes 2 sizes) is a practical, simple and attractive bag. Intended for airport use and travel, the main feature is a luggage/trolley sleeve at the back (the optional plain/ no-sleeve version is provided). The bag can be use as a hand-carry in airplane and placed safely atop bigger suitcase. However, you can also use the bag for everyday needs, especially shopping or as a weekender bag. The two sizes will delight any big bag lover. So go ahead and choose your favorite materials, colors and start making this multi-functioning bag!

Bag features a front slip pocket, which I accidently placed opposite of the pattern placement 😜, a zipper pocket too. The back you have a choice of the luggage sleeve with a zipper pocket (or not) or a plain panel with no pocket. The bag closes with a recessed zipper or you can choose to add a snap if you prefer. Inside you can add a slip pocket or a zipper pocket or both.

For all of you who sew or quilt, this would also be a great bag to make with the back luggage sleeve to slide over the handle of your sewing machine trolley/cart too! Then you could put your project in the bag and wheel your sewing machine to a class or a retreat.

Slip pocket and zipper pocket on the front.

Divided slip pocket inside.

Luggage sleeve with a zipper pocket.

Using a quilt ruler to show the luggage sleeve. 

Medium Tote is 14" high x 14" wide x 4 1/2" deep.

Weekender (larger size which I made) is 15" high x 17" wide x 5 1/2" deep

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses # 61-63 for 2025

Three more purses donated to Sew Powerful. I fussy cut these Debbie Mumm fabric centers from a fabric I have had for years. I appliquéd them onto a fabric background and sewed fabric scraps around until I had the size I need to trim into the purse flap. Glad I could use those Debbie Mumm prints at last and scraps of fabric as well. All have denim purse bodies and webbing straps.

Backs with pockets.

Pin It Now!

Sew Powerful Purses #59-60 for 2025

Another 2 purses I donated to Sew Powerful. I used a fabric that had these sweet squares all over it and fussy cut them for the center, placing some on point if they weren't directional. I made several that are similar to these. It was a fun print to use scraps all around for the flap. I used denim for the purse bodies.

Pin It Now!