Giant Knit Slouchy Beanie pt. 2!

When I made the tutorial for this giant slouchy beanie, I did it with two different colors of roving, but I really wanted try it in all white to see how it turned out. I used roving from Dharma Trading, which I am really surprised and delighted by, and my size 50 knitting needles. It took only a couple hours to finish, and I made it out on the balcony to photograph it just in time before it got dark.

And I really love how it turned out! It is super warm, very comfy, and quite cute. I'm always trying to be conscious of having cute winter gear, since it takes up such a large portion of my wardrobe. This fits the bill, I'd say!

I just love roving, and I don't think this affair is going to end any time soon, to be honest.

And yeah. I'm wearing this shirt for forever. Don't judge.

Tutorial for this hat is here, or you can buy the hat here. :)

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Super Chunky Knit Roving Hat

More chunks for ya! I had just the perfect amount of roving to make this hat and top it off with the fluffiest pom pom I've ever created. Pom poms? Are always in style.

I was hugely uncertain if this was going to work out, because I've never made up a hat pattern before. I needn't have worried, because it ended up being real simple! I started over once, because I had too many stitches on my first try, but once I got that nailed down, it was a breeze. Seriously, knitting on this scale is SO rewarding: I finished this in just a couple hours, frogging included. Once I get more roving delivered, I'll make a tutorial for this (as well as the cowl). Because it is so quick to make, it would make a great down-to-the-wire Christmas gift!

Sometimes I feel like I have the shortest crafting attention span. Do you ever get this? For example, in February this year, I decided I was going to get WAY into metal stamping. I ordered letter stamps, bought a steel jewelers block, metal blanks, leather and snaps for bracelets, and a hole punch/rivet setter tool. Within two weeks, I'd already moved on, and I've honestly done nothing with it since.

This isn't a great habit to get into, particularly because of the above investment (I always justify these as "investments"), but I allow myself to do this more than I'd like to admit. I have three unfinished sweaters I started on my knitting machine. I have a coat in process, pattern complete but only basted together. I am STILL finishing a sweater for my niece that I started in September (just have to seam it and weave in the ends). I have a despicable amount of fabric and yarn I bought with specific plans in mind and just haven't "gotten around to it" yet. I've been promising to make my brother a sweater for three years (even have the yarn!). Guys. This is NOT okay. I know sometimes, especially with a full time job, there just isn't the time to do everything you want to do, but--I need some discipline. How do you do it? Do you only ever have one WIP at a time? (I am SO envious of you, if so!) Do you plan your projects out by season and then stick to it? WHAT ARE YOUR SECRETS?! Give me your wisdom!

But to tie this train of thought in, I really love when I have a project in mind and the supplies already are living in my stash. Like this hat, and the cowl I made. And I also love when a project takes only a couple hours to complete, simultaneously satisfying my need to create and my need for instant gratification. While I take an enormous amount of satisfaction in a long-term project, there is something delightful about taking something from imagination to completion in less than an afternoon.

Please give me your project organization secrets! Clearly I need HALP. (And accountability.)

Also! This hat is available for sale HERE!

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone

This is a bag I made for the lovely Jessica for a Secret Santa Swap with the TB Gang. I was horribly late to make it and send it off--about a month, actually--but she got it a couple days ago so I get to post these photos. Isn't it neat, Jessica, that here this bag hung (from a moose antler...) in -10 degree weather, which you hate, and now it's sitting somewhere across the world on your sunny shores just a few days later? Airmail is awesome like that!





Aw, shoot, I don't remember the pattern I used for this. Something Simplicity. It wasn't too hard but I forgot to buy bias tape & since I live an hour from town, I made my own. Which wasn't a picnic. But it was worth it! This bag reminds me of a vintage apron a little bit. What do you think?

WALLET GIVEAWAY

OH EXCITING.

I've never done a giveaway before, and now seems like a perfect time. Watch the video if you like seeing me make a fool of myself, & then read the specifications below.



To win, you must:

• Be from the U.S., or have an address in the U.S. that I can send it to
• Become a follower of my blog
• Leave a comment on this entry with your email address

Contest ends midnight CST on Friday, January 15th.

& that is all. Thanks, darlings.

Mother's Day Bags

I made a couple items for the Threadbanger Guild Treasuries for May!


This is a scrappy wallet. I had the outer fabric all done up from a failed vest, so it was rather simple to make, actually. The inside is a recycled sheet, the outside all my pink & green scraps-- you will recognize most of it, I'm sure! I've had some of this fabric from when I was 11 or 12, believe it or not. (Seriously. Fabric is really hard to throw out!)



This is a record purse. I haven't posted my other two on here yet, because I don't have all the pictures on this computer, but I have made two others. I'm not gonna lie and say that they're fun, but I really love the result. The actual bag for this one was already pretty much made, which was really the only reason I got this done. I only had to sew the records on--which is, actually, the hardest part. It's more difficult than you'd think! I don't have a solid pattern made yet for these, so sometimes the bag is a little smaller than the record, but even if it's a fraction off it's extremely hard to sew it to the record. ((Sore fingers afterward.))

& if you were curious, the holes were made in the record using an old bent sewing machine needle, a candle, and pliers.

They're both listed on my website if you want more pictures! www.mateycouture.etsy.com

Cassette Tape Wallet

Although I was born too late to give/be given a mix tape, I always thought it was the cutest way to let someone know you liked them. ♥ Months and months ago (April? May?) I mentioned on here that I wanted to make a cassette tape wallet. I never got around to making one until today. It took me two tries (the first failed to such an embarrassing extent that I'm never going to post it on here, and this is the last time I'm going to mention its existence. Ever.)

Mom had this awesome orange and black cassette, and I had the perfect orange zipper to match! I took apart the tape (luckily, it was one with screws, so I didn't have to worry about prying it open), used pliers to break off all the plastic bits that were sticking out, and then sewed the zipper to the fabric band & bottom. Pulling out my trusty glue gun (haven't used one in years, actually!), I glued in some lining and then fit the sides/bottom/zipper part in. It's not the neatest job ever, but things get tricky when you're at the end and you have hardly any space to work with.

But this is the result, and I'm super proud of it! My old wallet was... well, very old, and this is funky & the perfect size. I'm making an LP purse to go with it. :)

I'm sorry about my recent neglect of the blog! I've been mostly working on spring clothing which I probably won't be posting until much later (when it's actually spring time), and for a while I just couldn't figure out what to work on at all. I call that losing my mojo, and sometimes a girl just needs to switch crafts for a little bit! So I've made envelopes and jewelry, and now a wallet.

Don't worry, though, I'm sure I'll be posting more soon. Just gotta get pictures.

I'll leave you with a lovely (haha) photo of myself:

I made the hoodie & the dress (which is not finished!) and Mom made the amazing blue hat. It's the softest Merino wool ever, and a beautiful cable pattern. (Mom is so awesome at knitting! Seriously.) It's adorable & slouchy and it's my new favorite thing to wear. ♥♥♥

It's Official!

That's right, folks. Matey Couture is officially an Etsy shop, as of about 5:30 this evening. Excuse me a moment... Thank you Mom!! I love you! (Because she helped me immensly, and besides, mother's day doesn't have to be just a day!)... Alright, in case you didn't catch it a few posts ago, here's the link: http://www.mateycouture.etsy.com/. I don't actually have anything listed yet because I don't have good photographs, but you can read my profile, check out my policies, correct any mistakes and grammatical errors, or if you're good with graphics, you can offer to make me a pretty banner. :)


With that epic news out of the way, let's move on to current projects. I've been busy lately, but unfortunately, I have pictures of only two projects--I'll post the others soon. I plan on taking photos outside if it ever gets nice out again (last time I checked, it was snowing...), so maybe I'll get them photographed then. If it never does, then I guess I'll take pictures inside. ;)

This is a fairly simple "Rock & Roll" tee I made out of green jersey patterned with cheerleaders, football players, random keyboard characters, tvs, stars, and other very, very random things in black, and in yellow it reads, "Peace, love, and rock & roll." I gave it a v-neck with puckers at the base of the v, and princess puff sleeves. This was my first successful attempt at puffy sleeves, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out! I just gathered the top, but the bottom edge has elastic for a good fit on anyone. I also added a brass button I got at an antique shop to the neckline. It was totally unintentional that "Rock & Roll" ended up in the center front, but I love that it worked out that way!





A few weeks ago I made gauntlets out of a bunch of scraps of jersey I had lying around. I themed them black and white, but threw in a little color for the flowers. Basically, I just cut out base fabric, pieced and zigzagged the scraps on, finished the top and bottom edges, and hemmed the thumb hole. They're stretchy so they fit snugly and comfortably, and they're just way too cute. I need to make myself a pair.

These gauntlets will probably be the first item that I list because it's easy enough to take good photos of them. I just can't believe I've finally waded through the sea of figuring out policies and how to set this up! I have my Etsy shop! Heh, I'm a wee bit giddy. My next post will feature a skirt made out of the most amazing fabric, another green shirt, and maybe even a couple t-shirt surgeries. ♥♥♥

Empire Waists, Spats, Sheets, Petticoats, and Stripes!

There are a lot of pictures ahead! You have been warned!

Yeah. I've been a wee bit busy in the sewing department. I recently saw "Becoming Jane", and I was really impressed with the costumes. I always admire movies set in a time of empire waists, because making the dresses real and historical, and yet cutting them in such a way that they don't make the wearer look three months pregnant is difficult. I was also extremely impressed with the menswear. The coats were fabulous, and don't get me started on the boots and hats. Anyway, after seeing the movie, I was wondering how such a period style would translate to modern clothing. Here's one thing I came up with (I still have ideas bouncing around my head.)

And this is me with my corset over it:

I'm still not sure what I should do on the length. I like it longer for a dress, but it'd be so cute if I shortened it to wear over jeans. Opinions, anyone?

Did you notice the darling little legwarmer/spat things? Made out of fleece using this tutorial.

I love them! I love the buttons, how warm they are, and how they go over the heel of the shoe!

Remember those sheets I dyed last week? I used the fitted sheet to make this:

No, your eyes do not decieve you-- those are, in fact, soda can tabs used to lace the dress up. Eyelets cost money, and I figured this would add a cute, interesting, recycled detail.

I used up most of the stripey fabric to work on my hoodie pattern. I'm pleased with how it turned out. The long sleeves were mostly free-handed, and I was nervous as to how they'd turn out. Luckily, they worked! Here's a question, folks: pocket or no pocket?



This is the hood. Ignore my wacky hair!

I also made a petticoat! I used the sheet scraps from the dress up above, and 1.5 yards of tule. It was fun and fairly simple, and really makes my skirts go poofy. (See above green skirt: I'm wearing the petticoat underneath.)

So that's all, folks. Now that it's really late and I'm going to be tired tomorrow morning from getting gussied up to take photos at ten and onward to this point at past the magic hour I should've turned into a pumpkin. Hope you enjoyed the pictures!