Sunday Snapshot

Wedding Gift FO: Quilted Placemats

Last summer I was lucky enough to attend my friend Tara and (her now) husband Mike's wedding in Chicago.

As a fellow crafter I knew Tara would appreciate a handmade gift and I wanted to make something they could both use. Following this tutorial I made them a set of patchwork place mats.

Now I got a sewing machine a few years ago but this is the first larger project I've completed on it myself. I grew up watching my mother sew but I still feel like an absolute beginner in so many ways.

I also am not that precise in my crafting, when I make a mistake while knitting I'll only knit back and re-do it if it's absolutely necessary. When you're measuring and cutting fabric precision is a much better friend than a "whatever it works" attitude.

I'm happy to say these came out wonderfully. I love that they look homemade but still functional and usable. The tutorial was really easy to follow and I would recommend it for anyone who's looking for a place to start sewing. 

I love how great the front fabrics look together (yellow and gray, you get me every time) but I decided to back them in different colors and patterns, which gives them a fun reversible flair. 

The best part about all of this although it's taken me a LONG time to write about these here, I actually mailed them to the lucky couple two months after the wedding. I know traditionally you have a year to give gifts after a wedding, but with my track record of time keeping I think the earlier the better. 

I've been going crazy pinning sewing patterns these days and as it stops being one billion degrees below zero here in Minnesota I'm hoping to dive into some more sewing projects. 

Vogue Knitting Live 2013

Ok, It didn't take me a year, but man, it sure did take awhile. 

Without further ado. Vogue Knitting Live 2013! 

This year for VKL I wasn't just heading over as a local, I was actually traveling all the way from Minneapolis. It was a great excuse to go and visit some of my friends but let me tell you, I got some strange looks when I told people I was going to Chicago for a knitting convention.

Allyson put together a wonderful craft swap I got to pop into when I was in town. Who could resist that cheese spread?!

I also feel like these tea sandwiches really speak to how adult this whole affair felt. Tea sandwiches! How adult! 

I was lucky enough to stay with my friend Laura, who also comes along with one of my favorite four legged friends, Droopy. 

It wouldn't be a trip to Chicago for me without at least one stop for late night taco's. I've got plenty of favorites but these are just from a small Mexican place around the corner from my old apartment. 

The whole city seemed to be in the yarn mood. This was some street art from the northside. 

In hindsight I didn't take a lot of photos at the actual convention, although the lecture I took on Icelandic knitting from Ragga was awesome! I AM glad that one of the photos I DID take was of the American Girl doll clothing exhibit, because come one guys - American Girl Dolls. 

With that! I had a great time and I'm only a little embarrassed by how long this took me to get up. Here's to next year (hopefully)! 

Sunday Snapshot

Sunday Snapshot