FABLE Continues

FABLE (Fabric or Fiber Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy)

With Hancock Fabrics stores now closed, I have a scarcity mentality. I feel l HAVE to buy what I want when I find it. No matter what. Jo-Ann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, or Walmart just doesn’t have the fabrics I love. Those are my local choices now, sorry, only if I’m desperate. 

Sorry too, online fabric shops, I need to see and feel the fabric before I buy. 

Sigh…

Or it’s my version of FOMO (Fear Of Missed Opportunity)

Sigh

What can I say…my favorite fabric, 100% handkerchief linen, at 60% off at a store with zero customer service & 900 miles on a road trip. I’m buying. I haven’t visited SR Harris Fabrics in 30 years. It hasn’t changed. If you are easily intimidated by an abundance of choice don’t even bother. You will be overwhelmed. 

Aisle of linen & linen blends at SR Harris Fabrics

In 30 minutes, I bought chambray blue, cranberry, and navy. Took a chance on linen single knits in charcoal grey and teal. Knowing the hand knitted linen tends to bias (look wonky crooked), I’m a bit worried these might do the same. 

knit & woven linen from Harris Fabrics for dresses & tunics

That’s a lot of potential summer outfits. 

And how could I resist 50% off decorator fabric remnants for my bags. More linen and cotton. It might have taken 30 minutes to find good choices. 

Linen & cotton for project bags

Then there was the novelty fabrics I really was looking for…not as successful there. You would think I’d find something worthwhile in 8 long, unorganized, rarely labeled, aisles of novelty prints. 2 hours of hunting these aisle with few good choices. 

1 of 8 aisles of novelty prints

No regrets. 
I feel much stronger than six months ago. I can do this. Really I can. 

Happening soon, another opportunity to hunt at another favorite fabric shopping destination in Dallas.  But must stick to specific shopping list for here.

1. A warm grey lining for custom cross body bag. 
2. Those novelty prints. 

So much for shrinking my existing fabric stash. 

Roadtrip Pictures

Quincy bridge on the Mississippi river

Sunrise over the St. Croix river

Morning walk along the St. Croix river

Waiting for hubby at airport

Early morning visitor, a pileated woodpecker

Standard Minnesota weekend on a lake

Must see Largest Ball of Twine in Darwin Mn

Old Washington county courthouse jail

Jackpot find of handkerchief linen and knitted linen

Hopelessly looking for specific novelty print cotton

Stashing Continues

I’ll fill in the blank in a few days. Too many things happening still (Don’t worry, all good).

Stashing, Not Destashing

Forget about KonMari decluttering system at least for this month. 

Instead of tossing away clothes that didn’t spark joy. I started playing with them. 

Overdyed this mauve dress with purple and shortened it from a maxi to knee length. Love the color except it’s a blotchy dye job. Next step is shibori the dyeing. This month I am all about accumulating, acquiring, loading up, but not quite hoarding. 

Shibori overdyeing silk dress prep

• Hancock Fabrics in our area is closing in a few days. I’ve spent a lot on just about every craft supply I MIGHT need and then some. Except someone else acquired ALL the batik fabric. Darn!
• I am following a lot of SSK vendors (yeah, I moved Instagram back to my main screen.) This helps me plan for the marketplace next Saturday. And I may have already purchased and received yarn from one vendor, Leading Men Fiber Arts.  
  

  Midnight Renderzous in Soliliquy Gradient by Leading Men Fiber Arts

• SSK will be my first big trip since changing to the ketogenic diet. The retreat center has wonderful food. Not a lot of extra planning and preparation needed, except creating fat bomb snacks and electrolyte drinks. I’ll just enhance everything else with a bit of MCT oil. 
• Got the Instant Pot pressure cooker along with a million others on Amazon Prime day. It’s been on my wish list for a year. Already made hard boiled eggs, meatloaf, steamed veggies and collard greenies. This thing is definitely my favorite kitchen tool besides my knife. 
  

  Newest kitchen toy/tool

• Prepping easy meals for hubby while I’m away. 
• The sneaky veggie garden is at maximum production. Spinach picked and eaten. Double batch of pesto has been stashed away in the freezer. 
  

  Opal and sweet basil prepped for pesto

Sewing Slowdown

Why  do I always think progress should be on a smooth incline? 

Apparently my fatigue/energy level is still fluctuating. There were a few days that were spent taking lots of naps. But most days of ‘normal’ energy levels. I’m hoping for more and more normal days.  

Even so, I can check off some things done.

Modifications were made to the cubie bags and given to testers. 

Modified cubie bags given to testers

Three more for spinners are finished. 

Cubies for spinners, satin lining

Two Japanese knot bags and two cubies were given to Laura for SSK door prizes.

Japanese knot bag for SSK retreat doorprize

Two pairs of socks were finished. 

Up and Out sock designed by Laura Linneman, sock blank by Gale’s Art

Socks on a plane design by Laura Linneman, yarn by Cyborg Craft Room

One shawl started. 
Tour de Fleece started this weekend. Which means more than normal fiber friends are showing off their spinning projects. Which means I have moved Instagram to the back of my apps. Unfollowing friends was becoming a ridiculous process, so hopefully, extra swipes will be too much work to go find Instagram. 

Now it’s time for a nap. 

Chat with you next week. 

I’m Sewing!

I’ve been a good girl. I didn’t look at floor looms or weaving stuff. And only once admired Laura’s new Saxony spinning wheel at Knit Night. It’s beautiful and amazingly quiet. But not something I have to have. 

I did get back to sewing projects for SSK door prizes. Of course, I started with a new idea. It’s not perfect yet. One is being tested with two color brioche knitting. So far she is happy using it like a yarn bowl. 

Earliest versions of cubie bags with elastic loops

 

Modified version of cubies with snaps

However, I’m stuck on solving the wrist/handle problem. I might need to let this marinate for a week. 

Handle ideas for cubies

The second project, two Japanese knot bags will be done before next Knit Night. 

Japanese knot bags in progress

The third project, slouchy hobo bag might be done by the end of the week. 

The fourth project, my second version of a cross body bag is marinating on Blue Gal. I’ve been using version one. Love the comfort, but it needs more capacity and pockets.  Since version two is already cut and mostly sown, I need to solve the volume modifications creatively. I think I’ll have to add a gusset at the bottom.  (I just can’t waste expensive fabric.)

2nd version of crossbody bag

Ok, at the moment, it looks like half Wilma Flintstone dress. 

Fabric Stashdash: Not KonMari-ing

The Knitgirllls have an annual Stashdash for fiber, with yardage goals (3k, 5k, 7k, 10k, 15k & giveaways gifts. I am not participating in this event officially. I don’t need the pressure to produce a lot of knitting (and as mentioned last don’t want to be tempted with spinning).

Though I do love idea, the incentive to finish WIPs or use up stash. I might at least do that. I do have at least two shawls and a few pairs of socks I can complete. At an average 400 yards per project, that would be a measly 1600 total yards. Not even close to the easiest goal posted. 

So I’ll participate in spirit. 

I prefer to focus on my own fabric Stashdash. Thinking about officially closing my etsy shop has freed me from saving all my fabric stash for the business. Don’t worry, I never expensed the fabric so the IRS won’t care. 

I definitely increased my stash beyond manageable levels while running the Esty shop.  And if I’m totally honest, shopping for fabric was my favorite part of the business. I just did too much of the shopping and not enough sewing. Fabric sparks joy. More fabric sparked more joy. All the potential projects….Sigh…follow through, not so much. Sewing not so much. 
Now, I’m looking for every possible easy project to consume all this fabric. I have given myself permission to change things out. Ok, so this is the KonMari part. I’m tackling the things that don’t spark joy. And turning them into things I love. 

The first were the kitchen bar chairs. Posted about these a few weeks ago. 

The second is the 12 year old living room throw pillows. Not sure why I lived with the ugliest pillows for so long. We called them, Chewbaca pillows. 

Ugly furry pillows

New batik, silk, & microsuede pillows

New pillows sparking joy

I love the new color direction this is taking. The house was originally painted in browns, gold,and greens. Not my favorites. 

Now I’m inspired to add more blues in more places. Definitely more blue ceilings than one one experiment last year. 

Finally found a bright spot for blue bottles I’ve had for 15 years. 

Blue olive oil bottles

You’d think I planned all of this. You’d be wrong. I’m just discovering what now looks obvious. 

Next project

Next projects: blue borders for the living room drapes and re-upholster the guest room headboard. Maybe painting the living room if my knee -and ankle is better soon. 



Medium Project: Recover 4 Chair Seats

Apologies for not posting. Life and mind were elsewhere. 

This project happened because:

• I want to use up my fabric stash
• I’m done living with uncomfortable chairs for 25 years
• I wanted something to better color coordinate with the kitchen. 

Surprise! It took a whole day to accomplish and a bit exhausted the second day. 

Very very happy with the results. 

I bought two 2″ x 18″ x 23″ foam prepackaged at the craft/fabric store. I was in too much of a rush to wait for an employee to cut exact length for me.  I did seat test it on the store floor. Just to make sure I was getting the right amount of squish. Remember this project is as much for aesthetics as comfort. 

I had several choices if fabric in the studio. I choose the most practical, sturdy, & not too thick to staple through. 

Out with the old.

Cutting the foam to size was easy with the electric kitchen knife. I’m so glad I learned this trick. 

 

Use an electric kitchen knife to cut foam

  
 

Pulling out the old staples was the toughest part of the job. Flat head screw driver and needle nose pliers and a lot of patience got it done. 

One chair’s worth of staples done. Three to go.

Using a good stapler makes a big difference. I would not have enough grip strength with the old fashion one. Better still would be an electric one. But not for an occasional project. 

  
I forgot to take before pictures. 

Cut the fabric with generous length & depth for stretching and stapling to the back. I had 81-12″ extra. Cut the excess after all the stapling is done. 

Like all things that need a tight fit. You start stapling at the center of one side. Then alternate to the opposite side. I couldn’t take pictures of the process. I was kneeling on the seat to squeeze the foam down & pulling the fabric as taut as possible & stapling it down.  No free hands to take a photo. 

 

Basic stapling sequence. 1-2-3-4-a-b-c-d-etc

 
 

Corner

 

Here’s the after. 

 

Newly recovered comfy chair.

 
Yeah! Success. 

DIY cost:

• Fabric $3 for 1.5 yards
• Foam $10 for 2 (on 50% sale)
• Lots of staples
• Lots of elbow grease and time

Chat with you next week. 

Next Sewing Project

I am waiting on some supplies and a fabric decision from a client to start the next projects. 

She saw my bag when I was in California a few weeks ago. 

‘Carp’ Slouchy Hobo bag, handmade by me

 
In the meantime, I decided to attempt another prototype for a cross body bag. I love the big slouchy hobo bag, especially in knit night. Just one thing to carry. I have decided it still needs a few tweaks, such as a magnet snap closure and a nice brand label. I have a bit of experimenting to do. 

But plant shopping last week was a bit awkward. I definitely need a sturdy cross body bag that I can sling out of my way and have two free hands to carry around pots. 

Some thought on the cross body bag:

• Enlarge bag pattern I made for Mom (maybe)
• Change the strap attachment to a tab and D ring
• Make the outer pocket a zipper
• Add a zipper interior pocket
• Use a lighter color lining
• Use a textured vinyl for the exterior

Delay that thought for another week. 

The client has made a decision. So excited to be working on this next one.  She pick fabric called Utter Madness. It’s a soft textured microfiber. 

Client fabric choices…hmmm…Which one is Utter Madness?

 
Next task…finding the right lining and trim. 

Too Hot to Think

It’s extremely hot and humid in the South this week. It was hot’n’humid last week, but I was too busy at a retreat to let it bother me. This week I have to crash. 

At the retreat, I met lots of new to fiber crazy people. Made new friends and learned new crafty skill (dyeing silk and wool).  So much fun. Definitely want to play some more with dyes. Got some great ideas from Gale (Galesart.com, the instructor) that I hope to incorporate into my bags. 

Do I have enough brain power for paperwork? Hmm…

The Etsy shop has been updated with the new hobo bag. 

I’m thinking of calling them Lefty or Righty bags. 

What do you think of the name change?