T-Shirt Butchering

 To make Yarn.  I haven't been making yarn all that long, but I think I have figured out how to utilize the cutting techniques to get the most length per t-shirt and leave the least remains: which I am still debating if I can compost.
Steps 1-3:  Lay your shirt as flat as you can.  Fold it almost in half... you want to leave an inch that you will not be cutting and it is easiest to do if you fold with an inch to spare.  Using a rotary cutter cut off the hem.  Then cut one inch in width up to the fold line, be sure to cut the fold line, so you get through the folded hems side.

Cut across the rest of the shirt in one inch increments making sure to not go all the way to the other end, stop within one inch.  To finish this length of yarn put your arm cut in a diagonally across, please reference this awesome tutorial for more detailed photos.  Roll it into a ball.  I like to stretch the yarn out before balling it, makes it curl up on itself and also adds length :)

 Now move onto the top portion of the t-shirt.  Cut off the sleeves and then the chest and back from the collar and shoulder section.  

Next, look closely at the picture below, with the flat section of the chest and back will be cut back and forth, without cutting all the way through to the end.  It will have a bit of a bump in the yarn, but when you stretch it and crochet with it, it won't matter much.

 Connect the pieces of yarn together by cutting a small slit in both ends that you will be connecting.  Lay The one that you are adding on top of the end of your yarn ball.  Take the end and put it through the bottom and pull up through the two slits.  The end should go through the slit of the one it isn't connected to first and for more pictures and details this tutorial is a good reference and what I used when I connect strips of sheets.

Then Cut the hems off the two sleeves and cut them like you did the body tube of fabric.  Attach them to the ball of yarn with the slit technique as above.

Access the remains and decide what to do with them.  I have saved all the main body hems and have them hanging in my house as color inspiration and am trying to think of something to do with them.  The rest sadly I have thrown in the trash-- but so much less than any other butchering job out there.

Then go crochet something.

Project Bag

I have been gradually been getting back into knitting on the go, after the boys halloween gnome hats and Ben's fishing hat I can't seem to be anywhere without some knitting or crocheting. As much as I loved all the leaves and debris that stuck to the wool while out and about, I needed something that could keep things contained, easily fit in the diaper bag, bike trailer or clip onto the ergo (yes I can knit and walk, you should try it too).

So here is my project bag, so easy and so very useful. I have a bunch of projects nicely contained in each one. They started off as a produce bag idea, but I wasn't sure how well produce would do in cotton knit- is it breathable enough? I digress.

Cut a t-shirt.

Fold right sides together and stick some form of elastic as close to the top as you can easily do it.

I used some hair ties and tied a thread to keep it together while I sewed it.

Add a button on the middle of the top of one side and wrap the elastic around.

Here is the most amazing thing, I actually finished this bag (and 5 others) including hand sewing on the button in one sitting! That's how easy it was. Typical timing around here for hand sewing buttons: 2 weeks minimum- up to a year.

To Market

We are so lucky to have so many creative people in our lives. As we try to avoid all things plastic and embrace homemade when it comes to play things for the boys, it is great to get wonderful woolen knitted goodness. The mama sow and piglets have been a staple in Asher's play thanks to mama Kellie. Asher got the sow for his first birthday and the piglets for his second- they were called luca and leo for some time.I of course wondered if I could also knit some and over the course of the year have given my own sets out as gifts for little ones. I have to say though mama sow turned me off as she really was a lot of stitches and I felt the need for an in between pig- you know one of good market weight.And so I altered the pig pattern to create the Market Pig. A quick knit, with some finishing work. Finishing work is not my strength, but I think I have this dude pretty well figured out at this point so I thought I would share my pattern.

The Market Pig:
Cast on 24 stitches
knit 8 rows
Bind off 4 at beginning of next two rows
knit 8 rows
Cast on 4 stitches at beginning of next two rows
Knit 8 rows
Cast off 5 at beginning of next 2 rows
Knit one row, begin head decrease (you should have 14 stitches on the needle)
The decrease will be on either side of the center stitch for the remaining rows until 4 stitches are left to bind off.
Knit 5 knit the next two stitches together from the front, knit the next 2 stiches together from the back, knit to end (12 stitches)
Knit 4 knit the next two stitches together from the front, knit the next 2 stiches together from the back, knit to end (10 stitches)
Repeat until 4 remain and bind off, loop last stitch through to secure and cut a long tail to sew up the pig.
It should look something like this. Sew him up as is. don't try to match right sides or anything like that just sew the seams the best way you like and stuff firmly as you go. I prefer to use wool to stuff them and wool for the knitting, but then they aren't machine washable. Sew him up using that long tail of wool you left when you finished knitting. Should look like this, a little scary, no worries this pig is all about the ears. I have attached ears numerous ways and this is the most secure. With yarn needle and a length of wool your arm span go in through the rump. You will be bringing in the yarn to the ear spot securing it in the rear so you don't have to worry about winding in any loose ends.Pick up 4 stitches and knit four rows with the lenth of wool. Decrease on next rows until one remains and tie it through.Repeat for other ear, then take the ends and go back to the tail.

With all your ends at the bootie, braid them up and tie a know to secure them all and make a tail. Give it to your favorite kid and make another.

Pants

I think it is quite apparent that River is a big boy. And as well as EC is going I am not venturing into diaper free outings quite yet. Big baby + cloth diapers= incredibly huge booty. Typical clothing just doesn't do for the boy. And impatient parents that need to dress said, "wants to move all the time, wiggly worm ginormous baby" need something to get on that big booty fast. It has been time for awhile, and we are going the way we did with Asher- the T-shirt pant. Stretchy, economical and so easy. Grab yourself a pile of old shirts- I am trying to rid all evidence of the park district from my wardrobe so I have lots on hand. Find a pair of pants that you love your kid in, turn them inside out and fold in half to get one leg.Cut shirt out into the two legs allowig at least a quarter inch for seams. I like to then cut the front of the leg in a bit in the leg as I like the way they fit this way, it tapers it a little. If you look closely to the picture you can see the top is smaller, don't do the same to the crotch, well you can but then lining things up may be a little more difficult (not much though)Sew right sides together of each leg. Turn one of them rightside out (in?). Anyway, place the rightside one inside the wrongside one. And here folks is the magic.I first sewed pants in highschool and I remember being amazed by their ease and the almost magical way that they came together. Line up the right sides touching crotches of each leg, I definitely recommend pins here. Sew it up and voila, pants... not quite, but now they look awesome already. I like to get a bunch of pairs to this stage before turning on the iron and proceeding. With a hot iron, fold the pants about half an inch and then another inch, iron and pin. I really recommend not stepping the pinning here if you are going to skip anything, skip the iron. I get all my pants pinned and then sew them all in a row. Make sure to leave about a one inch opening in the round to get the elastic in. Measure the kids waist, subtract an inch and cut your elastic. Thread it through with a safety pin and sew the elastic together. I don't know about you, but it drives me crazy when the elastic twists, so I use thicker elastic and am pretty meticulous about making sure it is all going in the same way. Oh and pin the elastic to sew it, maybe common sense but I am known to try it without and I always have to remind myself to pin it. you can then finish sewing that inch hole for the elastic casing or leave it open. I choose to leave it open as my kids grow fast and then I can easily let out or replace the elastic...depends on who you are, I for one suck at finishing things so it is nice that this can be functional and the finishing can be excused.
Pretty instant gratification and easy wardrobe for the kids. I am planning on freezer paper stenciling some as well to funk them up a bit.