Upcoming Craft Show

Next week is the craft show at my work. Basically all the people that make or do side business type stuff can sell things in the building for two days down stairs in the main area. It's usually pretty fun to see all the different stuff people you know do that you didn't previously know about. While I'm excited about it I am really not prepared for it. Well, I am but I'm not.

I'm pretty sure I have plenty of stock between scarves and pendants but I just haven't organized it in my head yet as to how I want to set it up or display it all. I have some ideas but nothing solid. Just got a shipment of wire in today too specifically for show pendants and bracelets so I will be busy with that later this week and the weekend.

Most of the pieces I've made I have put on etsy but this moonstone pendant I made this weekend I am holding back. It's just really lovely and I'm not ready to let it go yet. Since I don't wear a lot of jewelry it wouldn't be worn and loved as much as it deserves if i kept it but at the same time I'm just not ready to give it up. So, I'll save it for the show and if it doesn't sell up to etsy it will go.


On the knitting front I finally finished a sock I had been working on a design for. Sadly it took me needing the needles the sock was on to finish it up. Now I just need to write up the pattern for it.

Weekend Knitting

To keep myself on track knitting wise I thought I would do an update each Saturday on what I'm currently working on or finished.

I finished one of two of these fingerless mitts. They are called Namaste Mitts and I bought them as part of a kit here on etsy. They fit incredibly awesome and are really fun to make. I have a couple of other projects I'm working on so these have taken a bit of a back seat but I definitely will be getting to the second one soon.


I also recently finished this slouchy hat/beret. Pattern can be found here. It ended up being a bit big which is good but bad.


It's really slouchy like I wanted but doesn't really fit at the ribbing. I haven't done it yet but I plan on buying some of those small, plastic hair combs and sew two of them in the ribbing so I can still have my slouchy hat and have it stay in place.

The newest project I'm working on, which I started yesterday, is a blanket that will be made out of sock yarn. It's called a Barn Raising Quilt and is a pattern from this book. It's basically a bunch of 7-7 1/2 inch squares knitted out of sock yarn scraps. Of course I'm not knitting mine out of scraps and am doing it in a rainbow type pattern. This block I'm working on will have an orange center and then red around it. I just started the red so it's kind of hard to see.

Christmas in July? Well...Almost

Here is a picture of my latest test knit...a Christmas Stocking. I know the person I'm test knitting it for on Ravelry is planning a July Knit-a-long so it really will be Christmas in July. It turned out wonderful for just using up some leftovers of yarn in my stash. Now I just need to make two more before Christmas. One for Dave and one for Garret.

Yesterday I got in my box-o-yarn for the color work project I have planned. The colors are all as expected so that will possibly be started this weekend. I'm anxious to start on it but I really need to figure up a few other things on it design wise so that puts me starting it Saturday.

Halfway through the year

I'm still trying to figure out where the time as gone. It's definitely been a whirlwind of a year so far between Dave and jobs and watching the wee one grow up and the new things he learns every day.

Today I am starting a new eating regiment. I hate to say diet because I really don't want this to be that. Right now I'm taking notes out of the Eat Clean Diet book by Tosca Reno. I've done similar plans in the past and they have worked for me but was usually really strict and just not something I wanted to adopt for long term. So I'm giving this a try and just spent way more at the grovery store this weekend then I usually do but my fridge is now stocked full of fresh vegetables and fruits so that's probably a good thing.

I've been busy knitting lately. Did another test knit of an anklet type sock and am working on another now that is a Christmas stocking. It's turning out really cute so I'm anxious about that. I feel like I'm finally using up some of my stash yarns instead of just adding to it. Also am working on some cute fish socks for a Knit Along. One's finished but just need to fo the other. I also ordered some yarn for a pair of long armwarmers that is going to have some detailed colorwork that I'm designing. I think I have the design down just hoping that it transfers to knitting as good as it looks on paper.

After last month I've been a bit lax in creating new jewelry. Did up a larimar set that turned out absolutely beautiful as well as made a couple of labradorite pendants. I also have a moonstone one I need to list but just hasn't happend yet.

New Stuff

This month has been super busy. Between playing catch up with jewelry, doing classes at the knit shop and personal knitting I feel like I've been going non-stop. I am definitely looking forward to the 3 day weekend coming up.

On the knitting front I am still working on that shrug. I hate to admit it but right now it is hibernating. I just can't bring myself to owrk on it right now. This weekend also starts the Gothsock knit-a-long. I have been totally hoarding this yarn here lately and recently picked up three skeins in her shop update AND got in on the sock club that opened up yesterday. I already have the pair of socks I want to do picked out and I also plan on doing some arm warmers since this knit-a-long is from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

As for my shop, sales have been terrific this month which is great but is kind of bad in that if you don't have as great of a month the next month it's kind of depressing. For now I'll take it and be happy though. If next month is a slower month sales wise at least I'll have time to make new things. I ordered some new supplies a couple weeks ago that came in last week and I've been having fun with that. One of the things I purchased were these sterling silver flower bezels that fit 6mm cabs. Here is the first bracelet I made where I set jade and lapis cabs in them.

I sold a lot of wire wrapped pendants this month and am trying to replenish the stock. I also finally found some carved shell cameos for a decent price. Here are the two newest pieces. I love both of these so much, they turned out beautiful.

Test Knitting

This past weekend I did some test knitting. It was the first time that I had ever "signed up" to do something like that and test out someone's pattern. The pattern was for this scarf

It turned out better than I expected considering at first I wasn't really sure how the two yarns would go together. But it's beautiful and it was fun being a test knitter too. Definitely something I'm going to keep my eye out for in the future when people need patterns tested.

I'm slowly making progress on that shrug I mentioned in earlier posts. At least I'm down to the decreasing part of the other arm now so that is a relief. This coming weekend I suspect I'll get some more serious work on it done. I also made this really cool cabled bag. I need to piece it together and find a strap for it but it turned out beautiful, so pictures of that coming up when I get it all finished.

I've sort of been in a pendant making slump lately. I got a little bit of inspiration last Thursday when I sold 6 pendants in 3 days and then I made this piece and it litterally sold within minutes of listing it on etsy. That was a shock.

I also have these two newer pieces posted as well.

Daylight Savings Time

I hate when the time change goes into effect. It seems just when I'm used to everything the way it is it's 7:00 in the evening and still daylight out. I prefer it when it's the time of year but it still takes some getting used to.

As I've said before I've been on a knitting kick. I think the reason I've been on this kick lately as I've been picking projects that I can finish so there's a bit of instant gratification in that and the need to start and do another project.

I still haven't gotten a picture of the bucket hat I finished last weekend but this past weekend I made an adorable little monster for Garret. I bought the pattern off ravelry from this etsy seller. I modified it some so he has horns instead of ears but it turned out really cute. I named him Iggy but Garret just calls him "monster" eh, whatever works for him I guess.


I'm in the mood to do something different with my hair. A couple of weeks ago I dyed it a dark black/burgundy color and before putting the dark dye on it I used this dye from L'Oreal called Fuchsia Flash to had some dark pink/reddish color. I like the pink mixed it with the darker color but now I want it cut differently. Right now it's just straight and boring.

Stone Shawl Pins, Redeux

Last weekend I finally got around to playing with shawl pin designs again. I posted previously with a picture of a prototype shawl pin that was clay and had a stone in the middle held by sterling silver prongs. The problem I had with it was it didn't hang right for a shawl pin and I wasn't 100% happy with it. Interesting and beautiful? Yes. Exactly the best design for a shawl pin? Not quite. So, back to the drawing board I went and I came up with this idea...



I love it way more than the others design I had. It big, bold and definitely different for a shawl pin which is exactly what I was wanting. The stones are 30mm(about 1.25 inches across) and I have a supplier I know I can get this specific size from on a regular basis. Since these shawl pins are kind of big and not everyone would have a use for ones this large I'm thinking about trying to find some place that has 20 or maybe even 25mm round stones which would be about .75in or a full inch across to make some a bit smaller. I'll just have to check around and see what I can find and what works best. The best thing about it is I feel like I'm getting to combine both my love for jewelry making and working with clay and making something that is just beautiful.





On the knitting front I am so back into that it's not even funny. I think I have 3 projects ongoing right now or if I don't there will be. I'm still working on my shrug which is slowly but surely getting there. It's turning out really nice and should be kind baggy and airy so I think it will be great for spring. I'm still working on the dragon scarf/hood for the little one but it's sort of moved to the back burner for now. I also have a sock I'm working on that will probably get donated to the knit shop to be a display piece. I really like making the small ankle/footie type socks but just not that excited over making the regular length ones. The next project I want to work on is a vest. I picked up this beautiful blue and light green varigated yarn last Saturday at the yarn store for it and now just ned to adjust a pattern I have that calls for a different gauge yarn.





On the knitting front I am so

Dinosaur Roar

I've been in the mood for some quick knitting and wanted something I could make for the G-man or put in my cube at work. I found this cute little pattern for a small dinosaur using fingering yarn on ravelry and I believe the pattern is literally called Dinosaur Roar!. I had some green and brown left over from some ankle socks and arm warmers so I made a little one first. Then I decided to use some blue and green worsted weight yarn to make a bigger one.


The pattern calls to make each piece individually. While making the first one I found that it didn't take long to make but I hate piecing small pieces together. For the second one I modified the pattern so I could make all of the body in the round and stuff as I go. Then I make the legs and spikes and sew them on separately. Adding pieces on like that is way better than trying to seam sections of the body together. Plus, it really seems to make it go faster.

I have a bunch of scrap, left over yarn from projects so I see a hoarde of dinosaurs in my future.

Trying Out New Things

While I love doing my wire wrapping I have some stones that are too small for wire wrapping. Or they are at least too small for the work I like to do. I have done some metal working but I really just don't enjoy it as much as I do working with wire. I really wanted to start doing some stuff with prong settings and wire and alot of the stones I have aren't a perfect size that I can use a pre-made prong setting for. So, that only leaves doing it yourself.

I searched etsy for a tutorial on prong settings with wire wrapping and came across this ring tutorial. Since some of these stones are smaller I thought a ring pattern wouldn't be too bad to learn, plus I could understand some of the basics on making a prong setting out of wire. This was my first try, which didn't turn out half bad and used a labradorite stone I had.












Speaking of labradorite I recently listed this awesome looking labradorite pendant I call "Tempest" because of the blue section at the bottom that looks like a small storm.


And this moonstone pendant I called "Phantom" since the sutle blue flash on this one seems like it comes from the inside of the stone instead of across surface of the stone.


On the knitting front I am back to starting more projects that I can keep up with. I worked quite a bit on the shrug yesterday at the knit store and am finished with the one sleeve and am now a couple inches in on the back part. This will probably be my knit store project as I can go there, sit down and just work on it and it doesn't seem so bad.

Of course while I was there I picked up this pattern to make the G-man a dragon scarf. It's going quite fast and the more I work with it the more I'm thinking that instead of doing the head as it's shown in the picture I'm going to make it as a hood. Lets face it, it doesn't get that cold, that often here in Florida and if I make it into a hood he can use it more to play with and pretend he's a dragon.



I checked on my special ordered yarn and it will be 6 weeks before it shows up. Maybe earlier but that's the estimate right now. It sucks because I'm anxious to start on the hoodie but I also have these other things going on so that gives me time to finish them.

My New Project and My New Time Suck

Dave introduced me to my latest time suck which is a game for the original Nintendo called Castelian

Actually, the entire website that you can play them on is a time suck. They have just about EVERY Nintendo game that was made, even some foreign ones, and you can play them in your browser window. Definitely a great little bit of nostalgia.

I've started another knitting project, this time a shrug. It's easy enough of a pattern it's just b-o-r-i-n-g. I am not quite halfway through the main part and just a few rows short of finishing up the increases for the sleeve. I'm having a hard time staying motivated on it and can only do about 2 rows at a time before having to put it down. I love the yarn I'm making it out of though. It is a great heather green yarn that is made from cotton and alpaca. In fact the name of it is Avocado.

I'm also just placed a special order for yarn for this hoodie.



I figure it's high time I make one of these to replace an older hoodie I had that was similar in color that I had bought at the mall at a Charlotte Russe or one of those type stores. It was my favorite ever but the elbows eventually got worn out. I'm going to make it out of some malabrigo twist yarn in the color applewood.

Finished Cardigan, Hat and New Pendant

Today I finished the cardigan I mentioned earlier. It ended up that I did have enough bulky cotton yarn that I could use, just needed to hold two strands together. It turned out quite nice. I still have a few things to do to it like a crocheted border so I can put a button and button hole at the top. It also needs to be lightly blocked but overall I love it and can't wait to find maybe a denim sundress to wear it with come spring.

I also finally got a picture of my slouchy hat I finished. I'm starting a new one but just haven't been as "in" to it as other projects right now. It turned out pretty cute though and I'm considering making the beanie version with a plain or ribbed band instead of the cable for the little one. He looks adorable in a hat, he must get that from me. Haha.
















I'm getting back into my jewelry making and made this amethyst pendant earlier this week.


Just got pictures and listed today in my etsy shop. I also have a new design in the works for a clay and stone shawl pin. I think I'm going to work it up tonight and see how it turns out.

Jobs and interviews and none of it for me

Yesterday Dave had an interview for a job. He has been out of work since the end of October. This is the first interview in almost 3 months and he has been applying for 2 jobs almost every day. Dave primarly works in the Telecomunications/Networking type field so that tells you how the job market is for that right now in the Orlando area. I am really hoping he gets this job though, I think it would be perfect for him and that next step job level wise. We're hoping we'll hear something next week some time as they were only interviewing yesterday and today.

As for my side work with my jewelry and pins I haven't been very active. I have a lot of ideas written down on scraps of paper as well as new wire and stones but I just haven't been feeling it to get it done once I get home at night. I did make this really cool butterfly shawl pin out of two pieces of agate that were carved into butterfly wings, then I wire wrapped the body and everything.

Speaking of shawl pins and knitting as it is, I found out today that there is a new yarn store that has opened up near me. It's kind of funny because it is right across the street from the place that I used to work at. I'm thinking about stopping by on my way home today and see what they have. I LOVE the store that is closest to me now and I don't see me changing my regular place to knit and buy my yarn but it'll be nice to pop in and see what brands this store might have that my other one doesn't carry.

My new favorite socks

These are my first try at knitting socks and I love this little pattern. For those of you interested the pattern can be found here.

For me the challenge of knitting socks was never understanding the pattern it was working with the double pointed needles in the round. I never could seem to "get" it when it came to joining in the round and not twisting the yarn or having some huge gap. Finally, I "got" it while making a pair of fingerless gloves and then the possibility of making socks came to mind.

I wanted something quick and not too intricate and came across this footie pattern and thought it would be perfect. Everyone I talk to that has knit their own socks always raves about how much better they are than store bought and I thought they couldn't be that great....could they? Yes, they could! These have become my favorite thing to change into when I'm lounging around the house

Knitting, Knitting and more Knitting

Lately I have been on a knitting kick. Maybe this makes up for October - December when I had no desire to pick up the needles or stop by the yarn store I go to. My recent obsession are anklet socks. They're quick and functional as I hate wearing slippers because my feet get way too hot and I don't like wearing full on socks around the house so these have been perfect. I also have a hat that I made that turned out really cute and another on the needles right now out of this awesome cashmere blended yarn.

With my new inspiration to knit again I took a trip to the book store to find a new pattern book. I found a book called French Girl Knitting that has some lovely patterns in it. There are quite a few patterns in here I really like but this is the one that I'm planning on making first, I just need to find the yarn I want to use for it. (picture from book)

I've already seen some variations of it made with the sleeves longer and that is defintiely a tempting option since I seem to be cold all the time, even living here in Florida. It's made with a bulky yarn but I think it will make a great little cardigan type sweater for spring. Especially if done in a cotton of which I think I might have the yarn already....we will see.

Three day weekends

Well it is for me anyway. I'm taking tomorrow off because Saturday is my birthday. Apparently it will be a busy weekend for me too. Last night I got an order in my etsy shop for 5 pendants. It's from a person who has boughten from me in the past and I think has a boutique or consignment type store. Not sure but just a hunch which if I'm right I'm totally cool with. It's nice to know that someone thinks enough of what you make or do that they will put it in their store and even better when they keep coming back to you because it sells. Then after that this morning I received a shawl pin order and at lunch another order of two pins and a pendant. Happy early birthday to me indeed. So, this weekend I'll need to start making some more pendants to replace the ones sold to keep my stock up. I plan on making some extras that I won't list until the craft show in October that way if some end up selling right before I'll be covered and have ones to replace them so to speak.

With the suden income I went supply shopping. Got some more solder to finish off some pieces and work on other things as well as some more wire to stock up on. The price of silver has been rising like crazy. Seems like just early last month I was paying high $12 an ounce and now it's up to almost $17.

I started doing some knitting again. I sort of got away from it for a while and am starting to pick it up again. I think it's the upcoming fall months that makes me want to knit. Right now I'm working on a hooded zip sweater for Little G. I need to get another ball of yarn for the hood and sleeves but the body is finished and being blocked. I think it's going to be really cute when finished.

I also did a crochet scarf that has a woven look to it. I really love the modern kind of look that it ended up with. Too cool huh?

I have some other yarn that has been sitting in my stash that I think I'll make another one with.

On the metalworking front this is the second labradorite ring that I talked about in an earlier post. I bought this stone in a matching set of two so I have a second one to play with as well. The color is beautiful and it keeps that same color flash at just about every angle. I really like this curved triangle shape.

Going through my stash

So, today I decided to try and organize/go through my yarn stash. I have a front living room that is becoming my craft area and right now things are just sort of stored there so to speak. I am notorious for buying one or two skeins of yarn just because I like it's color or texture or just because the wind happens to blow a certain way on that day. Needless to say I have a bunch of yarn that by itself is good for little else than scarves if I just use that yarn alone. After an hour of trying to organize and categorize I gave up and decided that a trip to Lowe's is in order tomorrow to pick up another organizer and I'm grouping all my yarns by color. That way if I want to make a shawl or scarf with different yarns I'll at least have it all separated by colors and can choose that way.

While going through the yarn I also found bags that I had stashed unfinished projects in. One of the things I uncovered was a piece I was designing as I was knitting it. Originally it was supposed to be a sleeveless top that I was making in the round from the bottom up that would have a cowl neck at the top. The bottom part would be done in a semi lace pattern then below the bust it would turn to a stockinette stitch and finish up in the cowl neck.

First off my original gauge I did was either different then what I ended up doing on the piece itself or I just measured it wrong. I'm betting on the latter issue. I got to the place where I thought I would be changing to the stockinette stitch and put it on waste yarn and discovered it was HUGE. After all the work I had put into this ripping it out was NOT an option or it would never be done. So I decided with the shape it was and the size it was it would make the perfect caplet. Instead of a stockinette stitch at this point I change to a k1,p1 rib pattern to help cinch in the top as well as some k2tog around. It was going well and I tried it on again and really wasn't happy with it and knew I needed to do a couple more rows of decreases. I was tired of working on it as well as putting the multitude of stitched on the needle again so it just got stashed away.

All of this was before I got my bust that I use for taking photos of my scarves and shawls. When I found it today and put it on my bust and realized that it isn't as awful and I thought it was and really turned out quite nice. It does still need about 4 or 5 rows with some spaced decreasing but when it's done I think it will be quite nice. Here is a photo of it in it's current state.

Knitting in the Sun Review

I am a sucker for knitting books and magazines. My magazine collection got so large I had to break down and go through all of them tearing out the patterns I really loved and thought there was some chance of me actually doing and putting them all in a binder sorted by type, like sweater, top, scarf, shawl, etc. Honestly it's the most organized thing about my knitting which is sad considering how much yarn and projects I have stashed around the house.

This weekend I picked up a new book that came out this month (May 11) called Knitting in the Sun by Kristi Porter. Living in Florida I thought this might be a good book geared for our usually warm weather. It retails for $22.99 but I got mine at Borders using a 40% off coupon. There are 32 projects, so even at the retail price I feel it's a good value.


First off, let me tell you that my rule of thumb for buying a knitting or crochet pattern book is that if there isn't at least 4 patterns in the book that I like, I don't buy it. My thoughts on this is that your average, individual pattern sells for between $5-7 and your average knitting book costs about $21. So, if you can find 4 patterns in it you'd want to make you're doing good. Now, on to the review...

Obviously, the patterns in this book, for the most part, appeal to my style and what I enjoy to knit because I bought the book. If you like the layout of Interweave Knit books like Wrap Style or Scarf Style then you will like how this book is laid out as well as they are very similar. The range of levels for the projects in the book is a nice balance as well. There are things that would be good for the beginner as well as the everyday knitter.

These are the patterns I love and hope to be casting one of the on in the near future.

• Windansea - This is a cute looking sun hat which I find intriguing because you need to use millinery wire to actually form and shape the hat and I've really been wanting to make something like this. I bought a book about a year ago with a similar pattern but this one is just a much simpler pattern to do something like this for the first time.

• Queensway Bay - The pattern is listed as a "tunic" but this really would be perfect as a swimsuit cover-up or a cute dress for a stroll on the beach. I can totally see myself using one on a trip down to Sanibel Island.

• Bridgetown - A really cute long sleeved cardigan sweater with a leafy lace panel along the sides and as a border along the bottom.

• Coronado - A lovely shawl collared cardigan that uses a ribbed eyelet type pattern. This will most likely be the project that I do first. It was between this one and the Bridgetown and when I showed my husband he liked this one the best and I have to agree.

• Santorini - A short kimono style jacket that uses a great Wavy Lace pattern around all the edges. I don't think I would ever wear this but I'm contemplating making one for my mother in law because it looks her style.

• Haleakala - Have an old beach chair frame or an old beach chair that could use a revamp? This is the perfect update. The back piece is a great star/flower pattern that is just lovely

While these are my favorites there are some pieces in this book that are absolutely stunning but just aren't my style. I don't "do" knitted skirts but there are two long skirts in this book that are absolutely beautiful. There is also a very feminine wrap around top that has these great ruffle like sleeves and very romantic styled neckline. And yes, like all "summer" knitting books there is the knitted two piece bathing suit, but this one is a cute boy short and bandaeu like top that is a nice change from your typical triangle two piece suit you typically see.

The biggest dissapointment of this book for me was the short sleeve and long sleeve sections of the (the above mentioned wrap around top being the exception). They just didn't stand out and in my opinion were too similar to tops I've seen in knitting magazines over and over. There was also a lightweight hooded sweater that I really wanted to make based on just photos I saw and then when I looked at the pattern it covered 9 pages and in general I felt I could achieve a similar look with a much simpler pattern.

All in all I really do like this book and if you live in warmer climate area and looking for a book that caters to that type of knitting then I definitely recomend it.

Debating

This weekend has gone by too fast, or at least today has. Yesterday I made it to the knit shop which was nice. Since I don't have any more entrelac classes I gathered my displays that I had up there and brought them home. This is what I'm debating selling on etsy.

I learned how to do entrelac specifically to make this wrap. I picked out the Noro silk garden yarn, special ordered it and made it up. I have never worn it and it's been a display up at the shop. I made it because I thought the pattern and idea was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, I'm bad about picking out things to make that are absolutely beautiful but are not something I will wear/use. This is a prime example. I love it, I think it's beautiful but honestly the most use it will ever get from me is draped over a chair and I think it's too nice to just end up as something like that. So I really am debating selling it so at least it will end up with someone who will love it as much as I do but will actually use it.

Speaking of knitting I did pick up some new yarn. It's a green tweed looking yarn that is alpaca and cotton. It is an awesome blend of yarn that has the smoothness of cotton but the softness and lightness of alpaca. I'm intending on making a hooded cable vest out of it for the fall months. I also have a hooded jacket I'm making out of some chunky cotton yarn that is progressing. I only have the sleeves complete and maybe 4 inches but I'm also doing the back and two front sides at the same time so there's a lot more stitches each row.

My name is my own

Well, at least in the State of Florida it is, and no I'm not talking about my real name. I'm talking about my Wire Dreams Design name. I started the process of actually making my jewelry and crafting a legitimate small business. The first step to that is getting you "doing business as" name registered. I got the confirmation today and I should be getting the actual documentation in the mail in a few days. I'm excited because this is something that I've always wanted to pursue but have always come up with some excuse. Plus in looking into some of the craft fairs that are held around here you have to have the proper documentation of being a business to even get a booth. Looks like that second major in accounting in college may actually come in handy.

I'm glad tomorrow is Friday. I got absolutely nothing done work wise today. Well, I shouldn't say nothing I did get some things done, but not nearly as much as I should have. I have no idea what I'm doing this weekend though. I know Saturday will be at the knit shop because I haven't been there in 2 weeks. I just haven't been working on anything that I need that couple of hours of "quiet time" to get a good chunk of knitting done. Plus, it's been 2 weeks, I've got to check out what new stuff is in that I can't live without. Actually what I really need is a couple of good stash busting projects. If I was in to seeming I'd make a bunch of random patchwork type squares and make an afghan but I hate seaming almost as much as I hate sleeves.