You Go Girl!

I'M SO HAPPY SALE!

Sun is shining. Birds are singing. Trees are blooming. Bees are buzzing. And this little slice of heaven is supposed to continue ALL WEEK long. I'm so happy I might lose my freakin' mind. Wait. I don't want to do that. Let's have a sale instead. All pillowcases in my You Go Girl shop are 20% off through Mother's Day, the best holiday EVER invented. Find my shop here. Use coupon code TWENTY at checkout. Happy shopping. Toodles. I'm going outside to frolic.

PS--Good light (a.k.a. a lovely spring day) really does make pictures better. Look at the lovely color in the photo. No photoshopping. Honest. My photos for my etsy listings are wanting for light. Pretend they are bright and lovely. Okay?

About that Blanket Stitch

About that blanket stitch...

Thanks so much for all your comments and suggestions regarding the blanket stitch on the Posh Pillowcase. I tried almost all your suggestions. Here's my take:

Skip Stitch Blade: Ummm. No thanks. Some people love this blade. My insane battle with perfection would not allow me to embrace this blade. I did not like the holes it left in the pillowcase. In fact, I have a pillowcase that will never leave the house. It will probably be repurposed into wallets or some such thing.

Sharp Hook: See Skip Blade above. 

Single Length of Yarn (photo above): This was a viable option. The yarn did not tangle and was easy to pull through the fabric even when it was a long length. A single length of yarn also seems to provide an adequate foundation. I personally do not like the look of the single length as well as the doubled yarn.

So what is my new solution? Sew the blanket stitch with a shorter-length doubled yarn in two separate pieces. Start your stitch as you normally would in the "pocket" by the seam. Sew around to the other seam ending in the "pocket". Remove your needle. Thread the second piece of yarn. Join your second length of doubled yarn to the first. Continue around the pillow case and join to your original yarn. You end up with two knots instead of one. I'm okay with that. This is probably only make sense to those of you that have tried the tutorial. So sorry if you are reading and wondering.

Now if your head is hurting from reading my drivel and you've decided to NEVER EVER EVER try to make a Posh Pillowcase, I have good news. I just listed ten new pillowcase in the shop. Woo Hoo!

Happy day,

Cassie

 

Too 'Girlish' for My Jeans...

I am on a mission... A mission to find a better way to put the blanket stitch around the edge of the Posh Pillowcase. Right now, the On the Edge tutorials (See them in my sidebar?) rate the Firm Foundation as a three-chocolate job on the difficulty scale. Yeah, right. I need a king-size Snickers every time I put the foundation around the edge. All that yarn twisting and tangling tempts me to blurt out expletives. I don't, by the way, I just WANT to.

I have TEN new pillowcases just about ready to go in the shop. This pillowcase binge has not been good for my waistline, people. I am a little too 'girlish' for my jeans right now, if you know what I mean. Spanx are looking like they might become a reality of my wardrobe. Nooooooooo. I LOATHE tight. I must stop the madness. I will.

The good news? I think I've had a break through on how to make the ol' blanket stitch more manageable. Will share more soon...

Captured by the Hook

I've been spending a lot of time with my crochet hook. She is my friend. My sewing machine is feeling quite put out. When I walk by my sewing space, I can hear her sigh and say, "Here we go again. This happened once before. Hello. Hello. Can you hear me? What am I? Chopped Liver?" I've been pretending I don't hear her, but I will have to give her some attention soon. She is so very good to me. I don't want to lose her allegiance. But that darn hook has captured my attention. 

So far I have completed two hats, two headbands, and have a third headband part way done.

I only have photographic evidence of this headband. The other bits of hooky goodness disappeared before I could get a picture. They are currently residing in backpacks and lockers, ready for action when the winter wind whips up. I like to see handmade goodness happily worn on the noggins of my girls. It does a mama good.

That's all for now.

XOXO~
Cassie 

 

CSI: You Go Girl

There has been some mischief afoot in the land of You Go Girl. A full investigation was conducted.

Follow-up: Victim of aforementioned crime spree has mitigated the damages caused by the vandal(s). She is very thankful that she put a stitch marker in her project to keep her stitches from unraveling. If she had failed to take such a precaution, she fears she would be filing a Missing Hat report in addition to the other charges.

Suspect is still holding tight to the Miranda rule.

Big Plans...

Big plans.

So excited.

We'll see if I can pull it off.

More later.

XOXO.

Cassie

 

Baby Bloom Hat

I sure wish I had a model for this little crocheted hat.  My picture doesn't do it justice, I'm afraid. I am dying to see what it looks like on a real baby. I'm telling you the truth. This Baby Bloom Hat is sweet as sugar and soft as dandelion down. I'm sure a wee little chick-a-bee baby girl would look like a delicious gumdrop wearing it. Who doesn't love a gumdrop? 

I had no one in mind when I made the Baby Bloom Hat. It's just that my divine Baby Bunny yarn wouldn't quit calling my name...Look at me. Look at me. I am so soft and yummy. You know you love me. I finally gave in and grabbed a hook. Now I have a very cute hat without a home. It's living in my shop right now. It is sized for a baby, probably 3-6 months old. Hat, anyone?

I just read what I wrote in the first paragraph. It sounds like I think I am all that and more. Not so. It's just that this hat is all aqua and red and little and sweet. I just want to eat it up. The cuteness makes me want to squeeze something. Hard. I feel like Agnes on Despicable Me...It's so fluffy sweet I'm gonna die. Watch Agnes at the end of this clip. That's how I feel.

 

But any one could make a Baby Bloom Hat. Truly.

Workin' on Some Posh

I worked up some Posh Pillowcases for the girls' birthdays. Isn't it funny how we craft for everyone but ourselves? I've made quite a few pillowcases and none of them resided at my house until now. It's kinda like the shoemaker's kid not having any shoes. Well, no more. There are four Posh Pillowcases on beds in my house. Girl number 5 doesn't have a birthday until June. She is going to have to wait. That's something for me to look forward to. I never get tired of stitching up some Posh (tutorial found here).

Playing Hooky

Things I should be doing:

• stripping wallpaper
• selecting countertops, flooring, and cabinets for a kitchen redo
• shopping for the birthday bombardment that is just around the corner 
• scheduling an appointment with a computer tech
• dusting my house 
• clearing my flower beds
• folding the load of laundry that has "de-wrinkled" at least 7 times
• washing the layers and layers of spring-thaw mud off my vehicle
• etc., etc., etc.

But I am not doing any of these things. I'm playing hooky. The rhythm of the crochet stitches and the feel of the yarn in my hands is balm for my being. Why is that?

Crocheting is not the only hook for me, though. Another little distraction I've been attending to is Downton Abbey.

I downloaded the season from itunes. I am hooked.

Hooked...Hooky...Playing Hooky. I should probably go now. I think I just might need to watch another episode.

Translation Please...

(photo found here)

I was so gaga over the images in this book that I bought it forgetting that I don't speak or read Japanese.

Seriously, can you even stand the eye candy? I think I have a cavity in my eye.

If only I could figure out what it says. Translation? Anyone?? Nevermind, it is enough just to gaze upon the loveliness.