Duvet to Dress: ScrapHappy January

I’ve been holding onto this old duvet cover with a plan to sew something from it. It’s 100% cotton, and almost new as my youngest didn’t like using it.

My plan is to sew the Liston Smock dress from the plaid fabric. I may sew a petticoat from the striped fabric. Rosa Blue’s country style has taken my fancy, and although I don’t see any petticoats on her site, if you follow her instagram stylings, you will see some.

Today I ripped the duvet cover along the seams to free the fabric. I saved the buttons and button bands, because it’s possible I could use them for something.

Hopefully, I will have a dress to show you in February!

ScrapHappy is a group of bloggers creating with scraps. Anything made of genuine scraps is eligible to write about. If you would like to join in on the 15th of the month, email Kate at the address on her Contact Me page.

Here are the links for everyone who joins ScrapHappy on occasion.

Kate, Eva, Sue,Lynda,
Birthe,Turid,Tracy,Jan, 
Moira,Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny,Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann,Dawn 2,Carol,Preeti,
Nóilin, Viv, Karrin,  Alissa,
Tierney, Hannah and Maggie

Year of Projects: The Phantom Sewist

I finished sewing the New Look coat in the chocolate cherry, heavyweight cotton and wool fleece. The force was with me, and I managed not to break any needles. However, I do feel a little Jedi-like.

It’s warm, comfortable, and I wanted something I could throw on or curl up in. I think this fits the bill. I may even wear it as a bathrobe on really cold days.

I put my rigid heddle loom together. I am hoping to get it warped this week with the coral cotton and linen. I will weave the weft with the “clay” cotton slub. The towels should be a good complement for our terra cotta kitchen tiles, I hope.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) Update. The group is in its 14th year, but I have only been doing it for a few years. This is a Ravelry based group. You can learn more here.

Delicious Eats

I was craving bread, something I can’t normally have, and decided to throw together a low-glycemic, gluten-free loaf. It came out surprisingly good, though I may make a few adjustments next time.

Ingredients

1 cup cooked chickpea flour (uncooked is ok)

1 cup ground, rolled oats

1/2 cup ground pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup ground sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon ground chia and flax seed

1 teaspoon salt

2 room temperature eggs

4 tablespoons softened butter

1/2 cup gluten-free sourdough starter (can be omitted but add 1/4 cup of water)

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tablespoon honey

In a bowl, add the water, sourdough starter, and honey. Mix. Sprinkle the yeast over the top, and allow it to dissolve.

Blend the dry ingredients together in another bowl.

Once the yeast has fully dissolved, gently whisk the yeast mixture.

Combine the yeast mixture, dry ingredients, eggs, and room temperature butter, and mix well. This dough is more like a batter. At this stage, if it seems too stiff or dry, add more water until it’s about the consistency of cake batter.

Fold the batter into a buttered and parchment paper lined bread pan. Set it to rise in a warm spot for about an hour. Place it into the oven, then turn the oven on. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-45 minutes.

I made a grilled cheese with this, and enjoyed it with homemade tomato soup. I used yellow cherry tomatoes from the garden that were in the freezer, and this soup turned out so good! I used this recipe.

Friday Finish: Cotton Wool Plateau Joggers

I have made these joggers four times in different fabrics: Trainers French Terry in olive, Trainers French Terry in black, black 100% wool interlock, and now a cotton and wool heavyweight sweatshirt fleece.

This fabric is super warm, and wonderful for the cold weather we are having. I got such a good deal on it ($10 per yard) I ordered enough to sew a coat!

Will I wear them together? I would like to say no, but on a brutally cold day, I can’t imagine any outfit more toasty and comfy.

Pattern is Plateau Joggers by Closet Core Patterns. Fabric is dead stock wool and cotton sweatshirt fleece from Fashion Fabrics Club. Here is a link to my review on Pattern Review.

Wednesday WIP

I am making good progress on my Wearing Cardigan. I am almost to the point where I should decrease for the waist, but I still haven’t decided if I will.

I love this yarn. It is Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, and so squishy. It’s a little toothy, so probably not for everyone.

2025 Year of Projects

This year I am starting small. I put away my 2024 holiday works-in-progress. I will pick them up again next fall, or maybe for Christmas in July.

WIPs

I have been knitting a pair of Canadiana socks for Bob. I hope to finish them before Valentine’s Day. They are inspired by the Hudson Bay Company blankets. I had no idea these blankets went back centuries — or were used for trade — when I started knitting the socks. I thought Bob would like them, and that was the end of my decision.

Accusations have been made the blankets were used to infect indigenous communities with smallpox. There are also rebuttals saying the story was invented. There is no evidence to support the claim. But let’s face it, before the knowledge that microorganisms cause disease, smallpox could have been spread that way accidentally. I recently learned of a village in the UK that died out from plague as a result of cloth being brought in by a merchant from London.

I am still knitting the socks. But I had a good long think about it.

New Cast Ons

It’s important to me to knit a new cardigan for myself. My New Year’s cast on is the Wearing Cardigan in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, color Soot. I found some mismatched vintage buttons at the Great Lakes Fiber Show that I will be using.

Many years ago, I knit the Working Shawl from Nordic Knitting. It was one of my first knits, and I made many mistakes. (Knitting it in black was one of them.) I discarded it and promised myself to knit it again one day.

In April, I will be meeting friends at a fiber festival in a Salem, MA. I am hoping to have this shawl finished by then. I am knitting it in burgundy Cascade 220 sport.

My goal this year is to be a mostly monagamous knitter. I will keep a mindless knit on hand, but primarily I want to try to focus on one project at a time.

Sewing

It’s the year of the frock for me. I have a couple of patterns I would like to sew.

One is the Liston Smock Dress. I might sew a toile from the check side this old duvet cover. I have been inspired by vintage fashion, and I may sew a matching petticoat out of the striped fabric.

If it turns out well, I have some silk to try.

I love this dress pattern. I’m not sure what fabric to sew it in. I won’t worry about that right now.

I will sew another Mocha Betsy dress in some gray Shetland flannel. I’m not sure yet if it will be a nightgown or a winter dress.

Natural Dyeing

I signed up for a A Year of Natural Dyes with Dogwood Dyer. I won’t be doing the tutorials as they are released, but I will hang on to them until I get a chance to try them in a project.

Rug Hooking

I purchased a frame to make my rug hooking project a little easier. I would love to finish it this year.

Weaving

I finally ordered a rigid heddle loom. My goal is to weave a tea towel this year.

Beekeeping

Bob and I think we want to keep bees. We have signed up for a workshop with the Central Ohio Beekeepers Association. Once we learn more, we will know more.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) Update. The group is in its 14th year, but I have only been doing it for a few years. This is a Ravelry based group. You can learn more here.

Zhuzhing up the New Year

We took a hike on New Year’s Day to Dillon State Park. We are participating in ODNR’s Winter Hike Series. I checked in via Outer Spatial, posted a pic, and earned a badge. ⭐️ If the gold star is what it takes to get me outside in the cold, I’ll take it and laugh at myself.

I have enhanced the pic above, because if I hadn’t, it would be a sea of brown. Zhuzh it up!

I love Turkey Tail mushrooms, and caught a glimpse of these on the trail. I would love to get some growing in our woods.

I decided my word of the year is “enrich”. The goal is to enrich my life while enriching our finances by paying off debt and saving. It is technically a “no buy” year, except for trips — I have a few planned — and of course necessities. I will have to zhuzh up my life in other ways! Wish me luck and fortitude. I’m going to need it.

Cap Off to the Old Year

One for the rroooaaad…

I finished another 2024 project! It’s a beanie based on my own recipe in Knitting Notions sport, color garnet.

Happy New Year!

2024 Year of Projects Round Up

Finished Knitting (all links are Ravelry project links)

I completed 7 knitting projects this year:

1. Teeny Weeny Beanie
2. Horror of Dracula socks
3. Super Simple Summer Sweater
4. Jessica Jones Cowl
5. Little Witch Charm Set
6. Hansel Hap in Ramsey Farms Shetland
7. Cozy Autumn Socks in Cornbread and Honey Sangria

Completed Sewing

The highlight of my sewing year was making the Cozette dress from natural raw silk for our oldest for her wedding. She wore it to the rehearsal dinner instead of the ceremony, but I still enjoyed making it. I like the side view because you can see the side gathers and how well the bust fits.

1. Black Plateau Joggers
2. Wedding Dress for Mackenzie
3. Mitchell Trousers in yellow cotton/linen
4. Zalia Dress in red linen
5. Pietra Shorts and Zalia Blouse in yellow linen
6. Helena Wrap Dress in tropical cotton twill
7. Black Phillip Tiered Skirt
8. Holiday Flannel Nightgown

I made several pair of PJ pants this year for me and Bob. I think next year I will upload my projects to Pattern Review and link to them there.

Side Quests

This year Marilee and I started the Yarn Ghouls podcast. We have had a lot of fun, but I need to step down from it. It causes me too much anxiety to put myself out there like that. It is also a lot of extra work for both of us.

Bob and I made syrup from the sap of our black walnut trees. It was delicious. We also have sugar maples, so this year we are planning to tap both kinds.

I have been making my own cold cream this year using this recipe. I clean and moisturize my face with it, and my skin looks better than ever. It’s even helped clear up my mild rosacea. I have also been making my own deodorant and lip balm.

This has been a Year of Projects (YOP) Update. The group is in its 14th year, but I have only been doing it for a few years. This is a Ravelry based group. You can learn more here.

Advent Reveal

I enjoyed opening my yarn advent from Wool Maiden this year.

The colors are what I would describe as “frosty nature”. I’m not sure what I will make, but probably something simple that will show off the yarn.

I hope all who celebrate have a peaceful holiday season!