I love my home state more than I can put into words. The extreme weather we have seen here in the last two years between forest fires, blizzards, and floods has effected so many lives and destroyed so many homes. Last weekend, I took my visiting aunt up to Rocky Mountain National Park. We have a yearly pass to this place which is truly one of my absolute favorite spots in the whole world. For us, it is a quick hour on Highway 34 up a mountain canyon along a small river and we can hike through some of the most beautiful mountains in existence. Below is a video of what that road looks like today. My heart is a little broken knowing I won't be able to visit my sanctuary for a while. Here in north Fort Collins, we are cut off from south Fort Collins. The city is shut down and just about every road that crosses the Poudre River is closed in case it takes out a bridge. All of I-25 is closed and lots of it is covered in water. The Red Cross has set up at my old elementary school. I'm completely safe, but my heart is breaking for all the fantastic people in this state. Love to you Coloradoans - the best people in the world!
Friday, September 13, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Pineapple Leggings DIY
So I'm teaching dance this year, and wanted to show off my crochet in some pants I can dance in... TA DA... the Pineapple Leggings. These take some patience to make, but are well worth it in the end!
You will need:
-Stretchy leggings (this will be tough if your leggings are REALLY tight, go for some you get into and out of easily!)
-Size 3 cotton crochet thread (that's the thicker kind)
-A smallish crochet hook like an E or an F... it doesn't have to be specific.
-Sewing pins
-Needle and thread
-Sharp scissors
Start by chaining 2.
Row1: 1 sc in second ch from hook. Turn
Row 2: Ch 3. (2tc, Ch 2, 2tc) in sc of previous row. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 2. 2dc in each of the next 2 tc, 4 dc in ch-2 space, 2 dc in each of the next 2 tc. (12 dc total.) Turn.
Row 4: Ch 3. *1 tc in dc of previous row. Ch 1. Repeat from * across ending with a tc in the final dc. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 1. *1 sc in tc of previous row. Ch 3 and skip ch-1 space of previous row. Repeat from *across ending with 1 sc in the final tc. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 1. *1 sc in ch-3 space of previous row, Ch 3. Repeat from * across ending with 1 sc in the final ch-3 space. Turn.
Repeat Row 6 decreasing in the number of ch-3 spaces in each row until there is 1 ch-3 at the bottom.
Row 7: Ch 1. 1 sc in the final ch-3 space. Turn.
Repeat Row 2-7 four more times (so there are 5 pineapples total).
At the end of the 5th pineapple, make a sc border going up and around the edge of the entire string of 5 pineapples. Then ch1 and turn and make a second row of sc border. Cut and bind off. MAKE TWO OF THESE!
Now grab your leggings. Use your sewing pins to attach the crochet pieces to the outside of the leg starting at the bottom and working up toward the outer hip. Take your needle and thread and hand sew the piece onto the leggings working only through the sc border you made at the end. Take your time on this - use small stitches so there are very little gaps that are not sewn on.
Once the crochet pieces are sewn on - make sure you can still get into the leggings. The crochet doesn't stretch like your leggings do (this is why you want leggings that are not too tight)!
Now turn the leggings inside out, grab your scissors, and cut out the legging fabric that is under your pineapple stitch so you can see through the crochet piece. Don't cut too closely to your sewing! You can always cut off more later, but you don't want to risk cutting that hand sewing that took you so long to complete!
And BOOM! You have some super cool leggings. Go do some yoga, take a dance class, or wear out on the town. This could also look really cool on a shirt with long sleeves - just use less pineapple repeats and get creative with it!
Happy stitching!
You will need:
-Stretchy leggings (this will be tough if your leggings are REALLY tight, go for some you get into and out of easily!)
-Size 3 cotton crochet thread (that's the thicker kind)
-A smallish crochet hook like an E or an F... it doesn't have to be specific.
-Sewing pins
-Needle and thread
-Sharp scissors
Start by chaining 2.
Row1: 1 sc in second ch from hook. Turn
Row 2: Ch 3. (2tc, Ch 2, 2tc) in sc of previous row. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 2. 2dc in each of the next 2 tc, 4 dc in ch-2 space, 2 dc in each of the next 2 tc. (12 dc total.) Turn.
Row 4: Ch 3. *1 tc in dc of previous row. Ch 1. Repeat from * across ending with a tc in the final dc. Turn.
Row 5: Ch 1. *1 sc in tc of previous row. Ch 3 and skip ch-1 space of previous row. Repeat from *across ending with 1 sc in the final tc. Turn.
Row 6: Ch 1. *1 sc in ch-3 space of previous row, Ch 3. Repeat from * across ending with 1 sc in the final ch-3 space. Turn.
Repeat Row 6 decreasing in the number of ch-3 spaces in each row until there is 1 ch-3 at the bottom.
Row 7: Ch 1. 1 sc in the final ch-3 space. Turn.
Repeat Row 2-7 four more times (so there are 5 pineapples total).
At the end of the 5th pineapple, make a sc border going up and around the edge of the entire string of 5 pineapples. Then ch1 and turn and make a second row of sc border. Cut and bind off. MAKE TWO OF THESE!
Now grab your leggings. Use your sewing pins to attach the crochet pieces to the outside of the leg starting at the bottom and working up toward the outer hip. Take your needle and thread and hand sew the piece onto the leggings working only through the sc border you made at the end. Take your time on this - use small stitches so there are very little gaps that are not sewn on.
Once the crochet pieces are sewn on - make sure you can still get into the leggings. The crochet doesn't stretch like your leggings do (this is why you want leggings that are not too tight)!
Now turn the leggings inside out, grab your scissors, and cut out the legging fabric that is under your pineapple stitch so you can see through the crochet piece. Don't cut too closely to your sewing! You can always cut off more later, but you don't want to risk cutting that hand sewing that took you so long to complete!
And BOOM! You have some super cool leggings. Go do some yoga, take a dance class, or wear out on the town. This could also look really cool on a shirt with long sleeves - just use less pineapple repeats and get creative with it!
Happy stitching!
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Lace at the Avenir ...and how crochet saved lives...
Hi all! Hope you had a fantastic weekend! I sure did! (Check out my instagram for pics of the Maroon Bells up in Aspen - I really love my homestate!!!)
I keep talking about this fun DIY I want to share - but it involves black leggings - and with temps in the 90's here - I just haven't been able to force myself to put them on and take pictures of them. If it ever cools down - it will be coming - till then, if you have an extra pair of black leggings lying around (or any other color), get them ready for a cool crochet DIY!
So one of the coolest things about the grad program I'm in (Design and Merchandising and Colorado State University) is that we have our own museum - WHAT? Pretty cool, huh? The Avenir is our own little textile museum that exhibits darn cool historical and cultural textiles. Last year they had a ton of really cool Peruvian weaving and THIS YEAR historic lace!!!
HISTORIC LACE!!! That means there are some wicked cool historical crochet pieces in there right now. Fun fact learned at the lecture last week - selling Irish crochet lace helped keep families alive during the Irish potato famine. It literally saved lives. (I'm 1/4 Irish - and my family members lived through the potato famine - maybe they were crocheters - I'll have to check into it!) Anyway - I love stuff like that!
If you can make it to the museum here in Fort Collins - you should. If not, I've included some of my favorite crochet pictures down below. Enjoy. Happy stitching!
I keep talking about this fun DIY I want to share - but it involves black leggings - and with temps in the 90's here - I just haven't been able to force myself to put them on and take pictures of them. If it ever cools down - it will be coming - till then, if you have an extra pair of black leggings lying around (or any other color), get them ready for a cool crochet DIY!
So one of the coolest things about the grad program I'm in (Design and Merchandising and Colorado State University) is that we have our own museum - WHAT? Pretty cool, huh? The Avenir is our own little textile museum that exhibits darn cool historical and cultural textiles. Last year they had a ton of really cool Peruvian weaving and THIS YEAR historic lace!!!
HISTORIC LACE!!! That means there are some wicked cool historical crochet pieces in there right now. Fun fact learned at the lecture last week - selling Irish crochet lace helped keep families alive during the Irish potato famine. It literally saved lives. (I'm 1/4 Irish - and my family members lived through the potato famine - maybe they were crocheters - I'll have to check into it!) Anyway - I love stuff like that!
If you can make it to the museum here in Fort Collins - you should. If not, I've included some of my favorite crochet pictures down below. Enjoy. Happy stitching!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Escape the City
I made it through the first week of school.
This will be a busy one.
I HAD intended to work on crochet stuff this long weekend (a fun DIY and a Sharp Crochet Hook promotion and some really cool historical crochet)... but then...
My bff won tickets to JazzAspenSnowmass... so there is pretty much no way I'm passing up my chance to escape the city, head to the mountains, and listen to this crew in the most beautiful place there is.
Try not to be too jealous. I'll try and get the legging DIY done before I leave tomorrow!
HAPPY WEEKEND!!!
This will be a busy one.
I HAD intended to work on crochet stuff this long weekend (a fun DIY and a Sharp Crochet Hook promotion and some really cool historical crochet)... but then...
My bff won tickets to JazzAspenSnowmass... so there is pretty much no way I'm passing up my chance to escape the city, head to the mountains, and listen to this crew in the most beautiful place there is.
Try not to be too jealous. I'll try and get the legging DIY done before I leave tomorrow!
HAPPY WEEKEND!!!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
BIG big BIG SALE!
OK guys! SO... Before school starts I've been rearranging all my stuff, cleaning out the closet, making space for dancing, space for sewing, and space for more crochet designs!!! YESSSS!
So with that... I have a ton of stuff in my crochet junk bin that I am just dying to get rid of! Think of it as a Sans Limites Crochet Sample Sale - slightly dated designs, slightly funky fitting designs, and ideas I had that just didn't turn out so well... now for sale for little more than the cost of the yarn it took to make them. I just want this stuff out of my house!!!
So...
Little things (necklaces and headbands) are $1 to $5!!!
Hats are for sale $5 to $10!!!
Cowls and neck warmers for sale $10 to $15!!!
And I'm listing some clothing pieces today (tanks, shorts, dresses) for I don't know how much yet, but I'm feeling generous.
(Add shipping costs to all orders!)
There is no way you will find handmade items for less than this ANYWHERE... I truly just want them gone! They'll probably be headed to Goodwill or a charity organization if they are not bought within a month...
Forgive the terrible pictures! Hope you all are ready to go back to school! WOO HOO!!!
Also... I chopped 5 inches off my hair... glad that stuff is gone!
So with that... I have a ton of stuff in my crochet junk bin that I am just dying to get rid of! Think of it as a Sans Limites Crochet Sample Sale - slightly dated designs, slightly funky fitting designs, and ideas I had that just didn't turn out so well... now for sale for little more than the cost of the yarn it took to make them. I just want this stuff out of my house!!!
So...
Little things (necklaces and headbands) are $1 to $5!!!
Hats are for sale $5 to $10!!!
Cowls and neck warmers for sale $10 to $15!!!
And I'm listing some clothing pieces today (tanks, shorts, dresses) for I don't know how much yet, but I'm feeling generous.
(Add shipping costs to all orders!)
There is no way you will find handmade items for less than this ANYWHERE... I truly just want them gone! They'll probably be headed to Goodwill or a charity organization if they are not bought within a month...
Forgive the terrible pictures! Hope you all are ready to go back to school! WOO HOO!!!
Also... I chopped 5 inches off my hair... glad that stuff is gone!
Monday, August 12, 2013
Summers are too short...
Hi all!
Wow what a whirlwind the last month has been! Since finishing my textiles class, I put crochet borders on a ton of shorts, and dresses, and skirts... and even did a DIY with leggings that turned out pretty cute that I hope to share with you ASAP. I also completely cleaned out my closet, and painted the basement and rearranged all my furniture to create a dance/workout space and a workspace for crocheting and working with fabric for my graduate thesis project.
THEN... I took an epic roadtrip to see the new baby in the family and hit up 6 national parks and 2 Navajo parks along the way, but I did ALL the driving and my legs are still cramping a bit. My favorite travel pictures are included below...
Now I'm working on a couple new patterns I want to get out to you AND getting ready for school to start again. This year is going to be CRAZY. I'm taking a full load of graduate classes and trying to resist the urge to add one more (there is just too much cool stuff to learn). Also, super pumped to TA the Product Development class I took in the Spring and loved so much. I'm also planning out some dance classes I'll be teaching, and choreography I'm working on for the Nutcracker, and dancer competition season. ALSO... if you live in or around Northern Colorado, come take crochet class from me!!! I'm teaching at My Sister Knits starting in October... lots of fun projects I'm getting started on for that. AND working on my thesis when I have the time cause that should be pretty awesome... and by now I'm getting a little worried that I won't have enough time to work on Sans Limites Crochet patterns... so they may come slowly... but hopefully they'll be better quality.
How has YOUR summer been going? What are you guys working on? Are you excited for Fall?
-S
Wow what a whirlwind the last month has been! Since finishing my textiles class, I put crochet borders on a ton of shorts, and dresses, and skirts... and even did a DIY with leggings that turned out pretty cute that I hope to share with you ASAP. I also completely cleaned out my closet, and painted the basement and rearranged all my furniture to create a dance/workout space and a workspace for crocheting and working with fabric for my graduate thesis project.
THEN... I took an epic roadtrip to see the new baby in the family and hit up 6 national parks and 2 Navajo parks along the way, but I did ALL the driving and my legs are still cramping a bit. My favorite travel pictures are included below...
Now I'm working on a couple new patterns I want to get out to you AND getting ready for school to start again. This year is going to be CRAZY. I'm taking a full load of graduate classes and trying to resist the urge to add one more (there is just too much cool stuff to learn). Also, super pumped to TA the Product Development class I took in the Spring and loved so much. I'm also planning out some dance classes I'll be teaching, and choreography I'm working on for the Nutcracker, and dancer competition season. ALSO... if you live in or around Northern Colorado, come take crochet class from me!!! I'm teaching at My Sister Knits starting in October... lots of fun projects I'm getting started on for that. AND working on my thesis when I have the time cause that should be pretty awesome... and by now I'm getting a little worried that I won't have enough time to work on Sans Limites Crochet patterns... so they may come slowly... but hopefully they'll be better quality.
How has YOUR summer been going? What are you guys working on? Are you excited for Fall?
-S
Saturday, July 27, 2013
ROAD TRIP!
Hey all!
So definitely been missing in action since my final ended a couple weeks ago... family was visiting AND I have spent a lot of time painting walls and moving furniture to prepare for all that is going on come fall (needed space for dance choreography and lots of table space for working on my grad thesis... yay basements).
And NOW I am leaving on a road trip to go visit my cousin and his new baby! No blog posts while I'm on the road, but see what I'm working on AND some national park photos by following me on Instagram!
Why is the summer flying by too fast???
New blog posts in a couple weeks!!!
Happy stitching!!!
-S
So definitely been missing in action since my final ended a couple weeks ago... family was visiting AND I have spent a lot of time painting walls and moving furniture to prepare for all that is going on come fall (needed space for dance choreography and lots of table space for working on my grad thesis... yay basements).
And NOW I am leaving on a road trip to go visit my cousin and his new baby! No blog posts while I'm on the road, but see what I'm working on AND some national park photos by following me on Instagram!
Why is the summer flying by too fast???
New blog posts in a couple weeks!!!
Happy stitching!!!
-S
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