With only 3 days to spare I finished Kaia’s costume yesterday.  There are a few things I’d change if I did it over, and I’d probably choose to use some different materials, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. The wings were a total pain and I am thinking there HAS to be a better way - I know I’ve read about people using coat hangers and panty hose, and if I were to try again, I think I’d get friendly with Google and see what ideas other people have.

I did modify the body portion to make it two parts - a top and a bottom rather than one baggy bodysuit, since she’ll be wearing it to school tomorrow and they requested that costumes be potty-friendly, I thought it would be nice if she didn’t have to totally strip down That part worked out really well and I’m glad I thought to make it that way.  I even thought to put tags in it to distinguish the front from the back.

Clearly she’s not really thrilled about it though..

And you can see my pathetic, crumpled attempt at some wings.  Really, it seemed like such a great idea, but they got a bit mangled when I sewed on the velcro.  I think it would be better to make them with elastic loops for the arms - that way they might stand some chance of not looking so pathetic.

Now, don’t ask me what the boys are dressing up as.. I have no idea.  Seth has no idea what he wants to be, and I’m kind of counting on Odin’s costume from last year still fitting.  Perhaps I should try that soon

I totally had a blast. Lost of people stopped by to see us, and Shelly and I were super busy the entire weekend! I managed to crank out one pair of socks Saturday morning in about 45 minutes, which I then took off the machine but left attached to each other, so Shelly and I could show what a pair looks like fresh off the machine. That worked REALLY well for demonstration purposes - quite a few people commented that I must not know what a foot looks like, since it was hard to make out just how what came off the machine became socks, but it was great to be able to show them all the parts of a sock, and how it all comes together when you separate them and close the toes. Most people were surprised that there was very little difference structurally between the socks we make on our antique machines, and the new ones you can go pick up at any store.

Shelly and I both have a lot of ideas on how to make things go a little smoother next year (or for any CSM demo, really).

sock knitter

Originally uploaded by yi
Yeah, that’s me - I was putting tags on socks!

I’ve been MIA a lot lately since I’ve been so busy, but I just wanted to post that I’ll be at Maker Faire in Austin this weekend with civilbitch demonstrating our sock machines

Because a few of you asked for it, here it is!

Owl Hair Clip Pattern - 512KB

Yeah… uh, guess I forgot to post stuff, again :)  I haven’t really been up to a WHOLE lot lately.. honest

I got a new camera as a late birthday present, so I’ve been off taking pictures, not crafting. My son went back to school, my daughter also started preschool, and my youngest is trying his hardest to walk.

After my futile attempt at knitting 17 pairs of socks for the Ravelympics (I only logged 6 of the 7 I know I finished) I finally got the Legare out again Monday, and knit up a couple of pairs.. first a pair from this month’s Yarn Pirate Booty Club

and then some from some Panda Silk I wanted to try out.. I really REALLY like how it works up on the CSM, when it all goes right.  There was supposed to be another pair in another colorway for my sister, but um, we had issues and I’m not gonna go there.

I sat down today and made a pair of hairclips.. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, I just didn’t get myself in gear to go get the goodies I needed. I love how they came out, and I’ll definitely be making more