octo-crafts

[octo-crafts]

Pocket mending

Mending pockets of working pants. First mending project of this size. Machine and hand sewn.

Before & in progress:

After:

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I've resurrected one of my favourite sweaters! The original zipper was getting to be a problem, but instead of jettisonning the whole thing, I faced The Horrors* and fixed it. I've still got a long way to go on putting in zippers, but this time I didn't have to unpick anything, so I'll take the win.

*sewing zippers

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Me: *knitting, working on a cardigan for J, nearly done with the body*

J: You know what this sweater could really use?

Me: What?

J: A little cabling.

The cardigan:

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Good very early morning! I was stricken with a spurt of manic energy, the gym was closed,and I had creative inspiration. I've had this grey camo flannel/jacket/heavy shirt/thing for a couple months, and though it matches my wardrobe, it just hasn't been...inspiring?

First addition was a front pocket chain. (Idea stolen from my friend Quinn.) I contemplated sewing it down, then realized I could just put safety pins on the inside.

I put a couple tiny studs along the front shoulder seam, then jammed the awl into my finger and gave up.

Second addition was a lot more chain. I found a costume necklace that drapes down to your navel or whatever. I marked it out evenly, pinned it down, drew x's on the inside yoke, and it turned out uneven. Probably because it was 3 am. I actually really like it! And it looks better on--the hanger isn't as wide as my shoulders.

Third addition was corduroy cuffs. Ever since I got offcuts from another sewist, I've been saving these corduroy scraps. I put them on the cuffs as a sensory fidget!

I also moved both sleeve buttons to the ends of the cuffs because my giant meat hands always catch in them.

I cut out and hemmed two front patch pockets for my hands, but my bobbin tension is acting up and it's 4:30 am. I also want to put webbing on the shoulders and maybe more studs. We shall try again tomorrow!

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I love nonfiction that I simply cannot relate to at all. "it's easy to get addicted to buying fast fashion! I used to spend thousands of dollars on it a year!" okay. you're a space alien.

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Holes were developing around the pocket of this jacket, so I patched it. The other pocket is also wearing out, so I'll probably do it too eventually, and do some reinforcement where the edges of the pocket are fraying.

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are you nerds ready to see TOP SURGERY KIRK??

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putting this under the cut so you all have the same emotional experience i just did

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This is a mend I did on a pair of my pants that had ripped right next to the pocket. (I feel like this is due to poor denim quality or something)

I wanted to see if I could patch it with thread alone rather than adding a backing material. It worked out rather nicely and this patch is still going strong.

I used this six strand embroidery thread and a regular embroidery hoop for this and these are my go to hand sewing needles.

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Took a break from the essay I have due tonight (6 more weeks of grad school and I'm freeeeeeeeee) to patch my pj pants. I made them in 2021, I think, and while the fabric on the seat is quite worn at this point, I like these pants more than my other pj pants (POCKETS. ALSO PURPLE WITH JACKALOPES) so I'm fixing them instead of consigning them to the scrap pile.

I used scraps of quilting cotton from the map shirt I made a while ago for both patches, although you can only see it where the original fabric has torn completely.

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FIBER ARTISTS, I want to know what yall do the most so let’s do a demographic poll

I know we are all victims of the fiber art rabbit hole and nearly all of us dabble in more than one craft, so please vote for your MAIN one, the one you do the most, the one you can do with your eyes closed, and maybe share in the tag what else you do! I hope I covered most of the crafts.

REBLOG for sample size!

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a perfectly average horse is unexpectedly teleported into your kitchen, precisely in the state your kitchen is at this exact moment. it is, understandably, alarmed by this situation. how equipped do you feel you are to handle this situation?

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A few weeks ago I finished knitting my first sweater, which I love dearly and have worn 6 days out of every 7 since.

A second sweater is in progress and I've just finished the colourwork yoke - my first time attempting such a thing.

It has been so enjoyable to knit. I'm following this pattern, and found this video about colourwork technique to be invaluable.

With the benefit of hindsight I wish I'd chosen more contrasting colours so that the colourwork pattern is more visible, but I love these two reds together. Updates to follow in the coming weeks.

[octo-crafts]

SOCKS

I got the yarn for these a christmas market the year before last (Dec. 2023) and have been working on them since. I guess its the month for actually finishing projects!

Speaking of...

Yesterday I got yarn for a NEW sweater project, this time for my mum!

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I’m curious who this reaches and what the results will be