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knitting: the pickle pillow

By Lisa Gutierrez on 04/06/2011

I made this enormous bolster pillow and the kids immediately started calling it “the pickle pillow.” It doesn’t really fit on the love seat (I needs a couch, yo), so the boys use it as a head rest when they’re laying in front of the tube watching episodes of Inspector Gadget. It’s their new favorite TV show. It’s 22 minutes, so they get to watch one episode unless they’re sick and quarantined to the living room.

Details:
TWO strands of Lion Brand Wool-ease Thick & Quick in lemongrass (which was ON CLEARANCE at my local Michael’s last week for $3.99/ball)
Size US19 needles.
35 (or 36? something like that) stitches and approximately 22 garter ridges (44 knit rows).
Seam the BO to the CO, then cinch one end shut.
Fold a towel in half (short end to short end), then roll it up and wrap it with a few layers of quilt batting.
I made an inside case with some green fabric so the guts wouldn’t be so obvious through the stretched stitches.

Stuff it! Close the other end.

I LOVE garter stitch. It’s so easy and textural and……yeah! it’s awesome. <3

The baby gets a silhouette!

By Lisa Gutierrez on 04/04/2011

This weekend, I finally set about making a painted fabric silhouette for Andrew. I made Nathan’s in late April 2008. He was almost 3. Considering Andrew is that same age, I thought I should get on the ball and make his.

I hung it up, yesterday:

I used the same method I used to make the other: I stretched some fabric over a 12×12 canvas and stapled it on the back. Then, I printed the silhouette onto freezer paper, cut it out, and ironed it onto my fabric. I used acrylic paint and foam brush to paint around the stencil. Let it dry a bit, then peeled off the paper. I coated it all with some glossy mod-podge.

A few things:
–I still got air bubbles! Big boo to that, but you can hardly tell unless you’re right up on it (get off my wall!).
–The orange floral fabric is a little busy, so I’m going to have to outline the silhouette a bit to give it more definition. If I could do it again, I’d probably reverse it–iron down the outside of the stencil and paint inside the silhouette.

Do you have any silhouettes of you or family members?

I have a few more projects to share, this week. I can hardly wait! They include an embroidery project, a knitted pillow, and my adventures in gardening. Stay tuned!

p.s. I am an April sponsor for my girl thursday and I am in fabulous company! You should check out THIS POST for coupon codes to some wonderful shops, including goodknits! Don’t forget: in celebration of Spring and friendship, all orders will ship with a little braided friendship bracelet. :)

Have a great week, everyone!

pyrex love

By Lisa Gutierrez on 01/05/2011

My little collection of vintage Pyrex. I had a few mixing bowls, but didn’t start letting myself buy more until we moved into our home. I have the space now, so I don’t feel so guilty about picking up a bowl I like. I have two sets of Cinderella mixing bowls (Butterprint and Autumn Harvest). They’re both 3/4 complete, which is interesting. My favorites are the mixing bowls on the left (first photo). As you can see, I’ve found quite a few in the same size. They stack very nicely and get a lot of use.

The newest addition to my glass housewares is this absolutely lovely cake stand I found, this weekend–

Is it not perfect for Valentine’s Day decor? It’s a 1984 Lillian Vernon stand and I’m in love with it.

I’d rather be here…

By Lisa Gutierrez on 10/25/2010

My sewing machine and I are about to be worked sweatshop style. No, really. I’m doing some crazy work (to help someone else) and so I’m going to be absent for a bit (again). Forgive me? I’m going to list some duo-tone slouch hats to the shop late tonight.

I’d rather be sitting on my little loveseat, making things with yarn.

I made a doily-like lap blanket about 2 weeks ago. it’s the perfect size for covering up legs when I get chilly at night. It’s pretty, no?