A Year of Crafting: 2011

I thought it would be fun to look back over the last year at the craft projects I completed.

1. Matching Mittens
Started: January 15th
Completed: January 16th
Yarn: 100% wool
These have been frogged and are currently being worked up into new mittens that will (hopefully) fit better.

2. Cassie’s Kindle Cover
Started: January 25th
Completed: January 30th
Yarn: 100% mercerized cotton
This was a gift.
I wrote up a sort of tutorial for this one, which you can find on my design website by clicking here.

3. MIL’s Matching Pillow
Started: February 4th
Completed: February 26th
Yarn: 100% acrylic
This was a gift.

4. MIL’s Afghan
Started: January 8th
Completed: April 5th
Yarn: 100% acrylic
This was a gift.

5. “Pure and Simple” Baby Hat
Started: May 10th
Completed: May 10th
Yarn: 46% acrylic, 46% cotton, 3% nylon, 3% polyester
This was a gift.

6. “Sugar Babies” Matching Booties
Started: May 11th
Completed: May 11th
Yarn: 46% acrylic, 46% cotton, 3% nylon, 3% polyester
This was a gift.

7. Trivuts
Started: May 24th
Completed: May 26th
Yarn: 100% mercerized cotton

8. Mom’s Blanket
Started: April 5th
Completed: September 3rd
Yarn: 100% acrylic
This was a gift.

9. Mrs. Carolyn’s Shawl
Started: September 6th
Completed: September 11th
Yarn: 100% acrylic
This was a gift.

10. Knitted Chapstick Holders
Started: October 7th
Completed: October 7th
Yarn: 100% acrylic
I wrote a pattern for these, which you can find by clicking here.

11. Basic Blue Cardigan
Started: July 16th
Completed: October 20th
Yarn: 55% nylon, 45% acrylic

12. Jessica’s Fan Bookmark
Started: December 2nd
Completed: December 2nd
Yarn: 100% mercerized cotton thread
This was a gift.

13. Cassie’s Socks, Part II
Started: October 26th
Completed: December 5th
Yarn: 75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon
This was a gift. 

14. Cassie’s Chapstick Holder
Started: December 9th
Completed: December 9th
Yarn: 75% superwash merino wool, 25% nylon
This was a gift.

15. Fernando’s Bookmark
Started: December 7th
Completed: December 9th
Yarn: 100% mercerized cotton thread
This was a gift.

16. Shirt Pillow
Started: December 16th
Completed: December 16th
Fabric: 100% cotton flannel from an old shirt

Totals
Projects: 16
Crocheted: 6 (38%)
Knitted: 9 (56%)
Gifted: 11 (69%)
Designed: 5 (31%)

She Sews: Shirt Pillow Cover

There’s this shirt Nate has had since I met him. In fact, it’s the shirt he was wearing when I met him for the first time. It’s 100% cotton with a brown and white plaid print on it. It’s super soft, and I’ve always loved that shirt on him.

Recently, he put it on when the weather got cold and realized it didn’t fit anymore. The sleeves were too short. He put it in the rags box.

Last night, I had a brilliant idea. I hate the thought of never seeing that shirt again, and because it’s so soft, I decided it’d make a wonderful pillow cover!

I kept the front pocket in tact and used the button bands to create a removable cushion/pillow cover. The best part is that I didn’t have to sew a single button-hole or attach any buttons! Yay for less work, right?!? It ended up fitting a 14″ square pillow form I bought at Wal-Mart. Well, it mostly fits. The button band bulges a little, but it still looks good.

To top it off, I embroidered a quick little design on the pocket hem to give it a personal touch. A wonky heart and my first initial. I think the heart looks like each half came from a different heart, but it’s cute in its crookedness.

Here are a few photos. As usual, you can click a photo to see a larger version.