backpack backpack

I’m really trying to make my way through my massive pattern collection, I have such a habit of grabbing a pattern the second it’s released, then sitting on it because I have to wrap up the current project I’m working on, or life stuff pops up, or my mood changes, jeesh, just over here existing sometimes. I once went on a eraser buying spree and I got that giant milan, and another weird fact is, I kind of want to bite it.

Trying to be a digital pattern girlie, but I really do love a paper copy to scribble on, using the best of both because sometimes my old lady eyes love that digital zoom. 👀

Starting with the Buckthorn Backpack by noodlehead. I wanted to start with the smaller tote, and make myself a cute knitting bag, but Lex picked out the pattern and really wants the backpack ..and if I start with what I consider the harder of the two, when I make the tote it’ll seem like a breeze, right? I hate sewing backpack straps almost as much as I hate sewing zippers and this has both.

When sewing bags I prefer to use heavier weight fabrics, ones that will hold their shape pretty well on their own, because fusible interfacing frustrates me, some days it wrinkles and creases the fabric and can be tough to sew through and other days it’s no trouble and I haven’t figured out what the hell its deal is. I’ve also used sew in interfacing or just lined with another layer of fabric, anything to get that extra structure.

Oh, and when those big box stores have a coupon for 50% off a single cut of fabric, I use it to get full bolts of interfacing. It’s a hobby hack that ensures I always have the right stuff when I need it, because nothing stops my creativity quicker than a store run, or having to wait to start.

Close enough to 60°

I didn’t document the making of this backpack as much as I usually would, mostly because it wasn’t super enjoyable to sew, maybe it was the straps, maybe the zipper, it also had an unexpected oval bottom that my brain wasn’t ready for, I don’t know I was like.. just get through it. I will say, the pattern was extremely well written as are all noodlehead patterns, so that wasn’t it, but I have noticed I’ve been in a place of extreme simplicity lately and anything that takes extra effort is annoying.

Finished, cute and in use.

I’m also really trying to appreciate and use my massive pen/pencil collection so you might see more stationary around here.

My current favorite kaweco set is the Skyline Sport Clutch Pencil and the Sport Ballpoint Pen, tucked sweetly into the two pen case with charm.

A first

I’m calling this – I just turned 48 and I knit my first vest and the color is sincere because I physically feel like a piece of chewed up bubble gum, while mentally I feel like I should embroider the words baby girl on it. The duality of existence.

♡

It’s absolutely cute, but I’m not even going to pretend I knew what I was doing, I have such a hard time with things that don’t necessarily look like the finished thing while working on them, my struggle was real with the unfinished head hole and I added the collar ribbing the literal second I could so it looked like a sweater again ..fewf, I’m mostly a top down sweater knittter (collars built right in), occasionally a cardigan for Jason, and wasn’t expecting having a “what the hell is this thing?” moment.

This has a classic vest look, with so many great options and variations written into it, the pattern goes up to a 65″ bust, I worked a size 7 with a 55″ bust and kinda feel like I could’ve went down a size.

Plain ribbing on all my openings, but also included in the pattern is an alternative eyelet rib stitch if you’d like something a little more delicate looking.

I also chose the regular scoop neckline over the tall neckline and used the optional narrow shoulder adjustment to make sure the vest would sit slightly in at the shoulder rather than slightly off the shoulder, I think that adjustment might be causing that slight fabric push/pull midway down the arm hole on both sides, maybe it’s going from a small amount of stitches to a large amount rather quickly, maybe it’s just a vest thing, maybe I don’t know? Next time I could work the deep armhole adjustment to try and minimize the tug and give myself a bit more sleeve room, this is perfect for layering over a fitted undershirt or tailored button down, but lots of my handmade clothes have lower/boxy sleeves and they get a little ruched up with this closer fit.

I worked the cropped length bodice adjustment, so it hits right at my waist, I also kept the hem straight, but the pattern offers a split hem option too ..see so many options!

Pattern: Gan by Ailbíona McLochlainn.
Yarn: Ash Lawn Collection by Cestari colorway Burgundy Heather.

Let’s make more vests ♡ ..I learned they are also sometimes called slipovers, cute!

Neat

I remember a few times in school we had the chance to make pinback buttons, they were usually generic printed images with a blank area for us to write our name and then the teacher assembled the badge pieces and sometimes we got to pull down the press handle and sometimes not, and sometimes they were already 100% assembled and we only got to write our name on the top of the finished buttons mylar after the fact with a crappy marker or even worse a crappy ball point pen, either way it was a pretty big deal. Little kid me would’ve loved a button maker so much.

Then you grow up and realize you can do whatever the hell you want to do now, so you go out and buy yourself a button maker, and you take all your favorite saved kid stuff and turn it into the pinback buttons of your little kid dreams. Jason bought me that industrial metal button press years ago, after cheap me bought a plastic handheld one, where more than half of the buttons never sealed right, and it used special brand specific expensive button parts. Frustrated, I thought that it took some magical skill that I just couldn’t learn, that’s as good as it gets, and it sucked. Turns out it was that cheap plastic press the whole sad time and I’m actually a button wiz.

Portrait of my life now, featuring cute bits of my childhood. 1.25″ is my favorite badge size to make and 80’s scratch n’ sniff is my favorite art to use.

“Looking Good” was the 20th button I made, I say I’m done, but I don’t know, there’s probably more in me, I’m definitely still missing a few favorites.. “The Greatest” clown, “Much Better” bandaid, “Well Done” fried chicken leg with a face? …ok, going back through these stickers, they’re so dumb and great and they still smell and it’s like time travel.

It looks like a worm, and I can picture making a very hungry caterpillar version of these for Lex. No heel, universal fit, all sorts of rib, I’m not sure how they’ll wear, if they’ll be comfortable or if they’ll even stay up, but I’m interested.

They’re called Bananen-Socken (banana socks) ..I see it.

P.S that’s a Ravelry link.

In big news, this is mae mae and she is a 6 year old garbage girl, she was a little rough and tumble when we adopted her, so we’re taking it slow and helping her learn to be cared for. She’s a chatty, buttery soft noodle, plastic obsessed adorable trash baby. We think back to early days kiki (she had a tough life before us) and know with time mae will be a good cat too.

♡