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I Heart Sewing
(Technical aside: Yay! MT 3.14 is working, and I've got MT-Blacklist loaded now so I can fight the comment spammers.)
So,even though this is Carrieoke's Knitting Blog, I'm going to talk about a different craft today .. Clearly, I don't need a new obsession, but I'm slowly become obsessed with sewing. Sewing is FUN. I'm still at the stage where I want to get used to my machine, so I've been making tons of little bags and pouches. Mariko has great tutorials for totebags, pillowcases and pouches on her blog, and I've been using them non stop. Here's another cool site for fun sewing stuff : Oh My Stars has a bunch of tutorials for making your T-shirts groovy. Oh yeah.
But, I've had one sewing pattern stashed away, literally, for a year or two. Miss Skinny Rabbit posted a link to this a while ago, and I printed it, thinking that ONE DAY I would have a sewing machine and enough old jeans to make it. And that day has arrived. May I present my little denim throw?

isn't it cute?
click to see a closer view of the squares.
It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination ... we were pretty loose with our measurements when we cut the squares, and I used some older jeans with sentimental holes in them, so it's got a little holey. But the strips were fairly straight, and it's my first little quilty throw! It's perfect for sitting on the couch, knitting in front of the TV. YAY. (I'm trying to ignore that fact that I really want to try quilting now. The crafts are TAKING OVER.)
And, here's a gratuitous picture of Bella, who kept trying to lay down on the denim throw during this evening's photo shoot.

Bella wants her denim throw back.
I have one more sewing project to show you, but only if you're not my sister, Cathy, who requested a totebag as soon as she heard I was sewing them like a crazy woman. Request Granted -- (no peeking Cathy!)
Don't worry, I'm still knitting too. I'm just excited that I can actually sew a straight line with a sewing machine. I'm also excited right now because Jacob just made creme brulee and me and JoAnna and Drew and Jacob are about to eat it. YUM YUM YUM ....
Posted by carrie at January 8, 2005 01:05 AM
Comments
that is a BEAUTIFUL throw!
i've made three jeans quilts so far, and each one gets bigger, and HEAVIER, but it's totally worth it. AND, once people see them, they WANT the quilts. So now i'm making TWO for people's wedding presents. It helps if people you know throw in their old jeans, and then they have some recycled, awesome, and totally sentimental. HAPPY QUILTING! Oh, and i love your website.
Posted by: jess at January 13, 2005 04:06 PM
looks like a Gee's Bend quilt to me! Way to go!
Posted by: melanie at January 12, 2005 07:50 AM
You are so damn crafty. You make me ill. I mean, I'm still knitting and unravelling the same scarf that I started at your place weeks and weeks ago and you've made, like, a whole craft store worth of beautiful stuff!
Posted by: Deana at January 11, 2005 04:45 PM
very cute quilt-y throw! i'm sure it's the perfect thing to curl up on the couch with. :)
Posted by: melissa j at January 11, 2005 04:09 PM
oooh...a denim throw AND creme Brulee? what a fantastic evening! one can never have too many hobbies...:) enjoy the sewing!!
Posted by: heather at January 11, 2005 10:09 AM
Ooh, love the bag :)
And creme brulee? Yummmmmmmmm.....
Posted by: stacey at January 10, 2005 06:13 PM
Hi - I'm a long time reader (6 months in internet-time is a long time, i think), first time commenter. I really enjoy your site. I also heart sewing - isn't it fun? I ended up sewing more christmas presents this year than I knit!
Posted by: Maya at January 10, 2005 03:43 PM
Howdy from S. FL. I was searching the "net" for blogs, to see what was up with them.....I found yours and I really enjoy it. I know completely about the crafts taking over. If I could quit my job I might have enough time!!! I have a fleece quilt I am needing to start, a list of 25 knitted items that have been requested, a dining room to finish accesorizing (sp)and a basket full of kitchen mags to figure out how I want my kitchen when we re-do. (drats on this JOB)
I was wondering if you have ever made gloves (knit) that look like gloves and not huge socks with "things" at the ends? Or anyone else that might read this.
I appriciate your help and look forward to reading your blog!
Betsy
Posted by: Betsy at January 10, 2005 03:31 PM
hey. i got your blog addy from livejournal community athens. i was wondering if you knew of any knit-ins around town?
Posted by: faith at January 10, 2005 12:17 PM
Cute totebag. And rock on with your badass sewing self!
Posted by: Giao at January 10, 2005 11:03 AM
Whee! I knew you had it in you! If you ever want to have a knitting/SEWING night, I am all too happy to oblige. xo MJ
Posted by: mj at January 10, 2005 09:23 AM
Wow, look at you - from 0 to quilter in no time at all! Very impressive. I bet the denim throw is soft and comfy, too. Exciting to watch where your sewing adventures take you!
Posted by: Ann at January 10, 2005 08:39 AM
Great job on the quilt! That's on my to do list too. I'm waiting for spring cleaning to go through my old jeans. Cool t-shirt site too. Those would look great on you!
Posted by: alison at January 10, 2005 08:13 AM
Alright, here comes my funny quilt story. So one day I decide I'd like to learn to quilt. So I go to the fabric store. I pick out a really cute pattern and think, "Hmm. I could make a lap quilt. But one for our queen size bed would be so much more useful." So I spent $100 or so on stuff to start it. All the strips are crooked. And I haven't touched it in over a year. But I still really want to finish it someday! Anyway, love the denim throw! Looks comfy :)
Posted by: Vicki at January 9, 2005 02:22 PM
I heart sewing very much! I have been sewing-machine-less since a horrible incident involving thick cordurouy and lots of smoke coming from the machine in college... but that denim throw is making me think that my apartment is, indeed, big enough. It MUST be big enough!
Posted by: Mary-Heather at January 8, 2005 10:06 PM
Your denim throw is so cute! I'm happy to see that sewing is working out for you. I think you should go for it and make a quilt! Throw caution to the wind and go for it!! I want to make one someday too, so maybe living vicariously through you will motivate me to do it!
Posted by: molly at January 8, 2005 09:59 PM
cute! i've totally been wanting to quilt lately too; I've made one smallish quilt before that turned out great, but if I start quilting now, between that and the knitting I wouldn't have any time for school!
Posted by: laura at January 8, 2005 07:44 PM
I *heart* my bag. I am using it as a purse and plan on coordinating my outfit with it this evening. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
You are a knitting/sewing fool...which is why everyone should vote for you in the BoB Awards!
GOOOOOOOOOOO CARRIE! I'm not biased or anything.
Posted by: Cathy at January 8, 2005 06:27 PM
You are such a crafty lady! Love the throw and *love* the tote. John bought me a sewing machine for Christmas one year, and I get it out every once in a while. I had aspirations to learn to quilt, but it turns out that I'm not so good at it. *sigh* Guess I'll stick to knitting (and spinning). And, creme brulee? Umm, yummy! Do you guys have one of those super cool mini-kitchen torches? I'm so jealous!
Posted by: Jen L at January 8, 2005 05:53 PM
That is awesome!! I am totally impressed.
Posted by: Catherine at January 8, 2005 04:07 PM
its a sign that loody really needs to get some lunch that this is what I just read:
words words words words words words words words
words words words words words words words words
CREME BRULEE
but really...your throw is lovely and yay for new obsessions!
Posted by: loody at January 8, 2005 04:01 PM
well if you want to try quilting you know where to find me :) my AIM is pixiepurls as well :)
Posted by: pixiepurls at January 8, 2005 02:09 PM
I am so impressed! I have convinced myself for years that I can't sew...you are starting to change my mind. I want to make one of Mariko's totes now:)
Posted by: Deb at January 8, 2005 01:40 PM
Yay sewing! Your totes and throw and everything look great! Sewing is pretty addictive, isn't it? The gratification is more instant than in knitting, too!
Posted by: Mariko at January 8, 2005 12:57 PM
Great throw! You have done a good job. I love to sew also. I have a machine that I spent way to much money on, and don't use nearly enough. However, let's put it this way.....I sew better than I knit, but I am much more excited about knitting. Of course, years ago, before knitting, I was loving sewing, also. If that makes sense.
Since you need something else to be addicted to and chat on the sites, have you visited patternreview.com? Look at it. GREAT! There is another one Sewingworld.com, I think. It is good, but doesn't have the format that patternreview, doesn't have the pictures and all the different sections.
Enjoy.
Laura
Posted by: Laura at January 8, 2005 12:14 PM
Oh wow- look at you!!
That throw is awesome. I bet it is so warm and comfy.
I love Cathy's tote- did you knit the little accessory on it? (don't wanna give away the surprise!) SOO CUTE!
I wish I could sew but my sewing machine and I do not get along.
Posted by: frecklegirl at January 8, 2005 11:00 AM
Oh. My. Gawd. I love the throw!! You know, that's it. I absolutely need to learn how to use my handheld sewster thingy with the directions that make no sense.
Posted by: Em at January 8, 2005 09:52 AM
I heart sewing, too. I still have to get a machine of my own, but when I do - look out world! Creme brulee? Yay Jacob!
Posted by: Julia at January 8, 2005 07:55 AM
Looks great! Sewing is totally addictive - just wait till you get the bug to want to make cute skirts to cooridinate with your knit sweaters!
Posted by: Shelby at January 8, 2005 07:18 AM
Yay jeans quilt! Yay sewing with your new machine! Yay MT 3.14! Yay drinking-too-much-at-a-bar-tonight! Oops, that last bit was me. ;-()
Posted by: jenny at January 8, 2005 03:47 AM
