I’ve been an admirer of Amy Butler’s designs for years but since interviewing her for my upcoming book Craft Corps, I’m also a big fan of Amy herself. Upon hearing that I was pregnant, Amy was kind enough to send me a copy of, Little Stitches for Little Ones: it was love at first stitch! The book offers sewer-friendly instructions, well executed patterns and beautifully photography, to “ooh and ahh” at. This week on I Love to Create, I’m typing while my wee baby sleeps on my chest–likely dreaming of all of the adorable things I’ll be making for her, inspired by this book…the Cutie Booties (p.72), Imagination Book (p. 144), and the Easy Empire Waist Top (p. 75, see below).
Here’s a peek at just a few of the wonderful, Little Stitches projects:
I’ve been asked before, if one’s truly being creative if they’re simply following someone else’s pattern. I say, absolutely! Creativity is a state of mind and if you’re making something with your hands it’s almost impossible not to simultaneously go into a mental, crafty zone. The best way to take it a step further though, is by infusing your own personal style into an existing design. This can be done by tailoring a pattern, adding embellishments, or for the purposes of my version of Amy’s Cuddle Kitty Toy, using a piece of the “Grease Lightening” fabric I hand-dyed a couple of weeks ago for this column. The result: part AB goodness + a little VH funkiness= LighteningCat! (a possible descendent of the 1980’s Thundercats ;-))
In Progress
LighteningCat (Front)
LighteningCat (Back)
Until next time, happy stitching. Lightening, lightening, lightening, LighteningCats!
I LOVE your lightening cat!! I seriously need to crack open that sewing machine I’ve got stashed in the closet and figure out how to use it. There is just too much cute stuff to be made.
I got to celebrate my birthday in Iceland this year, which is pretty much the perfect place to rock knitwear. I was pleased as plaid to finally be able to wear the cowl I designed for the Fall Quarterly Box. Here it is, in the wilds of Seljalandsfoss!
There are only a few more days to get the Fall box at the subscriber price ($20 less than what the retail price will be.) Go to YarnYAY.com (link in @vickiehowell bio) to pick your plaid palette!
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I LOVE your lightening cat!! I seriously need to crack open that sewing machine I’ve got stashed in the closet and figure out how to use it. There is just too much cute stuff to be made.
Lightening cat is so cute this looks like a fun must have item.Hugs Darcy