I'm posting this for Dreadnought of the Boston Derby Dames:

I'm working on a collaborative quilting project focusing on roller derby themes and imagery. I'm trying to get skaters, fans, and friends of derby from around the country to contribute squares featuring their teams, names, and numbers.

This quilt is made up of 8" x 8" squares representing all sorts of roller-derby related themes. So far squares dedicated to specific skaters, refs, teams, and leagues make up the bulk of the quilt, and it's growing pretty quickly. This is a great way to use up old uniform scraps, shredded fishnets, and other derby bits and pieces. I have a few images of the quilt-in-progress here:

http://angryrobotrollerderby.blogspot.com/

     

If you break out in a rash when someone mentions the word "craft", I'd be thrilled for an old uniform scrap, or even your league name and number written on some fabric in sharpie. I'm even happy to make a square myself if you'd send me some old uniform parts or merch featuring team and/or league names.



If you are interested in contributing to the quilt, please email Dreadnought at da.dreadnought@gmail.com.  Also, check out her league at http://www.bostonderbydames.com!  And if you have time... check out my league, the Magnolia Roller Vixens at http://www.magnoliarollervixens.com!!   

I had a few extra yards on this really cute pastry fabric laying around... so I decided to make a dress with it.  I was making it to wear for Easter, but the weather has decided to be VERY unspring like.. so hopefully it wont be too cold.  I got a cute red cardigan to wear with it just in case tho!

I used mickncrispy's Shirred tube top tute to make the dress.  It's just a big huge rectangle of fabric (well two big rectangles b/c I added lining).  The pleats in the front are from an oops.. I miscalculated the stretchyness of the elastic and made it too big, so I added darts in the fron to take in the extra fabric.. and this created the pleats.  The belt is from a project on Simplicity's website.  I also made my dress tie like a halter top.

All in all the whole outfit took about 4-5 hours to make (lol stretched over 4 days because I kept procrastinating  )

Anyhooooo on to the pics!

This came out WAY better than I could have ever expected!

So I wanted to try my hand at making a waist cincher.  I used a cincher that I already had and traced each piece on some newspaper to make the pattern.  I used some leftover fabric that I had and some plastic cable ties from the hardware store as boning (so that if this whole thing was a flop.. i didnt mess up any good supplies)  Anyhoo here are the results! 


front


back


close up of the embroidered/appliqued star


my friend modeling it for me.



Im thinking about making some matching pasties (b/c I could soo see it on a hawt burlesque dancer!).. I might sell it on ebay or something.. the colors arent really anything that i'd wear.  I just used that fabric b/c its what I had around and b/c this whole thing was all a huge experiment.    BUT!  Now that I know I can actually make a fully functional corset/cincher.. I can make myself one!!!! (it will cinch me in about 2 or 3 inches like it's suppose to!)    Anyhoo.. tell me what you think!  I'd also love some tips as I kinda just winged it through this little project.  Also would you wear it?  Would you buy it?

I am thinking about getting a tattoo on the side of my torso.  I want an indian henna pattern tattooed in a dark mahogany color with some areas filled in with an orange tone.

The problem is that I cannot find pictures of tattoos on dark skin!  The ones I do find are so far away from my style or they are poorly done ghetto tats... and they are usually guy tattoos.. I know there are some female african american, indian, and latino people out there with tats.  I also know that I'm not the only "alternative" black/indian chick out there.. so um.. anyone have any pictures of tattoos on darker skin?  Preferably more punk/goth/asian style tattoos.. and also some with color.  I just need to kind of get a visual of what it will look like on dark skin.  I know there are colors that just wont show up.

Also, if you have a tattoo on the side of your torso/waist that you'd like to show, that'd be great too.  I'm just trying to get an idea of placement. I'm working on the design now by looking at alot of traditional henna patterns.  I'm half indian, so I just think getting a mehndi design would be cool plus I want something kind of abstract.

thanks in advance for any help!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EW9YF6/002-6051105-6488051

I want to make this bag!  I think it's so cute and I like how you can wear it different ways.. but I'm thinking of making it in black with maybe some silver studded details or some cute embroidery..  Anyhooo I have a few questions, b/c I cant figure out somethings about this bag.  I see that the handles are actually two handles.. so I'm guessing that the opening to get inside the bag is between them?  Or is there a big zipper on the side.. I'm not sure..  I also cannot tell if the bag is one big piece folded over or if it's two that are sewn up the sides... like this


It's hard to tell when you use Amazon's picture zoom.  I cant find a single picture of the back side of the bag.  Any comments, help, suggestions about this bag and how it's constructed will be a great help... other than that, i'm just gonna wing it.   

I made my first ever clothing item on my sewing machine today!   







I used a shirring tutorial to make this (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=49544.0).  It was really easy!  It's pretty much just a tube with the shirring on the top.  But I'm pretty proud of it for being my first clothing item to make.. and it's like the fourth thing I've ever made with my sewing machine too.  This one's a lil too small in the hips for me.. so ignore the weird creases.     I have more fabric.. so I'm gonna make another one that will actually fit.. and I'll prob sell this one.

fabric from reprodepot.com

I made these little onesies for a friend that is about to be a daddy! 











The dad is a guitar teacher and he also used to be in a black metal band, so I made the shirts a bit more "metal"   

excuse the blurry pics    and dont mind the lil goof on the "my daddy rocks" onesie 

I made this purse about a month ago with my Knifty Knitter.  It was pretty simple to make... it's basically just a rectangle (that tapers a bit at the ends) folded in half.  I used Wool-ease thick & quick yarn in a dark grey color.  A brooch was used as the closure (gotta love the $1 section at Target!). Since I can't sew yet... I cut out the lining of an old purse I dont use anymore and hand stitched it to the inside of the purse. It's the first purse I've ever made, and I'm pretty happy with the outcome!



Basic directions are:

Using the green loom, make a rectangle that is
3" of garter stitch (one row of purl, one row of knit)
one row of drop stitch
7" of 2x2 rib stitch
one row of drop stitch
3" of garter stitch
Knit off the loom. (make the rectangle as wide as you want.  To make it longer, just mess with the measurements I mentioned.. make sure they are mirrors of each other or it won't line up tho')

fold purse in half so everything lines up and sew the sides together..

the strap and closure are just skinny rectangles in the garter stitch b/c it's a bit heftier than stockinette.  Weave ribbon through the drop stitches.. I then lined the strap with ribbon to make it stronger.  And I lined the purse with fabric. 

www.yarngear.com has directions on how to do all of the different stitches I mentioned on a Knifty Knitter.

I found an awesome bracelet online.. and I want to try to make it.. but I cant quite figure out how... Has anyone seen a tutorial for it?  It looks like the middle part uses a peyote stitch (which i'm just starting to learn) but I cant figure out how to create the loops for the bracelet..



I'd buy one to examine.. but they are from a wholesaler that has a $200 min purchase... Thanks in advance!