Just posting a quick update to let you know that the Life’s a Stitch Lizzie*Kate pattern is looking for a new home again. Erica posted her finish yesterday, and it is fabulous. Head over to her blog to leave a comment for your chance to be the next stitcher of this travelling pattern.
Here’s my finish:
Life's a Stitch from Lizzie*Kate
It’s time for another Totally Useless Stitch Along (TUSAL) post! July has two new moons, which means two TUSAL posts.
TUSAL - July 2011 (2)
I also thought I would share a quick little project that I finished up the other day. It is the free gift kit from issue 82 of the UK knitting magazine Simply Knitting. (I adore this magazine, partly because of the free gifts, partly because it often has Alan Dart patterns, and partly because I just love the chatty style of UK craft magazines.).
Rose Pin from Simply Knitting
Big knitting needles + bulky yarn = quick project
A few weeks ago a cross stitch-able iPhone 4 case was making the rounds of the Internet. Having recently received a very gently used iPhone 4 from my husband (who in turn got a brand new one from his work), I was on the hunt for a new case (more about my old case below). Sadly, said husband veto my choices, which included this and this. But, he happily agreed to the Leesedesign DIY iPhone 4 Case.
DIY iPhone 4 Case from Leese Designs
The case currently on my phone is a Speck Fitted Case for iPhone 4. It is actually the second Speck case we have had, since the first one was replaced under warranty after it cracked. The Speck case is nice, but far from perfect. The back fits tightly (maybe too tight, which is why the first one cracked), but the front is a little loose. All the ports and buttons and such line up perfectly, which means the case doesn’t need to be removed for syncing or charging. However, the overall quality leaves a little to be desired. The fabric backing on my current case is fraying at the edge, making it look quite untidy. And given that my phone spends more time sitting on the table than anywhere else, I’m very disappointed.
Why start with a review of a Speck case you may be wondering. Well, Speck cases are well respected, so they provide a good comparison for this DIY case from what is essentially an unknown source in Korea. So, let’s get started on the review.
The DIY iPhone 4 case is a soft case for, what else, the iPhone 4. It looks like it should fit all models, but is shown on a Virgin Mobile handset in these pictures (note that the Verizon model is slightly different than other iPhone 4 handsets, but this case seems to be able to accommodate them). It fits the iPhone snugly, but is still easy to remove.
DIY iPhone 4 Case - on phone
The thing that makes this case special is the back: it features an evenweave-like surface, perfect for cross stitching. The back is 33 stitches by 69 stitches, with a small section cut out for the rear-facing camera and flash. It works out to about 16 stitches an inch.
DIY iPhone 4 Case - back detail
The package comes with the case, three bobbins of floss (pink, blue and gray), a needle, and a small booklet with six designs. The designs range from an all over heart pattern to a sports car. Something for everyone. The colour numbers given for the designs appear to be a combination of DMC numbers (e.g. 310 is black) and some other floss system. The non-DMC numbers do correspond to the three colours of floss included with the case. (Additional designs can be found here.)
DIY iPhone 4 Case - floss and needle
The user manual also includes basic cross stitch instructions, as well as some, umm, interesting English flubs. (What is an “emotional cross stitch pattern”?)
DIY iPhone 4 Case - user manual
The case feels well made and, as I said before, fits the iPhone well. All the ports and buttons are clear and easy to access.
DIY iPhone Case - button and port openings
So far, the only problem I see with the case is two manufacturing flaws along the right hand side. They appear at both the top and bottom and look like they are caused by the mould.
DIY iPhone 4 Case - manufacturing flaw
Although I have yet to begin stitching on the case, I expect it won’t be terribly difficult. The case is made from flexible polyurethane and all of the holes are well formed and clear of any debris. None of the included designs tickle my fancy, so I wish that the user manual had included an empty graph. Still, with some graph paper or a cross stitching graphing program, it will be easy to design something more to my tastes (or more likely, I’ll end up trying to adapt a design to fit the space). Since the case is plastic, designs can only be whole stitches.
Do I like the case better than my hard, two piece Speck case? Yes, very much so. I like that I can easily remove the DIY case, and the fact that it is only one piece. I also like that the DIY case costs less, and that I can stitch whatever I like on the back, rather than having to pick from a small range of fabric choices provided by Speck.
The DIY iPhone 4 case comes in six different colours and is available for sale here for US$18 and here for 18,000원.
And if you’d like to see how my stitched version turned out, check out this post.
DIY iPhone 4 Case with User Manual
My camera and I are officially no longer on speaking terms. In fact, it has been packed up in a lonely little box and sent two cities over to get repaired. (At least, I hope it will be repaired.) And, not a moment too soon, since the warranty runs out on August 1st!
Pictures of my last finished project, a lovely crochet case (link to pattern on etsy), are trapped on my memory card. I have a card reader somewhere, but darned if I can find it. So, imagine my case looking a lot like the pictures, but with a dark teal interior. I’m very happy with how it turned out, except for the fact that it doesn’t fit my Soft Touch handle crochet hooks. And that is exactly what I wanted it for. On the bright side, all the tiny steel and regular-size aluminum hooks I never use have a beautiful new home.
Of course, that leaves me without a home for the hooks I use all the time. Clover sells this case for US$11, so I might just buy it. I mean, I’ve spent about that much already making a case that didn’t work, so why waste more money? (Of course, they only ship to the US, so I might just be out of luck. Argh!
In other news, my cross stitch-able iPhone 4 case arrived today. I’ll have pictures and a short review of it tomorrow (assuming I can get my husband’s camera to talk to my computer.) Stay tuned!
Yesterday was the first day of general registration for the CreativFestival, which is a big craft show here in Toronto. It features vendors and classes in all sorts of crafts, from knitting to glass bead making and nearly everything in between. Sadly, though, the amount of needlework classes has been steadily falling, and at last year’s show there were about three or four needlework vendors. And, you’d think that would mean that there aren’t many classes for me to take. Well, thankfully, there are lots of things I’d like to learn how to do. 🙂
This year I actually registered for the largest package even though I was fully expecting to register for a much smaller package. But, I was so tempted by a full day course in learning to use my serger to make clothing that I knew I needed to take it. (And, if I took private lessons to learn the same thing, it would have ended up costing much more.) I’ve also signed up for a class about using different serger feet, and some seminars on choosing the correct sewing machine needles and basic machine maintenance.
Knitting is also important to me, as I’m sure you know. So, I signed up for a class with Fiona Ellis called Factured Fair Isles. Sound interesting, doesn’t it? I’ve also signed up for an intarsia class with Charles Voth, yet another technique I’ve been wanting to learn.
Lastly, and most importantly, are the needlework classes. Firstly, I’ll be taking a biscornu class with Lorene Salt. And then, I’ll be taking five classes and one seminar with Jennifer Aikman-Smith of Dragon Dreams. That, friends, is the highlight of the Festival for me and the main reason I am going.
Now all I have to do is gather my supplies and wait patiently for October. There’s a lot happening between now and then (maybe a trip to the zoo, a short vacation in Las Vegas, another family event, birthdays and anniversaries), so I’m sure the time will speed by. But, still, I wish it was happening tomorrow. 😉
A stitching post! Amazing! Well, I’ve finally gathered up my stitching mojo and pulled the supplies for July’s ornament: Hardanger Ornament by Nordic Needle from the 1999 issue of Just Cross Stitch. I’ve substituted DMC for the Rainbow Gallery Splendour and DMC #8 perle cotton for the Rainbow Gallery Elegance.
Yeah, I don’t have much done, but it is a start. And I’ve got, what, six more days? I can do it.
But, umm, see that pile of bits there? That is what I’ve picked out so far. I just can’t seem to count properly. At this rate, it will never be done.
And in hopes of keeping my stitching mojo around, I’ve also pulled the supplies and cut the fabric for TW’s Miniature Spring Sampler and I’ve cut the fabric for next month’s ornament. As I was doing this, I discovered that I am running very, very low (as in have a few small scraps and one 9″ x 14″ piece) of 28 count evenweave. Time for a small fabric order, I think.
Done!
Kid's Shawl Collar Cardigan from SweaterKits
The little man was a slave driver, and a cute little cardigan is the result. It look me about a week and a half to knit. And, unfortunately, I actually ran out of yarn just as I finished the shawl collar section. Thankfully, I had some Mission Falls 1824 cotton in my stash, which is pretty much a dead on match for the SweaterKits Cotton Licious that came with the kit. So, the button bands were knit in the Mission Falls yarn. I think the result looks pretty good.
Kid's Shawl Collar Cardigan from SweaterKits
A terrible picture, unfortunately, but you get the idea. The buttons were included in the kit, and are a great finishing touch.
My next knitting project: finish the socks I’ve been working on all month. The weather will get cold again eventually, and I will need new socks. Right?
Needleworker, Knitter, Crocheter, Sewist, Paper Crafter, and more!
Also known as Silverlotus & Stitchinglotus
Located just outside of Toronto, Canada.
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