The Week In Review: A Pyramid Book Holder, A Wee Purse and Some Felted Booties


I have long considered buying one of these handy dandy triangular book /Ipad/Kindle holders. I thought that they would be especially good when I read in bed. I tend to lie on my side and getting a book to be at a good angle for reading is sometimes a struggle.  I've seen similar items for sale on Levenger, but they cost between $39.-$43. and I was just not enthused at the construction or the fabric choices. Once I began looking I found other brands, but with only slightly more inspiring fabrics. Not that the fabric really matters all that much I suppose, you might prefer a more neutral fabric rather than an overbright one, plus the fabric is generally hidden by your book or device anyway, but if I can make one that I love why not try?!

I absolutely fell in love with this fabric that was a part of our  'awefull raffle' at a "Sewcial" last weekend.  I was thrilled to win it - along some other fabric pieces that are equally special, but these sheep just tugged at my heart. What would I use it for?
I used parts of a pyramid book holder pattern that I found , but thesimple instructions seemed very very vague. I made some changes to the pattern, and I am planning to write a new pattern of my own with some design changes. I felt that a pocket was needed (which was not mentioned) for a  pencil, a cleaning cloth for your device, tissues, or whatever. I could not plan on having enough fabric to make a pocket because I had less that the required amount of fabric to begin with. I had to piece in a few places as it was in order to have enough fabric to make the large triangles. I added the pocket by hand at the very end and was left with a precious bit of  leftover fabric that measures about 3 inches! Phew! Skin of my teeth!

This book holder works just as I had hoped it would, and I love everything about it.  It makes reading in bed so much easier and using it on my lap holds the book/device at a comfortable  reading angle! It holds an Ipad (classic size) or Kindle (HD Fire) easily (the photo above) or am extra large hard cover book just as easily (photo below).

Here is that little pocket that I added. I'm so glad that I was able to add at least one!
Since I was short on fabric I used a double layer of my favorite black fabric (Michael Miller's black) for the bottom. The holder is filled with some luscious wool. Not the most cost effective stuffing perhaps, but it was what I had one hand. I have added a bag of poly fill to my "mainland" shopping list for when I make another book pyramid. Actually I think wool may be the better choice really because it may become less compacted over time than poly fill would/will - so maybe it was good that I went with what I had - especially since I won't give up this one with my favorite fabric!

Another project from this week:

.....a little bag ( I have to feed my purse-a-mania somehow!). This is made from a pattern by the Stitchin Post. I have some pattern changes planned for this too, but it's a really cute little bag, and I loved using snaps. This was some Jane Sassaman fabric that I had been hanging on to for a long-g-g-g time! You can carry your cell phone in the large rear area that has it's own snap closure there are two other pockets of varying sizes. A simple braided ,over the shoulder length strap,  finished the job. I cannot wait to get going on  with "my" version of this. It will take more time, but will end up being a bit more substantial I think. 

The final of the week's projects was this pair of felted booties from one of my favorite patterns from Cat Bordhi that I call the 'Cure For Cold Feet', but she simple calls 'Felted Booties'.It's in her book Socks that Soar

I used some Knit Picks City Tweed Heavy Weight that I held double stranded (since the pattern calls for bulky).  I love the yarn, it's soft and would have made my feet very happy as well as warm. Once again I used what I had on hand. The yarn was 55% merino wool, 42% alpaca and 3% donegal tweed bits (give or take a percent one way or the other). There was no mention on the label that it was a super wash wool and yet, despite getting a small swatch to felt, I could not get these booties to felt enough no matter what I tried. 

I washed them on a hot cycle and dried them in the dryer twice. Then I took a drastic measure and boiled them on the stove for quite some time, and then they were put them through another washer and dryer cycle. They did felt more with this method, but not enough for me to use them (even with another pair of thinner trouser socks underneath).  The bulky yarns that I have used for this pattern in the past have all worked out and felted beautifully. These will fit DH perfectly if he will really use them that is. So - I need to go and find some more bulky non super wash wool. I need a new pair of "the cure for cold feet" booties - and soon as I have patched and repatched the soles of mine so often that there is soon going to be no 'patchability'!
That was my week. I had a good week ! How about you? 
What did you do this week that made you smile?



Comments

  1. First off, I want the pattern for the socks. Montana is not nice to tootsies use to being free and now they are cold. But the reading triangle is superb. Once you get your directions all ironed out, I would love to 'test' them out for you. And the purse is so cute. However, being a Virgo and former Girl Scout, way too small for my needs!

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  2. clever you!! LeeAnna Paylor
    lapaylor.blogspot.com

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