White Ektorp Transformed

So simple, so obvious. A length of fabric, tucked in and around the cushions, with armrest covers too, of course, and voila I have just the chairs that would work, both versatile, custom and inexpensive for the living room. Change out the fabric cover when it gets grungy, and wash/bleach the slip cover when 'accidents' happen. Didn't you suggest this already? I guess I was hoping for a less 'homemade' look, but then let's get real, I need to make a flexible cover for inevitable disasters. I am not giving up my dogs for the sake of the furniture.

Now to talk Dave into a trip to Atlanta....

Trying on for size

I realize that my bedroom chair was not being used as often I thought it would be, so why not try it out for size in the living room? I was a little iffy about the white Ektorp chair/s being white, and this is the same white duck fabric so it will allow me to think about what color I would prefer. On the other hand I can bleach white duck....oy.

I also brought out the red stool as my drink/book table and it matches the couch red exactly, but is chipped all over. Call it Shabby Chic. I put the ottoman over the floor outlets which are a constant source of tripping for me. This arrangement is NOT how I would do the matching duet of Ektorp chairs. No ottomans with them, and not at this angle. I will use this arrangement for a week or two while I am deciding about the Ektorps. Perhaps a great solution will appear, fabric or color wise. I did find I have lots of turquoise dots left, but some are washed, and the washed out-ness makes them pretty unappealing. We do enjoy the dotty chairs on the patio, and had a long testy discussion about what we will do for shade this summer. Again, oy.

 Not gonna use this fabric:  

Here's the pic of all of us taken by Brooke, and I know you want the classic pic of our buyers for your collection. What is she doin' with him? Slim pickens on the mountain...

  

New old lights

We may not keep the red chest (my fused fabric home) as the TV stand, especially if we bring the bigger TV upstairs. But it will work for now.
The photos don't show how truly bright the working area is, just gotta believe me when I say it is perfect. Yay!
Mel

Finished work

 The first image is before I cut the thing down. It seemed to make the central motif look skimpy, so I took away the bottom several inches, which emphasized the motif more.
Adding the detail strips and dots were more appropriate to the scale. I chose the fabrics for their dynamic color changes, but now I don't care for the color scheme, which seems all over the place. O well. I don't like maroons or golds all that much. There is iridescent gold silk in the stripes under the middle section and at the very top, which is more effective in reality. Doesn't show up in the photos too well.

 

 
I don't have a title yet, but this is another in the Stack series, and I did that folding the edges back/adding the backing later thing,  and I am loving that finish. So sharp and crisp, and of course no turning inside out or trying to get those pointed corners to look nice. In this case I didn't use a pre-fused cotton for the back. I just cut the backing and fused an inch of fusible on the outer borders to make it stick. Getting rid of dopey fabrics this way.

Baktus for Barbara

Here are the yarns I have chosen for your Baktus Scarf. It will take all four balls to make the right length. This is just an evening's knitting, so if you don't like any of these colors, I can start over.

The contrast yarn is darker and has dark green, and darker reds/olives. The shot of oomph is red, orange, purple and blue, with some greens mixed in, and the two balls of main color are reds, pinks, and greens.

Fabrics

41x45" $80

61x58" $80

103x45" $100

47x40" $80

Jacket Pattern-Starting Out

Note: always slip the first stitch of each row, to ensure easier picking up of stitches.
For most sizes (34-40") 71st is enough, as there is plenty of ease, but for larger hips use 75.
Make the first triangle, center back, at the hem. Cast on 71 sts.
Row 1.
Row 2. K
Row 3 Using contrasting color, k1, k2tog, knit to center three stitches, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k to last three stitches, k2 tog, k1.
Row 4. K
Row 5, with main color, repeat rows three and four
Continue decreases at each side and center until five stitches remain, bind off.
Measure the long edge of this triangle and that will determine the width of the back times two. In other words, if it measures 11", then the back width will be 22".


Here's the triangle at the bottom center of the body.
The diamonds are made with 71 sts, and the decreases are done over the center three stitches as follows:
knit to center three stitches, sl 1, k2tog, psso,
Triangles # 3,7,10,11,15 and16, and the smaller triangles 13 and 18 have decreases (k2tog) one stitch in from the edge, on the right side only.
Since doing this pink version I have improved the neckline, and eliminated the triangles 21-25.


This is probably enough to get you started. When you have gotten this far, I will show you the rest, with instruction and pictures.