Knitting! And Sewing!

Good gracious! And the worst pictures ever!*

The Purple Blob. I finished this just after last year's retreat and promptly decided it was too short and too boxy, so I ripped it back to the armholes, figured out a better rate of decrease (which is to say, I thought about it before I reknitted, unlike last time when I got to somewhere around my waist and totally faked it, which didn't work at all. I know. I'm surprised, too) and re-knitted. I finished it again at this year's retreat. And then bought new buttons because I totally winged the buttonholes and ended up with more holes than buttons. It's still a little short and boxy but I'm much happier with it. It is a basic top down cardigan following Barbara Walker's instructions in Knitting From the Top Down.

Tulip Skirt from the winter 2008 issue of Stitch (will they make this available for subscription?). I made one last year from a black rayon-linen blend (no picture, apparently), which I do not recommend as it feels nasty and pills. This is something called "weaver's cloth", I have no idea what that is (100% cotton from JoAnn's). I don't know. I want to like this skirt, but it may be too short and too poufy for me and I end up feeling like my rear end goes on forever. Maybe if the fabric has better drape and is a little longer? How many times will I sew this skirt before I admit that I am not 25 and thin as a rail? The color for the sweater in this picture is just right, though.

This is also from that issue of Stitch, but I don't remember what it is called. I have also made this one before, but I only took my waist measurement into account, forgetting completely about my hips. Hahaha! Let's pretend that one never existed. This is supposed to have horizontal pin tucks as well, but at some point early on I realized that was going to take 2 inches I didn't think I had to spare. I was right. This fits perfectly in the hips, the waist is a little big, but that is manageable.

*I've been playing with Blogger and headers and layouts for most of the afternoon (for work, not for me) and I'm a little loopy. Here is a sunflower, just because:

It's a Dress!

A crummy picture of a dress, but a dress nonetheless. This is Vogue 2902, it started out as view A, but ended up view B (with the contrasting hem band) because I, um, yeah. I cut it too short. The dress would have been knee length, which might have been ok but the proportion just seemed out of whack. Since the dress is completely lined (which is good since the fabric is cotton lawn), adding the contrast band was a simple matter of trimming the lining piece I had cut off and sewing it onto the outside skirt. As if cutting the skirt wasn't enough of a screw up, I also managed to put the zipper in the wrong side. Oh well.

I was supposed to hand stitch that band to the dress. I am much too lazy for that! Besides, I kind of like the look of the topstitching. I also had to shorten the straps by about an inch and a half. I think this will be fine, but had I made a muslin first I would have avoided cutting the skirt too short (though I do like the contrast hem), I could have fixed the straps more elegantly, and I probably would have managed to get the zipper on the correct side.

I've started cutting for a new quilt. That is all for now.

Len's Cheesy Shirt

In a crazed moment of silliness, I bought this flamingo fabric thinking I would make a 1950's style dress, full skirt and all. When I came to a few months later, I thought better of it. I showed the fabric to Len (who knows why) and told him now that the dress plan was out, I didn't know what to do with it all. He shrugged and said, "you could make me a shirt out of it". After I picked up my jaw, I did. And he wore it...in public.

By the way, this does not give anyone license to gift us with flamingo-related anything. Just in case you are tempted.

Quiltiness!

Done!

I'm sorry to say, I loved making this quilt.

I thought the free motion quilting would be the most difficult part, but after a couple of false starts (on practice pieces) it went rather smoothly and was quite fun, though a bit of a workout for my seriously underused arms. The tutorial has a diagram which implies that you should quilt half of the width, then the other half. I found it easier to go up each stack of blocks separately, the scribbling blended in well enough that even I can't tell.

The only part I'm not in love with is the binding. I think it would be nicer with a darker green or blue, but I'm certainly not taking it out now.

Of course I have big plans for another quilt, as well as fixing one my dad made for me many years ago. And another obsession is born.

Photo Shoot on the Back Porch

After taking pictures of flowers I was struck with the crazy notion that I could bring other thing outside to take pictures. Wacky.

The quilt top is a bit on the wrinkly side, but I am very happy with how it turned out. I got the back done, too, but not until after these pictures.

I particularly love this fabric combination.

And on the knitting front:

This is the beginning of the Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig Knitbot. I really like her Whisper Cardigan in the Spring 2009 Interweave and was on the verge of casting it on when I came across this more structured version, which I think I will be happier with. It is a top down design, so I can control the size. This was a natural white silk-merino from Blackberry Ridge, it is now Dark Cherry and Grape Kool-Aid flavored. I love how the colors came out. My other dye experiment this weekend came out less well. I don't want to talk about it.

And this is the beginning of Soleil. Not very exciting yet, but if I don't screw it up, it should be a nice summer top. The yarn is DK weight cotton, of some variety I've never heard of (and of course I didn't manage to bring a ball band with me so I could tell you).

I have several other projects I'm poking at or desperate to start, which is great timing, since it's garden season. Only twenty some years to retirement, can't wait!

Dress

I hoped that Mabel would help with pictures, but not so much in this case (but at least I managed to crop out the litter box before posting). This is Butterick 5315, made with Sanae Twiggy Flower.

I wouldn't mind if the waist sat a little lower on me (it's fine on Mabel, which means I need to lengthen her torso), it looks ok, but an inch lower would feel better.

The pleat in the back is a nice touch.

Meet Mabel

I used a Singer 151G dress form and am working on padding and stuffing so she will be fairly similar to me. She's still a little lumpy but she's getting there. And, to be honest, I am a bit lumpy myself. Or a lot lumpy. I whipped the skirt up (pattern and all) while on a sewing date with Stef (many weeks ago, before Scotland and her husband's death rattle). The fabric is a seersucker from a thrift store. The skirt definitely gives my hips a bit of extra pouf.

I made the daisy skirt late last fall. I had intended that it be an elastic waist skirt, but I kind forgot about my hips. Since I had already cut it out, I ended up throwing in a zipper. I need to add some darts for the skirt to fit my waist. Instead of a hem, I used yellow bias tape. I'm quite proud of that touch.

This wrap skirt is from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing. There was a mistake in the directions and yardage requirements and ince I didn't have enough fabric to cut the two additional panels, I cut about 3 inches off of the waist. It made the skirt shorter (a couple of inches longer than knee length) and I am overall pretty happy with how it turned out.

Tomorrow: dress.

Taxman

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
Cos I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

--George Harrison

Don't worry, I'm not really going to talk about taxes. However, it seems a boxed set of remastered versions of all 12 original Beatles albums, plus "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Past Masters" (a 2-cd set of non-album singles) will be released on September 9. That is 24 days before my birthday. You know, just in case you were wondering.

In other news, we have the quilt project, which has become quite a Something. "Thorn in my side" would indicate that I am not enjoying it and, unfortunately, I am. "Puzzle" isn't right either. Here is the problem:

I have all of the squares done and I love them. I have a layout that I like (the pictures are horrible and I will not subject you to them). But the fabric which will outline the squares is making me crazy. My original thought was white, which was nixed by general consensus (including by Len). I went to the quilt shop earlier this week and layed squares out on fabric. None of the solids worked and this is what we came up with. I am not convinced.

A comment on Flickr summed it up for me perfectly: it is both a bit too busy and there isn't enough contrast in the squares where yellow is predominate. I have a spring green on order for the binding on order, when that comes, I will see if it will work. If so, I'll use this for the binding. If not, my forehead may get bloody from the banging on the wall. Actually, JoAnn's linen section may have a solution.

In the meantime, please enjoy this picture of Len's niece as she calmly pigs out on peanut butter cups:

Quilt Squares

I'm moving right along on these. Unfortunately, I am not hating every minute.

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

Sewing and Very Bad Pictures

I finally got around to taking pictures of some of my recent sewing. The pictures are terrible, but, well, there you are.

This is another AB Barcelona skirt from a rose print I found very cheap at Big Box Craft Store (BBCS). This time I put half inch darts in the waist, which helps it fit in the waist better. My next edit will be to change the angle a bit so it comes away from my hips a little sooner.

This one is Simplicity 3688, a reprint of a 1940's pattern. The woman in the drawing is an Amazon, the skirt is much longer on me. The fabric is black corduroy with white dots and is quite elegant with a pair of heels (as opposed to the sneakers, which do not work at all).

A wrap skirt (McCalls 5430), also corduroy.

And finally, the best pair of pajama pants ever:

Yes, that is Noah's Ark in the worst 1970's color palette. For some reason, I have held onto this sheet from my childhood for all these years, schlepping it from place to place. Why?

And why, I would like to know, is Noah's Ark a children's story? God was so pissed off at humans that He killed all but a select few, and all of the animals, except those few who managed to make it on a boat. That's a kid's story, cute enough to be made into sheets? Yeah. Jonah and the big fish (or whale) isn't very cute either.

Actual Crafting Content

I know, crazy. I finally managed to take some pictures this weekend, despite the lack of sun and can show off a few things I've been working on:

February Lady sweater. I used Manos del Uruguay, rescued from a long unfinished sweater. In keeping with the rescue theme:

I rescued these wolf buttons from a jacket I bought many years ago, but never liked. They work nicely with this, I think.

The Christmas tradition in my step-mother's family is called "Door Prizes": instead of a big, chaotic gift exchange, everyone brings stuff -- stuff they've been shopping for all year, stuff they think will appeal to one person or another, or to everyone, found stuff, made stuff -- it all goes on a table (or three), we draw numbers and pick (no one gets to steal stuff from anyone else). It is big and chaotic.

I made these for Door Prizes. I'm pretty sure I saw a tutorial somewhere, then realized this would be a great use for fat quarters. Here's how you do it: take two fat quarters of coordinating colors (or not), slap 'em right sides together, trim to the same size, sew together, leaving an opening to turn, turn them right side out, press, top stitch about 1/4 inch from edge. Easy and pretty.

I made these, too. Here is the other (not terribly coordinated side):

Also, despite swearing up one side of my sewing machine and down the other that I would not do this, I seem to have started a quilt. My only excuse is scraps and lots of them:

This comes via a Melly and Me tutorial. I intend to make this large enough to fit our queen size bed, obviously, I have a ways to go. I can totally see the appeal of quilting, but if I ever buy fabric specifically for that purpose, you may feel free to slap me.

Knitting and Sewing

My aunt Ann's funeral was yesterday. It left me with a lot of thoughts about funerals, which may coalesce into a blog post someday. Or not. I do remember, at her husband's funeral, my stepmother's grandmother commenting that she was sad that her husband was gone, but it was so nice to see everyone. I suppose that is the way it goes.

I was thinking about what to wear yesterday and decided I needed a new dress. I had acquired some black corduroy in a fabric buying frenzy with the intention of making a Retro Jumper. Looking at the directions, it seemed feasible to make in a couple of days, so...I did! Here is it with my patented Terrible Mirror Picture:

To be honest, I think it is more flattering in person than in the picture.

I finished another dress a few days ago:

This is the same pattern that I used for this dress, but the long sleeve version. I made the bodice an inch longer and several sizes smaller, but left the skirt the same size (I gathered it a bit more). I've already popped armhole seams so I need to shore those up, but otherwise I'm completely in love with this dress.

Knitting: A few months ago, Stef offered me some Manos del Uruguay, which wasn't working out for her. When she offered, she used words along the lines of "I know you usually knit for that annual Euchre Tournament. I have all this yarn you might like to have." So when it came time to think about knitting this year, it seemed very reasonable to use the yarn (whether she meant it that way or not).

So I have in the works, a scarf:

The stitch pattern is Pinnacle Chevron. It took much too long to get comfortable knitting this stitch, but I love how it is coming out. I will probably make a hat to go with this.

And, the ubiquitous Clapotis:

This is going to be hard to give up, I have to say. The color is gorgeous and it is a perfect match (to me) of yarn to pattern.

Sewing!

Now that canning season is essentially over (I am still hoping to eek out another batch of salsa), I finally have time to sew. Sort of. I have made a skirt, which is sitting at the bottom of my laundry basket, un-photographed, and hemmed a pair of sweat pants for a friend ('cos I'm nice that way). And I made a bed for Lizzy.

Cute! This was very easy, a big round pillow and a zippered casing. For some reason I have a hard time with zippers, my first few went ok, but now they just go badly. It doesn't matter so much for this project, but my machine came with free lessons and I think I will avail myself for zipper help. Stuffing the pillow was pretty hilarious (it took about 3.5 pounds of stuffing), the animals were all very interested. Whip stitching the opening took longer than Lizzy had patience for and she went to sleep (in her crate).

Simon, however, approved. Of the bed, not the dog. I'll be interested to see who claims it, I'm laying bets on Simon.

New Toy

I bought myself a brand new sewing machine. We're going to elope.

I don't even care that it has a Project Runway logo, because it has overcast. I love overcast. I suppose I should have done more research, maybe I could have found more machine for less money, but it was a little like buying my first (and only) new car. I always had cars which got me from point A to point B but they always had very annoying quirks to work around, so I was going to love any new car I test drove, even if it was a boring Ford Escort (which, 10 years on, still doesn't have annoying quirks). I'm hoping my new sewing machine will an Escort: who cares that it is unexciting if 10 years from now it is still overcasting.

I love overcast.