sew wrong.

Spring 2012 Collection - Vogue Patterns

2012-02-01T06:05:00.000-05:00

It's February 1 and the spring 2012 patterns are starting to arrive. It feels like an early spring day today in Boston, but looking at the calendar, I'm certain that we will have many more winter-like days ahead of us, even into April. It's never too early to start planning your sewing for the next season (just ordered some fabric and patterns last week!), so here's a peak at what I'm already planning to make this spring.

V1287 - Donna Karan
Maybe it's the print that drew me in to this pattern, but it looks likes a lot of fun to make and wear. The only thing I'm apprehensive about are those side pockets/bands - I'm not a fan of anything that draws attention to hips or makes them appear to be larger. I'll have to see this made up on some "real" sewers before I decide to take the plunge and sew this one.

V1294 - Anne Klein
Even though this top is not considered to be flattering to my body shape (I'll be writing a post on that topic later), I love the design of the neck flounce and the tailoring of this blouse. You could dress this up for work or dress it down with a pair of jeans for running errands.

V8784 - Very Easy Very Vogue
I'm determined to master the wrap-dress this year: I've never found one that fit my bust, either in RTW dresses or those sewn by myself. It's a style that I've given up on, but the skirt and the styling on this dress is adorable. This just may be the dress that could work for me with a few tweaks.

V8787 - Vogue Easy Options
What a versatile dress pattern, I understand why it's called "easy options!" What I really like about this pattern is the above style in the peppermint-stripe fabric that is cut on the bias for the bodice and skirt but on the straight grain for the waist band. It would be darling in a navy blue and white stripe double knit as well.

V8790 - Very Easy Very Vogue
So far three of the four patterns I've listed from this collection are dresses, which I have a weakness for in the warm months, but I really need to expand my sewn wardrobe and make more sportswear. This pattern has a sleeveless, short sleeve, and long sleeve option, so it could transcend the spring season and be an all-year pattern with some changes in fabric.

V8792 - Vogue Easy Options
Again, it's the striped fabric that drew me to this pattern. It could be an interesting top to try mixing prints, a fashion trend for the spring, such as a large polka dot mixed with a small polka dot insert. Or perhaps a contrasting color insert - there's a couple of options to take what could be a boring long sleeve top to a higher fashion level.

V8791 - Custom Fit
This is another top that I'll wait and see what other sewers come up with. It has a cool, artsy vibe to it, and I'd style it with skinny cropped pants like on the model. I prefer the tank and short sleeve style of this top, but I'm afraid of looking shapeless in a top like this. Neat concept, but I'll wait a little bit on this one.

A note to Vogue Patterns - I appreciate the attempt to style the pattern photos like in a fashion magazine, but don't underestimate how important it is to get a clear, unobstructed view of the front and back of these patterns. It makes it really hard to figure out how a dress or top will look on me if I'm standing up straight and facing front, such as these patterns here, here, and here. I'm all for elevating sewing to another level, but I need a good idea of how a garment really looks before I invest my money and time into a project. An illustration is not the same as a photo of a real person wearing clothes.

Pattern Review: Vogue 1020

2012-01-19T07:46:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Vogue 1020, View C (OOP)
Size: 10 bodice graded to a 12 skirt
Fabric: Rayon jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics

I did the unthinkable. I swore I'd never do it again. But I did: I sewed a pattern that I already sewed three years ago and failed miserably at. The reason? It fit terribly and I hated how I looked and felt wearing it.

So why in the world did I try it again? This was the right fabric for it this time around.

1) The Fabric

I mean come on, this is a pretty funky fabric. And I felt that the print was so crazy-wild, it would distract from any fit issues I had around my stomach. I loved that the pattern layout created a bias across the bodice and then caused the print to straighten out at the skirt - this was a design element of the pattern that would be missed if I decided to use another plain knit this go-around. The weight of the fabric was perfect for this dress too; it was lightweight but draped well and had the right amount of stretch to it.

2) Grading

I've learned over the years of sewing how my body is proportioned and what works and doesn't work. Learning from what I did before on this pattern, I didn't cut a straight 12 - I cut a 10 for the top, guessed where the waist was (it's really not clear on the pattern where the waist is located because of the side gathers...the left side is super long), and graded it out to a 12 to where I believed the hip started. It worked much better this time and I ended up being a lot happier with the fit.

3) Construction

The directions were straightforward and I think I referred to them once or twice, but pretty much did things based on instinct. I opted to use clear elastic at the shoulder seams and at the left gathered side seam instead of seam tape - much more RTW looking. No zipper used either since this fabric is so stretchy it's not necessary. And thank you to whoever invented the twin stretch needle because for those of us who don't own a serger, it's a miracle. I used it to hem the bottom of the dress and sleeves as well as the neckline, and it looks so much more professional than a regular straight stitch.

4) Proper Undergarments

Don't get me wrong: this is still a really tight dress and I have to remember to not slouch when I'm wearing it. But I found that wearing something underneath, like my DKNY Smoothies Leggings, really helped to smooth out my stomach and prevent bumps from my underwear from showing (I told you, it was a lightweight knit fabric!). I wore them the first day I wore this dress, which was to give a presentation at Ignite Craft Boston, and it helped to control everything all day and I felt good.

Now that I've finally conquered this pattern, I'm looking forward to tackling that top again.

Boyfriend Scarf

2012-01-18T06:17:00.000-05:00

I've never knit anything for a boy before, especially one that I've been dating. I think it's because of the "Boyfriend Sweater Curse" - I didn't want this to be a scarf that would end our relationship or something silly like that.

What prompted the idea to knit him a scarf was the topcoat he bought to wear to with his suits this winter: the coat didn't button all the way up and required a scarf to stay warm. I knew that if I wanted to guarantee that he would wear it, the scarf needed to be a "manly" scarf. And what could be more "manly" than charcoal gray and a thermal-like stitch pattern?

The best part? On days when it's colder than he thought, he gets upset that he left his scarf at home since he said it keeps him nice and warm.

Boyfriend

MATERIALS:
Yarn
2 skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick-N-Quick - Charcoal

Needles
US 15 straight needles

Notions
Tapestry needle

Gauge
2 sts = 1"

DIRECTIONS:
CO 20 sts

Thermal Stitch Pattern
Row 1: K
Row 2: K
Row 3: K 2, P 2
Row 4: K 2, P 2

Continue in pattern until scarf is 58" or to desired length. BO and weave in loose ends.

I Survived Ignite Craft Boston (whew)!

2012-01-16T06:42:00.000-05:00

Ignite Craft Boston 2 was this past Friday (the 13!) and I survived the anxiety and nervousness of presenting to a room of about 200 strangers pictures of what I used to wear in high school. It was a great group of presentations this year, everything from how to make pie crust and mating bees to hornsmithing. I especially loved Virgina's presentation about how she started Gather Here in Cambridge - very inspiring.

This is the dress I made for my presentation - not the best picture of it (my photographer aka boyfriend didn't want me to post it since it's not up to his usual standards), so I'll be doing a shoot this week and post a review of the pattern I used. Isn't it a crazy funky print? Perfect for a speech on how I use sewing as a means to express myself.

Video of the speeches should be posted online and when they are, I'll definitely link to it on the blog.

I'm Speaking @ Ignite Craft Boston!

2012-01-09T06:57:00.000-05:00

If you're in the Boston area this Friday and are looking for some crafty fun, come to Ignite Craft! I'll be giving a five-minute presentation on my sewing background and philosophies, a more extensive elaboration of this post from 2009. If you're not familiar with Ignite Craft, here's a little blurb from the site:

"Ignite Craft Boston 2 is an Ignite event with a crafty crowd. If you had five minutes on stage to talk about your crafty passion in Boston, what would you say? What if you only got 20 slides and they rotated automatically after 15 seconds? Around the world folks have been putting together Ignite nights to show their answers.
Come join the Boston area crafting community for Ignite Craft Boston 2 on
Friday, January 13th, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm
32 Vassar Street, room 123 (MIT Campus)
Cambridge, MA 02140
Doors open at 6:30 and presentations begin at 7:00pm.
The event is free; however, due to limited space at the venue you must RSVP."

You can read more about the event and RSVP at the Ignite Craft website. You can also see the lineup of speakers; it looks like a pretty awesome night for the crafting community. Videos of each presentation will be posted online afterwards so don't worry, I'll be linking that up on the blog.

Now to prepare myself for my speech and for sharing embarrassing pictures of myself from high school!

Sideways Cloche

2012-01-04T06:39:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Sideways Grande Cloche from Boutique Knits
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande, color 1285
Needles: US 10, 9, 8, 7
Size: One size, altered to fit smaller

It's sad but true: I own very few hand-knitted "cold weather" items. I guess it's partially because I tend to gravitate towards bigger challenges like pullovers and cardigans, and I see scarves and hats as kind of boring. Or, maybe it's because I haven't had success in that area of knitting. I'm not a big fan of hats, and since my head is on the small side ("pin-head", as my sister would say), I'm usually let down with the finished product since it's way too big for me to wear.

One thing is for certain though and that is the love I have for this hat. LOVE IT. It's deceptively complicated looking but in actuality a beginner could make this hat. The construction is straightforward: knit a long ribbed fabric like you would a scarf, pick up some stitches on one of the long sides and knit the crown, sew up the side seam, and then pick up and knit two straps that twist together and connect at the crown to form a faux cable. Easy!

A word of caution, though - this hat does run large. Many knitters on Ravelry adjusted the pattern and casted on less stitches than what the pattern calls for. I followed their advice and casted on 33 stitches so that the length of the hat (which is essentially the width of the fabric piece when you're knitting) wouldn't cover up my eyes. That happens with hats, when you're a "pin-head."

Ten Essential Tools for Successful Sewing

2011-12-28T06:07:00.000-05:00

2012 is about to begin and you have a resolution of learning how to sew in the new year. Or, maybe you've been sewing for a while now but you're looking to get more professional results. Regardless of what your situation may be, the key to sewing success is having the right tools for whatever project you want to make. Below are ten of what I find to be the essential tools that every sewer needs in their sewing arsenal.

1. High Quality Straight Pins - Your pins are what holds your pattern pieces together when cutting or sewing; without them, it would be difficult or nearly impossible to produce a garment with strong seams that fit properly.

I use quilter's pins for my sewing: they're long and never snag my fabric or are difficult to pin when I use them. Find them at Clotilde: 1 3/4" Quilt Pins

2. Magnetic Pincushion - It's a lot easier to pull pins out as you're sewing and throw them on a magnetic pincushion than to stop, pull a pin out, and stick it into one of the tomato-and-strawberry kind. Plus if you end up dropping a pin on the floor and you can't find it, you can "sweep" the floor with the magnetic pincushion to pick it up.

Magnetic pincushions are easy to find in any sewing store or quilt shop. Mine is a pretty pink color I picked up at Joann: Grabbit Magnetic Pin Cushion

3. Various Sewing Needles - Machine needles, hand sewing needles, you need an assortment of them. Throughout your sewing journey, you'll embark on projects requiring you to hand-tack a facing down, sew a stretch seam, or maybe you'll want to do a fancy hem with a twin needle. It's always a good idea to have a variety of needles at any given moment, because what is more annoying than being ready to sew and not having the needle you need?

I use Schmetz, which is a sewing standard when it comes to needles: Schmetz Universal Machine Needles
These needles have large eyes, which makes them easy to thread: Clover Hand Sewing Needles

4. Reliable Marking Tool - Be it tailor's chalk, a fabric pencil, or some kind of hybrid of the two, a good marking tool is indispensable. If you can't effectively mark where that dart ends or the spacing for your buttonholes, it's going to be hard to figure out where they go on your project.

Out of everything that I've tried, my favorite is General's Pastel Chalk Pencil in yellow and white. The marks are clearly defined and long lasting, but also wash out easily in water: General's Pastel Chalk Pencil

5. Tape Measure - You'll use it for everything: taking your own body measurements, checking to see if your grainline is straight when laying out pattern pieces, figuring out the width of your fabric, how long you want your skirt to be - the list goes on.

Depending on your preference, you can buy a retractable measuring tape or a traditional yellow tape measure: 60" Yellow Tape Measure

6. Dressmaker Shears - Cutting out my projects is probably the least enjoyable part of sewing for me. It would be even less enjoyable if I didn't have good shears to cut make clean, even cuts in my fabric. Jagged edges or scissors that chew up fabric that you're trying to cut make it harder in the long run to sew together a garment when edges can't be lined up or hemmed properly.

I'd love to have a nice pair of these Gingher Shears: Gingher 8" Knife Edge 8" Shears
It's also a good idea to have a pair of snips on hand for trimming thread ends: Fiskers 4" Mini Craft Scissors

7. Seam Ripper - I'm not perfect, you're not perfect, and that's ok: that's why we have seam rippers. I can't tell you how many times I use a seam ripper to rip out sewing mistakes in each of my projects, but it's a lot. I've even gone so far as breaking the handle on some seam rippers because I use them so much. A sturdy one with a good handle is a must for me.

I love the Clover seam ripper since the handle is substantial and easy to grip: Clover Seam Ripper
My mom uses a steel seam ripper, which is way hard-core and precise: Surgical Steel Seam Ripper

8. Light Source - Unless you have eyes like an owl and can see in the dark, a light source is going to help immensely when sewing. That light on your sewing machine is only going to do so much good when it comes to seeing how your stitches look, and if you're working with dark fabric, good luck trying to rip out that mistake you made.

I swear by my portable OttLite. I don't know how I sewed for so long without a good light source, but my eyes thank me now that I have one: OttLite High Definition Table Lamp

9. Sewing Gauge - Seam allowance is such an important principle in sewing. If you don't have the correct seam allowance, the entire fit of your garment will be off. Or, if you're quilting, even a fraction of an inch off of what your seam allowance should be can ruin a finished project (I should know!). A sewing gauge is a handy tool to make sure your sewing is on track and accurate. It's also a handy tool for marking hems for pants, skirts, dresses, etc.

This is the same sewing gauge I've used for the past 15 years: Dritz Sewing Gauge

10. The Best Sewing Machine You Can Buy - At the end of the day, a good sewing machine is going to be your most important tool. Mine isn't anything fancy: it's a Bernina 1005 from a high school that discontinued their home-ec program (the name of the band "Slipknot" is etched onto the side of my machine). It's not the fanciest and it's not the most current with all the bells and whistles of many machines on the market today. But it does one thing really well: it sews my projects and I get great results from it. Nothing is worse than a machine that eats your fabric, constantly jams up, or doesn't meet your sewing requirements. Out of everything listed above, this is the one non-negotiable tool that you must have.

What are some of your essential tools for sewing?

Image by Saídos da Concha.

Christmas Haul 2011: A Very Crafty Christmas!

2011-12-27T15:29:00.001-05:00

It was a very knitting-and-sewing themed Christmas at Sew Wrong headquarters this year, and I'm not complaining! Every year my family exchanges books for presents - a very low-key, stress-free solution to holiday gift giving. We email out a list of the books we'd like as gifts, coordinate with each other who's giving who what book, and bam - Christmas solved. As usual this year, my "wish list" consisted of knitting and sewing titles.

Above, from left to right:
Knitwear Design Workshop by Shirley Paden
A Field Guide to Fabric Design by Kim Kight
The Burdastyle Sewing Handbook by Nora Abousteit and Alison Kelly

I was also told that Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters is back-ordered but on its way to me soon. Can't wait!

My boyfriend's family also gave me some surprise treats, my favorite being this beautiful box with dividers for all of my sewing notions.

But the gift that took the cake this year was the following:

A YARN SWIFT AND BALL WINDER. OMGKNITTINGJOYFTW.

My wonderful boyfriend knew I've been wanting one for a veryveryvery long time and I was planning on saving my pennies and buying one this year after the holidays. Maybe he was tired of holding my yarn for me when I needed to turn my hanks into balls? And he got me the nice wooden one too!

He's my very own Handmade Ryan Gosling.

Ooo pretty yarn balls wound by my yarn swift and ball winder :)

What crafty presents did you get this year?

Wisteria Scarf

2011-12-21T07:15:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Wisteria from Twinkle Weekend Knits
Yarn: Twinkle Handknits Soft Chunky - Crimson
Needles: US 35

It's mid-December and it still feels like early November in Boston, which makes it hard to believe that Christmas is a little less than a week away (crazy, right??). I've been trying my hardest to wrap my head around that fact and get "in the spirit," but with my crazy work schedule and the temperatures outside, it's been a challenge. So when we *finally* had a seasonably cold day, I knew this red scarf would help me snap out of my mentality and feel festive.

This was the quickest knit of my life - hands down. Two skeins of Twinkle Soft Chunky and size 35 needles - can you say, "instant gratification?" I used to own the book Weekend Knits but got rid of it after a bad sweater experience and didn't want to buy it again, so I actually looked up the stitch pattern and figured out how to knit the scarf without the pattern. I also opted for no fringe - not a big fringe gal, and the scarf was long enough after I whipped through the two balls o' yarn.

This is a fashionable monster of a scarf and not for the timid or petite. I even find it overwhelming at times if I don't wrap it around my neck properly but boy, what a show-stopper it is.

DIY Christmas Gift Wrap Headband

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

Need a festive accent to wear with your "bedazzled" Christmas sweater at the party this week? My snap-your-fingers easy headband can be whipped up in the time it takes to bake a batch of sugar cookies, and I'm sure you have all the materials on hand in your gift wrapping arsenal...well, maybe not the headband, but I'm sure you have one kicking around the house somewhere.

Materials:

Headband
Metallic curling ribbon
Mini sticky gift bows
Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions:

Starting at one end of the headband, wrap the curling ribbon around the end and secure with a drop of glue. Apply more glue to a small section of the headband and wrap the curling ribbon around, slightly overlapping each wrap of ribbon with the next. Keep applying glue to sections and ribbon wrapping until the entire headband is completely covered in ribbon. Secure ribbon at opposite headband end in the same fashion as the beginning.

I decided to then wrap additional ribbon in a contrasting color around the headband in more of a “candy cane” stripe style, repeating the same process of gluing each ribbon pass in place with the hot glue gun.

For the mini gift bows, trim the sticky paper (don’t removed the backing!) to the same width of the headband so that there will be no excess hanging off the headband when the bow is glued on. Position the bows to where you’d like on the headband and glue them on.

Now you can rock around the Christmas tree in style!

Holiday Gift Guide - Sewing Edition

2011-12-13T06:56:00.000-05:00

1. The Colette Sewing Handbook, $29.99 - Learn five sewing fundamentals to complete five projects with ease. Plus, the patterns are gorgeous (as well as Colette patterns in general)!

2. Gingher 8 in. Dressmaker's Shears, $36.99 - Professional dressmakers shears that will make precise, crisp fabric cuts and last a long time

3. Thread Carousel, $99.95 - Keep spools of thread organized and tangle-free

4. Cupcake Pincushion Ring, $22 - Because regular pincushion are boring and not cute

5. Alexander Henry Perfect Pattern, $10.75/yd - Perfect for any seamstress! I used some of this fabric to make a sewing machine cover, but could see this for other uses like cafe curtains for a sewing studio

6. Buttonhole Cutting Set, $9 - Opening buttonholes is easy with this three piece kit, no more worries about cutting too far! Take it from someone who knows...

7. Sublime Stitching Ultimate Embroidery Kit, $33 - Everything a new or experienced stitcher would need, plus choose your own pattern set, thread palette, and textile option

8. Sidewinder Bobbin Winder, $34.99 - Saves the time and effort it takes to un-thread your sewing machine to wind a bobbin

Holiday Gift Guide - Knitter Edition

2011-12-09T07:30:00.000-05:00

1. Herdy Peep Mug, $15 - Sheep inspired kitchenware from the UK
2. Della Q Theo Circular Needle Case, $44 - A compact solution to organize circular needle collections. Made of striped or solid taffeta with numbered pockets to store different needle sizes. I've given ones as gifts to my mom and sister, this needle case is fantastic!
3. Lantern Moon Sheep Sherpa, $17.95 - Because every knitter needs a cute sidekick to hold the necessities
4. Lantern Moon Ladybug Stitch Markers, $7.35 - I love using these in my knitting since they always make me smile when I look at them. A cuter alternative to boring plastic stitch markers,
5. Rebecca Danger Zombie Monster Knitting Kit, $24 - Monsters + Knitting = Rad
6. Knit Collage Pixie Dust Yarn, $37 - A few skeins of this sparkly mohair and wool yarn could make a gorgeous lap blanket or festive scarf

Tutorial: Yarn Ball Ornaments

2011-11-28T15:46:00.000-05:00

I'm not exactly a big Christmas person. I work in retail, where it's perpetually Christmas from the beginning of October until the end of December, so I get my dose of "holiday cheer" in a big way each year. But I still like to have a little tree at home, twinkle lights, and some She & Him Christmas playing in the background. This year, my tree has a knitting theme, and yours can too with these easy-peasy yarn ball ornaments. I can see smaller ones as decorations on gift boxes, big ones in a glass vase on the mantel, a couple attached to a wreath...the ideas go on and on!

Materials:

Styrofoam balls in assorted sizes
Scrap yarn
Aleene's Tacky Glue or other craft glue
Yarn needle
Scissors

Directions:

Step 1: Place a dot of glue in the middle of a Styrofoam ball. Place the end of yarn in the middle of glue dot to secure and wrap the yarn around the Styrofoam ball several times through glue dot.

The beauty about working with yarn and Styrofoam is that the yarn "clings" to the Styrofoam texture, making it easy to wrap the yarn around the ball and not worry about the yarn slipping from place.

Step 2: Wrap yarn around Styrofoam ball several times in the same direction, then switch directions. Keep wrapping yarn around ball in alternating directions to get a "yarn ball" effect, as seen above.

Keep wrapping yarn around until Styrofoam no longer shows through. Doesn't that look pretty?

Step 3: When the ball is wrapped to your liking, place a dot of glue next to the most recently wrapped area of yarn. Continue to wrap yarn over glue dot to secure yarn in place.

The yarn ball should look like this afterwards, the glue is covered by yarn wrapped over it.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for weaving in the end.

Step 4: Thread a needle with the yarn end and pass needle underneath several sections of wrapped yarn. Repeat a few times to secure, then trim yarn end close to ball.

Step 5: To make a hanger for the ornament, use a needle and thread a length of yarn underneath a section of wrapped yarn. Tie ends into a knot at desired length and hide knot underneath wrapped yarn section.

Repeat for lots of yarn ball goodness to hang on your tree this year! So much cuter than store-bought ornaments.

Lil' Gray Cape

2011-11-16T07:44:00.000-05:00

Pattern: DROPS 116-19

Yarn: Cascade Lana Grande

Needles: US 17 circs

Size: Small

I love capes. Ever since I saw the pictures from the spring runway shows, I knew I wanted a cape for fall this season. Yes, they are impractical. Yes, they trigger images of super heroes or Little Red Riding Hood. But damn it all, I wanted a cape this year come hook or by crook. And why buy one when you can make one?

My initial plan was to make the Not-a-Poncho City Cape by Wendy Bernard. It had all the elements of the RTW capes I had seen in stores, with the slits for arm-holes and a chunky ribbed collar. When I went to my LYS Gather Here, Virginia unfortunately did not have the amount of gray Eco Wool that I needed. Which was probably just as well; I don't think I would have been brave enough to rock a giant knitted cape like I originally thought. So instead I scrolled through my Ravelry queue and found a little DROPS cape pattern that I liked and some chunky gray yarn at the store that fit the bill.

I modified the amount of stitches I needed to cast on since my gauge was smaller on the needles I used (US 17 instead of 19). The rest of the pattern was followed exactly, except I knitted the collar ribbing to 6" instead of 8" - it just seemed like it would be too much collar if I knit it to that length.

I also used two buttons I had in my stash instead of three like the pattern calls for. I like the open look just two buttons creates, and the ribbed collar has more of a sailor collar effect than a traditional fold-over collar.

I wore this to work this week since it's been chilly in the building (seriously, is the AC still on??), but I probably will only wear it around the apartment in the coming months even though I got comments at work on how cute it looks. It's like a little woolly blanket that fastens around your shoulders and stays in place. As much as I love how it looks, it doesn't replace the warmth and functionality of a coat.

At least I've gotten my cape-lust out of my system now.

Leaflet

2011-11-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Leaflet by Cecily Glowik MacDonald

Yarn: Osprey by Quince and Co. in Nasturtium

Needles: US 11 circs

Size: Small

Last week we felt our first really "cold" day of autumn in Boston, which reminded me that I needed to block this sweater and wear it before it's no longer in season. I love how this sweater turned out - it's the perfect fall color, the short sleeves make it a great layering piece, and the leaf pattern on the back is a nice surprise.

I had some trouble starting this sweater, as I wrote about here, due to my initial yarn selection. But once I got over the hump, the sweater flew off my needles and was a quick knit. I probably would have posted this sweater earlier but I was just too darn lazy to pick up the stitches around the neck and knit the ribbing. So it sat in my knitting basket, waiting, until one of the girls in my knitting group asked me how my sweater was coming along and wanted to see it the following week at our knitting night. It was some good motivation to get me to pick up all of those stitches around the neck, which I dreaded doing.

The other nice thing about this cardigan is that there's no buttons or buttonholes, hooray! Sometimes that can really ruin the look of the ribbing band around the front of a cardigan. I picked up a cute shawl pin at Webs in Northampton, MA that had a leaf decoration at the top, which seemed apropos for the sweater I was intending to use it for. Even more versatility with this sweater - easy to wear it open or closed.

Ooo Foxy Lady!

2011-10-31T08:30:00.000-04:00

If there's anything I've learned about me and Halloween this year, it's that I can't pick my costume six weeks ahead of time since I always seem to change my mind. Such is the case with this year: I originally decided to go as a zombie, and then at the last minute I got the idea that it would be cute to go as a fox instead. Here's my pattern for quick, 2-hour fox ears in case you're in the same predicament this Halloween.

Quick-as-a-Fox Ears

MATERIALS:

Yarn

A: 1 skein Quince and Co Osprey in Nasturtium

B: 1 skein Classic Elite Lush in Natural

Needles

US 10.5 DPNs

Notions

Yarn needle

Plastic headband

Gauge
4 sts = 1"

DIRECTIONS:

CO 20 sts with yarn A. Join to form round and place marker to indicate beginning of round.

K 3 rounds

Shaping

K 9 sts, k2tog, k 7 sts, k2tog

K 1 round

K 8 sts, k2tog, k 6 sts, k2tog

K 1 round

K 7 sts, k2tog, k 5 sts, k2tog

K 6 sts, k2tog, k 4 sts, k2tog

K 5 sts, k2tog, k 3 sts, k2tog

K 4 sts, k2tog, k 2 sts, k2tog

K 3 sts, k2tog, k 1 st, k2tog

K2tog for entire round. Break yarn, leaving a 5" tail.

Thread tail through remaining stitches and pull to close opening. Weave in end.

Thread yarn needle with yarn B. Using duplicate stitch, start Inner Ear Pattern two stitches in from edge of ear.

Inner Ear Pattern

Repeat above steps for other ear

FINISHING:

Position ears on headband according to preference, making sure to wrap opening of ear over headband. Using a whip-stitch, sew ears to headband and close ear opening.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Update

2011-10-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

This should be a clue as to what my Halloween costume will be.

No idea? Hmm....think a certain type of animal...

Still finalizing the yarn for the duplicate stitch detailing. The main yarn is leftover Quince and Co from my Leaflet sweater (which I still need to block!) and the inner ear yarn is some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK I had in my stash. It's a little thin, so I'm contemplating using some thicker angora to add "fuzz factor" to my ears.

In case you were wondering, I'm going as a fox. A "foxy lady," that is. Now to stitch up my dress...nothing like the last minute!

McCalls 6200 Green Swirl Dress

2011-10-25T20:47:00.000-04:00

Pattern: McCall's 6200

Size: 8/10

Fabric: Rayon jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics

Boots: Nine West

Earrings: M Style Lab

I really wasn't sure how this pattern was going to turn out. I'm so apprehensive about dresses that are "shaped" with a tie-belt: they can be hit or miss in the fit department. I'll either love how it drapes and feel super cute and chic in it, or it could be a giant sack and feel like I'm wearing a muumuu. I'm also not a huge fan of line drawings on a pattern envelope since it's an ideal representation of the pattern and not a realistic interpretation of how it will truly fit. But I thought heck, I'll give this pattern a shot. At the least, I could make it into a swingy top if I don't like the dress.

1) Sizing

This pattern was a breeze to sew and went together in a matter of hours. I chose to do View A with the swingy sleeves to bring out the 70's vibe of my fabric. I did my usual adjustments from bodice to waist, but went down a size in each of these areas: instead of cutting my usual 10/12, I cut out an 8/10. These dresses always seem to have so much ease and I didn't need this being any larger than necessary. I would strongly advise going down a size in this pattern, I still had room to spare.

2) The Sleeves and Side Seams

I also ignored setting the sleeve in and sewed the sleeve cap in flat using staystitch plus, and then sewed the sleeve seam down through the side seam in one fell swoop.

3) The Neckband

The neckband was a little fussy and I wasn't crazy about hand sewing the facing to the inside by hand, but it went together ok. I'm really glad there was interfacing for the neckband since it's so wide to begin with and it really prevents it from stretching out even further. The only thing to be aware of is that if the neckline doesn't lay across correctly, it will buckle and gape in the back. I also had to adjust my bra straps during the day since they kept showing due to the wideness of the neckband. Maybe lingerie straps wouldn't be such a bad idea.

4) The Hem

I shortened the hem more than what the pattern called for so that it would look proportionally correct with my boots. The drawing shows the hem hitting at the knee, which didn't look right on me, so I took the dress up about two inches to get the correct effect.

This is a really easy, basic pattern that would be an excellent pick for a jersey with a large print. I could definitely see making this dress with different sleeve options, maybe incorporating the tie in to the side seams and having it tie in a bow at the back, or using contrasting fabrics for the neck and tie-belt. This pattern is definitely a staple to have in your pattern arsenal.

Featured on CRAFT!

2011-10-21T14:38:00.001-04:00

Yesterday my Boot Insert Tutorial was featured on CRAFT blog, which was so exciting to see. I'm posting this from my iPhone since I'm away on a trip, but couldn't wait until I got back next week to share.

Link to my CRAFT feature

Tutorial: Boot Inserts

2011-10-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

It's official: I am a boot aficionado. This year I have now brought my boot collection to a total of 13 pairs, ranging from rain to riding, snow to stiletto. My problem is how to properly store them in my closet: I'll line them up on the floor or on shelves, but they always flop over each other. In the past, I bought plastic boot inserts to keep them upright (they broke), and the price for those nice cedar inserts are out of my budget. So when I brought home a pair of heeled boots this year and pulled out the stuffing from my new beauties, I thought for a second - these cardboard inserts aren't so bad! They keep the shape of the boots in the box, and when you stand the boots, the leg stays upright. So why not make pretty looking ones?

Materials:

1/2 yard - 1 yard fabric (depending on how high your boot leg is)
1/2 yard - 1 yard Thermolan Plus
2 - 4 sheets 12x18" ultra stiff plastic canvas (depending on how floppy your boots are)
Cardboard boot insert from packaging (optional)
Spray adhesive
Freezer paper
Clear ruler with grid
Fabric and paper scissors
Straight pins
Coordinating thread
Sewing machine
Iron and ironing board
Hand-sewing needle
Sharpie or marker

Directions:

Step 1: Trace the silhouette of your cardboard boot insert onto a piece of plastic canvas to make the plastic insert. If you don't have a leftover cardboard insert from your pair of boots, trace the top of the boot down to the ankle to make a pattern. The purpose is to create a shape that will fill the leg of your boot when you're not wearing it. Repeat this for the other boot, making a total of two plastic canvas inserts.

You may want to make a total of four plastic canvas inserts instead, two for each boot. This depends on the boot's degree of floppiness. I used one plastic canvas insert for each boot in the picture above, but could definitely see using two each for my suede boots.

Step 2: Using your plastic canvas insert, trace the shape on to a piece of double-thickness Thermolan Plus. Cut out along the lines and repeat for the other boot.

You will now have a total of four Thermolan Plus shapes, two for each boot, and two plastic canvas inserts, as seen above.

>

Step 3: Using your plastic canvas insert as a pattern, trace the boot shape onto a piece of freezer paper. Add a 1/2" seam allowance around edges using a clear grided ruler.

Step 4: Fold your fabric in half and cut out two boot shapes from the fabric using your freezer paper pattern. You will have a total of four boot shapes when completed.

Step 5: Lay your Thermolan Plus pieces on top of the wrong side of your fabric, making sure to keep a 1/2" seam allowance border. This allows the Thermolan Plus to not be caught in the seam allowances when sewing, making nice, bulk-free seams.

Peel back one side of your Thermolan Plus from one side of the insert fabric. Spray adhesive in a back-and-forth motion lightly over the exposed Thermolan. Smooth Thermolan back over to adhere to fabric, and repeat on other end. Flip fabric and Thermolan piece over and smooth out any visible wrinkles that may have happened during adhesion.

Repeat for other half of boot insert. You will have two boot insert components made of a piece of Thermolan Plus fused to the wrong side of the fabric.

Step 6: Pin together the right sides of the boot insert fabric, leaving the top of the boot insert (the wide end) open.

Sew around boot insert with 1/2" seams, backstitching at both ends to secure stitching. Clip corners.

Step 7: Turn boot insert right side out and press seams, making insert nice and flat. Doesn't that look pretty?

Step 8: Insert plastic canvas into boot insert "pocket," guiding it in with your hand. You may have to trim down the top of your plastic canvas a little so that a 1/2" seam allowance of fabric can be folded over the canvas, seen in the next step.

Step 9: Fold in 1/2" seam allowance over canvas and into "pocket," forming a closed seam at the top of the boot insert. Pin in place through fabric and canvas.

Step 10: Using coordinating thread and a needle, stitch the top seam closed with a slip stitch. Bury knot and clip thread ends. The top of your boot insert should look like this:

Repeat steps 6-10 for other boot insert.

Floppy boots, begone!

Sweater Update

2011-10-05T17:17:00.000-04:00

Knitting is not something that I can accomplish quickly - there are times that I think I'm the world's slowest knitter. Part of this is due to the fact that two years ago I started getting an RSI, or a Repetitive Stress Injury, from an all-day knitting session. I didn't knit for about eight months after it happened, and I had to gradually ease back into knitting when I picked it up again: 10 minutes here and there at the most. Now I knit for about 20 minutes and take a break, and am able to knit for longer periods of time. I can't knit on any needles smaller than US 7 unfortunately, which is really a shame since so many sweaters with nice drape and detail are on smaller needles than that. The strain from me holding those tiny needles is just too much and causes my wrists to swell up. Bummer.

So I guess that's my preamble for how I've been doing with my two on-going projects. I'll first reintroduce my Debbie Bliss Cable Capelet, which I started in December 2010.

I was stuck trying to figure out how to work my Leaflet sweater properly and needed something to take with me to Knitting Night a few weeks ago, so I picked up this lovely and fuzzy capelet after a spring and summer hibernation to work on again. Boy, does the bunny in this angora blend shed like mad! It's slow going with this one, but I love to work the cables, and I figured by the time I completed this it would be the appropriate time of year to wear it. I'm about 50% of the way complete with the body of the capelet since it wraps around my shoulders and is starting to cover my back. Hmm, possibly foreseeing some matching boot toppers to wear with this as well...

Leaflet is so close to being finished! I was hoping I'd make my October 1 deadline for the Sexy Knitters Knit-along on Ravelry, but I got stumped trying to figure out how to make the underarm stitch pickup look nice, plus this other thing called "work" and "extra hours" got in the way. Right now I'm picking up the stitches around the neck and knitting the ribbing. That's it, I'll be done then! I'm hoping that when I block it, the leaves will lay flatter than they do right now, since where the middle rib starts, a bubble forms and sticks out. Blocking does cure all ill-stitched stitches, so I'm hoping it will fix this as well.

Review: Fiskars Desktop Scissors Sharpener

2011-10-04T09:58:00.005-04:00

I've been meaning to try the Fiskars Desktop Scissors Sharpener after spotting it in the scissors aisle during a monthly trip to Joann Fabrics...you know, stocking up on supplies and stuff. I keep looking at new scissors since the ones I have are the worst to cut with, probably due to the fact that they need to be sharpened. It's pretty bad when you can only use part of the blades for cutting a straight line, since if you use the whole blade, you'll end up chewing up the fabric you're trying to cut. And since it's tough to get to a fabric store when they have a scissor sharpening event, I've been S.O.L. on sharp scissors for a long time. Cutting out pattern pieces is not-so-fun.

Now I don't have the nicest, or most expensive scissors in the world, just plain 'ol orange-handled Fiskars. I long for a pair of Gingher dressmaker shears like my mom has, but in the meantime, I use the Fiskars I got as part of my sewing basket for my 12th birthday. And let's see, I've had those scissors for over 10 years now, so I'm definitely overdue for a sharpening. So I picked up the Fiskars Desktop Scissors Sharpener and decided to give it a whirl.

According to the package:

"Restore blades to precise cutting edges with the Desktop Scissors Sharpener from Fiskars. Its sharpening rods reshape worn blade edges, while its tuning rods smooth the inside of the blades for effortless cutting.

To use, simply insert the blades into the sharpening unit and make several gentle cutting strokes (four strokes are generally sufficient). The blades should be carefully cleaned with a cloth to remove any dust caused by sharpening.

The compact, lightweight unit accommodates most lightweight stainless steel scissors that have a 30° cutting edge angle. Although it is adaptable forright-handed or left-handed use, the unit is not intended for use with trueleft-handed scissors or scissors with different angles or specialty edges."

I started with my least important, least expensive to replace scissors: paper scissors. They're cheap, $2 scissors I got from CVS, so if this sharpener messed them up, I wouldn't really care. Holding it stationary on my table, I inserted the blades, pulled them out in a slow, cutting motion, and repeated this the recommended four times. When I tested them on a piece of paper, I could tell they were definitely sharper.

Feeling pretty confident with the results from my paper scissors, I moved on to my Fiskar thread snips I use for clipping threads and trimming seams. Four strokes on the sharpener and presto, my snips were back in business. Ok, on to the major offender: my shears.

The shears were a little harder to sharpen because the blades were longer than the previous scissors I had tried, so it was a little more difficult to get the angle right when pulling the blades through the sharpener in a smooth motion. Before I tried to sharpen these scissors, there were all sorts of visible marks in the blades from pins I had accidentally cut into while cutting out fabric, making each cut of the scissors rough and uneven. After they were sharpened, they cut like butter. I couldn't believe it! My 13 year-old blades that had never been sharpened before cut like they were brand new.

What I liked:

- The sharpener felt more sturdy and safer than this sharpener, which you hold steady in your hands

- It's pretty small, and tucks away nicely in a drawer or sewing basket. Not too big, not too small.

What I didn't like:

- This seems to work better with smaller scissors than with shears. I'm not sure how easily it could accommodate a pair of 9" dressmaker shears, mine were only 6"

- If you're left-handed and use true lefty scissors, this product will not work on your scissors. Same goes for pinking shears and other specialty scissors.

Overall:

I'm so glad I tried this out, because if I didn't, I'd still be cutting away my garment fabric with choppy blades and muttering words of frustration at my raggedy edges. For the scissors I have, it was well worth the investment and I recommend it to all who suffer from jagged scissor syndrome.

Knit-Wit: Three Fall Dresses on the Machine

2011-09-26T19:35:00.005-04:00

Left to right: fabric for McCall 6200 (view B), McCall 6200 (view C), Vogue 8663

Between unpacking (yes, I moved almost a month ago), working crazy long hours at work, and organizing a new knitting get-together night for 20-30 somethings in the area in the past month, I managed to order some fabric for some knit dresses for the fall that I'm going to try to whip up next week on vacation. The fabric and sewing patterns meet my qualifications for sewing success: simple silhouette, easy to sew, and fun prints. Then I can move on to the meatier fall sewing of woolen skirts and jackets, long sleeve princess-seamed blouses, and a fitted dress.

There's a bunch of things I have planned to work on this week and next for the blog including a tutorial on how I sew with knit fabric, a tutorial on making your own inspiration board, pics of my new sewing nook, and updated pics and details of my Leaflet sweater (almost finished!) and other knitting goodness.

Simplicity 2657 - Sew Stylish Sundress

2011-08-28T20:53:00.011-04:00

Pattern: Simplicity Sew Stylish 2657, View C

Size: 8/10 for the bodice, graded to a 12 in the skirt

Fabric: Cotton Twill from Joann Fabrics (an awesome find)

This pattern has been in my stash for two years since it was the feature pattern in the Spring 2009 issue of Sew Stylish Magazine, a younger and hipper version of Threads Magazine geared towards the sewing newbie. When doing research on this pattern before I committed to making it, I was surprised on how few people had made this pattern. There were the few sewers who made alterations to this pattern for maternity wear, which wasn't exactly a turn-on, but I decided to give it a try. I figured once I mastered the fit on this dress, I'd have a great base for a sundress for future dress projects.

1) The Bust

If you've been reading my blog, you know that I'm challenged when it comes to fitting the bust in any type of top/dress pattern. This pattern was featured in the issue to show how to fit a bust using princess seams. Amazingly, the bust fit perfectly on my muslin and I didn't have to do any type of alteration to the curve of the seams. Instead, I added on to the bodice pieces for more coverage; I added about half an inch on to allow that I can wear a regular bra and not a strapless. Somehow when I widened the front, and consequently the straps as well in the same amount, it created a different neckline than the original pattern, which I like better. The points at the top of the bodice pieces create an unintentional retro look. I swear I did my math right; I have no idea how it happened!

I also need to tack down the surplice, it'll make the top more smooth looking than in the pictures and prevent it from gaping open slightly.

2) The Straps

Because I widened the front pieces, I had to widen the straps as well. I'm glad I did so since I can wear my normal bras with the dress and not worry about an strappage peeking out. If I really wanted to, I could have made lingerie straps to secure my bra straps in place. Of course, I was too lazy to do so.

3) The Back

I've never had this happen before: the back piece was almost two sizes too large. Like I said, it's always the front that is an issue to fit, not the back. Solution? I cut an 8, instead of a 10, for the back piece. Plus, I had to grade it in slightly as I got to the waist seam where the skirt joins the bodice. But after I did so, it fit perfectly.

4) The Zipper

A side zipper - yikes. I'd never put one in before until this dress and wasn't a fan of the fact that it was a standard zipper the pattern called for, not an invisible zipper. Side zippers seem to be really popular now on RTW dresses since they're hidden in the side seam and don't destroy the continuity of a pattern's design; it's a hidden construction element. I disregarded the instructions for the regular zipper and assembled the front and back skirt and bodice pieces to each other, installed the invisible zipper, and then sewed the side seams. I also made sure that the zipper stop went all the way to the top of the side seam so I wouldn't have to sew a hook and eye (dislike), and tacked down the facing in the inside to the side seams.

So summer is coming to an end, I've already started thinking about my fall sewing wish list, and I probably won't look at this pattern again until next year. I can definitely see myself making this pattern again, either as a maxi dress or as a cute tunic top. Once I got the fit down, this was a breeze to sew.

(Pictures are at Ogunquit Beach in Ogunquit, ME)

Last Days of Summer

2011-08-26T23:35:00.002-04:00

I was lucky enough to escape to Ogunquit, ME this week for a two day mini-vacation with my boyfriend's family, who rent a beach house for two weeks at the end of August every year. I visited Maine about eight years ago with my family during a car trip up to Price Edward Island and we were very underwhelmed; we thought that the coast of Maine would be more stunning and dramatic than what we saw. Clearly we should have visited Ogunquit! So beautiful and picturesque, calm and tranquil, and a whole bunch of other adjectives that describe this town. The beach was neat and clean and not at all rocky/gravely as I expected, but the water was on the cold side both days I was there (plus we got rained out one of the days and stayed inside playing games all afternoon). It was sad leaving Friday to come back to work, it was like leaving the last bit of summer behind. I know I can't wait to go back and visit again next year.

And of course, I used the opportunity to take some pictures of a dress I finished during my last vacation in July. Here's a sneak peek:

More pictures and details to come next week, that is, if I still have power after Irene hits New England. Bracing for the weekend ahead...

I really should be packing, but...

2011-08-20T17:58:00.004-04:00

I just can't even begin to think about all the packing I have to do in preparation for moving at the end of the month. Granted I just have a bedroom in a Philadelphia style house and I'm only moving three minutes away to another apartment, but I have stuff.

Like, a lot of stuff.

I previously furnished a one bedroom apartment almost all by myself for my first two years in MA, but things happened and I've been subletting in the city for the past five months. I crammed just about all of my furniture in my room, my couch is down in the living room (the four boys I live with love it), and all of my pots, pans, dishes, and spices are in the kitchen. Not to mention I have all of my clothes, books, yarn, fabric...the list goes on. This will be my fourth move in the past three years, and I'm just tired of doing so. I guess you could say I've become an expert on moving.

So instead of packing, I've been making progress on my Leaflet. I brought it to work on at Pints and Purls at Gather Here in Cambridge the other night and knitted to the point where you divide for the sleeves. I'm right now just about half way through the second of three leaves, which are so fun to see materialize throughout the process. The Boyfriend is always watching me knit this when we're on the couch in front of the TV and I think he likes to see the leaves form as I knit, too. He was even suggesting the other night on how I could have mixed up the leaves, making each one look different. How can you not love a guy who is actually interested in what you're making?

One thing I've noticed about this sweater on Ravelry is that, in my opinion, the sweaters made in the Osprey yarn look better/nicer than sweaters made from other yarns. Like I said, just my opinion, but it's almost as if this sweater was made for this yarn. I had difficulties getting gauge when I tried using a different yarn than the one recommended and when using this yarn I can see why - it's a yarn between a worsted and a bulky, and I really can't think of another yarn that looks like this. So when sweaters are made from worsted yarn on 10US needles, the look is much more open and loose. I'm so happy I went with this yarn and colorway, plus it's a dream to knit with. Plus, I'm certain at the rate I'm knitting that this will be done just in time for cool weather to set in. Which is not that far off in New England...

Leaflet Progress So Far...

2011-08-08T09:41:00.003-04:00

Let me tell you, I had a devil of a time trying to get gauge for this pattern. I first blogged about my plans for Leaflet last month after returning from vacation and acquiring Valley Yarns Berkshire from Webs in Northampton, MA thinking that the weight would be appropriate for the sweater. I swatched on 10s like the pattern called for; no dice. I got 8 sts/2" instead of 7.5 sts/2" or the 15 sts/4" as the pattern called for. So I switched to 10.5 needles - same result as the 10s. Then I tried 11s, but got 6 sts/2" and the fabric was way too loose and airy looking. I was convinced that there was no way I could use a worsted weight yarn like Berkshire to achieve the stitch gauge that the pattern called for, so I broke down and bought the Osprey yarn like the pattern called for from Quince and Co.

I'm glad I did - the yarn is a dream to work with. Sure, I wasn't able to find a match to the wine colored yarn I originally planned on working with, but this Nasturtium color is a wonderfully rich red-orange color that I fell in love with as soon as I opened my package, perfect for fall and layering with thermal tees and boots. And orange is not a color that I've knitted with: when looking through my notebook on Ravelry, I knit predominately with reds and pinks and purples, so this is a nice change from my usual go-to colors. I think a bulkier weight yarn instead of a worsted would have worked better with this pattern when substituting for the yarn, and when I swatched with it, I did have to go up to 11s instead of the 10s that the pattern recommends. I'm cruising right along with the pattern now, which is knitting up quickly, and I love how fun the leaf motif is to knit on the back. Yes, I know hand knitting is all about the process, but I can't wait to get this sweater off my needles so I can wear it in the coming months!

Vogue 1224 Tracy Reese Dress - Encore!

2011-07-25T08:05:00.000-04:00

Pattern: Vogue 1224 Tracy Reese

Fabric: Rayon Jersey from Metro Textile, also available at gorgeousfabrics.com

Sandals: Tahari

Earrings: M Style Lab

I loved this pattern so much that I decided to make it again! On my trip last month to New York and my stop at Metro Textile, I bought this amazing knit jersey that Kashi showed me in his studio. At first I thought it was a bit, well...wild and bright for my personal tastes. But being that I am required to wear black for my job five days a week, a pop of color and a splashy print is a welcome addition to my usually neutral wardrobe.

Not really much to elaborate on other than the fact that I love this print and wanted to share it with everyone. For a fabric like this, a simple silhouette is really key: if there was more to the design of the construction, it would be lost due to the nature of the print. Pattern selection to fit the nature of the fabric is just as important as fabric selection to fit the requirements of the pattern.

I used the same mods as before: no drawstring at the neck, just elastic; graded the skirt from a 10 to a 12; added 2" to the length so that it wasn't hitting at my thigh. You can read more details about the first dress here: Vogue 1224 Tracy Reese Dress

Next on the Needles: Leaflet and Clapotis

2011-07-23T17:35:00.005-04:00

Back home! On my trek back from PA to MA, I took a pit-stop at Webs in Northampton, MA which I deem to be the Mecca of yarn stores. I hadn't been in over a year and yes, I can order from them online, but it's not the same as being there in person and looking at the colors, feeling the fibers, etc. So I splurged.

I wanted to make Leaflet as soon as I saw it in the Knitty First Fall issue released a few weeks ago. While I do like the orange pictured, I was trying to remember my fall wardrobe and didn't think I'd have many tops to layer with that color. So I opted for a hearty wool and alpaca blend from Valley Yarns in a boysenberry color that would work with my grays, browns, and purples that I wear in the fall. I'll probably be casting on for this in the next week or so. I'm happy that I found a sweater that looks cute and knits up on big needles, since larger needle sizes don't aggrevate my wrists as much. Probably the reason why I haven't made much progress lately on my Round Yoke Cardigan.

Clapotis has been in my knitting queue since 2004. A long time, yes. But the length of time is due to the fact that I couldn't find a substitute yarn I liked for the Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, which would cost me an arm and a leg for this project. Noro Silk Garden, which is a popular sub on Ravelry for this project, has never appealed to me since I'm not a fan of lots and lots of variegation or the texture of the yarn (I frankly think it's overrated). But the moment I walked in the door at Webs, I immediately saw this yarn and thought "Clapotis." It's got the color gradient I was searching for, the soft texture of the blend, and was at a more affordable price point for the project. Sold! I probably won't finish this in time for the cool autumn weather to set in in New England since I think I'm the world's slowest knitter, but it's such a versatile color for a scarf that I could definitely wear it next spring as well.

Now, on to try out my new Thera Gloves to see if they actually help my wrists.

Simplicity 8741 - Peasant Blouse

2011-07-20T22:27:00.001-04:00

Pattern: Simplicity 8741 (discontinued)

Fabric: Embroidered cotton eyelet from Gorgeous Fabrics

Size: 10? I think?

Shoes: Target (Merona Brand)

Watch: Citizen

Glasses: Zenni Optical

I've had this fabric in my stash for about two years and had a hard time trying to find a pattern that would complement it. It was lightweight, a little transparent, and had such a cool embroidered flower pattern that I knew I didn't a pattern that would break up the design. Something loose and breezy...a peasant top!

I actually made this top in 2010 and for some reason didn't get around to hemming it until this year. It's a pretty straightforward pattern - no changes or modification necessary. I'm pretty sure I made a 10 and didn't grade it at the waist out to a 12 like I usually do...since it's such a loose fitting top style-wise, I wanted it to be as fitted and trim as possible. A lot of times there's way too much ease it tops of this style: see this babydoll top I made in 2008 as an example. So I took my chances and this top fit the bill.

A new technique I tried with this top were french seams, a seam finishing technique commonly used on sheer and lightweight fabrics to conceal raw edges. Since this fabric is a little on the sheer side, I opted to finish all of my seams, even the armhole seams, using this technique and I loved it. The inside is so professional looking, and even though it was a little more time consuming, it was worth it. I've washed the top a few times and it's held up nicely. Plus, if I hadn't done that, my seam allowances would be visible from the right side. That wouldn't look nice at all!

I am such a cheesball sometimes.

All in all, a pretty simple, go-to top for something like this. I would use it again if I'm looking for a peasant style top since I know it:

a) won't make me look prego with billowing gathers of fabric

and

b) is a snap to stitch up.

Just a nice, straightforward, easy-breezy top for summer. And on hot days like today, that's a necessity.

Early Fall 2011 Review: Vogue Patterns

2011-07-17T16:42:00.002-04:00

I received an email in my inbox the other day from Vogue Patterns about their new "early fall" collection, so I thought I'd take a gander and see what I wanted to add to my fall sewing list. Not much, as usual, since fall patterns don't inspire me to sew as much as spring and summer ones do.

Vogue 8749 Misses Skirt

Description: Flared, with waist facing, side seam pockets

This skirt is reminiscent of a wool Lands' End Canvas skirt that I bought for work last year, and it is easily my favorite skirt in my wardrobe for fall/winter (although a little on the short side for work...I always pair it with tights and boots). I love circle skirts since they are flattering on my figure and make it look like I actually have a waist! This skirt is simple enough and classic, which are two requirements on my "to sew" list. Check!

Vogue 8747 Misses Shirt
Description: Fitted. A, B, C, & D cups

After reading an article in the September issue of Threads Magazine about altering and embellishing button-down shirts, I want to apply some of those techniques to this pattern. I love that the pattern is part of their "Custom Fit" line of patterns, meaning that I'll be able to fit my bust, my biggest pattern fitting problem. Love the ruching too, it takes it from a boring button-down shirt to something with a little more style.

Vogue 1252 Tracy Reese Dress
Description: Lined dress has close-fitting bodice and side front in-seam pockets

Not too sure about this one...I'll probably wait until some other adventurous sewists stitch up this dress and review it before I make it. The print in the picture above really takes away from the interesting neckline and gathering details around the bodice that are visible in the line drawing, which really sold me the design. I also really liked the Tracy Reese dress I just finished (working on another as I'm typing this), so I wanted to give another one of her designs a try. But like I said, I'll see how others do first...this would be a nice addition to my fall closet though. I bet it would look super cute with boots!

Not really much else that grabbed my attention from Vogue for this early fall collection. I'm hoping that their next collection will have more garments that strike my interest.

Vogue 1224 - Tracy Reese Dress

2011-07-08T16:15:00.002-04:00

Had to take these pics before a potential rainstorm!

Pattern: Vogue 1224

Fabric: Rayon Jersey from Metro Textile in NYC

Size: 10 graded out to a 12 at the waistline

Shoes: Target (Merona brand)

Bangle: H&M

I knew as soon as I saw Erika B's Tracy Reese dress posted on her blog, that pattern would be at the top of my sewing queue. So cute, flattering, and simple to sew: three elements that equal "yes" in my book!

I was lucky enough to be sent to NYC last month for a business trip and squeaked in some quick shopping in the garment district. Usually when I go to New York it's on the weekends, so I don't get to frequent a whole lot of places since they're closed; usually I hit up Mood and Paron's. I did do some damage at Mood this trip (found some turquoise eylet for a knock-off CK top and a pretty orange gauze), but I also had the opportunity to visit Metro Textile. It's my favorite place to buy jersey - the selection is amazing, the quality is great, and it's a source that Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics uses for her business (I can always spot fabrics on her site there). Plus, the service is great and prices can't be beat. I could go on and on about how great Metro Textile is, but let's get to the review of the dress!

One of the quickest sewing projects I made...I literally cut this dress out one night after work and stitched it up the next night to wear to a party the following day. I'm glad that I read some reviews on this dress before I made it - seriously, what did we do before the internet? Trial and error I guess!

1) The Length

Boy is this dress short! I'm pretty leggy so dresses and skirts seem shorter on me, so I lengthened the dress two inches and put in a very narrow 5/8" hem. I think the original length would have hit on me at mid-thigh, totally not my style.

2) The Skirt

The pattern envelope shows the skirt being pretty tight on the model. That's fine for her, not for me. I probably could have gotten away with the whole dress being a 10 taking into account the stretch properties of the fabric I was working with, but I knew I wouldn't be comfortable in a tight skirt. I graded it out from the waist to a 12, as I usually do with dresses, and it worked well.

3) The Neckline

The neckline is pretty cool: it's elasticized, and the elastic is joined to decorative drawstring ties. Me, being always impatient and not wanting to deal with the tediousness of turning the ties inside out (really need a tube-turner), opted to not use the ties. Plus, I didn't want to make a buttonhole on a knit - I didn't have any Sulky tear-away stabilizer to reinforce the buttonhole. I think my neckline resulted in being more gathered since I used a shorter piece of elastic, but I like it that way.

4) The Lining and Waistline

I really didn't think it was necessary to line my skirt, like the pattern suggests, since my fabric had enough body to it. I used the technique I used with my jumpsuit to join the bodice and skirt together: the seam allowances created a casing for the elastic to go through. This created less bulk at the waistline and was a time saver.

Blurry photo, whoops...trying to show the print detail

I'm absolutely planning on making this dress again...I bought another knit at Metro Textile that's really funky and has a lot of pattern and colors going on in the print. The design of this dress is simple enough that it's a great pattern to showcase large or busy prints.

Simplicity 2584 - Cynthia Rowley Tunic/Dress

2011-07-04T12:07:00.003-04:00

Pattern: Simplicity 2584

Size: 10 graded into a 12 from waistline to hipline

Fabric: Cotton lawn from the Lisette Collection at Joann Fabrics

Shoes: BOC Born Concept

I bought this pattern over a year ago, and when trolling through my stash last month, it stood out as something I had to make this summer. Lindsay T has made it several times in different variations/combinations and it inspired me to give it a go. I'm so glad several sewers have made this before me since their tips helped me to figure out the changes that I would have to make to this pattern to get it to work for me.

1) The Bust Darts

I'm bust challenged, I admit that. From sewing, I've also realized that my bust is higher than drafted for RTW clothes as well as sewing patterns, which makes it difficult to find fitted dresses or tops in stores that have darts and shaping that hit at the correct bust point; they're usually too low. Looking at this pattern I could see that this would be a problem for me and I was correct when I tissue fit the pattern on me. So using my handy dandy The Perfect Fit book (which is awesome for pattern alterations!), I moved the bust dart up to where my bust point was on the pattern. Tah-dah, no dart issues and I have a fitted top to a pretty shapeless shift dress/tunic.

2) The Neckline

After reading Lindsay T's recommendations as well as from others on Patternreview.com, I realized the neckline slit would be waaaaay to long for me, like down to my diaphragm long! No thanks. Easy change, just didn't cut the slit all the way down. I also didn't make the yoke overlay since I figured with the busy pattern it would just get lost. Plus, it made it quicker to sew, yay!

3) The Length

This may be the shortest dress I own, and adding my "fake tall" platform wedges makes it seem even shorter. It was a risk to make it this length...but I'm glad I did it. I even added the tuck near the bottom, which isn't noticeable except from the back since it gets all funky looking when I sit down.

Whoops, wrinkles from sitting!

4) The Zipper

This cotton lawn fabric, which I absolutely love and is so breezy on hot days, is quite flimsy and concerned me when I wanted to install my invisible zipper. I used a technique from Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing book: interface the seam allowance where the zipper is going to be installed to add stability to the seam. I think it actually makes the zipper open and close much easier now and the fabric doesn't buckle or sag at the seam.

5) The Sleeves

I also read that there's a lot of ease in the sleeve caps. I hate set-in sleeves, I always have a hard time distributing the fullness of the gathers around the cap. So again, I referred to Power Sewing and learned a new technique: Staystitch Plus. It made it so easy to insert the sleeve and I had no problem with the extra ease. I also decided to wear this dress with the sleeves pushed up like how it's styled on the pattern envelope, but it also looks cute with the sleeves down. I can see this dress layered with a chunky cardigan or jacket for a spring/early fall look.

I definitely would make this pattern again, maybe using the yoke overlay the next go-round, but I have way too many things to make in my queue right now. Highly recommend if you're looking for a simple, not too fitted, dress-like tunic for summer.

I might as well jump. Jump!

2011-05-31T11:07:00.003-04:00

Pattern: McCall's 6083

Size: 10-12

Fabric: Rayon poly knit from Joann, I think the color is called "Caviar." Great drape, but a little too heavy for hot hot days.

Extras -

Shoes: BOC by Born

Earrings: M Style Lab

Bangle: Forever 21

Shades: Bulgari

I don't know how many jumpsuits I need in my wardrobe, but it sure was easy to make and easy to throw on and wear! I may do another one in a drapey white or gray woven instead of a knit next time. I think neutral colors are best for long jumpsuits, not too overpowering. I mean, who wants to be an giant blob of head-to-toe bright blue or orange? The long jumpsuit itself is enough of a statement, but I guess if I was to do the short version (which is tempting in this heat and my no-AC apartment) I would do something like a tomato red with black woven sandals.

You can read more specs of my review at Pattern Review. Happy sewing!

A Bit of Sunshine

2011-05-24T14:54:00.003-04:00

It has been nothing but miserable the past two weeks in Boston with the constant doom-and-gloom sky everyday. Today is the first time in a loooong time we've seen the sun just about all day and the temps have soared (really, it was 50 yesterday) to the upper 70's. So it's nice on the cloudy days that I have this little pillow to bring some cheeriness to my room.

I followed the instructions over at Creative Little Daisy on how to make the rosettes on my pillowcase. Super easy, no sewing required! Just a little patience and a glue gun can transform any boring pillow you may have laying around your house/apartment/studio.

Maker Faire NY

2010-09-27T17:39:00.005-04:00

This past weekend I went to New York to visit with my sister, and my visit just happened to coincide with Maker Faire! I've always wanted to go and it was definitely worth the trip if anyone ever has the chance to go.

From left to right clockwise:

Martha Stewart Living Booth - I'm such a Martha freak that I had to take a picture of their awesome booth set-up. It was definitely the best looking booth at the faire.

Knitted Sod Car Cover - made entirely of Fun Fur. Read about the design here.

Stitch Zone - I loved this giant sign right outside the needlework area. Check out those giant knitting needles!

Coke Zero and Mentos Demo - yup, those guys from the YouTube video. Eeepybird did their demo, setting off over 100 bottles of Coke Zero in less than three minutes.

You can view bigger images of these photos in my Maker Faire set on flickr.

Sewing Machine Meme

2010-09-04T23:11:00.002-04:00

What brand and model do you have? Bernina 1005

How long have you had it? About nine years or so

How much does that machine cost? My mom traded in one of her other machines for my current one, so I'm not sure. It was a gift.

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)? Mostly clothing, some machine piecing and bags. But mostly clothes.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I don't get to sew as much as I used to, so it doesn't get a whole lot of use. I tend to go through sewing spurts here and there, but it's sporadic at best. I really should sew more, there's so many things I want to make...

What features does your machine have that work well for you? It's a great straight-stitch machine and is easy to go back and forth from straight to zig zag. It's pretty much your standard, basic machine. No bells and whistles, but I absolutely love it!

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to properly gather fabric with elastic thread! I tried everything. It still alludes me to this day!

Do you have a great story to share about your machine? My machine was previously used in a home-ec class, and some student decided to scratch the name of the band "Slip Knot" on to the side of my machine.

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? Definitely. It's nothing like the whimpy plastic machines they make now; there's something about the cast metal that makes it feel serious and that it can handle anything.

Grape Ape

2010-09-02T20:03:00.004-04:00

I'm convinced I'm having a purple moment. Whether it be new clothes for fall or yarn for upcoming projects, purple has been my color of choice. Just a few weeks ago, I purchased a knit jersey robe to bum around the apartment in - it's lighter weight than my fluffy red robe I wear in the winter time. So I'm wearing my robe, sitting on my couch knitting my new sweater (above), and I look down and notice that the color of my robe exactly matches the yarn I'm working with. Purple isn't even my favorite color, green is! Yet when I look at my notebook on Ravelry, the majority of my projects are some sort of purpley color. Only two are green.

So yeah, really groovin' with the purple right now. I was getting a bit bored with the back-and-forth of my cardi and wanted something of the instant gratification variety since it feels like I'm not making much progress on it, so this mohair sweater on size 13 and 15 needles seemed to fit the bill. I think I'm going to look like one big fuzzy purple muppet when I'm done.

Round Yoke Cardigan WIP

2010-09-01T11:34:00.005-04:00

I'm making yet another black sweater so I can wear some of my knitwear to work. The neckwarmer was a nice break between my tank and this, something to break up constantly look at a puddle of black, which can really be hard on the eyes sometimes. This cardigan is plugging along slowly but surely, and I'm just about at the point where I stop knitting the body and make the sleeves. I've never made a round yoke sweater before, but it seems like a neat way to make a sweater: no visible seams at all, it just all blends together after you join the sleeves to the body and knit up to the neck.

The yarn is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, which is one of the first yarns I knitted with when I started making sweaters, and I forgot how much I love it. It's the perfect blend of wool and cotton and has enough spring in it so that the cotton doesn't stretch out and isn't' itchy (to me at least) like straight-up wool. I opted to do the modified version of the sweater that Wendy mentions in a sidebar in the directions: a three-quarter length flared sleeve with a wide neckline. It's great for TV knitting since it's just back and forth stockinette, which is also making it a little bit slow for me since I'm slower knitting back and forth than in the round. But hey, it's about the process, right?

Finished Project - Lace Neckwarmer

2010-08-16T11:17:00.004-04:00

See, I told you it wouldn't take long!

Pattern: Wicked Lace Neckwarmer

Yarn: Rowan Silk Wool DK

Size: n/a

Needles: US 6 circs

I originally bought two balls of yarn for this project since I was following the yardage for the pattern, but I ended up needing only one ball instead. It was a nice, easy lace pattern - which is saying a lot considering how much I don't like lace. When I finished the neckwarmer, though, I noticed that my gauge must have been off since the circumference measured 14" instead of 18". A little blocking helped that and I was abled to get it to 16", which is alright. It's just a little too tall for my liking and ends up rolling underneath my neck, and I don't exactly have a short neck. Maybe it it had been the circumference it was supposed to be, it would lay lower around my neck. All in all, I'm looking forward to wearing this with my black jacket this fall.

New WIP - Lace Neckwarmer

2010-08-11T11:04:00.001-04:00

I must be a glutton for punishment because I started another lace project. Lace and I don't get along, but this pattern was just too pretty to pass up. Plus, it makes a good project in-between my finished Jewel (a black tank) and my next project (a black cardigan). Color is good!

Pattern: Lace Neckwarmer by Classic Elite Yarns

Yarn: Rowan Silk Wool

Needles: US 7 16" circs

The pattern called for a delicious cashmere Classic Elite yarn named "Wicked." An appropriate name considering the yarn is about $55 a skein! Too rich for my blood, so I settled for a lowly 50% merino wool and 50% silk blend yarn instead (frankly, anything would be inferior to cashmere) that was much more affordable, and pretty soft to boot. Currently I'm about 60% of the way to finishing my little neckwarmer and the lace is going pretty smoothly, no major errors or problems thus far. And knitting lace on Addi Turbos makes it such a more enjoyable experience anyway.

Finished pics to come soon, I'm sure.

Finished Project - Jewel Tank

2010-08-10T13:15:00.000-04:00

Pattern: Jewel from Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard

Yarn: Valley Yarns Southwick in Black (pima cotton/bamboo)

Size: XS

Needles: US 7 circs

Love love love this project. I had an idea of a design for a simple tank in my head with a ribbon woven through the neckline so instead of drafting my own pattern, I used this one. As you can see though, no ribbon. I couldn't figure out how to make it look right going around from the front to the back. Still love this tank though!

I opted to do regular 2x2 ribbing instead of cabled ribbing for the top and bottom of the tank, and I also shortened the length of the ribbing to 2" and shortened the length of the tank to 20." The waist shaping is fantastic, it makes it nice and fitted. I've never knitted with a cotton/bamboo blend before, and the bamboo lent a nice drape to the fabric of the tank. Even though it was a cotton blend and not straight-up cotton, the tank still stretched out a little bit during the day while I was wearing it and is a little evident on my mannequin. Overall, a great project: flattering fit and neckline, easy to whip up.

Another One Yard Wonder - Car Trash Bag

2010-08-09T13:04:00.006-04:00

Yet another finished project from One Yard Wonders! Seriously, I love that book. After being sick and tired of looking at bits of straw wrappers and old drive-thru receipts in my car, I knew I needed a solution because let's face it: I'm a bit of a slob.

Pattern: Not Ugly Trash Bag from One-Yard Wonders

Fabric: Michael Miller

This pattern couldn't have been easier, it's just a big rectangle shaped bag with a pocket and a strap. The only thing I didn't have on hand for the project was the parachute buckle for the strap. I'm not sure if I constructed the strap right based on the other project photos I saw on flickr. Mine seemed to be much shorter and not so much adjustable, but I'm still happy with how it turned out.

Woohoo! Clean car. Now, to get my newly-dented bumper fixed....

Finished: McCall's 6078 Tank

2010-07-17T22:44:00.003-04:00

Pattern: McCall's 6078 (View B)

Size: Small

Fabric: Rayon interlock from Hancock's (bought over a year ago)

I whipped this top up for the Sew, Mama, Sew Make It Wear It Challenge at the very last minute, and what better to make than something I can wear to work! I've had this fabric in my stash for over a year, and found an easy tank pattern that's similar to the Calvin Klein tops I've been wearing for work. I bet I'd probably save money making up that pattern in all sorts of different fabrics than buying the tanks each time they come out in a new color!

Collapsible Shopping Tote

2010-01-08T22:49:00.005-05:00

For Christmas, my sister gave me the new sewing book "One Yard Wonders," which has so many fabulous projects in it made of - obviously - just one yard of fabric. The projects are quite inspiring as to how to use up the odds and ends of fabric that seem to accumulate over time from miscellaneous projects, impulse purchases and what not. So needless to say, I have a lot of projects planned from this book!

I absolutely love my first project - the Collapsible Shopping Tote. It's a lot like those overpriced bags that you see at stores for sale; I worked at a store recently that sold flimsy nylon ones for $12 each! It does fold up a little bit bulkier than said overpriced bags due to the fact that it's made from quilting cotton and is obviously thicker than cheapy nylon.

The fabric was originally intended for a pair of PJ pants from Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing, but my fabric wasn't wide enough for the pattern pieces. And since I bought two yards and needed just a yard for this project, I have enough left to play around with and make something else!

Gaia Shrug

2009-12-29T15:53:00.003-05:00

I finished this shrug at the beginning of the month, but didn't get around to taking pictures of it until this afternoon.

Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK and Rowan Kidsilk Haze on

Needles: US 13 straight

Pattern: Gaia by Kayla Dyches

I should have knit this a little longer to make it bigger on me, it’s a little smaller than I would have liked. Oh well! It’ll make a good shrug this coming spring.

Nuage: an Infinity Scarf

2009-12-08T21:15:00.007-05:00

I wanted a big, chunky “snood” like the ones that I've seen in fashion magazines. Soft Chunky and a pair of big circular needles were the answer!

Yarn: Twinkle Soft Chunky in Haze

Needles: US 19 circs, 24"

Super easy and quick to make in reverse stockinette stitch. Wrap it around twice for a cozy and chic look or leave it long for a dramatic statement. This scarf would make a great last minute gift for the holidays; I knit mine up in about two days.

My pattern is available for free! ~~I'm in the process of making it available on Ravelry, but for now I have it hosted at Scribd.~~

Download the pattern on Ravelry here.

Debbie Bliss Lace Scarf

2009-10-11T17:30:00.002-04:00

Finished!

Seriously, I hate lace. Really and truly. I first attempted to knit lace with my Pink-ina project, which still remains unfinished due to the fact that I could never knit a row without making a mistake and ripping it out over and over again. Funny enough, this scarf is pretty much the same lace pattern and I had no issues knitting it, maybe a little glitch here or there, but nothing major.

Makes me want to pick up my Pink-ina again. Well, maybe not until next spring...

Anthropologie Capelet, or The Project I Never Posted From 2008

2009-10-07T12:32:00.003-04:00

I was going through my dresser the other day, transitioning my wardrobe from warm weather to cold, and I found a sweater I never mentioned or took pictures of from 2008.

From what I remember, I made up this capelet in one night using my US 17 needles and about two - three balls of Rowan Big Wool. The pattern was part of a discussion on Craftster back in 2005 (when Craftster wasn't overloaded with crap like it is now) and inspired by an overpriced capelet from Anthropologie's 2005 winter catalog. I did mine in stockinette instead of reverse stockinette, decided to build up the neckline a little, and added a loop closure with a bit of i-cord and a vintage button.

You can find the directions to the pattern here, the discussion on Craftster here, and if you have a Ravelry account, details here.

Heather Bailey's Daily Spice Apron

2009-07-23T12:22:00.003-04:00

For the past few months, I've been discouraged with my sewing (which is why I haven't posted many finished projects lately!). I made a handful of projects varying from handbags to tops and little spring jackets, but none of them turned out correctly: the interfacing didn't fuse properly, the project too cumbersome in the machine (the Sophia bag), the wrinkles in the fabric were impossible to iron out, or the fit was not at all flattering. Needless to say, I needed an instant gratification project, one where it would prove almost impossible to go wrong.

I mean, how can you mess up an apron? It's adjustable, doesn't need to fitted, and is composed of a few simple pieces. I whipped up my apron in about three evenings after I came home from work.

I do love the pockets, though. I've been wanting to make a craft apron for awhile to hold my marking pencils and scissors for when I'm moving around from room to room pressing and sewing; I always seem to leave them somewhere and then end up searching all over the apartment for where I left them.

See? Quite handy.
I wish my photos didn't look so washed out; I updated my OS on my computer and lost Photoshop, and the disc is at my parent's house. In the meantime, I've been using Gimp to edit my photos. Gimp and I do not get along.

Debbie Bliss Lace Scarf WIP

2009-07-14T22:40:00.002-04:00

Debbie Bliss Lace Scarf WIP
Originally uploaded by stitchstitch

I thank this scarf for finally getting my knitting mojo back. All it took was a trip to a few local yarn stores, fondling some skeins of yarn, and I was wondering why I wasn't inspired to knit for the past five months. Add in a simple lace scarf pattern that only requires two balls of yarn and knits up on size 9 needles, and I had a cure to my knitting blues! This pattern is knitting up super quick, and I anticipate finishing it in the next week or so.

Fabric Swatch Display Idea

2009-04-13T21:18:00.004-04:00

While at my local Ikea this weekend, I got some cool ideas for setting up my sewing area. One of the "rooms" they have set up in the Workspace area is modeled after a sewing/craft studio, complete with a hacked cutting table, inspiration board, and lots of counter space along the walls. I particularly loved the idea of using their Finlir photo frame to display fabric swatches. The 12 pages of the photo frame would be great for holding together swatches of fabric for a quilt or a collection of garments. It would be easy to flip through the swatches to see if the fabrics chosen would make a cohesive project or not. Or, display certain swatches of fabric as art in your studio. This is definitely something I'm going to try!

What I'm Working On - Simplicity 2652

2009-04-08T09:39:00.002-04:00

On a better note, here's a muslin that worked out and is now moving into final construction stage:

Simplicity 2652 - Inspired by Project Runway. There's all sorts of options to change this little jacket up, like different sleeve lengths and collar details. I'll be sticking with the cropped jacket and short sleeves, but I had a bit of difficulty attaching the collar. I'll probably go with the neckband instead.

This jacket looks even cuter on in real life than on the mannequin. The back looks a little funny in the photo since it forms an elastic casing, which pulls in and shapes the back.

I especially love the darts on the sleeves, front, and back of the jacket. It gives it an extra dash of interest.

I'll be cutting out the real fabric for this tonight, a bright pink linen blend with some nice drape and body. And then, if this one turns out nicely, I'll make another one for work.

Vogue 1020, or "I'll Never Make This Top Again"

2009-04-07T21:44:00.005-04:00

You'd think by now I'd know what looks good/doesn't look good on my body.

So why in the world did I think that a top with gathers spanning across my midsection would be attractive?

I cut a size 12 in the hopes that maybe it wouldn't be so snug and tight. Well, it wasn't in the bust but it was certainly pushing the envelope when it came to my tummy and hips.

There's a reason it's pictured on Ethel and not on me. Ouch. Frankly, it doesn't look half bad on her!

I was going to try letting out the seams a bit around the waist area and taking it in more in the bust, but when I tried it on and looked in the mirror, I knew I'd never be completely satisfied with how it would look and it would probably end up in the back of my closet, never to see the light of day.

Frankly, my heart wasn't into it and I guess I knew deep down from the beginning that it wouldn't work out. My stitching kinda sucked around the neckline. Plus, I couldn't do a neckband since I ran out fabric to make one. Double suckage.

Well, moving on then....

Everyone Needs An Assistant

2009-02-26T09:35:00.001-05:00

Like any good kitty, Binky feels that it is important to "lend a paw" with whatever I'm working on.

Pretty Pretty Pincushion (and muffins!)

2009-02-25T16:23:00.004-05:00

Since I have special pins for quilting that I don't want to get mixed into my regular sewing pins, I figured I should have a special pincushion just for them. This pattern is from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted gifts, and was a seriously easy project to whip up in an evening.

I opted to not use embroidery thread to accentuate the different segments and instead covered the intersecting segments with a button to hide the fact that they didn't meet perfectly in the center (whoops!) I probably could have stuffed it a little firmer.

Also made some yummy blueberry muffins today. Dee-lish!

Project Runway Season 6 @ Fashion Week

2009-02-21T23:40:00.003-05:00

While it was my intention this week to do daily updates on my favorite designer's shows at New York Fashion Week this week, it wasn't meant to be due to my awful cold earlier in the week. It just wiped me out and I couldn't keep up with all of the juicy photos being released on WWD.com. But tonight I did catch a glimpse of the final three shows for Project Runway Season 6, which has yet to have a release date due to legal squabblings.

Read about the show and view the photos here. Frankly, the shows are underwhelming but if I had to pick a winner, it would be designer #3.

Swatch Sunday

2009-02-15T08:19:00.000-05:00

Le Coq de Granville by Nicole DeLeon-Hoover for Alexander Henry. Found at Fabric Worm.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T10:24:00.001-05:00

Instead of a cheesy card, whip up some of these cute and easy felt hearts from The Purl Bee. That's all for today!

Flash Your Stash!

2009-02-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

Re: "Tell us about your stash" via Sew, Mama, Sew!

* What do you usually sew?

It varies based on my mood...during warmer weather I tend to gravitate towards cute little tops and dresses, but lately I've been making lots of useful items for around the apartment like placemats and rugs.

* When you shop for fabric, what size cuts do you usually buy? (i.e. If you see something beautiful, but you don’t have a use for it right away, how much do you buy?)

I tend to buy lots of fat quarters. They're a great size for a multitude of sewing projects, and it gives me a chance to sample lots of new fabrics. If I like the print, I usually go back for more.

* Do you buy on impulse or do you go out looking for something you need?

Usually I have a color in mind or a theme, like floral or retro, but sometimes I stumble across fabrics I never thought of before!

* Are you a pre-washer? If you are, do you wash your fabric before you need it, or only when you’re ready to use it?

Recently I am; I used to just start cutting and stitching before washing the fabric. But now I take the time to wash and iron out all the wrinkles before folding it up and tucking it away for later.

* Do you iron it?

Yes and it can be a pain if I don't take it out of the dryer in time.

* How do you sort it? (color, print size, collection, etc.)

Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of a lot of space to have my fabric all organized by color or collection. If I had the room, I would definitely organize it by color!

* Do you have any special folding techniques?

Nope. Whatever makes it look the neatest.

* How do you store your fabric?

Again, not a whole lot of space in a one bedroom apartment that I share. But for now, it resides in a storage box from Ikea in my bookcase in the living room.

* What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash?

I started out collecting fabrics that I thought were interesting or with patterns and colors I really loved. Now that I'm starting to quilt and not just make garments and bags, I understand the need for filler fabrics that give the eye a place to rest. You need a fair balance of both.

* When do you say enough is enough?

Um...I'm not sure when one reaches that point...

* What are some of your favorite stash-busting projects?

I'm loving the fat quarter project ideas on Sew Mama Sew. Or even just putting together quilt blocks with random bits of fabric is fun, too.

Runway to Reality: One-Shoulder Trend

2009-02-11T11:33:00.000-05:00

From left to right: RM by Roland Mouret, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Christian Lacroix

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, it's been obvious that the one shoulder trend is back in full swing for 2009, officially ushered in this year by Michelle Obama at the inauguration and countless other celebrities wearing the trend lately on the red carpet.

Make It Yourself

I'm assuming that these patterns can be adapted to have the shoulder strap flipped to the other side, if that's more your styling preference. Try combining the one shoulder element with your favorite top or dress pattern for an updated look.

Butterick 4983: Opt for a skinny or wide strap version. Crop it to make a day dress or keep it long and elegant for evening.

Vogue 2881: One shoulder styling and Grecian undertones go hand in hand. Not surprisingly, both trends were prominent features on many runways for Spring 2009.

Vogue 8387: A nice option for a fitted sundress. Or, use a satin fabric, shorten the length, and you have a sassy cocktail dress for a night out.

Cables Galore

2009-02-09T07:33:00.001-05:00

I know that "bathroom mirror" photos aren't my usual photography standard, but I was running late for work and wanted to post my finished hat.

Cabled Beret from Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine Fall/Winter 08
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 1 skein (bought 2 though)
Needles: US 5 and 8 straight

Swatch Sunday

2009-02-08T08:13:00.002-05:00

"Apples" from the Metro Market Collection by Monaluna for Robert Kauffman. Found at Sew Mama Sew.

Wouldn't that print be great for tea towels in the kitchen?

Quilt Flu

2009-02-06T17:21:00.000-05:00

My mom has a sign on the door to her sewing room at home:

"WARNING!
QUILT POX
VERY CONTAGIOUS TO ADULTS!

Continual complaint as to need for snuggling under a handmade quilt. Patient has blank expression, sometimes deaf to spouse and kids. Has no taste for bedspreads or electric blankets. Hangs out at Quilting Bees. Mumbles to self "Log Cabin", "Double Wedding Ring", "Ohio Rose"...

NO KNOWN CURE!

Treatment:

Medication is useless, disease is not fatal. Victim should attend as many quilt shows and quilt shops as possible."

I now understand that sign.

I guess my interest in quilting was piqued when I visited a quilt shop last fall with my mom. There were so many interesting and colorful fabrics that I had no idea existed; I was used to seeing the traditional fabrics my mom kept stockpiled in her sewing room closet when I was younger. I knew of Amy Butler, but Michael Miller? Alexander Henry? These fabrics were fantastic! So I bought two Benartex prints and whipped up Amy Butler's Birdie Sling.

That was fun! Now what?
I mean, you can only have so many fabric bags. Enter Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

Again, quite a different take on quilting than I was used to. The projects were simple and non-intimidating, and the use of modern fabrics made simple pincushions and lap quilts seem exciting. Quilting seemed like a daunting, time consuming hobby to me before. Now, it can be easy and quite rewarding.

I have a whole slew of projects in mind: placemats, floormats, pincushions, a small quilt to nap under, maybe a bedspread and matching pillowcases, and perhaps a wallhanging if I can muster up to the challenge. I've done a few practice pieces so far, such as the four patch and nine-patch blocks above. I also whipped up this set of coasters from the Last Minute Gift book:

The set of four took about 10 minutes each to quilt once I cut the fabric and batting and assembled the pieces together. It was a good intro to working with multiple layers and practicing even stitching. The odd one in the grouping was a strip pieced nine patch block that I practiced on first before I tackled the Amy Butler set.

So I've stocked up on lots of new fabric (which is currently in the wash right now!) and am looking forward to sharing my progress here on my new hobby!

Sophia, Sophia

2009-01-29T16:43:00.007-05:00

If you remember quite awhile back, I bought fabric from Purl Soho to make Amy Butler's Sophia Carryall. I completed her Birdie Sling, loved it, and thought I'd take a stab at another one of her patterns.

Whoops. I'm not too happy with how it's turned out so far.

This bag is definitely more of a challenge than the Birdie Sling. The construction was going along just fine until I had to attach the top panel to the sides. It was awkward to sew and tricky because of the multiple layers of interfacing, fabric, and covered cording. When I turned the bag right side out to see how it looked, I had to go back and fix a lot of tucks and re-ease the fabric. Plus, the interfacing (cheep cheep Pellon, yuck) made my fabric all wrinkly looking.

I'm assuming I can steam it to make it look better.

I thought that that was the hard part until I got around to attaching the bottom to the bag. For some reason, the bottom panel wasn't the correct size! It was either too small or too big, I don't remember which, and I had a devil of a time getting even more layers of interfacing and fabric through my machine.

Eww eww. I did take the suggestion from someone on Pattern Review to omit the covered cording for the bottom and I'm glad I did, because I can imagine that would have made it exponentially more difficult to sew. I need to rip out the bottom and redo it, I know I didn't sew it straight. Plus, I've got uncovered bits of cording exposed as well.

Needless to say, this has me wondering if the lining, which I have yet to put together, will make the bag look any better from the outside. Maybe the bottom will look less puffy and droopy once I install the false bottom. This might just be a bag I use to store yarn or fabric in and not for shopping or dining out. Oh well. At least I have leftover scraps to play with!

A Sweater With Six Armholes

2009-01-29T16:34:00.002-05:00

From the Lefranc.Ferrant Spring 2009 Haute Couture Collection. Photo by Francois Guillot/Getty Images.

The Return of Color

2009-01-28T09:55:00.001-05:00

Spring, believe it or not, is just around the corner. Everyday at work I'm reminded of this as new deliveries of spring merchandise are unpacked and set up on display in my departments, the pop of colors and skimpy fabrics an odd contrast to the shoppers bundled up in fur coats and snow boots. And while it's snowing like crazy in my neck of the woods today, spring is on my mind as I look at my fashion magazines while eating breakfast, identifying trends that I've seen arrive in my stockrooms as well as colors that seem to be cropping up all over for spring.

Very subdued and soft. I love love love Fuschia Red and Super Lemon. I bought a pair of Anne Klein flats in December that are the same color as Super Lemon, not realizing that I was ahead of the trend! Click on the image above to see the color names as well as Pantone and CMYK numbers.

You can also download the PDF of colors at the Pantone website for your reference.

Re: What's Your Sewing Backstory?

2009-01-27T22:46:00.010-05:00

These photos are from my sewing "peak," which was when I was a junior in high school.
Today, I wouldn't be caught dead wearing any of these in public!

A couple of weeks ago when I was browsing my usual list of sewing blogs I read, Lindsey T's post asking her readers about their sewing back story prompted me to think about how far I've come since I started sewing at age 9 (even though it isn't too much!) .

So here's my backstory, in a nutshell:

My interest was first piqued by the extra scraps of fabric I used to play with in my Mom's sewing room. She showed me how to thread a needle and do a running stitch, and off I went making dresses for my dolls from a pattern she drafted for me. After a while, I wanted to learn how to use the sewing machine since it would be so much faster to make little outfits. I received two sewing machine books for Christmas and learned how to sew on my Mom's Bernette machine. What an awful machine! It always ate my fabric and jammed up at the drop of a hat.

After moving beyond making blankets and outfits for my dolls and Beanie Babies, I tackled my first garment when I was 13: a purple floral drawstring skirt.

In high school, I took home ec classes in sewing construction as well as fashion design. I often visited Goodwill to look for old jeans I could rip up and turn into skirts, shirts to attach grommets to, and pretty much anything I could refashion into something new with my machine. I also got my first sewing machine, a Bernina 1005, which I still use today.

By my Junior year, I was making costumes that I *ahem* would wear to school...I refer to this period in time as my "freak" period, because clearly people must have thought I was a freak for wearing Renaissance dresses and corsets to class! It's still embarrassing to think about :)

Senior year I channeled my inner costume freak towards the theater department and made/designed costumes for the spring musical.

Once college rolled around, I didn't do much sewing. No machine at school, and I was pretty burned out. And no, I didn't continue to wear my dresses and corsets in college. That would have been tragic.

Swatch Sunday

2008-11-30T21:58:00.002-05:00

"MacKenzie Christmas Noel" by Anna Griffin. Found at Repro Depo.

Swatch Sunday

2008-11-23T15:30:00.002-05:00

"Kristmas on a String" by Alexander Henry. Found at Pink Chalk Fabrics.

Little Zipper Bag - Attempt 2

2008-11-20T20:15:00.002-05:00

In this round, even more Michael Miller Ginger Blossoms fabric was used. Still don't have everything right though....

Funny enough, this fabric was going to be the outside of the bag, but once I sewed it together, I took it apart and made it the lining fabric instead. Looks much better this way, but now the lining is interfaced instead of the outer fabric.

This still didn't turn out right the second time. I hate how the fabric looks all bunchy! I don't know if it's because of the interfacing or that I didn't trim the seam allowances or what. Or is it supposed to be like this??

The zipper turned much better this time but still, it's not perfect. It needs to be so!

Here's some hunches I have on how to make this turn out better for Round 3:

1. Use lighter weight interfacing
2. Interface the outer fabric and not the lining (it was a matter of circumstance this time)
3. Trim seams before turning the bag and lining right side ou

Any suggestions on how to get this bag look better are more than welcome!

Etsy Find: The House of Mouse

2008-11-18T21:04:00.002-05:00

How adorable? Find every possible mouse friend imaginable at The House of Mouse.

Yuck.

2008-11-17T21:35:00.000-05:00

Sick today, so no posting :(

Swatch Sunday

2008-11-16T14:15:00.000-05:00

Ladybugs by Robert Kauffman. Found at Phat Fabrics.

Weekend Project: Fabric Covered Crates

2008-11-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

While reading the Sew, Mama, Sew! blog yesterday, I saw a fantastic link to some fun fabric covered crates over at this blog. Cute, functional, and easy to boot? I'm game.

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-11-14T22:47:00.003-05:00

Thought I'd give this a go this week:

1. Please feel free to interrupt.
2. When I put on lotion I can't help sniffing it occasionally.
3. My favorite thing to cook is Pasta.
4. Sweets are something I can't get enough of.
5. That's the thing I love most about kittens.
6. The news always makes me think to myself, what the heck?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to vegging, tomorrow my plans include work and Sunday, I want to party!

Great Read: Craft, Inc.

2008-11-13T21:48:00.002-05:00

So I picked up this book on Tuesday and I'm over half-way through reading it as we speak. Wow, this is a book I wish I had two years ago when I was first starting up my knit accessories business (which, of course, is no more). From the website:

"Craft, Inc. is the hipster business primer for entrepreneurial crafters to turn what they do for fun into what they do for money. Pro crafter Meg Mateo Ilasco offers a step-by-step guide to everything from developing products and naming the company to writing a business plan, applying for licenses, and paying taxes. Chapters on sales, marketing, trade shows, and publicity round out the mix. Plus, in-depth interviews with such craft luminaries as Jonathan Adler, Lotta Jansdotter, Denyse Schmidt, and Jill Bliss provide inspiration and practical advice. Accessible, informative, and more than a little spunky, Craft, Inc. paves the way for today's creative minds to become tomorrow's trendsetters."

Finally, a book relevant to today's crafters trying to find their way in the business world! Meg offers great tips on finding your nitch market, ways to become inspired, and she cuts through all of that business lingo so that you can be a legit operation. I've only gotten through to the section on creating a consistent brand image, but I'm sure she offers a ton more great tips that I have yet to read.

Little Zipper Bag - Attempt 1

2008-11-12T22:25:00.002-05:00

I had fun playing around with this little bag while I was off from work this week. Granted it's not my best work, but it's not too bad for a first stab.

The outside fabric and the lining are from Sandi Henderson's line "Ginger Blossom" for Michael Miller Fabrics. Yum yum! I also added some interfacing for a little extra durability.

Oops. You didn't see that.

Hehe it's ok, I have a pretty good idea how to fix that next time. I already have some fabric all cut and ready to go for Attempt 2.

These are all going to be part of what I'm thinking will be a line of accessories for knitters/sewers...I'm getting the etsy bug again! I've really been itching to make things to sell (again) for a while, and it all materialized quite rapidly this week into reading Craft, Inc. and a rough business plan sitting on my desktop on my computer. If I'm going to start up again, I might as well do it right this time around.

It Came!

2008-11-11T17:00:00.003-05:00

UPS delivered my Heather Bailey fabric from Purl Soho today! Now it's time to get down to business.

Monday Morning Musings

2008-11-10T08:28:00.001-05:00

1. UPS better deliver my Purl shipment today, and there better be someone in the rental office this afternoon to sign for it, unlike last Friday. I need my fabric!

2. Why do retailers insist on having Xmas decorations up even before Halloween? I've had to listen to Xmas music everyday at work since last Monday.

3. Yum, scones for breakfast.

Swatch Sunday

2008-11-09T22:29:00.004-05:00

"Woodland Critters" by Cosmo Textiles. Found at Bee Square Fabrics.

Happiness is:

2008-11-08T23:47:00.003-05:00

Alexander Henry "Prefect Pattern" fabric. I bought a ton at Quilter's Way in Concord, MA this week. Oh, what fun little notions bags it will make!

Sandra Backlund: Haute Couture Knitting

2008-11-07T08:16:00.000-05:00

You've never seen knitting like this.

From her Last Breath Bruises collection. View more here.

Yay or Nay: Michelle Obama's Election Night Dress

2008-11-06T17:21:00.003-05:00

Original:

Michelle's Version:

I like the original Narcisco Rodriguez dress, but I'm really not that crazy about Michelle's requested version. She also is wearing a cardigan, which only confuses the lines and proportions of the dress. Michelle is always on her game when it comes to dressing well, but I found this to be a surprising "no." It just doesn't seem to be flattering on her. But props to her for a bold, gutsy move on such an important night. What do you think?

Read about the dress controversy at NYT.com

Why I Love Fall

2008-11-05T21:35:00.002-05:00

Gorgeous gerbera daisies. You can buy them any time of the year, but these orange ones really feel like fall.

Fresh flowers are such a joy!

Don't Forget to Vote!

2008-11-04T08:08:00.000-05:00

I don't care if you're Republican, Democrat, Independent, whatever...just go vote today! It's one of our most important civic duties and should be exercised by everyone who wants their voice heard.

Fetching Gloves - in progress

2008-11-03T08:22:00.001-05:00

One down, almost done with the second. These should keep my hands warm on that chilly steering wheel early in the morning.

Webs: Truly an Experience

2008-11-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

This past Thursday, since I had the day off from work, I took the opportunity to drive to Webs in Northampton, MA to see their retail store in person. If you have ordered online from their website, you know that they have a ton of yarn to choose from. But it's nothing like what they have in their store. When I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed at not just the size of the store but the amount of yarn covering the walls and stacked throughout the aisles. There was so much that I had to ask for help because really, I had no idea where to begin. Plus, their warehouse is open to the public, so there was even more yarn in the back I had yet to see! I spent a good two hours in yarn heaven, and walked out a happy knitter with a large bag of yarn in hand for many projects.

Berroco Ultra Alpaca for a cabled beret from the new Debbie Bliss knitting magazine

Berroco Pure Merino DK for a bobbled tam from Vogue Knitting Holiday 08

Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran for a cabled scarf (ssh xmas gift!)

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for some Fetching gloves (maybe some gifts as well?)

All in all, a very good day! I urge anyone is in the area to get out to this fabulous LYS!

Next Sewing Project - Amy Butler Sophia Carryall

2008-11-01T19:56:00.003-04:00

Since I had so much success with my previous Amy Butler bag, I'm going to give another go at one of her patterns. I think her Sophia bag has such a cute, retro shape and would look great in a print from Free Spirit fabrics or maybe on of Amy Butler's prints.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T08:00:00.001-04:00

Have a go at a Jack-o-Lantern tea cozy or a knitted witch doll. More free Halloween patterns can be found here.

And what am I doing for Halloween today, you ask? I'm throwing on a pair of cat ears and a tail. Oh yes, dressing up is encouraged at work today!

Matilda Scarf

2008-10-28T20:13:00.000-04:00

It's amazing how a simple pattern can produce such amazing results. Like this cable, for example. Just a basic cable pattern, but it looks beautiful as a scarf. You can find the free pattern here. I've got quite a bit to go, but I thought I'd share a peek at my progress thus far.

NaBloPoMo 2008

2008-10-26T08:31:00.001-04:00

I tried this last year on an old blog, and it didn't work out so well. But I'm going to give it a go this year, just to see if I can make it. I did NaNoWriMo about two or three times back around 2001-2003 and that was nearly impossible for my to do while I was in high school, what with homework and studing. I think this is a bit more attainable. It's just a matter of carving out time when I get home from work to sit down and give my blog a little more loving than I have been giving it in the past few months.

Let's see what happens.

Amy Butler Birdie Sling

2008-10-23T19:40:00.004-04:00

It's been a little quite here on the craft front for some time now. I was finally inspired to get back to my sewing machine, after about three failed projects, when I saw this Amy Butler pattern at a quilt shop in Concord. Love love love this bag!

Pattern: Amy Butler's Birdie Sling
Fabric: all by Benartex

This was my first Amy Butler pattern and I found it easy to follow and it could be a great first project for beginners. This was exactly the project I was looking for: fail proof. I needed a sewing pick-me-up and it delivered.

I think the picture is deceptive in how big this bag is - it's HUGE! I could easily fit a giant turtleneck sweater project in the sling and have room to spare. It also really holds its shape well.

The pleating is really my favorite part of the bag. It was fun to do, and really makes the bag look interesting even though the pattern is pretty basic.

There's also room for lots of storage. The small pocket is great for holding a phone and some keys...

...and the other narrow pockets would be perfect for storing knitting needles. These pockets are essentially a big square sewn down the middle to create two tall, narrow pockets on the opposite side of the bag.

The only change I made to the pattern was that I used regular Thermolan Plus fleece instead of the fusible Thermolan Plus, only because my Joann Fabrics near me didn't have the fusible kind. I used a spray adhesive to temporarily attach the fleece to the fabric before I stitched everything together, and it worked out just fine. I did read on Patternreview that some people didn't care for the fusible fleece, so this could be an alternative. In retrospect, I would have also added a magnetic snap to the lining band since it tends to gape open a little bit. I'll have to remember that for next time.

Ravelympics Entry - Complete!

2008-09-09T09:55:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I started this for the Ravelympics competition last month during the summer Olympics, and sadly I did not finish it in time. But! This definitely was the fastest I've knitted a scarf on needles smaller than US 17.

Pattern: Chunky Braided Scarf
Yarn: Cascade Pastaza (2 skeins)
Needles: US 10.5 and 11

I finished this about a week ago (Labor Day maybe?) and I can't wait to wear it with my tweed coat. But let's not rush the cool weather, shall we?

Lesson Learned.

2008-09-08T21:23:00.004-04:00

It really does pay to read reviews on Pattern Review. It could have saved me time from making this:

Pattern: Vogue 8138 - View A
Fabric: Matte Jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics
Size: 10

Granted, the front view looks ok. Actually, it looks kinda cute. But let's exam further, shall we?

Now why would I want to wear something that adds more protrusion to my tummy area, an area I try to conceal? Really, this looks much better on Ethel than on me. Let's try another look with this cardigan:

Even trying to wear it another way still doesn't make it look any better. More fabric going across the stomach, and the folds of the fabric draw the eye down to zero in on the lumps and bumps.

...and then I've got the "pooing fabric" effect in the back as well. There has to be something redeeming about this garment!

I'm not seeing it. The sleeves are completely pulled off the body due to the stretch of the fabric and the drag of the length of the front.

While Erika B has had success with this cardigan, I guess I'll have to add myself to the list of those who were most disappointed with this pattern. There's no way I could convince myself after keeping this on for a half hour that I would love it and wear it. At least the fabric is salvageable to make a little top for work to wear under my blazers.

iPhone + NY Fashion Week = Love.

2008-09-04T12:08:00.003-04:00

In case you missed the article in the New York Times this week, Style.com has launched a fabulous app for the iPhone just in time for New York Fashion Week, which begins today. Starting today, you can keep tabs on up-to-the-minute photos and video of new looks on the runways and coverage of every collection on the catwalk. The app even allows you refresh your memory of the Couture collections that showed in Paris a few weeks ago. I really like that you can also access the style.com blog through the app as well. I've been checking it throughout the day and so far, no updates yet. But I'm sure they'll start to pour in any hour now. Finally, an easy way to check out the newest styles and it fits in my pocket. This really doesn't help my addiction to fashion!

Oh, and the best part? The app is free.

Sew Stylish - Fall 2008

2008-08-16T09:20:00.000-04:00

Words cannot describe how much I love this magazine. I've been reading it for about a year now, and it is everything that I've been looking for in a sewing magazine geared to newer sewers: it's fun, fashion forward, and super informative. Not only do the editors pull looks from the runway as inspiration for the garments in the magazine, but they also help new sewers break out of the saftey zone of only sewing a garment straight from the pattern instructions. They add new elements, change proportions, and in some cases give a pattern a completely new look. This is a wonderful thing; it helps the new sewer see beyond the design on the envelope and realize the potential hidden inside. I myself have never liked to be limited with patterns, and when I was sewing in high school I played around with stuff like this, changing lengths and mixing different sleeves to create new, um... "looks," if you could call them that (I'm referring to my days of inspiration from Lord of the Rings). This magazine would have been helpful then, and it's really rekindled my curiousity and inspiration of what "could be" instead of "what is."

The articles are really great in this issue. I especially love the alterations to create a houndstooth swing coat, a lace yoke dress, and a crazy pleated skirt based on instructions on draping your own slopers. Definitely pick up this issue, it's a good one.

Where in the World??

2008-08-15T22:57:00.004-04:00

Heh, I guess that last blog post didn't prove to be true at all, did it? I finally got my *new* laptop yesterday after Dell delayed the shipment...twice. Plus, the borrowed laptop I was using would only let me use it for 20 minutes since it would then overheat and shut off.

So for the last two weeks, I've been only able to do important stuff, like check email and pay bills. Oh, and order some fabric...

This is the fabric that I ordered for the Mini Wardrobe Contest but didn't have a swatch for for my storyboard. Isn't it to die for?? It looks like something straight from the Anthropologie catalog. I whipped this up into my good ol' standby pattern for knit tops. Pictures to follow (after I wash it).

Just cut this knit out this week, but haven't gotten that far along with it. I can tell though, with the drapey neckline, the stripes are going to look really cool. This will be my stand in top for the contest if it looks better with everything than the floral tee.

And now, I present you my new friend Ethel. I'm a little...unsure how she's going to work out with me. She's much broader through the shoulders than I am, and (surprisingly) much flatter than I am. All of her bust measurement is through how wide around she is, and not with how much she can fill out her shirt.

See? Looks how flat she is in my suit jacket:

Poor thing, she's like a prepubescent 12-year old girl.

So I adjusted her down to the smallest measurement, bought a sew-in swimsuit bra for her, and pinned it to her and stuffed it with batting. I'm not sure how it'll work, but at least it'll give a more accurate depiction of how a top will fit. She's been a great help so far in modeling the overall look of a garment. It's nice to step back from a project and take an objective look at what you're looking on. It's easier to judge a garment when it's not on you!

Aaand we're back!

2008-08-02T10:02:00.001-04:00

Everything is moved in, internet is working, hooray! I just wish Dell would ship my new laptop sometime soon so I don't have to use this ghetto piece of crap.

Stay tuned, more blog posts are on the way.

That's it, folks!

2008-07-27T20:04:00.004-04:00

I'm outta here!

Be back in a few days, hopefully, after the dust settles and things get unpacked. [Keeps fingers crossed that internet will work.]

Bye bye PA, hello MA!