Stitches and Sticks

Chicks with knitting stitches and the Avalanche with hockey sticks, that is. Interweave Knits, based here in Colorado, had a special promotion for knitters/crocheters willing to donate a red scarf to the Orphan Foundation of America. The red scarves will be included in Valentine Day's gift bags for kids heading off to college - very cool indeed.

My husband still plays hockey, but it was the first live game for Connor and me. It would have been even better if they had won, but they chose to lose to the Coyotes. So depressing to watch.

Anyway, this is what I made:


I saw this made up by Liana (Sew Intriguing - hers is 2/3 way down the Dec '05 entries) and the pattern is here. Isn't it cute? It look less than half of skein of worsted (LionBrand Wool Ease). I was so nervous that I wouldn't get it finished in time, that I started at the beginning of January. It took 3 very short evenings and I'll have to make up a few more. Don't the ends look like hearts? Thanks Liana.

Noro Transitions Hat

This is a pattern from Wendy of Wendy Knits Blog:


It takes one skein of Noro Transitions Yarn, which is just lovely to work with, (containing 55% Wool, 10% Silk, 7% Angora, 7% Cashmere, 7% Alpaca, 7% Kid Mohair, 7% Camel). It's very comfortable to wear. The color gradations are a little surprising and beautifully combined:


The pattern is a simple 3x3 rib on circular needles and super quick. Just in time for the rest of our never-ending winter.

Rattler Scarf

This is the second kit I bought from Morehouse Farms. The colorway is described as purple! Hmphhh! It has as much toxic yellow and poisonous green as bruised purple. Which, of course, makes it a great rattler scarf for a 4 year old boy.


Here's the young Master in all his knitted glory:

Marfy Spring/Summer 2007

These are the free patterns in the new catalogue:
*I updated to add the sizes they come in.*

Wrap top (pink), peasant top (green) and pink hotpants -
All in sizes 42, 44, 46


Cowl neck top (peach) and kimono topper (swirly red) -
Both in sizes 42, 46, 50, 54


Fitted jeans -
In sizes 42, 44, 46


Dress and short jacket (broderie anglaise) -
Both in sizes 42, 44, 46, 48

Vogue Spring Patterns

I've been really enjoying the direction Vogue pattern has taken in the last year. There are a lot of pattern that I love. Some of these I can't or won't wear, but quite a few of them have come home with me - some to actually be made up.

This new set of patterns has some real gems:

1. Issey Miyake two piece - 2952



It seems you either love or hate his patterns. I'm a lover and this is gorgeous. It looks gentle and vaguely conventional in the front, but then you check out the back. There are square flaps on the side seams that are brought to the half back and laced together. Beautiful.

The skirt is great too, and it's a mock wrap - just a little peekaboo of leg.

2. Anna Sui Dress - 2940

This has the potential to be poofy around my belly. But I'm loosing weight and by the time I get to it, I should be trim enough to carry the dress.

3. DKNY wardrobe - 2941


Three pieces: an easy jacket with contrast shawl collar and cuffs, a bias camisole and a yoked, gored, (lightly) bubbled skirt. The jacket and top will be useful for wardrobe repeats.

These two I probably won't ever make up, but I'll give them a good home:

4. Belville Sasson dress - 2943


It looks so much like the copy of the Mouret dress, but just look at the back seaming. There are are two sections either side of the center back seam, angling upwards towards the center, like cathedral windows. Divine. And the front sections curve and flatter.

5. Donna Karan jacket and dress - 2942


Another one for the collection. The silouette is so japanese and stylised, it's not something I've come to expect from Karan in her vogue patterns.

And, again, what was I thinking?

So, here's another clothing reflection of my state of mind while living in MA. It obviously wasn't doing as well as I thought.

Simplicity 4020, Version A:


I really loved Liana's top, so I dragged out some lovely purple velour. I've never had much success with velour; I can't suppress it's creeping tendencies. As I was cutting this out, I *knew*, just KNEW, that the doubled over cuffs and waist would creep like crazy, but did I stop? Nooo. I knew, I did it anyway and it creeps. So the top is a wash.

I didn't wear this style in the 80's, so I didn't realise how big I'd look, especially with the shiny, furry fabric. I look like a big, juicy plum. So the style is a wash.

I also liked view D/E, which Stacy reviewed. Of course, she has a slim waist. I suspect that with my extra pounds and large bust, the style would be unattractive on me. So the pattern is a wash.

Of course, this might be a subconscious way of ridding myself of fabric that just isn't suitable - Darwinism for stash.

Neue Mode 23230

I started this dress last summer. It's version A of NM 23230 - it's a little bit country and not at all rock'n'roll. I'm not sure why I got seduced by it. After all, it looks frumpy in the line drawing and, sadly, it's kind of frumpy in real life. But I loved the fabric, so I'm not tossing it.

It has merits: the bateau neckline with the well-designed facings, the side zipper, pretty A-line skirt, bust darts, waisted and easy fitting.

I've been going through an odd year, with all the moving about, lost, questioning my life.... a pre-mid-life crises, if you will. It's coming out in my pattern choices.

Anyway, it's there in the catalogue, a few years old already, ignore, just a little old-fashioned house dress. I'm hoping it's really not me at all.

Simplicity 4045 - Dress

This is the dress version of this pattern. It's basically the top, lengthened.

1. The fabric is a silk georgette, lined it with olive ambiance to take away some of the yellow tones.

2. As in the original top, I cut a 14 in the shoulders and sleeves and 18 on the side seams.

3. I originally lengthened the dress by 5" to get it below my knees, but forgot to take into account the bias drape. I wound up taking off 4.5" to get the final length.

4. I sewed the side seams of fashion fabric and the lining separately, then pinned them them together at the neckline and armholes.

The sleeve hems were finished with bias strips and sewn into the body.

The neck yoke was interfaced and sewn to its facing. I then pinned the finished yoke to the body and sewed the seam, trimmed it to 1/4" and zigzagged the allowance.

4. There is a rolled hem on the fashion fabric and a zigzag 1/4" away from the edge on the lining.

And that's it. It's bias folks, and minimal finishing is ideal. It took all of 2 hours to sew up. I wore it twice and might even pull it out again this winter.

Late Resolve

I don't really subscribe to new year resolutions - they have too high a failure rate for me. But I've had so much fun reading other people's, that I'm just going to commit myself, darn it!

The theme is reduction:

1. Reduce my fabric stash by 30%.

This has taken me four whole days to come up with, 'cause I was so busy negotiating with myself. Also I just ordered a few yards for workout clothes. Ahem!

And the leather I got from Ebay over Christmas.

Erm.. and the small! box from Fabric Mart.

Probably just getting rid of the Fabric Mart bundles from last year will strike out 15%, leaving not much more to be worked over.

I'm selling, sewing, donating.

2. Reduce my body by about 20%.

Should be easier than the fabric. All I need is to get off my hiney and hit the gym hard 3 days a week.

3. Reduce our real estate holding by 100%.

And then increase by same. Gotta sell the danged albatross in Concord and buy here in Boulder.

4. Reduce crazy, bad moods by 90%.

Easily done by sticking to 2. and increasing my shut eye per night by 10%.


All good, achievable resolutions.
I like math.