Mojo Shopping

I've lost my sewing mojo - it's probably somewhere under the overwhelming mass of patterns - so I've been stashing.  I think I'm hoping something will snag at me and I'll be a sewing fool again. 

This is Amy Butler's new Sophia carry-all and some of her heavier weight cotton.  I'm excited about the challenge of making a professional handbag.  So many handbag patterns are so very homemade and they have their place.  But I've always enjoyed the kind of patterns that Vogue puts out.

I've also been drooling over this Japanese quilt and craft book, featuring Kaffe Fassett's fabrics.  It has a few quilts, slippers, coasters, decorations and such, all delightfully Japanese.

Look at this piece of loveliness:

If you're familiar with the books by Kumiko Sudo, this has the same gentleness and fun to it.  If you're not familiar with Sudo, her "Omiyage" books is lovely, with lots of beautiful small pieces, like flower purses, little fabric boxes, decorations and such.  They require some skill to make well but are very eye-catching.

I buy my Japanese magazines from this ebay seller.  She's fast, packages beautifully and the prices are good.  The shipping is free too and it takes about 7-10 days to get to me in Colorado.  I bought the latest Mrs. Stylebook also, although more for inspiration.  I'm too tentative about my drafting skills.

Little Miss NoJo Knits a Hat!

Finally, a Finished Object:

Pattern:  Center Square from Knitty

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease (doubled)

Size: Humongous, 'cause swatching is for losers!!

This is an adult sized hat, but my son is just more gorgeous than me.

I've been itching to do some fair isle knitting.  My first attempt, Nordic style wrist warmers, didn't come out too well.   Even though I spread my stitches when changing colors, I still had some pulling  in a few areas.

So I tried a bigger gauge and I did much better.  This hat is a great practice piece.  The double stranding in the fair isle makes it really warm and it took me only a couple of hours to make.   It would be a fun gift.

It's also the perfect project to break my run of dithering and goof ups.  I think I have my mojo back.

I have too many UFO's lying about, both sewing and knitting.  I generally can't start up any new projects when there are too many other ones left abandoned, but then I get snitty about finishing up the ones that are getting in the way.  I've crafted myself into a corner.  But one FO really gets me motivated.

In knitting, I'm almost done with my Central Park Hoodie and then I'll finish up Connor's cardigan.  Which will leave me free to stop buying yarn and knit some goodies up.

In sewing, oyyy!  I have three pieces undone; two of them unloved, the third a coat for Connor.  The coat is easy and if I finish that, I can think clearly about the other two - whether to pitch them or finish them.

Motivation.  I need motivation.