SWAP Summer 2007

Patternreview has started its summer SWAP competition. I usually have little follow through with the concept of a SWAP - I like to be able to move around. Also, I'm losing weight regularly, so I'm not invested in making a keeper wardrobe. I need elastic waists and easily adjusted clothes. And, I don't want to use my more precious fabric.

It's just a lot of fun to be part of the group endeavour. Realistically, I'll probably get 1/3 done. But I've found even a mini SWAP can have a lot of impact in my wardrobe.

Maybe if I post regularly on the SWAP thread, I'll be more committed.

Btw, my jacket is the Eyelet Cardigan, a pattern from Blue Sky Alpacas. It's small enough that I'm optimistic about finishing it.

The Golden Compass

For those of you in love with the books, go find your daemon. Here's mine:

Some Sewing...

My ledger is a little empty of completed projects. But here are two Burda patterns from last month - one hopeful and one loser:

Burda 7907



I made View B as a muslin for View C - the dress with the wide straps. The muslin looks awful frumpy on me, doesn't it? But it's actually a good look.

I lengthened the bust piece vertically and widened the lower curved portion of it. The widening was actually too much and the resulting gathers are just too thick even for the thin muslin fabric.
On the other hand, I could have lengthened the piece by 3/8" more.

This is the line drawing:


The shape of the decolletage is really pretty on me and with the wider straps, I believe the dress, in a mid-weight cotton, will be a winner for summer.

And the loser:

Burda 8269

This is the plus version of 8407. I haven't compared the two to see if the hip curves are more emphasized on the plus version.


I cut this out in a size 46 last summer, from a stretch velveteen. I'd washed and dried the fabric, which gave it a (permanent) crushed look.

The lines are really interesting and the trumpet shape should be a winner on an hourglass figure like mine. But it looked so awful on me. Maybe it's the length. The curve around the hips, followed by the flare around the calves just emphasized fat curvy to my eyes, instead of luscious curvy.


From this angle, it looks good doesn't it, but from the front, I just looked wide. I could make it in a drapier fabric, but then the lines would be lost, so the pattern is getting moved to a better place.


Btw - this makes Fabric Mart bundle fabrics 0 for 5. I think I should jettison all the bundles I got from them. No matter how nice, they just have never worked for me. I don't know if it's guilt from buying so much or lack of respect for their neverending yards, but they all end up duds.

Sportacus Take 2

For Halloween 2005, I made Connor a Sportacus costume. I got an email from a Canadian lady a couple of weeks ago, asking if I would make an adult version for her daughter's birthday. Today, I mailed if off to Canada.

To be honest, I don't enjoy making costumes. They're more fun than home dec (which makes me want to cry), but not a whole lot better. And, superhero costumes are so bitty and fiddly, especially in nylon/lycra.


This is 'my' Sportacus (gratuitous cute kid shot):



This is the real Sportacus:

Isn't he delish? :)

I ordered the dancewear nylon/lycra from Denver Fabrics and used Kwik Sew 3029:

Lots of fiddling about and steam-a-seam, we have:

I tried on the pieces to stress test them and they performed very well. I'm not too thrilled with the badge I made, but I sew, I don't craft.

Natasha, the Mom, promised pictures from the party. I have my fingers crossed that the costume performs well. It's my first adult male dance costume.

The WTH of the whole experience.

I tried on the pants to make sure it looked right. How come my tush (not male, not dance-y, not size medium) looked like a million dollars in them? Years, countless yards of paper and fabric, and I find size M KS men's pants is where I should be. Seriously, what's with that?

I *am miffed at* Debbie Bliss's pattern.

Edit: I had to change the title from "I hate DB" to " I'm miffed at DB's pattern" - because there's too much bad energy out there - & because - really I'm as much to blame as the pattern.

My little guy in a gansey-style sweater from "How to Knit". The yarn is a beautiful and silky (although a little splitty) Luxury Cotton DK from Rowan.

My temper has cooled a little on Ms. Bliss, because it's really just my fault. I borrowed the book back in August of last year. I thought it'd be a great practice sweater to learn Western knitting. (I'm an Eastern style knitter.)

I looked at the size chart and thought, "Wow, these are HUGE for kids" and so made the 2-3 year old pattern for my 4-5 year old. Guess what? It's still huge for a 4-5 year old. And mine is a big 4-5er. But, get this, the neckline is for a 3 year old.

So, what are my choices? Connor loves it, but says it's the arms are too big. I could just wait the body out for a year and re-knit the neck appropriately sized for his age. Or - frog the whole thing, treat the yarn for the kinks and knit him something else. Gah! I think I'll let it rest for a while.

I'll take him to my LYS and get some yarn for the quicko cheapo. The poor kid just wants a sweater to wear.

Oh - why all the negativity? She specialises in kids' knits - beautiful designs. Why the ridiculous sizing? It's true to gauge, knit correctly, blocked right, so there should have been some logic to the sizes. That's why I sort of trusted it, but I really should have just gone with my gut and left it alone. As it is, I'm leaving her patterns alone.

A little decadent, no?

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Thanks Melody!

So I did a happy dance...

All of them, y'all.

And we're moved into our lovely home, complete with original German Goth styling circa '73.

I've even been sewing. I just finished burda 7907 - I'll post photos as soon as I can find my nude bras.

Curly Wurly

Or 'ribbon scarf' as they have it in Handknit Holidays. The color is actually a deep red with the red lurex accent, the same colors as in the pattern. Because I'm that inventive.

Mine is 75% the original's length and works better as a ruffly, romantic cravat kinda thing than a regular scarf. It'll be great for those open necked winter coats. Of course, it's in the 60's now. As they say, winter comes every year. (Reminds me, I need to do our taxes!)

I've now got almost 2 balls of the Classis Elite 'Lush' yarn and quite a bit of Rowan's 'Lurex'. So maybe a hat? Would it be too darned much? Maybe all together with a pirate jacket? Huh?

Slow posting...

I made a goal when I started this blog to get something up at least once a week. Moving cross country dealt a blow to that goal last fall. Now we're moving again. We just closed on a lovely house in Boulder, which we will stay in forever (maybe at least 10 years). But it means moving one more time and renovating the house (and still selling the albatross in MA).....

We should be all moved in by end of March, so hopefully I can sew regularly again then.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of me on a Segway or "robot scooter" as Connor calls them:


Really - I was laughing the whole time, despite my face in the photo. They are so darned cool, I'd give up buying fabric and yarn for a year to buy one.

We went to a robot exhibition in London, where they had some great stuff. I do miss being near a real city (sorry Denver). But it is home.

Lookit - yarn cakes!

Guess what I got for myself! My yarn stash has now reached the point where hand winding the skeins is actually time consuming.

Here's an action shot of the yarn winder:


I got both the yarn winder and the swift at Joann's, where both are discounted and the shipping is free, so it was a great deal. The swift is Laci's brand and both are easy to use and as good as any in a LYS. And it leaves me more moolah for yarn, from the LYS.

So True...

Heehee.

I'm back from London. I'm now 37 (17th of February). We're moving again next month (we bought a lovely house and will *stay* for at least a decade). I have to do our taxes.

But I have a great family and life, and, I'm sewing again, so yay.

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.