Category: finished objects

Weekender Update

Posted on Posted in finished objects, knitting, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , 14 Comments

We are enjoying a cool rainy Sunday here. I am so glad the hottest part of the year is over, also known as “Hell’s Front Porch” in Ohio.

First of all, you should know I am getting a lot of amusement out of Tompkin. Here he is in the neighbor’s pumpkin crate.

I also finished my jeans. Enjoy these photos my youngest graciously took for me.

These fit fairly well. I think they will fit better when I’ve lost a few more pounds.

I loved the waistband construction on them, but I struggled with it. I shouldn’t have gone with the horsehair for interfacing. It was too difficult to sew. It was too much for my little machine and I ended up using the industrial machine down the hall.

I broke a needle and bent a needle. Oops!

I am super happy with the jeans button kit. Well worth all those yen.

I’m pleased the jeans are wearable, especially since I probably spent as much time ripping out stitches as I did sewing. Pattern is Sound of Blues from Ottobre.

Next time I’ll use a fabric with more stretch, maybe some Ponte.

I found another skein of the green at my LYS and cast on my Weekender. Again, I struggled. It took me three times to get the tubular cast on right. I didn’t actually need waste yarn for this. There are multiple ways to do a tubular cast on, apparently. FYI!

I hope to get the front cast on and joined to the back before our trip. Then I can take Weekender to Canada with me for some sweet, sweet, stockinette vacation knitting.

Yesterday for Saturday-date Bob and I went to see Joker. That film is a work of art. Bob and I each got a new pair of hiking boots to celebrate our anniversary. One week from tomorrow will be 7 years! ❤️

Hey! Check it Out! Wednesday!

Posted on Posted in finished objects, sewingTagged , , , , , , , 13 Comments

Do you think I can make Hey! Check it Out! Wednesday! a thing? Just kidding. It will never catch on like Wednesday WIPs.

But hey, check it out!

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I finished my Lilac Heather Cumulus Blouse. It’s mostly great. This yarn is wonderful and it has great stitch definition. It fits well and is comfortable, and I love the color. The neckline… well, I saw this coming but carried on knitting anyway. I thought hopefully that the i-cord cast off was going to take up more space. I will have to wear a shirt under it. I’m sure the culprit is my yarn choice, but I love the yarn so I wouldn’t have changed it. I guess I should pay more attention to row gauge? But considering I only knit a 2 inch swatch, I got what I deserved. Pattern is Cumulus Blouse and yarn is Cestari Ash Lawn DK in Lilac Heather. Still happy.

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Check out my new to me shoes! They are Baabuk and made in Portugal with local wool. I have terrible problem feet, and I go through a lot of shoes looking for “the one” pair that will make my feet happy. So far these are ticking all my boxes: wool, renewable resource, sustainably and ethically made, and I got them used (practically new) on Poshmark. They are super comfortable and like these so much I may purchase a pair of boots at some undetermined point in time in the future.

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Check this out! I joined Seamwork (unlimited) at a special half off rate and got this style workshop. I really need it. When I was younger I didn’t have any problems knowing what I liked to wear or what looked good on me, and I changed my style frequently. Now that I’m older, I need a little help. I’ve already downloaded several patterns, but I’m making myself finish the workbook before I buy any fabric. First on my list to sew is Ace.

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I have wanted a funnel neck ever since I saw Amelie, so that was probably 20 years ago!

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I would love to have this done in time to take to Nova Scotia (1 week away!) but I would have to find a fabric I love locally. I will head over to Sew to Speak at some point just to see if she has any wool jersey or sweater fabric.

I also decided to make a Chip Jacket and Dexter Pants, and by that time I realized I just needed to join. I didn’t renew Ottobre, so that’s my rationalization.

I still need to finish my jeans, but I do have my zipper now. Maybe this weekend?

Unfortunately I’ve been feeling under the weather since Sunday. Today I finally accepted that I need to rest and get over whatever this is so I can have fun in Canada! My brain wants to go go go but my body is saying no no no.

Sock It To Me Monday

Posted on Posted in finished objects, inspiration, knitting, socks, yarnTagged , , , , , , 12 Comments

In the spirit of blogaraderie, I started knitting a sock just so I could blog about it today. “Sock It To Me Monday” was started by mildlygranola, and picked up by quiteayarnblog. Of course I wanted to join in! (I also wanted to start on a sock, since I’ve been talking about it for such a long time.)

This is Purl Soho’s toe up sock pattern in Moondrake Yarn Co‘s Silky Fingering in Autumn Jewel. I picked up this yarn when I was in Oklahoma City. It has a lovely sheen, and the silk gives the merino some hardiness the way nylon does in other sock yarns. After I took these photos, I had to rip the whole thing out because I overlooked the part of the pattern where you are supposed to knit the yarn over increases through the back loop to close the hole. I don’t want socks with a bunch of holes at the toes!

I will restart them tonight, the correct way, and I’ll share more later (next Monday of course) once I have it really going.

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Here’s me in my Marauder’s Map York. It’s not as comfortable as I want it to be, which has less to do with the pattern and more to do with the fabric I chose. I have noticed my sewing tends toward costume. I think the Seamwork collection planner will be good for me. It will help me think about what I really like to wear versus concepts that aren’t super wearable. I like the idea of this shirt. I think this pattern is better suited to a fabric with more drape. I also don’t like the neckline. I don’t see why you should use bias tape when you could make a facing. The sleeves are cool. I turned the cuff fabric around so I could read that part when I’m wearing it.

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This is a photo from an advertisement that showed up in one of my social media feeds. I don’t remember the company. I saved it because I liked the look of it. I like the soft palette and three different patterns in similar colors. I’m going to print it out and put it in my collection planner for inspiration.

Itinerarium Maraudentium

Posted on Posted in finished objects, sewingTagged , , , , , 8 Comments

I finished my Seamwork York Blouse. How did I fit the pattern on the fabric? You may ask. And I’m glad you did.

I cut the front on the bare minimum of fold needed. Then I cut the back on folded fabric as close to the selvage as possible.

After this, I used the center of the fabric to cut out the sleeves. I had to double it horizontally, which means I had to cut it into two pieces – one for each sleeve – and turn it around since the fabric is directional.

Then I cut the cuffs out of the other side of the fabric left after the front was cut on the fold. I even have fabric left!

I see Harry Potter themed project and notions bags in my future.

I didn’t want a tie at the back, so as I was looking through my buttons I found this clasp.

It looks perfect but it comes undone a little too easily. I’ll have to think about how I can improve it.

Sundeee

Posted on Posted in finished objects, life, sewingTagged , , , , 10 Comments

I had fun in my studio today. I had intended to cut out one pair of Emerson Shorts in this natural linen, one pair of Emerson Pants in black linen, one Lily top in blue linen and one Lily top in the cotton bird print. I was so excited after cutting out the shorts to have enough natural linen left over for a tank top I just whizzed through and finished it and forgot all about everything else.

This is the same pattern as my tie dye Easter Twiggy tunic/dress, but instead of following it I made the front wider, added neckline pleats, trimmed the bust sides, and encased all the edges with a rough bias so that it will fray when washed. I’m pretty excited to wear this top as it has really been hot and I’ve been wanting a linen tank top.

Last night for Satur-date Bob and I went to see this adorable independent film Bite Me. The filmmaker is touring with the film and she was there for an intro, Q&A, and a “joyful vampire ball” for afters. We were supposed to wear “whatever makes you feel joyful” which is pretty much what we wear all the time, but there was a station at the ball with temporary tattoos and bling so I went for it.

I also picked up a new sweatshirt for October.

You may know that vampires are my favorite “monster” but I won’t say that anymore, because this is a fictional film about people who identify as vampires (there are people who identify as non-supernatural vampires in the real world) and the story is about love and acceptance. We really enjoyed it. If you want to watch it, it is all over the internet for a modest sum.

I feel like my life is more manageable now and at a pace I can maintain. Work is busy but rewarding, kids are doing the things that will lead them to being independent humans some day, I lost 5 pounds on my Noom plan, I am making things in my studio again, and Bob and I are thinking of buying a house.

I hope you are also having a great Sundeee! Toodle-loos!

Blue Ribbon Beanie

Posted on Posted in design, finished objects, free patterns, hatsTagged , , , , , 8 Comments

This went really fast and I love it. It’s the perfect beanie: a little tam, a little slouch, but not too much to be a beanie.

And I love the color!

Yarn: Malabrigo Arroyo DK Matisse Blue

Needles: 1 size US 4 16″ circular, 1 size US 6 16″ circular, Size US 6 double points, or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge: 5 stitches per inch on larger needles

Begin Pattern:

Cast on 100 stitches on the smaller circular needle size. ( I use crochet cast on for elasticity.)

Place marker and join to knit in the round.

Begin K2 P2 and continue for 2 inches.

Change to larger circular needle and knit in stockinette stitch for 5 inches (total length 7 inches).

Begin decreasing on next round: K 18 K 2 together 5 times (until end of round).

K 1 round

K 17 K 2 together 5 times (until end of round)

Knit 1 round

Continue decreasing in this manner (decreasing 5 stitches every other round) until you are at K 12 K 2 together, or 65 stitches total.

Switch from circular needles to double points when stitches become too small for the circular needle.

Begin decreasing in the same manner EVERY round, starting with K 11 K 2 together, until you have 10 stitches total left on needles.

Break yarn, and use darning needle to run the tail through the remaining stitches. Tie off and weave in loose ends.

Voila! Blue Ribbon Beanie. Enjoy!

Lavender

Posted on Posted in art, finished objects, knitting, life, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , , , , 5 Comments

Bob and I are on our way to a lavender festival, and I hope to blog tomorrow about all things lavender. Technically my cumulus blouse is lilac heather, but close enough.

I finished my felt piece for the Mother Artists at Work show next month. It’s all natural wool except for the blues. It’s mostly Romeldale-CVM and Shetland, and is called “Sunbleach”. It’s about 16X20. I hope it counts toward my Shave’Em to Save’em finished objects.

The caterpillars are eating my dill, but I don’t mind. Are these Monarchs?

Work has been very busy and I haven’t had time to blog or read blogs. I am trying to catch up.

Hi

Posted on Posted in art, finished objects, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , , , , 12 Comments

I finished my Farrow Dress.

It’s very frockish. Super comfy and cool in the linen. Maybe it will dress up a bit with some sandal clogs. (Yes I used “dress up” and “clogs” in the same sentence.)

It was a new method of making pockets for me. I’m calling it the “apron method.” There is another complete layer of fabric across the inside front from the seam down. Since this is a medium weight linen, it makes it a little heavy. It’s not a good pattern for French seams but I made it work.

Not bad. Do you like it?

I got a little work done on my art piece. Do you like it? I’m liking it. I guess the real question is how long will I do this before I go home and have a glass of wine?

Or should I bring the wine here and keep working?

This is my choice for selfie of the week.

(Edited: I replaced the gym selfie because I thought this one was more appropriate.)