I finished sewing my Felix dress. I love it! This was a challenging sew for me, but I did a good job. The pattern is rated as intermediate, and is lined. I learned a lot!
Pattern is Felix Dress by Grainline Studio.Fabric from Mood. Lining is teal Bemberg viscose. I was impressed with the lining fabric as well, and won’t be suspicious of viscose in the future. I love this design, and will probably sew a sleeveless version.
I sewed another Melba dress, this time in black cotton interlock from deep stash. I skipped the facings and bound the neckline, and prefer it. I hemmed the sleeves. This fabric is lightweight, and I expect I will wear this all summer with nude clog sandals. This was on my spring sewing list, so I’m glad to get this done.
I tend to do more sewing in spring and summer, and more knitting in fall and winter. What about you?
Did you know May 3rd is Paranormal Day? I didn’t either, but I follow a lot of paranormal accounts, so that’s how I found out. How does one celebrate Paranormal Day? If you’re like me, you combine your special interests and sew a paranormal themed dress!
Happy May Day! I hope you are dancing around a maypole or at least enjoying some spring flowers today. We are having thunderstorms, so I will likely be spending most of the day indoors.
Sewing
For Me Made May, my goal is to alter four handmade garments this month to get more wear out of them. I’m starting with something easy.
Before shot with long pants.
I made these Pietra pants last year. They fit great but are voluminous on my short frame. I’ve decided to hem them into culottes. The fabric is lightweight, so it’s not like I wear them in any other season except spring and summer.
After shot with shortened pants.
I’ve paired them here with an a-line tee made in deep stash quilting cotton and my Hitofude cardigan. I love the yellow dots in the top fabric. It makes me want to wear more yellow, and buy some yellow clogs.
I’ve enjoyed wearing my Melba dress, and have decided to make a black one. I don’t have enough fabric for facings, so I will bind the neckline and armholes instead.
Pattern pieces and brown floral fabric on a background of teal lining fabric with a Holly Hobby pincushion.
I’m also sewing a Felix dress in this floral cotton voile. It’s semi sheer, so I’ll be lining it in teal Bemberg. I need a nice dress for spring events. I really love the feel of this Bemberg lining fabric, which is made from viscose.
Knitting
I’ve only been working on the Ocean Moon mystery knitalong. I’m frustrated with how slow I am at knitting intarsia, though I love the result. I am hoping to catch up this week on the clues.
Gardening
Kale, broccolini, and lettuce growing in a pop up greenhouse.
I’m really pleased with all the greens that overwintered in my pop up greenhouse. This kale is ready to harvest. We’ve already eaten all the arugula and some of the lettuce. I have high hopes for the broccolini, kale, and cabbage starts that will be protected from moths under the greenhouse covered in netting. I’ve also planted some ginger root here. It’s my first time growing ginger.
We’re coming up on the July 1 renewal for Year of Projects. I’m trying to decide if I want to continue to list my projects in a blog post, or share a spreadsheet with links to the completed project pages. I’ve started tracking my knitting projects and stash in a spreadsheet in Google Drive, and I like organizing my lists that way. What is easier for the reader? Do you ever reference the list of completed projects? Does it matter? Please let me know your preference, if you have one, in the comments. Thank you!
Bob and Alissa in front of the kraken from a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea movie poster.
In personal news, Bob and I went to see the film Everything Everwhere All at Once for Saturdate yesterday. This movie was wack but also amazeballs. I laughed and cried at the same time. It also manages to be sentimental. Highly recommend if, like me, your brain likes a little exercise while being entertained. Two thumbs up. Thanks to Mackenzie for recommending it.
Cryptid soap from Tuft
I also wore my Born to Knit Melba dress to one of my local yarn shops for Local Yarn Shop Day. I purchased this Mothman soap, some lavender apple soap, and some stickers. Because cryptid soap makes me happy. I exercised extreme restraint and self control. I’m proud that I walked out without purchasing yarn. I really have to be careful with my purchasing now that I’m semi-retired.
Did you visit your local yarn shop for Local Yarn Shop Day? Did you make any lovely yarn purchases? I would love to live vicariously through you! 😊
I’m still plugging away on the Ocean Moon mystery knitalong, Clue 1. Clue 3 drops tomorrow! I hope to catch up this weekend. I am liking the yarn colors and the design. I’m getting the hang of intarsia again, though I’m slow.
I finished sewing my Melba dress. I feel very chic wearing it. It looks great with my clogs and sunglasses.
The fabric is organic cotton knit from Spoonflower. It says, “Born to Knit” and “Knitting Takes Balls.” I’m very happy with it. My only complaint is the boat neck is too wide. I’ll adjust that on the next one I sew.
Me May Made is coming up! I have half-heartedly participated in previous years on Instagram, but thanks to Lucy of A Knit and a Cake, who has connected me with the origin of the movement at So, Zo, What Do You Know? I now have a much better understanding of the challenge, and I’m looking forward to participating in 2022. If you are curious about Me Made May, here is a link to this years’ write up which explains the challenge.
I’ve had a look at my handmade wardrobe, and have come up with a challenge that I think will be doable. I’ve identified four garments I’ve sewn within the previous year that I don’t love and rarely wear. Each week I will alter one with the goal of making it more loved and wearable. I will post a before and after photo of each. I also pledge to wear at least one outfit each week that includes a handmade garment — which may or may not include the altered item of the week, depending on how successful the alteration is. I will analyze my handmade wardrobe throughout the month, identifying what has worked, what hasn’t, where there are holes to fill, and outline a new sewing plan for my wardrobe moving forward in 2022.
Although Me Made May was originally intended for sewing, I think you could also apply this challenge to knitting as well.
I’m pretty sure this isn’t the first time I’ve used Bunny YOP as a post title. Now that I’ve had a couple of weeks of down time, I’m ready to get back on the Year of Projects wagon.
Knitting
I’ve been primarily working on my Vertices Unite shawl. The yarn is naturally dyed, and although the colors are somewhat muted, I think they are great for spring. I was planning to use the pink for the border, but I’ve decided instead to bring in a new color — the yellowy green. I think this is one of those designs that will look better worn, so I will model it when it’s done. This photo also serves as a way to tell you that our porch furniture is out, and we are ready for porch season!
Sewing
I finally got the pattern cut out for the Melba dress. I decided to not use the expensive Spoonflower fabric for the facings, which will be inside the dress. So I’m waiting on some inexpensive cotton knit for that. I’ll use any leftover dress fabric for scarves for my Etsy shop.
I received so many lovely cards from the Global Gifts team after my last day. I thought it would be nice to commemorate them here. I miss working with my Global Gifts family every day, but I am enjoying semi-retirement, if that’s what this is.
I’m not gonna lie, it’s been a rough week. We lost a beloved family member, Bob’s Stepfather “Poppy.” I got some tough news at work. Poor Dan Bill has a UTI and had to go to the vet. I still got some crafting done. Making things brings me joy, and helps me deal with stress.
Knitting
I’m loving the way Vertices Unite is coming out. I’m about 1/3 of the way through section two. It’s all naturally dyed merino and super soft.
Design
I’ve been working on a knitting design for my summer yarn mystery box. I told my therapist that trying to sketch ideas for designs was not working for me. She told me to try picking up the needles and yarn and start making something, so that’s what I did. And it worked! It won’t win any design awards, but it will be a nice, practical use for the yarn.
Sewing
I sewed two more pair of joggers — in speckled gray French terry and navy organic cotton fleece. Very comfy, and I should be good on joggers for a while.
This is my next sewing project, a Melba dress in this knitting print. I can’t wait to rock this.
Other than that, I’ve joined our local fiber arts guild and signed up to help, and I’m rediscovering the joys of our library system. I’m hoping to start baking and cooking again, and I needed some inspiration. And it will be time to start seeds and dig up the garden soon. I’ve planted peas and greens already!
I finished my clog socks! There is an error, so don’t look too closely. No one is going to look that closely at my ankles when I’m wearing them, right?
I frogged my Taxus Mittens and am working on the armhole round of my Arrowhead Cardigan.
Sewing
I sewed another Piedra dress in my favorite color. The fabric has tiny neon flecks in pink and yellow-green, though, which I love.
See? I had enough left over to make an infinity scarf. You would think sewing a tube scarf would be simple, but you would be wrong. It’s the turning that complicates it. I figured it out though.
Designing
I’ve added designing back into my Year of Projects (YOP) goals. I have a design in mind I hope to release with my summer mystery box. I watched the second video of my Pattern Writing for Designers class today. Once I finish that class, I’m going to sign up for TKGA’s pattern design class.
And that’s what gets results. I’m getting cornier and cornier with my post titles.
Knitting
I started some shorty socks to wear with clogs and white sneakers. Yarn is Cascade Heritage. It’s my first time using it, and it’s really soft.
I’m ready to start the armhole steeks on the Arrowhead Cardigan. Yarn is Lopi.
I’m the cow’s tail on the Vertices knitalong, still plugging away on my first section. This yarn is super soft, but the blue indigo dye is rubbing off on my hands. It’s naturally dyed merino from two different dyers. I do love the colors.
I’ve made minuscule progress on my Taxus Mittens. I doubt I’ll finish for the knitalong, but they were on my list anyway, so I’m happy to take my time. Yarn is Tukuwool Fingering. I’m not sure about the brown berries. I might tink those back. I think I’d prefer the first round of berries to be orange, like the cast on, what do you think?
Sewing
I finished my Clare Coat! Now I’m ready to start on some spring wardrobe sewing.
Spinning
Move along. Nothing to see here.
In other news, I put in my notice at work. I’ve been struggling with GERD for over a year — nocturnal vomiting at least two or three times per week. I kept trying to pin the cause down to food, but there were no consistent triggers. Turns out it was stress, which I suspected, but now I know for certain. I haven’t thrown up since I put in my notice a week ago. I knew the job was a bit of a stretch for me, but I didn’t know we would be entering into two years of a global pandemic when I took it. I love it, which makes it even harder, and love the people I work with. But I have to prioritize my health. I had a scare with inflammation and swelling in my throat, and then I knew I had to do something. I’ve tried medications, but they’ve never made any difference. I’m going to take some time off to heal, and work on my side hustle for a bit, to see if it grows. By the way, today is the last day to order the Spring Thaw box! And I’m working on a new box that should be suitable for Mother’s Day, as well as a summer box that will include an original pattern design (I hope).
I’m very pleased with my finished Clare Coat. It’s not perfect by any means, but it fits, it’s wearable, warm, and it’s my favorite color!
I would not recommend interlining your first coat with Thinsulate. It was a bit of a mess. I wish I had kept it simple the first time around instead of being so ambitious. But, I made it work in the end. I think my Grandma would be proud of me.
headknits 