Category: sewing

Studio Sunday

Posted on Posted in finished objects, sewingTagged , 7 Comments

I made some pretty pink unicorn flannel pj pants for myself today. They are shorties because I could only get two yards of the fabric.

I broke the needle when I was serging in the elastic. I tried to fix it but the needle promptly broke again after I replaced it. So I clearly do not know what I am doing when it comes to the industrial communal machines. I will have to let my landlady know. I fudged the rest of the waistband with some zigzag stitching.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned this but I am going to let my studio go at the end of the year. I am going to miss it, but Bob and I want to buy a house that is not in the same neighborhood.

I also started recording my podcast today and I have an interview tomorrow with my first guest! Are you excited? I’m excited!

A Quiz! And Felting Blues

Posted on Posted in hats, knitting, life, sewing, what makes me tickTagged , , , 7 Comments

Here’s a quiz from Karen at nothingbutknit.

1. What was the last food you ate? SunRype Chocolate Chip Bites

2. Do you sleep with socks on? If I’m cold, but usually not.

3. Worst physical pain you’ve had? Gallbladder attacks

4. Favourite place you have ever been? Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

5. How late did you stay up last night? I went to bed at 8:15 and I was snoozing on the couch before that. I’m a little under the weather.

6. If you could move somewhere else, where would it be? Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

7. What is your favourite sport? I don’t have one but I would like to cultivate an appreciation for a sport and a fandom for a team. Maybe curling.

8. When was the last time you cried? It’s been a few months.

9. Who took your profile pic? I did.

10. Two of your favourite movies? There are so many good movies, it’s hard to choose. Auntie Mame is one of my all time favorites, as well as Nosferatu by Werner Herzog.

11. What’s your favourite season? Autumn

12. If you could have any career what would it be? I love my career but one thing more I would like to do in my lifetime is knitting pattern designer.

13. What was the last book you read? It Was a Dark and Stormy Knit.

14. If you could talk to ANYONE right now who would it be? My Dad

15. Are you a good influence on other people? I think so. I try to encourage people to accept themselves as they are and also inspire them to be the best they can be. That’s good, right?

16. Does pineapple belong on a pizza? If there is ham, then yes.

17. You have the remote, what show is on? I just finished The Bay on BritBox, and just started watching Blandings. Hilarious.

18. Last text message: Catchy

19. What’s the last concert you’ve been to? SaltfishForty

20. Favorite food: The Universe has conspired against me enjoying my favorite food of all time which is cheese.

21. Favorite album all-time? Josephine Foster and the Supposed “All the Leaves are Gone”. When I think about listening to it I imagine the scene in Mars Attacks! when the aliens’ brains quiver and explode to Slim Whitman music, only it’s my brain and it feels good.

22. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

23. Have you ever drank alcohol? Yes, I like good wine with food, hard cider, mead, and beer (although I can only have gluten free beer). Also, it’s “drunk”. Also I try not to drink very often because it’s a depressant. See number 25 below.

24. Did you go to college? Yes. I worked my way through college and it took me nine years to get my bachelors degree. I’m proud of that.

25. Have you ever experienced depression? Yes, it started with post partum depression after my second child and has continued as clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Yes, I take medication and have accepted that in order to fulfill my potential for a life well lived I will probably have to stay on medication the rest of my life. And I’m ok with it.

Please join in. The more the merrier. Feel free to answer in the comments or leave a link if you’re posting it on your blog so we can read your answers.

My Blue Ribbon Beanie got a little stretched out on my trip. I thought, “I know! I’ll put it in a lingerie bag and wash it on cold WITH A LOAD OF JEANS and then reblock it!” It felted right up! Of course. The good news is it still fits. The bad news is it has lost its jauntiness.

Before I took my expensive wool knit fabric to the studio to sew my Ace, I thought I should probably wash it which led to me thinking, “I know! I’ll put it in a lingerie bag and wash it on cold WITH A LOAD OF JEANS and hang it up to dry!” And yes, it felted. I don’t know if I have enough to make Ace now.

I think I have finally learned my lesson.

PS: Happy Halloween! I accidentally turned my comments off for this post, but they are back on again, in case you want to leave one.

All The Things – A List

Posted on Posted in fiber love, field trips, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , , , , , 16 Comments
  1. Vogue Knitting Live is in Columbus this weekend, and I signed up for two lectures on Saturday. I was impressed by my own restraint. I signed up for Sketch to Knit and Heirloom Wool Production. These seem right down my alley. I did not sign up for any classes as I think I already know it all, and as we already know, I don’t. But there was nothing on the class list I felt compelled to spend three hours of my time on. I do plan to spend three hours in the marketplace shopping.
  2. I’m not sure if I told you this, but I also registered for Midwest Craft Con. It happens in late February, hopefully not while I’m in Kenya for work, which I think will happen in early February.
  3. When I returned from vacation, after catching up on work email etc, I turned around and traveled to Indy for work. It was a good and productive trip, but I’m knackered and I took today off since I worked events on Saturday and Monday. I’m a little under the weather, which always happens when I get stressed out, and one of these days I guess I’ll learn I can’t do all the things. I haven’t learned it yet, though.
  4. I love my handmade PJ pants so much, I want to sew some flannel ones for winter. This should be an easy thing to do, except I don’t have any flannel fabric. Where do I buy ethically made flannel fabric? I will try Sew to Speak today. I might also try Dabble and Stitch. Or maybe I will buy this unicorn fabric and call it a day? Done. That was way too easy.
  5. img_6679Here is my Weekender progress. Do you think I can finish this in time to wear to Vogue Knitting Live on Saturday? Unlikely, but it might be worth a go.
  6. img_6681My yarn arrived from Canada. (I had to ship it to myself as we only carried on one bag each.) I want to get started on these before my inspiration wanes. I think the merino bulky is too soft for thrummed mittens. I really like yarn for my mittens and gloves to have some tooth. Maybe I will knit a cowl? It’s super soft.
  7. I am currently listening to How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran on Audible. Not only is it hilariously written, it is also hysterically read by the author. I highly recommend. It is slightly filthy, so if you don’t love English potty mouth, as I do, then it might not be for you. Also, she does not mince words. I love this.
  8. I have my microphone and I have Audacity. It is time to record my first episode of The Just Craft.
  9. I am back down to my pre-vacation weight!

Friday Eve

Posted on Posted in knitting, life, sewingTagged , 6 Comments

I saw this over at Petite Slice of Life, and I think from now on Thursday will forever be known to me as “Friday Eve.”

This Friday Eve I am up late washing. a. band. competition. uniform.

My unspirational calendar was, once again, on point for the last day of my vacation.

I only gained two pounds on my vacation!

Tomorrow I will divide the stitches for the chest and back of my Weekender sweater!

I received the fabric for my Ace sweater. It is beautiful. It should be a quick and simple sew. It will probably take me longer to cut and piece together the pattern.

Only 10 minutes until Friday!

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!

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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.

ace.jpg

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

amelie funnel neck

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.

Shimmering Silver Lady

Posted on Posted in knitting, sewing, sweaters, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , , , , , 17 Comments

Mildlygranola has me convinced to make a Weekender by Andrea Mowry with her. I admit to flirting with the idea of this pattern, but I never committed. I am ready.

Do you remember this yarn? It’s Scout by Kelbourne Woolens. The gauge is spot on for me for Weekender since I’m a loose knitter. And I have almost enough of the green to make it! I only need one skein. I do have enough of the silver, and I do love me a silver sweater which matches my silvery hair making me swan about like a shimmering silver lady (hence the title of this blog.)

But greeeeeen… deep verdant earthy evergreen.

I only need one skein. I’m going to go to my local yarn shop tomorrow to see if she has one more skein of this. If she doesn’t, I’ll probably cry. But maybe I’ll find it on the internet.

I considered waiting until our trip to Nova Scotia in case there was some special yarn there I would like to buy, but realized I don’t want to lug home a sweater quantity of yarn. Maybe one or two skeins of something special!

I’m still waiting on the new zipper for my jeans. Today I serged the edges on all the pieces and did some top stitching. I’m taking great care with these as I want them to fit well, and I’d like to be able to take them in and let them out as needed.

I lost another 5 pounds, making it 18 pounds total. My old jeans fit more comfortably now and I’m ready to take the larger sizes down to the basement. I save my old jeans since my weight fluctuates so much.

I’m almost finished with Lilac Heather Cumulus Blouse.

How is your Sunday going? I cleaned the bathroom, the stove, and my car interior today, but I’m still having a good day. 😁

Mid-Week Studio Night

Posted on Posted in sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged 11 Comments

I was so excited to receive my zipper and button kit from Japan, I ran right to the studio after a hard day’s work. Welp, I should’ve known better. I should have taken a break before sewing because I got confused (old) and ruined the zipper.

It’s ok, I guess. It was too long anyway, and I was trying to make it work. I ordered a shorter zipper (not from Japan this time) so hopefully I can install it next week.

I made some belt loops. Ta da!

Studio Day

Posted on Posted in knitting, sewing, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , 7 Comments

I’m working most of the weekend so I took today off and went to the studio.

Almost jeans! I wanted you to see a little of the pocket so you can see the plaid fabric.

Look at that yoke and those back pockets!

I don’t know what’s going on with all those wrinkles. Hopefully they’ll wash out.

I ordered a metal zipper and jeans button from Japan with a special tool for putting on said button. (¥3,643. Spared no expense.) Once they arrive I’ll finish these up!

I also finished the left sleeve on Lilac Heather Cumulus Blouse. Ready to pick up those armhole stitches on sleeve 2!

Look at these buttons I found in my stash. They go so perfectly with my pleated blouse fabric. I hope they’re the right size and I have enough. I have six, so hopefully.

Today I have enjoyed listening to the 80’s New Wave station on Pandora. Isn’t it funny how music from our youth can make us feel young again? I’m definitely going to be listening to more 80’s music. Here’s my top pick from today.

Sock It To Me Monday

Posted on Posted in knitting, sewing, socks, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , 4 Comments

Here’s my paltry progress on my toe up sock. I’m worried it’s too wide.

I went to my local fabric store to get some interfacing for my jeans’ waistband. (She sold me horsehair. How cool is that?)

I wanted a floral fabric to make a top out of to work with my collection palette. There were many lovely floral fabrics, but most were very bright or a large print. I kept remembering to myself “wearable” “something I would be comfortable in” “something with some green or saffron” “roses” “must work with denim”. I think I did pretty well. I need a pattern, though.

ETA: Found a vintage pattern on Etsy!