More Sewing!

Okay, I sewed again this weekend. Now I see what some people mean about sewing providing 'instant' gratification' - in this case, a few hours of sewing and pressing and I have this great bag!


Basted & Pinned


Taking Shape


All Over but the Hand Sewin'
It's not perfect, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to carry it, either. This bag is the perfect size for a weekend 'go bag' - snacks, sunscreen, book/magazine, knitting - all your necessities! The shoulder straps are the perfect length too.

As a sewing newbie, I give this pattern two thumbs up. The main challenge for me was stitching around a curve - but the more I practice, the easier it is. It also helped me figure out how many fabric layers my sewing machine will go through before it starts whining. :)

I look forward to making a few more of these bags. I would love to give some as gifts, with the fabric colors/patterns customized for the recipient.

I have also been knitting! The lion's share of a sweater has materialized this week - I'll post pics when the sleeves are done!

Hope everyone had a terrific weekend!

The Money $hot

This is no surprise to those of you who are stylists and/or know how to make things look beautiful...but it's so interesting how the way a knit design is styled can affect your perception of the pattern. For example...

...Blue Sky Alpacas' Eyelet Cardigan pattern. I saw the picture they are using to sell the pattern, and I thought, hmm - does that woman have really broad shoulders? Or is it the pattern? Since I'm kind of a linebacker, maybe that's not the pattern for me. Plus, I think it's a v-neck and I like round necklines.

Later, I ran across this image on the store blog for Loop. Whoa! Now THAT'S a sweater I'd like to knit and wear. The color and the head-on shot really help to sell the design - I don't even mind that it's on a mannequin and not a person. Money in the bank! I will definitely buy this pattern, and I will buy Dyed Cotton for the project.

I was surprised to find out that the sweater pictured on the Loop blog is actually from a Blue Sky trunk show. Unfortunately, most of us will not get to see the sweater in person. I love Blue Sky yarns, especially the Dyed Cotton used for this project. It's so soft and has a beautiful pearly luster. It does pill somewhat, but that's the trade-off for the off-the-charts softness. If you've never used it, maybe this project will tempt you!

Updated to add: it's been pointed out to me that I never said that these two photos are of the same pattern! That was really the whole point of this post. How embarrassing, that I edited my post to the point of not making sense. *Sigh*

Sewing Weekend

I spent my crafting time this weekend sewing. I can't help but feel a little guilty - sorry if you stopped by to see knitting! Anyway, I thought I'd post a pic of the top I'm working on - it's not finished because I seem to have misplaced the elastic. (And it needs a hem.)


It's just a little peasant blouse - I made it longer so it's more of a tunic. The sleeves are going to be a little poufy too (hence the need for the elastic). The red is a little blinding but, for spring and summer I love color! I'm considering adding some embellishment but I don't know what yet. I think this will look great with a pair of fitted white or dark denim capri pants and ballet flats (or espadrilles), and a chunky beaded necklace.

I also picked out fabric and a pattern for my second sewing project. I got the fabric from a cool store here in Chicago called Quiltology. Here I've started on Amy Butler's Swing Bag. I haven't gotten very far, but the pattern instructions seem fairly straightforward. The bag will be reversible - but I plan to use it with the polka dots on the inside most of the time.


Since they're focused on piecework, all of their fabric is cotton but they've got Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Denyse Schmidt and other beautiful fabrics. I am planning to take their beginning quilting class, but just haven't freed up the mental space and physical time to do it.

I consider learning to quilt to be one of my lifetime goals. When I was in college, my parents lived in upstate New York (near the Finger Lakes - a very crafty part of the country). One of their neighbors was a quilter, and my mom and I briefly discussed having her make us a quilt. Sometime after that, it occurred to me that I could learn to quilt, and pass on my own family heirlooms. One day I'll make quilts for my children, and some day long after that they will hand them down to their children. It's a dream right now, but one that I can definitely make real.

Have a good week, everyone!

Yarn Choices

The Ott-Lite is really helpful for seeing the true color of yarn or fabric. The other day I mentioned that I had bought two kinds of yarn in a pool green/blue color. The second batch finally arrived in the mail, and I was trying to decide which to use for my project. I decided to put them under the Ott-Lite and photograph them to see which color I liked best. Here's what I saw:


The yarn on the top clearly has more blue in it, while the yarn on the bottom is much more green. In natural light - especially under a camera's flash - their shades look almost identical (even though the Blue Sky is darker). I'm going with the Blue Sky...and debating whether to return the Cameo Cotton from Ram Wools. Is it too seafoam-y? Should I keep it for baby gifts?

I love the Ott-Lite! I'm going to use it to choose/match/sort colors from now on. I'm also planning to use it this weekend while I'm sewing - so hopefully I will have pictures of my new garment soon.

I'm already focused on the weekend because hubby is going out of town today and won't be back until Sunday night. What's on the agenda for me? Knitting, sewing (and hopefully finishing my first solo garment) a trip to the spa...which is plenty to keep me busy. But after the sad events at V. Tech, it seemed harder to let him leave. It just seems like a time for holding your loved ones close.

Take good care, everybody!

Le Weekend

Some great things about this weekend:

• WE MIGHT GET THE OLYMPICS! GO CHICAGO!!
  
• Cupcakes from Sarah's Candies. This place has some of the best cupcakes I've ever had. My husband and I are regulars - they even know our order. :)
  
• A movie. We saw The Lookout. That Third Rock kid was pretty good. Definitely fun to watch.
  
• A sale at Joann's! See below for my great deal.
  
• The Bleeding Heart Bakery, which I discovered while waiting for the bus this afternoon. It is the only USDA-certified organic bakery in the country! Tasty ginger scones, too...
  
• Sunshine! It seems spring may have finally come to Chicago.
  

So, what did I get at Joann's? This, for 50% off:


Tabletop Ott-Lite! Sewing seems to strain my eyes, and I've heard lots of good things about these. We'll see if it helps.

The Kidsilk Haze shawl project is going great. I've gotten more comfortable working with the yarn, so my tension is evening out. I am totally addicted to this project...I can't put it down! I've knit about 12 inches so far:


Adrienne asked what size needles I'm working on - I'm using US 7s. The pattern called for 8s, but mine were not pointy enough. Even though the yarn is very fine, visible progress is much faster than I would have thought. I guess the mohair fills it out a bit. I will have to block it though - it won't be long enough as is. And it will look better anyway once blocked, just to even out the stitches.

Anyway, hope everyone is currently having a great weekend. Happy knitting!

Easy Lace

I have this book called Exquisite Little Knits by Iris Schreier and Laurie Kimmelstiel. It has beautiful patterns for accessories in moderate to luxury yarns. I feel like I should review the book and post some pattern pics - it's not a title you hear much about in the blogosphere. Anyway, there are couple of really nice designs for Kidsilk Haze. For some reason, I have really been wanting to try knitting with this yarn. I think it's because one day I'd like to make Melissa's Granny Smith! So, I'm taking the plunge!



You can barely see the pattern, but I found some pics of the full stole here. The pattern is only a two-row repeat, so I've got it memorized. The needles are Suzanne's Ebony, which are just pointy and rough enough to work perfectly. And, since it knits up just like it looks in the book, I think minimal blocking will be required. Add the fact that the yarn is so compact-able that I can easily fit everything in my (overstuffed) purse, and you have all the makings of a perfect on-the-go project!

Re: Flair - I found what looks to be a nice, inexpensive cotton from Ram Wools. It's called Cameo Cotton, and I ordered the Oriental Blue shade. However, then I went to Nina (a local LYS), and somehow managed to buy Blue Sky Cotton in Azul, a nearly identical color. I guess I just really like that color. So, I'm waiting to receive the Cameo Cotton to see which yarn I like better for this sweater. Plus...it's not nearly as portable as my Kidsilk Haze project.

Happy knitting, everyone!

Checking In

Just stopping in to say hi, even though I am not feeling all that bloggy...partly because last week, I took the time to write a review of Amy Singer's book, but Blogger and Bloglines conspired against me and failed to let people know it was there.

I haven't been knitting, but I have been working on a sewing project - my first since the class I took last fall. So far it's going pretty well. I just finished the neckline, and I tried it on - it's exciting that it actually fits! If it turns out well I will post pictures. I think I like sewing, but it is seriously time-consuming. Maybe I will get faster at it the more I do it.

Otherwise, I have plans to design a top in Euroflax Linen (sportweight). It was such an amazing experience to knit a swatch with this yarn, wash it, and see it turn from something like steel wool into a drapey, soft fabric.



I can't believe the weekend is over already. I'm headed into week three of my return to work. There are big changes going on in my office, requiring all of us to step up a little more. (okay, a LOT more) I would love another day in the weekend but barring that, an easy and satisfying knitting project would be a great stress reliever. Since I find myself almost totally project-less, I'm trying to decide on a yarn to make Flair. I love this jacket - the retro shape, the modern asymmetry, the total springiness...sigh. The problem is finding something that will 1) keep its shape, 2) be in a color I want to wear as much as I want to wear this sweater and 3) be easy to knit with (i.e. NOT linen). So far my top choices are Valley Yarns Goshen, Rowan Calmer, Online Linie 12 Clip, or maybe the Blue Sky Dyed Cotton in the pattern. I'm also thinking about a lightweight wool like Karabella Aurora 8. Choices, choices! I think finding the perfect color is more important to me than the yarn. Do you think that way too?

Anyway, Happy Easter, if that is your holiday, and hope everyone had a nice weekend. Later...

Book Review: No Sheep for You

**Hey! Long time no post. Since I heard that Amy Singer is coming to town to promote her new book, I thought I would post a review and some snaps of designs from the book. Happy knitting!**

It was desperation that drove me to pick up a copy of Amy R. Singer's No Sheep for You. I had purchased some Louet sportweight linen yarn for a loose-fitting spring top. Upon bringing it home, I was horrified to discover that according to Louet, "This yarn is more suitable for pattern knitting than for plain knits. Small areas of plain knitting are fine, though." Since I had planned a nearly all-stockinette garment, I was really worried that this was not the appropriate yarn for the project at all. I was seeking Amy's advice (and hopefully reassurance) about my choice.


Amy begins with a fairly exhaustive discussion of each type of fiber, where it comes from, and its properties. Manufactured fibers from natural materials (e.g. like rayon and corn) and synthetic fibers are covered as well. She also talks about how fibers are combined with others to produce stronger, softer, lighter or drapier yarns. Amy's casual writing style makes even the most arcane yarn production detail interesting and clear. The only fiber I would have liked to read about is milk fiber, a component of one of Vickie Howell's new yarns. Maybe it will be included in a sequel (Still No Sheep for You?).

I read the section on linen carefully. Although she discusses Louet’s warning and some gentle advice from Sally Melville on not knitting linen in stockinette, her advice reads, “But what if you don’t expect perfection in your stockinette? What if quirky is just what you wanted? Then knit on!”

The next section of the book is all about swatching. Amy stresses the importance of getting to know a non-wool yarn before embarking on a project. Some fibers, especially linen and cotton, can behave very differently after a "bath." She even suggests hanging a swatch for a day or two, so as to compensate for the "sag factor" common with non-wool yarns.




Of course, there are patterns. Amy's book is filled with glorious patterns for sweaters, tops, socks and accessories, and a beautiful silk shawl. (There is even a tank knit in linen, with a lacy back and a front that is – gasp! – all stockinette! More reassurance that my project will look great.) There is a heavy emphasis on intricate colorwork;perhaps this is what knitters miss most when using wool is out of the question. One particularly impressive pattern mimics the woolliest of Norwegian sweater designs! The book's designs show that non-wool projects can be comfortable year-round.



Amy Singer’s sheep-less book adds something that was definitely lacking from the knitting book scene. She has offered a great resource for non-wool knitting, with consideration of every aspect of the process including fiber history, substituting yarns, swatching, and ultimately knitting some beautiful designs in a wide variety of natural and manufactured fibers.

Amy will be at Loopy Yarns in Chicago on April 4.