Rain, Rain, Go Away

It feels like it has been raining for thirty days straight.  That is, of course, a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much.  California could use the rain, but not all at once, thank you very much!

The Bay Area has been drenched with rain for the past couple of weeks, and getting around in a flood zone is not very pleasant.  Neither is a leaking roof . . . it could have been a whole lot worse, but it happened in the same exact spot a couple of years ago, so it is not very reassuring to know the problem remains in the case of a real storm.

On a more cheerful note, a bit of sewing has been accomplished.  But mostly, I want to sit on the couch with my knitting needles and some of my new yarn.  And I don't see that changing until the sun decides to show its face again.

Rose de France

Now that Fall weather has arrived, I finally finished this short-sleeved sweater.  It was started back in June, when short sleeves were much more appropriate, but I got distracted by other things.  At least I had the chance to wear it once before it gets too chilly out!

This is another design from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2 which I love.  Give me enough time and yarn and I just may have to make every single pattern contained therein!

For the most part, this is a very basic sweater except for the contrasting collar, cuffs, and flowers.  The collar and cuffs are actually knit on the bias, which I was not expecting.  

And underneath that collar is a ribbed neckline (again, not what I was anticipating, but it works!).

The original flowers turned out a little too sea-anemone for my taste.  I was hoping for more of a posey of violets sort of look, so I just basted the ends back under the flower center.  Crisis averted!

And you know what this means?  Time to cast on something new!

Sweater:  Made by me, Jumper with Collar and Flowers from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 4044

Shoes:  Colin Stuart

Earrings:  Gift (vintage)

That Color!

These days I am surrounded by this amazing color – one that I cannot put a name to.  It is a pinky-lavender hue with undertones of  . . . something - in certain lights it comes off silvery, in others more of a bronzy-brown.  Mauve doesn’t do it justice, but orchid isn't right, either.

The best way I can describe it is the color of a sterling rose.

I have a snuggly bathrobe this color.

The knitting project that has been tossed aside for the moment is the very same.

Not only that, I walked outside my office last week and noticed that the hydrangea bushes are flowering in, you guessed it, that color!

What’s in a Name?

Turns out, wielding an iron in this unbearable heat is less than pleasant.  So the sewing on this dress is progressing slowly.  But each stitch does bring me closer, so slow progress is better than none at all!  

And this sweater is almost finished – I just have to find or make myself some suitable buttons.

So many unfinished projects! 

But I just had to do something creative this weekend, even if I am adding to the unfinished pile, so I started another sweater.  Since there are only a few inches of yarn to hold at this point, it is not terribly hot to handle.

I have a purple obsession, so this yarn was an obvious choice.  However, I do not believe I ever noticed the color name:  Velveteen!  How yummy is that!?

The pattern is from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2.  It will eventually have a contrasting collar and floral embellishments if all goes well.

And now I am off to hand wash some sweaters - might as well put the heat in the apartment to good use . . .

Evergreen with a bit of Moss Stitching

This is the second time I have attempted to knit this sweater.  The first was one of those projects that was started because I had the urge to knit, and wanted to jump right in.  On short notice, the only semi-suitable yarn was a variegated sock yarn that I found at my local JoAnn Fabrics.  As I was knitting, I had my doubts, and I should have trusted them.  The finished sweater was tiny!  Sure, I could get it on, but it was too tight to be comfortable.  And the yarn choice might have worked for a pair of socks, but the color pooling was not great looking on a sweater.

The problem with negative ease is anticipating just how much the finished project will stretch, enough to suit the design, but not so much that it makes me look like I am stuffed inside a sausage casing.  For my second try, I went a little too far in the other direction.  The sweater is just a little too big, but it is super comfy, so it's a keeper!    

This one was also too long for my taste when I was finished, and I had no desire to unravel from the bottom, so I hemmed the knitting.  And it worked! 

I really like the way the hem looks, and may end up adding a mini hem to the sleeves as well, since the edges have a tendency to curl.

And the moss stitch yoke and added ruffle adds the perfect amount of girly embellishments.

I decided to follow the vintage instructions to make some crochet buttons.  As a form (and to make the button edges “solid” and easy to get through the buttonholes) I used my handy dandy Dritz plastic rings.

It feels wonderful to finally have a completed project!  

Sweater:  Made by me, “Young and Pretty” from A Stitch in Time, Volume 1

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 4044

Shoes:  Seychelles

One Orphaned Article of Clothing Finds Another

I have a really bad habit of making separates that match back to absolutely nothing in my closet.  Am I the only one with this problem?

And that is one of the many reasons I love making dresses – the issue does not exist!

This sweater was finished 11 months ago, yet this is the first time I have worn it.  Which is absolutely ridiculous!  

I simply adore cables!  They look so complicated, but the pattern is so easy to follow, and the actual cabling only happens every few rows.

The skirt is also one of those orphaned projects that just did not work back to anything I own.  Until I realized that this sweater was just perfect.  And seeing how it is made of wool, it makes wearing a cotton skirt in February a little more comfortable! 

It is actually a Rachel Comey design from Vogue (read: "modern"), to which I added a full seven inches.  I am continually seduced by the small amount of yardage that are required by these contemporary designs.  However, once I alter the garment so it is long enough for my comfort level, the yardage requirements are no longer as wonderful as I originally anticipated.

This outfit is continuing the early Spring theme.  And with the backing of Punxsutawney Phil, I feel quite certain that many pastel colors are in my future.

Sweater:  Made by me, "Tri-Cable Stitch Jumper" from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Skirt:  Made by me, Vogue 1170

Jacket:  Made by me, Vogue 8306

Shoes:  Alfani

Brooch:  Vintage

Ribbon Threaded

I finally completed that sweater I mentioned last month!

Of course, it took a while to decide what I was going to do about all the ribbon required by the design.  And yes, it really is necessary!  After sewing my front, back, and sleeve pieces together, I tried the sweater on and had a bit of a moment.  Yikes, that neck opening was big.  Thankfully, a length of ribbon threaded through the eyelet pattern pulls in all that extra width.  I guess they did that on purpose! 

I ended up using some narrow satin ribbon in a lavender colorway.  I have an entire shoe box full of old Spool o' Ribbon in many colors from JoAnn Fabrics.  They seem to have stopped carrying the product, but it sure does come in handy having some extra spools stocked away.  And the good news is that I can always swap in another ribbon if I find something I like better.  

Once again, I managed to make myself a sweater that does not really match anything in the closet. 

Okay, that is not completely true, but it was a great excuse to make another easy to wear skirt with Simplicity 4044 (the fabric of which was leftover from this dress).

I was unsure if I was going to have enough yardage and then remembered just how long this skirt is drafted.  I cut four inches off the pattern piece and it could even stand another inch.

This is now my third version of the skirt.  Yes, I already have a blue rayon jacquard version, but it gets so much wear that I had to make myself another for fear the original will wear out one of these days!

Sweater:  Made by me, "Ribbon Threaded Jumper" from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 4044

Shoes:  Poetic License

Earrings:  Shadows

Knitting in the Summer Heat!?

Although the temperature in my apartment has been on the uncomfortable side of hot for the past couple of weeks, I have been in the mood to knit.  Does it make sense?  Absolutely not.  But I have missed my knitting needles.  It is necessary, however, to take breaks because all of that yarn sitting on my lap becomes a bit much. 

The pattern (Ribbon Threaded Jumper) is a vintage one from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2.

It took a couple of repeats for the pattern to stick in my head, but once I got going, it was quite easy.

I am currently working on the neckline, which joins the back, front, and two sleeve pieces.  I have a tendency to get bored with sewing seams together, so it may take me some time to actually finish the sweater.  And then I have to find some ribbon that works with the yarn - I hope it is not as challenging as finding appropriate buttons! 

Leaf-Patterned Lace

Knitting while the weather is warming up seems a bit silly, but I do love my cotton sweaters.

And I absolutely adore A Stitch in Time.  Wouldn’t it be fun to knit and crochet my way through the entire collection?  Now that there are two volumes, it would probably take the rest of my life, but it just might be worth the effort.  And I am not sure I would ever get any use out of a knitted swimsuit, but you never know . .  .

For me, the scariest part of knitting sweaters is that it takes hour upon hour, and there is no real way of knowing if all that work is going to turn out to be wearable.  If the darn thing does not fit properly, there is not a whole lot to be done.  There is no trimming down of seam allowances with a knit sweater.

This is "Such a Debonair Little Jumper."  Even the names are more interesting with vintage patterns.

I cannot for the life of me read lace patterns when they are typed out.  I need a diagram with symbols or I inevitably lose my place and get extremely frustrated.  To save a lot of tears, I have started making my own diagrams – and it works brilliantly.

My yarn choice this time around was a bit too thick for the pattern, so instead of ending up with negative ease, it is on the large side.  And the sleeves ended up being a bit longer than I would like.  I may try my hand at shrinking the cotton, or I may chicken out and leave it as-is.

The skirt was another attempt to make more wearable items for my wardrobe.  That is not to say I am going to stop making my fancy frocks.  But on those lazy days, it is nice to have an easy fitting skirt to throw on.

I already made this particular skirt in wool using Vogue 2885, and decided that this floral fabric (another fantastic grab from the Sew Weekly Swap) would be perfect for a summer version.  I am unsure of the fabric content.  It is one of those mystery fibers and I cannot decide what the heck it is made of.  I was worried that it was polyester, but after wearing it all day, with no static cling whatsoever, I think it must be some sort of rayon/acetate blend?!

I may never know what it is made of, but I can say that it is yet another successful garment made from swapped materials.  How fun is that?!

Sweater:  Made by me, “Such a Debonair Little Jumper” from A Stitch in Time, Volume 1

Skirt:  Made by me, Vogue 2885

Brooch:  Gift

Earrings:  Macys

Shoes:  Colin Stuart for Victoria’s Secret