Looking ahead

Yesterday after spending almost two hours fusing the pieces of my coat (and I'm not done yet!) I decided to sit for a while and try my hand at a Granny Square.

One of my goals is to become a better crocheter. I made this skirt which I love, but it took many months of work (I felt like Penelope, who knitted during the day and undid her work at night). Right now all I want is a Granny Square blanket, not the one from the 70's but the modern versions which are bright and cheerful.

I first followed the instructions from the book the Happy Hooker, but I wasn't getting it so I turned to You Tube and I got my Aha! moment and then I was able to follow the tutorial for the blanket I'm coveting

If you look at the sample above is not quite right, I messed up on the count, but I'm happy I figured it out and now I can start dreaming about the colors I want.

Happy New Year everyone!

The Undercollar

I spent yesterday working on the undercollar and I'm thrilled on how it turned out. It's amazing that those little pad stitches can shape so nicely. I had padstitched before using sewing machine methods, this was the first time I did it all by hand.


As you can see I'm also thread tracing (not as nice and straight like Tany's), so although I'm hoping that I will have a fabulous coat to wear at the end this project is all about the process.

Here is the collar so you can see the roll line, the stand and the fall. My pattern did not include a roll line so I figured it out by looking at my muslin.


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So based on all the responses I have received to my previous post and my own preference, I'm going with "design feature" for this coat.

More to come...

So here is my dilemma...

To make a long story short, I ended up with tailor chalk marks on the right side of my coat fabric. Yes the white color disappears with pressing/steam but no matter what I have done the imprint is still there, most obvious when you look down on the coat.


So instead of crying over ruining this beautiful wool/camel coating I've decided to use the wrong side of the fabric on the panels that I ruined.

Difference between sides is not extremely obvious

Here is what it would look like, I shaded the pieces that would show the reverse of the fabric by necessity (they have marks) and I figure to balance it I would make the tabs on the sleeves out of the reverse.


The right side of this fabric as you saw in one of my previous posts is fluffier almost like a velour.

So what would you do? I'm calling my solution a "design feature". Would you just use the reverse and call it a day?

Really this coat needs to be made, it has been weighing on me for far too long

Feliz Navidad

A todos mis lectores les deseo muchas felicidades y salud. Que disfruten estas fiestas en compañia de sus seres queridos.

Les doy gracias por leer mi modesto diario y espero que sigan visitandome el año que viene.


To all my readers of my very modest blog I wish health and happiness. I hope that you spend these holidays with all those you love.

I hope you continue to visit me the coming year!

The coat's lining

I am very relieved because I finally started cutting the Burda coat. I finally admitted that I was fearful to cut into my "good fabric" and I was trying to read everything that might help me with this coat and in doing so delaying my actions. So the lining has been cut, the fabric is a beautiful silk lining, and I only incorporated one modification to the pattern that I have never done before. I read in Connie Long's Guide to Sewing Linings that the lining in the kick pleat can pull and distort the fashion fabric so she basically lowers the back by 1/2 inch at the hem and then blends in towards the front, she also lowers the start of the pleat. Eugenia has a great sketch showing this alteration which she used on a skirt.

Since we'll be snowed in tomorrow(it is still snowing here on our way to a couple of feet), I'm sure I will have time to cut into the fashion fabric. My next fear to conquer will be the welt pockets, but I will make a sample and there are a number of good tutorials on the net as well as in a couple of my books to guide me.

The Staghorn Cabled Tunic

Quite the name don't you think? Anyways this pattern is from WEBS, I purchased the pattern and yarn (Valley Yarns Northampton) at Stitches East two years ago. It was finished a while ago but took me a while to block and then sew the seams. I'm missing the buttons on the bodice (just for show), I was going to drop by Joann's today but my interpreting job took longer than I thought and I had to get home because my oldest forgot to take his house key.

I think it is a cute tunic for casual days. I enjoyed doing the cables and although it was pretty simple to do, it had enough going on to keep one interested.

Help!

The first image shows what I believe is the reverse of my wool/cashmere coating, the second is the loftier right side? I know you are just suppose to choose the side you like and go with it but I would like your opinion on what is the right side of this fabric. You can see part of the selvage on both pictures.

Thanks!!

First Snow

Today we got our first snow of the season and while I was excited about it, I hoped that it had started on Sunday instead. Today at my friend's shop Large Marge Yarn Shop there was a gathering to raise funds for Helping Kids at Hopkins. There was a silent auction and I had made the above knitting needles and crochet hooks holders to help with. I got in my car around noon and the wheels started spinning as I was getting out of the garage...ok not a good sign but maybe the roads were better. Well I made it half way up the hill and decided I needed to go back home. Thankfully Large Marge took pity on me and came to rescue me. We had a great time and we raised $1,400! Not bad considering the bad weather that I'm sure kept some away.

Burda World of Fashion jumper+turtleneck

Pictures are not the best quality, my camera is not working and we used my sons.

I finished these two pieces a while ago but then the weather got warmer so I hadn't had a chance to wear it, I wore it for work today.

I love this combination! It is a very comfortable to wear outfit but stylish (at least I think so!). Both fabrics are from Gorgeous Fabrics.



The jumper (9/2007 121)is made of a rayon jersey. The jersey is very lightweight and a little slippery to work with but it feels wonderful against the skin. I didn't pay attention when I was cutting the pieces and almost didn't have enough fabric to cut the skirt pieces, my compromise was to make it shorter and I'm happy with the length.



The top (9/2204)I made in a poly knit. It has an unusual raglan seam, very curvy as you can see in the line drawing (no line drawing, archives don't go that far back). I basted it by hand before sewing it by machine and had good results. I'm not convinced with the zipper on the seam going up to the collar, I thought it was a cool detail but I struggled with it and I still did not get a perfect application. If I repeat this top I will make sure the collar is cut big enough to fit over my head.