Yarn Crawl

Mother's Day Contest!

I've never done a Mother's Day post before, and I thought I would incorporate one into my blogiversary contest month. I've never really talked about my mother on my blog, and we certainly have had our ups and downs. I won't be seeing her on Sunday partially because she's never been big on holidays (even when they're all about her) and this year specifically because my parents are finally putting a bid on a house on the west coast of Florida.

My dad took an early retirement package about ten years ago from CTA, where he worked his entire career after starting work there as a teenager cleaning buses, then as a bus mechanic, then fixing trains, punctuated by enlisting in the Air Force so he wouldn't be drafted into the Army and years in Vietnam, Korea, Guam and much of Southeast Asia. When he got back he finished his engineering degree at night at IIT and went back to CTA as an engineer.

But I digress. This is not about him. Mom is 60 and Dad is 59, and they are both in very good health, so it is great that they are finally going to do something they want to do, with what should be a long time to enjoy it. Plus now I get another nice place to visit! LOL.

Anyway, the one conclusion I've come to about my parents is that although I may have my differences and ups and downs with them, there are just so many things I did learn and "get" from them. For many of those things, I'm grateful. I can even laugh at the not so great traits I got from both of them now and not even cringe when Jim will say something about me reminding of one of them.

I decided to pull some old pictures of my mom and scan them in to show you.

Me and my mom, about 1975, with the ever-present rear end of our dog, Bambi, who managed to get into every shot my dad took throughout my childhood:

My mom really hates pictures being taken (which is NOT something I've gotten from her - I have loved having pictures taken since I was little.) She was kind of a fashionista for not really going anywhere except walking to the store or the library or cleaning the house. I think she was going through a no-makeup phase at this point.

Here we are at Brookfield Zoo maybe a year later:

I'm wearing a knit poncho that her mom made for me, and she's stylin' a 1970s pantsuit. My mom used to sew all of my clothes until I was seven or eight years old, and she liked to crochet, too. Her mom primarily was a knitter, but also crocheted. So these are things I got from her side of the family, as my dad's mom only sewed to alter things to her liking, one of these things being to shorten her dolly-partonesque bra straps with the sewing machine. She'd wear these rotary cup bras (think Madonna in the early 90s) and shorten the straps so that her chest would be almost up to her shoulders. She wore size 5 shoes and was a shoe collector - she had probably every shoe she ever bought, so there were some from the 1930s and 1940s up through the current period of the late 1970s!! When I was a little girl (like 9 or so) I could try on all of these fabulous shoes in a rainbow of colors and styles as the shoes almost fit me!

Here's my mother, clearly not happy at having her picture taken and giving my father the "look"

I've certainly made that face when Jim has taken my picture - remember this?

I like this picture of my mom. She looks happy and at peace with herself and the world. Yes, that is me she's holding.

I think one of the most important qualities my mom gave me was her love of reading and writing. She taught me to read very early, around three years old, and we would walk to the library, about a mile away, every few days and I would get more books than I could carry. The librarian would look at me with a raised eyebrow, as if she were doubtful that I would actually read those books before the due date. Then she would really be surprised when I would come back a few days later to return them all. She would question me about the books, as she didn't believe I read them, and I would be able to tell her all about them. This reading ability carried me all the way through high school without even having to study or even pay much attention in school. So besides the gift of life, this was one of the most important gifts my mother could have given me, and it's shaped my life in so many ways.

Now, for the contest portion - please answer which ever of these questions speak to you:
What did you learn from your mom?
If you are a mom yourself, what is the most important thing you are trying to teach your children?
What's the best book you've read in the past few years?

To continue on the theme, the prize is a copy of The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs, which includes all elements mentioned: reading, knitting and mother-daughter relationships.

I'll randomly pick a winner on Monday, so be sure to get your comments posted by then! Happy Mother's Day!

New Look Pattern Sale Score!

I got an email today that all of the newest patterns from New Look are on sale for $2.99 through this weekend, so I just bought all of these (if you want the pattern numbers, just hover over them with the mouse for a second and the number will appear:)

I really need to lock myself in my sewing room and not come out until I have all of these made!!! I'm dying for new clothes and I refuse to go to the store and buy them when I know I can make them exactly the way I want! I even have the fabric stash to do it so I wouldn't even have to leave the house unless I wanted to pick out some new stuff.

Tomorrow is a "summer Friday" and my only plans are a mani/pedi on Saturday morning at the new salon. So I think I could make significant progress on the sewing, provided I can keep myself from getting absorbed in a new knitting project instead! I know when my WEBS order arrives all bets are going to be off, but if I can do some sewing before then, that would be great!

In other news, I signed up again to be a Secret Pal Hostess! After a break from it for one round, I'm excited to be back into it. I made so many new friends as a hostess last time I did it, and it will be fun to work with a well-functioning group after my disastrous MBA group! I worked very well with the other hostesses last time, and I look forward to doing it again. Signups are not yet open, but they should be open around May 15th and close on the 30th, with matches to be made and distributed by June 15th. Watch the new SP12 blog for details on signups! There's also a new Ravelry group for this round that I'm helping to moderate, so details will be there as well. Yay!

Virtual Vacation: Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

First off, our presentation yesterday went fine. Not amazing or fabulous (at least not as much so as if I would have rolled out my couture knitting business) but OK. Not the best or worst group, which usually would upset me, but in this case, I'm just happy it's OVER. The only other thing is the final next week and that will be easy.

Anyway, it is rainy and gloomy out today and I thought we would revisit Grand Cayman today, specifically Seven Mile Beach in December 2006. Now here would be another business opportunity that would actually be viable - a bar on the beach. There was one bar for the whole beach, and we talked to the guy who owned it, who had come down to Grand Cayman to make a go of this business from New Jersey. The place was totally busy and fun.

Here's me and Jim having Red Stripes and margaritas at the bar:

me wading through the beautiful water

and doing some meditation, letting the surf greet me and then fade away.

Seven Mile Beach is in my Top Ten of beautiful beaches visited and I would love to go back. Now, actually!

Just Get Me Through This DAY!

After no word from my group members all weekend long and yesterday (um, today is the due date for the business plan and presentation) I finally get an email from the biggest slacker in the group telling me he wants to change something. I have everything set to flow all the way through the Excel file with eleven tabs of financials and three scenarios, so I basically reminded him where the cells are that he needs to change, and was kind of like, have at it! Do not EVEN do nothing for three months, having me change 900 things to run them different ways and add complication, and then try to change something else at the last minute. Have fun! I am so glad I'm not presenting this. I had to basically sit on my hands yesterday not to email them and say, HELLO? Is anyone doing anything?? If I were presenting on top of everything else, I would have had to do that. Ugh. If I can just get through this day, all I have left is the final next week.

OK. Breathing again. Let's talk knitting.

I hit the WEBS sale on Pima Tencel yesterday and bought a medium blue color for the design on the left by Kristen TenDyke (I'm really seeing a lot of her designs lately and liking them!) from the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Vogue Knitting:

and I already have some ivory Pima Tencel in stash that I could use for the tunic on the right, which I also like.

I bought some bright pink Pima Tencel for Dayflower, which is by Angela Hahn, who is also the talented designer of the beautiful Wakame Lace Tunic

and some bright green for this

from the Classic Elite Summer 2 Book. I really like that Classic Elite has gotten with the program (unlike most other yarn companies) and published a number of seamless designs in their most recent designs. Good job!

I brought a skein of the ivory Pima Tencel with me to swatch the lace for that VK tunic to keep my blood pressure normal while dealing with these SLACKERS today. If I can just survive this day, everything will be beautiful, especially after next week when the final for this cluster&&&& is over. Ugh.

Remainder of Weekend and Contest Winner!

Yesterday, after talking so much about the possibility of making the other shawl with my Tartelette from stash, I talked myself into it. Here it is:

I'm bringing both in for my co-worker to choose today, so I'll let you know which one she picks and try to get her to take a picture modeling it!

So what else? After sitting outside in the backyard and finishing the shawl, I decided to head over to my local Hancock Fabrics to see what they had on sale. I saw that they had some good sales (supposedly) in their online sale flyer and didn't feel like doing a longer drive out to Vogue. However, Hancock is always a ripoff for me - I never really get good deals there except if they have a pattern sale.

I did buy some gabardine for the high waisted skirt:

and some crinkly satin for a top (not sure which pattern yet.)

I then watched some TV with Jim and wove in all the ends on the Swing Top and made the straps on the Tea Rose Halter. I must say I really, really like both and I will have to get modeled pics this week!!

I also started working on the lessons for that online class and got frustrated with the instructions for copying the pants. I actually Googled "copy pants" and found some more helpful tips, so it was a little frustrating to have paid for a class that didn't lay out the easiest ways to do things in the handouts. The cynical side of me says that the teacher just wants to sell her book on the subject, but whatever. I can't attend the second chat for the class anyway as it is tomorrow night and I have school that night. Which I am almost DONE with.

That was the other thing I did last night - finished the financial part of our business plan (actual Excel financials were done last week) and then the presentation is tomorrow. Thankfully after everything else I did for this project, I'm not one of the presenters, as we only have 15 minutes and everyone doesn't have to present. That was a bit of a negotiation, although my group members totally agreed once I said I had put quite a bit of time into this already (I'd put it at 60% of the entire project, when there are five people) and so shouldn't have to present half of it too. So they are stepping up, and all I have to do for this class now is take the final NEXT WEEK. Thank God! I've never been so relieved to be done with a class.

So it was a super productive day, which I always love!

Now for the winner of the first blogiversary contest this month. Remember, the lucky winner will receive a 200 yard skein of Tess Cultivated Silk and Wool in red, a $30+ value!

And the winner is............Kaet of Nantucket Knitter!! Congratulations, Kaet - email me with your postal address and I will send out the yummy skein!

Stay tuned for more contests this month, including one later this week!

Sunday Morning Potpourri

It's been an eventful weekend; I'm a little exhausted and need "me" time, although it's been a lot of fun.

So Friday afternoon my Zen came from Elann for ribbon shawl gifts throughout the year:

My co-worker that I gave the beads to a few months ago (who gave me the Elann gift certificate) fixed some jewelry for me, and so we decided to barter instead of me paying her. I offered to make her one of the ribbon triangles shawls and she picked out the pink yarn at the bottom of the previous picture. I started this on Saturday morning, as I was feeling lazy and up for mindless knitting and I just finished it now.

This is my "go-to" three hour gift knitting project - this one is a little bigger than the ones I've made with two skeins of Tartelette and I don't like the Zen quite as much. They're both cotton/nylon blends, with a railroad type of matte/shiny ribbon, but the Zen has a little lower of a cotton content compared to the Tartelette, and the Tartelette includes 10% of a different type of nylon (Tactel nylon).

Overall, the Zen is fine, and it's not scratchy or anything like some other ribbon yarns I've tried, but not quite as silky smooth or shiny as the Tartelette. I'll use up these other colorways but I will stick to Tartelette from now on. I'm debating whether I should make another black/silver one out of some Tartelette I have in stash and letting her pick which one she wants. I can always use the pink/purple one as something to throw over more casual summer dresses.

This is what the Tartelette shawl/scarf looks like (it also has lower yardage so it comes out smaller than the Zen version; also this picture shows it folded in half):

So yesterday we had originally just planned to go to the birthday party from 3-6 and not go back to the birthday boy's house, but we did end up going back there, and didn't get home until around 10 pm. The day was kind of shot as far as getting anything done (other than the shawl progress) as I started getting ready to go around 1:30 and then was gone from then until 10 but we did have a fun time. It was nice to reconnect with them, as we hadn't seen them in a long time.

I also got my new Interweave issue and I love some of the designs. Here are my favorites:

The Wakame Lace Tunic is at the very top of the list - beautiful design, the new tunic length that I've been into lately, seamless construction. Wow. I might even splurge for the Tilli Tomas Fil de la Mer, as I want it to turn out EXACTLY like this. Has anyone tried this yarn? Any insights would be appreciated.

Delft Tiles Tee - I've been wanting to try slip stitch colorwork, and this seems to be a great way to do it.

Although because it's slip stitch and not fair isle, as I originally thought it was when I saw the preview online, it won't be as hot as I thought it might be, but I really don't like the thickness of the Blue Sky Cotton. I made Tomato with it and found it to be really kind of hot to wear. On this one I might try to swatch Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece or some other yarn sub.

The other thing I don't like is that there is no size between 31.5" and 35", as 35" is a little roomy for me for a summer top, especially when they say they modeled it with 1/2" of negative ease, so any yarn substitution would probably also incorporate a sizing change to make this somewhere in the neighborhood of 33"-34".

Oh, and one other thing - I also don't like that it's knit flat. Is there any issue with converting slip stitch patterns to be knit in the round? I know there is with intarsia, but I would think slip stitch should be ok. Not sure though.

Next up, the Drawstring Raglan. I like the shape and construction on this one, so I would probably make it:

The Eyelet Surplice Dress really caught my eye too. I've never made a knit dress or skirt, so I am a little leery about it, but I think this is really cute. I am kind of between sizes on this one too, between the smallest and the second size - If I decided to go with the more fitted option, I think I'd make the smallest size, as I'm right on at the bust with that one even though the bottom for that size is a little bit small (like by an inch.) If I went with the second size, I would be modeling it with positive ease, like it's shown, but I don't know if it might look dumpy. Ease is usually NOT my friend in knitwear and I look better in fitted garments.

The Leaf Kimono top is cute, and I would probably knit it in hemp (Elann Canapone) instead of linen.

I do like the lace pattern on the Apres Surf Hoodie, and the delicate look of the yarn, but 1.) I don't really wear hoodies and 2.) I'm not such a fan of 4-ply weight yarn. So, I probably won't knit this, but I think it's really cute.

Today I have a free day to myself (big sigh of relief) and I'm not sure yet what to do with it. Part of me wants to finish up some unfinished sewing projects (putting hems on stuff, doing odds and ends), another part wants to pick out some fabric from stash and/or buy some new fabric to make that high waisted skirt (Vogue Fabrics is kind of calling my name) and another part feels like working on my new online class on "copying your favorite pants" over at Patternreview. It officially started on Thursday, and I have all the pdfs for it downloaded with pictures and instructions on how to do it, but haven't done anything yet. The class only lasts like two weeks, so I really need to work through it if I want to get help on it. Part of me says why bother with the fire drill, just save the pdfs for when I'm motivated to do it. We'll see what happens. So since I guess I didn't mention any knitting as a burning desire, I probably won't do that today (unless I decide to make that black/silver Tartelette scarf/shawl.)

However, on the knitting front, Swing Top and Tea Rose Halter are almost done drying as we speak.

(this next one of TR Halter was taken when it was still really wet, but it shows the design nicely even though it's way darker than it really is)

The utility tub is fully functional now and I used it for their "bath" on Friday.

The only thing we need to finish off the utility room is shelving for laundry detergent, etc. We decided not to do a pull down or over the door ironing board as they were super expensive and/or too small.

Kwik Sew 3580 Is a Go!

It's not often that I'll post twice in one day, but I am so excited. I just finished a quick muslin of Kwik Sew 3580

and I think it is going to be really cute. I think instead of emphasizing short waistedness, it's going to give me more length from the waist to the hip (which right now I don't have a lot of) and be slimming. Plus it's a cute style!

Here it is on J.Lo - but it looks a lot better on me (LOL)! Muslin is pretty transparent though, so I didn't want to take a picture of myself in it. I didn't press the seams flat and one of the darts is on the right side of the fabric (plus it only has the essential parts for fitting) but it is going to fit.

Side view

Back view (with goofy wrong-side dart and zipper area just pinned closed, because no way am I putting a zipper into a muslin if I can see how it fits without it)

front view - J.Lo is standing crooked in that one and/or I put the muslin on her sideways - it is straight on me. I've got her in a corner of my sewing room, behind the sewing table, and she's a little hard to get out for modeling as I'd have to lift her over the table.

Bad pictures, and I didn't retake them because I'd rather *do something* instead of taking and retaking pictures, but you get the idea. I think this will look really cute in actual fabric, with a wrap tie belt.

FRIDAY!!

First, let me say THANK YOU!!!! to everyone who left a comment on yesterday's post. I will be responding to each of your comments individually, but I wanted to thank everyone as the first thing today. If you haven't seen yesterday's post, check it out as there is a chance to win a yummy 200 yard skein of Tess Cultivated Silk and Wool!

I'm soooo glad Friday's here. This is the first of our "summer Fridays" at the office, which means that we close down at 12:30 today. Obviously if someone had stuff that had to get done, they'd have to stay and do it, but I (and most everyone else) carefully arrange my work affairs throughout the week to get them done Monday through Thursday when these hours are in effect (through the end of September.) Yay!

I thought I would take a picture of some WIPs today, as I haven't shared any in a while:

First there is Mentionable - I'm still liking this project very much.

Note the beautiful stitch markers Monica made for me for my birthday!!

After measuring one of my knit fabric camis that I LOVE from Nordstrom and finding that they measure 30" across the chest, I decided NOT to put any short rows into this project as I am also making the 30" size. The pattern incorporates the short rows into the instructions and says how to add them if you want to, but they are optional. I prefer just making a smaller size than normal so that it stretches more for my bust/upper back than my waist and skip the shaping. That tends to look better on me.

As my back is wider than my front (too many lat rows on the Bowflex now and waitressing way back when, combined with that being my natural tendency) the short rows to make a bust "dart" do nothing really for me. All of that explains why I'm making the 30" size when I really measure about 34.5" in the full bust. I don't really have another choice as that's the only size that calls for one 400 yard skein of the Yarn Botanika and the other sizes take at least two, and I only bought one skein last year.

Last night I did the neck and armhole edging on the Swing Top and just need to weave in the ends and give this a SERIOUS washing and blocking. I can't wait to see how the lace looks after it opens out. I'm sure the top will be a little roomier than I'm used to (but not quite to Juliet proportions) after this, but that's why I shortened the armhole openings to control the silhouette. They were supposed to be about another 1.5 inches larger. They did get smaller with the armhole pickups, but are not too tight, and I think they're just right now.

Yesterday at lunch I decided to squeeze in some time to work on my newest muslin, Kwik Sew 3580.

I have seen a lot of high waisted skirts and pants lately and I thought I would try a muslin of the skirt variety to see what this design looks like on me. Because of my short waistedness, it will either really work well (camouflaging the short waist) or really look bad (emphasizing it), I think. We'll see which it is. I'm making View B, with the wrap tie and no pockets. On View A with the pockets - hello? Why would I want to put pockets like that right on my hips? Not for this girl. Anyway, in 15 minutes that I had left over at lunchtime at home, I marked and sewed the darts for the front and back. Next, when I sew the side seams, I should have a pretty good idea of what this is going to look like and whether it's a go-no go with real fabric.

Speaking of hips and feeding/starving them, we have been really good with the dining in this week. We haven't gone out for any meals at all since Saturday night, except for last night, which was "date night" and it's part of the plan to go out for that. We also had gift certificates from our birthdays, as this restaurant has a birthday club where you get a free entree (up to $25) each year on your birthday. Not bad for an initial nonrecurring $10 signup fee. I love Braxton's. So back to what we ate this week - just simple stuff - one night we made sandwiches with turkey sausage filled with cheddar cheese (120 calories each!) with peppers and onions in Turano bread. Mainly simple stuff this week to get us started (sandwiches.) I am getting inspired though by watching Top Chef, looking at recipe books, and talking to you all about your recipes. I really appreciate it!!

For the rest of the weekend plans, I am going to finish the Swing Top, finish the Tea Rose Halter (make the strap, sew it, and wash/block), work on sewing, and probably work on Mentionable. I'll probably do some of that this afternoon after I get off work. Tonight I am taking my friend Lisa (who was my guest blogger when I went on vacation) out to Blu Coral for birthday sushi, and tomorrow Jim and I are going to a 40th birthday party for one of his friends. That's it though for weekend plans! I might even get to play with that skirt book I showed yesterday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Book Review and Contest!!

I have been on a book-buying rampage lately, and my latest acquisition is Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics .

I really like this book and can't wait to play with it. This book can be fun for anyone who wants to get creative and make some skirts that are customized to your measurements, while getting some practice on drafting your own patterns with the help of step by step instructions. It also covers the very basics of sewing so I think any sewing skill level could work with this book.

I like that the book takes a "design your own" approach, while providing specific instructions on how to modify the three main templates (straight skirt, A-line skirt with fitted waist and A-line skirt with elasticized waist) to make each of the 16 designs featured. I also like that the author covers the basics, as I am always looking for easier and more efficient ways to do things. Zippers (only center application), darts, different types of waistline treatments/facings, and hems are all addressed. I like that the dreaded intersection of zipper/yoke waistline is described and shown in pictures as I need a more systematic way to approach this instead of just figuring it out by trial and error every time I run across it.

First they have you take your measurements and plug them into this worksheet:

Then they tell you how to work with these measurements to draft three basic types of skirt patterns. Each of these basics is then modified in the step by step instructions for the specific skirt you choose to work on.

Here's some pictures of the styles I especially like - to see more designs, click the pictures to go to Flickr and see the rest of the set.

In other news, Jim has made some progress on the laundry room - he's painted everything white and bought/assembled a utility tub. I guess we didn't have a lot of choices on tubs if we didn't want a really expensive one built into a cabinet.

Now we need to figure out how we're going to do the ironing board. I want to get a full size one that can hang on the wall or over the door, but it seems like most of that type are smaller than average.

In other (more exciting) news, my blogiversary is at the end of this month, as I started blogging on May 30, 2006, and I thought this year we would celebrate by doing weekly contest giveaways during the month of May!

First contest: Please tell me what you like about my blog! Also, if there are things you'd like to see more/less of, let me know that too.

I will draw one winner randomly from all comments on Monday morning, so please post your comment by then in order to win this lovely prize:

One of these 200 yard skeins of Tess Cultivated Silk and Wool, unopened.

This is what I used to make Wicked, and as I had 1.5 skeins left over, I thought I'd give away the untouched skein. I may need the other half skein for repairs so I'm keeping that.

If you win and you would rather have a sewing related prize, just tell me that you don't want the skein of Tess yarn, and we will agree on some other prize - fabric or an uncut sewing pattern - instead. If that happens, I'll give away the Tess later in the month in another giveaway.

Virtual Vacation: Maui

It's that time of the week again, and today we're going to visit Maui.

Jim and I visited Maui as part of the Hawaiian cruise we took in March 2006, and chose another helicopter tour here as the best way to get an overview of the island and its scenery.

Here we are starting our tour - you can just barely see me seated in the middle of the front row, next to the pilot again:

We saw golf courses

meandering waterways in the midst of lush greenery

greenery covered mountains

waterfalls carved into mountains

waterfalls on their own

and last but not least, beautiful beaches:

Isn't that last picture exactly where you'd like to be right now? I know I would.