Monthly Archives: August 2014

All Aboard the Marion KAL

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Happy late August, friends! Just wanted to pop in and say that I’ll be joining the Marion KAL (knit-along) that Andi is hosting. I was all set to start on the Miette cardigan, but – long story short – the yarn just wasn’t quite right for that particular project. As I was contemplating next steps the KAL was announced, and so I thought why the heck not? I find these to be helpful motivators as a knitting beginner.

MarionKALI’m going with the recommended yarn for Marion, which is Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks. Can’t get over how inexpensive this yarn is: six skeins cost me just $16 total! I’m on a bit of a green kick right now (as you’ll see in my next two sewing projects) so I went with the Jalapeño color.

Marion seems like a nice project to practice knitting cables since they are only along the button band/neckline edge. Should be good times. I just discovered Kristin’s video tutorial, which really helps me visualize how cables are formed. Now the process/instructions make so much more sense, so thanks, Kristin! Didn’t realize you also had a knitting blog. :)

By the by, I am someone who never wants summer to end. It’s not that fall is bad (I guess), but it’s followed by the season which must not be named. I’m hoping that by sewing fun cold-weather clothes and knitting cozy cardigans, frigid days ahead will be slightly – slightly – less of a bummer.

Is anyone else knitting up Marion?! And do you love the fall or, like me, do you try to hold on to summer as long as possible?!

Easy Peasy Skirt

Posted in 2014 Sewing, Finished Projects by

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This is hands down the easiest skirt I’ve ever made. It’s also without a doubt the most comfortable! Don’t you love whipping out a project in no time at all? Those are few and far between for me, but I’m thinking it would be nice to add more of them into my sewing rotation. It just feels so good to have something done and done with minimal effort (and cost!).

But before I chat about the skirt, I just wanted to add that these photos were taken next to Grand Central where I was meeting friends for drinks at the Campbell Apartment. I may have asked one of them to snap some photos while we waited for everyone else to arrive. :-D I later headed over to meet up with Lladybird Lauren (in from Nashville), Vicki of Another Sewing Scientist (in from Montreal), Juli of Sweet Little Chickadee, Fleur of Frau Fleur, and other lovely ladies! Gotta love Friday night in Manhattan chatting about irons, sewing machine repair, and Elna presses. ;)

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OAL 2014: I Made A Cardigan!!!

Posted in Finished Projects, Knitting & Crafts by

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I knit my very first sweater! The Myrna cardigan by Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots. Woohoo!

This was completed as part of the Outfit-Along, as I mentioned in a previous post. I did sew a dress in the challenge time frame (my peach dress that I shared last week), but I didn’t originally intend to wear them together. It just happened to be the dress I was making at the time and since the summer has been so busy I never got around to making the pencil skirt I had planned.

In any case, I was just so thrilled to have finished this cardigan by the deadline that I wore it with the peach dress and shared them in the OAL thread on Ravelry. A few days later, these photos were taken in Bryant Park and I’m much happier with how this cardigan pairs color-wise with my Colette Parfait dress from two years ago.

The yarn I used was Worsted Cotton by Blue Sky Alpacas. The color is Mediterranean, which is perfect since it reminded me of crystal blue water when I spotted it at Downtown Yarns at Avenue A and East 3rd Street. This yarn may be a bit heavier than what’s recommended, but I think it worked out all in all. The one issue I noticed is that it shed on my white dress. Little blue furries lightly sprinkled over the fabric. Hmm, was that supposed to happen?

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A Peach Sundress + My 100th Blog Post!

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Well, whatta ya know? It’s my 100th blog post! So here I am celebrating that milestone in a new dress in Brooklyn! And when I’m posing in a new dress on cobblestone streets with old trolley line rails, a 19th century brick warehouse, and the grand ol’ gal herself, the Brooklyn Bridge, you know I am one happy camper.

PATTERNS. I combined the bodice from B5486 and the skirt from the Sewaholic Lonsdale to create a sundress just right for a humid New York summer (although it’s been pretty cool around these parts lately, what gives?). When it does get humid around here I definitely prefer sleeveless tops/dresses, so this dress will come in handy. I also love that the design can be paired with a cardigan, so depending on fabric choice this could easily transition into spring and/or fall. Heck, perhaps even winter!

I’ve had B5486 in my stash for a few years now, and I’d like to make the full version one of these days. It comes with a gathered skirt with an option for knee or maxi length. You can also add a waist tie. I used the bodice of view A and modified the neckline from v-neck to scoop, which is much more wearable for me as an office dress. I made a muslin of the v-neck and I think I’d have to do an FBA to give myself more coverage.

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