Catching Up

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted...time just keeps marching along doesn't it?  I have been very busy....I finished a sweater, a top-down from Knitting Pure and Simple.  I was easy and quick because it was knit with bulky yarn on size 15 and 17 needles.  I like it very much.

I started that sweater because I was very frustrated with this one:

this is supposed to be part of my SWAP, but I'm not sure it's going to make it.  It is kid mohair is supposed to look like this:

I like the way it is turning out, except that it might be too big.  Ugh!  I am going to keep going and see what happens.  It's an awful lot of work for something that I'll never wear!

I also finished a quilt for my sister-in-law, who will be beginning chemo very soon.  Everyone in the family wrote on a heart and another sis-in-law and I did the construction.  I finished the borders, quilting and binding.  I know she will love it.

That's all for now, more later...stay tuned!

SWAP piece #3

I finished SWAP piece #3 on Saturday.  I wore it to church and work on Sunday.  It's Macphee Workshop pattern #311 called the BLT (Best of Linda's Tops).  I made it with a Slinky remnant that I bought at my local independent fabric store...I paid $8.00 for 2 yards.  I have a small piece left over that might be enough for a tank top.  It is a little droopy, especially the sleeves.  If I make this again (and I think I will) I'll make a smaller size at least in the sleeves.  I wore my long underwear with it because it's very cold here and I didn't realize it was peaking out in the photo.  I also have a funky spot where the front crosses over on one side.  I resewed it many times and finally just left it because I probably won't wear the top without tucking it in so it will never show.  I know I have a piece of black Slinky somewhere in my stash that just might have to be turned into this top!

My SWAP sewing has been very slow going.  I have been stuck in the pants fitting stage.  I have made at least four muslins of various patterns and I am not happy with any of them.  I decided to move on to the tops and come back to the pants.  I also started the Flat Belly Diet a week ago and have been successful in losing a few pounds so that will change the fit of the pants too.  I'll deal with the pants closer to the deadline.  Stay tuned...

Embroidery Designs

I have added some embroidery designs that I created to my etsy shop.  I have more in the works so stay tuned!

I'm Audrey, Who Are You?

I'm not sure I agree with all of this, but it was funny when Audrey Hepburn popped up because my daughter loves Audrey Hepburn.  There's a link to the quiz at the bottom of my post so you can see who you are.  

I have been knitting away on the Tulip sweater.  I have started over three times and I'm pretty sure I am going to run low on at least one of the colors.  I'm going to keep going to see what happens.  Stay tuned...

You Are an Audrey!

You are an Audrey -- "I am at peace"

Audreys are receptive, good-natured, and supportive. They seek union with others and the world around them.

How to Get Along with Me

• * If you want me to do something, how you ask is important. I especially don't like expectations or pressure


• * I like to listen and to be of service, but don't take advantage of this


• * Listen until I finish speaking, even though I meander a bit


• * Give me time to finish things and make decisions. It's OK to nudge me gently and nonjudgmentally


• * Ask me questions to help me get clear


• * Tell me when you like how I look. I'm not averse to flattery


• * Hug me, show physical affection. It opens me up to my feelings


• * I like a good discussion but not a confrontation


• * Let me know you like what I've done or said


• * Laugh with me and share in my enjoyment of life

What I Like About Being an Audrey

• * being nonjudgmental and accepting


• * caring for and being concerned about others


• * being able to relax and have a good time


• * knowing that most people enjoy my company; I'm easy to be around


• * my ability to see many different sides of an issue and to be a good mediator and facilitator


• * my heightened awareness of sensations, aesthetics, and the here and now


• * being able to go with the flow and feel one with the universe

What's Hard About Being an Audrey

• * being judged and misunderstood for being placid and/or indecisive


• * being critical of myself for lacking initiative and discipline


• * being too sensitive to criticism; taking every raised eyebrow and twitch of the mouth personally


• * being confused about what I really want


• * caring too much about what others will think of me


• * not being listened to or taken seriously

Audreys as Children Often

• * feel ignored and that their wants, opinions, and feelings are unimportant


• * tune out a lot, especially when others argue


• * are "good" children: deny anger or keep it to themselves

Audreys as Parents

• * are supportive, kind, and warm


• * are sometimes overly permissive or nondirective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Knitting With Toothpicks

I am now knitting with size 0 needles or toothpicks as I like to refer to them.  The design is very pretty, but I made a mistake in reading the chart so I will be starting again.  I may move the colors too because it is pretty hard to see the black and I would like to be able to knit up the hem instead of sewing it later.  Stay tuned...

What is it with gauge?

I have been craving a new knitting project for a while.  I recently found Twist Collective.  I ordered three new knitting patterns, here, here and here.  (With many more that I wanted to buy!)  I figured I would start with the mittens.

It would be a small (size wise) project with some difficulty (the fair isle pattern), but certainly doable.  I knit very loosely so I usually go down two needle sizes to get the gauge.  The pattern calls for size 1 or 2 needles.  I used a size 1 and got 8 stitches to the inch (I'm supposed to have 9 spi). (I'm using the yarn that the pattern calls for).

Now it's 10:00 pm and I want to knit!  I don't own any size 0 needles so what do I do?  I get out another knitting project...a kit I purchased in Sept. for this child's sweater from Dream in Color Designs.  I do a gauge swatch and I end up having to go up two needle sizes from what the pattern recommends!  Yikes! What is this gauge madness?  Do I need to find knitting designers who knit loosely like I do?  The idea of knitting a pair of mittens on size 0 (or smaller needles) is a little disconcerting.

So about two hours after starting a new knitting project I am able to actually knit on the project...the child's sweater, not the mittens.  Which I have to say is a dream to knit.  The yarn is the yummiest of colors.  Now I'm going to go to my LYS to see if they have size 0 needles...stay tuned...

What I'm Working On

It is freezing here in Buffalo today.  I am trying to stay warm and doing lots of laundry so my washing machine pipes won't freeze!  In my quest for finishing UFO's, I resurrected this needlework piece that I started in a class in 1997 or 98.  Yikes, that's a decade ago!  Most of the stitching was done for the inside of the case.  I just need to do some outlining and then stitch the outside area (which shouldn't be too difficult).  It's The Florentine Stitch Sewing Roll by Catherine Theron.  I have always loved this piece and knew I wanted to finish it...someday...stay tuned...

More completed items

I finished piece #2 for the SWAP.  It's a sweater knit that I bought at Joann's in the fall.  It's Simplicity 3634 with an adjustment to the neck (I raised it) and I cut a size larger than I normally wear in the body because the pattern is a very tight t shirt.

Here are a couple more Christmas gifts that I made for my family.  The sampler is from The City Stitcher and I made it for my husband.  I didn't finish it in time to have it framed for Christmas so this week I hope to get it to the frame shop.

Here's another Wonderful Wallaby sweater knit for my son #1.  Now all of my boys have one so hopefully any more that I make will be baby sized!  This is a fun sweater to knit but a big one takes a lot of time.  I worked on this one all summer and fall.

Now off to my sewing room to see what else I can finish...stay tuned...

Another New Year

Another year begun...a new beginning.  This year I am going to set goals rather than make resolutions.  Resolutions seem to be such hard and fast rules.  Goals are something to strive for and I am striving in 2009. 

My first goal for 2009 is to keep finishing UFO's.  I have four needlework projects that I intend to complete before I begin a new one.  Speaking of finishing things here are a few photos of Christmas gifts I made for special people.  My daughter's skirt in the following photo is a Burda World of Fashion pattern pencil skirt made from scraps of a wool skirt I made for myself a few years ago.  It fits her like a glove and she is hoping that I make more.  Unfortunately this is the only picture I got of her in it before she left for Boston.  (She is the one in the center posing with two of her cousins all in black and white houndstooth.)

My #2 son spent all last year in Scotland and had asked if I could make him a quilt that looked like the Scottish flag.  He was very happy with the results and now wants one that resembles the US flag...hmmm

Completing the SWAP is another goal in 2009.  I have finished one of the tops and will have one of my boys take a photo before they head back to school.  I am diligently working on fitting a pair of pants, but nothing yet...another goal of 2009, a decent fitting pair of pants.  I also intend to knit a mohair icelandic style sweater as part of the SWAP.  I have my work cut out for me but I am excited about it...stay tuned... 

Snowflakes All Around

There are snowflakes outside and these are inside!  New fleece scarves with embroidered snowflakes that are going to be gifts and available on my etsy site.  

and matching gloves...

a close up of the embroidery

and soon a photo of my biggest project to date...stay tuned!

A Time for Gifts

I am making something for Christmas for each of my children.  I can't show them here because my kiddos check in here every once in a while to see what I'm up to.  Here is a baby gift that I made recently.  It turned out so cute that I put it in my etsy shop.

And this is a gift for a friend who doesn't even know I have a blog!  It is at the frame shop.  I like it so much I may have to stitch one for me (and I rarely stitch something twice!).

I have a new "toy" that I'm going to go set up...more on that later...stay tuned!

Be Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope you have as much to be thankful for as I do!  

A Wrap That's a Snap

                

My first SWAP piece is complete.  It's a wrap skirt made from a black and white mini dot that is 100% wool. When I looked at the fabric I realized that I liked the "wrong" side of the fabric too.  So I made it reversible.  I used snap tape at the waist for my closure.  I copied this from a RTW skirt that's in my closet.  Split the snap tape somewhere near the center back and sew it going in the other direction.  I have always loved wrap skirts because I could adjust them with my weight by moving the buttons.  Now I don't even have to move the buttons...I just have to re-snap!  Now on to my SWAP pants...stay tuned.

Storyboard-First Draft

I have spent way too many hours making up this SWAP storyboard, but I learned a lot!  I have started my sewing and finished my first piece.  It's a wrap skirt drafted from two different RTW skirts that I love.  I will get some photos taken and post later...stay tuned!

A Busy Weekend

What a wild weekend.  My husband arranged for 3 of our 4 kiddos to come home for a visit to surprise me.  Of course, he couldn't keep it a surprise so he told me on Wednesday that they were coming.  It was fun to have them here...it sure broke the spell of peace, solitude and cleanliness that we were getting used to!  

I finished my Sedona sweater.  It's almost a coat it's so warm.  I'm ready for the cold weather that is showing itself here in western NY.

Here is a scene from the weekend...pumpkin carving!

I am working on my SWAP ideas.  I have set a couple of personal goals:

1.  One of the garments has to come from Burda World of Fashion magazine.  I subscribed a couple of months ago and have yet to have the courage to try any of the patterns.

2.  One of the items will be hand knit.  I do love knitting and want to incorporate it into the SWAP.

3.  I am taking an online course in how to copy a rtw pair of pants, so one of my pants will be a copy of something I already own.

4. Jeans...I am going to try to make a pair of jeans.

I am tentatively planning two pairs of dress pants, black and a plum colored herringbone wool, a pair of black jeans and a skirt.  My tops will be a knit sweater set, a cross-over style long sleeved t-shirt, three plain t-shirts, and a sweater with a turtleneck.   I am now gathering the fabrics and I'll make a storyboard to help keep me straight. By the way, this is all subject to change...stay tuned!

Sewing With A Plan

Well, I have gone and done it now.  I just joined the 2009 SWAP at Stitcher's Guild.  You can check out the rules here.  I have some ideas already and I hope I can incorporate some of my pieces into the ASG contest for 2009.  I have some lovely stash fabrics that I think I will use.  I am getting my patterns together and then I will decide on the fabrics.  I have a list of Vogue patterns that I intend to pick up tomorrow when they go on sale at JoAnn's. 

Here is one dress...and a great cross t-shirt...and one I think my daughter will like...and a few more.  I also bought some great sweater knits last week that might just make the SWAP cut...photos to follow...stay tuned!

Quilting Weekend

The Material Girls took a road trip this past weekend to Watkins Glen, NY.  We stayed at the Upstairs Inn and sewed all day and night.  The Inn is conveniently located over one of the nicest quilt shops around, O'Susannah's.  Some of us also found time for a hike in the state park, some geocaching and and stop at the local yarn shop.  The above photo shows the results of our group project for the weekend, Ricky Tims Convergence Quilt.  Today my goal is to get the sewing machine back in the sewing room and have some time to sit at it...stay tuned.

Go Bills

We love our Buffalo Bills.  4-0 for the first time since the glory years.  It's making Sundays fun again!  Go Bills!

Knitting Like Crazy

The chicks have flown the nest.  We delivered son #3 to college on Thursday and son #2 took himself to his college on Monday.  Boy is it quiet (and clean) here!  I think hubby is having a harder time with this than I am.  After all, isn't this what I have been preparing them for all these years?  To leave the nest and begin to live on their own?  Yes, it is! (Oh dear, there's a tear in my eye).

To keep myself busy I have been knitting up a storm.  The Sedona jacket is moving along.  It is worked on #9 needles so it's a quick one.  It's a boxy jacket so there's no shaping...just big knit rectangles.  I know the picture doesn't do it justice, you'll just have to trust me.

While I was taking the Sedona jacket class at a LYS.  I saw another project that I just couldn't live without, oh, and isn't it convenient that they were having a class on it!  The Puffy Swing Coat is made with Puffy yarn from Karabella.  This one is worked on #13 needles so it really moves along.  I have had to start it over twice and I still have this much done.  Again it doesn't look like much, but it's a beauty.

I also have some sewing projects calling to me...stay tuned...

Shop Hoppin' in Ohio

The Material Girls spent a few days last week shop hoppin' in Ohio.  We traveled to Amish country and boosted the economy of the area.  What fun!  I was choosing fabrics for a quilt for my son #2.  He wants a quilt that looks like the Scottish flag.  He's very particular about what he wants so I hope what I come up with will make him happy.  

I will begin that project when I get my boys off to college.  Right now I am making lists and checking them twice.  It's keeping me busy and my mind off of the fact that the house will be empty after the weekend.  I think that might be something I can get used to...I'll let you know...stay tuned...