Jack-O-Lanterns

I made the one on the right.

Striped Sweater

I knit most of this on the knitting machine, then did the shoulder & neck shaping, lace waistband, turtleneck and sleeve edges by hand. I didn't make the gray turtleneck undershirt I'm wearing here, but the jeans are the original pair I made in 2007 that got this whole project started. Yeah for me! I can get them on again.

Linoleum Block Printing

I've wanted to try some kind of t-shirt printing for years and finally forced myself to commit to one idea and get it done. I cut a bunch of texture into one 4 x 6" lino block and printed it many times on each shirt. I used a Fabric painting Medium (decoart) that claims to turn any acrylic paint into fabric paint. It printed nicely. I haven't washed the shirts yet. I made the top t-shirt myself. The second one was a very worn Banana Republic top that now can have a second life.

Re-fashioned T-shirt

Pleated T-shirt

Smocked Tank Top

Black Denim Blazer

I combined two commercial patterns with the measurements of a favorite DKNY jacket and came up with this. I spent two days cutting muslin, studying patterns, pin tracing the existing jacket, and making errors by trial. Then it took two more days to make the jacket.

Gathered Top

I used a modified dress pattern (Butterick 5243) for this knit top.

Camisole

I made this camisole to cheer myself up.

Swim Suit Cover Up Contest

I've spent five days working on my entry to this contest to sew a swim-suit cover-up. The deadline passed and I failed not only to finish on time, but to create a wearable cover-up as well. The winners will be awarded a singer sewing machine or a dress form. I don't need either thing, but for some reason I felt very compelled to compete.

I started with this light blue pattern trial. So far, so good. Then I cut a longer version out of the nice fabric. I added a ruffle that began at the hip and ended mid-thigh. I wanted to add a waistband. I was going to put three rows of 1/4" elastic in because it would look so much better than a single casing. I spent hours considering how to accomplish this in the most efficient way. I got the first row in and the whole thing looked stupid. There was too much fabric in the center front - something that was not apparent when I was wearing the garment with elastic pinned around my waist. Somehow having it sewn in changed it completely. I ripped the bottom section off and will at some point just finish it as a top. I went on vacation and forgot about the contest until the day before the deadline. Suddenly I had a new idea. I could make a button front dress that could just be torn off in one beautiful motion before bounding into the water.

I tried some draping - just enough to establish that I'm not ready to work that way yet. This took half a day.

And then I made this. I added the button bands to an existing pattern. At this point I missed the deadline for the contest, but still believed the cover-up was going to work really well. Then I realized that the interfacing I used for the button bands was too stiff. It was an all-purpose woven pellon fusible. I started putting on the snaps. I've only done this one other time. You have to hammer them on with these special little tools. It didn't go well and I destroyed the top sections of three of the snaps after securing their counterparts on the other band. I had purchased the snaps years ago, god knows where, and had no extras. You can't remove them once they're on. I tried to solve this by sewing two visually related buttons on where the last snaps would be and since they couldn't be functioning at this point I had to just sew the button bands together from the last snap, down. I can still step into the dress.

Once I had it on and spent a little time in it I knew it was unwearable. That button band just curves in and out in terrible ways because of the stiffness. I really need to wear a belt with it to make it flattering, and that just causes more awkwardness with the band. I was telling this whole sad story to Scott and he said, well at least it will make a good blog post. People like to hear about how you mess things up.
And speaking of that - I did the laundry yesterday and washed his ipod which was in the pocket of his shorts.

Letter to the Editor

I saw this in the Sep/Oct issue of FiberArts. Someone cares enough to complain! Now I really feel like somebody.

A Hem for Knits

1. Cut a strip of bias fabric 1 1/2" wide and the same length as the garment edge.

2. Press the strip in half lengthwise.

3. Align the folded edge of the strip with the edge of the wrong side garment.

4. Stitch using a 5/8" seam allowance and a medium zig zag.

5. Trim the garment edge (only the top layer of fabric) close to the stitching line.

see An Edge for Knits for the neck and armholes

Instructions

This illustration is from Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlework, 1979.

Muslin

I went alone to a yard sale that had advertised fabric. They had mainly upholstery fabric. I bought a huge piece of muslin that was neatly folded. Ordinarily I would really inspect fabric before buying it, but I had gotten a drop of sap on most of my right hand’s fingers during the first minutes I was there, so I couldn’t manipulate things well. When I got home I cleaned the sappy hand with nail polish remover and unfolded the fabric. The muslin had several spots on it, some yellow, some pale red. I sprayed the spots with Shout and the yellow spots began to smell like urine. I decided it was pet urine, the least disgusting conclusion. The red spots and smell came out in the laundry but the yellow stains are still visible.

This is the first time I've used real muslin for pattern testing. I think it's quite striking.

Blue Stripes

knit top - my pattern
skirt - Vogue 8426

I'm very tempted to wear this top with the skirt pictured below, but I know all you people who don't think flowers go with flowers have the same opinion about stripes and stripes.

Summer Outfit

top: simplicity 2618
skirt: my own design - made last summer. I think of it as my raccoon trap skirt. The pocket openings are just large enough to slip an open hand into, but not big enough for retracting a fist full of small snacks or a cta card.

Satisfactory Knits

pajama top with overlapping v-neck and slightly contrasted sleeves

Amazing Fit Pants

This is my new favorite pattern. It really is named "Amazing Fit Pants," Simplicity 2700. These can be made in almost any fabric. They fit just like Banana Republic & Tommy Hilfiger pants.
A view inside my pants.

Pink Stretchy

hand-knit sweater, stretch cotton

Nightgown

good for sleeping inside or outside

pattern: Simplicity 2934

Color-block Skirt

I'm discovering the joy of patchwork. The main body of the skirt is opaque but the patchwork pieces are semi-sheer. My mom said it looks expensive. This is the first time I've heard that about any clothing I've made.

An Edge for Knits

I've been looking for edge-finishing solutions for knits for two years. I came up with this technique for necklines & armholes. It's great because it involves no pressing or basting and little measuring. It looks great on the inside and outside.

See A Hem for Knits

Pleated Shoulders

This top is Vogue 2925 made from jersey. I like the pleats but the overall shape is too boxy.

All-Occassion Outfit

The vest is based on McCall's 5186, the skirt started with Simplicity 2645, and the cowl T was a combination of a shirt from Banana Republic and my custom T-shirt pattern.

New Tote Bag Style

The benefit to this bag is that it's lined, so you can use up weird fabric that you shouldn't have bought twice as fast, and then use the bag for fancier shopping. It's Simplicity 2806.

Napkins

Ripple Blanket

Here's my finished crocheted wool blanket. It is not made out of leftover yarn and the color is not in any way random. This is what it looks like when I carefully plot out a color scheme. It matches both of our couches and our basket of dog toys.

In the Studio

I'm making new little paintings for my new little studio.

They're each 5x7 inches, acrylic on panel.

I hung all my recent life drawings above my computer. I put one up from last year and I noticed that I accidentally dated it May 27, 2009. It makes me wonder what will happen on that day.

Ear Warming Hat

hand-knit hat with elastic run through edge to hug and warm ears

I recently joined Ravelry. I love the way the "friends" system works. You can add anyone as a friend. It isn't based on reciprocity like on Facebook. It's so much more like real life. I'm sure I have many friends who might not know they're my friends. If you want to be my Ravelry friend, the name I use is Keiler.