Because I am not a diamond fan, as I have worked in the diamond industry, I don't own any real ones, except for the one in my nose, or really any fake ones. I have one fake engagement ring, for when I travel alone, and a pair of diamond hoops, fake, of course.
Halloween costume completed, I realize that I am lacking some accessories to make the final look, well, final. The above mentioned diamond hoops I can use for my costume, but folks would get far to excited at the sight of an engagement ring, regardless of how unreal the stone, and how real the feelings.
So, I have a dilemma. I have my sewing class all day tomorrow, and the Halloween party tomorrow night. The class doesn't get done until 4:30. It's a 20 minute drive home, 30 minutes MINIMUM to get ready, assuming I do my hair in the morning before the class, and then 30 minutes to drive to the party, which starts at six, which leaves me with not much time to run by the *shudder* mall, to get some fake bling to make my costume BLING (with a capital B) ...
My costume, by the way, is fucking fabulous. I wish I could give you a spoiler, but it's that good that I can't. Oh fake diamond dilemma, how will you resolve yourself?
I think I'll work on this problem by having another glass of wine.
And, if you are guessing what my costume is ... My Dad got it in the first try. UNBELIEVABLE!
Friday, October 29, 2010
How to make a Pom-Pom. Halloween South Park Stan Hat Completed. Day 61.
Yeah, Hooray. I have finished Ramon's Halloween South Park Stan hat in the nick of time. Now, if only I had my costume finished, as well. Mmm, well, I have a few more hours tonight to plug through it. I did get new Serger needles today, and I had a cup of coffee about an hour ago—yes, at 5 pm—so I should be ready to go.
So, other than absolutely hatting Vanna's Choice yarn, which is like knitting with sand-paper, I think that Ramon's Halloween Hat is just about perfect. As I mentioned last night I completely re-did it. I didn't like the pattern that I used, so in the second hat, I made some modifications, mostly making the "straight" part of the blue longer than 2 inches. I made it 5 inches. I felt like the blue part wasn't balanced against the red, and was just too short.
I also decided to post my instructions for making a pom-pom. I had never done one before and for whatever reason, found it hard to find these instructions online.
1. Find an able, and active pom-pom-maker helper (this step is optional)
2. Draw two circles on cardboard. I made mine 4 inch in diameter.
2a. Draw two inner circles inside of the first circles. I made these 1 inch in diameter."
2b. Carefully cut them both out, and cut out the inner circles, making two donuts.
3. Stack the two donuts, one directly on-top of the other
4. Begin wrapping the yarn around and through the donuts. I found that I cutting a few yards of yarn, making a small yarn-ball out of it, and passing it through the hole was the easiest method for getting a lot of yarn through at once, without a lot of unnecessary pulling.
5. Continue wrapping until the entire inner circle is filled. I used one of my new handy crochet hooks to help pull the yarn through as the hole got smaller. I used a tapestry needle to continue when the hole became too small for the crochet hook.
6. Carefully cut around the edge of the circle, between the two pieces of cardboard with very sharp scissors.
7. Pull a piece of yarn between the two pieces of cardboard, and tie tightly in a knot, or four, and then remove the pieces of cardboard.
8. Attach your pom-pom to your garment, only to realize that, while you were trying to make it big and a little cartoony, as it is a Halloween costume, you have made it too big. Let out a sigh, and move onto the next project, as it will take too long to re-make something a half an inch smaller on each side.
If I am really feeling wild and wacky, I'll crochet Stan's eyebrows on. Though, lets not get ahead of ourselves.
So, other than absolutely hatting Vanna's Choice yarn, which is like knitting with sand-paper, I think that Ramon's Halloween Hat is just about perfect. As I mentioned last night I completely re-did it. I didn't like the pattern that I used, so in the second hat, I made some modifications, mostly making the "straight" part of the blue longer than 2 inches. I made it 5 inches. I felt like the blue part wasn't balanced against the red, and was just too short.
I also decided to post my instructions for making a pom-pom. I had never done one before and for whatever reason, found it hard to find these instructions online.
1. Find an able, and active pom-pom-maker helper (this step is optional)
2. Draw two circles on cardboard. I made mine 4 inch in diameter.
2a. Draw two inner circles inside of the first circles. I made these 1 inch in diameter."
2b. Carefully cut them both out, and cut out the inner circles, making two donuts.
3. Stack the two donuts, one directly on-top of the other
4. Begin wrapping the yarn around and through the donuts. I found that I cutting a few yards of yarn, making a small yarn-ball out of it, and passing it through the hole was the easiest method for getting a lot of yarn through at once, without a lot of unnecessary pulling.
5. Continue wrapping until the entire inner circle is filled. I used one of my new handy crochet hooks to help pull the yarn through as the hole got smaller. I used a tapestry needle to continue when the hole became too small for the crochet hook.
6. Carefully cut around the edge of the circle, between the two pieces of cardboard with very sharp scissors.
7. Pull a piece of yarn between the two pieces of cardboard, and tie tightly in a knot, or four, and then remove the pieces of cardboard.
8. Attach your pom-pom to your garment, only to realize that, while you were trying to make it big and a little cartoony, as it is a Halloween costume, you have made it too big. Let out a sigh, and move onto the next project, as it will take too long to re-make something a half an inch smaller on each side.
If I am really feeling wild and wacky, I'll crochet Stan's eyebrows on. Though, lets not get ahead of ourselves.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
I don't care what they say, knitting is easier than crochet. Day 60.
So, I have decided to become a baseball fan. No, not a fair weather fan, but an all weather fan. Of course, yes, I am deciding this now that my local team is in the World Series. I actually put a lot of thought into this. Over the summer some of Ramon's friends gave him tickets to a game, as they are season ticket holders and couldn't make it to that game. Well, I had the best time every. Other than our cross-country road-trip it was the summer highlight. Riding on the feeling, I did consider that I might want to become a fan of a team with colors that suited me better than orange and black, but because I had such a fun time at that game at AT&T park I decided to stick with the Giants.
So, last night I watched the game, and worked on my crochet monkey. I finished the body, the cape, and the fez.
Tonight I re-did, and completed Ramon's Halloween hat, with the exception of the red ball that goes on top.
So, half a monkey and a bit-sized jacket and fez versus a whole hat. I am so tired of everyone saying that crochet is so much easier than knitting. I can get through an entire sweater in a week and a half, but a weee monkey?
Ok, ok. I remember how it was when i first started knitting. It took me a month to get through a scarf. Sometimes it is hard to remember and to respect the learning curve. I can see that crochet *will* be easier. In-fact, I even crochet closed Ramon's Halloween hat instead of knitting it, because the hole was so small, and you don't drop stitches in crochet like you do in knitting. So, patience my little monkey. I need to remember that it will take time to feel the same way about my ability to crochet as my ability to knit.
Luckily, with Ramon's hat (almost) done, I am one step closer to Halloween costume success. With our Halloween party only two days away, and with my all day Bernina class on Saturday, I have some really serious Halloween costume finishing to get done tomorrow. OMG! I know I can get it all done but ... I want to get the houndstooth skirt done tomorrow, and the hallway pictures done, too! I am also trying to get my blue McQueen Sweater Dress done before we head off to Kentucky for the Breeder's Cup next week. I think that Thunder, the grey kitten, I am pretty sure will love the ball that will go on Ramon's hat. I wonder, with her joy for playing fetch, will Ramon's hat stay intact long enough to celebrate the main event?
So, last night I watched the game, and worked on my crochet monkey. I finished the body, the cape, and the fez.
Tonight I re-did, and completed Ramon's Halloween hat, with the exception of the red ball that goes on top.
So, half a monkey and a bit-sized jacket and fez versus a whole hat. I am so tired of everyone saying that crochet is so much easier than knitting. I can get through an entire sweater in a week and a half, but a weee monkey?
Ok, ok. I remember how it was when i first started knitting. It took me a month to get through a scarf. Sometimes it is hard to remember and to respect the learning curve. I can see that crochet *will* be easier. In-fact, I even crochet closed Ramon's Halloween hat instead of knitting it, because the hole was so small, and you don't drop stitches in crochet like you do in knitting. So, patience my little monkey. I need to remember that it will take time to feel the same way about my ability to crochet as my ability to knit.
Luckily, with Ramon's hat (almost) done, I am one step closer to Halloween costume success. With our Halloween party only two days away, and with my all day Bernina class on Saturday, I have some really serious Halloween costume finishing to get done tomorrow. OMG! I know I can get it all done but ... I want to get the houndstooth skirt done tomorrow, and the hallway pictures done, too! I am also trying to get my blue McQueen Sweater Dress done before we head off to Kentucky for the Breeder's Cup next week. I think that Thunder, the grey kitten, I am pretty sure will love the ball that will go on Ramon's hat. I wonder, with her joy for playing fetch, will Ramon's hat stay intact long enough to celebrate the main event?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Your Mother Isn't Always Right. Day 58.
A number of months back a fellow that I knew tried to explain that the day that you took an action that you knew your mother would want you to do, but you did it for you, not her, was the day that you became an adult. Really, only then? And how come your mother was never "right" before? Well, I have been listening to my mom for years, decades even, and for one simple reason. Why learn from your own mistakes, when you can just do the right thing, instead? Mom is always right. We all know this. This truth has never been proven wrong, and will never foreseeably be wrong, so what happened? How could I so daringly and blatantly state that your mom isn't always right????
One word:
Sequins.
"As soon as you cut it, put it through the serger. Depending on how the sequins are sewing the the fabric, they may just come flying off."
Well, the only things that went flying off were the two tips of my serger needles upon plunging twice into my beautiful sequin fabric.
I guess I should back-up some. First off, I finished my Halloween costume in one day, as promised. In-fact, it only took half a day, but I still have the head-piece and shoes to go, so in the end it will equal one day. Started and finished that on Sunday. Then, I decided that since I have my fancy-new block pattern that I should get the sequins off my wall, and onto, well, me! This piece is so simple, yet so complicated. I had to distill the block down into a one-piece front bodice and skirt with no darts, and a super low cowl neck back/skirt piece, and sleeves. That is a lot of moving around of critical shaping elements. A few yards of muslin later, I felt pretty satisfied, but it wasn't until the trip to the grocery store to pick-up ice-cream for my mom that I had a construction epiphany. I finished the pattern and lining last night, leaving the sequins for today. A good day. My mom was here, of-course, until I started sewing.
The cutting went well, I extended the seam-allowances from my pattern 1/8" for additional room while serging. Well, I serged, and that ended quickly. I started thinking that I was really regretting getting the sequins.
Before she left, I gave my mom a tour of the new Bernina. "Wow, this is a real, adult sewing machine. I have been sewing forever, but I have never had an adult sewing machine." Upon experiencing needle-bits from my serger flying around the room—I think I need protective eye-wear—she encouraged me to try sewing it on my trusted and true Bernina. Starting slowly, hand turning the needle for the first few inches, I found that her advice the second time around was spot on. Maybe I just needed to listen for the construction alternative instead of just accepting the first route. See, she was right!
Beautifully maneuvered over and threw sequins, my solid Bernina got the job done, and just at the moment I was ready to give-up on the entire project, especially as it isn't even a McQueen project, even though it is a McQueen Bumster tribute. Fancier that I was originally imagining, I need to find somewhere fabulous to wear this dress. All done but the hem. Oh, how I love the finishing. Next time I get the d200 and tripod set-up to take hallway pictures, I'll take some of this dress on me, too, as it looks better on then on my lumpy, crappy, old dress-form.
Now, my sewing room looks like an ice-skating competition exploded in it. All that aside, I never thought I'd learn so much through sewing sequins, but with the pattern being a delightful, and welcome challenge, and the fabric itself pushing me into new spaces, I had a great time with this quick project, but I think it may be time to give the Roomba a new, dedicated home.
Last week, while I was being bad, busy, and not updating, I finished the back-side of my sweater dress, and I am now almost half way through the front side, just getting to the waist shaping.
Additionally I am making tremendous progress on my first ever crochet project (or as Ramon calls it a "crotch-ette" project), which is appropriately a monkey, for so many reasons.
I made my cheapest ever trip to JoAnns today—yes, even cheaper than getting one invisible zipper—I bought felt, for the face, and googlie-eyes. My mom forced me to get them, sighting that they are far better, and easier to use than making them out of felt or what-have-you, though also indicating that she *still* has the same jar of them laying around from my sister and my Brownie days in Girl Scouts.
Though, as I know she is right, she always is, I got the googlie-eyes, and I know they won't let me down. Perhaps they'll help me keep my eyes, and ears open for the right answer the next time around.
Now I just need to find new serger needles. Mom, care to chime in?
One word:
Sequins.
"As soon as you cut it, put it through the serger. Depending on how the sequins are sewing the the fabric, they may just come flying off."
Well, the only things that went flying off were the two tips of my serger needles upon plunging twice into my beautiful sequin fabric.
I guess I should back-up some. First off, I finished my Halloween costume in one day, as promised. In-fact, it only took half a day, but I still have the head-piece and shoes to go, so in the end it will equal one day. Started and finished that on Sunday. Then, I decided that since I have my fancy-new block pattern that I should get the sequins off my wall, and onto, well, me! This piece is so simple, yet so complicated. I had to distill the block down into a one-piece front bodice and skirt with no darts, and a super low cowl neck back/skirt piece, and sleeves. That is a lot of moving around of critical shaping elements. A few yards of muslin later, I felt pretty satisfied, but it wasn't until the trip to the grocery store to pick-up ice-cream for my mom that I had a construction epiphany. I finished the pattern and lining last night, leaving the sequins for today. A good day. My mom was here, of-course, until I started sewing.
The cutting went well, I extended the seam-allowances from my pattern 1/8" for additional room while serging. Well, I serged, and that ended quickly. I started thinking that I was really regretting getting the sequins.
Before she left, I gave my mom a tour of the new Bernina. "Wow, this is a real, adult sewing machine. I have been sewing forever, but I have never had an adult sewing machine." Upon experiencing needle-bits from my serger flying around the room—I think I need protective eye-wear—she encouraged me to try sewing it on my trusted and true Bernina. Starting slowly, hand turning the needle for the first few inches, I found that her advice the second time around was spot on. Maybe I just needed to listen for the construction alternative instead of just accepting the first route. See, she was right!
Beautifully maneuvered over and threw sequins, my solid Bernina got the job done, and just at the moment I was ready to give-up on the entire project, especially as it isn't even a McQueen project, even though it is a McQueen Bumster tribute. Fancier that I was originally imagining, I need to find somewhere fabulous to wear this dress. All done but the hem. Oh, how I love the finishing. Next time I get the d200 and tripod set-up to take hallway pictures, I'll take some of this dress on me, too, as it looks better on then on my lumpy, crappy, old dress-form.
Now, my sewing room looks like an ice-skating competition exploded in it. All that aside, I never thought I'd learn so much through sewing sequins, but with the pattern being a delightful, and welcome challenge, and the fabric itself pushing me into new spaces, I had a great time with this quick project, but I think it may be time to give the Roomba a new, dedicated home.
Last week, while I was being bad, busy, and not updating, I finished the back-side of my sweater dress, and I am now almost half way through the front side, just getting to the waist shaping.
Additionally I am making tremendous progress on my first ever crochet project (or as Ramon calls it a "crotch-ette" project), which is appropriately a monkey, for so many reasons.
I made my cheapest ever trip to JoAnns today—yes, even cheaper than getting one invisible zipper—I bought felt, for the face, and googlie-eyes. My mom forced me to get them, sighting that they are far better, and easier to use than making them out of felt or what-have-you, though also indicating that she *still* has the same jar of them laying around from my sister and my Brownie days in Girl Scouts.
Though, as I know she is right, she always is, I got the googlie-eyes, and I know they won't let me down. Perhaps they'll help me keep my eyes, and ears open for the right answer the next time around.
Now I just need to find new serger needles. Mom, care to chime in?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Suffering from Knitter's Elbow. Day 51.
I have knitter's elbow, and wrist! I have been helping out some friends for the past few days, but there is a lot of waiting involved. My arm literally hurts from knitting. So, I have designated tonight a (k)no-knitting-(k)night. I was hoping to get some time in my sewing room, but it looks like I lack the energy and the time for that.
This weekend I finally bit the bullet and finished of my block pattern. 'Bout Damn Time! I had been putting it off because I needed more measurements of my back, one of the things that is just about impossible to measure all on your own. Ramon has been so busy with his own project—his race-car—that he hasn't had a spare moment either. Alas without help, I decided to go it alone. It took a solid two days, but I got it sorted, drafted, and squared. I felt that it was really holding me back not having this done, and it was. I started on some dress patterns as soon as I got the block finalized, and it is coming along nicely. A little McQueen, and a little Halloween.
On the topic of Halloween, since this is the very first time that we will actually be home over Halloween weekend, Ramon and I are getting candy, dressing-up, and carving pumpkins. We also going to a Halloween party the night before. So, we need Halloween costumes. I am knitting this for Ramon's.
Yesterday I tried knitting this same item, and got the blue and the red in the wrong places. To my horror, it wasn't just Ramon's Halloween costume part, but everything I knit yesterday had to be frogged. I started knitting the lace sweater directly from the pattern published in the book, and the whole time I was thinking ... this doesn't seem right. A mere four hours in, I decided to check ravelry to see if other knitters had experienced the same problem with the pattern. They had. In-fact, there was HUGE warning on that pattern's page, saying that the entire pattern was wrong, and it was mis-printed. Lesson learned? Always check the ravelry pattern BEFORE beginning a project to look for comments and posts about weird goings-on.
So, a cookie to anyone who can guess what Ramon is going to be for Halloween.
Due to my large quantity of on-going projects, I have limited this costume to a one-day creation adventure. Project Runway style, what am I going to be, you ask? You'll just have to wait and see.
I was happy to see it finally start raining on Sunday. I don't know what it is, but this year, I was very happy to see the rain come in. I like being all snuggled up inside, and I guess with so much knitting and sewing I felt like I wanted the visual cue of the season that it was time to be inside, snuggled and warm, busy as a little bee. I did decide to go out on Sunday to take advantage of the 50% off any regularly priced item coupon I had acquired from Joann's. Buying a bolt of muslin for $1 a yard is awesome. Having the poor girl at the counter have to measure all 25 yards because the bolt has been opened, and we're not sure if cut from, not so awesome. Sorry! After the muslin bargin bang I headed over to my local yarn shop, as I figured out how many skeins I will need for my McQueen blue sweater dress. 15. Running through the rain, I noticed Oktoberfest going on, on the main downtown street. Soggy beer and pretzels for everyone! Oh wait, those both contain wheat. Another bummer, I get to the yarn store and it is ... CLOSED! Feeling bummed, but eager to get on with knitting my project I searched the farest corners of the interweb to try to find Cascade Cloud 9 in Blue (colorway 140). No dice. Not one skein. Not one. Anywhere. How can this be? I know the yarn store had quite a bit of it, so how can there be none anywhere else int he world? Oh no! And I won't be able to make it to the store again until NEXT weekend. How can I possibly wait another week? It could all be gone by then. What if they're already all gone? I find this yarn I love, and this yarn that is perfect for the project ... oh, unnecessary anxiety attack, I feel you approaching. Damn you festival, why do you create enough cause for my yarn store to be closed?
Ramon calmly asked, in my hysterics, "Do they keep your customer information? Like, do they have a file for you?" I respond, "Yes."
"Well, if they have you on file, they have all of your yarn purchases on file. Why don't you call them, leave them a message, tell them what you are looking for, tell them you want to pay over the phone, and have me pick it up for you?"
Brilliant. Plan worked. The accounting lady actually went in on Sunday night to pick something up, listened to the messages, and took care of the yarn over the phone. They had all 14 (more) skeins. Knitting like a little beaver, I am almost through with the back "skirt."
I know I say this all the time, but oh how I love yarn people.
Oh, and I couldn't leave this out. Thunder says, "Hello, I am Thunder, and I am a laundry-basket addict. I don't care about fur-ing up the warm clothes, I just can't get enough of the baskets. I know I have a problem."
This weekend I finally bit the bullet and finished of my block pattern. 'Bout Damn Time! I had been putting it off because I needed more measurements of my back, one of the things that is just about impossible to measure all on your own. Ramon has been so busy with his own project—his race-car—that he hasn't had a spare moment either. Alas without help, I decided to go it alone. It took a solid two days, but I got it sorted, drafted, and squared. I felt that it was really holding me back not having this done, and it was. I started on some dress patterns as soon as I got the block finalized, and it is coming along nicely. A little McQueen, and a little Halloween.
On the topic of Halloween, since this is the very first time that we will actually be home over Halloween weekend, Ramon and I are getting candy, dressing-up, and carving pumpkins. We also going to a Halloween party the night before. So, we need Halloween costumes. I am knitting this for Ramon's.
Yesterday I tried knitting this same item, and got the blue and the red in the wrong places. To my horror, it wasn't just Ramon's Halloween costume part, but everything I knit yesterday had to be frogged. I started knitting the lace sweater directly from the pattern published in the book, and the whole time I was thinking ... this doesn't seem right. A mere four hours in, I decided to check ravelry to see if other knitters had experienced the same problem with the pattern. They had. In-fact, there was HUGE warning on that pattern's page, saying that the entire pattern was wrong, and it was mis-printed. Lesson learned? Always check the ravelry pattern BEFORE beginning a project to look for comments and posts about weird goings-on.
So, a cookie to anyone who can guess what Ramon is going to be for Halloween.
Due to my large quantity of on-going projects, I have limited this costume to a one-day creation adventure. Project Runway style, what am I going to be, you ask? You'll just have to wait and see.
I was happy to see it finally start raining on Sunday. I don't know what it is, but this year, I was very happy to see the rain come in. I like being all snuggled up inside, and I guess with so much knitting and sewing I felt like I wanted the visual cue of the season that it was time to be inside, snuggled and warm, busy as a little bee. I did decide to go out on Sunday to take advantage of the 50% off any regularly priced item coupon I had acquired from Joann's. Buying a bolt of muslin for $1 a yard is awesome. Having the poor girl at the counter have to measure all 25 yards because the bolt has been opened, and we're not sure if cut from, not so awesome. Sorry! After the muslin bargin bang I headed over to my local yarn shop, as I figured out how many skeins I will need for my McQueen blue sweater dress. 15. Running through the rain, I noticed Oktoberfest going on, on the main downtown street. Soggy beer and pretzels for everyone! Oh wait, those both contain wheat. Another bummer, I get to the yarn store and it is ... CLOSED! Feeling bummed, but eager to get on with knitting my project I searched the farest corners of the interweb to try to find Cascade Cloud 9 in Blue (colorway 140). No dice. Not one skein. Not one. Anywhere. How can this be? I know the yarn store had quite a bit of it, so how can there be none anywhere else int he world? Oh no! And I won't be able to make it to the store again until NEXT weekend. How can I possibly wait another week? It could all be gone by then. What if they're already all gone? I find this yarn I love, and this yarn that is perfect for the project ... oh, unnecessary anxiety attack, I feel you approaching. Damn you festival, why do you create enough cause for my yarn store to be closed?
Ramon calmly asked, in my hysterics, "Do they keep your customer information? Like, do they have a file for you?" I respond, "Yes."
"Well, if they have you on file, they have all of your yarn purchases on file. Why don't you call them, leave them a message, tell them what you are looking for, tell them you want to pay over the phone, and have me pick it up for you?"
Brilliant. Plan worked. The accounting lady actually went in on Sunday night to pick something up, listened to the messages, and took care of the yarn over the phone. They had all 14 (more) skeins. Knitting like a little beaver, I am almost through with the back "skirt."
I know I say this all the time, but oh how I love yarn people.
Oh, and I couldn't leave this out. Thunder says, "Hello, I am Thunder, and I am a laundry-basket addict. I don't care about fur-ing up the warm clothes, I just can't get enough of the baskets. I know I have a problem."
Friday, October 15, 2010
Compromise never felt so good. Day 47.
Not getting to bed until fairly late last night I slept in until 8 today. Shocker, I know! I then started on a few little things, though my main goal was to get some patterns drafted today. So, since that was my goal, we can assume—correctly—that this didn't happen.
I decided to get my gauge swatch a little further along for my blue McQueen Sweater Dress.
I also started to work on knitting lace, which I have never done before.
The amazing Malabrigo I found the other day is just too stunning a color not to use. The blue is bright. Really bright. I know that this is also not part of Project Hallway, but I just keep finding these amazing textures that I can't keep my mitts off of. The sweater that I want to make with this lace yarn requires more than I bought, so I looked up a place to get more. Turns out one of the few places that have (had) it is in SF., ImagiKnit. So, thinking on my tippy toes, I called a girl-friend, asked her if she wanted to have lunch and starting driving to the city.
After having a lovely lunch, I realized that I just don't get to see this good friend nearly enough, and I started feeling a little blue. So what better than to help my mood than more lovely blue yarn. I bought the only two hanks that the store had and was utterly overwhelmed by their immense selection of yarn—best selection of yarn yet. Drool.
Sadly, with my mood still not improved, I hit up another discount fabric place in San Francisco, and low-and-behold, what did I find? My houndstooth! It's not wool, it is polyester, but it feels soft, the black and white is clean, graphic, and large, and the best part it was $9. Wait, it gets better, turns out it was also 30% off!
I know it is not as nice as the fabric that McQueen used, but I simply can't afford the wool/alpaca blend at Britex. I think that this is part of the challenge of the project, creatively problem solving the materials dilemma. This project isn't supposed to be easy, it is intended to get me thinking outside of my normal ways. So, the fabric may not be "ideal," but to me it is. I had the reaction, the moment that I saw it, that THIS IS THE FABRIC, which is the desired reaction to making any project. As diligently explained by Michael Kors on Project Runway this season, you have to let the fabric speak to you, and understand how you can work with it, and not have it work against you. I can tell that this will drape nicely, and work well for the project. Maybe sometime, when I can afford it again I can go back to Britex and re-do this one with the wool, but I don't know if I will stand to learn enough by doing it a second time to make the effort worth the investment. Again, with the 80/20 principal. Will the outcome really outweigh the effort by enough to make it a valuable use of time and resources? This is a question that is often asked in our kitchen when looking at making something the way that Thomas Keller would, versus the way that will be 80% as good as the Thomas Keller version while taking 20% of the time. So, While I may have compromised the wool, I feel really good about the fabric that I chose.
The woman at the cutting counter said that it had just come in today, and I was the first one to get it. I bough 6 yards for about 40 bucks, and finally my blue mood was lifted, unlike the San Francisco Fog which kept me cool for my drive home on this unusually hot October day.
I decided to get my gauge swatch a little further along for my blue McQueen Sweater Dress.
I also started to work on knitting lace, which I have never done before.
The amazing Malabrigo I found the other day is just too stunning a color not to use. The blue is bright. Really bright. I know that this is also not part of Project Hallway, but I just keep finding these amazing textures that I can't keep my mitts off of. The sweater that I want to make with this lace yarn requires more than I bought, so I looked up a place to get more. Turns out one of the few places that have (had) it is in SF., ImagiKnit. So, thinking on my tippy toes, I called a girl-friend, asked her if she wanted to have lunch and starting driving to the city.
After having a lovely lunch, I realized that I just don't get to see this good friend nearly enough, and I started feeling a little blue. So what better than to help my mood than more lovely blue yarn. I bought the only two hanks that the store had and was utterly overwhelmed by their immense selection of yarn—best selection of yarn yet. Drool.
Sadly, with my mood still not improved, I hit up another discount fabric place in San Francisco, and low-and-behold, what did I find? My houndstooth! It's not wool, it is polyester, but it feels soft, the black and white is clean, graphic, and large, and the best part it was $9. Wait, it gets better, turns out it was also 30% off!
I know it is not as nice as the fabric that McQueen used, but I simply can't afford the wool/alpaca blend at Britex. I think that this is part of the challenge of the project, creatively problem solving the materials dilemma. This project isn't supposed to be easy, it is intended to get me thinking outside of my normal ways. So, the fabric may not be "ideal," but to me it is. I had the reaction, the moment that I saw it, that THIS IS THE FABRIC, which is the desired reaction to making any project. As diligently explained by Michael Kors on Project Runway this season, you have to let the fabric speak to you, and understand how you can work with it, and not have it work against you. I can tell that this will drape nicely, and work well for the project. Maybe sometime, when I can afford it again I can go back to Britex and re-do this one with the wool, but I don't know if I will stand to learn enough by doing it a second time to make the effort worth the investment. Again, with the 80/20 principal. Will the outcome really outweigh the effort by enough to make it a valuable use of time and resources? This is a question that is often asked in our kitchen when looking at making something the way that Thomas Keller would, versus the way that will be 80% as good as the Thomas Keller version while taking 20% of the time. So, While I may have compromised the wool, I feel really good about the fabric that I chose.
The woman at the cutting counter said that it had just come in today, and I was the first one to get it. I bough 6 yards for about 40 bucks, and finally my blue mood was lifted, unlike the San Francisco Fog which kept me cool for my drive home on this unusually hot October day.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
It shouldn't be called "Finishing." Day 46.
At the end of each project for which a pattern already exists, there is a small blurb about the "finishing" of the garment. Be it knitting, sewing, crochet, anyone who has worked on one of these sorts of projects knows. "Make button holes and sew on buttons." "Sew arms together and sew to body." "Block to size." etc. Standard with the 80/20 principle, the last 20 percent, or even last 10 percent take 80 percent of the time.
After cleaning up cat yarn-ball emergency #854, I spent, literally, all day completing the "finishing" of the Sweater I Hope Ramon Will Wear. Finally at 6:30 I completed it. I'd like to vote to make a move to change definition of "finishing" to "making." Something that takes 8 hours, when the entire sweater took 40 to make should be included as construction, not "finishing" where you get the false feeling that your juuuuuuuuust about done.
The finishing should be: "Put on. Wear. Feel Fabulous."
That being said, I found this pattern a bit frustrating, with a few small errors which lead to lard corrections. The ribbing of the neck? There is no way that this instruction can be followed as designated in the size 40 chest, smallest gauge pattern. I also found that the math in the sleeve increase was wrong, and the saddle for the left hand sleeve is also specified incorrectly. The right one is fine, so if it is simply switched/mirrored, it all works out fine. All in all I am happy with it, but I am not sold on the colors that I chose. I tried to play it safe, like the book says, but I think that two blues or two greens, or even the gray and charcoal that I thought I'd picked might have been better. I think he is really going to like the overall styling though. It is strong and masculine while still refined, just like my Ramon!
I also learned how to crochet today!
Big plans for the the weekend ... a lot of pattern drafting, and a lot of sewing! I can't wait.
Ramon's sweater, appropriatly hung on an AlpineStars hanger, left over from my photoshoots last January.
My first little crochet piece!
And the yarn emergency. Please note how both cats are actively involved in the emergency.
After cleaning up cat yarn-ball emergency #854, I spent, literally, all day completing the "finishing" of the Sweater I Hope Ramon Will Wear. Finally at 6:30 I completed it. I'd like to vote to make a move to change definition of "finishing" to "making." Something that takes 8 hours, when the entire sweater took 40 to make should be included as construction, not "finishing" where you get the false feeling that your juuuuuuuuust about done.
The finishing should be: "Put on. Wear. Feel Fabulous."
That being said, I found this pattern a bit frustrating, with a few small errors which lead to lard corrections. The ribbing of the neck? There is no way that this instruction can be followed as designated in the size 40 chest, smallest gauge pattern. I also found that the math in the sleeve increase was wrong, and the saddle for the left hand sleeve is also specified incorrectly. The right one is fine, so if it is simply switched/mirrored, it all works out fine. All in all I am happy with it, but I am not sold on the colors that I chose. I tried to play it safe, like the book says, but I think that two blues or two greens, or even the gray and charcoal that I thought I'd picked might have been better. I think he is really going to like the overall styling though. It is strong and masculine while still refined, just like my Ramon!
I also learned how to crochet today!
Big plans for the the weekend ... a lot of pattern drafting, and a lot of sewing! I can't wait.
Ramon's sweater, appropriatly hung on an AlpineStars hanger, left over from my photoshoots last January.
My first little crochet piece!
And the yarn emergency. Please note how both cats are actively involved in the emergency.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Two Wool Skirts. Day 45.
At 12:07 last night Ramon woke me up as he was coming to bed by saying that there was a "Yarn Emergency." I groggily asked him what happened, and he said, "I don't know, but it's bad." I'd been blocking his sweater—which I am almost done with, just have the neck-band left, surprise!—and dumbly left it out on my new sewing desk in my new sewing room. Big kitty was already asleep on the blocked pieces because she was so exhausted from attacking a yarn-ball that was attached to a sleeve and wound up all over the living room. I lost a few rows, but luckily that was all. The project now rests in a drawer, safely stored away from my four-legged-fur-balls.
With the sweater almost done I patiently await the yarn I ordered a-week-and-a-half ago, but alas it has not yet arrived! I called them today to ask if they knew anything. They do! It got returned, as the post-office indicated that my address doesn't exist. Hrmp. Well, now it is on it's way to Ramon's shop, and as he gets hordes of deliveries there I have a hard time for-seeing a delivery problem.
Yesterday I went out and had a fabulous lunch in Half Moon Bay with a fabulous girlfriend I haven't seen in forever. And, OMG, she knits! How did I forget this fantastic fact. I remember her telling me long ago, but we don't see each-other very much, and I only started knitting a few months ago. It slipped my mind.
I think I might be going about this all wrong. I am finding that through working on this project I am making more connections with people than before, which is great, but I am learning the skills on my own. Michelle and I went to a yarn shop near where she lives after having lunch, and there were 4 ladies knitting away in a circle, telling stories about the DeYoung and modern art. They were learning from each-other while socializing. When I need to learn something new, I look it up online. It would be great to learn these skills with people, like in a knitting group, or a sewing club, and then translate them into projects. I think I should get out more.
Before lunch I finished wool skirt #2. I pegged this one, because that is how it looked to me in the picture. It is also a little longer, and has two darts in the front, as opposed to one, like the black wool skirt I completed with the peacock lining. My mom and I searched and searched for wool the same color as in the Alexander McQueen Cape Suit, but no luck. I decided on the light grey because it is similar in color density, while a few actual colors away. I didn't want olive, or forest green. I like the grey, and I feel happy with it as an alternative, but if I do find the right color, I will probably be inclined to get it, and make the skirt again. With pegging the skirt it has a little less ease in the hip than the straight black skirt, but I really like the way that it fits, and I really like the texture of the wool, and the lining—which is of a more standard variety than the peacock print. So, I still have the cape to start for this look, and this will require finding some trims, something else I haven't ever really done before!
The McQueen original pegged skirt:
I know, it has been a millennium, but here, finally, is the black-wool skirt. I put the peacock print in the kick-pleat, but I am having a really hard time getting pictures of that. So, at some point, I will post that, too.
The McQueen original straight skirt:
With the sweater almost done I patiently await the yarn I ordered a-week-and-a-half ago, but alas it has not yet arrived! I called them today to ask if they knew anything. They do! It got returned, as the post-office indicated that my address doesn't exist. Hrmp. Well, now it is on it's way to Ramon's shop, and as he gets hordes of deliveries there I have a hard time for-seeing a delivery problem.
Yesterday I went out and had a fabulous lunch in Half Moon Bay with a fabulous girlfriend I haven't seen in forever. And, OMG, she knits! How did I forget this fantastic fact. I remember her telling me long ago, but we don't see each-other very much, and I only started knitting a few months ago. It slipped my mind.
I think I might be going about this all wrong. I am finding that through working on this project I am making more connections with people than before, which is great, but I am learning the skills on my own. Michelle and I went to a yarn shop near where she lives after having lunch, and there were 4 ladies knitting away in a circle, telling stories about the DeYoung and modern art. They were learning from each-other while socializing. When I need to learn something new, I look it up online. It would be great to learn these skills with people, like in a knitting group, or a sewing club, and then translate them into projects. I think I should get out more.
Before lunch I finished wool skirt #2. I pegged this one, because that is how it looked to me in the picture. It is also a little longer, and has two darts in the front, as opposed to one, like the black wool skirt I completed with the peacock lining. My mom and I searched and searched for wool the same color as in the Alexander McQueen Cape Suit, but no luck. I decided on the light grey because it is similar in color density, while a few actual colors away. I didn't want olive, or forest green. I like the grey, and I feel happy with it as an alternative, but if I do find the right color, I will probably be inclined to get it, and make the skirt again. With pegging the skirt it has a little less ease in the hip than the straight black skirt, but I really like the way that it fits, and I really like the texture of the wool, and the lining—which is of a more standard variety than the peacock print. So, I still have the cape to start for this look, and this will require finding some trims, something else I haven't ever really done before!
The McQueen original pegged skirt:
I know, it has been a millennium, but here, finally, is the black-wool skirt. I put the peacock print in the kick-pleat, but I am having a really hard time getting pictures of that. So, at some point, I will post that, too.
The McQueen original straight skirt:
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Ready to turn my houndstooth into checkers. Day 42.
I haven't even had one moment to sit down since Wednesday afternoon. I know I say this all the time, but I just can't believe how busy I am, even without a job! With last Tuesday being my sister's birthday, this weekend was packed with fun family time from Thursday until about 30 minutes ago. It was so busy, that even though my mom and sister were staying with Ramon and I, I never even got the chance to demonstrate the wonders of my new Bernina! Well, this was, of course, complicated by the fact that I have no where to put my Bernina, and every time I tried to get it out we had something else going on at our tiny kitchen table. This morning I was feeling a little like the flavor of my jelly on my gluten-free toast: sour cheery.
As mentioned a few weeks back, I was to start working on my sewing room. Alas, busy schedules and pessimism got in the way. My mother, not in-tune with my apparent daily drama, threw the negativity to the way-side, and commanded that we get to work on my sewing room—aka our guest room, aka my mom's room—immediately. By day's end everything had moved, and after a trip to busy IKEA—thanks for not paying attention IKEA check-out person—below budget my sewing room is (almost) complete. It still needs some cleaning and tidying:
But, even though it wasn't ALL running around (OK, maybe it was) I did get to take my mom up to San Francisco to go to the exclusive Britex, and then I also took her to the discount fabric place. Amazing, beautiful textiles at Britex, but not so cheap. I found the exact houndstooth wool that I want, but at $70 a yard, on sale, I just can't justify it right now. That place is utterly overwhelming with the amount of great fabric they have, and even more astounding, the prices. $300 a yard remnant silk? Really? We left with only our still intact wallets in-hand. At the discount fabric place my mother observed the disparity between the two, noting that we have not one single great fabric store in the bay-area. Despite this, I found the most amazing purple and gold sequin fabric I have ever seen. I honestly never, ever, ever thought I would buy anything with sequins but this was just too fabulous to resist. On sale it was $32 a yard, and with only one yard left on the bold, I bought it. I have something in mind for it, and hope to turn it out quickly, even though it is not one of my Alexander McQueen looks.
After going back to San Francisco for a second time yesterday, for my sister's law-school drink-a-thon, I felt exhausted. I think that is why I was a sour cherry this morning. But I must say, that, even though I completed no actual sewing this weekend, I still feel like I accomplished a lot. Ramon has been amazingly generous over the past few months. Since I was a senior in high-school I have always been working. Upon graduating from college I did everything that I could to make sure that I was able to financially sustain myself, while having my own apartment. It is really hard to let-go of your independence, but it isn't as much of letting go as it is letting-in. Ramon and I have been living together for almost three years, and yet it is still hard for me to accept help. Though, if the tables were turned I would be doing the same thing for him, without question or doubt, and it would mean the world to me. So, now that Ramon has bought me a new sewing machine—yes, i did create a new website for his business, and Nicole bought the sewing machine for me, too—and he has bought me a new work-area, I am starting to let go—of, course only a little—of the guilt of contributing so much less than before, and opening up to the idea of really doing all of this together. How many men in the world would do what he does for me? It is time to take a step back and count my blessings.
I have been taking more steps to help other people recently, to continue the feelings that I have about what Ramon is doing for me. On Thursday, after leaving my hair appointment to correct my naturally not real color back to platinum, and no-roots, I stopped by a market to grab an apple to drive home with. As I was pulling out of the store's driveway, I saw a woman pulling her mother's wheel-chair out of the same market, and then her mother accidentally dropped her sunglasses case. I couldn't stop right then and there to say something, as there was traffic right behind me, so I spent the next 10 minutes driving around, parking the car, running back to get the case—only to notice it was hand-made, chasing them down the street and returning it. It just made me sad to think of the cute old lady not able to find her case, and upon seeing that it was hand-made, I realized that it probably held some significance to her. I am glad I could find them and return it. If I still had a job, would I have taken the time to do this?
On Friday Ramon and I took my sister and my mom to the Mountain Winery to see Cheap Trick, which, during the 80's was my mother's favorite bad. Two margaritas in, we had a really great time. After seeing Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, and Chris Issak there in August, Cheap Trick was the best show we saw this "summer." They have a very prevalent checker motif running throughout their gear and fan-wear. I had sort-of forgotten about it over the years, but upon seeing it, and hearing them live again I realized what a great visual texture it is. I am glad that I bought the tickets with my tax-refund while I still had a job, because it was worth every penny, and even better to share it with my Mom and sister who really, really enjoyed it. Alas, I didn't see any checkered wool at Britex, so I think that project, along with the budget, are going to have to wait for a while.
So, taking a cue from my checkered friends regarding my current situation an feeling at a lack of control:
"Surrender, surrender, but don't give yourself away."
As mentioned a few weeks back, I was to start working on my sewing room. Alas, busy schedules and pessimism got in the way. My mother, not in-tune with my apparent daily drama, threw the negativity to the way-side, and commanded that we get to work on my sewing room—aka our guest room, aka my mom's room—immediately. By day's end everything had moved, and after a trip to busy IKEA—thanks for not paying attention IKEA check-out person—below budget my sewing room is (almost) complete. It still needs some cleaning and tidying:
But, even though it wasn't ALL running around (OK, maybe it was) I did get to take my mom up to San Francisco to go to the exclusive Britex, and then I also took her to the discount fabric place. Amazing, beautiful textiles at Britex, but not so cheap. I found the exact houndstooth wool that I want, but at $70 a yard, on sale, I just can't justify it right now. That place is utterly overwhelming with the amount of great fabric they have, and even more astounding, the prices. $300 a yard remnant silk? Really? We left with only our still intact wallets in-hand. At the discount fabric place my mother observed the disparity between the two, noting that we have not one single great fabric store in the bay-area. Despite this, I found the most amazing purple and gold sequin fabric I have ever seen. I honestly never, ever, ever thought I would buy anything with sequins but this was just too fabulous to resist. On sale it was $32 a yard, and with only one yard left on the bold, I bought it. I have something in mind for it, and hope to turn it out quickly, even though it is not one of my Alexander McQueen looks.
After going back to San Francisco for a second time yesterday, for my sister's law-school drink-a-thon, I felt exhausted. I think that is why I was a sour cherry this morning. But I must say, that, even though I completed no actual sewing this weekend, I still feel like I accomplished a lot. Ramon has been amazingly generous over the past few months. Since I was a senior in high-school I have always been working. Upon graduating from college I did everything that I could to make sure that I was able to financially sustain myself, while having my own apartment. It is really hard to let-go of your independence, but it isn't as much of letting go as it is letting-in. Ramon and I have been living together for almost three years, and yet it is still hard for me to accept help. Though, if the tables were turned I would be doing the same thing for him, without question or doubt, and it would mean the world to me. So, now that Ramon has bought me a new sewing machine—yes, i did create a new website for his business, and Nicole bought the sewing machine for me, too—and he has bought me a new work-area, I am starting to let go—of, course only a little—of the guilt of contributing so much less than before, and opening up to the idea of really doing all of this together. How many men in the world would do what he does for me? It is time to take a step back and count my blessings.
I have been taking more steps to help other people recently, to continue the feelings that I have about what Ramon is doing for me. On Thursday, after leaving my hair appointment to correct my naturally not real color back to platinum, and no-roots, I stopped by a market to grab an apple to drive home with. As I was pulling out of the store's driveway, I saw a woman pulling her mother's wheel-chair out of the same market, and then her mother accidentally dropped her sunglasses case. I couldn't stop right then and there to say something, as there was traffic right behind me, so I spent the next 10 minutes driving around, parking the car, running back to get the case—only to notice it was hand-made, chasing them down the street and returning it. It just made me sad to think of the cute old lady not able to find her case, and upon seeing that it was hand-made, I realized that it probably held some significance to her. I am glad I could find them and return it. If I still had a job, would I have taken the time to do this?
On Friday Ramon and I took my sister and my mom to the Mountain Winery to see Cheap Trick, which, during the 80's was my mother's favorite bad. Two margaritas in, we had a really great time. After seeing Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, and Chris Issak there in August, Cheap Trick was the best show we saw this "summer." They have a very prevalent checker motif running throughout their gear and fan-wear. I had sort-of forgotten about it over the years, but upon seeing it, and hearing them live again I realized what a great visual texture it is. I am glad that I bought the tickets with my tax-refund while I still had a job, because it was worth every penny, and even better to share it with my Mom and sister who really, really enjoyed it. Alas, I didn't see any checkered wool at Britex, so I think that project, along with the budget, are going to have to wait for a while.
So, taking a cue from my checkered friends regarding my current situation an feeling at a lack of control:
"Surrender, surrender, but don't give yourself away."
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
All dressed up and nothing to sew. Day 38.
So, now that I have the amazing sewing machine, I don't have anything ready to sew. How is that possible? I think I was slacking off while the sewing machine was out of commission, and finishing knitting the in-between sweater, which, i was very excited to gift last night.
Yesterday was my sister's birthday, and Ramon and I picked her up in San Francisco, and then went out to dinner to celebrate. I am so proud, I even informed the restaurant ahead of time, so they snag Happy Birthday to her. Hehe, oh, I am evil. The second I saw the pattern on ravelry.com of the in-between sweater, I knew my sister would love it. This project was a really good challenged and I learned a lot doing it. It was my first time to cable-knit, and it was amazingly easy, though making sure that I had the exact number of stitches wasn't. One inch in and two inches out equals three inches of progress.
In the end it was a little big on me, and fits my sister perfectly, and even better, she likes it!
So, because I have nothing ready to sew, I drafted two skirt patterns tonight. I used the momentum from my patternmaking class and powered through them. I will make muslins, to make sure that they are going to work, as I am doing some different things in them. I don't have the right McQueen fabric for either of them, but I am looking, and looking. Perhaps I can find what I need for these two skirts this weekend.
Yesterday was my sister's birthday, and Ramon and I picked her up in San Francisco, and then went out to dinner to celebrate. I am so proud, I even informed the restaurant ahead of time, so they snag Happy Birthday to her. Hehe, oh, I am evil. The second I saw the pattern on ravelry.com of the in-between sweater, I knew my sister would love it. This project was a really good challenged and I learned a lot doing it. It was my first time to cable-knit, and it was amazingly easy, though making sure that I had the exact number of stitches wasn't. One inch in and two inches out equals three inches of progress.
In the end it was a little big on me, and fits my sister perfectly, and even better, she likes it!
So, because I have nothing ready to sew, I drafted two skirt patterns tonight. I used the momentum from my patternmaking class and powered through them. I will make muslins, to make sure that they are going to work, as I am doing some different things in them. I don't have the right McQueen fabric for either of them, but I am looking, and looking. Perhaps I can find what I need for these two skirts this weekend.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Don't drop your yarn ball in the coffee. Day 36.
Luckily it was only a little nubbin of a ball left anyway. Can't complain though. I am on cloud nine because of my new Aurora, I finished a McQueen garment, and I made huge amounts of progress on Ramon's Christmas sweater. Almost done with the front side, and half-way done with the back, I am really happy that I frogged it last week. I can tell it is going to be really nice when it is done, and it would have been a shame to have it turn out the wrong size.
Several friends have been quite appalled to hear that I un-did all of that progress. Dalyn went over ever reason she could think of about how to fix it and why I shouldn't have frogged it as we drove to Nieman's last Thursday for a boot party. Jeff wished I'd left it intact for him—maybe wouldn't have been a bad idea, but I certainly couldn't have Ramon and Jeff matching! I think that by the end of the week his sweater may be done—see, trying not to set expectations too high—and I have more yarn on the way for yet another project. I have been searching for this particular yarn that is hand-painted and hard to get your paws on. I found enough of it in Oregon, and was about to order online when I decided to call, just in-case. Sure enough they did have it, but oh how I love yarn people.
I made a trip down to my local yarn store on Friday, looking for a way to order this yarn. I wanted to try to get it through the local yarn-shop, because I adore them, and want to support their business. The yarn is made by Malabrigo, and while my yarn store carries some of their yarn, they don't carry the type I want. Upon asking if they could order it for me, they said yes, but that it might be up to 6 months before I get it and I'd be best off ordering it online. 6 months? Do we have to wait for spring for the sheep to be shorn?
While looking around the yarn store, I may have found the right yarn for the blue Alexander McQueen fuzzy (Angora?) blue dress. I bought a ball and will commence testing it out after I finish Ramon's sweater. What I found is Cascade Cloud 9. I love it, but not a lot comes in one ball, only 109 yards. I think that the dress may take around 2000 yards, and at eight bucks a pop that's $152. Ouch, though less than what just spent on the Malabrigo. Gauge swatch to come.
On Thursday, after posting the Kitten Eating Yogurt on Two Legs video, I decided to take some Jeff advice and get down to the store to buy my lining. Last weekend while pouring wine, I whinned to Jeff a lot about not having my sewing machine. After explaining that the sewing lab is available but only for an hour and a half here and two hours there, he said that I needed to look at it like Project Runway, and just go in there and "bust the shit out." Point taken.
My sewing helper. See how she is helping by sitting on my bag of sewing tools?
I got my wool and my lining cut, after agonizing in the store for an hour-an-a-half over the lining, and got into the sewing lab around 2. The machine I had made friends with, was of-course taken. I found my way to a little white Juki, and low-and-behold, it wanted to make friends, too! Feeling very happy and satisfied with my skirt and lining half-sewn and the brilliant greens and blues popping out from behind the black wool, I headed home at 4 to get ready to go to Nieman's with Dalyn.
Delightful as always, I had a great time visiting the store of many beautiful things I cannot afford right now. I found some Manolos that are so freaking good I almost started crying. (See picture of fabulous shoes below, with my little Stuart Weitzman toes peaking out.) There was also an incident with a thigh-high Chanel boot made out of scooba material, somehow listed as leather. FYI, stretch leather and denim are not two great tastes that taste great together. Dalyn's awesome personal shopper, Omid, know I will try ANYTHING on. He brought the boots to the ghost-town of a drink area where Dalyn and I were enjoying our cocktails. It took 5 minutes to get the thing half on, and another 10 to get it back off. Crying for help, Dalyn was literally crying from laughing. Best Nieman's moment yet.
Makes me think that I need to work harder to find a job. I miss being able to buy these things.
After tossing the small bit of yarn that is now caffeinated, back to work on my very busy day. I really hope that I can find some time to squeeze in some sewing on my beautiful new Bernina!
Several friends have been quite appalled to hear that I un-did all of that progress. Dalyn went over ever reason she could think of about how to fix it and why I shouldn't have frogged it as we drove to Nieman's last Thursday for a boot party. Jeff wished I'd left it intact for him—maybe wouldn't have been a bad idea, but I certainly couldn't have Ramon and Jeff matching! I think that by the end of the week his sweater may be done—see, trying not to set expectations too high—and I have more yarn on the way for yet another project. I have been searching for this particular yarn that is hand-painted and hard to get your paws on. I found enough of it in Oregon, and was about to order online when I decided to call, just in-case. Sure enough they did have it, but oh how I love yarn people.
I made a trip down to my local yarn store on Friday, looking for a way to order this yarn. I wanted to try to get it through the local yarn-shop, because I adore them, and want to support their business. The yarn is made by Malabrigo, and while my yarn store carries some of their yarn, they don't carry the type I want. Upon asking if they could order it for me, they said yes, but that it might be up to 6 months before I get it and I'd be best off ordering it online. 6 months? Do we have to wait for spring for the sheep to be shorn?
While looking around the yarn store, I may have found the right yarn for the blue Alexander McQueen fuzzy (Angora?) blue dress. I bought a ball and will commence testing it out after I finish Ramon's sweater. What I found is Cascade Cloud 9. I love it, but not a lot comes in one ball, only 109 yards. I think that the dress may take around 2000 yards, and at eight bucks a pop that's $152. Ouch, though less than what just spent on the Malabrigo. Gauge swatch to come.
On Thursday, after posting the Kitten Eating Yogurt on Two Legs video, I decided to take some Jeff advice and get down to the store to buy my lining. Last weekend while pouring wine, I whinned to Jeff a lot about not having my sewing machine. After explaining that the sewing lab is available but only for an hour and a half here and two hours there, he said that I needed to look at it like Project Runway, and just go in there and "bust the shit out." Point taken.
My sewing helper. See how she is helping by sitting on my bag of sewing tools?
I got my wool and my lining cut, after agonizing in the store for an hour-an-a-half over the lining, and got into the sewing lab around 2. The machine I had made friends with, was of-course taken. I found my way to a little white Juki, and low-and-behold, it wanted to make friends, too! Feeling very happy and satisfied with my skirt and lining half-sewn and the brilliant greens and blues popping out from behind the black wool, I headed home at 4 to get ready to go to Nieman's with Dalyn.
Delightful as always, I had a great time visiting the store of many beautiful things I cannot afford right now. I found some Manolos that are so freaking good I almost started crying. (See picture of fabulous shoes below, with my little Stuart Weitzman toes peaking out.) There was also an incident with a thigh-high Chanel boot made out of scooba material, somehow listed as leather. FYI, stretch leather and denim are not two great tastes that taste great together. Dalyn's awesome personal shopper, Omid, know I will try ANYTHING on. He brought the boots to the ghost-town of a drink area where Dalyn and I were enjoying our cocktails. It took 5 minutes to get the thing half on, and another 10 to get it back off. Crying for help, Dalyn was literally crying from laughing. Best Nieman's moment yet.
Makes me think that I need to work harder to find a job. I miss being able to buy these things.
After tossing the small bit of yarn that is now caffeinated, back to work on my very busy day. I really hope that I can find some time to squeeze in some sewing on my beautiful new Bernina!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Serviced, but never made back home. Day 35.
Big Kitty, who loves shoes as much as I do, has been just as anxious to get my sewing machine back as I have. (Yes, I know that is Ramon's shoe, and not mine).
I was delighted when I got the call yesterday that my sewing machine was repaired and ready for pick-up. Ramon went with me today to bring that little puppy home. However, the sewing machine never made it.
I talked to Eddie for about two hours at Eddie's Quilting Bee in Sunnyvale, where my machine was being fixed. As Ramon recommend, I asked his opinion on if my current "Bernina" was qualified to meet my needs. I told him what I was doing, re-creating 30 Alexander McQueen looks in one year to learn how to sew. Wide-eyed, he asked, "how many?" in shock and disbelief.
He took some time to show me some other machines, and I got to try them all out. I really, really, really wish that I had known about this place before I bought the first machine. However, as Ramon says, if I hadn't have lost my job, I probably wouldn't have discovered until way down the road that it wasn't robust enough for my needs.
After testing numerous button holes, and asking a lot of questions I Ramon and I brought home this!
It may have cost more than my first and second cars, but it is less than Dalyn spent at Nieman's during the Green Party a few weeks ago.
OMG, I am so happy I could pee my pants. I am actually so happy that I finished the wool skirt! Too late and too tired tonight to put it on in the hallway, I will do it tomorrow, and post the pics.
For now I shall tease the lining, which I love. I didn't buy any in the city, which was a big mistake. I can only find acetate an polyester in the South Bay. So, I decided to go with something a bit more flirty and feathered because it tickled my fancy.
More to come on the beautiful Bernina Aurora 450 sewing machine and the many other goings on during the weekend soon. I'm pooped.
I was delighted when I got the call yesterday that my sewing machine was repaired and ready for pick-up. Ramon went with me today to bring that little puppy home. However, the sewing machine never made it.
I talked to Eddie for about two hours at Eddie's Quilting Bee in Sunnyvale, where my machine was being fixed. As Ramon recommend, I asked his opinion on if my current "Bernina" was qualified to meet my needs. I told him what I was doing, re-creating 30 Alexander McQueen looks in one year to learn how to sew. Wide-eyed, he asked, "how many?" in shock and disbelief.
He took some time to show me some other machines, and I got to try them all out. I really, really, really wish that I had known about this place before I bought the first machine. However, as Ramon says, if I hadn't have lost my job, I probably wouldn't have discovered until way down the road that it wasn't robust enough for my needs.
After testing numerous button holes, and asking a lot of questions I Ramon and I brought home this!
It may have cost more than my first and second cars, but it is less than Dalyn spent at Nieman's during the Green Party a few weeks ago.
OMG, I am so happy I could pee my pants. I am actually so happy that I finished the wool skirt! Too late and too tired tonight to put it on in the hallway, I will do it tomorrow, and post the pics.
For now I shall tease the lining, which I love. I didn't buy any in the city, which was a big mistake. I can only find acetate an polyester in the South Bay. So, I decided to go with something a bit more flirty and feathered because it tickled my fancy.
More to come on the beautiful Bernina Aurora 450 sewing machine and the many other goings on during the weekend soon. I'm pooped.
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