Cream Marfy Jacket

Link to Photo

I finished my jacket made from Marfy 9650. The pattern is from the Fall/Winter 2005/06 catalog. The fabric is a very heavy cream cotton with metallic embossed designs. I still think it's a really pretty fabric, but it was very hard to work with. It had no give to it, and easing was just about impossible. I had to lower the sleeve caps a fair amount to get the sleeves set in. I think they turned out fine, and they're very comfortable, which worried me, but it certainly could have been easier. The raised, embossed designs added to the stiffness of the fabric as well as making it somewhat difficult to do handstitching. The needle just didn't want to go through those areas.

All in all, I think it turned out well. I made some changes, as you can see by looking at the design illustration below. I didn't do the contrast collar or topstitching, and I decided against the pocket after pinning it on several times and attempting to adjust its position to someplace where it would look good. That spot didn't seem to exist, so I ditched it. The only topstitching on the jacket is some edgestitching along the collar and lapel edges. I used a Madeira Rayon thread that was a matching cream with tiny flecks of red, blue, and green, which are almost unnoticeable in the end, but the color match was very good anyway.

I think I have enough fabric left to do a matching skirt if I wish, but I'm not sure I really want one. Perhaps when I have some distance from working with this fabric, and have forgotten my troubles with it.... Here is a side view.


Link to Photo

The design called for a double button frog closure on an angle, and I did a closure made with 2 mother-of-pearl flat rings, a vintage button, and a cord made from suede and linen yarns. I was afraid it wouldn't be too practical, but it seems to hold very well, and it's easy to get the placement correct while wearing it. As with most double-breasted styles though, it looks better closed than open.


Link to Photo

Here's the pattern illustration.


Link to Photo

Another Snowstorm

From Weather

Yes, another snowstorm. I really don't remember another winter that has given us so much snow, and seemingly one storm after another. In fact it's snowing again tonight, and blowing 45-50mph too. This picture is actually from yesterday, when we got 8"+ of very heavy, wet snow dumped on us in a big hurry. I think I'm just tired of it.

Tomorrow, I'm going to a Spring Salad Luncheon! It's supposed to be sleeting, so that should be nice.

It's Nice To Be Back on Track

I finally got the lining cut for the embossed Marfy jacket, and hooray, I feel like I'm finally back on track. It's going in rather well too. I stopped tonight when I felt like I was getting tired, so at least there were no silly mistakes made. That's always a plus.

The Bendigo cardigan is getting closer to a finish as well. I'm halfway up the second sleeve. The weather has been great for knitting, as well as sewing, or anything that keeps one in the house.

It snowed last night and this morning, and we were snowed in. Our drive finally was cleared about 10pm tonight.

I also made my very first ever peach pie this evening. I'm usually an apple pie girl, but Pearle loves peach pie, so thought I'd try it. I got out the old Farm Journal Pie Book, and I have to say, I think peach pie might be my favorite now too. It's pretty wonderful! I got to use my new Microplane nutmeg grater too.

Tomorrow night is a Sewing Guild meeting, and the program is unique doll making. I've never made a doll, but it should be interesting.

It's Been A While

Still here, just quiet. I've been getting quite a bit done on the Bendigo cardigan, and in fact I just started on the second sleeve tonight. I'm really pleased with how it's turning out so far, and once I get the sleeve done, there will be only the blocking, assembly, and then picking up the button band. Practically done!

I've also been working, albeit slowly, on the Marfy jacket I'm making from the FabricMart embossed cotton. That fabric has been a struggle all the way. It's kind of thick, has no give whatsoever, and acts kind of "lumpy" at times because of the embossing I think. The sleeves are what gave me fits. Up to that point, things were going well, and I thought I was on track for a quick finish. I got the sleeves in, and although I did get them set in with no actual puckers on the sleeve side of the seam, the convolutions of the seam allowance came right through and because of the density of the fabric, made it look as if there were puckers on the sleeve itself. If I took a sleeve head and really held it in tight, they went away, but in real life, it wasn't working.

I checked a lot of my books, and the best information on what to do came from Sandra Betzina's Power Sewing. I lowered the sleeve cap, quite a bit actually, and they went in much more easily, and they look and feel fine. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was doing about what she suggested for UltraSuede, which this is not, but it sure acts like it.

Hand basting was difficult as well, as no matter how fine the needle, it's very difficult to get it through, and if you happen to hit one of the embossed spots, it's tougher yet.

I think I did a poor job of matching the fabric and pattern. The fact that this jacket has curving lapels makes it difficult with this fabric, as wherever you have an embossed spot that extends into the edge seam, it doesn't want to lie smoothly, it wants to make a small "point" instead. Maddening, but with pressing and patience, I managed to get it right. I am afraid however, that if I topstitch or edgestitch, it will just bring the points back with a vengeance. Hand stitching holds no temptation with this fabric either. I think I'm just going to finish it, and be done. It's a lovely fabric, and quite busy by itself, so it really doesn't need even the extra embellishment of edgestitching.

Anyway, I'm up to the lining, which I haven't cut out yet. I also need to figure out an interesting, and unique closure. The pattern suggests a single frog with 2 buttons, which looks very nice. I may look for some unusual buttons or something. Actually, I have a couple of drilled, polished stones that might be just the ticket. I'll have to hunt them. They're from my LYS, which also carries a wonderful button selection.

Marfy Dress Photos

Marfy 1128

Here is the finished dress from Marfy #1128. It was a little hard to photograph because the matelassé is such a dark brown. I'm actually very pleased with this, and although I doubt I'd make another like it, it was quite fun to do, and it really took me in a new direction. I love the chiffon on this dress.

The back view is below. It's about 1" higher in the back than the original design, as I raised the whole thing at the shoulders. I recut the front neckline to the original depth, but I left the back, as I felt a lower back would do nothing for me, and I think this gives the same effect, with less chance of problems.


Back View

Here's a close up of the buttons I used, and you can see a couple more construction-related photos here.



Button, Cuff & Placket

Marfy Dress Today; Photos Tomorrow

This afternoon I finished the Marfy dress, #1128, that I've been working on for a while. No photos yet, as it was too dark by the time I was done. It really turned out quite well, and I'm pleased with it, but I must say, I'm not sure just how soon the occasion will arise to wear it. When it does though, I'll be ready.

I was very worried that I might not like the look of the printed chiffon with the matelassé, but I think it's fine. The design calls for fancy buttons, and even says "jeweled" buttons, but I looked at what was in my button stash, and it turns out that one of my favorites from the collection I was given at Sewing Guild a couple weeks ago is the perfect thing for this. They're the brown domed buttons with brass dots. They're quite large, and "important" looking. There is one at each end of the chiffon scarf/collar, and one on each cuff. The cuffs close with snaps, as I didn't want such large buttonholes in them. Here's the pattern illustration.


Marfy#1128


On the knitting front, I decided how to adjust the stitch pattern for the back of the cabled Bendigo cardigan I'm knitting, so I'm ready to knit during the Super Bowl, if necessary, and I'm sure it will be. The original pattern had a panel of plain reverse stockinette in the center of the back, with a pattern panel on each side, but I wanted something with patterning all the way across, so I needed to adjust the panel placement slightly to get everything to work out right. I'm done with both fronts now, and I'm pleased and also slightly surprised at how quickly it seems to be going.

Spring Must Be Coming Soon

I used to subscribe to Knit'N'Style magazine, but lately I've been looking at it on the newsstand before I buy. I don't think I've ever looked at their website before, but I happened on it tonight, and this is the cover sweater on their April issue.

I just love this! Looking at it, I really hope it is not crocheted, but the colors and the design appeal to me so strongly that I am going to have to look for the magazine. I really need to know what yarn this is.

Knitting Enablement aka Happy Birthday

From Yarn

My sister-in-law has expressed interest in knitting, and tomorrow is her birthday. What could be more perfect? My family has all gone in on a gift, and I was delegated to find something. Of course I decided that this was the perfect time to get her hooked.

I included a beginning knitting book that's used by the LYS, just in case she wants to take their class, Brown Sheep worsted weight yarn in 3 colors, 2 circular needles, sizes 6 & 8, and various yarns from my collection so she can try out different things, just for fun. I also put in a copy of Classic Elite's Knitting the New Classics that I happened to have. I think it has some very tempting patterns. I put the whole collection in a bag suitable for knitting, and there it is! I'm feeling rather successful. I just hope she likes it!

From Yarn

Chiffon Sleeves

Chiffon Sleeve Seam

I've been working on my Marfy dress again with the chiffon sleeves and collar. I got brave and cut out the chiffon, and have been working with it. I didn't do a french seam, just a regular seam, and then turned both seam allowances to one side, but didn't make them completely flat, and stitched through them with a hand whipstitch. I then trimmed very closely. The seam allowance is now tiny, and very flexible. I also did the edges of the sleeve placket with a hand-rolled edge, as you would do a scarf. I used a fine silk thread for both of these operations. It's a #100, rather than a #50, which is regular machine stitching weight. I've begun attaching the matelassé cuffs and will then attach the sleeves to the dress. Then it will be on to the collar.

Moving Along

I finally broke down and ordered several things from FabricMart the other day. They have some really gorgeous, unusual things right now. I hope I'm going to get to them quickly after they come, as well. In hopes that action will occur, I worked a little while tonight on several things.

I got out a Marfy jacket pattern to see if I had enough of a wide wale knit to make it up, and the answer is no. Instead, I'm seriously considering using a cotton with metallic designs that I got last year. I washed a swatch to see if it was going to shrink or otherwise go weird, and it seems to be very stable. I thought I'd try washing a swatch of my Armani Perfume fabric as well, and was pleased to find that it too is very stable, and seemingly unaffected by washing. A friend guessed that it had some acetate in it, and it appears that it doesn't, which is just fine.

I worked a bit on the matelassé/chiffon Marfy dress I've been inching along on, and I feel like I'm making progress. I keep thinking I need armscye facings, and I become somewhat stymied. Then I realize it has sleeves, for heaven's sake! I cut the neckline lower this evening, compensating for what I took out at the shoulder, and it improves it no end. I begin to think I may actually get it done in fairly decent time.

I've been looking at the Couture shows, and am getting a little excited by them. There are some really interesting things. The Dior show is absolutely outstanding this season, but Valentino appeals to me as well, especially from a sewing point of view, just because of his beautiful fabrics and techniques. Every detail of his garments is obviously thought out very carefully, and the care taken certainly shows.

Hip volume really is coming to the fore, after a few seasons of foreshadowing, and it begins to look quite good. There are some very nice tunics that flare at the hip, and while I don't know that I'd care for them on me, they do look good on the runway.

Wardrobing & Buttons

I'm feeling light-as-a-feather today, because I finished a project last night that had been weighing heavily on my mind. I did a program for my local Sewing Guild on Wardrobing. It was actually a lot of fun, and went fairly well, but I worried a lot about it, and I'm just as glad that it's over.

One of our members brought several boxes of sewing items to the meeting, that she was looking for new homes for. They were things that had belonged to her mother-in-law, and among other things, she had lots of buttons. I was surprised and very pleased when she handed me a large bag of buttons and said she thought I'd like these. She was so right! I love buttons of all kinds, and there are some really unique ones here, and some very large ones, which I always gravitate toward. They seem to be very hard to find as well.

Half the Buttons
Some of my favorites are the large green carved buttons, and the blue and white swirl buttons on the left. I also love the set of 6 large, domed buttons in a dark brown with brass rods inset to look like round dots. They don't show well in the photo at all.


Other Half of the Buttons

Many of these are plastic buttons, but they seem to be a much nicer plastic than modern buttons, or maybe it's that they've improved with age. I'm not sure, but I know I'll be using some of these anyway, and maybe quite a few.

I've been knitting madly on the Bendigo Cabled Cardigan, and finished one side of the front the other day. I think it turned out very well. There will be a band at the CF that is picked up, so it will be a little wider. It seems to be turning out the correct size, which is always encouraging. Here's a photo of the front, and a close-up of the stitch patterns.



Front


Stitch Patterns

I've Been Tagged

(& You May Be Next!)

Mardel, at Purls & Murmurs tagged me. As Mardel noted on her own blog, at first a brief moment of panic struck, but then it sounded like fun.

Here are the Rules:

• Someone Tags you
• You post 5 things about yourself that you haven't already mentioned on your blog
• You tag 5 people about whom you'd like to know more

So, 5 things I haven't talked about.

I have a degree in Vocal Performance, and am a classically trained Soprano.

I can drive a grain truck. Also a tractor and a combine.

Although it's apparently almost a given now for women to admit that they never wanted to be the Princess who was waiting for Prince Charming to slay the dragon, etc., and that instead they wanted to be Prince Charming, or at least do all the exciting things he got to do, I really only ever wanted to be the Princess. Not that I was going to just sit there waiting, but I didn't want to do all those other things anyway. I'm perfectly happy being a very traditional kind of woman, although I would never want to go back to the days when that was all that was available to women. I simply happen to be one who likes that particular lifestyle, and was lucky enough to get it. Strangely enough, I don't identify one bit with any group I've heard of that is supposed to be for this type of thing. I simply want to do what I want to do, and they can do what they want to do. The end.

Probably the thing that I hate the most is people telling other people what to do. I have never understood why they didn't just do what they want, and let others have the same privilege. Not attempting to control others appears to be an impossible thing for some people, but I often think it's one of the worst things you can do as a person, and even more so if you're a person with some sort of power or authority over others. It's just mean.

I am the first tea drinker in a long Swedish line of coffee drinkers, and they do wonder about me a little.



That was surprisingly hard! Now, who shall I tag?
I will tag:
Off the Cuff
Fiberly One
Stitches & Seams
CraftLit
Couture et Tricot

Weather Influencing Style

KwikSew #2286

I just finished a lace tank-style undershirt from KwikSew #2286. This is the one where I used the stretch lace elastic edging that I dyed to match. The fabric is really more of a stretch mesh than a stretch lace, in my opinion, but with the soutache sewn on in pretty designs, it looks more like a lace. It has almost a tie-dyed effect, with some of it much lighter than others in a random, mottled sort of way.

I really like this pattern, and I was thinking last night as I stitched the hem, and realized that apparently I sew these in January, that it must be because I'm cold, and so I want more layers to put on. I also did a pair of semi-heavy socks recently, for much the same reason I suspect. Anyway, I thought it was kind of funny.

My Pincushion

My Pincushion

Debbie at Stitches and Seams had a post about her pincushion that caught my fancy. She got a new pincushion, color-coordinated to her recently decorated sewing room. You wouldn't think such a small item would be so exciting to get, but I knew exactly how she felt. It was fun to see hers, and I thought I'd take a photo of mine. It would be fun to see all of yours, too!

Mine is nowhere near as pristine as hers, since mine has been in use for a couple of years, but I am actually a little picky about what goes into it.

Nightgown

Border Print Gown

I seem to be in a "get the easy things done now" mood lately. I am always loathe to buy garments like this nightgown, as they're so easily made, but then I don't get them done, either. This is a cute border print polyester I found, and it just said nightgown to me, especially at the grand price of $2.50 for the 1 1/2 yards I bought. I copied an old favorite gown, using beading I had on hand for the straps and upper edge trim, where the original had narrow binding. It's quite a simple shape, but that's just what a nightgown should be. I cut it out Wednesday night, and stitched it up last night.


Nightgown Reverse

I should have posted a picture of what I used for trim on this gown, especially when it's called beading and has nothing to do with beads. I don't even know why it's called that, but as far as I know, that's the name for it. Here's a (somewhat blurry) photo.

It's lace that has largish holes or eyelets in it, and ribbon is run through them, or in this case, behind them. Often it's a contrasting ribbon, although this one is matching.

Armani Fabric?

Armani Fabric

This is a scan of some fabric that I found today in a place I didn't expect it. Wal-Mart. It was on the $2/yard table, and it immediately stood out when I came around the corner. It's a very nice jacquard burn-out print fabric in a great colorway. It's a little brighter than the scan shows, but not much. It's not what you'd expect with a shiny poly fabric, and I think there's quite a bit of rayon in it, and in fact, it may be almost all rayon, with polyester in the jacquard leaves, and around and through the burnout spots. The fact that it says Giorgio Armani Perfume near the selvedge is a slight puzzle. Could this have been meant for scarves for one of their perfume promotions? Who knows? It's pretty anyway, and a very high quality. I bought 5 yards, and am thinking of either a dress, or possibly a matching blouse and jacket lining.

I also got the new Spring 2007 Marfy catalog today! What joy, and surprise. I knew it would come quicker by courier (UPS) than by mail, but this is unbelievable. They only released it 2 days ago. So, now I'm poring over that, and gazing at my new fabric, and it may be going to give us a big ice and snow storm starting about tomorrow morning, so I'm ready to stay home and work!

Thank you all for the very kind comments on my jeans. There were questions about the Hollywood Waist technique, and I will definitely take photos next time I do one, but there's a great tutorial for this technique on Pam Erny's site, Off the Cuff. She taught me this method, and calls it the Comfy Waistband, which it certainly is, but I've found that more people call this the Hollywood Waistband, which sounds more glamorous in any case.

New Jeans

I had decided that I wanted to make a pair of pants which would "read" as jeans under things, but which would actually be a nice pair of flat-front pants that just happened to be made out of denim. The whole point was to get a pair of casual pants that would be suitable for any kind of hard wear I wanted to throw at it, and yet would look somewhat less casual than actual jeans. Since I generally wear something over the top of pants, the fact that jeans have all the detail and layers of fabric at the top doesn't do anything for me except add inches, and that is not really what I need. I wanted something that would be slim-fitting above the leg.


Front View

This is what I came up with. I used my favorite Double Burda pants pattern, leaving the leg width and shaping alone, and leaving the zipper on the side seam. I added an inseam pocket on the other side, and patch pockets on the back. I stitched the seams and then serged the allowances together, pressed them toward the back, and topstitched on the outseams, for a fake flat-fell look without the bulk. I also topstitched the patch pockets, around the inseam pocket opening, and the hem.


Pockets & Topstitching

I used the Hollywood Waistband technique, but I used a much wider elastic than I usually do since the denim needs a pretty sturdy underpinning. This is Textile Studio's 1 1/2" elastic. The top of the elastic sits at my waist, so it's almost a contour waist.

Inside Waistband


I wore these all day to see how they'd feel, and they're just as comfortable as I'd hoped.

Side View

Fake-A-Gamo Bag is Finished

Fake-A-Gamo Bag.

I finished this project this evening. I'm rather pleased with it, and although I didn't plan in the beginning to stray quite this far from the original, I rather like the outcome.

I used Pellon Peltex 72x double-sided fusible for the shaping, and covered both sides with the chosen lining fabric. I then trimmed one side of the lining to the size of the fusible and turned the other side over it and stitched. This created a thing rather like a very sturdy placemat, to which I attached pockets and then zigzagged the side edges off the edge, so it's kind of like a flat-locked seam.

Inside Bag

I had planned to use straight bamboo rod handles, but they didn't work with the very stiff shape, and so I tried a lot of different shapes and ideas, and came up with the D-ring bamboo shape upside down. I attached the handles with 2 lengths of turned tube each, stitching the ends before attaching the knitting to the lining.

I sewed the 2 knitted pieces together on 3 sides, then handstitched the top edge of the lining to the appropriate point on the knitted pieces, and finally handstitched the knitted facing to the inside.

Fundamental Socks

From Knitting

These socks are not a thing of beauty, as I am the first to point out, but they are certainly well-made socks, and very warm, and perfect for wearing any old time, whereas I have a tendency to save my "good" handknitted socks for less hard wear. As I mentioned before, this pattern calls for Woolly Nylon thread as a reinforcement carry-along in the heel, sole and toe stitches. This is accomplished by knitting it along with the yarn in those places, but when knitting across the instep stitches, you knit with the yarn alone, adding the thread again when you get to the sole stitches again. This creates a ladder of thread inside the foot of the sock. I actually took some good photos of this, and I cannot tell you how annoyed I was when I tried to download them, and they all disappeared into cyberspace. By that time of course, I had cut off the ladder threads, and so couldn't re-take the photos. Some days.... The threads do not work their way out, and there's no need to secure them; just cut them off. This is mindless knitting at its best, too. It was about a 3-day project for the pair. One was half finished very pleasantly during the Rose Parade.

I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease for these, and one skein makes the pair.

Holiday Knitting

It's been a very busy Christmas season, and I've been getting a little knitting done while visiting, etc. I found 3/4 of a pair of socks that I went ahead and finished. You can see photos which show more detail on all of these by clicking here.



The pattern is Pat's Almost Serious Socks, which I got from Patternworks some time ago. It was free with a yarn purchase, and the original pair was my very first pair of socks. It has an easy lace pattern, and was meant to be done in a cotton yarn with gold and silver carrying thread for the heels and toes. This is a nice wool from Bergere de France, and for some reason I had done the first sock, and had the second one done about halfway down the heel flap, then stopped cold for about 5 years I think. Whatever. Anyway, it seems like sock time again, so I finished them, and then began a pair of quickies from an old favorite pattern called Fundamental Socks. It's in the Spin Off Socks book. It's just a plain ribbed sock done in a worsted weight yarn, but you put wooly nylon in the heel and sole. It's a nice technique which really adds to the durability of the socks. They were designed as work socks, and they are nice. Here's a picture of the cuff so far, with the Peep looking on.




I also did gauge swatches for the Bendigo Cabled Cardigan, and started it as well. Here's my progress on one side of the front, so far.



I like this pattern very much. It doesn't come with a chart, so I made my own after doing one full repeat with the written instructions. After that, and making the chart, it's almost memorized anyway. It's not a really complicated pattern, but interesting enough to make for good knitting, and I really like the color and the yarn itself.

I also have photos of the Fake-A-Gamo bag that is all knitted, and now just needs to be assembled. I haven't quite found the right lining for it, which is going to be important, as it will show through the fairly large holes in the pattern.



And here's a close up of the stitch pattern.



Hope you've all had a great holiday season, and a little down time to spend with family and friends. It's been very nice here, but today we are suddenly buried under snow, which makes a few last visits very difficult, if not impossible.

Buried Under the White Stuff

Yesterday and the preveious days, it rained, but today we finally got it. Not exactly what I was hoping for, or at least not quite yet.



You can see how deep it is on the deck railings.



The poor birds empty the feeders about as fast as I can fill them.

As always, larger versions of the photos at Pbase.

Bendigo Wool is Here

From Yarn

My package of Australian wool came the 23rd, the last package before Christmas, and just for me! Bendigo didn't break their record, but it was a very respectable 12 day turnaround, so I'm pleased. I think it's a lovely color, (which you can see more clearly here) and even though my choices on the order form were Balls or Cones, I was a little surprised by the balls, as I guess I'd always had Skeins before, and then wound them into balls myself. They don't seem to offer that anymore. It used to be $1 more to have them wound for you, and I don't mind doing it myself, even though I don't have a ball-winder, just a nice swift. It's kind of relaxing, and I love to get my hands on the yarn. You get a real feel for it by doing the winding yourself, too.

I also got 2 patterns from them, and I may be going to use the cabled cardigan pattern from them. It looks very nice. I need to swatch a little first.

I finished all the knitting for the Fake-a-gamo bag last night, and blocked it. It looks so much better after blocking. Not even like the same stitch pattern, as the triangles all move into place rather than being lumpy. Now, all I have to do is sew it together and make the lining, which will be a little more complicated than the instructions. I like pockets inside my purses, and I also want to use some stiffening, so I will probably do a double lining, and put the interfacing in between layers. There are so many holes in the stitch pattern that whatever's next to it will show right through. The little curlicues at the bottom were so fun to do, and are really silly, but very cute. Pictures soon, I hope.

I'm off to pick up my sister at the bus depot, where United Airlines will finally get her from Denver to here. Fly United, ride the bus for 8 hours, after spending a day and a night at the airport.... Oh well, she was only supposed to be here yesterday afternoon. They promised her their next available flight otherwise, on Monday afternoon! So, our Christmas celebration will be slightly postponed.

Hope you are all enjoying whatever you are doing this holiday weekend! We are!

Vogue 8323

This is a first try on Vogue 8323, a nice knit top pattern. I used View A, with the crossover neckline, and added sleeves. I was planning to do long sleeves, but I only had enough fabric to do 3/4 sleeves. I altered the pattern before I began, but I will be doing a few things to it before I make it again. I do think I will make it again, as I like the style. It will be better in a beefier knit as well. You can see the photo larger here, and a sideview here.

It's been a long time since I made a Vogue knit top, and I must say, the instructions were particularly bad. They say the pattern is for Moderate Stretch Knits Only, and then on the View C instructions, they say, "If using a knit fabric...." What did they expect you to use? They also mention a serger only in passing, after instructing you in each step to do double-stitched seams. That technique is from the dawn of knit fabrics, if I recall correctly. I certainly haven't seen that anywhere for years. They really could stand to update their cut-and-paste library of instructional paragraphs.

I've been working on Christmas presents some, and only have one more thing to finish, which shouldn't be too difficult, I hope. Mainly, I have to find my instructions for a nice, twisted cord. I used some from an old copy of Piecework magazine once, and I liked the results.

I have stalled a little on the Marfy dress, as things have just overrun me, and I need time to decide whether I really like the plaid chiffon with the matelasslé. I think it should be nice, but then I worry.

I have begun again on the Fake-a-gamo (Ferragamo knock-off) bag. I was about 3/4 done with the first side, and started to kind of dislike it, so I quit for a while. I finished it the other night, making a few changes to the very top section, and I really think it's going to be neat. I'm about half-way through the second side now, so I'm hoping it will finish quickly. The photo on the left is the original, with the wonderful, yet difficult to replicate, wicker top. The photo on the right is the copy, and mine will be very similar, although more like the original in color. You can get the pattern at KnitLit.

Chiffon is here!

When I ordered the plaid chiffon for my Dressy Dress last Monday, I was slightly resigned to the idea that it might not come very quickly. Fashion Fabrics Club is not always the quickest online fabric source, but they vary pretty widely, so you never know. Well, the chiffon came yesterday, and I think I like it with the matelasse. One week from ordering to holding it in my hot little hand. Pretty good, I'd say.

I celebrated by ordering yarn and two patterns last night from Bendigo Woolen Mills. I thought I knew exactly what kind of sweater I wanted, but now I'm not so sure. My original plan was a cabled cardigan, and I still want one, but maybe in a lighter weight. Actually, all my original plans for this order kind of went out the window. I was set on Colonial yarn, which is a cabled wool, and makes for great stitch definition. I used it for The Red Cardigan, and it was great to knit with, and has held up beautifully.


You can see better quality photos here.

Unfortunately, I fell in love with a color which is only available in their Rustic range, also wool, but not cabled. I've used Rustic before, as well as Colonial, and it's very nice, but it's not Colonial. Rustic only comes in 8 & 12 ply (nominally DK & Chunky/Aran), while Colonial comes in 5 & 8 ply(Sport/Fingering & DK). In my opinion though, Rustic has much the best colors. I have ordered #951, Peppercorn, which is a blend of sage and pale teal with just a few reddish brown fibers mixed in. It's a complex blend, and the Colonial colors are much simpler. They have some lovely ones, though. I'm certainly not affiliated with Bendigo, but if you like yarn, it's worthwhile to email them and ask for a color card, as they have a lot of different yarns, and their prices are extremely reasonable. Hard to believe they don't have a website at all, but their service is great. They're at order@bendigowoollenmills.com.au.

Many, Many Things, None of Them Fiber-Related

From Inbox

It's been quite the day, or two days, actually.

Yesterday I was basically gone all day from about noon until after 8pm. This is not conducive to getting to the things that I want to do, since there's always about so much time that's taken up by things I have to do, and there was barely time for that!

Today was rather similar, although I was at home more. It was a beautiful day today. Over 60 degrees, so I had planned to fill the fish ponds, which lose quite a bit to evaporation during very cold weather. The level falls until it's warm enough to fill them easily. It was a good day for this, but I ended up having to clean one filter, and rescue a smallish fish that was trying to swim up the tubing to the pump, and then got stuck! He seems to be fine, although I'm not going to believe that he's really okay for at least a few days anyway. Fish who seem fine after some weird adventure often suddenly die a few days later.

I also did a bunch of yard cleanup, and among other things, disposed of a topiary tree that seems to have met either a crabby woodpecker, or a Lilliputian Lumberjack.

From 12-5-06

I honestly don't know what happened to this, but I thought it was really funny. It's time for something new, anyway. I took this at the same time as the sunset photo. It was just really beautiful, and I was surprised it even looked anything like it really did, because sunset photos are usually very disappointing. They're like whale photos. It's unbelievable that a photo of a whale, the largest thing on earth looks like absolutely nothing, but it always does.

Yarnish Delight

From 12-5-06

I finished this quick little scarf Monday night. I think it's pretty cute, and for anyone with a cold neck, it's very nice. I like it worn both straight, as shown, and also with the "knot" at the side. The pattern is from Katherine Burgess, and is a free download. It's a rather old-fashioned item, but I think it's very nice, and after all, Vintage is In!

From 12-5-06

I ordered a new color card and price list from Bendigo Wools (of Bendigo, Australia) just a couple days ago, and here it came yesterday! They don't have a website, you just have to email them, and call a toll-free number to order. They hold the record for fastest service ever for a yarn order, from anywhere, to me. (I once got a yarn order which came from Australia, in 3 days!) I was pleased to get the color card, as I always liked their yarn, and they're very reasonably priced. I really like one of their colors in the Rustic line (which is on the back of the card shown) and will probably order some for a cardigan I have in mind. I wish the color was available in the Colonial line, as I like the cabled construction of the yarn. It gives such wonderful stitch definition and durability, but I'm afraid the color will trump everything. I have my heart set on a cabled cardigan, although I'm not quite settled on the pattern yet.

A Dressy Dress

Well, I can't remember the last time I made a really dressy dress. I just don't wear them very much. I have a tendency to wear separates, or more casual things. I just fell in love with this Marfy pattern (#1128) though, and decided that I had to try it in the shorter length. I think I can get some good out of it during the holiday season this year.

From Patterns

I altered the pattern yesterday, doing a FBA and lengthening the dress 2". The sleeve length looks as if it may be fine, although I'll check them again with the dress on before I cut out the chiffon, which I don't have yet anyway. I'm using a chocolate poly matelasse that's really pretty nice. I cut it out and basted it all together (except the sleeves) tonight and tried it on. I realized that I forgot to fold out some of the length above the bust, but with this design, I can rather easily take a much deeper shoulder seam, and I'm not sure I'll even need to deepen the armscyes. I'll see. It's amazing how much difference it makes in the fit. Suddenly everything just slides right into place. Why I couldn't remember to do it first, I don't know, but perhaps I need to put up a poster with a list of the Required Alterations so that I don't have to rely on my memory. I was so worried about ruining the shaping of the pattern while doing the FBA that I think I just heaved a sigh of relief when it was done, seemingly without problems, and promptly forgot everything else I would normally do.

I am thinking of a plaid printed silk chiffon for the collar and sleeves.

From Fabric

I think with the plain, very dark brown for the dress itself, even with the matelasse texture, this might be a nice contrast.

It's so cold here now, 10 degrees as I write, that I had to make myself try on the dress, as it's not a warm dress. That may be something against it for this season. Well, either way, it will be done and ready to go when I want it.