Snowing and Sewing

It snowed today just like mad, and I don't know how much we finally got, but around 4" and I think it's supposed to keep going most of the night. So, a perfect day for sewing.

I have to admit that I didn't get any actual sewing done, but I did finally get all the pieces and parts marked and cut out for my coat, except I ran out of flannel underlining and couldn't get out today to get any, and of course the lining. I always wait on the lining in case there are changes, but I'm very thrilled to have the main cutting and marking done. I think that's the hardest part of most garments for me.


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I've been knitting away on the Jaeger Tilly pullover as well, and have finished the front and am halfway up the first sleeve. I'm adding length to the sleeve, so it's going to be a while yet before I start the cap shaping. I assumed it was going to take 4 skeins of each color of Little Lehigh to do this sweater, and it's looking like I may only be going to use 3 of each. The yardage on this yarn is really great.

I'll leave you with a perhaps not wonderful, but I think interesting photo of the snow looking out the family room window. I took it tonight through the window at about 9pm, and it was very dark outside except for the lights in the back, and because of the snow, it seems much lighter than it might be.



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Sweaters, Coats and Tribbles

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Here's my progress on the Jaeger Tilly pullover. I'm through with the back and last night I knitted the pocket linings twice. Yes, twice since I apparently couldn't read the instructions clearly enough to do the right number of stitches versus rows. They were quick though, even doing them twice. I've begun to cast on for the front now, and it's going well. I like this yarn, it's very soft and seems to be easy to knit with.

I am also quite thrilled with my wide wale corduroy and suede coat project. It's coming right along. I've chosen a pattern, Marfy 1014.

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The side panels, pocket flaps, collar and lapels/front facings will be in the faux suede, and the rest will be corduroy. I'm also shortening it to car coat length. I did a lot of measuring against my old favorite coat that I'm hoping to replace, and this seems to fill the bill, even though it's a bit different in style. I'm starting to get excited about this project, and it's quite a while since I've felt that way, so that's exciting too.


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Here's a cute quickie. It's a little potscrubber called a Tribble. I can see that they could be sort of addictive to knit, so perhaps that's why they're said to multiply so rapidly.
Tribble Pattern

Jaeger Tilly and Hungary

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Here's my progress on the Jaeger pullover (Tilly) that I'm doing in Little Lehigh cotton. I made a gauge swatch that matched the stated gauge, using needles 2 sizes smaller than recommended. I then began the back. Somehow the actual sweater knitting was much different than the swatch, and after a couple inches progress, it was obvious that it was much bigger than I wanted. I ended up going down another 2 needle sizes before I got the correct gauge. Instead of Size 7 & 8 needles, I'm using Size 3 & 4 needles. I continue to wonder how anyone could get the stated gauge with the recommended needles, notwithstanding that I'm using a different yarn than specified. I still don't see how you could do it. Quite a lot of unnecessary messing around in my view anyway. But it's going well now, and I like the texture and feel of it. It's not going to be a particularly fast project since it's about 19 rows to the inch. Oh well, I'm not in any hurry. I'm doing the back in a smaller size than the front, as I often do for sweaters.

You're probably wondering about the mention of Hungary. I was looking through some stats on who reads this blog (I love seeing where people are from!) and even though it's not particularly detailed, and many visitors show no information, I can sometimes tell what country and/or city they're from. Suddenly a couple days ago, I noticed that there were about 30 readers from Hungary! I wondered what brought that about, and found a Forum called Nok Lapja Cafe that linked to this site along with several other sewing blogs I'm familiar with, including Debbie Cook's. I have to assume it's a sewing blog, but you can imagine how disappointed I was when I found that Google Translate doesn't do Hungarian yet! Sigh. I did see a mention of SWAP there, though, so I thought that was quite interesting. Even though I'm not SWAPping this year, I am fully behind the concept, and try to apply it within my wardrobe. I wonder if Julie at Timmel Fabrics has heard from anyone in Hungary?

Before Christmas I walked into a waiting room with my knitting bag, and saw another woman sitting by herself knitting away, so I sat beside her and we had quite a nice talk. She was making a scarf and I was working on the last sleeve of Zachary's Drops Pullover. She kindly offered to give me a pretty dishcloth pattern. I was very pleased to find the next time I went to that office that they had it for me in my file! I decided to make it up quickly, and here it is. It was fast and fun! Pretty wild colors, no?

Fun, Fun, Fun

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Here's the very nicely packed box I received in the mail today from Fuzzy Mabel's. What fun! I've been trying to find a nice, not-horribly-expensive yarn to use for a sweater I've been drooling over from Jaeger JB40, which is a discontinued pattern book for a discontinued yarn, Roma. I found the book at The Yarn Barn, but the yarn is not available in colors I wanted. I finally decided to try a cotton yarn, Kraemer's Little Lehigh, in green and off-white. While looking at Fuzzy Mabel's, I noticed they had a very well-stocked clearance section, including some nice colors of Katia Bolero, a yarn that I used to make a shell a couple years ago, and liked very much. I bought enough Pewter with Gold to make a nice something-or-other.

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You can see the Jaeger pattern with the proposed yarn below.

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I like the interesting almost houndstooth stitch pattern, and the cute details, like the pocket and the neckline V, and sleeve hems. This will be a spring sweater I think, especially in a cotton yarn.


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I finished the second side of the Waterlily purse yesterday, which you can see above, just in time for the new yarn to arrive today. Now to finish it. I have ideas, but nothing concrete. I'm thinking webbing handles if I can find the right color. I'm calling it the Waterlily purse because it reminds me strongly of some of Monet's Waterlily paintings. This is a torn fabric strip "yarn" and I just love the effect of it. It makes me want to rip up some fabric myself, and see what happens.

We're back to normal around here, and I spent today and yesterday doing all the household stuff that I've been letting slide, like multi-loads of laundry. Luckily, I kind of like to do laundry. The Peeper's thrilled, as he hangs out by the washing machine, so he gets lots of company. There's nothing like a purring cat napping next to you while you fold towels, or sew, or knit.

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