Yarn Play

Still not much in the way of sewing happening over here.  I just haven't been up to sitting at the machine of late.  So I've been contenting myself with knitting instead.  

I recently learned the magic loop technique, and boy howdy!  I've gone from a mild interest in the craft to an addict!  The reason?  I like things for my hands, mostly fingerless gloves and mitts.  I was terrified of double pointed needles (I have cats that have an unholy love of yarn!).  But, with the magic loop that is no longer a concern.  When I'm ready to put my work away I just slide it onto the cable and stick it into my bag.  My current project has been mauled 3 times without ever loosing a stitch! Yay magic loop!  

In the past month I've completed a pair of striped gauntlets, my very first ML project, and am almost done with a cute little shrug.  I found the pattern here on Ravelry.  While I used this pattern as a jumping off point, I've made a quite a few changes.  The original is basically a long tube with breaks for your thumb and the portion that goes across your back.  It's the same width the entire length and knitted by measurements, not rows.  Now, I tend to like my sleeves to be fitted on the lower portion of my arm and a bit looser up top. So I've created my own pattern that fits my super long monkey arms just the way I like! As of this writing, I've only got 129 rows to go until it's finished! (Please excuse the really bad bathroom mirror pics.  I'll have a friend take some good ones once this thing is finished.)

Front

Back

I cannot express how  much I love this!  It's comfy, soft, not bulky and I can't wait to wear it about!  As soon as this one is done, I'll be making one for a friend in purple.  We're taking our girls on a trip soon and they'll come in handy on the plane.

If you're interested in the details of my version of this shrug, you can find them on Ravelry.

This crazy Crazy Life

It's amazing how quickly life can get away from you.  The past 2 years have been rough. I'll just leave it at that.  I'm hoping that the majority of the awful is behind me and I can start sewing again.  Of course, we do have a kitchen remodel that is just about to start, so that could put sewing on the back burner.

On that note, here are my goals for the rest of the year:

• Finish that stinking embroidered pocket I started 2 years ago!  Yes, yes, I know. It's a pocket how much time can it possibly take. Answer: 2 years! The good news is, its almost done.  I just need to decide on a color combination for the center motif.                                                                               

Progress so far.

• Finish the 1883 Bustle.  I've conquered the sleevil on the blouse, but need to move the side seam forward a little.  I think the easiest way to accomplish this is to add a bit to the center back.  I don't want to mess with the armscye.  Then it's on to the bodice, which is patterned but that's it.
• Put the finishing touches on the 3 ren-faire outfits I made for E, her bff, and a friend.  All 3 were made in less than 2 weeks last September, so many shortcuts were employed.  

The 3 matching dresses are the ones in need of help.

Despite all the ick that has been the last couple of years, a few good things did happen. God thing # 1, we got a new kitty! She and our original kitty became fast friends in just a couple of days. (Gratuitous Kitty photos)

                                                           The new kitty Tabitha.

Sebastian, AKA Mr. Fluffy Pants.

Awe....they love each other.

Another good thing, I finally have my own sewing room!  It's a shame I haven't had much time to use it though. I'm still in the process of decorating it.  I'd like to paint the desk white, it needs drapes something fierce and a new wall color would not be amiss.  I'm thinking pink.

Wow, it's been a while

Life of late, (read the last year) has been a mess. Cancer hit close to home two times in a year, and that has thrown me completely off. I've had no time to do any significant sewing, but am hoping to change that.

E is in need of new faire wear, as she has shot up like a sunflower! She turned 11 just a few days ago, and I think the time is right for her first "real" garb. I'm thinking about a middle class Elizabethan.

I'll probably use a cotton, even though I know it's not historically accurate. Although she's beginning to look like a young lady, E is very hard on her cloths! With Halloween just over the horizon, E will also need a costume. She's decided on Draculara from Monster High. I can't bring myself to put her in a mass produced......thing, so I'll need to make that as well. Hopefully, getting some stuff finished will get me back on track. Anywho, because I hate posts without pictures, here is a lovely flower for your viewing pleasure.

Waaaay Too Much Time on My Hands

Today's time waster.

Yeah. I know, I should really step away from the computer, and up to the sewing machine.

Feeling Silly

After cleaning the kitchen, doing the laundry and vacuuming the house, I was feeling a bit punchy.  What you see below is the result.  Is it ridiculous?  Yes!  But that's what comes of lack of sleep and too much housework before breakfast.

All the photos are from vintagetextile.com
Music is Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera

Life Happens

and all the important stuff like sewing and read inspirational blogs comes to a screeching halt.  Now that life is starting to be a bit nicer, (still some family stuff that needs to be sorted, and the house looks like a 9 year old bomb went off) I'm trying to get caught up on the important stuff.  I have plans to get back to work on the stripey Victorian.  The blouse pattern still needs to be lengthened and a new mock up sewn, then it's on to the bodice.

In the meantime, I've been drooling over a new to me site of the most gorgeous extant clothing for sale. It was posted to the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild yahoo list a couple days ago and I haven't stopped drooling on my keyboard since! (Well, there was that 3 hour period in which the husband was using the computer and picked up a wicked virus that the good folks at Dell had to spend 2 hours scrubbing from the hard drive.  Yikes!)  So many pretties, so little time!  This red silk regency is especially of interest to me.

Take a look at the bib front and it's lining.

                                 1800-1810 silk bib front www.vintagetextile.com
I'm certainly no expert in this area, but the bib front frocks I'm acquainted with have the more typical side front closing lining. It also has bust darts.  Yay!

A pair of these soft wrap stays would be a great thing to have too.  Not needing a lot of support could be a good thing for a change.

                              1810-1820 soft wrap stays www.vintagetextile.com

Looking at the back I can't decide whether the upside down L shaped bit is a separate piece or a facing.  I'm leaning toward facing. But the right side looks like it could have a seam on my monitor.  I can't get a clear enough enlargement to be positive, but based on the description, I think I'd interpret it as a facing.

I'm also deeply in love with this 1870's striped bustle.  Check out the back.

                                         1870's bustle www.vintagetextle.com
I lovelovelove, the solid color back panel!  and the sleeves!!!!

                                           1870's bustle www.vintagetextile.com



Alright, enough computer time for me.  The laundry bell went off an hour ago, and is still waiting for my attention.  And I'm assuming my child would like dinner sometime tonight.

Unusual personal post

I've been going through some family stuff lately that has kept me away from my sewing and the internets. My mother has been ill, and we lost a family member yesterday.  I hope the next week or two will herald a return to some sense of normalcy and the sewing machine.