Crochet Tunic

Hello All, I'm sure everyone is getting ready for the New Year. I'm not sure where I'll be, but most likely, there will be music and spirits...lol.

My weekend has been a crochet frenzy. A young lady asked me to make her a Crochet Tunic in a luscious red. I'm actually a week over due for this project, but with several days off, I was able to make some headway. It worked up rather quickly using Caron Simply Soft yarn and with its weight, luster and sheen it works well for this garment. Hopefully I will be able to get the sleeves done in the next day or two and I will do them in double crochet, which should speed things along. This project was done in the round and I did 6" of double crochet and the body is done in single crochet. To get the sizing right I asked her to give me one of her sweaters, so that was very useful. Once I've completed it - there will be a lot of steaming and blocking to give more flair and she can be daring and wear it as a dress.

For 2007 Tunics were a must-have and dubbed the Foho trend (faux bohemian). I remember using tunics as swimsuit cover ups, but this year women were looking for a laid back style, which could be dressed if need be with a belt or scarf or adorned with embroidery and/or jewels and in came Tunics. Check out whose been showing off Tunics/Dresses: Bloomingdales, Juicy Couture, Romans, Nordstrom, Anna Sui, Forever 21.

In looking back at my pics I did a sweater similar to the one above about a year ago and chuckle at the irony of it.
Do you think this trend will continue in 2008?

Kathmandu & more

Hello All and hope everyone enjoyed the Holiday. As for me I am sooooo glad its nearing the end.

Cutting to the chase, on the knitting front I finally finished my daughter's Kathmandu Drama sweater.

Particulars:

Pattern: Jean Frost JaspeRed Cardigan (heavily modified)

Issue: Knitting Universe Fall 2007

Yarn: Kathmandu DK Queensland Collection

Yardage/Used: 147 yds / 5 balls

Fibers: 85% merino wool, 10% silk, 5% cashmere

Modifications: 6 cables / seamed up the left/right panels

Twist Cables: Used cable design from Mari Lynn Patrick's Textured Sweater pattern

Issue: Knit Simple Fall 2006

Needles: Size 6

Wash Method: Hand wash; Dry flat; Do not dry-clean; Do not tumble

Started/Finished: November 10 - December 26, 2007

Yarn Review: No shredding, splitting or pilling. It works up fast and although its has a slubbiness to it, knitting was very smooth.

Cables... Cables and more Cables. I really love the look of cables and did my first knit hat. Again using the cable instructions from Mari Lynn Patricks Textured Sweater pattern and purl stitches and trimming the edge with crochet. I used one skein of Caron Simply Soft yarn in Grey Heather and used the remaining to make a 42" scarf done in purl stitches and did a crochet trim.

Particulars:

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft yarn

Yardage/Used: 355 yards/1 skein

Fiber: 100% Acrylic

Pattern:Kody May Knit pattern (heavily modified)

Needles: Size 8

Start/Finish: December 17 - December 22, 2007

Yarn Review: Simply Soft is one of the softest acrylics with very little splitting, has luster and sheen and very cheap. Also its easy on the hair.

For this set I used Vanna White's yarn in Dusty Blue and used ribbed stitches with crocheting at the crown and edge for the hat and did a 40" scarf in rib & crochet around the edge. After reading so much about her new yarn, I decided to give it a try and its similar to Caron Simply soft. Would I use it again - Yes.

Lastly, on the sewing front, I made a headband and 56" scarf using polyester rayon & spandex blend in a deep brown fabric and added beading trim to the scarf. I used Simplicity Pattern 4324, which consists of teen and adult top, cape, neckwarmer, scarf and hat. The pattern calls for using fleece, but I wanted to use what I had. I totally love the set and definitely will make more.

Happy Kwanzaa

2 Days Before Xmas and I'm....

making xmas gifts. I totally recall saying at the Thanksgiving Dinner that we should just give the young uns' money and not shop for the adults. My ds & dbl visited yesterday and we were chatting & laughing up a storm and in the midst she mentions - oh! you're going to love your gift. Then today I receive several calls from family members asking what size I wear and this and that - I realized I was not spared any Christmas shopping.

I just knew I had it on easy street though- patting myself on the back because I didn't have to venture into a mall or bump & grind with other customers in boutiques and step on toes for the latest electronic gadget. Now, with the impending gift receiving I am propel to venture out tomorrow and do a lil bit of shopping.... uggh! At least the young uns' will be easy - I'd plan on giving them money anyway.

But sister-friend has a plan - oh! it will have me up until the wee hours, but hey - what's a gal to do.

Luckily last week I did some fabric and pattern shopping and the fabric store I went to is going-out of business so I got patterns for 99 cents and fabric a $1.00 yd...wooohooo. I purchased several pj patterns and a hat & scarf pattern and several dress, blouse and gown patterns. After strategically planning how to make it work - I went straight to work....lol

I have 4 pjs to make and 3 hat & scarf sets to do - I've completed one gift which is for my db and need to make 3 more pjs - and the last 3 gifts will be hats & scarves. So tomorrow - I just need to find long sleeve tees to match the pjs... haha! (oh! I took the time to read my sewing machine manual - and there it was - I have an automatic buttonhole feature... [doing the cupid shuffle]...lol)

Matter of fact after Christmas - I'm going to emphatically make it known - next year NO GIFTS FOR ADULTS!!!

Happy Blogiversary

I can't believe its been 2 years since I've started blogging, which is such a fantastic vehicle for journaling. Blogging has afforded me the pleasure of meeting so many beautiful people, learning from them, sharing, oh!! and the inspiration that they send out daily keeps me crafting up a storm...lol.

In celebration of my Blogiversary - I would like to say Thanks To All of You for the daily inspiration and looking forward to continued fun in 2008.

Ok... let me put my Mimosa down... I think I'm drinking too fast on an empty stomach... on second thought I need to check my boots after all that trumping around on the grass and sipping as I go and letting the doggies rump around in the yard - who knows what they've laid in wait for me...lol

On to crafting news, I've managed to complete the construction of the New Look 6617 Blazer (which is more of a jacket). After trying on numerous garments, I decided sporting jeans and a tee worked best and I must say working up this project was a true sewing experience. In doing this pattern, I clearly realized that its a totally different schematic from doing curtains and duvet covers...lol. My biggest challenge was the sleeves and the collar... you know what..? the whole darn pattern was a challenge...LOL. At one point I doubted that I could finish it, but after visiting my blogger buddies and receiving encouragement I regained my confidence to make it work!!

I worked up Version B and didn't have to do too many modifications, I shortened it and also the sleeve cuffs were a tad bit too wide and had to adjust the circumference to get a better fit. All-in-All I really like the blazer and would like to do another one - hopefully by then I will know how do a tailored jacket and lining - I checked out Threads tutorial on Bag your Jacket Lining
Right now the blazer is in need of a good iron and is buttonless - I need to find six 3/4" buttons and make buttonholes, which I'm clueless about. So I will definitely do a lot of blogging in search of buttonhole tutorials.

Now that I've got food in my tummy, and boots are free and clear I can finish celebrating with my Mimosa...doodles

Blazing Along

Hello All and TGIF!!! yeah!!!!


Talk about a rough week with end of the year deadlines and a cold that just won't leave me - it felt like I worked 7 days instead of 5. All I can say is its FRIDAY...Yeah!! so I rushed home to focus on my blazer, which is slowly coming along. Working with 13 pieces was a trying experience, but nonetheless, its a good sewing work-out for a novice sewer.


However, I have some reservations though, its so looking like a U.P .S. Jacket..uggh and the garment is rather boxy so I adorned it with a belt to get some visual on it.... ummm not sure. One sleeve has been sewn in, and the second one has been ripped out and pinned again, somehow, the shoulder was not laying flat.

I understand that interfacing is used for stability and the pattern called for interfacing the front facings, but it was just too bulky once I folded the fabric in half. I also noticed that when I folded the front facings, they were too wide - making the blazer more boxy. Instead I removed the interfacing and did a 3 fold which narrowed the front facings and offered stability just as if I'd used interfacing. In sewing the facings from the inside of the blazer I belatedly realized that my stitching veered off the front part of the facing... and I was fit to be tied. I had to rip out the stitching...uggh, talk about pulling out the bifocals to see the stitching...lol. Finally I realized that I needed to top stitch it like I did the collar... lesson learned.
Also interfacing was called for on the cuffs, but I modified it so that I could flip up the cuffs, and cut 2 more pieces of fabric, once I realized that if I flipped up the cuff the interfacing would show. Again I removed the interfacing and sewed the fabric pieces together. Hopefully tomorrow I will tackle the blazer again, finishing the second sleeve, completing the cuffs and hem it. As for the closure I'm not sure.... I've never done button holes and unsure if that's what I want, so I'll sleep on that. I've been checking out some sewing dvds to aid and abet in mastering this garment sewing - right now my list include:

Islander Sewing Systems Easy Zippers

Learn to Sew a Shirt or Blouse

Jackets for Real People: Tailoring Made Easy DVD

Copy Ready-To-Wear

Set In Sleeves

Foolproof Buttonholes

'Anatomy of a Jacket' from Betzina's Power Skills

In other news, I finally finished the baby set and now need to sew in my labels, wash, dry and package it.... whew glad that's at the finishing line.
Beside my crafting, has everyone completed their holiday shopping or waiting to the last minute...?

Going Coco Puffs for Sweaters

Sweaters are taking on a whole knew look and I am definitely going coco puffs for them. Yeah, yeah I crochet and knit, but for the life of me I can't seem to get a sweater off my hooks quick enough. So I purchased a few sweaters from the Loft, luckily I had several $25.00 off coupons, which I used for every $50.00 I spent... (well let's say I had 8 coupons...lol).

I browsed a few sites and was drooling over some more of the latest knit fashions, come on and cooo with me over the latest eye catchers:

Cable Sweater Cape (Nordstrom)

Cable Dolman Sweater (Chadwicks)

Bell Sleeve Cardigan (Chadwicks)


Baby Doll Cardi (Graham & Spencer)

Puff Sleeve Cardigan (Nordstrom)

Colonel Crop Cardi (Graham & Spencer)

Fur Trim Sweater Coat (Garnet Hill)

Nordic Sweater (Chadwicks)

Ombre Cardigan (Loft)

Ribbed Sweater (Chadwicks)

Being a crocheter/knitter, how many sweaters do you tend to buy and how many do you get off your hook/needles for the season.

One Skein Wonders

Last weekend I took the leap and cleaned out my craft closet. Talk about massive balls of yarn, fabric and just too many dodads. A lot of the yarn and fabric were leftovers from projects and decided it was time to part with them. Way back when I had convinced myself that I would make granny squares to make a large blanket with the leftover yarn and the fabric I figured I would make pillow covers. Well it never happened...lol. It was unbelievable how much stuff I had crammed in that closet. After about an hour and a half I'd managed to organize the closet and proudly gleamed at the 2 containers - one held yarn and the other fabric. I was so proud of myself, I kept going into the closet to admire my handiwork... and decided I would try and make something with the several one skeins now neatly stored in the container.

I was inspired by a few bloggers Knitology, Erica B, Praise Garments (and a few others I can't recall right now) who had made neckwarmers and Ascots, which are a perfect alternative to scarves. I figure what a quick way to bust my stash. I even had enough to do a hat.

The hats are crochet and the neckwarmers are knit with crochet trim. To keep them in place around the neck I purchased toe rings and pendants and used those instead of buttons...Haha!

I also managed to work on the Blazer. For starters, I'm realizing that this pattern isn't suitable for the what I have in mind and that I really would like it with a lining. I had to remove the front band facing, after trying several times to attach the collar. Let me tell you collars are no joke. The rest of the evening was spent fussing with the collar, which I finally managed to attach and sew. Although the instructions are clear, I had to refer to my existing blazers to get a better idea of how to sew the edge of the collar. Today was definately a sewing experience.

I'm so crafted-out... that I need to take a nap... lol.

Sick and Blazing for A Blazer

In my attempt to get a head start on my New Years Resolution, which is to sew more of my clothes. I decided I would start with a garment that I love to wear often, which are suits and figured for starters I would try my hands at sewing a blazer. I browsed through several catalogues looking for a blazer and saw this blazer in Chadwicks Catalogue, which is a basic style with a shirt collar. I just love the fact that blazers are perfect for layering and it gives a wellput-together look whether casual or dressed up. Although I managed to pump out a few skirts & slacks this past summer, I would like to move on to sewing more structured garments.

I found a pattern by New Look, which I think fits the bill for the style I'm looking for. Its New Look 6617 - featuring 5 versions of coat/jackets in waist, hip and thigh lengths.

I'm going for Version B, which is a hip length basic six-button front with a shirt collar. In checking out the pattern, I noticed that there are cuff pattern pieces, which would allow me to fold up the cuff for a little flair. I am using a polyester, rayon & spandex blend fabric in brown. I took a closer look at my existing blazers and noticed princess seaming details, which I don't see with this pattern, so I'm a little concerned, (check me out - princess seam... like I know how to do it...lol) . Also, I would love to put in a lining, but think its best I start with just the basics since its my first time.

I must say I was floored when I started reading over the pattern chart, there are 13 pieces, I don't know what I was thinking - ok - I was thinking less than 13 pieces...lol. Well, I got past that and have managed to iron and pin the pattern pieces.

Tonight after being home for 2 days with what felt like the flu, and finally coming out of a TheraFlu induced state, I have since cut out the pattern pieces, talk about laborious. I'm pacing myself for this project and over the next few days will assemble and begin baste stitching.

Interested to hear about your first time making a jacket/coat/blazer and do you have any tips to share?

Goings On...

Hello my Lovely People,

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short, but I'm sure everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving, I sure nuf did...lol - I continued my Thanksgiving feast for another 3 days, talk about breakfast, lunch and dinner... lol

What!!! Snow!!!.... took a peeksy out my window and was like WoW!!

after seeing this leafy spread yesterday...

Well on the crafting front, remember this post, well I've sewn up the middle seam and I'm working the sleeves for my daughter's Kathmandu Drama Sweater...hehe - that's the new name for her project. I'm actually doing the sleeves two at a time and let me tell you it is tediously coming along and opted out of doing cables on the sleeves - just trying to do two sleeves at a time is challenging enough and trying to work in cables would've been a disaster.

Crochet has taken a lead in my crafting - It's been a while and I've been trying to finish this project that I was commissioned to do - I need to get buttons and white ribbon and currently working on the bib and lastly will do the booties. While I'm at the craft store I may purchase some appliques - maybe teddy bears and sew them on for some real cuteness. Also on the crochet front are my Apple Hats... I've only done one so far... and have 4 more to go... "eyebrows arched"...lol
Finally, I finished my daughter's skirt, the pattern is New Look 6843, which consist of Misses Skirt - 5 variations in one. I used some leftover Chocolate Light Weight Microfiber Stretch Suiting Fabric from pants I'd made for myself.

Remember this project - well my niece decided she could sport it better than me. I asked her about the Bamboo earrings, which I've noticed are back in what gives - she said... Missy you are so old fashion... this is the bomb right now... the 80's look... Uh!! can I say Salt n Pepper...lol
Do you have any favs from the 1980's - Reeboks and the Swatches come to mind for me...ROFLOL!