Help...please

May 22, 2009

Ministry of Knitting Mojo
Department of Fiber Arts
Knitting Division

To Whom it May Concern:

I'm writing this letter to inform of a deep concern I have regarding my knitting mojo. As you know, I am a one (maybe two) project at a time knitter. I knit almost everyday to reduce hormone levels stress. Quite recently, the last three weeks to be exact, I have noticed a decrease in my knitting mojo. Well, a decrease would be an inaccurate description. I lost it totally. I did not even work one kyok in 1 stitch on Cherry Fizz which is very disturbing considering this is a spring scarf and it is almost summer. Then last night, to my surprise, I found myself surrounded by five projects with yarn for a sixth. I don't have to tell you that this is completely unacceptable and quite embarrassing, if I'm to be totally honest. Especially since one of the projects is crochet and I don't know how to crochet. Whatever were you thinking when you put this in my head? Clearly, I'm due for some kind of focus adjustment. I can only hope that this adjustment is of the minor tweaking and not a major overhaul as I have a blog with readers that enjoy knitting content. I would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Lucky Knitter

P.S. Have a nice weekend! ; D

Two t-shirts and an apron...

It sounds like the title of a movie! Doesn't it?

This week I went to the Vintage Fashion and Textile Show. If you are ever in the area the three times a year that they have this show, you should treat yourself. I bought some vintage fabric, kitchen towels, buttons and lace. All the linens were in wonderful shape and the vendors had them all cleaned beautifully. There were even gorgeous French fabrics from the 1800's, and lots of vintage clothing. Need I say anymore? It was fantastic.

I made a couple of quick projects using some of my finds. First up a t-shirt that I added some crochet flowers to. Total cost $1.00.



Next, a t-shirt that I cut a 1 inch strip off the bottom and used the strip to make spider web roses. I zig-zag hemmed the bottom of the shirt for that ruffle effect. I used one of those Hot Pattern videos as a guide. Total cost zero dollars.



Last, an apron made with a vintage kitchen towel and some left over pieces of fabric and lace from other projects. I love how it came together. Total cost $3.00



Here I am playing house in my new outfit!



Have a great weekend!

Wardrobe Refashion

I took the Wardrobe Refashion Pledge for the months of May and June. I have been following the WR blog for a while and I am inspired by the members creativity. I've been wanting to learn how to sew my own clothes (that I would actually wear), so by signing up I'll be doing just that. It will be trial and error I'm sure, but I think it will be fun and challenging, and not to mention good for the earth and my wallet. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

The inspiration for this t-shirt is based on American designer Phillip Lim's clothing line. The idea came from a Hot Patterns video. Did you know Hot Patterns has a whole bunch of great video tutorials on YouTube? I used a plain t-shirt that I wasn't comfortable wearing, because it was so long. It was perfect for this project. I cut 2 inches off the bottom, and zig-zag hemmed the raw edge. This gave it a lettuce edge look. I like that look. Then I took strips of the cut off hem and gathered them slightly. I sewed them around the neckline about an inch apart. I used some of the leftover fabric to cover some small buttons and added them in between the two ruffles. I really like how it came out.

I have to send a big thank you to Melynda at Country Girl Couture (she has a lot of great ideas), because I never would have found out about these Hot Pattern videos, if it wasn't for her.

Watermelon Popsicles

I know, I know, I don't post for three weeks and then I have two posts in three days, but I wanted to share a recipe for watermelon popsicles that I made the other day. It was record breaking temperatures for April here - over 90 degrees! I wanted to make something cold and refreshing with ingredients I had on hand. I remembered seeing a recipe for watermelon popsicles in a magazine last summer that looked really good, but of course I couldn't remember what magazine. They looked like pieces of watermelon. They had green rinds made from cantaloupe and chocolate chips for seeds. I tried to find a similar recipe that was quick and easy. I ended up combining several different recipes to make these and they are tasty.

1 c. watermelon chunks
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
1/2 c. sugar
6 ice cubes
1 tsp. lemon juice
chocolate chips (optional)



whirl together in a food processor or blender.



Spoon into popsicle mold or paper cups. Stir in a few chocolate chips for seeds. Add a popsicle stick and freeze.



Enjoy!

Spring Top Week

Rae from Made by Rae is hosting Spring Top Week. She has a wonderful ruffle top tutorial on the Sew, Mama, Sew website. It inspired me to make an Anthropologie inspired top that I saw on Grosgrain.


I followed Rae's tutorial leaving off the ruffles, and then added some lace that I had in my stash. I tea dyed some of the lace and then also dyed some pieces gray, and left some natural.

This is the detail up close.

I think I might make another one out of swiss dot material.



In the knitting department, I am working on a dress with this as the top part, and fabric for the skirt, but more on that soon.

Finally, there are some great DIY fashion blogs out there that I've really been enjoying lately. They all have wonderful tutorials on DIY fashion.

Weekend Update

There isn't a whole lot of knitting going on around here this week. Frankly, I'm too tired to even knit a row at night. I started Cherry Fizz, but I'm calling it Pink Lemonade. This is as far as I got before I "fizzled" out. Maybe next week I can get back to it.



I've been making Easter favors. I used this tutorial from Indie Fixx.



It's time for my son and I to hide the eggs for his little cousins. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with family enjoying the traditions of your holiday!

Tangled Yoke Cardigan

Tangled Yoke Cardigan
Eunny Jang
Interweave Knits, Fall 07
String Theory Hand Painted 100% merino sport wool, 4 skeins, Squash
US size 5, 4, and 0 needles

Things I learned:
1. Bobble - I have never done a bobble before.
2. 5-into-1 decrease and 1-into-5 increase.
3. Short row shaping for a yoke
4. Kitchener stitch to graft underarm stitches.
5. 3-stitch 1-row buttonhole - it makes a really nice buttonhole.

What I love about this sweater:
1. It's a classic sweater, but with a little updating.
2. I loved all the finishing details that Eunny Jang added to the pattern.
3. It is knit seamless, but made to look like there are seams.
4. The horizontal cable and Celtic design of the yoke.
5. Pretty much everything about this sweater.



The one thing that I didn't like: When I got to the end of the seventh row on the yoke chart. The one with 404 stitches and 84 cables. I had 4 extra stitches at the end of the row. I hate when that happens. And no, it couldn't have been in the last repeat that I did. After counting stitches and recounting, and then counting again, my mistake was at the beginning of the row. I had to rip back 400 stitches of 84 (count 'em) twisted cables. That was not fun. Nope. But alas, pain has no memory, and it is all behind me now. This is quite possibly my favorite sweater - ever!