Simplicity 4077 Redux

This pattern is so awesome.

 

So awesome that even though I made a big stupid mistake on the button band it still turned out great.

So awesome that all the other patterns in my sewing box are starting to feel inferior.

 

This is more fabric from Fabricville in Gatineau.  I was a bit worried that it would make me look like a clown but now I think it’s adorable. The buttons are also adorable and also from Fabricville.

In making this I utilized some of the tips I picked up from the latest Free Fabric Friday post over at Sew Mama Sew. Including:

• cut out your pattern with freezer paper and then you can use it over and over without having to pin
• use an empty tissue box to hold all those stray threads (I don’t have a single thread on my floor)
• there’s a difference between pressing and ironing fabric
• there’s a wrong way to use a seam ripper

There were literally hundreds of tips but these are my favourites (and the ones I can remember).

While sewing I enjoyed new tea in a new mug, both provided by Robyn in my first package of our Four Friends, Four Cities Swappy Fun Times Package Exchange (which is a title I just made up).

I love everything!

Enid Pullover

Today I learned how difficult it is to get decent pictures at 7:30 am on an overcast day but I know you’ve all been dying to see my bloated, just-woke-up face so I persevered. 

 

Pattern: Enid Cardigan – Interweave Knits Winter 2006

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Pure Alpaca Fina – Approximately 7 balls Charcoal, less than 1 ball each: Peridot, Dark Indigo, Mid Indigo, Smokey Grape, Deep Purple, Oxblood (I have a tonne left which Nat will be taking off my hands)

Dates: February 24th, 2008 – March 26th 2008.  This felt like it took forever but looking at the actual time line I guess it didn’t.

Needles: 3.5 mm 24 inch circular

Modifications: Lots!  The obvious one is I made this a pullover rather than a cardigan.  I’m in a period of hating making button bands and I’ve realized that I never wear the cardigans I’ve made unbuttoned anyway.  This was super simple to pulloverize.  The only thing I did differently was to omit the extra stitch at the front colourwork portion.  This would have been symmetrical as a cardigan but not a as pullover. 

I didn’t do a provisional cast on on the body.  I didn’t really see a need for it.  Instead I did a regular long tail cast on, knit the contrasting band and tacked it to the body as I was knitting.

I added some waist shaping but I probably should have added more.

I initially knit the neck as dictated but it was a total mess.  It rolled and was huge and stretched like crazy after blocking.  So, late last night I ripped it out.  I did two extra decrease rounds, decreasing after every eight stitches on each round, and knit the neck as Ravelry user jrs did except that I did a regular i-cord bind off and I switched to 3.25 mm needles. 

Here’s a picture under the florescent light of the kitchen for a better view:

Overall impression:  I love it!  It’s surprisingly light and airy and super soft and cozy.  The sleeves are a bit big and long but it’s no big deal. 

I will not be starting the Cabled Cardigan from Runway Knits next as originally planned.  It’s finally above zero at times around here and I just don’t want to knit a heavy cardigan damnit! 

In other good time news; Fabricland is having a member’s sale!

Michelle and I spent a small fortune but I’m pleased as punch to have a HUGE cutting mat and rotary cutter!

Tiny owls

Some of the vintage bead stitch markers I mentioned a few weeks ago are finally up in my shop.

I’ve had the cute owl beads for a little while but they didn’t look finished without the accent beads so I had to wait for those to come in. With them came some proper jewelry making tools. I’ve been making stitch markers for almost a year and the whole time I’ve been using Chris’s Buck knife and totally shredding my already wussy nails. I’ll have some more markers up once I get some more supplies in.

Easter dinner turned out great. I was especially proud of how fancy the challah looked.

Everything was really tasty. Chris made the potatoes and despite some exploding in the oven drama they were cheesy and delicious.

I am finally on the colourwork portion of Enid. I had hoped to have it finished today but I very much doubt that will happen. Soon, though, very soon.

And just for fun here are some creepy socks Meaghan brought me back from Korea:

Happy Easter!

Table setting and table setting photography are apparently not my strong points but happy Easter anyway to those who celebrate and happy long weekend to those who don’t.

For brunch I made Lemon Scones, eggs and fruit and Michelle, Alex and baby Sagan are coming over for dinner tonight. On the menu:

• Challah

• Three Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

• Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Meatballs

• Cucumber Salad from Food and Drink – Early Summer 2007

• Lemon Coconut Tart from The Modern Vegetarian Kitchen

What can I say? I’m a sucker for punishment. Hey! Kind of like Jesus.

We got up early this morning, exchanged organic and lambic beer, chocolate and knitting books (you can probably guess who received what) and started cooking so most of the food is all ready leaving me lots of time to stress over an interview first thing Tuesday morning!

Why don’t you marry it?

Perhaps I am high on iron fumes but I don’t know if I’ve ever been more pleased with something I’ve made.

Pattern: Simplicity 4077 – version E with no ruffle

Fabric: Poly/Cotton from Fabricville in Gatineau

As I mentioned before I was completely taken with Pamela Wynn’s many versions of this blouse and went straight out to buy the pattern after I saw her latest creation.

This seemed to come together so quickly.  I can’t wait to make many, many more with all the fabric I’ve been accruing.

I love this fabric and I was so pleased to find that it’s not as sheer as I thought.  It would suck to have such a breezy blouse to wear in the summer and then have to wear a camisole.  However, I would not recommend using such a lightweight fabric if you’re not totally confident in your sewing skills. Every time I had to  rip stitches, which was unfortunately often, I ended up with holes.  I like to think of them as vents

 

Sew Storm

Yesterday I sat at my sewing machine from around five until midnight with just a brief break for fondue:

It was yummy. Chris was very excited because beer+cheese+mustard=awesome in his book.

After that marathon sewing session I ended up with a sore back and another Asian Dream skirt.

I love this pattern. It’s relatively easy with fancy looking results. This is some strange wool fabric from Fabricland – perhaps boiled – that strongly resembles felt and coated my entire apartment in black fuzz and turned my fingernails blackish blue. I have a great black grosgrain type ribbon with white stitching that I would have preferred to use but Michelle bought it at Hallmark so I quickly discovered that it was not appropriate for apparel. The great thing is the ribbon would be fairly easy to change up if I find one I like better. This is some twill tape I purchased from Ribbons Galore when I was shopping around for trim for the damned Phildar Swing Jacket that I’ve never worn.

It’s a bit big but it’s not falling down so I think I’ll wait until next winter to do any adjustments.

Does anyone have any recommendations for great winter skirt patterns?

Monday Shake Down

First thing first: Happy St. Patrick’s Day! To celebrate here is a dorky picture of me in a shirt I did not buy in Dublin, but at the Urban Outfitters in Montreal many years ago:

Who could resist that awkward come hither half-smile? I’m looking forward to pigging out on Irish Cheddar and Stout Fondue this evening.

I’m in a major cooking kick thanks to the latest Food & Drink. This weekend I made Sag Paneer, Lentil Curry and Carrot and Goat Cheese Souffles from the magazine, french toast, Blueberry Bread Pudding with Lemon Curd and Garlic Naan. You can peruse some photos of my weekend cooking adventures on my Flickr page, if you so desire. The Indian spread was in honour of Sagan and Michelle’s first extended visit to our apartment.

I don’t think she could be any cuter. I want to steal her shirt. I wish Gymboree had adult clothing.

As you may have gathered I’ve been doing more sewing than knitting lately. I couldn’t really say why. Yesterday I finished another Knit Notion Organizer (Organiser for my Canadian / British buds).

The Echino fabric Erin sent me was perfect for an extra long organizer. I realized there may be some need for a longer version when Alison ordered hers but was concerned about her girthy couch arm. This one is 33 inches so it should fit any couch.

Sagan, Michelle and I also ventured to Gatineau and Fabricville yesterday. It is far superior to it’s Ontario counterpart Fabricland. There was much more emphasis on apparel fabrics and the layout was way better AND when you sign up for a club card it’s good for one year from the time of purchase rather than until September. I purchased some lightweight cotton:

and some polka dot cotton:

I can’t wait to make some summer blouses out of these but I’m going to try to knock off a few winter skirts while I can still wear them (unfortunately).

Lucky Lady

Chris came home and brought his sister with him. Meaghan’s been in Korea for a year and a half so it was nice to see her again. I made her a cake.

But I obviously forgot to take pictures before the gel pens ran like crazy and we attacked it. It was very tasty. It’s the chocolate cake and buttercream recipes from the good old Betty Crocker cookbook.

Chris’s Nana also sent two huge bags of knitting materials with him. The pamphlets and magazine are from the forties to the nineties. This is just a small selection of the loot.

 

 

She also included two videos of Elizabeth Zimmerman and Meg Swanson on PBS. Too bad we just got rid of our VCR.

You may have zeroed in on this:

For the funky armed robber in your life.

I would seriously consider making this:

Love it!

There’s also plenty of baby patterns. Eternally cute. I’m a lucky girl. Thanks Mary-el!

As if I wasn’t lucky enough I also got another package from Erin yesterday. This was an Easter special. Love the Echino fabric:

And I adore these salt and pepper shakers:

 

Lucky girl indeed.

I’m off to eat leftover fried rice for lunch. This recipe is awesome. Do try.

 

 

 

What I did instead of tunnelling out

I managed to get the other two organizers up in my shop:

This is pretty much the last of my Japanese chrysanthemum fabric so that organizer with definitely be one of a kind. I’m sad to see it go. So pretty.

I’ve been having a crazy busy day but I wanted to share a recipe. Usually when Chris is gone I end up eating cereal or take out for every meal but this weekend I was good and cooked relatively healthy meals for myself. This mini pizza was very tasty and quick.

Naan Pizza Supremo

-1 spinach cheese naan (I used Rinag) or plain naan or pita

-pizza sauce of your choice (I used this one because I had all the ingredients)

-1/3 cup mozzarella

-4 stalks asparagus with ends snapped off

-1/8 cup herbed goat cheese – crumbled

-2 sun dried tomatoes – soaked and sliced

-1 tbsp fresh parmesan-reggiano – shredded

-olive oil

Preheat over to 375 degrees F. Spread pizza sauce on naan. Sprinkle mozerella. Top with asparagus, sun dried tomatoes, crumbled goat cheese and parmesan. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for fifteen minutes (I used the toaster oven) or until cheese is melted and asparagus is soft. Let it sit for a minute then cut into four little slices width wise.

Knit Notion Organizers

Not the snappiest of titles but the snappiest of accessories nonetheless. I managed to get three of the five caddies I’ve made over the weekend listed in my shop.

The other two will have to wait until my camera’s memory card stops being a douche bag.