Professoressa Cardigan Started

I haven't had much to blog about lately.  I've been knitting a ton and not doing much sewing.  My focus has been mostly gifts, too, and I don't want to share too much since curious little eyes might see.  I did sew some adorable little doll clothes this weekend.  Can't wait to show them off when they are finished up.  I don't think my 5 nieces (ages 0-3) read my blog...

This week, the kids are home from school but Hubs is still at work.  I'm so excited that we are going to my husband's parents' house for Thanksgiving, so I don't have to worry about preparing for that dinner this year.  :-)

I have been doing some selfish knitting lately, and that sparked the "need" for some selfish sewing in my near future.  I started the Professoressa Cardigan from the Textured Stitches book.**

My yarn is a 100% alpaca in a dark green color from my Local Yarn Shop.  It is perfect for the drapey style of this design.  I spent a lot of the past weekend working on this cardigan, and have averaged knitting a ball a day since Thursday.  This pace cannot be sustained, but with a few days away around Thanksgiving, I do hope to have this finished in about a week.  The warmth of the cardigan and the deep green color make me thing of Christmas, of course, and now I really want a plaid dress to wear with the sweater for Christmas!  I've been looking around for a good pattern, and I have a few inspirations.

This dress is by Micahel Kors.  I like the A-line skirt with the pleat and the simple shape of the bodice.  I want sleeves, though.

This one definitely has the Christmas vibe.  I don't think I'll go SO red and green.  I'm thinking more tan and green.  I LOVE how the circle skirt looks in the plaid, though.

This last one has the same circle skirt effect but also has some little sleeves.

So definitely a fitted bodice with fuller skirt - probably circle but maybe A-line.  I have some dress patterns with this shape bodice and sleeves.   I can easily franken-pattern a skirt onto that.  I just need to find the perfect fabric pretty soon!


** BTW, when looking for a picture of the cardigan, I found a site that has basically scanned the whole book in.  You can buy the book from them, but um, why would you?  How is that not totally illegal.  I'm sure the answer is that it is totally illegal.

Rook Sweater

This is Brooklyn Tweed's Rook pattern by Kyoko Nakayoshi.  It's from the Wool People 6 collection.  The architectural cables and stockinette stitch body appealed to me.  I'll be honest, though.  I'm not 100% happy with my fit.  I have about a 35" bust, and the size options are 35.25" or 38.75".  I went with the larger size, and the fit is a little roomier than I would prefer.

The other issue is I'm not totally happy with the yarn.  I explained how I came to have this yarn on my latest podcast episode.  The short version is I ordered it for something else from my LYS and gave it up for lost when I didn't get a call.  After I bought different yarn for the original project, this came in, so I purchased enough for a sweater for me.  It's actually the exact same yarn that I used for this sweater, but I'm not as happy this time around.  I feel like the acrylic content (52%) is much more obvious on this version for some reason.

Here you can see that there is plenty of room in the arms and bust area.

The fit on the model is a bit more streamlined, and I'd love to make a 100% wool version in an earthy color like the example as well.  I could also see this in a wool/cotton blend with 3/4 sleeves for a less warm option.  The silver lining here is that the high temperature tomorrow is in the 50s (what??), so this will keep me nice and cozy!

Oh, I got the original inspiration for a cabled, bright pastel sweater here, and I'd still rather have her Zara sweater, which is never a good feeling. :-(  

Lavender Wardrobe Craving

I make most of my clothes these days, between sewing and knitting.  It has just slowly evolved that way.  However, things I do not make and have no qualms about buying include:

       * Jeans
       * Undergarments
       * Layering Camis
       * Fine-gauge knitwear

Of course, sometimes I buy other things, too.  Don't get me wrong.  It's just I experience handmaker's guilt with those.

A few days ago, I was on the J Crew website buying a suit for my big man (First Communion coming up!), and I just couldn't help but surf around the ladies sale section.  Extra 40% off, don't ya know.  Merino ribbed sweater for $20?  Fine-gauge knitwear - check.  Yes, please.  I've been craving more lavender in my wardrobe, so that's the color I went with (vintage lilac to be precise).  It arrived crazy fast.  Apparently the extra holiday delivery helpers have arrived but not the extra holiday deliveries yet.

Imagine my shock to read this yesterday morning.  Turns out my lavender desire is just the subliminal messaging of Derek Lam and the fashion world.  Oh well.  Here is my Lilac/Toffee/White fashion from yesterday.

(Of course, right after the photos, those shoes were replaced with flats.  I hada sick kid/photographer at home.  Don't judge me.)

Now I have to get to the lavender sweater knit fabric that's dying to become an open cardigan.  Of course, I'll need to find a lavender cami to wear under it.  No guilt there.


** Whenever I mention a brand or company, I feel the need to say that I am not affiliated or getting paid or anything.  So yeah, J Crew has no idea who I am, but if they want to throw some money my way, I would not say "no."  ;-)

Itch to Stitch Marbella Dress Pattern winner!

So sorry for not getting this out.

Without further delay, the winner of the Marbella Dress Pattern is (via random.org)...

commenter #2 who is...

Catherine who said...

This is a great, versatile dress pattern - always a great addition to a pattern collection. I think a nice soft cotton lawn would work well.

It looks like Catherine is maybe about to get started blogging.  Let's hope, so that we can all see her pretty dress!

Catherine, please send me an email so I can get you your new dress pattern.  Congratulations!