Kati Cupcake Flamingo Carry On Bag

This is a little something different.  The pattern is the Carry On Bag by Kati Cupcake.  I am a sucker for a structured bag pattern, and when I saw this one at a local fabric store, Gigi's Fabric Shop, I had to have it.  It helped that I also found this flamingo fabric.  I have had a thing for flamingos since I was a little girl.  My thought was that this would make a freaking adorable knitting bag.  Unfortunately, it has been sitting empty since I finished it because it is HUGE!

I kind of want to just carry it around as a purse, and I may do that on my summer beach vacation, but I still feel it's a bit much for everyday, even for Florida,  I mean, it's bright pink and blue and flamigoed!

The details on this pattern are very nice.  I got all of the metal findings at JoAnn Fabrics.

The straps are really fun and sturdy.

 The only thing I would do different is to better interface the top edge of the bag.  The stiffest interfacing used is in the interior pockets and bottom.  It holds the bag upright very well, but as you can see below, the top edge of the bag, above the interior pockets, collapses a bit.

Here, you can get a sense of the size.  It will be perfect for a big sweater project, or for carrying on a day trip when I am feeling more fun. 

2016 Stitchers' Guild SWAP

I don't think I have mentioned it much here, but I participated in the SWAP (sewing with a plan) on Stitchers' Guild.  The sewing ran from Christmas time through the end of April, with one purchased item and two previously-sewn items allowed.  Also, any number of knitted or crocheted items are allowed.  I have three knitted sweaters.

I took most of these photos in early May on a day too sunny to shoot outside.  They are pretty dark even after editing, though, and I planned to redo some of them, but I never got around to it am now out of time, so this will have to do.  Here is my collection:

I have participated in this fun contest before, and this is the first year I feel very happy about every piece.  From left to right in the photo above, we have:

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1. Ottoman Breton dress hybrid

2. Knitted lace sweater (not yet blogged)

3. Lesley Pullover

4. Striped wool blend tee

5. Purchased navy tank top (hard to see)

6. Liberty lawn blouse

7. Sleeveless sweater (not yet blogged, previously made)

8. Moda lawn blouse

9. Cynthia Rowley skirt

10. Black pants (previously sewn)

11.  Red pants

This is a pretty well-balanced wardrobe for me - 5 tops, 3 bottoms, 2 sweaters, 1 dress

Here are some outfit combinations:

I think that every year, I say it is my favorite SWAP ever.  I guess that makes sense since every year, my skills are improved, and I have a better idea of what I like to wear.  This year, I am especially proud of my three knitted tops and my well-fitting pants. :-)

Infinito from The Authentic Collection by Joji Locatelli / Joji Knits

This is Infinito from The Authentic Collection by Joji Locatelli.  This is the third piece from the collection that I have knit.  Clearly, Joji has my number.  The others are Jujuy and Spectrum.

The pattern is designed for fingering weight yarn, but I found this incredible dk-weight cashmere-blend yarn, Amano Mayu, and I knew it had to be this.  Since my yarn is a different weight, all of my stitch counts are different, and I just knit each piece until I ran out of yarn.After blocking, this thing grew like crazy, so it fits better as a double-wrap cowl.

This feels like total luxury around my neck.  My top is one that I copied from a RTW top a few years ago.

Sirena Dress by Itch to Stitch

 This is my test-sew for Itch to Stitch's new Sirena Dress pattern.  As with my other Itch to Stitch projects, the fit is spot on with the barest of alterations.  I needed to let out the hip area just as much as the seam allowances would allow.

Here is a closeup of the fabric, a cotton tweed that I purchased at Pennie Fabrics in Sarasota.

The pattern includes instructions for both an invisible back zipper and an exposed metal zip.  I didn't do either.  I heard exposed zip, and I found this fun one at JoAnns.  I finished the center back at the same time as the neckline and then just top-stitched the zipper on after.

This is a great basic pattern,  There are so many variations you could easily do with this - necklines, sleeves, skirt shapes...  I am thinking of cutting my sleeves off shorter, though.  I like to show more arm. :-)

Option Flats from The Knitted Slipper Book and Me Made May 6-10

This was one of the best projects ever - super quick, used up really old stash yarn, super cute and useful!  I wear these little slippers all the time!  This is from The Knitted Slipper Book.  I checked the book out from my local library, but I don't want to take it back.  I think I am going to have to buy it.  There are 30 projects (not even counting variations within those projects) in this book, all slippers.  I want to make at least 15 of them.

These are the Option Flats, which are felted.  Obviously, I went with the bow option, but I am totally making Tinkerbell shoes lookalikes with green flats and big white pom poms.  That is happening.

The fit of these is perfect.  They cup the heel and do not slide off while walking.  There are detailed instructions in the book for different types of soles for the slippers, but I just left these without any special sole.  I don't slip around much.  I want to make the clogs, though, and add leather soles.

The yarn is 100% wool from Elann.com, bought back when I lived in Germany, so at least 7 years ago. I wear slippers around the house a lot.  You can see these are already covered in dog hair, and I don't care.  Love these slippers!

This is my me-made outfit from last Friday, the 6th.  The shorts are McCalls 5857 and the top is one I copied from a RTW top.  I can't find a blog post about it, but I cut apart a ready-to-wear top that I loved to death and copied it, right down to the color.

Saturday, I wore my Vogue 1259 knit top and my Spectrum shawl to soccer.

Sunday (8th), I wore my white Marbella dress with this cowl for church.

This was yesterday (the 9th):  The pink top is my Itch to Stitch Idyllwild, and the shorts are RTW, but I have some white shorts fabric ready to be cut out, so I hopefully don't have to wear these stained and wrinkle-prone ones much longer.

Today (10th), I wore the results of this pile of fabrics combined with Simplicity 8059.  Blog post coming soon.

Pattern Review Member in Focus

I am the "Member in Focus" at Pattern Review right now.  :-)  You can go here and read more about me than you probably ever wanted to know!

On the Moors with Jane Eyre Shawl by The Sampler Girl + Me Made May 4 and 5

This was such a fun little knitting project.  It is called MKAL On the Moors with Jane Eyre and is designed by Tanya of The Sampler Girl.  The name is a bit of a mouthful, and if you are unfamiliar, MKAL stands for mystery knit along.  The pattern was released in four separate sections over five weeks.  I didn't see the finished shawl until I finished mine.  Very fun, but you definitely have to know you like the designer to commit to that format. :-)

The yarn is a discontinued Noro that is mostly cotton and silk.  I had three balls and it used up almost all of the yardage.

Aaaand as usual with shawls, this is how I actually wear it - wrapped around my neck like a big ol' scarf.

I am happy to report that this is my Me Made May outfit today, day 5.
Here is the skirt and here is the top.

This was yesterday, day 4.  I am wearing my Bonbon Shawlette.

Day 3, I totally failed and forgot to get all me-made up before going for my weekly school library volunteer gig.  I never officially signed up on Zo's blog anyway...

Me Made May 1-2

Here are my Me Made May outfits 1 and 2.

1.  I wore this recent dress to church and then just left it on for a while after.  Maybe it is just a more flattering photo, but I am second guessing cutting this off as a skirt now.  I really enjoyed wearing this dress. :-)

2.  Today, I wore these favorite red pants with a knitted top that I have not yet blogged about, mostly because I didn't use a pattern and made it up as I went along.  It has been the comfortable basic white knit top I had hoped!