Pink Baby Shrug

It feels a bit weird to be sitting inside on a 28 C day, knitting away despite the sunshine calling my name, but I've become an aunty for the first time on my husband's side so I couldn't let this momentous occasion slip by without a handknit now, could I?

Besides, I'm a big believer in welcoming a brand new, much-longed-for soul into the world with their very own knit, made for nobody else but them. And despite the copious sunshine today, the weather is predicted to take a turn for the worse, if not for the nasty, so while it will be bad for all the hypothermic race goers, it will be pleasant indeed for me. I shall spend the weekend contentedly perched on the couch, knitting away with a cup of tea near by, happily listening to the rain as I think joyful thoughts about the wee one that has come safely into this world.

Besides, how stinkin' cute is this knit? The pattern is a Debbie Bliss one, and better than that - it's a FREE Debbie Bliss one. Hoorah! You can get your paws on the pattern right over here.

Four sheets to the wind (or a striped, nautical style top!)

I'm totally feeling the nautical vibe this summer, and as soon as I saw this pattern in the 2/2010 Burda Magazine, I knew this top had to be made. In fact, I may* have even uttered a little "Arrrrrr! That top will be better than a frigate off the starboard side with all canon's a-firing!"**

So shiver me timbers, I whipped it up before a sewing mutiny could occur, and I was forced to walk the overlocker plank.

What? Me hearties want the gory details? Well, all hands to deck and set yer sails: here are the deets before you get your fishing lines knickers in a sailor's knot:

Project Details
Pattern: Striped Top from Burda Magazine 2/2010
Fabric: Jersey knit from Tessuti Fabrics

This was a very quick and easy top to sew together. I did add some pleats to the sleeve raglan edge, and this made the neckline fit much better. I made it up in size 34, and didn't add any of the side seam allowances as I find the Burda cut can be a little on the generous side, and I wanted a nice, fitted style top.

*Any excuse to do a crusty old pirate voice!
**Actually, I think most things are better than that particular situation.
***Many thanks to dear husband and all his years of reading/watching Hornblower for the ship shape navy terms.

Sneak peek...

...of a little bit of "Drape Drape 2" dress manipulation I've been doing. And boy, is it fun!

The Stripey Bandit

There's a new bandit in town. You'll know her by her clever disguise - she can bounce the sun's glare directly into your eyes from her mask, rendering you blind and enabling her a quick get away.

You may also know her by her dodgy dance moves. The Stripey Bandit sure does like to rock on!







Project Details

Pattern: Dress #12 from Ottobre Design Magazine 2/2005
Fabric: 1m of stripey cotton print, which wasn't quite enough - boy did I do some head scratching trying to fit all the pattern pieces in! Still, yet enough stash buster, so I'm pleased.
Notions: elastic for sleeves and neckline

I adore this dress - I'm so happy with how the stripes look going both ways. It's a winner!

Ride To Work Day!

Don't forget, fellow Australians, that tomorrow is Ride To Work Day! You can bet that I'll be proudly mounting my faithful blue steed (hmmm, that sounded rather wrong!) and pedalling in to work after scoffing my FREE BREAKFAST organised by the good folks at Bicycle Victoria.
If you see me pedalling along, feel free to wave - although I will be honest: I will put the heels in my bike basket and pedal safely in my daggy old sandals.

So that is how you shall know me - I'll be the one with the cool dress but awful shoes, replete with distended stomach doing free coffee/muffin/croissant/fruit salad burps as I ride maybe not so gracefully into work. Still, it beats being stuck in traffic or wedged into somebody's armpit on public transport. Viva la velo!

Red Peasant Blouse

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong...





...but I think somebody is rather pleased with her new top!

Project Details
Pattern: Peasant Blouse from Ottobre Magazine 2/2005
Fabric: 50cm cotton from stash. Love a stash project!
Notions: elastic for sleeves and neck edge, plus shirring elastic

Watch out for more of these this summer!

Jorth vs Fabric Scraps

Oh my sainted aunt - what is that... that thing vomitting all over my kitchen table?



Before I end your suspense, a little background: today I had the day off work, and decided to get cracking on Grumble's summer wardrobe. Foolish me thought it would be a mere matter of opening the bureau door and fishing out the fabric I had in mind, but instead I was confronted with a jumble of fabrics all threatening to spill out of the over packed cupboard, and all baying for attention with the same refrain: "Remember me? I was meant to be a dress by now! So when you gonna sew me up, huh? HUH?"

With a sigh I set aside my initial intention, got down on my hands and knees and began the job of sorting through the fabric stash, and figuring out my plans. Fabric that I did have a specific project in mind for was neatly folded up with the corresponding pattern placed on top, and carefully lined up on the shelf. Scrappy bits that were kept for whatever reason were reevaluated, and either consigned to the op-shop bag or to the 'other projects' pile. And all those weird odds and sods were put into a bag to be donated to the local kindergarten.

After working steadily for a good half hour, I rocked back onto my heels and surveyed with satisfaction the work I had done. But alas! I had forgotten the scrap bag. Now that I came to think of it, I hadn't come upon the fabric I wanted for Grumble's top, so I took the scrap bag out to the kitchen table, and began to hunt for it.

All those scraps - mostly left over pieces from clothes I had made for Grumbles - spilled out onto the table. Here was a piece from her first summer dress. Here was a piece from the jeans I had made, and lined with spotted cotton. Here was a piece from the top she wore on her first day of kinder. Here was a piece for each day we were happy, sitting in the sun, just my girl and me. Each one felt like a precious memory, and couldn't be thrown away, but collectively the bag seemed to be taunting me. "LOOOOOK!" the scraps brayed, "Look at all these pieces left from the clothes you made your child. Clothes for a little girl that you can never make again, because your daughter is growing up faster than you would like, and you can't have any more children, so you'll never be able to make those clothes again. BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Good grief! It was like the fabric elephant in the room had come to life. I almost burst into tears looking at all the pieces. The worst thing is, though, that even though I don't want these scraps to hang around as a reminder of what-might-have-been, I don't want to throw them either. The bittersweet memories were suddenly too much, and I was feeling them too deeply. I was standing in my kitchen, having a meltdown over a bag of cloth, battling to keep my emotions in check. But bloody hell - the cloth scraps were winning!

Then I thought of something. My salvation, so to speak. I would make the scraps into a yo yo garland! That way I could do something useful with the scraps, and keep the happy memories associated alive, but could put it away when I tired of it.

Restraining myself from doing a little happy jig, I leaned in and whispered to the fabric bag "So! What do you think of my clever plan?"

The scrap bag was silent. It knew a winner when it saw one.

Pattern Review: Vogue 8615

So here is the latest little number, straight off the sewing machine: Vogue 8615. This is a very retro-feeling dress, and the full skirt is meant to be worn with a petticoat, but to be honest with you all, I'm not really a petticoat kinda gal (ha! can you imagine me trying to ride my bike with all that tulle flip-flopping around?) so I decided to randomly gather up the skirt in a haphazard fashion to create my own version of fullness.

Not to blow my own horn, but gosh darn, it looks spiffy! I think this is my favourite dress so far this year! And to top off my joy, my invisible zip in the back is perfect! I invented a little trick to make the zip go in easier: firstly I sewed one side of the zip in, and then I did the zip up and basted the other side of the zip in where the waistband seams met, so that they lined up correctly. Then I sewed the other side of the zip in. Easy peasy - I'll be doing all my zips in this fashion from now on.

But here, old buddies old pals, is where the joy ends. This pattern, I hate to say, is not well drafted. The sleeve in particular is a complete joke. The sleeve cap simply did not fit correctly into the armhole. The amount of ease was ridiculous. I sat there for a full 40 minutes, trying desperately to fit the cap into the arm hole, but it was far too large. In the end I gathered the sleeve cap, and sewed it in that way, so I have a slight puff sleeve cap, which looks fine, but isn't how the pattern ought to be. That was quite disappointing.

Despite all that room in the sleeve cap, the actual cap height (the distance from the biceps to the top of the sleeve cap, running straight along the grain line) is bizarrely tight feeling. Gah! Stupid, stupid sleeve! If I had any spare fabric I think I would have drafted up my own pattern piece and cut a new sleeve out - one that actually fit and was comfortable to wear.

Another change I made was to ignore the bodice seam line. Seriously - who wants a seam running straight down their front? From a fitting point of view it wouldn't make any difference for a small busted girl like myself, so I cut the bodice on the fold, taking off the 1.5cm seam allowance. It looks much, much better that way, and I have no dissection line running down my sagittal plane.

Also, since I knew from the beginning that I wanted to make my skirt crazily gathered, I omitted putting the pockets in, since I didn't know exactly where I would put the gathers until I was standing in the dress figuring it out whilst looking in the mirror, and I suspected that the pocket holes might sit oddly. So I left them out. As somebody noted to me, I could hide my lunch in all the folds and gathers, and nobody would be any the wiser, so who needs pockets, eh?

So, to conclude: After making my changes I am happy with the dress, but it's not a pattern that I would recommend in a hurry.

Project Details
Pattern: Vogue 8615
Fabric: 3.6m Imazu Spotted - Night Japanese cotton from Tessuti Fabrics (you can see a navy version here), and 50cm silk/cotton voile for lining
Notions: 40cm invisible zip

I'm so glad my girl can make her own fun...

...even if it does come off as slightly deranged sometimes!

(Not that she would get that from her mother. Uh uh. Not at all!)

What the Knitting SWAT team would see...

Control Centre: Knitting Surveillance, can you call in with your location and target please copy over.

KS: CC, currently outside target's home... she's been knitting, but has just taken a delivery...over

CC: Delivery? Can we get a zoom in on that? Is it contraband? Over.

KS: Nope, French knitting magazines... Phildar, I think. Yes, confirmation, five Phildar mags, over.

KS: Update, CC, update! Target has changed location. She remains at home, but is now on the couch, nursing a cup of tea and sighing contentedly whilst flicking through magazines.

Control Centre: Come on in to office, Knitting Surveillance... that target won't be going anywhere this afternoon. You guys may as well take a load off. Over and out.

Green Polly

Fresh off the needles is the first outfit completed for the "Handmade For Grumbles" campaign: a super cute green cotton cardigan for summer, which she is wearing with her Three Way Dress. Yes, yes, I know - it's still freezing cold here, but at my current pace I need to get started early if the poor kid is going to be clothed this summer!
It was quite a quick knit - in fact, it would have been even quicker if I hadn't let the pieces sit around for a couple of weeks whilst I regarded them with a grumpy look and a sore back and decided I would sew them tomorrow, honestly, I'll do it tomorrow, but once I sat down the sewing was done relatively soon. Even picking up all the stitches for the neckband was pretty easy, and that's a job I usually detest.

I didn't bother blocking the pieces in the usual fashion, which is to wet the knitted pieces, carefully pin them to a blocking board, and then leave for at least 24 hours for the pieces to dry. Instead I used a sneaky trick of my own devising, which is to put a wet tea towel over the knitted piece which has been placed on the ironing board, and then iron the billy-oh out of it. I'm sure Elizabeth Zimmerman is rolling in her grave right now, but the technique works for me. And, yes, I'll confess: I do this on all my finished knitted pieces, bad bad me. You're reading the writing of the last of the knitting rebels, folks!

Project Details
Pattern: Polly from Rowan Kids
Yarn: 3 balls of Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton
Needles: 4mm and 3mm (I used a size down to get gauge)
Button: Shell button from Tessuti Fabrics

Details on Ravely here.

Craft Spring Cleaning

I'm not sure if it's the extra sunshine in the air, or fact that I have my usual amount of mobility back, but I have been taken by the sudden, not-to-be-ignored urge to do some craft spring cleaning. I look around our tiny home, and shudder at the wips and ufos that are lying about, adding nothing but an air of clutter and an atmosphere of crafting guilt at their unfinished states to our home. I feel like they are dragging me down, down, down to the very depths of a rut of incompleteness. And that, to quote Mary Poppins, will never do!

So this morning has been spent finding all these projects, and deciding what to do with them. The above was formerly the back of the lovely Cherry by Anna Bell, which for some reason that I seriously cannot fathom now was lying in a box under the bed with it's needles pulled out. Taking it out and shaking off the dust, I tried to read my knitting notes (I take copious notes when knitting - does anybody else?) but found them to be as unilluminating to my mind as hieroglyphics. What the heck was I jotting down? Unable to interpret myself, I frogged with a grim face, and decided that this project could be tackled at a later date, once other things had been completed and the weather was more suitable to wearing a cute summery cardigan.

I will admit to a slight twinge of sadness as I frogged - I remembered so very clearly beginning the cardigan as I sat next to Grumbles on the front stoop of our old home, I basking in the sunshine as I cast on and wrangled with my cable needle, Grumbles besides me slurping away on a succession of home made frozen yoghurt icy-poles, watching our hunky, usually shirtless neighbour berating his girlfriend at the top of his voice - even, at times, chasing her down the street as she sped off in his car - before turning to us, giving a friendly wave and saying "Hey duuuudes, how ya doin?" Apart from the whole yelling-at-his-girlfriend thing (and to totally honest, she ignored him completely, so she didn't seem to bothered by it all) he was a pretty friendly guy. I miss those days!

Oh, and don't fear, fellow knitters, about the frogging - to be honest, my tension was spectacularly crap, as I hadn't really gotten the hang of knitting with cotton at that stage, so it truly is all for the best! That's what happens why you focus more on the sunshine, Grumble's company and the street's spectacles than knitting with cotton. Lesson learned.

Back to spring cleaning: My other Yoga Wrap, which travelled around Europe with us, only to be worked on for a couple of rows at the very most before I realised that knitting on trains gives me motion sickness has been pulled out, with a pledge to finish it before the cool weather disappears. Likewise the coat and dress I have cut out and sitting on top of the buffet that houses all of my sewing gear - these too have been moved up the sewing queue.

And yesterday I finished the summer cardigan I have been working on for Grumbles (pics soon, promise!) so really, things are moving along at a cracking speed. And that, my friends, feels gooooooood!

If only I had such a can-do attitude to spring cleaning the dust bunnies under the bed...

Reappearance

Ack! It has not been exactly a barrel of laughs chez Jorth of late. Firstly I got a sore back - which, I can assure you, wasn't enhanced by falling down our stairs a few days later - and so have been seeing a chiro for the last few weeks. She's doing a fabulous job, but oh my goodness my poor stubborn muscles are not liking being forced back into their original configurations, much preferring their lazy, hunching positions thanks very much. I can almost hear them muttering to themselves: "Why let Jorthy stand up nice and straight when she's the one who has made us hunch over a computer/sewing machine/knitting needles for all these years? The crafty old sod deserves all the pain we can give her!" So it's constant hobbling and wincing from me at the moment, hence the lack of, oh gee, any projects whatsoever. Seriously - some mornings sitting down to eat breakfast has been an ordeal, so crafting has been totally out of the question. Sigh.

However I had pretty much reread the entire Bill Bryson oeuvre for want of anything else to do, so not all is lost.

Poor Galumph, meanwhile, did something nasty to his neck on Friday, so he's been flat on his back for the last five days, only raising himself up with moans and groans to see the osteopath, who makes him moan and groan some more. It's been so pathetic around here (truly, there is no other word!) that Grumbles has taken to wringing her hands and declaring to the world at large that "My family is falling apart on me!"
Still, I do feel somewhat better (and more mobile!) today, so I have cut out a new project. Huzzah! Is this, perchance, a sign that life may life soon be returning to normal? I BLOODY WELL HOPE SO!

And the winner of the Liberty Jersey giveaway is...

...according, of course, to the good folk at Random.org...Fer! Well done Fer, and thanks to everybody for entering the comp. Sniff, sniff - it was so sweet to get so many lovely birthday and blog wishes. Thanks guys!

Making our own

Grumbles, bless her heart, has decided that this summer she wants me to make all of her clothes for her. In fact, the cheeky monkey has insisted, and has even decreed that she wants to take the Hand Made Pledge (cos hand made is better, Mum!)

Since I took the Hand Made Pledge myself at the beginning of the year, and (apart from one purchase) have made my entire wardrobe this year, who was I to argue? Anything that stops suppporting the ghastly treatment of downtrodden textiles workers is fine by me.

So, even though the Melbourne has been grey and drab and frankly freeeeezing this week, I have begun to get a start on her summer wardrobe. I've had to - she had already outgrown lasts years shorts...last summer. It was all getting a bit too Kylie-in-gold-hotpants-looking, or in other words the kid desperately needs summer clothes pronto! Presenting yet another Three Way Dress from Ottobre Design Magazine 3/2009:



And one last reminder: If you haven't already entered, don't forget about the Liberty Jersey birthday giveaway. Hoorah!

The Liberty Dress

What's a girl to do when it's raining, it's pouring, the light is fading rapidly but she has a brand new Liberty jersey print dress to show off?

Get out and take a pic anyway, using her daughter's totally sophisticated bird umbrella as a prop!

Totally, totally loving this dress. The Liberty was an absolute dream to work with. It was so well behaved, and didn't do any of that nasty stretching or buckling that some jerseys can do when you sew with them. Bliss!

Project Details
Pattern: McCalls 5752
Fabric: 2.4m Liberty Jersey from Tessuti Fabrics

To be honest, though, I did find the pattern to be a bit needlessly fiddly. The mid section, for example, had you gather pieces which were then sewn onto a backing. All well and good, but then they ask you to sew another facing onto the back of that. Needless to say, I didn't both doing that, as it seemed (a) pointlesss and (b) like it would do nothing but add extra bulk to the mid section. Trust me - after having a child, you want to minimise bulk in that area at all costs!

Apart from that it was a fairly simple pattern to make. Although, you could probably make a sack out of Liberty, and it would look awesome!

PS: If you haven't already, don't forget to enter the Liberty jersey giveaway!

Happy Birthday to me... and a Liberty Jersey giveaway!

Today is my 33rd birthday - hoorah! As a way to celebrate the milestone, and also as a way to give a big thank you to all my lovely readers, I'm having a birthday giveaway.

What's this we have over here? Could it be... is it really... well, shake my boots - it's 1.5 metres of Liberty Jersey goodness!



All you need to do to get your hot little hands on the Rolls Royce of fabrics is to leave a comment, and be a follower of my blog. If you're not already a follower then scoot on over and become one. Really, it's too easy! Make sure you leave your name/blog address in the comment so I can find you easily. I'm happy to ship world wide (good grief, this aging business sure is making me generous!) so skedaddle to the comments section and give yourself a fighting chance!

The competition shall remain open until Monday 26th July. Best of luck, and thanks for being the best blog readers in the whole flipping world!

Sneak peek...

...of what I'm pretty sure is going to be my new favourite dress. Liberty jersey - what's not to love?!

Vogue 8511 - The Shorty Short Version

It was a beautiful sunny day, and Jorth was riding her bike to work wearing her new Vogue 8511 when she heard the tell tale siren of a police car behind her, warning somebody to pull over. With a shock, Jorth realised the siren was for her. In a panic, she quickly gave her bike the once over. Lights present and flashing? Check. Helmet on? Check. Reflectors in all the right places? Check. What could possibly be the problem?

As she pulled over and dismounted from her bike, the police slowed down, rolled down their window and said "Nice legs there, short skirt!" and then drove off in a puff of exhaust fumes and macho chuckling.

"Nagdammit!" said a red-faced Jorth, climbing back on the bike in a huff. "I knew I shouldn't have shortened the skirt by 16cm. What the heck was I thinking?"

She then rode off, all too aware of the breeze freely circulating around her nether regions and promising herself this would be the last time she wore such a short skirt whilst riding her bike.***



***I'd just like to clarify that this didn't actually happen. I am well aware that our policemen (and woman) are hardworking people doing what can be at times a ghastly job, and not only do I take my hat off to them but regard them with nothing but respect. I just let my imagination run away from me when writing this post in the hope that blog readers would get a chuckle out of it. Sorry for any confusion caused! It truly is nothing but a piece of fiction. However the sad chopping off of 16cm of fabric? That, alas, is the truth...

Project Details
Pattern: Vogue 8511
Fabric: 1.6m Japanese cotton from Tessuti Fabrics
Notions: 22" zip, hook and eye

Well, as regular readers will know this is the third (oh the shame!) version of this dress I've made. Really, I promise I will stop now. Even though it's so easy to whip up, and is super comfy to wear, and - apart from issues of public decency and self-modesty - is rather easy to ride a bike in.

What can I say? I like to get my money's worth out of a pattern!

Knitting Like Fury

Yikes! I really should have made some annoucement concerning my disappearing act during the school holidays. The truth is, I didn't actually mean to disappear. I had every intention of updating this old blog, but I was just enjoying being with Grumbles so much that I kept thinking "Ach! Blog can wait! I'll do it tomorrow..."

But as James Bond can tell you, tomorrow never comes. Well, not at least until now anyway.

Rest assured, dear readers, that it has not been all lying-on-couch-and-eating-bonbons. In fact, the last two days have been spent knitting like fury. You see, my dear friend had a baby rather unexpectedly (and darn quickly - 3 hours from whoa to go!) four weeks early, and the poor little chap had nothing to wear that would actually fit him, so to rescue came I with an impromptu handknit. Saturday afternoon found me rushing into the city for this:



...and then after knitting for four furious hours on Saturday night (oh yeah baby, we know how to party chez Jorth!) then another four on Sunday morning found me happily wrapping up this:



Ok, so I gave myself sore wrists in the process, but wee little Logan and his warmth needs were worth it. Besides, I can think of no better omen for a happy life than being welcomed into the world with a garment that was made by hands, each stitch done with love, and it was all done just for you.

Project Details
Pattern: Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss, size 0 - 3 months
Yarn: 3 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Needles: 4.5mm and 5mm

Note: The pattern calls for 4 balls to make the 0 - 3 size, but I used a scant 3 balls, which kinda ticked me off a bit. So be warned - that extra ball is simply not needed, so save yourself the $13.10!