My New Apartment

Pic not my apartment, but pretty non?

I'm moving out and going to live by myself. A cozy apartment with high ceilings and lots of sunlight. It's on a quiet, tree-lined block. Beautiful hardwood floors and lots of closet space. Two large closets for clothes, one for linens, one for yarn and one for my wardrobe kit. It's blessed with a roomy bathroom with wonderful hardware, a pretty mirror and a window.

The comfortable couch is perfect to put your feet up and watch the flat screen television. My ottoman is nearby. The kitchen is spacious, the window providing the perfect light to have breakfast in the breakfast nook on the kitchen table.

A tabby cat is lounging on a window sill, lazily watching the birds in the trees.

What a wonderful life.

Crochet for Grannies?

I love crochet. I have 2 crochet skirts, and have made a few baby clothes and bags. It is not always the prettiest fabric though.
Umm, look below...

Cate Blanchett at the Australian Center for the Moving Image.

Here's the lovely Cate Blanchett in a bulky, granny squared, one-shoulder dress.

Really unflattering *sigh*.

Up close, the yarn seems that it could be lovely, but not all those colors together. The black flounce thing on the neckline and hem, doesn't help in any way.

It could be fixed though. Work with me.

Picture a strapless dress, using only 2 or 3 colors like grey, white and black or grey, pink and black for a splash of color. Then making the squares look triangular around the waistline would make it look more body conscious.

If all else fails, this dress could make a cute purse. What do you think?

Pic courtesy The Daily Mail

Fantasy Pattern - Sexy Crochet Lace

Diane Kruger at Berlin Fashion Week Summer '09
Source: Fab Sugar

Let's talk about this top.

Lace crochet, the detail. So much is going on. It's 3 doilies sewn into the cutest top ever.

The neckline is a bit high, but the top is see through, so it's still sexy.

So, who wants to make this pattern? I'd buy it. After my foray into crocheting with thread, I believe I can do this in about a year.

To fill up my obsession with thread, I bought this pattern, below, from Universal Yarn.

Might be my first thread, non-accessory project. But as you know, I have many other things to finish beforehand. So much fun.

More Posts: Crochet Wavy Doily Update Wavy Doily

Sewing Crochet

I'm still working on that crazy ever expanding crochet skirt. So it seems that the Knit Picks Shine Sport yarn was too thick. I know I'm a loose knitter, ha! And I guess I'm a loose crocheter too. I didn't feel like frogging the skirt again, so I'm going to finish crocheting the body, machine sew down the sides to the size I want, then add the edging and zipper

I'm using a subtle zig zag stitch to sew the skirt. This will keep the stretch inherent in the yarn. Then I'll sew another straight stitch 1/2" away and trim closely to minimize bulk and unraveling. At least my sewing machine will get some action. I rarely take it, out except for work, and I try to let other people use it. I also have the perfect color blue thread...


...Tada, I did it.

Here's the seam on the outside. It's not that wonky in real life.


Here's the inside seam. This is hard to see in the picture. The seam folds to the right.

So now I have like 5 balls of yarn left. I'll probably have 1 left of the shiny yarn. Don't you hate when you have too much yarn left over? Not just one ball, but many. Don't know what else to make yet. Maybe I'll bring it to the yarn swap next month. Don't know...

More Posts: Warning: Don't Overdo The Shiny Yarn

Rosamund's Cardigan Knit-a-long

I'm doing a knit-a-long with 2 of my friends. We're making the Rosamund's Cardigan by Andrea Pomerantz from Interweave Knits Fall 2009 issue. It's a fitted short sleeved cardigan with a cabled neck and asymmetrical opening.

It's worked in the round, top down. I've never knitted a sweater like this. I've only made sweaters in pieces like front and back, then sewn in sleeves. This will be the first time making a sweater from the neck and working my way down.

I enjoy tight knits and cables. But without fail, everything I knit tends to be too big. So I'm making the medium in this. A small knit is a good knit, and it always stretches to fit.

I'm planning on using Cascade Rustic in #10 Eggplanted (Purple). It's wool and linen. I love how there's a lighter color spun in. It creates a depth I like. I haven't used this yarn yet. It's single ply so it might pill and look slightly felted. I don't think I'll mind that on this project.

Cascade Yarns "Rustic" # 10, 2nd from bottom on right

The gauge for the pattern is 1 stitch bigger than the gauge for the yarn on size 8 needle. Since I'm a loose knitter I should always start swatching on a size smaller needle. But no, I try an8 - too big. Size 7 - too big. Size 6 - too big, really? Size 5 - same size as 6, for real? The swatch measure 4 1/4" instead of 4".

I blocked the size 6 and 5 swatches. Hmm, this yarn stretches I should probably use the 5. Cause I don't want to swatch a 4.
Shall I?
It's supposed to be an 8!

Pics courtesy: Interweave Knits
Cascade Yarns

Planning with Ben Harper

I'm not the best writer. That's why I was chosen to write the business plan for the knitting café . I wrote it mostly in outline form, it helps to organize my thoughts. My business partner, CG, helped edit it. Our business counselor at SBDC reviewed it and sent back a review.

First, "no" on outline form. Must be in paragraph form. Just so you know, since the invention of texting, I have a hard time writing full sentences. I leave off things like "I, It, The".

Second, I have to write about our services and all that stuff as if the person reading it knows absolutely nothing about knitting. This could seriously double the length. I also have to include the financial projections and stuff. That's confusing. How do you predict how much you will grow? So I have this week to edit the plan, then show to CG, but I really want to knit, all day. Help me.

Here's some Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals. He's helping me get through describing classes and workshops in the utmost detail.

More Posts: Money Talk
Knit Development

Pen Pic courtesy: images.com

September Horoscope

Sagittarius Woman: images.com

Professional interests, finances, and a major real estate or housing situation will take top billing in September...

Hmm, really.

... best to be patient and wait until October to make your key decisions...

Okay, what I'm supposed to do in the meantime?

... Financial matters seem to be on your mind this September, and if you are starting a business or already have one that needs more financing, then finding the money you need to accomplish a goal will take precedence over everything else in your life...

Yep, opening up a store is a huge financial commitment.

... If a business relationship was never strong (even if you thought it was) you may see it unravel under this month's extreme aspects...

Oh snap! That's true, and it's not even September yet.

... The universe really does seem aggressively bent on presenting every possible flaw or problem this month...

Thanks?

These aspects are ... on a mission to root out relationships and agreements that will not support you in the future... no matter if you are forced to change, or do so by your own volition, you will move to a better place, so the final effect will be positive...

Wheesh, that's good.
Gonna go knit.

Horoscope courtesy of Astrology Zone