Rosa

I still knit folks.  I swear.  And this proves it.

It is Rosa!

Remember this pattern?  Yeah, I know, it has been a while.  I got this kit last May when I visited Kara in London and promptly cast on, knit the bottom ribbing, and then totally lost interest.  A couple of months ago, I was feeling the excitement of needing a new project.  I chose a (completely different) project, ordered yarn, and while I was waiting, I picked up Rosa again.  Well, my new yarn came but by that time I knew that I needed to finish this sweater or I never would.

Even not counting the months and months this project lay dormant, it still took me longer than it should have.  I am not entirely sure why but I suspect it has something to do with the color.  Knitting with black yarn is just not fun.  I wouldn’t think it would make that big a difference but it really did.  Don’t get me wrong, I like the end product and am glad I choose the color I did to get the finished look I got but, black yarn just doesn’t excite me as it is being knitted.

The fun part of knitting this sweater came in the form of ruffles.  Sure there were like 300+ stitches of kidsilk haze on each–they were time consuming and a little fiddly but the ruffles were at least fun to make.

Project Stats

Pattern: Rosa

Source: Kim Hargreaves

Size: 38

Yarn:Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4-ply, Black & Rowan Kidsilk Haze, Slate

Needles: US 1 & 3

Mods: I added about 3 inches of length to the bottom of the sweater–just adding rows evenly between increases and also adding some rows to the straight knitting at the waist.

I am really happy with the end result of this sweater.  If the two sweaters I have made from Kim Hargreaves patterns are any indication of the rest, I feel like her style and fit is a very flattering one and I highly recommend her designs.  For your information, I believe Rosa is now a pattern in Kim’s book Thrown Together so you no longer have to order a full kit from England to get the pattern.  Just in case you are interested.

And yes, I know I look like I am mad. I’m not.

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Baby Kimono

First off, thank you so much for all your kind comments and condolences on my grandfather’s passing.  I really appreciate all the love and support I feel from friends–both in real and blog life.  In about a week I will be heading to Hawaii for the funeral to say goodbye along with many members of my extended family.  I’ll try to give a full report on my time there.

Now…the baby kimono.

I know right? 

My friend Jennie is having a baby boy in April and I was having some trouble deciding what I would make for her.  I thought about something knitted but then thought something sewn would be a better choice for a spring and summertime baby.  Plus there is this book… 

I bought the book Weekend Sewing the minute I knew amazon had stock–I had seen a preview copy a couple months ago and like its sister book (Weekend Knitting) I fell in love right away.  This is the first project I’ve made from the book and so far I am very pleased and can’t wait to try more. 

I love this kimono jacket.  There is something so wonderful about miniature anything.  The pattern size is for newborn to 3 months which makes for an especially tiny garment.  Like with most baby things I make, I had a hard time giving it away.  If it didn’t sound so weird and unhealthy I would decorate my house in miniature baby knits and sewn items. 

Project Stats

Pattern: Lucy’s Kimono

Source: Weekend Sewing

Fabric: Moda, Urban Chiks SWEET collection, Icing

Size: Newborn – 3 months

Mods: Maybe?  I don’t know…I did have a couple questions about the pattern.  I just don’t know if I found errors or if my questions came about because I am still fairly new to the sewing world and thus didn’t get some of the instructions.  One in particular was about the side ties–the pattern seemed to say that the two ties added to the sides of the kimono are done the same on both sides.  However, I believe you need one to be accessible on the outside of the kimono and the other on the inside.  Either way, the couple questions I did have I was able to work out on my own which in the end was a good learning experience for me to do some sewing troubleshooting. 

As a side note…Some of you have asked me where I get my fabric.  Most of the fabric I have featured so far I bought at this really great craft store in Denver called Fancy Tiger.  They have a small but fantastic collection of fabric (mostly cotton) as well as yarn, stuff for embroidery, felting, spinning, and other craft projects.  I love going there and want to buy something new every time I go.  So next time you are in town, you should for sure check it out.

Next up: a newly finished sweater…yes, I really mean it.

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Grandpa H. 1918-2009

For those who don’t know, I grew up on Oahu in the State of Hawaii.  During my college years I remember visiting home one summer with a friend.  We went to go visit my grandpa one day.  He was out in his yard hard at work–wearing his coveralls of course.  He greeted my friend warmly and asked her if she had ever been to Hawaii before.  She said no, it was her first time.  He then lifted his arms and motioned to the beautiful green mountains so prevalent in the Manoa valley and enthusiastically said, “isn’t this paradise?”

Grandpa LOVED Hawaii.  Almost as much as he loved ice cream.  (You thought I was going to say my Grandma didn’t you?)  He loved faking us out and pretending he didn’t have the tickets to whatever show we were going to.  He loved his watch Mei Ling (yes, that is the name he gave the watch) which faithfully spoke the time to him for many, many years.  He loved dinners out–especially those that had salad and dessert included in the price–Grandpa loved a good deal.  Grandpa loved his faith and lived it with conviction–leading his life the way he professed to believe.  He loved his name, my name, and hoped all who bore it would always honor it.  He loved his children and grandchildren of which I am very proud to be one.  And of course, Grandpa loved, loved his classy wife, my Grandma.

Last night Grandpa passed away.  I knew it was coming, it was his time and I am happy for him, just feeling a little sad for me.  I wanted him to meet my future husband, to have my children know the man who was so influential in my life.  As I get older, the more I understand what he and my Grandma gave me and I am forever grateful for them both.

Dad, Me, and Grandpa in Hawaii last summer

I miss you already Grandpa.  Give my love to Grandma and Aunt Patty.  Paradise just won’t be the same without you.

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Just a little friendly advice from Vogue

So I am flipping through a friend’s copy of Vogue Sewing.  I am reading a section that talks about  how to deal with fitting problems or making a pattern fit your body right and I stumble across this nugget of wisdom:

“If you are ten or twenty pounds overweight, you could try to lose weight. Even a loss of five pounds could help to eliminate potential fitting problems.” (Source: Vogue Sewing, p.20)

So there you go folks.  Having problems with the right fit?  Simple.  Just lose weight. 

Thanks Vogue.

As a side note…can you imagine a knitting pattern saying…”if the waist shaping is a little tight around your tummy, sounds like it is time to get your lazy self back to the gym…oh, and you should stop eating those Girl Scout Cookies too.”

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Kimono Robe

A couple weekends ago, I made this:

You all probably think I only wear lounge clothes.  At the rate I am going, I just might try it.  Admittedly, I do love sewing some lounge wear.  I think it is in part due to the fabric.  There is such great fabric out there but not all of it translates from the bolt to out-of-the-house wearing.  But with lounge wear…you really can play around with just about any fabric.

Here are the stats:

Pattern: Kimono Robe

Source: In Stitches by Amy Butler

Fabric: Anna Maria Horner, Good Folks AH24Sea

Size: M

Mods: None

I love this fabric.

I know it seems like all I am doing is sewing but that is just because 1. I am sewing a lot and 2.  it doesn’t take as long to finish stuff.  As for my knitting, I am currently working on seaming my latest sweater…this WIP has been a long time coming and if all goes well I will be able to reveal it this weekend.

Okay, that’s all for now.  But trust me, there is fun stuff coming up. Blog soon.

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