Sew Nancy

moss stitch scarf

2012-01-27T13:59:00.005-05:00

I knit this scarf as a custom order this past week for a client on Etsy as a gift for her Mom. Although I don't often do custom orders it was nice to work on something outside my usual realm and to make an idea realized for someone. The idea was for a blue/green scarf in natural wool with sparkle. We used merino with angelina in those colors and also some grey tone. The sparkle doesn't show up well in the photos but there are little bits of silver throughout.

I found Abi on Etsy who dyed and spun the wool and then sent it to me for knitting. The scarf measures 9" wide and 60" long. It should be arriving to the lucky lady today.

Have a nice weekend.

toys and treats for me

2012-01-26T14:25:00.002-05:00

I can't help feeling like a girl in wonderland every time I take a trip to Parcel.
I think if you click on the link you will see why.
Here a few of the things I brought home with me on my last visit. Most of the ribbons and laces from the bow pins were bought there from a few posts ago.

clockwise from left:

wax paper flowers, millinery fruits, vintage wood polish doll, japanese tin bird pins

short row sweater

2012-01-20T14:46:00.004-05:00

Short Row Sweater designed by The Purl Bee knit in Blue Sky Alpaca sport weight.
I used color - natural light gray.
The yarn is lovely for the project: soft and full of drape.
I think it's going to require a little more blocking then I did and possibly a little seaming to keep it lying flat in back.
I had a little issue and had to rip out and redo which wound up making it a bit imperfect.
It is a lovely design and I hope to incorporate it into my wardrobe over long sleeved tees soon.

ribbon bow hairpins

2012-01-18T18:33:00.008-05:00

I was inspired by Emma Cassi whose work I adore to make some bow hairpins for me and my girl.

They are a bit romantic and Victorian looking and are so sweet worn especially on her.

-Made with silk ribbon, tulle and various lace trims.

They would be wonderful as a little Valentine treat, don't you think?

*I am close to the end on a sweater I am knitting for myself. I am so excited to finish and hope it fits well. i have quite a few knits in progress and a custom order to start once the yarn arrives.

silk bubble skirt

2012-01-16T13:22:00.006-05:00

Here is a little skirt I made for S that will be given to her as a birthday present next month - A bubble skirt made with raw silk.
The silk was a present given to me several years ago by friends after a visit to India. I think I may make one for myself. I also have a piece in pretty pale yellow as well.
The material is stiff, crinkly and so beautiful. It really shimmers. I was happy to start putting it to use after all these years. I lined it with muslin.
If you are interested I could do a little tutorial on how I made it. It's pretty simple and looks equally nice in other materials.

Edit: She found the skit and immediately brought it to her room.

surprise balls

2012-01-11T12:07:00.006-05:00

I've become enamored with surprise balls and after nosing around on the internet have settled on this cupcake style to use for party favors for Ms. S's birthday next month. I decided to try it out last night and my first time came out okay and now I know the few tweaks I want to change:

* cut the strips thinner to around 3/4 inch
* use the rotary cutter so they are even
* try to keep them tight, round and a little smaller to fit in the cupcake wrapper like the blue one.

pretty basic changes

Now to find cute tiny little things for all the girls that will attend. I used tiny things I found around my studio such as stickers, fake flowers, a bell, pin, tiny ballerina, a mirror locket and a small wood stamp. Tiny candies, sequins, little animals are some other ideas i have. How about you?
I made two testers so I can get opinions from my kids. She tested hers out already and I will have the boy test his when he gets home from school.

I think they are going to be a winner.

Sunki - a pocket dress and leggings

2012-01-06T10:13:00.012-05:00

It had been a while since I had sewn any clothes for S and I was itching to get back to my sewing room after a little break over the holidays. I had purchased this pattern in December by Figgy's Patterns called Sunki. I was immediately drawn to it's lines, the pockets and the sleeves. Of course I also really love the Ikat fabric it was made in. How gorgeous is that fabric? That it included a pattern for leggings too was a nice touch.

This was my first time sewing from Figgy's Patterns and I really give it good marks because the instructions were very clear and easy to follow and the design was great. I made the size 4/5.

My goal was to use fabric I had in my stash which I sort of worried about because I wanted it to be a pattern and not a quilting cotton. When I laid out my pattern pieces on this Liberty of London cord I couldn't believe I had enough. You may remember I used the fabric before when I made this dress. I was happy to use it again and also thrilled that I found a knit fabric for the leggings that went with it because the only other knit I had enough of was pink.

Now I have my eye on the Ofelia pattern and the Bubble skirt in the Figgy's line.
A label is included with the pattern which I placed on the leggings for her.

Things I made July- December 2011

2012-01-03T14:45:00.004-05:00

Here is a selection of some of what was made between July- December 2011.

Lots of knitting and sewing, some embroidery, paper flowers but most importantly I finished my cathedral window quilt.

Things I made January- June 2011

2012-01-03T14:40:00.005-05:00

It is nice to look back on a year and see what was made. Here are a few of my favorite projects from January-June 2011.

The first half of the year I made three quilts, tried reverse appliqué, combined knitting with fabric and made lots of wonderful items to wear.

clove hood

2012-01-01T17:46:00.009-05:00

Happy New Year.
Wow, 2012.

Today marks 5 years since I started this blog.
I still really enjoy it and am grateful to all of you who stop by here.

I don't really have any resolutions this year but, I would love to learn a new craft and I hope to take a class or two.

I recently finished my second Peaks Island Hood. Here is my first. This time I used the colorway, clove in Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair.

I think the cold weather is coming. I am sure it is. Today was actually warm enough to walk around without any knits even up on the High Line in NY.

Wishing all of you the best of everything for the year ahead.

louise cardigan

2011-12-31T12:15:00.006-05:00

This cardigan is from Vintage Baby Knits and I was really drawn to the pattern. I also like the one on the cover a lot. It is currently in a drawer since I didn't really have any reason to knit it but, I am sure I will find someone to give it to one day. I knit size 0-3 months.
The yoke is very pretty and I love the details on the cuffs. I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

christmas

2011-12-31T11:51:00.012-05:00

Christmas came and went and now here we are at New Year's Eve.
This week was busy with the business of the holidays, of the kids being off from school.
We attended a party, hosted Christmas, enjoyed biking on the paths in the woods, went to the movies and took a trip to the city to visit the MOMA where we saw the de Koonig exhibit and ate in the cafe. M sketched as he went along without anyone suggesting it to him which was super cute. I also did a fair share of knitting in the evenings which has been great and relaxing.

We bought ourselves new dining room curtains for Christmas. They were on the wish list for so long.

This is the image we used for our Christmas card this year.

horses

2011-12-22T10:27:00.009-05:00

A horse shaped cookie cutter was purchased over the summer at an antique store in Cape Cod so horse shaped gingerbread cookies, clouds, trees, tiny men and christmas trees -recipe from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. Shortbread: recipe here. Winter cookies: recipe here.
I have been thinking of chocolate mousse. I had no idea you could make it with good quality chocolate and a little water so maybe I will try it soon. Find out how here.

A hanging horse and bird mobile inspired by this one. I love that shop and indulged in the leggings which are amazing.

My flowering quince branch brings me a lot of joy as we enter the winter season. I also found pink peonies from Chile at Whole Foods today which I am over the moon about.

the nutcracker doll

2011-12-19T12:57:00.008-05:00

A Christmas present for Ms. S.

The pattern is from the lovely Alicia Paulson from her book Stitched in Time.

I spent awhile deliberating the outfit before I settled on a matching bodice and skirt with Nani Iro double cotton gauze in pale green dot. The red velvet ribbon choice came easily since it is a Christmas doll. I used alpaca for the hair and it is so nice and soft to touch. I decided to add a scarf made from white angora.

cathedral window quilt

2011-12-15T10:24:00.011-05:00

I finally finished my cathedral window quilt minus a bazillion threads that still need to be cut.

This quilt was a lot of work and really nice to work on. It is made with Kona Cotton in bone as the base and the patterns are all Liberty of London Tana Lawn fabrics.

I started it in 2009 talked about it again here in 2010

This is the tutorial I used for those of you who may want to try it out though you might want to stop at a pillow.

The size is 48" x 65" making it about the size of a throw quilt.

I believe there are 304 windows.

Merry Christmas to me.

three- layer peppermint bark

2011-12-13T12:14:00.006-05:00

I made up a batch of peppermint bark over the weekend. It came out pretty delicious and I've been good and only indulged myself with a few small pieces so I can give some out for gifts. More holiday baking will be happening next week. There will be shortbread of course even though I curse myself when I am trying to knead it all together and I am thinking of making these cookies.

The recipe for the bark is here.

rhinestone barrettes

2011-12-12T12:57:00.007-05:00

Something sparkly for Scarlet's stocking- rhinestone barrettes. These were simple and fun to make. I've already started another project from the 24 days of glam over on flax and twine.

I loved the red thread but I think it would also look fantastic with black in between the rhinestones or cobalt blue. Good think I have more materials to play with.

christmas decorating and some knitting projects

2011-12-09T12:22:00.010-05:00

I haven't been here very much lately because I have been so busy but, I thought I'd pop in to say hello and show you some of our Christmas decor and a few knitting projects I have on on the go.

The purple one is a shawl and I'm about to start the lace section. It's Flukra and I'm knitting it with Sanguine Gryphon yarn. Flukra means "snow falling gently in large flakes." So beautiful.

The brown is another Peaks Island Hood in Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Mohair. It was so fun to knit the first one and I had yarn for another.

-I learned about the Japanese art of Ikebana this week at my garden club meeting. It was a very interesting look at flower arrangement.

Enjoy your weekend.

xx

spool of thread necklace

2011-12-06T12:58:00.004-05:00

While browsing around pinterest one night I spotted this sweet necklace and decided to try it out myself. I used some wire and buttons on either end of the spool. Beads could also be used in place of buttons. Since I didn't have a chain long enough I used embroidery floss for stringing it. I have a few more spools picked out to use- a silvery purple and a vibrant green. These spools came from my Mother's sewing basket which I raided a few years ago.If you want to try this out a pair of jewelry pliers are helpful for bending the wire.

Unrelated:
My daughter fell in love with a giant unicorn the other day. Dare I a purchase something so crazy as a giant stuffed animal because um... I am not making one.

tweed toast

2011-12-02T18:03:00.013-05:00

I finished up a pair of toast for a Christmas gift. I knit them on smaller needles then the pattern called for- using a size 5 and Rowan Tweed . I want to make the kids some mittens but am knitting them fox scarves first.

I am devoting some time each day to work on my quilt which is coming together little by little. I can almost see an end. A bit of embroidery on two samplers takes place now and then and reading too.

December is upon us and we just brought in the Christmas tree. I am looking forward to decorating it tomorrow.

Have a lovely weekend friends..

The Liberty Book of Home Sewing

2011-11-30T12:29:00.005-05:00

I purchased The Liberty Book of Home Sewing recently and am pretty in love with many designs in the book.

I chose the Rose Corsage first because I had all the materials on hand and thought it was pretty. Though I have made quite a few fabric flowers over the years what I liked about this one was that it involved fusing two Liberty prints together so that although it is not reversible there is another print on the backside. This provided it with a sculptural quality which allows for moving the petals a bit and giving them more shape and structure.

Hand sewing this was fun though a bit difficult because although I did use a strong needle getting it to push through all of the fabrics required some leverage a few times. Still, I want to make more. I think I might try the book covers next.

Here a few of my favorites in the book:

Another review here.

felt bead necklaces

2011-11-30T12:24:00.004-05:00

I love the simplicity and the dash of color that these wool felt bead necklaces bring to any outfit.
More color choices are available if you have one in mind let me know.
These two shown are in my Big Cartel shop.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T14:05:00.003-05:00

chocolate bar coasters

2011-11-22T13:08:00.010-05:00

The cold weather is arriving and drinking warm beverages is one of the best things about this time of year. I recently remembered seeing a tutorial on the Purl Bee last year for chocolate bar coasters and decided to knit some up. The pattern drew me in because it is a nice textured pattern, one that is easy to wind down with at the end of the night and it included the magic word - chocolate - in the title.

Hot Chocolate is a treat I indulge in a few times a week and believe it or not I don't take mine with marshmallows. I like it most rich like drinking chocolate or chocolate soup but sometimes a good old fashioned milk chocolate cocoa or one with spices or mint is what I crave. I really like the Jacques Torres and MarieBelle blends. Do you have any favorites? I'd love to hear about them.

I think these coasters would make an excellent resting spot and they are made from machine washable wool so no worries and since I made more then my fair share I think it would be safe to say someone will be seeing these under their tree this year.

Odds and Ends:

*We had a birthday last week- Matthew is SIX.
*I opened up a Big Cartel store and the link is on the right. I will be adding more items (only two right now) soon so please check back.
*My childhood desk made it's way to my home over the weekend. This desk was also my Mom's as a child so it's pretty special and I really needed extra storage for all my crafty odds and ends. It makes me happy to have this piece in my home. I remember all my Little Women dolls lined up on one shelf and a little Native American doll on the other but, I can't remember who was next to her. I remember writing in my diary and doing my homework here.
*I am working away on my quilt.

black halter top

2011-11-17T15:57:00.014-05:00

I realize it is November but, I made up this top in the summer. It actually started off as a romper but then something went wrong and I turned it into a top. She didn't actually wind up wearing it but it is roomy and long enough that it will be worn next year and it is super soft and comfortable. The pattern is a vintage one but I needed to adjust it because it was too small. So, a lot of alterations on this one and a completely different beginning from ending but, as it winds up I think it is just perfect and super cute which is why I mention it at all here in the first place because when this happens it really is exciting and like a little sewing miracle. I can not recommend the organic cotton jersey from Alabama Chanin enough. She loves to 'play sew' on this great wooden one I bought a few years back.

meow mitts

2011-11-15T11:15:00.012-05:00

This pattern is one I wanted to knit for at least a year and I decided to give it a shot. They were pretty simple to make. I didn't budge from the wool choices or pattern instructions because I think they are pretty perfect. I liked knitting these and making the kitty come to life by adding the eyes was the most fun.

The design is by Tiny Owl Knits. And, she has a pretty sweet video of the last step with the features. Her patterns are really creative and magical. The beekeepers quilt is pretty amazing.

christopher and kelly's wedding

2011-11-15T10:46:00.012-05:00

My youngest brother, Chris and his girl, Kelly got married on Saturday in Mountain Lakes, NJ. The ceremony was very sweet and was followed by a really fun reception. The kids attended the ceremony but stayed home for the evening reception. I didn't have the opportunity to take photos of the couple together outside but, I think this photo above is pretty sweet.

I like this one of M, S and I. And, the flowers from the wedding were gorgeous and are still looking beautiful on my dining room table.

Hooray for the happy couple!

windows and triangles

2011-11-11T11:33:00.017-05:00

I'm working on quilts again. Here are a few I have been inspired to work on lately and hopefully finish especially the cathedral windows which has been lingering a few years now. The other one is one I have wanted to start for a while and is made with embroidered handkerchiefs from my collection and will be a small quilt. The light in the attic is pretty bad which is it's biggest downfall but I am so thankful to have such a big room to spread out in and trust me I do.

rippled

2011-11-08T18:24:00.013-05:00

I felt compelled to make another of these necklaces. I was looking for a project I could start and finish quickly since I have been consciously trying to work on some of the bigger projects that I have going on but needed something done. I like that feeling but, I also like seeing something I've worked on for weeks or even years get done as well. This necklace in particular is so nice because of the feeling of the yarn and the pretty beads that you get to add.

What have you been working on lately?

dress with quilted bodice

2011-11-03T09:24:00.011-04:00

A dream dress from Carefree Clothes for Girls.
The details in this dress and fabrics play off the design so nicely and are so well designed.
It came together over a few evenings being finished off yesterday.
The bodice is made with three layers like a quilt - nani iro double gauze in ivory dot, batting and muslin. After the bodice is pieced it is then hand quilted and the little ruffle sleeves are added. The skirt is two layers - the nano iro gauze and muslin underneath with a ruffle being added to the muslin. Gold thread around the neckline and buttons up the back of the bodice are extra special touches.
Of all the princess dresses in the world this is the one that steals my heart. Also, good for playing 'married.'

halloween

2011-11-02T12:39:00.018-04:00

Top two images by Chad Hunt Photography.

We had a Happy Halloween and had fun trick or treating. The day started with Ms. S's preschool Halloween performance. We went to our village for trick or treating and then hit the houses nearby.

We found another family dressed like us. The two Little Reds checked each other out and tried to remember how they knew each other - swim lessons over the summer.

The hunter made an appearance to rescue us from the Big Bad Wolves tummy.

We did not hand out candy when we got back because it was too dark but, after 84 hours without power I am happy to report we are back. I no longer have to sleep with all those quilts and blankets, hat and leg warmers but judging by these two photos I think we can all agree it could have been worse.

My heart goes out to those of you still without power and those who the danger of seemingly innocent snow affected much worse.

dress up crowns

2011-10-27T10:28:00.007-04:00

Having made these before for my own children I decided that these would be fun to make for gift giving. I made a couple for birthday parties in September and then decided to make this batch to have on hand. Two are going away over the next week. They can be embellished further with buttons or ribbons and there are a few patterns online if you would like to try to make one. We always have so many invitations to kids parties and I like to try to give at least one thing handmade and something to go along with it like a book or puzzle or toy. They are made of wool felt and the band is quilting cotton with elastic inside to keep it on. I like that they are soft and good for boys and girls.

knitted cowls in the shop

2011-10-24T15:59:00.020-04:00

We celebrated Mick's birthday over the weekend with lots of good food, a hay ride at a farm which is where I snapped the field of zinnias and a walk around historic Clinton, NJ.

I've also been doing so much knitting lately that I have a really sore arm and shoulder so I need to take a day or two off.

Here are a few cowls that made their way into the Etsy shop where they will stay for a week or two so if you like them you might want to act fast because they are going to make their way off to Mackey Blue in Hoboken.

molly ringwald

2011-10-20T14:02:00.009-04:00

This is how she got dressed this morning. Pink leggings, pink and white herringbone wool dress, white tee underneath and her new pink cardigan made my me. Very pink and now I will be singing the Psychedelic Furs lyrics all day and hearing the prom conversation in my head. As you can see she already has her date.

Pattern: Langston by Teresa Cole
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Sport
Colorway: Molly Ringwald
Needles: Size 4
Alterations: started knitting a size 2 for the neck and switched to the counts for a size 4
...I ran out of yarn towards the end of the sweater so the button band and arm ruffles are in a darker shade of the same color way.

cashmere and silk knit necklace

2011-10-19T16:56:00.009-04:00

This is the project I alluded to in my last post. It is a kit I purchased at the festival and it was a really enjoyable project.
I learned to add beads to my knitting and working with the cashmere and silk blend was dreamy. it is helpful to have a bowl or tray to work over in case you lose any of the tiny beads and using the super floss ( a type of dental floss) was really great for holding and working with the beads. The kit does come with a dental floss threader for adding the beads and this is fine but mine got a little bent out of shape so I purchased the super floss. I also wished it came with a little bit more of the yarn as mine came out a little short.

Designer: Laura Nelkin
Pattern: Rippled
Color: Riptide
Yarn: Sweet Georgia Yarn. Cash Silk
Beads: Size 8 glass bleeds, glass fringe beads (magatamas)
snap clasp.

Now I want to make another one so much.

rhinebeck goodies

2011-10-17T10:27:00.013-04:00

On Saturday we attended the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck. It is a yearly tradition for us and one I always look forward to.

I really didn't take many photos this year which I now regret so I only have photos to share of the goodies I brought home. I had seen a shawl on Ravelry made up in Sanguine Gryphon yarn and knew I wanted to stop there so that was where I headed. On my way I stopped at a booth and picked up some beautiful porcelain buttons by Melissa Jean and a really pretty knitting kit which I started last night and hope to succeed with as it involves beads and yarn which is new to me.

I reached my desination and picked out my yarn after some debate as there was so many pretty hues but, the one i had come for was sold out. I didn't have much trouble picking out a few I liked and as I went to checkout I realized the line was not only out the door but there was at least 100 people ahead of me. In the spirit of it all I waited on line for an hour and half to pay for my yarn. Yes, I did and yes that may be a little crazy but I met some great girls and had some fun conversations. I had no idea this yarn was so popular. I really think it will be great to work with and the hand paints are a work of art.

line out the door

Sanguine Gryphon Yarn
Mithril: The Shepard at the Fold by Moonlight (grey) and Big Bad Wolf (purple) and Skinny Bugga: Tomato Frog (red).

I kind of was in a daze after this so I had to take a moment to eat and recharge. I then went through most of the buildings and saw quite a lot of fiber goodness. There is no way in the 6 hours I was there I even saw everything which is to say there is a lot to see. And, I didn't really spend anytime with the animals which is a bit sad because I really do like to visit the alpacas and the see the angora bunnies. I had wanted to meet Ysolda since she was doing a book signing but unfortunately, missed the times she would be there. Come back next year Ysolda.

The sad part of the day besides leaving was that my little Scarlet wanted so badly to buy a sheep. She didn't want to leave without one and put up a good standoff and had a good cry about it. Too bad we are not allowed sheep in my town. We tried to explain this to her but, she is three so you know.

Oh, and I can not forget this lovely yarn from Tess Designer Yarns. Just look at that label and the name of the yarn: Kitten! Cashmere and silk. Yes, please.

I could barely move yesterday however I managed a nice walk in the sun and some garden work.

reclaimed cashmere tunic dress

2011-10-14T14:23:00.009-04:00

This dress started out as in ill fitting sweater that was given to me. It is such a soft and fluffy cashmere but there was no way to make it look good on me. The arm holes were too big and it was too short and overall unflattering so I decided to turn it into a dress for my girl. It was very easy and fun to do and took me about an hour to make one morning this week. I first cut off the sleeves. I measured the width and decided how much to take it in for the sides. I then straight stitched and serged the sides. I decided to make the little tucks at the collar to give it a bit of a design. I left the bottom as is. I then made a small hem at the armholes and collar. And, then added a little pocket on one side perhaps for carrying around a lollipop or other small treasure. I absolutely loved making this and now am excited to try out more designs with cashmere.

cotton bolero shrug

2011-10-13T17:57:00.009-04:00

A shrug knit in organic bumpy cotton started and stopped over time mostly because it is such a simple knit that it is a bit boring. One could knit it with their eyes closed. In fact, I did knit it with my eyes closed a few weeks ago when I had a scratched cornea (my fourth).

What this is: a simple garter stitch rectangle. I casted on 100 stitches on size 8 needles knitted to 24" folded it and then sew up halfway on the sides to leave space for the arms. I used a marbled cotton yarn from Fibre Craft Studio.

I think this would make a fun first, second or third project or one for knitting in the car or when you are too tired or blind to knit anything else.

alpaca silk mitts

2011-10-12T16:32:00.014-04:00

Camp Out Fingerless Mitts in Old Maiden Aunt 80% Alpaca 20% silk in a special limited edition color - Ysolda.

I have had this yarn for so long sitting in the basket. I figure if it is so nice to the touch why not keep it that way and utilize it to keep my hands warm as the cool weather is now approaching.

The green is so beautiful. I imagine holding a a douglas fir branch standing in the snow knee deep with fairy lights twinkling. Yes, I like to romanticize situations in which I wear an item of clothing and then the simple becomes a story.

This is a nice pattern and easily completed over a day or two and the best part I have enough yarn to make something else perhaps a hat or another pair of mitts for someone else. Now to blocking and sewing in those ends I hid so they are all pretty and ready to go.

october dress

2011-10-05T16:19:00.004-04:00

My mind is overflowing with ideas lately and half finished projects seem to be everywhere. All sorts of things are cut out and patterns in the middle of tracing on the floor. It gets a bit crazy because I always think I can do so much more then I can. I am always brought down to earth either by being exhausted or some responsibility. But here is a finished dress I got done for my little muse otherwise known as Ms. S. I really can not stop making her clothes but then again why should I? It is so much fun.

It is made out of a medium weight linen and I gave it a pretty nice size hem. A really simple and fun dress.

art exhibit and shop news

2011-10-04T10:34:00.012-04:00

This bowl was recently purchase and sent to a gallery in Palo Alto, CA. It will be part of Hold & Carry Interpretations in Fiber, Clay, Metal and Wood opening on Sunday October 9th at Fibre Arts Design and running through November 10th.

Here are a few images of wool plaid ponchos that made it into the shop recently.

I used some of the deep burgundy one to make a bolster pillow for our white couch in the den and I'm enjoying the contrast and the warmth it brings to the room now that we have come upon October.

plaid poncho

2011-09-30T09:14:00.004-04:00

To say I like capes and poncho would be an understatement. I really love them.
Here is a design I came up with the other day for children. I hope to make a few up for the shop.

Edit to Add: I added two to the shop.

angostura

2011-09-28T15:52:00.010-04:00

It's finally finished. I mean I feel like I have been working on this a long time but, really it was about a month. I know I didn't tell you about it so for you it's brand new.

I should preface this by saying I don't wear vests but, this one! Well, I really fell for the design.

What is embarrassing about it is that it's a bit too long so the two cables that are supposed to hit at the waist don't. Especially embarrassing because the book it hails from is all about getting your sweater to fit right. I measured though the one measurement I didn't take underarm to waist is where the problem came up. I swatched and went down one needle size. I had a hunch when I was knitting the back which is done first but, then I measured and it wasn't off by that much. I now realize I should have taken that hunch and skipped quite a few rows. I am of average height 5'4 1/2" but I have a short waist and most likely a short upper body.

Okay, so after all that explaining I can still say I will wear it. A friend suggested wearing it with a leggings. I'm contemplating trying to shrink it in the dryer. What do you think? I really just need to shrink the top above the cables. Making things by hand takes patience and trial an error and the lesson I learned with this is to listen to my inner voice because if I did that it would have been perfect. I also think I could have gone down one size which I often find with sweater patterns with the exception of a few designers like Ysolda.

The wool I used is Quince and Co. Lark in Peacoat. I'm really happy I chose navy. You can see more photos of what this looks like on Ravelry or Ysolda's blog.

apple picking

2011-09-26T14:26:00.017-04:00

A last minute decision trip to the apple orchard yesterday. We picked Golden Delicious, Jonamac, Jonagold and Macoun.
We will be back for more. We go to this place

Pictures from other apple picking adventures...here, here and here

Oh my goodness..one more here

celebration dress

2011-09-21T12:14:00.007-04:00

Do you know what my little girl decided? My silly little 3 1/2 year old.

She decided to stop sucking her thumb 9 days ago and hasn't done it since. I am so impressed because she made the decision and the self control she has exhibited is astounding.

She usually sucked her thumb in the car, to go to bed, when she was nervous or watching tv but, no more. Not even once.

In honor of this incredible achievement I made her a new dress. The first few days she got coins but since has forgotten them. There was also a balloon one day.

Go Scarlet.

Her dress was made from a remnant I picked up at an antique store and is black with the sweetest bouquets of flowers.
I made the pattern myself. Should have ironed it before I took these, huh?

into the woods satchel

2011-09-20T10:16:00.008-04:00

A satchel for Matty was made since he loves collecting and we no longer want to find acorns in the washing machine from his pockets;)

Plus now we can have room for rocks. He brought home at least 10 rocks and lots of leaves from our walk in the woods the other day.

I used denim and lined it in a rusty orange and white dot cotton. I measured him for the strap and then as an afterthought decided to sew on a yellow felt leaf.

The smile on his face when I gave it to him made me melt. I love when simple things like this make my children so happy. Also, how giddy and full of life they become in the woods which we are lucky to have close by.

leopard print

2011-09-16T14:02:00.018-04:00

Mother and Daughter Faux Fur Leopard Print collars.
Can I tell you how fun these were to make....so fun!
I already had the faux leopard and hooray for a day cool enough to wear a cardigan.

She was just as excited as I was about these and not only did I point the camera at her

but she got to point it at me.

"No, Mom, smile"

I think the photos together were her favorite.

No pre-styling or prep (hello messy hair, no makeup)

I decreased the size on the pattern a tiny bit for hers and the pattern is this one and it's free.

By the way, just look at those curls. Sigh.

Do you need a brunette and a blonde to star in your next movie? Ha ha.

What are you up to this weekend?

Mick and I are going to our friends Carolyn and David's wedding tomorrow and can I just say how excited I am. It's going to be amazing. Whee!

floral

2011-09-14T10:59:00.009-04:00

I had a bit of an unplanned sewing spree this past weekend. I also succeeded in messing up what was an earlier attempt to clean my sewing room (ahem).

Anyway, I have been wanting to sew up some Fall/Winter clothes for Ms. S and discovered I had enough of the Liberty Cord from this dress to sew up a skirt.

Then I got distracted from clothing and decided to sew up some totes and made matching totes for my girl and I. Hers is to carry her ballet clothes (first day of ballet after summer break is today) and one for me to carry my knitting with me. The one shown is hers and it's a bit smaller then mine with shorter straps naturally. I had some blue upholstery weight corduroy like material I picked up several years ago to use for the base and since I was feeling flowery I paired it with this beautiful cotton seersucker Japanese print. Since the print was lighter in weight I first had to back it with a cotton so it would be sturdy and hold up to the wear since it is at the bottom of the bag and also work with the weight of the other fabric. I also used this print on a chair this summer in fact it is the one I am sitting in to type this up.

There is one more set of match items I made for us two girls and I will show them soon but she is up to something sneaky right now and I must run. She says she is doing 'nothing' which usually means 'something.'

hot air balloon

2011-09-12T10:43:00.007-04:00

S and I are really into this book right now called The Secret Circus..
In the story there is a very tiny circus that only the mice know how to find and on the cover there is a hot air balloon flying around Paris with mice in the basket. The artwork in this book is wonderful and the whole vintage feel of old Paris comes through in the illustrations.

It got me thinking about trying to sew a hot air balloon to hang in her room. I feel like I may have seen something like this one sewn up before and figured it would be easy enough so I drew up the pattern quickly for the shape and then sewed them all together leaving one side open to stuff and then hand sewed it up. The basket is connected with fishing line and I sewed some line to the top for hanging as well.

Well, it wasn't as easy as I thought to get it just right but, now that I have tried it I could see where I could tweak it and a few slight changes I would make. I weighted it with a smooth stone at the bottom.

little girls western style

2011-09-09T11:06:00.005-04:00

I knew it was going to be too big but, then second guessed because it is a loose style. I am referring to the dress from Little Girls Western Style by Yuki Araki.
I didn't realize when I cut it out but when I started sewing it a few months ago I knew so it sat.
I kind of figured this was a trial dress from the beginning not because it is hard to sew but because I believed I would need to alter the pattern which is in Japanese which you know makes it harder because I don't know the language. What I wished afterwards was that I didn't serge the seams because I think I could work with it.
I had already narrowed the sides but it looks like they could get narrower and the apron wrap needs to come up higher. Oh, and a few inches need to be cut off the bottom.
Hmmm, maybe I should just start from the beginning again and save this one for later.

red riding cape

2011-09-07T12:17:00.011-04:00

I have known for a year that this Halloween S would wear my handmade Red Riding Hood Costume from the 1970's which was a handmade crochet hat and poncho by my Nana and sewn gingham skirt made by her or my Mom. I love that the skirt has two sets of snaps so it could be worn as the child grows.

What I didn't predict was that my daughter would say - "where is the hood?" She is called Little Red Riding Hood.

So, out came Little Things to Sew by Leisl Gibson. I had the red melton wool, some sweet wildflower cotton for lining and the perfect wood button. So, why not? And now we have two options or we can wear it all, which she most likely will as lately she combines fairy wings with polar bear costumes and puts bunny rabbit costumes over all her regular clothes.

Now, who do you think is going to be the Big Bad Wolf, Grandma and the Hunter?

old city, philadelphia

2011-09-05T12:15:00.012-04:00

After Terrain we stopped by Old City, Philadelphia for a spell.

We walked along Elfreth's Alley.

Stroll down Elfreth's Alley's historic cobblestones, and step back into America's past. Located in the heart of Old City Philadelphia, Elfreth's Alley is a block-long street that opened in 1702 connecting two blacksmiths' shops near Philadelphia's busy waterfront with Second Street, one of the growing colony's busiest thoroughfares.

You can read about the history here and see pictures of the homes of our nation's oldest residential street. I loved all the history here and the homes were beautiful. Very inspirational.

As we were leaving my boy lost his second tooth which was very exciting as the tooth has been loose for a few weeks now. He was so happy to have it out. Here he is running along after it came out.

We then stopped in at Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction to see The Reverand's Rhuby exhibit which I thoroughly enjoyed. I bought a purple white and brown horsehair bracelet here for seven dollars that I haven't taken off since.

I would love to come back and explore old city more. I really wanted to go inside the Betsy Ross home but, it was closed when we walked by.

terrain

2011-09-04T18:28:00.026-04:00

Yesterday we took a drive to Terrain in Glen Mills, PA and then a little side trip to Philadelphia.

Here I am sporting the Nadinoo Untie Me Dress. I am usually a little shy about showing photos of myself but I am feeling brave today.

On September 1st we celebrated our 10 year anniversary but really didn't get to do anything that day and had decided a family day trip for the weekend would be fun. I had been wanting to visit Terrain and it was even more dreamy then I had thought. After browsing around for a while at all the beautiful plants and flowers we had lunch at the cafe. This was such a treat as we were served in style a organic local meal in an antique greenhouse. We ordered the cheese plate with fruit, honey, preserves and jams, tomato corn risotto balls, melon risotto and a heirloom tomato mozzarella salad with mint pesto. The water is served in ball jars and the table centerpiece was flowers inside a small log.The kids had a grilled cheese and a macaroni and cheese. The setting inside was so beautiful. We were too full to get dessert.

We then explored the cheese and honey festival going on there and the kids got honey sticks. M and I tried some great liquor- I had Root and he had Snap from Art in the Age. We plan to buy some at some point.

The home store was also a treat and we purchased a few things. I missed a lot of amazing shots in the home store. There was so so much to see. We came home with a glass vessel for a future terrarium, a fog linen placemat, a striped linen tablecloth and the most wonderful peach and white dot organic Japanese towel. I was pining after many other things. Oh, and we also bought a few cotton twigs.

I was pretty smitten with this cast iron apple pot and it is going on my want list.

I really could have gone crazy here because the style matched my personality so well. I was sad to leave without any plants other then one tiny moss for the terrarium but, I want to plot out a bit more what I want before I impulsively buy. I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked but, it was difficult to concentrate on photography with the kids and basically just being in awe forgot but, I hope this shows a tiny bit of the story of Terrain.

I almost forgot there was face painting and the kids got to see a fuzzy orange caterpillar and a preying mantis here.

I will show a few images from our small pit stop in Philadelphia in the next post.

turn a square

2011-08-30T12:47:00.016-04:00

My firstborn baby start Kindergarten one week from today and every year I knit him a new hat. It seems this year that Autumn might come soon as the weather has already started cooling off a bit so it might be getting worn pretty soon.

I chose these two colors a few months ago at my local yarn shop. The yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight and I always love working with this yarn. The pattern I chose is Brooklyn Tweed's Turn a Square. This pattern is meant for an adult but changing the yarn weight from worsted to sport and the needles to 3.25 and 3.75 mm resulted in a perfect hat for my boy and, he likes it too.

When he finished preschool he asked for a cape. I never showed it to you but I put a video of him riding his Daddy's skateboard wearing it up on flickr the other day. The project was fun and he really likes it. Since he doesn't show any strong interest in superheroes yet I thought a cape with his initial would be just right.
You could see it by clicking here.

-In other news we fared Irene okay - we did lose power but got it back after 20 hours. Unfortunately, our water supply is not right. We had to boil then lost water and now we have it back but is not safe. We also had a lot of water (6") in the basement and are waiting a while to test out our washer/dryer- hopefully they are fine. Mostly we had pulled what we could high enough and finally the water is gone. We had to wait for the power for the sump pump to work.

sencha

2011-08-26T10:14:00.009-04:00

This is my new blouse in beautiful peach silk dupioni. The pattern is Sencha by Colette Patterns and it has been on the desk for awhile. I hesitated because I had bought this fabric back in the Spring to be made into a dress for my daughter but I didn't have anything else to try out this pattern with so after giving it some thought I decided it would be nice to use it for me.

The pattern is wonderful as are the directions to make the garment. It was a bit fussy to sew the sleeves and get the middle keyhole to lie flat which only seems to lie flat after pressing but, I think it worked out okay. And, it definitely peaks my interest in trying more Colette Patterns in the future.

The color is so pretty, very flattering and easy to wear with neutrals. I had not considered it for myself and I was surprised by how much I like it.

The buttons up the back are vintage champagne pearl buttons.

completing the thought

2011-08-23T11:43:00.006-04:00

Do you remember the vintage cotton and lace dress that haunted me on vacation? I never told you that I went back and bought it. I just couldn't let it slip by....it spoke to me.Today she is wearing it for the first time and I snuck in a few photos. It's gorgeous isn't it?

One day last week S and I played a game that just came to me and I thought it would be fun to share it. I start a sentence and she finishes it.
I want to fill a journal for both her and M with these sentences because it was so funny to see what she would come up with.

Here is she said that day after the ....

I am...3
I have....blue eyes
My birthday is....February 6
I like....pink flowers
I love...Aunt Sue
I don't like...boys
I like to....fight with boys
I sleep....in the night
I go to....the playground
I eat...broccoli, wrap and macaroni
I love...Lillian
I love...dolls
I play...with dolls
I yell...at Matthew
I throw...a baseball
My favorite book...is Olivia
I like...snacks at Ms. Peri's school
My best friend....is coffee
My best friend...is Gwendolyn
I think it is funny....when you do something funny
I laugh....at Scarlet
I cry when....I cry like a baby
Hello Kitty...blinks her eye
Tea tastes like....hot sugar
Apples taste like...fruit
Clouds are....red
Frogs like...to go in ponds
My best friend is....Mommy

So funny...her best friend is coffee???? And we have never read the book "Olivia" though she has seen the TV show. Thought my favorite might be "tea tastes like hot sugar."

classic gray sweater

2011-08-21T11:30:00.012-04:00

A new baby boy named Zachary was born into our family this summer. My nephew, Andrew had a boy and I really wanted to make something classic for him so I knit this pullover sweater. I have knit this before- for Matthew, Scarlet and also for my nephew, Brandon all in different wools. This time I chose Berroco Ultra Alpaca yarn which is 50% alpaca and 50% wool making it nice and warm. I purchased the yarn in Princeton last weekend when we were visiting for the day at a yarn shop called Pins and Needles. I debated about color for a bit but really gray is exactly what I wanted and it will be one of those go to pieces I hope for the baby to wear this Winter.
I plan to post it this week for them.

Speaking of babies.. this tiny newborn bunny rabbit is in our front yard at the moment. I think it got separated from its Mama and It can barely hop. So cute. Oh, and now he/she has just scurried over to the berry bramble. Scarlet is beside herself with joy.

blue sashiko sampler

2011-08-17T09:36:00.007-04:00

I just completed a new sashiko sampler. I have two more of this exact pattern and am wondering if I could turn it into a table runner. What do you think? Maybe with some batting and backing?

I might wind up sewing them into pillows which is what I always do with them. It would be nice to have or give a matching set of pillows don't you think? Another possibility would be drawstring bags.

I have done several sashiko samplers and I really enjoy working them. If you have never tried sashiko and you like quiet stitching and embroidery it is pretty simple to learn and the patterns are beautiful. White thread on navy cloth is the most traditional. I didn't have any white sashiko thread so I used blue and like the effect of two together.

blue dress

2011-08-15T08:33:00.019-04:00

This blue hand knit dress came off the needles over the weekend. The pattern I used is called Big Sister's Dress which also has a little sister version by Tora Froseth.

I used the color Bird's Egg by Quince and Co. in Chickadee which was a nice match for the pattern. It's a simple knit but with the pretty yoke has a nice texture and design element. I added the floral shell buttons as a decorative accent. I knit this in size 4 and it has plenty of growing room which should allow for wear for several years.

japanese schoolchildren

2011-08-09T15:53:00.003-04:00

I based this dress around the print in the middle which depicts Japanese school children. Prints like these are difficult to incorporate into garments with borders because you are always cutting off part of the image but, I think it looks cute despite this disadvantage

The dress is the Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress and I have made it before. Last year I made it in a linen/cotton blend in a size 2 which Scarlet can still wear so I thought I would go ahead and make it in a bigger size to wear down the road. I cut out a size 4 and when I tried it on it was big so it will fit next summer which I had hoped for.

Yes, this is the back view and It still needs a few tweaks as I made this in a bit of a rush before vacation.

Cape Cod Part 2

2011-08-04T13:48:00.021-04:00

There is still so much I could say about Cape Cod but. I think I will just leave you with some photos of some of my favorite places we visited there.

Scargo Pottery - nestled up a long woody path next to a lake this is one pretty place with many beautiful pieces of pottery.

Edward Gorey House - what can I say.... I love Edward Gorey. The first floor is a museum and there is a scavenger hunt to find A-Z of The Gashlycrumb Tinies. An older beautiful fat white cat roaming around was Scarlet's favorite find at the museum.

The Heritage Museum- Beautiful gardens, an old indoor carousel to ride, a carousel museum, a vintage car museum, a kids exploration and discovery center.

An herb farm we found while driving. Gorgeous natural gardens with very nice gardeners, chickens to feed and all sorts of herbs lining the shelves inside the store.

pop rocks

2011-08-02T08:14:00.013-04:00

I visited Purl Soho in Spring to use a gift certificate I had received for my birthday. That is where I saw a skein of this bright pink yarn.... I know bright pink but, I was really drawn to it. It is a gorgeous soft and lush color by Madelinetosh and a perfect name for the little candies it is named for.

Do you remember Pop Rocks? I have a memory of walking in the summertime with my friend Christine and and maybe another girl and wondering if we should drink our coke and pop rocks together...will we die like Mikey? Ha Ha!

I knit this in size 18-24 months but planned for it to be bigger though I didn't expect it to be quite as big as it is. I think it will have to sit through this coming winter until the winter of 2012 before Ms. S can wear it.
The pattern is Korrigan and those cables are really beautiful designed. More details on my Ravelry page.

Cape Cod Part 1

2011-08-01T14:10:00.007-04:00

Some photos of the vacation home we stayed at for a week.

So you may have guessed that the house the children are playing in front of from a few posts back was the house we stayed in. I blogged a few times from there and it was the first time I've done it away from home. I used blogsy. A few quirks with the photos getting cut off but otherwise it worked out okay.

The white house is what the children called our vacation rental ( so grand! ) and the house is situated in Orleans. We were a little more then 3/4 of a mile from the bay. I know this because it was my jogging route that I did almost every day. I would run to the bay and back. I don't run outside normally so I didn't go quite as far as I do on the treadmill in the air conditioned gym. Though different from what I am used to it was nice to run along a pretty street and one day I was joined by a tiny yellow bird flying alongside me.

The bay is where we hung out a lot because it is such a great beach for kids and warmer then the ocean. When the tide moves out there is a huge stretch of wet sand and pools of water to play in and you can walk a long way out before getting to the water. In these pools of water are fish and crabs for the kids to catch (and let go) in their nets and Matty even caught a eel one day. The wet sand makes a perfect place to build castles and moats and molded sea animals.

The home was a old home (not sure what year it was built) and it had an addition. We had plenty of room to stretch out and a great outdoor space to play around in.

fern

2011-07-31T13:40:00.011-04:00

We just returned home from our family vacation to Cape Cod. It was really nice and after not having gone on a vacation in five years well deserved. We had a really nice time. I love the Cape for it's ability to work beautifully for both adults and children and to have the ocean or the bay to choose from. I love the way you can wind your way around country roads finding all sort of wonderful places to visit. I will show some pictures soon and talk about some of the places we visited but, first I wanted to show you this shawl you saw the beginning of that I knit while I was there.

The pattern is Herbivore by Stephen West named so for the plant like structure to the look of the design caused by the ribbing in the twisted stitches and the way they fan out. I named mine fern because well I like ferns a lot.

I made mine on the smaller side. This patterns allows for you to go big or small depending on how many repeats of the last four rows you do before the band. It turned out exactly as I hoped. And, it stretched nicely with blocking. The yarn is Alchemy Yarns Juniper in Dragon.

windows

2011-07-27T23:07:00.002-04:00

These windows are like a dream. The weathered white paint and the cranberry red shutters. My children's faces peering through the lace curtains and playing in the front yard both in their imaginary world. I can't stop thinking about them.
That, and this worn white vintage cotton children's dress with lace borders and edging I saw at an antiques store yesterday.

The things that haunt the mind.

A new shawl

2011-07-25T22:17:00.002-04:00

I started a new shawl in the color Dragon by Alchemy Yarns. I always enjoy the way a shawl grows.
As I was sitting on the beach today this was the view in front of me . Ah, more green.

front and back garden

2011-07-22T09:32:00.008-04:00

Some pretty things growing in the front and back gardens. I'm pretty much in love with the Delphiniums and Nasturtium

winesap beret

2011-07-19T09:06:00.017-04:00

Right now I would rather be sitting and knitting at night then in the attic sewing which has been quite nice in the evenings. I know some people prefer to work with lighter yarns but I don't mind working with wool though I also tend to pick up my cotton yarns. I never watch television at all (really) but, I recently streamed all the episodes of Downton Abbey and really enjoyed watching it. Now I have to wait until winter for more episodes. I also like to listen to knitting podcasts while knitting. I like Never Not Knitting's podcast and I know of the Knitmore Girls but, am also interested in hearing your favorites.

I do have sewing to catch you up on though I thought today I'd show you some knitting since it's been a while.

A sweet beret knit up in Quince & Co. Chickadee in Winesap. It's for girls ages 4-8 and I think it looks so sweet on her.. I'm just going to have to keep it. We posed for Mommy in her bathing suit and a wool hat. It is summer after all. And, she may or may not have had a chocolate brownie before we took this picture.

I also knit up two pairs of baby booties that I made up in beautiful organic naturally dyed cotton and they are in my shop.

I am also almost finished with a sweater I have been knitting for a while in a color called Pop Rocks by Madelinetosh in sock yarn. It is a bright pink and I am knitting size 18-24 months. We will see how the sizing turns out because i didn't do a gauge swatch. I think it would look amazing paired with a neutral color.

I can't seem to get green and grey off the brain so I'm pretty sure my Gavotte in nutmeg may be put on hold so I can make some green pieces. I think I am all out of grey but first to finish up this pink sweater.
It is so hard not to start a new piece everyday because there are so many patterns I want to knit.

swiss dot

2011-07-14T15:19:00.026-04:00

Two blouses were made this week with this lovely swiss dot fabric I have been holding onto for ages.

It was easy to cut into it to make a blouse for Scarlet first knowing the pattern so well and loving it for many reasons. I knew how it would fit her and that I needed to cut out a size 4 and add extra length. I added a little thread loop to change up bows or go without one if desired. Simple.

Next up would be mine and though I made this blouse for myself before and was thrilled with the outcome and I wear it often I knew the sheerness was not going to be so cute on me so, I underlined it. I've lined plenty of garments but never underlined. After a quick google search I found a great tutorial on Gertie's blog which was funny because I learned of Gertie after she left me a comment on the first blouse in this style. It was very easy to follow and I found something suitable to use in my cabinet. Again, I am happy with the outcome and the fit is purrfect.

Scarlet's pattern: Simplicity 4206
Nancy's pattern: Simplicity 2599

red currant jam

2011-07-13T14:52:00.001-04:00

We grow currants in our front yard both red and white ones. I confess I am sometimes at a loss what to do with them. So, I decided I would make some red currant jam recently. I don't have a potato masher so I mashed them a little with the fork but, if you have ever tried mashing currants with a fork it's pretty hard so I decided to just boil them up almost whole with water and sugar. I let this cook for a while on and off. I had to leave the house to pick up my boy so I first cooked it for about 45 minutes and then later for about an hour and a half. I wish I remembered the proportions. Surprisingly my currant jam came out really nice. It's thick, tastes good on toast and is nice mixed with something creamy as well.

playing with feed sack fabrics

2011-07-12T12:35:00.008-04:00

I really wanted to sew with some of my feed sack fabrics because of the pretty prints and last week I decided on two simple projects for them. The cuts I have are small so I thought a pair of napkins and a little elastic waist skirt were good ideas. I used vintage materials throughout: old blue thread and white ric-rac for the skirt. Sweet little quick summer projects.

crepe paper flowers

2011-07-10T16:40:00.011-04:00

I love the feel of crepe paper. It has such a nice texture. I reacquainted myself with making paper flowers this week via instructions found on the Martha Stewart site. So far, I have tried roses (red), dahlias (blue) and pink peonies. I have a nice collection of crepe paper in the craft room and I plan to try out some more flowers soon.

Ten years ago my friend Kim and I made some for my wedding which I displayed at our place settings at the bridal party table. Our 10 year anniversary is on September 1st.

Once in a while I get really into making them. I think they are so pretty and I love them in little glass bottles. I would like to make a bouquet soon.

sashiko style

2011-07-06T09:19:00.005-04:00

I keep reminding myself to take it slow and take a deep breath (hard for me) which is why sashiko style embroidery in the evening is a good remedy for the fast paced style of summer with small children.

This piece of fabric I have had a long time: a cotton gauze with ditzy flowers. I used red sashiko thread to stitch around them and made it into a pillow cover with a deep red back.

eloise

2011-07-05T08:30:00.004-04:00

I made her another dress in a print called Eloise by Liberty of London. The same exact one I made 2 years ago shown below.

The Flower Girl Dress from Weekend Sewing. And, I loved that dress so why not?

Happy 1st day of July

2011-07-01T17:46:00.006-04:00

Ah, summer. I have lots to say... show and tell but, a moment to sit down at the computer is hard to find these days.
Here are some pretty pictures taken last weekend at Liz's house where I spent the day with her and Jenn and our families.
It was a lot of fun.
S is wearing her little betty blue dress that I wrote about here. Gosh, it was freezing probably when I made that.
The kids have been wanting a wagon for years and had so much fun riding and pulling it around. I really need to get one for them.

baby oobee

2011-06-29T18:53:00.013-04:00

Baby Oobee instantly became a hit at the house. The minute I took it out S grabbed it and immediately it became a new friend. She puts it to bed every night by her bed and carries it around with her pink elephant (another one of her babies). It even became a hit with my boy so a second Oobee was made.

I used a really nice Japanese lawn, a little Denyse Schmidt and a special Heather Ross birthday print for the fabrics and the organic cotton fleece fabric for the Oobee which is so nice. I added a double sided blanket.

The pattern is from Leslie and I won the copy on her blog.

shoofly quilt

2011-06-26T09:37:00.021-04:00

Here are the blocks I showed previously being hand washed and line dried all pieced together.

I had 26 and I used 25 of them to make this quilt. The fabrics are old and the pieces are faded in some spots but, the colors and patterns are still so rich and look so great together that I just had to put them to use. They were hand pieced but, I used the machine to put them together.

The vintage blocks are from the 30's and 40's and I won them on ebay for $36 in 2008. I knew I saved my emails for a good reason. I backed it in white cotton and tied with red embroidery floss. The binding is the only part I regret. I should have used a wider binding. I wanted brown and I had some brown store bought binding so I went with that but, it was a pain to hand sew to the back because there was only a scant amount to work with.

It measures 45" x 45" and if my research proves correct the pattern is called Shoofly.

felt ball trivets

2011-06-23T12:55:00.007-04:00

Seen here are some felt ball trivets I made on Tuesday. I only owned one trivet and this has become a issue when having gatherings at the house. I like these simple and pretty solutions found via the Purl Bee and the tutorial is very simple to follow.
It's so dark in the house today so I took them outside for their photo. All the rain has been so good for the garden. The humidity though I could do without.

silk cardigan

2011-06-21T09:35:00.014-04:00

A child's cardigan knit in pure silk by Rowan. The color is called Bliss and the pattern name is Daffodil.
The little ruffle edges are what sold me on the pattern. A perfect special occasion knit and so incredibly soft and full of drape.
This color I find myself drawn to a lot lately and it shimmers in the silk.

storybook tunic

2011-06-16T10:52:00.007-04:00

This is a version of the free Oliver & S popover dress.
Yes, I didn't read the directions correctly and realized after that some pages are printed portrait and some landscape. It came out more like a tunic or short dress but still cute after some of my own changes because well it looked wrong and some alterations needed to be done to the pattern specifically with the armholes. I thought it looked short...

I used Far Far Away II: Moon and Stars and Owl and the Pussycat in Berry by Heather Ross. The material is 80% cotton and 20% linen. Some vintage purple ric rac between the two.

I will definitely be sewing this pattern again printed and sewn correctly and in a more drapey fabric
This one though is cute too.

lavender shortbread

2011-06-15T14:25:00.012-04:00

Some lavender shortbread was made on Monday. Our lavender is in bloom and I always am so happy to see it come to life as there are so many great ways to use it. This is the first time I baked with it and have been wanting to experiment with herb shortbread for a few years and am happy that I finally did. There are so many interesting herbs to try out with this recipe in the garden. Since you use them dried this is a good project to try out when you have the time since herbs have such a long lifespan in the garden.

I based my recipe on this one but, did not use lemon zest or mint. I did add a splash of homemade lemonade (this is why I had no lemons) and also added a teaspoon of rosewater and a teaspoon of vanilla.

They came out delicious and are even better the day after. The little burst of lavender is really nice and not at all overpowering.

Edit to add: I forgot to tell you that for the last minute I sprinkled on some superfine sugar and that this recipe with the small heart shape yielded about 50 pieces.

vintage quilt blocks

2011-06-13T14:48:00.014-04:00

Two or three years ago I acquired a collection of quilt blocks and they have just been sitting in the craft room. I thought about separating them into various projects- framing and hot pads were a few ideas that came to mind but, I am now thinking maybe they should stay together. So, I plan on sewing most of them into a quilt.

Today i am washing and drying them and will inspect to see what other spots I need to tackle and then most likely repeat this process once more.

What types of projects, if any, have you made with old quilt blocks? I would love to hear about it.

#3 outfit based on a watercolor/collage

2011-06-10T14:01:00.013-04:00

It has been a year since I worked on this series but, I didn't forget about it.
I came up with a plan to work on a collection of girl's outfits based on a painting. I'm still not ready to reveal the artist.

This dress is the second in the series and I used a pattern from 1973. It is the same exact one I used for the other dress which was in orange. What is sort of fun about it is this is the year the artist died and it's also the year a certain someone was 3 and would have worn this size. Can you guess who?

It is made of purple linen in a medium weight just like the other one.

I love the pinafore ruffle style on the bodice and the wide sash that ties in a bow in the back. Those are some ruffles, right?

This project may take me a long time but I do hope to complete it someday and in my dreams have little girls modeling them and in the right setting as in the painting. Hmmm, we will see.

Here are # 1 and # 2

hopscotch

2011-06-08T10:41:00.005-04:00

Ms. Scarlet learning hopscotch at the park and wearing a vintage plaid dress. Did you play hopscotch growing up? I loved it. We had a big courtyard at the grammar school on my block when I was a kid and I could play for hours

I am doing lots of gardening, strawberry picking and general running around this week. School ended for her which was 2 mornings a week and next week it will end for M.
More soon.

-Thanks for all the nice comments about the quilt.

city weekend plus quilt

2011-06-05T16:57:00.011-04:00

I finished this quilt the other night which means I completed my goal to finish two quilts this Spring.
This quilt was a great experience that taught me a lot and showed me just how much more I need to learn.
With a design such as this one which I made up as I went along but, had lovely help figuring out how to make the blocks you can easily see how important each minute detail from exact cutting to exact sewing works out in the end.
I need to be more precise even when I think I am being diligent there is still room for improvement. That said I think it's really nice and I am proud that I made it.

I quilted along the sewing lines known as 'in the ditch' and used a lightweight batting. This makes a nice blanket and the bright coordinated color scheme of the City Weekend collection makes a fun happy summer quilt.

I talked about the quilt here and here

pansies and geraniums.

2011-06-02T20:56:00.013-04:00

Yesterday I took some time to pick a few flowers for pressing. I love this simple way of remembering the pretty petals that were growing in the garden. Do you press flowers? What do you like to make with them?

fifi dress

2011-06-01T15:49:00.035-04:00

Happy June!

I saw this fabric as a similar little top made during the Kids Clothes Week Challenge and wanted to use it for a dress. I immediately fell in love with the sweet polka dotted kitties. Last night I put together a very simple little pattern and made it in about an hour.

You will notice 'bumpy' the turtle in one of these photos. This is the turtle baby that S gave birth to yesterday shortly after she married her brother. She was of course wrapped up in a hello kitty blanket with enough blanket left for a train. She is completely obsessed with the you tube videos of Prince William and Catherine's wedding. After the wedding M decided that a flight to Japan was just way too long so they retreated to S's bedroom and shut the door for their honeymoon while I folded laundry. I am told by M that she rubbed his eyebrow while he asked her not to. People, I can not make this stuff up. All in all it was a comical day. And, I was happy to end it with making her this sweet dress because the minute she saw it this morning on my bedroom chair she had to put it on and what better reward is that. All the outfits I have made lately have been being worn and are getting good use now that summer weather is here.

a yellow sweater

2011-05-31T18:07:00.011-04:00

I thought about this for a long time and he has been asking for a long time so I decided it was time.

Yellow is Matthew's favorite color and has been for at least 3 years. And, apparently he really wanted a yellow sweater. I had him pick out the yarn online a while ago and though now is not the right season it will be in time for Kindergarten. Yes, he starts in the Fall. I had him try it on right after bath in his pajamas because it is hot.
The pattern is Camilla Kid and I think it's good for a boy or girl. The yarn is Quince and Co. Osprey in Carrie's Yellow. I knit size 4 to fit size 6 with some modifications-longer sleeves and decreases a bit differently around the top. I wish I decreased more in the sleeves.
Though the pattern is cute I didn't really enjoy knitting this sweater. I think I would like it in a lighter yarn like a dk weight and a different color - a pale neutral shade so If I do it again that would be my choice.

stacking the odds quilt

2011-05-30T10:59:00.017-04:00

I finished binding the Stacking the Odds quilt the other day and am so happy with it. The piecing was finished in April and I sent the quilt off to Tillie Studio where she used a long arm and the design Knotty to quilt it for me. Amy's mom did a wonderful job. I couldn't be happier with the design I chose and the work she did. Since this is a queen size quilt I didn't think I was up for the challenge of hand quilting it though I would really like to do that some time and it's just too big for my sewing machine. I think a intricate quilting stitch is a nice touch with a modern feeling design such as this one. I talked about the fabrics here.
Now it's time to take the velvet and linen quilt off and display this pretty one. I usually am not one for boldness in color and pattern in the home so this is fun and different.

nani iro dot

2011-05-23T13:52:00.010-04:00

I made a dot dots dress.
Run your little finger from one to one... connect the dots.
A bouncing dress. A little too big for now but the sun always seems to make my kids grow....like flowers.
Really.

More nani iro dot to play with - green and natural dots cotton double gauze. I love it.

lark rise

2011-05-22T13:42:00.011-04:00

I knit this for a wee one due this August and now that it has arrived to her Mama I can share it with you.
I was drawn into this pattern after seeing a similar sweater that Alicia made. The pattern she used was written in French and though learning French is on the to do list I saw on Ravelry that she mentioned a pattern called Lark Rise which I liked a lot plus it's in English. This yarn which I will mention here once I go find the label looks really nice with the tulle stitch pattern and I thought the look went so nicely with her style.

This was a pleasure to knit for her. Hooray for babies.

strawberry picking romper

2011-05-18T12:26:00.007-04:00

Come June when we are picking strawberries in the yard I think this will be a sweet little romper to run around picking and eating in. I made a matching headscarf too.
I also did this pattern last year as a short pant dress so I thoughT it would be fun to make it with the elastic at the bottom this time. It's a size 2 but I changed the seam allowance so it should fit her. She is a size 3.

summer playsuit

2011-05-17T15:31:00.016-04:00

It is raining and the forecast shows rain through Saturday. I love Spring and really don't mind the rain but am imagining those sunshine filled days ahead watching her run around in playsuits so I have been sewing sweet summer outfits.

The puppet show shorts came first and then when I realized I had enough to make a top I decided to make a elastic smocked tie top to match. Oh, I really want to see how this looks but she is not trying it on but, really I can't complain. She chose to wear her Ice Cream Dress today with long sleeves underneath and leggings. That dress is so adorable and now of course I want to make another. I just can not help myself with sewing little girl clothes. She has one sweet wardrobe.

Oh, and this floral... the colors are so pretty.

I must run as the children are in the 'waiting room' waiting to put on a parade for me. It involves pots and wooden spoons.

Oops, must fix the topstitching on that pocket there.

japanese street style hat

2011-05-16T15:32:00.012-04:00

How was your weekend? Ours was a busy one but, good.
We went to a sing-a-long in the morning at Scarlet's school, followed by a trip to Purl where I had no problem using my birthday gift card and a stop into Once Upon a Tart. We then jetted to a Mayfest celebration at The Stickley Museum at Craftsmans Farms. Scarlet fell asleep on the way there so Matty and I hopped out leaving Mick and S in the car to take advantage of the last half an hour of the festival which they let us into for no charge. He had a pony ride and then the two of us got to dance the Maypole. I have always wanted to do this and it was so lovely. Matty had a permanent grin on his face the whole time. I tried to take photos but it was so hard to dance and photograph. We then made a few crafts and headed back home. On Sunday I went to a yoga class and then we drove out to Brooklyn to visit the pop up shop for Nightwood NY to look at furniture. I didn't know that Caitlin Mociun would be sharing the space and be there to chat so that was a really nice surprise. It was a nice space but, not in the most wonderful section of Brooklyn. The kids had a good time there playing with scrap wood and Caitlin said they could bring their pieces home. They were thrilled. We ended it with a dinner at our local Tinga which is my five year olds favorite restaurant.

I have been busy with sewing, knitting and cutting out patterns but, bad about photographing and showing them and am trying to make up for it today though the weather is overcast and gloomy so not the best conditions.

The hat above I knit up on Saturday night. The yarn I bought the same day at Purl and I had remembered this quick and fun kids hat pattern posted at Purl Bee. I used a natural colored aran yarn for the pom pom. S loves it and I think it will get great use this winter. All those little bright ribbons and trims and the teeny blue flowers are so fun. It reminds me of something I imagine seeing in Japan. Do you remember the magazines always showing Japanese street style?

Some fun images from the weekend

edible estate spring garden 2011

2011-05-11T18:05:00.000-04:00

For those of you have been reading for awhile you know that our front yard is a dedicated fruit, vegetable and herb garden initiated by the previous owners less then a year before we bought the house. Now in our third year here we have some constants and also new things growing each year.

Here is a small sampling of some of the lovely things that are growing in our garden this Spring.

Left to Right, Top to Bottom

Chives, Strawberries
Peaches, Currants
Grapes, Iresine, Apples
Beets and Radishes

blue pettipants

2011-05-09T14:22:00.022-04:00

Here are some vintage style hand knit child pettipants. The style reminds me of these grown up ones for sale over at Dear Golden's shop.
I think they are adorable and I can't wait to see them worn by S this summer.

I was immediately drawn into the pattern which I found on Knitty and it is called Emma's Unmentionables. There is something so sweet and old fashioned innocent about them. The elastic is threaded through the waist and is covered by a blue ribbon. I changed up the lace pattern a bit (not on purpose) and wound up sewing up the hem to give it some scallop shape.

beautiful dress up wings

2011-05-04T16:30:00.009-04:00

I spied this pattern awhile ago and was reminded of it the other day and set to making it. Here is the pattern if you want to try to make some yourself. I sewed this together but, the directions say you can also glue it so this works for all of you who don't sew.

These were really fun to make. It was so fun choosing the fabrics and colors and always good to delve into the scrap pile. Ms. S is a fan and flew around the house for awhile this afternoon. The boy is fond of them as well. Always good to have dress up clothes.

rose garden dress

2011-05-02T10:30:00.012-04:00

A new rose floral dress for Scarlet.

She tried it on and declared she loves it which is just the best news.

I love the collar and pocket details in this pattern. She found a perfect use for the pocket right away and stuffed her lamb in there.

I made the size up because I can see this only being worn for a bit over the next few months before it becomes too hot. I wanted to get the most use out if it.

The dress is lined in muslin and zips up the back. The pattern is the School Photo Dress which perhaps I will really have her wear it for come Autumn. I originally planned for the ruffle collar in a pale peach shantung and may still do that someday. Or maybe I will wind up using it on a blouse for me. I need to check the drape.

This dress was really fun to make which is why I am sort of addicted to Oliver + S patterns. There are just so many sweet details and everything is thought out so well. I always feel I've made something really special in the end.

She took it for a ride on her duck rocker.

And then we made some silly faces. This one being my favorite.

Last night I had to replace the zipper after she wore it because the pull just fell off. Oh, I was mad but, I quickly replaced it after finding a vintage zipper in my stash which was so much better made then the one I had purchased. I don't know why this happened. I guess it was just a poorly made zipper. Though the bonus was the zipper sewing turned out out much better the second time around.

azalea crowns

2011-04-29T14:47:00.014-04:00

I made azalea crowns today and then we had a wedding in the garden by the apple tree.

city weekend quilt top

2011-04-28T14:32:00.021-04:00

I really love how this quilt looks like summer.

The colors and prints are just gorgeous and play off each other so nicely. It reminds me of sunny days, ocean waves, ripe berries, cotton candy ( my parents never bought me cotton candy), flowers and dotted dresses. It's the kind of quilt you might want to take a nap with amongst wildflowers or bring to the beach.

When I started this quilt I really had no idea about the proper way to put it together but, after doing several blocks the hard way I started piecing it together properly and after that it was easy. Plus, I met my goal by finishing two quilt tops this month. What can I say, I like setting goals for myself.

I still have a lot to learn about quilting but, for someone who three years ago was seriously intimidated by them I'd like to think I've come far. Really though there is a lot more to learn.

The quilt top measures 58" x 96." There are 108 blocks. Really? I just counted.... couldn't believe it myself.
I wanted something that made the colors pop so I chose natural white to offset the plus shapes. I'm not sure what I will put on the back yet. Maybe dots and white?

Now to iron it, trim a million threads and finish it. Sigh. I think I need to work on some clothes and smaller things first. I'll shoot for June 15th for completion.

It's just so hard to photograph quilts, isn't it?

Unrelated but very exciting: My boy lost his first tooth last night! I was thrilled to be the tooth fairy and also happy that I had a little felt toothpouch made up already. We are celebrating today with popcorn. He loves popcorn.