It's kind of a rare occurrence that I say yes to a blog collaboration, and it's been quite some time since I did one that's not craft-related, too. But recently, GlassesUSA contacted me to see if I wanted to review a pair of their glasses. Here's the deal: I mostly wear vintage frames, with an exception for my Keiko frames from BonLook that I adore and actually wear as my primary pair much of the time now (first ... Read more »
Fresh face and Frida vibes in the garden
We've been really fortunate with the weather this week. Low-to-mid 70s is my ideal temperature, when you can wear long or short sleeves, a light jacket, cardigan, shorts... pretty much anything goes and you'll be comfortable! It's been beautiful and sunny, and I've been soaking it up as much as possible. I snapped a few photos outside today during lunch. I really just wanted an acceptable one for Instagram, but decided ... Read more »
Planning and inspiration (while I’m not doing)
I have basically not knit (except a tiny project) since before we went to London, and I haven't sewn since then, either. It's the end of May, and that was the beginning of April. Considering I'm someone who is more-or-less constantly "making", let that sink in. Sewing, knitting, and the sprinkling of other crafty things I do keep me sane. This is definitely a time in the world when we desperately need activities to keep ... Read more »
Last month’s vacation in the U.K.
Hi, friends! When we last met, I was bringing you a scheduled blog post on my birthday, while we were off in London! A much belated thank you for all the compliments on my dress and the happy birthday wishes! ♥ ♥ ♥ Since we got home, we've been super busy. In large part because my dad came to stay with us for over a week to (primarily) build a new fence along our alley, taking down the old fence. It's also garden time, ... Read more »
Special birthday dress for London
Today is my birthday! So I sewed a dress! I'm the ripe YOUNG age of 40! And, I'm in London! Um, not in these photos, obviously. We're actually on vacation right now and I took these ahead of time, since we weren't planning to travel with a laptop and I thought trying to do a blog post on my phone on my birthday sounded like a drag. So you get a scheduled post instead. :) Each year for the last handful of ... Read more »
I knit a cardigan. Twice.
Initially when I knew I was going to post a worsted weight sweater project in early April, I kind of thought I'd have to make a joke about how it was growing too warm to wear it. Hahahahaha. As if. Oh April, how I always forget your disgusting weather ways every year. You'd think I would remember this being an April baby, as I never get nice weather on my birthday (which is coming up next week!). There's some good news ... Read more »
Ginger the Fifth
Hey, I made some jeans! It's another pair of Ginger jeans, I know, I know. Big whoop. This is my fifth pair now and I'm done for the foreseeable future! I have the very first pair, the second pair that worked on the retro styling and fit and added a cuff, the third slightly relaxed Western pair, a fourth pair I'm going to get to in a sec, and this pair. This fifth pair technically replaces the fourth pair. And I ... Read more »
Princess Harald stranded pullover
Today I'm happy to share with you a pullover that I finished... I have no idea when. January? Maybe. Long enough ago to get to enjoy wearing it this winter, I can tell you that that much. So I realized I'd better show it to you quickly since the first day of spring has officially passed (woo hoo!). (Shown here with my Western-inspired Ginger jeans) I started it way back in October. In fact, it was vacation knitting. ... Read more »
Retro bra making is my new favorite thing
Hi, my friends! I haven't blogged in nearly two months and it's almost entirely due to current world events that have been all too stupefying and depressing. I just haven't wanted to sit around taking oodles of photos and having mundane chatter about this and that I've just made. It doesn't mean I haven't been sewing or knitting because I have! They help keep me sane. In fact I've finished up some projects I'm really ... Read more »
Ultimate Sheath Jumper
Do you ever get taken with a piece of fashion that up until a particular point in time, you've more or less ignored? That happened to me this winter! I have some tried-and-true style combos that I love and turn to time and time again. But this fall and winter, I kept seeing jumpers. A lot of the modern takes on them didn't grab me for obvious reasons, but I started poking around at photos and sewing patterns for ... Read more »
Change of coat making plans: now I’m doing a vintage pattern!
Hello, friends! No 2016 roundups or 2017 plans from me, although this is my first post of the new year. There's so much crap going on in the world that it's still sometimes difficult to focus on seemingly inconsequential things like sewing and knitting when you want to tear your hair out at the madness of it all. But when those things bring you great joy and pleasure and ease stress, to help balance out other things or ... Read more »
Swatching my next winter pullover
It comes that time again when a knitter must swatch for the next project! I need a new sweater to start when we go to my mom and step-dad's for Christmas. I haven't actually finished my current project. You saw a glimpse of it in this post. It's a long-bodied shaped pullover with a small, allover stranded pattern. I'm knitting that one in DK weight Rauma Strikkegarn yarn. Which I have fallen head over heels with, by ... Read more »
Different color palette and some tips for a Fayne beret
I thought I'd share with you my own version of my new knitting pattern, Fayne, that I actually knit for myself. If you missed Tuesday's post, this is what it looks like, but in alternate colors! (Pullover I knit from a vintage pattern, blogged here) The green sample knit below went off to live with my lovely model and fellow knitter, Madison. But I love that palette so much, I may need to knit one for me at some ... Read more »
Fayne beret: new knitting pattern release
I'm so happy to share that I've just released my latest knitting pattern, Fayne. You can purchase Fayne on Ravelry, or keep reading for more links at the end of this post. If you're a sucker for plaid like I am, I hope you'll fall in love with Fayne! Model: Madison Steward Fayne is a knitter’s take on a favorite print: plaid! Named after Nancy Drew’s short-haired sidekick (George Fayne), Fayne is a fetching plaid ... Read more »
Refashioning my own Christmas knitting
In the spirit of Make Do and Mend, I did something recently that I've done only once before that I can recall: refashioned my own knitting! Six years ago, I knit Susan Crawford's Perfect Christmas Jumper pattern. It's a gorgeous, classic novelty holiday sweater. As an aside, if you're familiar with the pattern, you can see one major difference: the design is a lot bigger because I knit it in worsted weight yarn ... Read more »
Get your knitting needles ready for my next pattern (perfect for a holiday gift!)
Hi everyone! I'm just about ready to release my latest knitting pattern, a fun new hat. Can you guess what it is? If you guessed a plaid beret, you're correct! Knitting plaid is no small feat, usually involving intarsia knit flat and/or sewing or crocheting vertical lines in the finished work after completing. However, my new pattern has the spirit of plaid without all the hard work. It's knit in the round, with ... Read more »