Saturday, March 29, 2008

A sneak peak...

I'm so close...

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Manly knitting

Although I could never top this project for sheer, legendary manliness, here are my latest attempts at knitting for men. On the left is another pair of Basic Socks from the Ann Budd book, in Wool-Ease Sportweight. They're for my Dad's birthday. On the right is the Seamless Hybrid from Knitting Without Tears. I'm using Cotton-Ease in Charcoal; it's really kind of like a faded black color, and my husband picked it out when I gave him some choices from my stash. I'm basing the measurements on his favorite Gap cotton sweater, but I'm still pretty nervous about how it will turn out in the end. I knit a sweater for him long ago when I was very inexperienced, and the result is only suitable for wearing while, I don't know, gutting fish maybe? He's really excited about this one based on the pictures in the book, so the pressure's on!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Inspiration!

I was hit with the design bug the other day. I just happened to be online window shopping at this store called Forever 21. I found 60% of the tops to be completely great (if not reeking of "Hi, I'm made in a sweatshop overseas"), but quickly realized that the name of the store, while sounding like it would be for anyone over 21 wishing to remain young and hip, is really one of those Seventeen magazine deals, where it's really appealing to 15 year olds wanting to look 21.

I forged on though because the tops were so cute.

Like this one:




And these...the yellow is so great. I think the one on the left is linen. If it had a wide collar-band, I'd really love it. I started sketching out pattern pieces instantly.





Then, I saw this shirt:...and fell in love! I knew it was well out of my design skills, but the nearest store is 3 hours away. Can I really drive there? Buying these clothes from the online store is just asking for a return hassle. But trying to make them could be even more soul crushing.

In any event, I think the whole point of this post is to show this video:

A Shirt Story

Because, this is what I'm afraid my sewing skills will result in! (Sorry, I wanted to embed the video but it was a no go)

Sunday, March 09, 2008

The sweater that will end this long, long winter

I have knit the sweater that will end winter!

I knit this sweater for a one month old baby, and I made it a little bigger so he could wear it around 6 months. Well, it wasn't until I was finishing the seams that I stopped and though, "hmm, he'll be 6 months in July!". I didn't really think through the whole sweater situation. He is growing like a weed though so I reconsidered things, and in light of the never-ending winter, thought he might be able to wear it yet this winter/spring.

However, because I really want him to wear it, it makes perfect sense that winter will stop this very week! Temps are supposed get higher than the teens!


Here are the details on the sweater:

Yarn: The main color is Nashua Creative Focus Superwash. The trim is some scrap Cascade 220 I had. I once again broke my rule about buying more yarn than needed, and would have run out before finishing the trim so I improvised and I think it works. It beats having most of a another skein of yarn I don't want. It's not a Christmas sweater; it's a tomato sweater --whatever that means! :O)

Pattern: The Oz Vest from Natural Knits for Babies and Moms by Louisa Harding.

It was very nice to knit and finish a project so quickly!

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Blankets for babies

Around Christmas last year the community service committee I belong to at work, and a group of fantastic crafty librarians, made a bunch of knit hats for a men's shelter. Blankets for Babies is the name of the newest project of the committee. We received a grant for the cost of materials and will start making the blankets soon. They will be simple flannel squares with an easy crocheted edging. Our goal is to make 50 blankets, which we will donate to a hospital's layette program for needy families. Today I made a sample/test blankie with an inexpensive store-bought receiving blanket and some donated yarn. Hemming the flannel and sewing a blanket-stitch edge took almost twice as long as the actual crocheting, which was super fast and satisfying to do. We were inspired to do both of these projects by my mom's prolific charitable crafting; I really can't wait until we have a big stack of cute blankies to give.

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Pestopotatopeafennelsausagepasta

No, this isn't a food blog, and clearly I'm no food photographer, but I'm so in love with this recipe that I'm sharing it anyway. I had spaghetti with potatoes, green beans, and pesto for lunch at an Italian place a few weeks ago and ever since I've been making some version of at home two or three times a week. Cheap, fast, so tasty.

It's just 1 large red potato, 1 large fennel bulb, and 2 Boca Italian sausages, all sliced 1/4 inch thick, sauteed with 2 cloves of garlic in butter and/or olive oil until potatoes are soft & everything is nice and brown around the edges. Add fresh or frozen green beans or peas at the end & continue to cook/toss until they're heated through. Salt, pepper, & crushed red pepper to taste, then toss it all with 1/2 pound cooked pasta & about 1/2 cup of pesto. Feta or parmesan cheese are both great on top of this. Best to have a glass of wine with this! Trust me, it's better than it looks in the photo. The potato-fennel-sausage-garlic combination is also fantastic on pizza.