Sew Wrong

I really should be packing, but…

Leaflet WIP


I just can’t even begin to think about all the packing I have to do in preparation for moving at the end of the month. Granted I just have a bedroom in a Philadelphia style house and I’m only moving three minutes away to another apartment, but I have stuff.

Like, a lot of stuff.
I previously furnished a one bedroom apartment almost all by myself for my first two years in MA, but things happened and I’ve been subletting in the city for the past five months. I crammed just about all of my furniture in my room, my couch is down in the living room (the four boys I live with love it), and all of my pots, pans, dishes, and spices are in the kitchen. Not to mention I have all of my clothes, books, yarn, fabric…the list goes on. This will be my fourth move in the past three years, and I’m just tired of doing so. I guess you could say I’ve become an expert on moving.
So instead of packing, I’ve been making progress on my Leaflet. I brought it to work on at Pints and Purls at Gather Here in Cambridge the other night and knitted to the point where you divide for the sleeves. I’m right now just about half way through the second of three leaves, which are so fun to see materialize throughout the process. The Boyfriend is always watching me knit this when we’re on the couch in front of the TV and I think he likes to see the leaves form as I knit, too. He was even suggesting the other night on how I could have mixed up the leaves, making each one look different. How can you not love a guy who is actually interested in what you’re making?

Leaflet WIP


One thing I’ve noticed about this sweater on Ravelry is that, in my opinion, the sweaters made in the Osprey yarn look better/nicer than sweaters made from other yarns. Like I said, just my opinion, but it’s almost as if this sweater was made for this yarn. I had difficulties getting gauge when I tried using a different yarn than the one recommended and when using this yarn I can see why – it’s a yarn between a worsted and a bulky, and I really can’t think of another yarn that looks like this. So when sweaters are made from worsted yarn on 10US needles, the look is much more open and loose. I’m so happy I went with this yarn and colorway, plus it’s a dream to knit with. Plus, I’m certain at the rate I’m knitting that this will be done just in time for cool weather to set in. Which is not that far off in New England…

Follow:

Leaflet Progress So Far…

Leaflet WIP


Let me tell you, I had a devil of a time trying to get gauge for this pattern. I first blogged about my plans for Leaflet last month after returning from vacation and acquiring Valley Yarns Berkshire from Webs in Northampton, MA thinking that the weight would be appropriate for the sweater. I swatched on 10s like the pattern called for; no dice. I got 8 sts/2″ instead of 7.5 sts/2″ or the 15 sts/4″ as the pattern called for. So I switched to 10.5 needles – same result as the 10s. Then I tried 11s, but got 6 sts/2″ and the fabric was way too loose and airy looking. I was convinced that there was no way I could use a worsted weight yarn like Berkshire to achieve the stitch gauge that the pattern called for, so I broke down and bought the Osprey yarn like the pattern called for from Quince and Co.

I’m glad I did – the yarn is a dream to work with. Sure, I wasn’t able to find a match to the wine colored yarn I originally planned on working with, but this Nasturtium color is a wonderfully rich red-orange color that I fell in love with as soon as I opened my package, perfect for fall and layering with thermal tees and boots. And orange is not a color that I’ve knitted with: when looking through my notebook on Ravelry, I knit predominately with reds and pinks and purples, so this is a nice change from my usual go-to colors. I think a bulkier weight yarn instead of a worsted would have worked better with this pattern when substituting for the yarn, and when I swatched with it, I did have to go up to 11s instead of the 10s that the pattern recommends. I’m cruising right along with the pattern now, which is knitting up quickly, and I love how fun the leaf motif is to knit on the back. Yes, I know hand knitting is all about the process, but I can’t wait to get this sweater off my needles so I can wear it in the coming months!
Follow:

Early Fall 2011 Review: Vogue Patterns

I received an email in my inbox the other day from Vogue Patterns about their new “early fall” collection, so I thought I’d take a gander and see what I wanted to add to my fall sewing list. Not much, as usual, since fall patterns don’t inspire me to sew as much as spring and summer ones do.


Description: Flared, with waist facing, side seam pockets

This skirt is reminiscent of a wool Lands’ End Canvas skirt that I bought for work last year, and it is easily my favorite skirt in my wardrobe for fall/winter (although a little on the short side for work…I always pair it with tights and boots). I love circle skirts since they are flattering on my figure and make it look like I actually have a waist! This skirt is simple enough and classic, which are two requirements on my “to sew” list. Check!


Vogue 8747 Misses Shirt

Description: Fitted. A, B, C, & D cups

After reading an article in the September issue of Threads Magazine about altering and embellishing button-down shirts, I want to apply some of those techniques to this pattern. I love that the pattern is part of their “Custom Fit” line of patterns, meaning that I’ll be able to fit my bust, my biggest pattern fitting problem. Love the ruching too, it takes it from a boring button-down shirt to something with a little more style.


Vogue 1252 Tracy Reese Dress

Description: Lined dress has close-fitting bodice and side front in-seam pockets

Not too sure about this one…I’ll probably wait until some other adventurous sewists stitch up this dress and review it before I make it. The print in the picture above really takes away from the interesting neckline and gathering details around the bodice that are visible in the line drawing, which really sold me the design. I also really liked the Tracy Reese dress I just finished (working on another as I’m typing this), so I wanted to give another one of her designs a try. But like I said, I’ll see how others do first…this would be a nice addition to my fall closet though. I bet it would look super cute with boots!
Not really much else that grabbed my attention from Vogue for this early fall collection. I’m hoping that their next collection will have more garments that strike my interest.
Follow: