Around the block in PHL

I arrived in Philadelphia on a layover Sunday afternoon and had to decide whether to take a nap or get some fresh air.  While fresh air after a day on an airplane usually wins, it was in the low 40s and you know I don’t like the cold.  At all.  I eventually opted for the stroll and thoroughly enjoyed my walk.  Carpenters’ Hall struck my fancy this time and it’s a stones throw from all the biggies in American Revolutionary history.  Now I’ve seen most of these landmarks already on previous trips, but the lovely shadows on a late winter day made my walk especially charming.  iPhone pics are all I’ve got, but I hope you get the idea.

Pretend progress shots are interesting

I know project shots are dull, but that’s all I’ve got.  I’ve knit a few more stripes on Paulie and finally thought to try it on.  It fits fine.  It’s hard to see with the curled up stockinette held together with an uber technical hair clip, but it fits.  The neck is kinda wide but that’s something I can live with.

Other than this, I’ve got nothing.  Well, if you don’t count granola.  I made almond granola and it’s easy and much more delicious than what you buy.

The well is dry people.  I’ve got nothing and tomorrow is work.  I shall try harder next time.  Kisses!

It’s not always cloudy in Portland

Downtown Portland, OR view courtesy of the Portland City Grill.  Yum!  Layovers=work=not so much craftiness.

Not so much with the progress

In an effort to disguise how little I’ve actually knit, I shall present my projects as a group.  With so much to look at you may not notice that they don’t look that much farther along than when last you met.

Top left:  It’s Valentine’s Day so I present you with some pretty tulips.

Top right:  Paulie as seen from the back.  I love this cardie and knit on it here and there.  I don’t travel with this project as it’s too large and suitcase space is precious, but there’s no reason I can’t work on it more.  I shall try harder.

Lower left:  Color Affection.  I love this pattern and was sooo undecided how to place the colors.  I thought I’d start with the gray then work to the blue then red.  I changed my mind last minute and started with the blue.  I hope this looks ok when the red hits the mix.

Lower right:  I finally decided which skirt to make with some lovely stretch babycord that accidentally came home with me from the den of pleasure I call the Stonemountain and Daughter’s half price room.  It’s a good solid steel gray and feels like velvet.  And it was half off.  So it took me ALL DAY yesterday to decide which pattern to sew (I have massive jetlag so this is actually pretty quick).  A-line 70s style skirt with pockets.  Should be nice right?

Miami

Today’s layover eye candy is courtesy of downtown Miami. It’s warm and the food is good. I’m set!

Second time lucky

After the last Renfrew top sewing trouble, I tried again with this lovely striped 99 cent/yard cotton.  Oh yes, Fabrix has a “sale” table even though their prices are super cheap to start with.  This time around there was no wiggly seam-age.  I properly adjusted my serger to sew wave free seams and changed the topstitch to a stretch stitch on my Bernina.  I used the one that looks like honeycomb, for lack of a more precise description.

This fabric has much less stretch than the magenta fabric in the previous top.  It’s a bit less comfortable to wear, but it doesn’t look like a mess.  Tradeoff.  I have tons more fabric that is super stretchy and more tissue-y.  Clingy stuff, so we shall see if that’s a disaster.

The only problem I’ve got with the top is that I wore it out to eat and got burrito guts in the collar!  I know, that collar is a crumb catcher – or chicken mole catcher in this case!  I keep washing the top hoping the spots will fade, but I may break down and go buy some laundry spot treatment.  I like the top and will make many more iterations.  I hope you won’t get bored, but it’s fun for me to make stuff I actually wear.

Pattern reviewed here.

Cherry Blossoms!

As I was driving through San Francisco yesterday, I prayed to the traffic light timing gods to let me stop in front of the pink cherry blossoms.  I’ve seen white ones, but these are the first pinks I’ve seen and to be honest they’re my favorite.

Here’s the crappy cellphone pic taken with the amusement of my fellow drivers.  Enjoy the pic and I’ll try to take better ones!  It’s my favorite time of year peeps!

P.s.  There are three lanes of traffic between me and those blossoms so it’s telephoto iphone pic.  Trust me, they’re gorgeous.

Surf’s up

Ok.  I like to think I’ve got the sewing thing down.  Sure, there’s stuff I don’t know how to do, but I get how to make a T-shirt!  Why oh why can you explain the crazy waves I got putting the bands on the Renfrew top?

Is it because gremlins blew on the fabric as I was sewing it and caused waves?

No.

Is it because I neglected to change my serger’s feed dogs to the differential feed setting for stretchy knits?  Yes.  It was.  Is that a hard operation to perform.  No.  You literally turn an exposed knob 3/8″.  ARGH!

So my dork-handedness has resulted in a very pretty, well fitting sleepytime t-shirt.  I have more material and will make this again WITH THE PROPER SERGER ADJUSTMENT!  At least I know it fits nicely.  I have found no other upside.

My only excuse is that this fabric is interlock.  What does that mean?  It’s a stretchy fabric that may not be suitable for this pattern (or for me for that matter).  It has no “wrong” side in that it’s knit as 1×1 rib.  Super stretchy.  Bad choice.  Super cheap though.  It’s dead to me.

Stripes on the brain

I think I’m stripe obsessed.  I’m knitting the Paulie cardigan – it’s striped.  I’m dreaming of making a striped Renfrew top but I washed the striped material with some magenta fabric and now it’s got a few blotches (jetlag and laundry don’t mix).  It’s waiting for a hot wash to see what happens.

And then I see this pattern!  Stop already.

How can I possibly resist such striped loveliness?

Today is a dreary, foggy, cloudy day – perfect for crafting and studying.  (That’s for my work thing next week – must pass or no FAA certification…)  Luckily I can study and knit simultaneously.  I plan to sew a bit on the brightest magenta Renfrew top to blow those clouds outside away.  Spring is here, I saw trees flowering in San Francisco on Monday.  No pics as I was driving.  Happy to see the blossoms though.

If you’re more interested in crafty pursuits than making dinner, I can point this Sweet Potato Chili recipe out to you.  Easy and delicious, no one will know it’s so freaking easy to throw together.

Happy February!