KNITTING
You know that KNITTING is my primary therapist, but SEWING is a steadfast back-up! I bought this cute pin at Brooklyn Craft Co. last weekend for Ali — they all decorate their barista aprons with pins at the coffee shop, and this is so true for her.
Truth is, I haven't been knitting much. There's a hat & a shawl in current rotation, but I do most of my knitting in the evening and, well, this week we've either been busy or I'm just too pooped. I think about it all the time, though. And lately, I've also become a bit preoccupied with what to knit/make for three little baby girls due to arrive in the next couple of months. I really have to use some yarn that I already have and it has to be baby/mom friendly (i.e., washable), so that's limiting (not necessarily a bad thing… parameters)… I think I'm closing in on a plan.
I've also been considering Kirsten's TTL Mystery Shawl… it's been a favorite each time that I've participated! The only thing holding me up is my sore arm, but a few short breaks from knitting, visits to the chiropractor, and the discovery of a major knot in my shoulder (I really need to schedule a proper massage) have all been helping. And I can certainly go at whatever pace is comfortable for me. UPDATE: Pattern purchased!
SEWING
Even though my main occupation last weekend was cuddling & caring for Malina while her parents were busy at the Electric City Music Festival (big kids were with other grandma), I still managed to prepare, cut out, and sew The Trapezette Dress for her older sister — my first Merchant & Mills pattern, recently purchased at Brooklyn General Store.
I have a bit of finishing to do (hemming & a button) but this is a big win and there are certainly more to be made (this is a size 3yrs, the pattern goes up to size 8yrs)! Swishy & swingy just as advertised.
I made my first rouleau in memory! I didn't have a bodkin handy (though I know there's one somewhere), so I improvised with a pin & bobby pin to turn that little loop.
I'm pretty proud of the more-or-less matching of zigzag stripes on the center back seam — and I wasn't even trying terribly hard!
It's super, super cute and I can't wait for Gin to come over and try it on so I can check the length & finish. This fabric has been in stash for a long time; I have no idea what the original intention was. I was a little hesitant to use it for this project because I thought it might be too crazy, but it was the perfect amount (of both fabric and crazy) and I love how it turned out! I used nicely matching leftovers from the backing of Malina's quilt for the facings.
READING
I finished listening to West Cork last week, and have just decided that Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson will be my next audiobook (it's downloading as we speak). The Thoughtful Dresser was just renewed for the second (and hopefully) last time (I'm enjoying the book but the reading, lately, is going much the same as the knitting), leaving Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder stuck at the bottom of the nightstand pile under Rick Bragg's The Best Cook In The World – Tales from My Momma's Table, because that is definitely up next!
Beautiful trapezette! Wow on the zigzag, it is just right.
I don’t know a “rouleau” but I understand your photo of it, and it looks awfully good, and neat.
The dress is adorable and I can’t tell where the zig and zag are “off,” a tad! As my mom would say: “Besides, no one will know it on a gallopin’ horse!” (Not that I expect your little one will be horse riding ;-)).
A friend of mine just finished Prairie Fires and gave it a very thorough review…it’s on my “someday/maybe” list…
Hope your shoulder continues to improve and soon!
Cheers~
I think that dress is just adorable!! I can’t wait to see sweet Gin modeling it for us! And, I am joining you in the KK MKAL. I was going to use stash yarn, but I might just break down and order some yarn from Miss Babs… we shall see!
That dress is the cutest thing! It will be perfect for a 4th of July celebration, too! Well done, Vicki.
I just LOVE that sweet dress! (And I bought the TTL pattern, too! Now to decide on yarn!)
Fabulous dress for Gin. I can already picture her in it dancing around. Love it! Now…you Must book that massage pronto!
That dress is adorable and I can’t help thinking how lucky those two little girls are to have a mom and a grandma to make for them 🙂 (I wish the dress went up to grownup sizes…I’d love to twirl around in one myself!)
Oh I love, love that dress. Be sure to show a photo of her in it. I have one 15 month old grand daughter and her baby sister due anytime in the next two weeks. You did a fab job with making that loop! Holy moly, I’m going to look into making a rouleau as I have always done thread half hitches over a base and that’s not nearly as professional looking as what you show here. Cheers to being a sewing/knitting grandma or in my case “BB”.
The dress is SO wonderful. How I loved a dress that swished and swirled. I hope we get photo/videos of Gin going full tilt! The days of bobbin pin/pin turns! I didn’t even know the word bodkin back then. I’m having a similar problem with my knitting arm, which might be connected to using/scrolling through my phone! I trying to stay off said phone and baby the arm, but have purchased the TTL pattern and have one skein of yarn, which means I only need to find a contrasting color. I’ve been thinking about pulling out my machine and sewing a thing or two, but that may have to wait while I immerse myself in puppy training.
That little dress! Oh, Vicki. I can’t wait to see Gin twirling. I think she’s going to just love it!!! I have decided NOT to do the TTL mystery shawl this year — for the first time in many, many years. I’ve got a couple of other things I really want to knit this summer, and I’m going to let them take priority. Then . . . if I end up loving the TTL shawl, I can always knit it later. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.) 🙂
That dress is adorable!
Love the dress! Great matching. The girls will love wearing that style. Make them one with pockets and hide a treat in it! My girls loved pockets and so do I.