pics 008

pics 008
Originally uploaded by jenarmenti

Sienna

Onion 5038

This one is definitely going to be a tried and true. I love love love it. The fabric is a buttery jersey from Fabric.com and it is actually a heather blue color even though it looks grey in the photo. It fits much better on me than the form. I still have to coverstitch the hems when I find some matching thread. It was so easy to sew and it is a very flattering style. Love it!!!

Finally...on the wheel again....

Since it has cooled off enough that I can actually pedal a spinning wheel without sweating, I've finally finished one bobbin of my 100% silk fiber. I've got another ounce for a second bobbin and then I'll make a 2 ply lace weight with it. Love this stuff!!!!!!!

jolly roger cape/jacket

This is for BWOF 8/2007 cape/jacket. The red is supplex and the jolly roger is the lining. The buttons have skulls too :)

Royalty Awakened

Sienna is pretty sure that she's a supermodel now

I'm pathetic, I know...

yes...another kitty picture :)

The mighty hunter kitty

Here's our little princess today...

She seems to be settling into her routine nicely now that she's been here for a few days. We discovered that she loves to play fetch. It is so funny. She brought back a toy after we threw it for her between 25-30 times at least the other night. She has also been using her scratching post exclusively, which makes us very happy. What a smart little 4 month old kitten! She is clearly the best kitty ever!! :)

New addition to the family

This is Sienna. She is a Sable Burmese female who we just brought home on Thursday. She is adjusting very quickly to life in our home, including life with a 5 year old. There will be many more pictures to come :)

Work in Progress

Although it looks like it might be done, this is still a work in progress. I still have to do the buttonholes and buttons. I am going on a short trip Monday so it may have to wait until I get back. But I just had to post a photo because I love it so much! Anyways, this is BWOF 6/2007 #120 blouse. This is actually a practice run and I plan to make it in some linen I've had in my stash for awhile. This fabric is a very lightweight, almost semi-sheer, seersucker I got for a total of $4.28 at Joanns. I figured it would be good to use as a practice fabric because I like it enough to wear it. I think I'll make some capris to go with it since I have some twill in the darker tan/brown color that is in the blouse fabric. I want to try Hotpatterns Weekender Cargo Pants in the cropped length with the cuffs. I think it would make a really cute outfit with this blouse.

Simplicity 4076 view D

This one I read about so many times on PR that I just HAD to try it. I used a super duper buttery soft and snuggly really thin jersey I got on clearance at Joanns over a year ago. I made it without alterations but then decided I need to change some things for the future versions. It ended up a little shorter than I wanted it, so I have now added 2 inches to the lengthening area of the pattern pieces for next time. Also, I will make the neckband a smidge wider next time as well. On this one I just left the sleeves and hem raw since I didn't want to lose any length in the body and because I've seen lots of tops like that in the department stores lately anyways. So this one is definitely a keeper and I will make more, but I just had to make a couple of pattern alterations for next time, no big deal :)

Textile Studio Santa Monica Tee

I bought a few TS patterns over a year ago and finally got around to trying this one out. LOVE it!!! It fits perfectly with no alterations. I used a cotton lycra from Fabric.com and I serged the seams. Then for the neck, sleeve hems, and hem, I just used my coverstitch machine but with just one row of stitching and I love how it turned out. There will definitely be more of these in my future!

Hot Patterns Cha Cha Cha Dress

This is my cha cha cha pose :) I realized after taking the photo I had the neck tie a little too tight in this one. Anyways, this was yet another winner from Hot Patterns! So far I've had great success with their patterns and they are having a tempting buy 2 get one free sale right now.....hmmmmm. Let's see.... I sewed this one without any alterations except that I left off the frill at the sleeves. I just felt like it would get in my way all the time. I also didn't happen to have the bias tape on hand to make the casing for the neck with, so I just folded over the SA and did 2 rows of stitching to make a casing. On the outside it just looks like a double row of topstitching. I also made a tie for the neck from my fabric instead of using a ribbon. The fabric I got on clearance at Hancock Fabrics many months ago, and I believe it is rayon. It is very drapey which is why I knew it would be a good choice for this dress. I firmly believe that in a stiff fabric this could end up looking like a potato sack. I'm thinking of making one now in a drapey, soft t-shirt jersey without the ruffle and maybe with elbow length sleeves or something. It is really comfortable and although I don't think it is a really slimming design, it at least doesn't make me look pregnant or anything. Okay now I need somewhere to go so I can wear it :)

Things that really get my goat....

So I finally ordered a couple of patterns from Onion that I have been contemplating for a very long time. I got the knit top with waist seam and the anorak. But then after I placed the order I found one more pattern I wanted, which was the empire knit dress. Oh well, I guess I'll live. I'm sure if I wait a couple of months I'll want to order it along with one or two others. But it really drives me nuts when I place an order and then realize I wanted to add one more thing and it is too late. Sometimes the merchant can accomodate, which is what has happened before with Fabric.com, but in this case the merchant said she really couldn't do anything. Then, I went to staple together some pages to a knitting pattern I got of the internet for Whisper Lace socks to use that Panda Cotton with that I got from the Loopy Ewe, and my stapler was out of staples. I hate that. I hate to have to stop and spend that 30 seconds refilling the stapler. I guess maybe I'm just in a bad mood today because I have a lot of homework due soon. I'm also grumpy because I can't stand not having our kitten yet. We just don't think it is right to bring her home and then leave her alone while we are out of town in a couple of weeks. But we really want her NOW :) I even knit her a little toy catnip mouse already, courtesy of Wendy.

Long time no post

Yes I've been busy with school and life as usual. Here are a few updates though at least :)

Now I've actually not bought any yarn or fiber for a very long time. But I've been curious about this Panda Cotton, which is made out of bamboo, cotton, and nylon. So I ordered just these 2 skeins from The Loopy Ewe. Can you believe my self restraint? What I love about ordering from there, is that even with my small order, I still got a fun free goodie. I got a Loopy's Red Sock Kit. Isn't it cute? I may take it on a little trip we are going on in a couple of weeks. Anyways, back to the Panda Cotton. Wow...I haven't knit with it yet, but I'm very impressed with the sheen and texture in the skein. I'm thinking it will knit up really nicely.

Oh, do you see that dark grey thing the yarn is sitting on? Well that is a Textile Studio Santa Monica Tee that I practically finished a month ago and still haven't simply coverstitched the neckline and hem yet. It would take me all of 10 minutes to finish the top but I've just been too busy. I love it though and it fits perfectly. I highly recommend that pattern and I plan to post a review on PR once I actually finish the darn thing.

Oh, by the way, I've also been busy planning for the arrival of a new member of our family. No, not a baby or a new spinning wheel. No, not a new sewing machine. A kitten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her name will be Sienna and she is a purebred Sable Burmese. She is so wonderful and we can't wait to bring her home. We have not had a furry pet for about 5 years so this is going to be a blast. She is technically old enough to come home now, but since we will be out of town for a couple of weeks and can't take her, we decided to wait until we return to bring her home. I'm really looking forward to training her too. I am an expert in operant conditioning and plan to have her doing lots of fun tricks. Burmese cats are very intelligent and love being trained. No, I don't plan to teach her to use the toilet though, I don't really like the idea of that. I'm sort of a germ freak and wouldn't want to sit on a toilet that a cat has used.

Sock

I had to start knitting this again the other day when I had some time to kill in a waiting room. I had abandoned it when it got warmer but there isn't much else I can do in waiting rooms but knit. The yarn is from The Woolen Rabbit *link is in my sidebar* and I really like the yarn and the colors but the end effect isn't what I wanted. I was hoping for variegated like on the heel and toe but it just ended up being huge pools. The fact is though, that since they are socks I will still wear them and love them and it isn't really a big deal at all. I am actually excited to knit the second one just to see what it ends up looking like. This sock was knit with my standard toe up short row toe and heel formula at about 9 stitches to an inch with 68 sts around. It fits like a glove and is so comfy it feels great on my foot. I think I used size 2.0 mm US0 dp needles. They were the gold ones from my Susan Bates set so I can't remember for sure which ones they were in terms of size.

More Sunshine!

I mustered up just enough energy to snap a quick photo of the second WST. This one is made of onionskin knit I purchased a few years ago. I made it just the same as the last one except that on this one I was able to use the fusi knit interfacing which I didn't have for the last one. I also left this one a little longer by only cutting off 1.5 inches instead of the 3 I cut off the last one. I still left it with raw hems because with such a super thin knit and a drapey style in the front of the shirt I think it looks best to not add any bulk to the hem. I also ordered a triple mesh today, which I think is a similar type fabric and will work well for another one of these tops :) I'm addicted to sewing these . I never thought it would be so flattering to wear and even though the fabrics I've used are not natural, the fact that it is so light weight and flowy makes it comfortable in the heat here in the South.

have cold

I have a cold so this will be brief. I finished a second Weekender Sunshine Top and I've made several pairs of velour and knit gaucho pants to wear around the house. I'm wearing a pair right now because they are so comfy, more so than sweat pants. I have the pieces all cut out to make the gaucho style cropped pants in the latest Ottobre Women's issue as well but I don't think I feel up to sewing them today. Maybe I'll feel better later tonight. The pattern calls for linen and these are I think like a twill fabric that I bought years ago and then decided I don't really like as much so they will be sort of a practice run. The pattern, number 16 in that issue, is very similar looking to a pair of RTW pants that I love wearing in the summer so if it works out I'll make several pairs. I've actually been doing some sock knitting too lately since I have been ill and not really able to muster up the strength to push the spinning wheel peddles.

Oh by the way...

I haven't mentioned this, but I have been doing some spinning lately too. If the hubby and I are watching a movie or something where I can't sew at the same time, I've been pulling out the wheel. This is a very yummy wool/silk blend in a pretty pale blue color. It is super duper fluffity!