FO: DPN Case

I got my sewing mojo back!

Last week, my wrists revolted against the constant demands I've been placing on them (nonstop knitting, piano, home improvement, cleaning...). Finally, after I had to cancel my Saturday piano lesson, I caved to their pressure and gave them 2 full days of rest. Couldn't just sit and do nothing, though, so I started sewing again.

Here's what I made:

It holds up to 20 sets of DPNs. The shorter pockets are meant for 5" needles, though I've stuck in some 6" ones. The taller pockets can handle anything longer than 6". (Kinda like your mom.)

In case you're wondering why a newbie knitter has so damn many needles: I stocked up on various sizes so that I wouldn't have to do a last-minute Amazon order every time I started a new project. Then there was the Knit Picks sock set that I bought to support a LYS. Then there was the switch to Contintental, which changed my default sizes (of which I had bought extra sets). Or maybe I'm just greedy.

One nifty thing about this case is that it folds into thirds, rather than rolling. Feels a little more purposeful to me. I got this idea from another blogger during my web research, but I can't find her site again. Suffice it to say, someone else came up with this cool approach.

1/4" space to enable folding

In this version, the pockets are 1"or 1.25" wide. Even 1.25" wasn't enough to accommodate size 8 needles, though.

Rather than tying with a ribbon, like most of these cases do, I used a magnetic clasp. To make sure they matched up, I waited until the very end to apply the "female" side. Once the whole case was sewn together, but before the hole was stitched shut, I folded the case up and marked where the female side should go. That way I could just stick my hand inside to apply the metal backer and flatten the prongs. Easy peasy.

I used heavyweight interfacing in the tab (snap side only) and against the outer fabric for strength.

Much neater than what I had before: a Ziploc bag full of DPNs in their original packaging, which I'd have to unwrap every time I needed them.

Did I mention that all the fabric was from my scrap pile? Bonus!

I'm really happy with how this came out. If I make another in the future, I'll do a few things differently:

• I'll make it wider, with more pockets.
• I'll add bigger pockets: 1.5", 1.75", maybe even 2".
• I'll taper the top of the flap about 3/4" on each side, to prevent the flap from sticking out when the case is folded.
• I'll interface both sides of the tab, for extra strength.
• I'll place the tab better, so it's centered when the case is folded.

If anyone's interested in the specs, let me know and I'll write them up.

FO: Hooded Scarf for a Little Cutie-Pie

My next-door neighbors had their daughter's first birthday party yesterday. I think they partly invited us just so we won't bitch about the noise, haha. But the kiddo is adorable and I wanted to make her a fun present. Even though she cries every time she sees me.

The invite said "Hailey says that she needs winter clothes for her birthday and that she does not need any more toys or stuffed animals." Works for me! Here's what I came up with:

It's got a brown corduroy exterior, with flannel lining. Perfect for keeping a little bay-bay warm, I think.  The flannel has lots of birds:

The plain corduroy was looking a little drab, so I made a flower using Hug Snug and a clear vintage button!

I didn't have a pattern for this, so I used the hood pattern piece from Kwik Sew's Sewing for Baby. To adapt it for a hooded scarf, I just straightened the bottom edge and played around with how deep the scarf should be on the front edge. Each half of the scarf is about 3 1/2" wide and 13" long.

Of course, it was too fucking hot yesterday for Hailey to try it on. I'm guessing that the scarf can be tied tight to cover up her nose and mouth on really cold days, or loose to keep just her neck warm.

Bonus: This counts as an item for my stash-busting pledge! Not only was everything from my stash, but the corduroy is upcycled from a skirt I made 2 years ago that doesn't fit anymore. Yay!

FO: Martian Sorbetto

I finally got on the Sorbetto train! Love this pattern.

The fabric is from the "Marty Goes to Mars" line, which has been out for a while I guess. Here's a closeup of the fabric:

Isn't it cute? I bought it cheap on sale to make a Negroni for my boyfriend, but had plenty extra for a wee old Sorbetto. For a bit of contrast, I used some mustard-colored bias tape around the neck and armscyes.

There'll be more of these to come ... plus a super-secret project I'm working on with Gail!

FFFO: Stripy Seersucker Blouse (& MMM Update)

Well, here it is at last! I started this blouse over a year ago--maybe even two, I can't even remember. It's a perfect example of why my sewing moves slowly!

Forehead apparently less important than pasty ankles

The pattern is Simplicity 2501, view C:

While I love the peplum, that collar and those sleeves are just plain silly. So I forged my own path there. But the biggest effort went toward pattern matching. I had a vision of chevrons, chevrons everywhere! Of course, my vision conveniently excluded the entire weekend it would take to match all those stripes. But it was worth it:

Perfectly matched in front

And in back

The seersucker was kinda sheer, so I underlined the entire blouse with a poly-cotton batiste to avoid the stripes showing through. Sadly, that'll keep me from wearing it on hot days this summer. :(

For the collar, I drafted (if you can even call it that) a simple convertible collar. Taking a cue from Gertie, I made it 2" wide. If I had it to do over again, I would go for 3" to help it lie flatter.

For the sleeves, I gave a go at replacing the pleats called for in the pattern with simple gathering and added cuffs to contain the gathers. It worked, but the sleeves are very poofy. Next time, I'll just use a different sleeve pattern.

This is a fun shirt to wear, and I'm really glad I finally finished it. But let's not forget the most important lesson here: If you ever want to finish your project, don't incorporate a half dozen techniques you've never done before!

MMM Update:
For the past couple weeks, I've pretty much just been rotating outfits that I already posted, so I haven't bothered taking pics. Here's one outfit that I'm pretty sure is new:

I went the sporty route because of all the housework I had going on. Over the next couple days, I'll be posting more outfits that involve as-yet-unblogged creations!

FO: Red Renfrew (& MMM Days 6-8)

For the seventh day of Me-Made May, I wore my brand new red Renfrew!

Day 7: red Renfrew and denim Ginger with thrifted Roos
...and a weird Barbie doll pose

Have I mentioned that I love this pattern? This was my fourth go. I used organic 100% cotton jersey from Fabric.com. It's really soft, and seems to wear very nicely.

Has anyone else found the neckline stitching with a twin needle to be a little hinky? I had to do several tension experiments to get it so that the front wouldn't bunch and the back wouldn't be completely loose and catch on things. Here are some perhaps-not-very-helpful pics of my topstitching:

The outside view

The inside view (it's the top row of stitches)

Nonetheless, I can't wait to make more of these shirts.

Here are my MMM outfits for the last few days:

Day 6: Renfrew in rust-colored nylon and Ginger in gray broadcloth
(complete with wrinkles)

Day 8: altered Banana Republic shirt with twill circle skirt
and Bloch patent ballerina flats

OMG I CHEATED ON MMM!! I didn't technically make this shirt, but it's the only one I can wear with this skirt. And Zoe herself could hardly blame me for wanting this awesome skirt to see the light of May. Anyway, I did alter the shirt myself by shortening the bodice and sleeves, since BR apparently thinks that size-16 women are all 6' tall.

MMM is already 1/4 over. How crazy is that?

FO: The "Long Live the Queens" Dirndl (& MMM Day 3)

Honestly, are dirndls flattering on anyone? I made this one last year, so I could easily accommodate my fabric's massive zig zags. This week, I had to take it in 6" at the waist. Now I either need to wear it with a tucked-in shirt or basically a crop top. Tucking seemed like an option, til I tried it and threw up all over my mirror. So this one will just hang in my closet or be an around-the-house skirt. Not even gonna model it for this post, but here's a hanger pic:

We're having a really warm, summery day here in Chicago. And yet, I'm cloaked in synthetics. (They aren't bad, actually. Just seems wrong.) Here's me in a Renfrew and Simplicity 7134 straight skirt:

This skirt pattern got me through my heaviest times--at one point I graded the pattern up 4"! It was a very exciting day when I made this plaid number using the original, ungraded pattern. I even added ribbon to the waistband to make sure it wouldn't stretch. The fabric is a 70s poly double-knit, which I really don't mind using for skirts. And I love the plaid very much.

ps--I've totally fallen behind on my goal of finishing one UFO a day this week. But since I've now scratched the second dirndl off my list, I'm still in decent shape. And I'll be clothed tomorrow, which is what really counts during Me-Made May, amirite?

FO: The Glass Tiles Blouse (& MMM Days 1-2)

Here's the blouse I made over the weekend:

It's the Colette Violet, made up in Michael Miller's Glass Tiles cotton. (Oh yeah, look at that bedhead! I'm working from home today, so that shit ain't going anywhere.)

I liked making this blouse: it was quick and pretty painless. I left out the facings (I hate them--I really hope Colette stops using them at some point), and ended up botching the bias-bound neckline. It's totally wearable, just a little janky and needs special ironing. No biggie.

I'm not completely convinced about the shape of this pattern. It's obviously meant to be a kind of smock, but that's not too flattering. I may end up adding some darts at the front waist like Lauren did.

Anyway, here the blouse is paired with my denim Ginger skirt. And also my new Puma ballet flats! Why yes, I did have light grey and neon green shoes in my closet, just waiting to be worn with this blouse!

For the first day of MMM, I also wore a Ginger, in gray broadcloth:

This one was paired with a teal Renfrew made of some super-soft vintage acrylic. It was pretty comfy, though I totally underdressed for our Chicago spring weather.