NPRINS

Dear Readers, Sorry for the absence, I still have not finished my remaining knitting projects and have not (yet) finished my cape -- waiting only on an hour or two's worth of sewing.  Last weekend, we had our house tented for termites (it's a California thing) and I've been busily cleaning like crazy before and ever since.  I don't believe that all those chemicals exposed in your house (even in gas form) are not harmful.    So, I didn't sew as much as I wanted to this year -- and quite frankly I'm glad 2013 is over and we're on to 2014.    How'd I do?   1.  Expand my knitting skills.   (Update: Completed -- I learned Continental -- made fingerless gloves, and learned to make many hats! I have not finished the Craftsy class below -- because I signed up for a in person sweater class this winter -- I'm just to lazy to finish the video (and buy the gad zillion skeins of yarn).  2.  Perfect a button down dress shirt.   Com...

Dear readers, I'm taking a continental class to switch my knitting to a presumably fast knitting method at my local yarn store, Anacapa Fine Yarns .  I'm right handed and thus, a thrower (English Style).   I like throwing but in knitting lore, the continental knitter is speedy.  I'm interested in your thoughts if you have an opinion.  The class is tonight so I will do a follow up post. So, I've picked out a project that J. has been asking for all year: The Dr. Who Scarf.  Yes, it's a twelve - twenty foot scarf by eleven inches wide.  .   . there is also a webpage dedicated to this scarf.  I'm making it in acrylic, both due to the fact that the yarn is .  The webpage, should you wish to browse, is  Doctor Who Scarf. I expect to finish sometime next year. . . . and more on the continental style.  I thought this would be a good project to break my muscle memory as a thrower. XOXO, Pam

Dear readers! Happy Holidays!  I've been knitting up a storm -- I learned (finally) how to knit caps.  It was an epiphany! My hats are left to right, brown for Jonathan, green/yellow/blue for me (slightly large), and another rust/green for me.    The pattern is Ann Norling's Head Huggers No. 51.  My main problem is that my ribbing stitch is so much larger than my stockinette -- I really had to frog more than a few hats on the first try.  On the lighter colored hat -- I am going to put in a band to snug it up -- I found a great tutorial and will post when finished. Please forgive the overexposure present in these pictures -- I was having lighting issues.  . .among other matters. I had some leftover yarn from the cowl -- and yes, enough to make a cap.  A tip I got from my class is to weigh the finished project.  You can use that measurement (in grams) to compare to with any remaining yarns in your stash to see if there is enough yarn (in grams)...

Dear readers, Again, I'm so behind on my posts.  Nevertheless I wanted to thank all of our veterans on Veteran's Day: Also,  I am behind in my stash sewing -- I"m dying to make these patriotic patterns: and finally -- Also, Burda just came out today with some 1940s female (heck yes!)  aviator patterns --  HERE. I am planning to finally post on the summer ASG conference I attended, my sewing gifts I received on my birthday -- I'm close to finishing my green wool cape, and I have finished three knitted caps, and am working on leg warmers.  I know, so behind. I'm dying to catch up now if I can just cut down on my time at work and other activities!  That said I have quite a bit of time off I must take in December! XOXO, Pam

Dear readers, I'm not going to lie - last year I was a bit obsessed with drawstrings and lace up ties and drafted this post.   Drawstrings?  On boots.  On the back of jeans.  On the front of jeans.   I sense some knock-offs coming out of my sewing room where I bought the pattern but have not (yet) started cutting even. Now, a year later my drawstring mania has cooled a bit -- but I am still going to make some sailor pants from Hot Patterns! Drawstrings, yeah or neah?  XOXO, Pam

Dear readers, I am currently working on a very easy garment that I have contrived to make complex! The pattern is a cape pattern with four different looks -- I'm making View A with no collar or epaulets, and using frogs as closures.   I don't remember what inspired me to buy this pattern -- it is listed on New Look as both 6227 and 0913. However, even though the directions are simple and do not require any facing (except for the front portions and front openings) -- I made it much more difficult.  Hey, I thought  -- I'll do a very precise job with a hand-stitched hair canvas interlining, the type of interlining in tailored jackets.  So, I hand-stitched the left side of the jacket. Below are both sides compared: I actually like the drape of the fabric with no interlining, see below -- much softer. Below is the side with the hair canvas stitched in -- a bit stiff, below.  And, the hair-canvas side feels heavy when it is on.  I really did handstitch all that c...

Dear readers, My new 11-inch Macbook Air, bought on a whim when I needed a laptop to take to an evening class.   We are a Macintosh house -- so everything is Apple so everything works together. Now, one of the mandatory accessories for any laptop computer that belongs to someone who travels -- is a travel case to protect it. Apple provides a plethora of accessories -- even Coach and Michael Kors bags should you need it for your Macbook Air.  But, I thought -- I'd rather have my own DIY Tutorial Case.  Let's break out the internet. I used this tutorial-- the  Laptop Sleeve Tutorial Link. .  Excellent.  By the way, the 11inch Macbook Air measures 14 1/4"Long by 15 3/4" Wide with 1/2" SA (Seam Allowances).  The outer fabric is a canvas type of fabric (which I sprayed with Scotch Guard, available at your local grocery store).    The inner fabric is minky. The multi-color zipper is Ghee's -   Ghee's Link .  It was a 28 inch zipper -...