kaari pullover

I finally finished knitting my Kaari pullover just in time for the snow storm we had over the weekend. In true Kansas style, everything melted and we have sun again one day later. The pattern I used is by Norah Gaughan, and I love it. I wish I would have made one size smaller because it's a tad too big, but it is very comfy. My obsession with knitting has reached new heights, and I've already started my next project. Oh, and I have a new knitting group with my sister Mindy and sister-in-law June! We knitted together while watching The Incredibles on Friday. I also taught Joe how to knit, and sometimes we knit together while watching Deadwood. Don't tell anyone! Haha. He's going to be a surgeon, so it's good practice for improving dexterity, right?

new a.p.c.

I love the looks from the new A.P.C. summer '09 collection, and isn't the model's hair adorable? This definitely refreshes my interest in A.P.C. because I wasn't all that crazy about the spring collection. If I weren't saving up for the big move to New York I'd probably want to buy a few of these pieces.

tulip skirt pattern from stitch magazine

I just finished making a couple of skirts from my first ever published pattern (in the Winter 2008 issue of Interweave's Stitch Magazine). People have been sending me links to their own creations made from my pattern, and I decided to start a Flickr group so I could keep them all in one place. If you've made this skirt, please add your photos to the group! It's so inspiring to see other people's ideas before starting a new project. In fact, I was influenced by Sian's lovely skirt to make mine from a printed fabric too.

As I was making my skirts, I cut the pattern pieces out from the magazine and followed the instructions exactly in order to double-check things. I found that the pattern and instructions as printed in the magazine have a few errors. Here they are:

1. In the "Tulip skirt Pattern Guide" on page 77, the Back piece says "cut 2 self on fold". But you only need to cut ONE!

2. The Placket piece is also labeled incorrectly in the pattern guide. It says "cut 2 self, 2 facing (mark as facing), and 2 interfacing". Wrong. Cut ZERO facings. That piece doesn't have a facing.

3. On step #5 of the instructions, the first sentence says "Fold the bottom edge of both placket pieces under to the wrong side by 5/8" and press". When I was making mine, I found that I only needed to press it under 1/2".

4. The front pattern piece has the notches printed in the wrong place. They need to be shifted 1 1/2" toward the side seam because they are too close to the placket.

Okay, everything else seems about right! Sorry I didn't get to this sooner. Happy sewing!

more babies, more booties

pattern from the Purl Bee

a tiny shop update

I haven't been online as much lately because I've been working a LOT. It feels nice to get some spring sewing done after taking some time off. But in the midst of planning for a spring/summer collection, I realized I had enough fabric left for another cord Hemställe dress. So I made one in a size 6 and put it in the shop. It's on sale (20% off), and it looks great for spring with leggings and flats. SOLD!

a lovely wedding

Well, my brother got married over the weekend. My mom had only a couple of weeks to throw together a last-minute wedding, and the result was incredibly lovely and intimate. The ceremony was held in my childhood home and was performed by Mark's best friend's dad, a local judge. During the ceremony, Mark sang and played a song on his guitar for June for the first time ever. It was very sweet. Afterward, we all met up at the Row House for the reception dinner, and they served the cutest, tiniest wedding cake ever! I will try to post the rest of the photos to flickr later.