MOONSTITCHES

Sewing?

Yes, I should do that again. Quilts are waiting to be quilted, girls to be dressed. We are not ready for an entirely knitted environment yet. So I got out my patterns, the sewing machine and serger and let my child pick the fabric and the dress to be made.

Pattern: OTTOBRE 1/2008, the model that's on the cover (#20, oh, sure they do have names now... it's Rose). I pretty much did everything according to the instructions, chose size 110 after measuring my child. More length but less width would be better, I think, so next I will go down one size for the width but lengthen the hem, a good deal. I don't like zippers in such dresses but had forgotten about that while cutting the fabric, so I had to go with the zipper. Also something I try to keep in mind next time.
The gathering I did evenly over the whole width. The final seam on the bias around the neck is done by hand, as well as the hem.

A woolen crocheted collar because it is autumn now... The pattern is from a book I recently found in a used book store (100 Yen!). The book is from 1986, looking rather boring but has some interesting patterns. Like this little collar. Unusual construction, done quickly.

Have a good start into the new week!
Be well.

Wreck Washed Ashore

A little bit rough and exhausting here in the meantime... just after I thought I had more time and would be posting more frequently again. But you know, one always should be prepared to be surprised. So I do try to collect myself now and start again, once more.

I took so many photos in September, had so many postings on my mind, but none got written. No energy. Ravelry, continued to be a pleasant place to just lean back and watch "Friends-TV"... just hit the refresh button from time to time and get over-inspired by all the beautiful things everybody made... rush to your own knittings and hastily ruin a simple sweater (terribly sagging sleeves) and two ribbed hats (one way too big, one too small)... I didn't even bother to take pictures of those unfortunate efforts. Just took a deep breath and went on. I will try to make all three pieces work someday. Right now I am knitting a model from the current Phildar collection, Model 19/ 20/ 21, but I am a bit discouraged by my failures and fear, with the slightly ludicrous yarn I am using, it could look only funny in the end.
At least it will feel great, the yarn is soft and cozy. And I love the natural brown colour.

Anyway, I owe you a big THANK YOU for all your nice words about my latest cardigan!!!
Thanks a lot!
I have been wearing the cardigan a bit meanwhile and I must say, I really would like a longer version of it. Also, maybe interesting for those of you who think of making the cardigan: due to its construction it tends to slip down the shoulders after some time of wearing it. Not too badly but worth mentioning. I am still very happy with the cardigan!

Above you see my latest find. Trash from the street. Adorable, both girls of our family agreed. I have no idea how old this chair is, but I found this photo on Flickr, which implies the chair is at least retro. It's squeaking, by the way.

I hope you are all well, being creative and having a good time.
Thanks for stopping by.
Take care!

Lunaris

New cardigan for me. Why not. It's only the third in a row... but I was stash-busting, so even if it was my twentieth...

The pattern : BERROCO, Solaris, an update on tradition [...] that flatters the curves.... Well... the photo on their website had a little too elegant/ boring appeal to me. Still promising, though. For some time I hesitated but then, three weeks ago, I saw a really nice, quite similar cardigan in a shop in Shibuya (Tokyo) that was by Jil Sander and instantly made me like Solaris a lot better. So I tried.

The construction of the cardigan is interesting. Both front parts are knitted together with the back yoke in one part. I took away 10 cm of widths (description of the pattern said "there is quite a bit of wrap in the front that will accommodate multiple sizes for each size given") in order to make the collar less bulky in the back, and added 5 cm to the length. Knitted in size small after checking how much the front parts would overlap given the measurements for that size minus those 10 cm.

Love the result.

The seeded rib stitch gives a very thick yet drapy, cosy fabric which is nice to touch and wear. The texture on the inside is great.

The Longchamp Misty which stripes very subtly and smells beautiful, shall hopefully be protected by the fingering merino yarn from Munsell (Yuzawaya) and I hope with the two yarns together the cardigan will pill less than my second Hourglass Sweater (same yarn, different colourway). 

I like how the collar is warming my neck, presumably that is, because of course it still is much too warm to feel really good wrapped in wool. I'd like to make a long version of this cardigan some day. Nice pattern. Interesting yet simple and quick, too. I wonder why there are no finished versions of it on ravelry yet.

More photos on Flickr, as usual.

It seems I cannot send and receive emails again at the moment. Something is sabotaging my good intentions...! Let's knit then...
Edit: *sigh*... works again. 

Take care.

Today

Back to school. Less hot. Less humid. Autumn soon. Seeing a lot of sweet potatoes and grapes in the morning on my way back home from kindergarten. Goya, too. Definitely felt like getting some grapes and a sweet potato (made imoyoukan 芋ようかん with white wine and cinnamon) but left the goya at the grocery store. Quite bitter taste. Still not used to it.

Here in Japan reusable materials are picked up on certain days of the week, today glass, paper and cans were picked up. Old newspapers are dressed in sweet potatoes and grapes at this time of the year...
Sweet potatoes...

And grapes...

A goya.

And our girl's got a seasonal makeover, too.

I am still a happy crafter knitter and determined to blog and communicate with you from now on again. How often did I return from an unintended break before? Anyway. Still breathing, still here.
Happy you are, too.
Have a good start into the week, you all!