fullofstitches.com Blog

I made these sweaters for the twins in 2002 when I lived in the UK. It’s hard to believe it’s been 3 1/2 years since we were there.

I’m putting this photo up for Esther to examine (with magnifying glass? I haven’t learned to link yet… Maybe I should just upload it to my flickr or yahoo photo album? let me know..). I used what she refers to as ’stockinette crochet’. In order to have a smoother fabric, I kept the yarn on the same side of the work at all times - which means that on every other row the yarn is between me and the work and the hook goes through ‘back to front’. This helps to make a more uniform look to each row. Instead of having every 2 lines being together as a horizontal stripe, the stripes are smoothed out. On the back of the work each line is a defined horizontal stripe.

As Esther described, this leaves zigzags up the work, like so:
//
\\
//
\\

What happens when a borderline Obsessive Compulsive gets a notion in her head at midnight? Around here that usually means she doesn’t get much sleep.

Sunday evening, I was able to catch a nice nap. Refreshed, I checked my email which led me to the Tie One On page. I was inspired, to say the least. I’ve been tossing around the idea of making an apron for ages! I really like the idea of having one for each child to contain the baking/cooking messes to the kitchen zone. Last year, I’d made one for TJ (on which he still would like a pocket added) and one for myself which I ended up giving to a friend. I still didn’t have one for myself, let alone the girls.

Sunday night, I cut and sewed an apron for BB (Butterick 3540, copyright 2002). I was trying to be practical, she’s the youngest thus far and we won’t know for another 5 months if this next is a boy or girl, so I tried to keep it simple. I went through my fabric stash and found the scraps from nephew J’s overalls that I’d made for his birthday last year (wish I had a pic, hey Mom!! I need an image). I didn’t have enough to make the stripes be vertical, so horizontal they are. I also had some scraps from my grey skirt. So, BB’s apron is 2 layers of twill.. it may be a bit warm in the hotter months, but there’s already a touch of autumn in the air here. The apron is also reversible!

Yesterday, I cut out the apron for AJ -and one for me! I have some quilting fabric that I seriously wonder what was in my head when I bought it.. (”Oh, that would make a cute shirt for TJ” comes to mind, but this fabric seems much too young for him now). So, the cowboys and some of that grey skirt fabric are together. I didn’t have a similar apron pattern, so I used an A-line nightgown pattern and winged it. Other than the neckline being too wide, it’s fine. She just needs a pocket.

My apron (Simplicity 5323, copyright 1981) actually used to be a costume. I made it a few years ago when I was in CO and worked at a grocery store. We could dress up for All Hallow’s Eve if we wanted, so I would (I’d just be something pretty, not scary). I think I may have worn it once more, but it’s just been following me around for years. The flowers are a bit much, so I used them to line the bib and make the ties and waistband. The “pocket” openings are where the gathers are - anything I put in there will be at the bottom of the apron! I may have to fix that.
When I put on the apron, it hung around my hips. That’s too long for my taste, so I took in the bib strap a little. Then I considered the belly issue and took up the bottom of the bib. I really like it like this!

All these aprons seem to inspire others, too. TJ made french toast at 3 o’clock in the afternoon!

I also finished the blue maternity skirts from Friday, but pics were poor quality in the mirror.. And since they’re dark blue, it’s hard to tell what I’m showing. Will make a post of them when I get better images.

Problem: Wardrobe Crisis.
Solution 1: New Outfit:

Saturday morning, BB and I were the only ones awake. She and I went out to breakfast and to the fabric store. I bought one piece of fabric (a border print rayon - watch this space for eventual usage) and the elastic needed for the 2 trial skirts I made Friday. Also, the Butterick patterns were on for 99 cents, so I picked up a yoked skirt pattern.

When I had a few moments, I went through my fabric for a floral rayon that I’d purchased last year. I’d cut into it to make a dress, but had failed some basic math so that dress had never been. I no longer can find the skirt from the old dress, but did have enough yardage for the new skirt. And, I did find that other length of elastic I knew I had somewhere!

I also happened to have a matching knit fabric. In order to make the skirt belly-friendly, I wanted to use the knit for a stretchier yoke. The shape of the yoke also changed due to the dynamics of a pregnant belly. I used a smaller yoke size and larger skirt to make it a pull-on and instead of using the curved shape to the yoke, made it into 2 rectangles. The front rectangle is curved at the top to follow the belly curve when it grows more. For now, I fold it down for an under-the-bump skirt.

Because of the wearing angle of the panel, the skirt front was shortened about 4-5 inches to even out with the back hem. If you choose to make this skirt 2 options are to a)keep a body double around at a good height/angle for matching your posture so you can hem it, or b)have your sweet spouse get on the floor and measure/pin that hem at the last minute so you can quickly serge in a hem before running out the door.

For the shirt, I have a knit dress pattern that I’d bought at least 5 years ago (so, OOP). It also happens to be a Butterick, #6817. The dress is either midknee or ‘above ankle’ with boat neck raglan shaping. There’s also a collar which I didn’t have time to attach this morning (sleepy foggy brain had me cut out just the front piece and sew them together and sit there wondering where the collar facing it asked for was when the piece only said to cut 2- so I didn’t have time to recut that piece plus the back collar before we headed out the door this morning). I hadn’t known how long to make the shirt, so I just chopped off the dress at the adjustment line and haven’t hemmed it yet. I like the short tunic length in the first photo, but here’s the current actual length:

Sometimes there is a pattern that lurks in your collection. It was so cute, or pretty, or just intrigued you so much that you bought it, perhaps even on a whim - those dollar sales can do that to people.. Sometimes when you’re going through the patterns, you come across this pattern and think sweet thoughts of it. But, never have you made it!

Sadly, I’m at a wardrobe crisis. I’ve been staring at my closet and trying to follow my motivation to completion. Yet I have now come to realization that the forces at work have been having a lengthy argument. The Tastes lean toward simplicity. The Needs have changed once more. The Closet and Stash cry out, “This is all we have to offer!”

I’ve just about completed 3 dresses that will wear well for just a couple weeks or so before being set aside for after the birth. The bump is finally arriving. My non-maternity clothes do not fit and my maternity clothes are mismatched and without enough bottoms. I prefer long A-line skirts over other styles and I’m used to separates. Dresses will be fine some days, but daily wear clothes are lacking.

I pulled out two mystery maternity patterns. I cut and sewed the skirt pattern from each. Now I seek elastic. I know I saw some around here just a few days ago!

I’ve had these patterns since early last pregnancy and have yet to make them. I’m beginning to wonder what I saw in the one pattern, the dress was fad-ish then, I guess. This pattern seems geared toward the larger belly pregnancies. the dress front has gathers under the bust - thankfully, the back is a smooth line that doesn’t scream from the rear view, “I’m hiding something here, too!” Even the pants and skirt panel is huge. It’s made from a knit, but the bottom of the panel is over 2 inches wider than the pant/skirt edge - this wouldn’t shock me if it were a woven, but it’s a knit panel! If I get anywhere near as big as I did when I was expecting BB, I may be able to use this skirt in the last month or two.

The other pattern has a simple A-line feel to the dress. The pant/skirt panel is the same width as the edge it connects to. I’m reasonably certain this skirt will fit a good while through this pregnancy. If only I could find that elastic.

If I head to the fabric store, I’m sure I’ll also find something new to help the other wardrobe issues.

My Grandpa remarried a few years ago with a lovely lady from Indonesia. The children adore her and I missed seeing them this last trip south because they were in Indonesia again (they love to go back and forth as her children are living there). On a previous trip, they brought my sister Sue a simple dress. Well, Sue doesn’t wear dresses unless she has a *really* good reason. She also doesn’t want to let the dress go for naught in her closet, and she certainly doesn’t want to lose the connection to family. So, she gave it to me, noting that it was very large overall and may need to be altered slightly but she has no clue how. And, after all, I’m in a time of life where a tent comes in handy.

(sorry so blurry, flash didn’t go off.. hmm.. I need to iron..)

Gorgeous fabric! Nice placket on the front, it’s just too big overall. My basic idea is to follow the lines of the placket and add 2 pleats that run over the shoulders to bring the armscyes up to where they belong. I’ll release the pleats just over the belly, about equal to the placket. That will leave plenty of room for the growing belly and take out a few inches of excess fabric.
(just pinned)

(warning: pic intense)
not his

not hers

not theirs

It’s MY birthday!!
and I’m gonna eat cake.

On Saturday, a lovely brown box arrived at my home.

I couldn’t wait to tell about it, but it wasn’t my birthday.
Now, it’s my birthday!
It starts with a card and some patterns..
Then the fancy tissue (love the orange)
There’s even a cake!
B-day swag!
Look, it doubles as a hat!

This is the last day that I’m “officially” half my parent’s age.

Tomorrow I will no longer be 27 and in just 4 weeks Mom will no longer be 54.

Dad will still be twice the age he was when I was born until the day before my next baby is due.

My Mom is the fourth of six children.

At this time 27 years ago, my Mom was expecting her fourth child.

Now, I’m expecting my fourth child.

I wonder what Dad’s doing for his birthday.

I wouldn’t say I was pleased as punch or anything, but I’m much happier with the Jays now:

It’s perhaps a touch short now, but it more than makes up for the gigantasaurus gussets I had previously. I’m thinking that if I actually knit the foot to the 5.5-6 inch mark then increased the gusset as I did today, then it would be just about perfect.

Today, I went for wearable. Tomorrow I have to try to make time to redo the long one from this morning.

Judy Gibson has a nice chart to help me.. The Toe-Up Jays are 70 st around (38 top, 32 bottom), so I could go with the 64 or 68 to make sense of this. She says to knit the foot to the join which should be ~3.5″ less than total foot length. She suggests only increasing for the gusset 10 times altogether (not 19 times).
From Natalia’s pattern: “Continue working your gusset increases every other row until you have 16 (18, 19, 21) stitches on each side outside of your markers. (you will have a total of 70 (78, 84, 92) stitches on the sole side of your sock.)”
For my 70st (lopsided) socks, I should get to ~90-94 st after gusset increases according to Judy Gibson. And the heel should be worked across 20 st down to 8…
“On the last plain round, put markers in your knitting one stitch in from either side, so you will have 38 (42, 46, 50) stitches in that middle section…
For this section (Heel Extension), we will only be knitting between the two markers.”

Then pick up 15st each side to have 38 on the heel area.

I think if I rip back.. again.. (sigh).. -I can DO this- to the point at which I’d increased to ~56 st on the sole side (~94 st altogether), then do the decrease thing on the center 38 as stated in the pattern..

Let’s get to work.

Did I not mention that I haven’t been feeling the groove thing with this toe-up heel bit? I started turning the heel extension and sat there thinking, “It seems kind of long.” Do I continue to ‘trust’ the pattern? I’m a bit worried about the results.. Am I just making my Mother a pair of socks? They may be too long even for her feet.. They might fit Sarah, in that case..

I’m going to go check if there are photos of toe-ups in the process somewhere..

This just doesn’t seem right..