Knitting Updates!

It's time for a knitting update! And more general updates as well, I suppose.

So I started this sweater, Tempting Fate, last December. I knew it was knitted in a tube so I put in decreases, but they were not nearly enough! I had to start over in the smallest size AND add decreases and it generally fits now. I'm ready to start the sleeves, but for some reason I don't have DPNs in that size - or if I did I lost them.

Via Professor Fonz

In the meantime I was ready to begin another sweater, the Sherlock Lives cardigan, but I realized I was missing needles there too, argh. So I ordered a huge batch of needles and now I officially have every kind I can imagine... until I'm ready to start my next project, I'm sure. And then some will go missing or somehow get broken. Maybe a cat will chew on them.

But for now I think I'm ready and I'm excited to make start/finish both of those projects!

Speaking of knitting, I shared with you a few weeks ago that I was taping knitting lessons to put online. I launched basic lessons and I promised that I would have knitting videos soon. Due to quite a few personal crises in my life, videos have been slow in coming - but I have one almost finished (for the basketweave cozy) and I'm filming another this weekend for the XO cable cozy - I'll have free videos up soon on how to do a basic cable, cast off, and weaving in the ends.

I made a little trailer for my two videos so check them out if you're interested. These two cozies are what I usually teach in my private lessons around town so feel free to skip it if you're a regular knitter. :-) (Unless you want to collaborate or something- then by all means, drop me a line!)

If you want to follow along with me in the video and make one or both of the cozies I made, I'm running a promotion wherein if you sign up for my knitting newsletter, you can get one (your choice!) delivered to your inbox as soon as it's ready. I'm running the promotion until July 1 so sign up if you want! I have more details about the promotion and the videos here.

This isn't exactly knitting related, but NYC has a Mermaid Parade every year and I'm determined to go this year. Anyone in the area want to go? I think I want to sew a costume, and in typical fashion, I want it to be costume-y but still acceptable to wear every day. Any ideas? I want to be a mermaid, but maybe I should try something else, like an octopus! But a fancy octopus that goes into the office occasionally. ;-) Is anyone else going or have you gone before?

And finally, on a more personal note, I've mentioned that I've had a lot of problems happening in my life with those around me. I felt wildly confused and wasn't sure where to go for the longest time and doctors weren't super helpful. Luckily I finally confided in my parents and of course my parents have all of the answers. (Don't you hate when that happens?) While things aren't better, I feel like I have a much better grasp on the situation and I can finally see which way is up. While I'm not the one with the problem exactly, I've learned how much I've been affected by taking care of someone who is sick so I'm also working on that. The BEST news about all of this is that I've been rather discontent about parts of my life for awhile and I feel like I'm stripping away every layer and starting over. So far it's much more difficult than I ever thought it would be, but I know that it's worth it and I'm looking forward to the future. I know I thanked you guys last time, but I really do appreciate your comments, thoughts, and good vibes. It means so much to me.

Inspiration: All in One Breakaway Dress

If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen my post that I was going to be ambitious and try to finish my dress last weekend. If you've followed my blog for any length of time at all, it will come as no surprise that it didn't happen.

I did make some progress on it though - I decided that the wonky panel on my skirt was too wonky and didn't hold the shape I was going for. I put in a different panel, a stained panel, because I decided that a grease stain was better than a wonky shape, amirite?

(Did I mention that last year I did a wonderful thing and pre-washed my fabric? I'm always punished for following the rules for some reason because there was a tube of chapstick in my laundromat that I didn't notice so a huge chunk of my fabric stash is stained. It's so sad. Also I'm too lazy to try freezing it, scraping it, etc.)

I also made a decision on how the top should look and I cut out the panels for that. I also figured out where I want the waistband to sit, and I decided I can get away with elastic instead of a zipper. I could probably get away without elastic even, but eh, might as well.

A personal note: the last few months my life has been completely turned upside down and not in a good way. I want to share what's happening, but I have no idea where to start, what any of it means, or how to move forward so I feel like a post at this point would just be a jumbled mess. But I would like to say a quick thank you to everyone who reads my blog and responds to me here or on social media and is just generally really supportive, even though I've been really terrible at responding and being supportive with you guys. It's means so much to me.

SO.

This is supposed to be an inspiration post so let's get to it, shall we?

My favorite blog in the world is Messy Nessy Chic. A woman after my own adventurous and curious heart, this woman posts amazing and interesting stories from around the world. Every so often she also posts fashion pictures, usually vintage (though I do adore some of her modern fashions around the world!).

These are some photos from the Life archives circa 1944, and it's featuring an all-in-one breakaway dress. I love the idea, though looking through some of the different "looks" I question whether it's an all-in-one outfit because I feel like it would get really bulky under there.

Start out with a gorgeous maxi dress, complete with a HOOD. I love it.

If you're feeling a little warm, show off your pencil skirt underneath. (Which seems to defeat the whole purpose to me... Pencil skirts can be so much more binding than maxi skirts so why suffer unless you know you have to change later? And if that's the case, why not just wear a pencil skirt - why give the appearance of being loose and comfortable?)

And if that's still too warm, just go in shorts. (Which is clearly a bit much. I love the coordinating wardrobe options, but this is clearly not an all-in-one because no one would wear all those clothes together, right? Right?! Or am I radically misunderstanding the concept of an all-in-one breakaway dress this morning?)

And of course you need a swimsuit with a cape. Why not?

Check out more photos here.

I love the idea of a versatile wardrobe, getting to mix and match everything and using the same pieces for different options. I want to create a more mix and match wardrobe myself, I think it's called a capsule wardrobe, but I'm having problems focusing on what I want my look/style to be. It doesn't help that it changes all the time. When I started this blog, I was all about big, puffy 50s dresses and now I'm leaning towards more of a slimmer, 30s/40s silhouette so, eh, maybe I should continue to focus on one piece at a time.

What do you think of the all-in-one breakaway dress? Do you want or have something similar in your wardrobe?

Another Ulyana Inspired Dress!

I'm so excited to see another Ulyana Sergeenko inspired dress out there! If you don't know her already, meet Fooniks who blogs over at A Needle For Your Thoughts. Fooniks was instantly inspired and whipped up this amazing skirt and top; the whole thing is self-drafted.

Guys, did you notice the top??

Here's a closer look. Notice the amazing detail work, the adorable collar, and oh right, the MICKEY MOUSES! I love it so much!

I can't believe Mickey Mouse looks so elegant here. Go check out Fooniks' blog post with more details and other pictures!!