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château of the bad neighbor

Late day porch knitting, we put up a sun shade and it’s changed my life, I feel like I could write poetry about summer on days like this, less humidity, less wildfire smoke, iced drinks holding their own in regular glasses ..I mean we’re still strictly a melancholy fall/winter house, but today, today feels pretty great in the summer shade. (Also with the shade rolled down it adds to our usual unfriendly “don’t come over here” vibes.)

The other way home.

Back on my BS, and falling behind, I don’t know what my problem is and why it manifests as crochet hook purchases ..look at them though, I could scream! These are the Capricorn Streamline Resin Hooks from Furls and of course I’ve had the same quality issues I’ve had in the past and yes it’s frustrating to always have an issue (literally like 85% of the time), but I just can’t seem to quit and thankfully they have great customer support, but I’d still love to never have to think about what troubles my next order might bring.

Incredible.

I thought I lost all my old paper patterns, we’ve searched the artroom storage closet multiple times and never came across them, the weather’s been so nice lately that we decided to tidy up the three season/mudroom and poof, there they were, weird for them to be out there, but ok. I was hoping my Mary Mulari Patterns would turn up too, but they didn’t, where the hell is my Church Lady Apron pattern?

I would totally wear that wide yellow pant and matching piped plaid top, let’s zoom in. 👀

Those colors and that collar, adorable. Jeez, the illustrations on these old patterns make me nostalgic for Fashion Plates, I wonder if that toy still exists somewhere at my parents house?

backpack backpack

I’m really trying to make my way through my massive pattern collection, I have such a habit of grabbing a pattern the second it’s released, then sitting on it because I have to wrap up the current project I’m working on, or life stuff pops up, or my mood changes, jeesh, just over here existing sometimes. I once went on a eraser buying spree and I got that giant milan, and another weird fact is, I kind of want to bite it.

Trying to be a digital pattern girlie, but I really do love a paper copy to scribble on, using the best of both because sometimes my old lady eyes love that digital zoom. 👀

Starting with the Buckthorn Backpack by noodlehead. I wanted to start with the smaller tote, and make myself a cute knitting bag, but Lex picked out the pattern and really wants the backpack ..and if I start with what I consider the harder of the two, when I make the tote it’ll seem like a breeze, right? I hate sewing backpack straps almost as much as I hate sewing zippers and this has both.

When sewing bags I prefer to use heavier weight fabrics, ones that will hold their shape pretty well on their own, because fusible interfacing frustrates me, some days it wrinkles and creases the fabric and can be tough to sew through and other days it’s no trouble and I haven’t figured out what the hell its deal is. I’ve also used sew in interfacing or just lined with another layer of fabric, anything to get that extra structure.

Oh, and when those big box stores have a coupon for 50% off a single cut of fabric, I use it to get full bolts of interfacing. It’s a hobby hack that ensures I always have the right stuff when I need it, because nothing stops my creativity quicker than a store run, or having to wait to start.

Close enough to 60°

I didn’t document the making of this backpack as much as I usually would, mostly because it wasn’t super enjoyable to sew, maybe it was the straps, maybe the zipper, it also had an unexpected oval bottom that my brain wasn’t ready for, I don’t know I was like.. just get through it. I will say, the pattern was extremely well written as are all noodlehead patterns, so that wasn’t it, but I have noticed I’ve been in a place of extreme simplicity lately and anything that takes extra effort is annoying.

Finished, cute and in use.

I’m also really trying to appreciate and use my massive pen/pencil collection so you might see more stationary around here.

My current favorite kaweco set is the Skyline Sport Clutch Pencil and the Sport Ballpoint Pen, tucked sweetly into the two pen case with charm.

A first

I’m calling this – I just turned 48 and I knit my first vest and the color is sincere because I physically feel like a piece of chewed up bubble gum, while mentally I feel like I should embroider the words baby girl on it. The duality of existence.

♡

It’s absolutely cute, but I’m not even going to pretend I knew what I was doing, I have such a hard time with things that don’t necessarily look like the finished thing while working on them, my struggle was real with the unfinished head hole and I added the collar ribbing the literal second I could so it looked like a sweater again ..fewf, I’m mostly a top down sweater knittter (collars built right in), occasionally a cardigan for Jason, and wasn’t expecting having a “what the hell is this thing?” moment.

This has a classic vest look, with so many great options and variations written into it, the pattern goes up to a 65″ bust, I worked a size 7 with a 55″ bust and kinda feel like I could’ve went down a size.

Plain ribbing on all my openings, but also included in the pattern is an alternative eyelet rib stitch if you’d like something a little more delicate looking.

I also chose the regular scoop neckline over the tall neckline and used the optional narrow shoulder adjustment to make sure the vest would sit slightly in at the shoulder rather than slightly off the shoulder, I think that adjustment might be causing that slight fabric push/pull midway down the arm hole on both sides, maybe it’s going from a small amount of stitches to a large amount rather quickly, maybe it’s just a vest thing, maybe I don’t know? Next time I could work the deep armhole adjustment to try and minimize the tug and give myself a bit more sleeve room, this is perfect for layering over a fitted undershirt or tailored button down, but lots of my handmade clothes have lower/boxy sleeves and they get a little ruched up with this closer fit.

I worked the cropped length bodice adjustment, so it hits right at my waist, I also kept the hem straight, but the pattern offers a split hem option too ..see so many options!