September Round up

Daylight savings started last weekend! I’m kind of gutted to be getting up in the dark again, but its definitely worth it to have a few more hours of sunshine in the evening. It feels like we really are heading into summer now!
My spring sewing plans are in full swing, and I’ve made some things i’m really proud of, so its been a pretty good month really.

This month I made my cats-in-bow ties Moss mini, a variation on a Sewaholic Renfrew Tee and a Sewaholic Belcarra, and finished my Miette Cardigan. I learned so many new techniques this month! How to put in a fly front zipper, how to sew french seams, how to KNIT. I’ve worn my Moss mini a few times, and get asked where i got it every time, so thats kinda exciting. I love it, its a really comfortable, easy skirt to wear, and it has cats on it, which makes me smile. My Renfrew has also gone into rotation with the rest of my tee shirts, but I haven’t worn the Belcarra, its not quite silk tee weather yet! I haven’t had a chance to wear my Miette out either, as one of my knots came undone and one of the sleeve cuffs started to unravel! Disaster! I caught it pretty early, and managed to pick up the dropped stitches using a darning needle, so I think it’ll be ok…obviously need to leave longer ends to weave in.

This is my current stash of fabrics for spring sewing projects, all pre-washed and ready to go. The two striped pieces in the top corner are random lengths of silk chiffon which I dug out of the scrap bin at The Fabric Warehouse, I’m not sure what I’ll do with them but I couldn’t pass them up for $5 a pop. The grey and white cotton lawn next to them is for my Grainline Alder, all the way from Miss Matatabi in Japan (thanks to Bella from Bellbird for that dangerous recomendation). Then there is the black and white coated cotton for my Malu Coat, floral cotton lawn for a Sewaholic Hollyburn, a striped cotton for a BHL Flora, and a pink Lyocel knit, all from the Fabric Store. Finally, a navy polka dot poly blend for a BHL Holly from The Fabric Warehouse. Phew! I can’t wait to get stuck in, its such a shame that work and university take up so much of my sewing time…

I’ll finish up this post with a picture of some of the beautiful cherry blossom trees near my house, they’re so beautiful at the moment!

August Roundup

Last day of winter! Yay! I’m sitting here typing this in brilliant sunshine, listening to one of our local Tui sing his wee heart out, and I’m feeling full of the joys of spring! (A tui is a NZ native bird, they have a very distinctive song. We’ve very lucky to have a number of them living in the trees in our neighbourhood!)
This month has been pretty busy, and I’ve only finished one garment for me! I did make two items for other people though, a Coppelia cardigan for my mum and a self drafted teeshirt for Monsieur.

My button-back hemlock has had various outings this month, both over shirts and over tee shirts, so I’m very pleased with how that turned out! I’m also pretty pleased with my braided bead necklace, I like how it brightens up my outfits with mimimal fuss!

So, in short, this month has produced:
Two tops (Hemlock and self drafted tee)
One cardigan (Papercut Coppelia)
One accessory (braided beads necklace)

The self drafted tee shirt was the biggest challenge this month, it seriously had me stumped at various points. I’m pretty proud of how it worked out though, construction issues aside! The next one should be much more sturdy.

I have a big assignment due next Sunday, so my knitting has been looking very appealing this week. Funny how easy it is to find distractions when theres a deadline looming! I’ve nearly finished the bodice, then there will be the challenge of the sleeves…

Seems a bit silly to be sitting in the sun knitting a pure wool cardigan, but Wellington is infinitely changeable, so you never know!