I still have a few sewing projects in my queue for this Spring and Summer season. You can see them here, lined up in little wire baskets on my work table.

Since the Apron Smocks were a hit, I am going to make the last three. One is already spoken for, and the other two? Who knows?

The last item is a wrap dress. You can see the Simplicity pattern there. I'm off today to Purl Patchwork to see if they have some suitable cotton. I can't imagine they wouldn't. That little shop just makes my head spin sometimes! And I still haven't started quilting yet, though I've been longing to do so. This summer may be just the right time to start!

I had the loveliest day yesterday, my pigeons. Simply lovely.

My friend Maria made a tremendously simple and delicious salad for lunch, the we and Master P spent the afternoon at D.O.C. drinking two beautiful bottles of white wine and laughing.
Then Maria took us home and we ate barbecue chicken from the local rotisserie place with broccoli rabe. Ah, just lovely! Have a wonderful weekend!

Oh, and it's my Dad's birthday today - wish him a happy birthday!

skirtmosaic
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

The yarn and thread and needles have certainly been flying at The Works these last couple of weeks. There's something about the abundance of daylight that makes me want to rise early and get to workin'.

I finally finished my plaid skirt. Do you detect a slightly preppy theme for my spring and summer wardrobe? I'm obsessed. Totally obsessed!

The pattern was from Wendy Mullin's Sew U. I really, truly love this book. I found that there are all kinds of tips in here that I never knew (being mostly a self-taught sew-er) and the language she uses is really plain. This was, seriously, an incredibly easy pattern to follow and the results are really professional-looking.

I'm still hard at work on The Urban Naturalist's sweater. I've given up knitting the sleeves in the round and he ripped them out all by himself last night while we watched TCM. I've also learned to use the sweater as a bargaining chip for getting what I want from time to time. (Can you get me a glass of water? I'm knitting your sweater right now.) Is that wrong?

Well, the Prepster Jacket is done and I even got to wear it once! Hopefully I'll have a few more chances, but, all of a sudden, it was too warm! A girl just can't catch a break.

I actually woke up early today and had a very indulgent morning. I drank nearly an entire pot of coffee and caught up on all my blog reading, while eating last night's left-overs for breakfast (whole wheat pasta with turkey, mushrooms, tomato and onions-yum!). Quite indulgent, indeed.

I've been itching to start something new (I have so many ideas!), but I've vowed not to until I complete The Urban Naturalist's sweater. The front and back are now done and half of one sleeve. I had to knit the sleeve twice because I knit it in the round and my knitting in the round is nearly two needles tighter than back and forth. That's right. I knit the body back and forth on size 8 needles and the sleeves in the round on size 10. Try to comprehend that one for a while, why don't you?

In the mean time, I needed a little something portable to keep me busy. Enter Wendy Johnson's Toe Up Socks. I had to do the short row toe three times until I was happy. Purling two wraps together isn't exactly easy, folks! I had to practice! Also, don't attempt it after a bottle of wine, while watching The Sopranos. You'll have to start all over again.

Ta DA! The Springtime Prepster Jacket is finished! And with plenty of time to wear it when the weather warms up a bit. This is definitely one of my favorite peices, but the way the cotton shows every, little, tiny imperfection really bugs me. In fact, I can't look at this picture without seeing where my gauge goes all wonky. That being said, I do love it. This is how you can expect to see me all throughout Spring - a vision in navy and green!

This was knit from the top down in one peice (thanks again, Barbara Walker. The garter stitch border was incorporated with the body of the jacket. There were a few increases in the body as well (one stitch, under the arm, every other row until the circumference of the jacket is where you want it).The neckband was picked up and knit separately.

I knit the sleeves in the round to the elbow and then did two rows of very dramatic decreases and added the garter stitch cuff. That's it. The buttons were vintage that I had in my big mason jar of buttons. Happily, I was finally able to use them!

Specifics:
14 (Yikes!) balls of Jo Sharp Desert Garden aran cotton
one 32" US size 5 addi turbo needles

Thanks again to everyone who offered me their kind words and savvy advice!

gifts
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

Two of my three Apron Smocks are now in new, chic and crafty homes! I'm so happy that two very worthy people will be wearing them (once it's warm enought that is).

Thank you all for you kind words regarding the many mistakes in my Prepster Jacket (as I am now calling it) and, also, on the Apron Smocks. I'm still waiting for someone to claim them. If not, as I said before, they may go on etsy.com

Allow me to exploit your opinions one last time (for now). This is the sleeve of the nearly finished Prepster. (I only have to weave in a few stray ends and wash her.) With a stroke of inspiration, I thought the gathered cuff would look adorable. Now that it's finished, I'm not so sure. The other option is a straight sleeve, ala Flair. Her sleeves hit just at the elbow, mine, a little bit below.





Can I get a vote?

the best laid plans

apron mosaic
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

This was a little project I had in the back of my mind for a while. I have a stash of vintage aprons that I imagined turning into little shirts.

Wouldn't they just be so cute over a white tank top and some cropped pants? With little wedge sandals? Sure they would. If you weighed 110 lbs and wore a size two.

Alternately, they would be adorable as a smock dress for a little girl. Say, between 8 and 10 years old. I wish I had a little one to try one on.

If you happen to be reading this and think that you'd look snazzy in one of these little smocks, leave me a comment. I'll ship it off to you. I love them very much, but I'll never be able to wear them and I want them to go to a good home.

I figure the larger one (the red and black) would fit about a 34" bust, the smallest one (the blue) would probably be best for a child. The medium (the red and black) would fit a 32" bust. Each one is made from a vinatge apron, with vinate buttons and hand sewn with care!

If they prove popular, I'll sew the rest of the aprons and maybe put them on etsy.com.

I've been working on this little cotton jacket, in anticipation of Spring. I was really inspired by Flare over at Knit and Tonic. I envisioned a smart little jacket to wear with the perfect jeans and a stripey tee. I love my jacket, I really do, but there are so many things wrong with it!


I really don't like the way the stitches strech where I picked up for the neck band. I feel like I picked up in the wrong spot, but it's only on this side. What the hell? There's also this really lumpy bit on the garter stich edge where I joined a new ball of yarn. Just because I was lazy and I didn't want to knit back any stitches and join in a less conspicious place. Oh, well. Too late now.


Like, what the hell is this? My gauge mysteriously becomes gi-normous. I thought this would resolve itself. Maybe it still will with a good washing.

Blech! So I'm knitting the first sleeve now, and hope to have it all done by the weekend so I can give it a little wash in my parents' machine (for free). My photographer's back in town so I may have some pics as early as next week.