Oh, hi. You're still here? Thanks for hanging in there.

There have been a lot of changes chez Needleworks in the last month: I've moved to NJ (suddenly), a very long (10 year) relationship ended, and my life, in general is in a state of upheaval.

I'm trudging along, but there's not much crafting being done in these parts. All of my things are in boxes, which makes it difficult. I'm not quite ready to unearth everything yet.

I am doing quite a bit of knitting on my (2 hours each way) commute, so I'll have something to share very quickly.

Be patient with me while I figure things out. I'm still trying to decide how this blog will be a part of my new life. It seems so ingrained in the old one in so many ways, that I was tempted to stop it all together. A part of me, though, really wants to keep it.

So, here we are.

Stay tuned.

The dress that I so triumphantly finished this weekend does. not. fit. I should have tried it on as I went. I should have known that I might have this problem. My top half is pretty much a full size smaller than my bottom half (which causes much confusion when buying patterns), so of course the bodice is all loose and gap-py and the bottom is perfect.

So while I'm working out a way to take in the darts some more, I'll leave you with this:

I'm done with the back portion of the August pattern of the month for The Point. I'm really surprised how fast this went. I'm holding two different color strands of yarn together and I *love* the tweed effect that I'm getting.

I may have a photo shoot this weekend of the disastrous dress. Adjusted or otherwise.

What a magical weekend!! I finished the dress and found an amazing source to explain easing in the sleeves. Thanks to all of you who left a comment, but the good ol' World Wide Web saved the day. Again.

I spent Saturday with my favorite customers from The Point, who have adopted me as one of their own. A sweeter, more loving , surrogate family I could not as for.

The hostess extraordinaire was the fabulous (blog-less, and, alas, photo-less) Vere, who invited us to her new home in Jersey City. She has an amazing, charming house. With a garden. How jealous am I? Patty even managed to join us after her machine knitting class at FIT!!

It was a nostalgic Point weekend all around, while today I hosted lunch Chez Needleworks for two former co- workers. Knit Boy and blog-less, but fabulous, Sandy came over and feasted on food that I did not photograph. Sad.

Then, after they left, I stepped out on my balcony (fire escape) and saw this: A rainbow. Can you see it? It was really hard to photograph, but it was the perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

Do you think there's a pot of gold in that warehouse?

Last night I baked these Oatmeal Raisin Bars from Everyday Food and finished up the oxford shirt napkins. I'm a little Martha Stewart-ed out.



I packed the bars up for some co-workers who had helped me with a really big project. I really liked this receipe, because I only had to dirty one bowl. I didn't even pull out the Cuisinart! I doubled the receipe and baked them in a 9 x 13 pan and they came out great. Oh, and I substituted one cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips for the raisins, so there were raisins and chocolate chips!



While the bars were baking I started work on the first of a couple of summer dresses that I have planned. I am really pleased with how the bodice turned out, but when it came time to put in the sleeves, I was stumped. It asked that I ease stitch the shoulders into place. There was a little definition in the pattern of ease, but if anyone out there has any tips for me, I'd appreciate it! Or a really great tutorial online somewhere? Anywhere? Help!

In the meantime, I'm going to work on the rest of the dress and leave the sleeves for last. If it comes to it, It'll be sleeveless!

We finally got an air conditioner! Doesn't this little guy just look like he's fearing for his life? That's kind of how I feel about our ConEd bill.

I've got so many things on the burners right now! Should I space them out and make many blog posts? I think I shall.

For now I will share this with you. Some really amazing yarn that I swiped from The Point for August's Pattern/Yarn of the Month.

It's alpaca. And merino. And silk. 'Nuf said.

It's going to become this:

This is just a mock up that I did at work (Of course during my lunch hour! Um, yeah.) and of course the finished product will be a hand-knit. My favorite thing about the design? It's one knitted piece. Well, two, if you count the belt.

Stay tuned!!!

On Saturday, while the mercury soared to astronomical heights, I was enjoying my first weekend alone, and at home. I know that sounds like a lame Saturday night to some, but for me it was heaven.

I had these guys to keep me company.


I spent the entire night watching TCM and cutting 6 inch squares out the fabric that I've been collecting for over a year.

I was planning a more complicated quilt, but after seeing another version that I really loved, I decided to just go square. It's going to be a summer weight quilt, so no batting. and I may forgo actually quilting and make ties with yarn every couple of squares.

I'm so excited about this!!! I totally have a sewing mojo going and a quilt is just the thing!!!!!

I've seen this meme all over, but most recently in Tres Chic Veronique's flickr photo stream. Here's my version:

Flickr game:
the rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker).

the questions:
1. What is your first name? (rebecca)
2. What is your favorite food? (tomato)
3. What high school did you go to? (nottingham h.s.)
4. What is your favorite color? (green)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (harrison ford (as indiana jones))
6. Favorite drink? (gin martini)
7. Dream vacation? (calabria, italy)
8. Favorite dessert? (chocolate cake)
9. What you want to be when you grow up? (happy)
10. What do you love most in life? (family)
11. One Word to describe you. (vinatge)
12. Your flickr name. (needleworks)

Actual knitting content!



This tank felt like it took forever to make, but, in actuality, it only took 3 weeks.

This is the Pattern of the Month for The Point, for June. They wanted a really simple shell for, oh, say, an advanced beginner. I though that was a brilliant idea because I can't tell you how many times I had a request for one when I worked there!

This was made from -4 skeins of Classic Elite Cotton Bam Boo. Though the yarn was really lovely, it was torture for me. I ended up knitting it on size #1 needles to get 6 stitches to the inch!!! The fabric that was the result of this labor of love was drape-y, with a slight sheen. I can't say it was totally worth it for me, but for those who don't have the crazy tension issues that I do, you should give it a try.

Go to The Point's blog or Ravelry for more info! And, of course, The Point for the pattern!

Well, I finally have my apartment back. Not that I'm complaining, but running a production out of your home it no small feat. Plus, we had a house guest for a week. That's kind of tough when you live in one big room.

Oh, but it was so much fun! And everyone was super professional and considerate and brilliant! I think we're going to see great things from these folks. Mark my words!

Monk was totally unfazed by any of the commotion. He just thought everyone was there to see him or something. He might have been a star, but he couldn't be bothered.

Because, apparently, I just can't get enough of sewing. I bought these shirts to make this project.



It won't get done this weekend, though. The Works is being turned into a movie studio. Master P and his cronies are taking over for the long weekend and making a short film that he wrote. Cool, huh?



Happy Memorial Day!!!

Ah, yes. OK. The sewing. It began back around April 14th with the fabrication of aproximately 40+ pillows. It ended last weekend with a two day marathon of slip covers.

No matter how often I agree to knit or sew something for someone else, I still get that little, metaphorical dragging-of-the-heels that comes with a deadline or a project I "have" to do. There are my own projects that are languishing while I slave away on a tank top or a pillow cover that I won't even get to keep! In the end, I am proud of what I produced and I usually have learned something new or honed a skill, but it's still not mine.

And we come to the root of my crafting personality, again. I'm not a Process Person. I am a Results Person. I make, not for the sake of making, but for what I will get out of it in the end. Herein lies the struggle. But I do it anyway. I pimp myself out in exchange for free yarn or a weekend at the beach. I guess it's really not so bad.

And as I said, "In the end, I am proud of what I produced."






****Go here to see my prize student. I cut the fabric and pressed the seems, but he sewed, what may very well be, the Most Perfect Pillowcase Ever all by himself.

So there's not much knitting or crafting content here lately, because I'm working on a knitting project for The Point to be revealed in June and a sewing project that I have to get permission to share with you. Meanwhile, I've been doing a lot of cooking.



On Tuesdays, at lunchtime, I've been trying to go to the Green Market near work to plan my meals for the week. The market is a little small, so there isn't always a bounty to choose from. Last Tuesday, I was confronted with a sea of green. Green spinach, green garlic, arugula. I had the idea to make a pesto from the arugula.



I used a basic recipe: 2 big ol' cups of arugula, 1/2 cup of pine nuts, 1/2 cup of Parmesan, and 2 stalks of green garlic.



We've been eating the pesto, little by little over the week. We ate it with grilled lamb chops and sweet potatoes last Thursday and yesterday I made a pasta salad with whole wheat orzo, edamame and feta cheese.

I still have a bunch left over. Any ideas?

Happy Mother's Day!



I know, I know. This is late. Like, two days late. But I wanted to say a little something to the mothers in my life.

Clockwise, from top left, we have my mom, my Babi, my Memom and my godmother. I'm very blessed to still have all of these women still in my life. The women in my family are pretty tough, most of them outlasting the men by many years. But they're tough in other ways, too. Smart and funny and spirited.

I love you all!!!!!!

I just got back from 4 days in Charleston, SC!!

OK, when I say "just got back" I mean "got back Monday night". It was my first foray into The South. I've driven through all those states on the way to Florida. I've even stopped at South of the Border, but I've never spent any real time there.

I did eat crawfish and grits and pulled pork and drank more Bud Light than a girl should in 4 days, though I don't have any pictures of any of that. I took a carriage ride and got a nasty sunburn. Overall, it was a raging success!




And, oh yes, the reason I went? My cousin, Justin, graduated from The Citadel. He's a cancer survivor at age 21, so we were all very emotional and, needless to say, extremely proud.

Thursday: Pink and Purple


Lilacs have arrived at the flower market.


What happens when I'm bored at work.


An old image of some lovely radishes.


Another ridiculous picture of Monk. What a showoff!

Orange Wednesday



My (very blurry) Bodem electric teapot


Orange (and some red) books (also blurry)


Old picture of new curtains.

Yellow Tuesday


Some graffiti from my street.


Fabric from Ikea. I love that gold detail.


My favorite coffee!

A dress & necklace that I made last summer. I am still in love with the color of both!

Up next: Orange Wednesday

I'm taking part in Color Week via Curious Bird. I was a little under the weather this weekend, so I'm recycling some old images for Green Monday.


My favorite colorway of Manos ever.



A shot from a series of vintage jewelry and candy that I did for work.



The perfect summer beach tote.



Gratuitous kitty picture on my old green coffee table.


Stay tuned for Yellow Tuesday!!

Back in March, when I posted my survey on what projects to take on my trip to Paris, the Alpaca Super Cowl was one of the chosen. I actually knit quite a bit on the flight over. (The way back was devoted to reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union.) I finished ASC just about a week after we got back. I've only just now been able to photograph it.



Of all the sweaters that I've improvied, this has to be the best fitting and maybe, just maybe, my favorite. I learned a lot about negative ease on this project. Something that's easy to play with when you are knitting from the top down and able to try the garment on as you go. I'm not sure how I would work this into something that I knit in pieces. Or how many knitting pattterns out there account for it. I mean, sweaters stretch, right?! How come I only just realized this?

The cowl is not as super as I envisioned it. This is mostly due to running out of yarn. Aparently Alpaca with a Twist was backordered "forever" on this particular color. I used 1,100 yards of sport-weight (they call it worsted, but it's not) alpaca. Knit on #4 needles for a nice tight fabric with lots of stretch without sagging. For the cowl I just doubled the yarn and used, I think, a #15 needle. More details on ravelry.



Master P has gotten really good at photographing me now. He basically just lets me stand against the wall and fuss around without telling me when he's taking the picture. The result is the natural kind of shot that I like.

With temps in the high 70's today and a 4 hour lunch break, what's a girl to do?



Enjoy some Springtime lovliness...



And lunch at The Shake Shack, of course!