Still winding down from a supersupersuper busy week.

Tuesday night I met some gals I met on ravelry.com:  nellum (who was visiting from Vancouver, BC), Aristaia, and thecaitycat.  We had dinner at the Virgo and Pisces in NW Portland.  They have wonderful breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I had the Perfect Pesto Crepes. YUM.  Topped off with Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato from Mio Gelato on NW 23rd.

nellum shows off her knitting style:

Thursday I took the day off for the first day of Sock Summit.  I had a 6 hour class with the famous Cookie A about sock design.  It was very educational and a blast.  I don’t know if I’ll ever design a sock… but I have the tools to do so!  I met another new ravelry friend, microbiogrl,
for lunch. After class the huge marketplace opened (over 150 vendors, I think) and I wandered around and picked up a few things. I didn’t get one picture taken Thursday, not even of microbiogrl!

Friday I had to work and missed the Guinness World Record setting for simultaneous knitting!

Saturday night was the ravelry.com party at the Forestry center.  I refashioned a ravelry.com shirt I bought in size 3XL (for that purpose!)  I have been planning it for a month, but had never gotten around to making it.  Nothing like slapdash last minute!

The front and back are from an Ottobre tshirt (2007-05 I think) that had pleats at the neckline.  It turned out pleats would hide the love so I raised the neckline about an inch and tried (really poor) gathers.  The sleeves are just basically half circles bound with bias I made and attached after the neckline (also bias bound) and front and back were sewn together.

It turned out pretty cute for probably a one time wear. I’d really like to fix the wonky neck gathers.  I also want to try this pattern with the tucks and a Full Bust Adjustment, which I suspect would solve some of the bust pulling issues!

Before and after and new short hair!

I met some gals at the Rogue Pub in the Pearl before the party. We had Kobe Beef burgers with Rogue Creamery cheese. I also had two pints of hard cider because it was really really good  I met so many wonderful gals at the party. We definitely had the rowdiest and most winning table!

Ravelry.com party… the tame pictures…  (My big flash works great even if it doubles the weight of the camera!)

And the crazy pictures…

Sunday I went back the the marketplace and got seduced by more yarn and some Pirate and Ninja stitch markers from peanutgallery. LOVE.

The day ended with the Luminary panel and the knitting goddesses that are
Cat Bordhi, Nancy Bush, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, Judith MacKenzie-McCuin, Lucy Neatby, Deborah Robson, Meg Swansen, Barbara Walker, and Anna Zilboorg all in one room!

Sadly I had a super-bad migraine that the prescriptions meds couldn’t kill but I was determined to stay!  I think I was delusional that it was going to get better.  I’m amazed I made it home on the lightrail

Time to chill and get my act together.  Hopefully no more heatwaves!

Judging by my goodies, I should now be called Aqua-Girl.

Fabric Depot (left to right): Press clothes, Merino wool jersey, thread, cotton(?) interlock black and white border print, Tailor’s Wax, charcoal interlock, Alexander Henry black and white print with sewing notions, Micheal Miller small black and white cotton print, broadcloth, white ambiance lining.

Mill End Store (left to right): Mystery sweater knit from Annex, Bamboo knit, jersey knit from the Annex, Supplex knit for activewear, charcoal cotton/lycra “leotard” knit

Here’s half the width of the interlock border print.  The print is mirrored on the other side.  I got 3 yards to do something with. What that is I don’t know   I figured that would be more than enough to work with the big pattern.

The Alexander Henry sewing notion print called “Sew Now! Sew Wow!”.  My machines needs some covers!  Would also be neat as an ironing board cover!

Micheal Miller print called “Petite Fleur”.  The woven cotton is of a really nice quality.  I’m foreseeing a summer blouse.

I didn’t pick any fabric up a Josephine’s as I’d been there the week before.  What I really wanted from there was a Liberty print but I really couldn’t bring myself to buy it at $39/yard (then 20% off).  I did get the Flounce about Jacket pattern on the left.  Josephine’s had one made up and it looked really nice.  The two Simplicity patterns were freebies from a pile some ladies brought for giveaway Friday night and the book was my prize for participating in the ugly fabric contest.

After two 12+ hour days, I’m glad it’s over but boy did I have fun.  I may have to save up for the next one, wherever that ends up being!  Now I need to start planning what to make out of all my new knits!

I met so many people and everyone was so nice and talkative.  I’m always scared to go to places where I don’t know anyone, but I’m glad I did!  Thursday night I finished hemming my Jalie knit top (review to come once I get a decent picture!) then Friday morning I picked up Leslie downtown on my way out to Clackamas.  The event was held at the Monarch Hotel right at I-205 and Sunnyside.  Friday consisted of lecture from Pati Palmer of Palmer/Pletsch who talked about fitting patterns.  Pati went through her jackets, pants, and fit books.  I own Fit for Real People and it’s a great resource for all body types.  I’ll get the Jackets or Pants book should I ever have the desire to make either- at the moment I just don’t wear jackets and I really have no impluse to make pants.

Pati also brought along a lot of samples of her McCall’s patterns clothes. Some were the same ones photographed for the pattern and pattern book and some were her from her own personal wardrobe.  These were so fun to pick through and see in person.

Friday night we had a group dinner at Ye Old Spaghetti Factory and then a contest where we all brought a yard of ugly fabric and trim then split up in groups.  We had half an hour to make an ‘ensemble’ with whatever tools we brought (short of a sewing machine).  There was duct tape, staplers, pins and all sorts.  The winner was the outfit with the head wrap, but we all ended up with prizes.

Here some pictures from Friday, click on the mosiac to head to the Flickr set.

While cleaning and going through some of my patterns I’ve been contemplating what to make first once I have room.  It will probably be this, from the new Ottobre Woman (they’re Finnish).  (Did you know you can order individual copies or have a subscription directly from Ottobre?!  And you can do it all online and they come fast.  Love that.  Now if only Burda would do similar!)

This top looks like a simple and easy project.  I have 4 Ottobre Woman’s now.  Time to make something!  Their styles are not as fashion-forward as Burda, but a lot of nice simple styles and the size range is larger.

What I’d really like to make is the new plus-size pattern from Burda Style (below).  Maybe in the future… right now all I wear is knits, knits, knits.  Sweaters, t-shirts, knit tops.  I’m thinking that’s what I should be sewing! So cute though!  If I started wearing stuff like this to work, people might at work might wonder if I was leaving them for a new job   Much classier than my normal casual-geek-girl look.

Nadine Plus from Burda Style:

The original had way to much gathering going on for already fluffy figures.  It looks so much nicer with the smooth peplum and cuffs.

I’ve also been collecting knit wear inspirations for creating my own tops.  The selection of sewing patterns for knits is… sad.  Here’s my recent favorites from Banana Republic, Anthropologie, and Adidas.

Cheers!

Charles would like me to leave him alone.  Or alone with the knitting.

Spotted one of the new MAX trains being tested while I was out catching a ride with my bike to the Zoo.  Verdict:  I need to work on hills.  Pushed bike half way up hill to Sylvan.  Where there was a magical Starbucks I didn’t know about!  After an hour there knitting, I did the 3 miles home, all down hill in about 15 minutes.  Wheeeeeee!

I found this while cleaning out my bedroom.  I have no idea where it came from.  It appears to be a King George V Penny from 1919 (and not worth anything according to the internet).  Anyone in my family know where it came from?  Well worn on the back side!

So Week 3 of the 30 day challenge I got totally wiped out by a cold.  No brainpower, no willpower, blah, blah, blah.  Finally feeling better and back on track to end this week.  My only goal is to lose a few more pounds by the end of the week!  Today’s food is another sauteed onion/spinach/feta frittata and a “pizza” made with whole wheat english muffing crust.  I found some turkey pepperoni and light salame.  I would have made those the whole day’s meal but the pepperoni and salame are really high in sodium.  I also fit in some Mexican Hot Chocolate from Moonstruck. Yum!  I need to make up a recipe to duplicate it (and lighten it up!)

For some eye candy… Thelonious by Cookie A. in Knit Picks Gloss Sock Yarn, color Cosmos.  These took me four months!  I did do some other socks in between becuase these were so hard.  I knit them on a smaller needle than it called for (I’m crazy) and did the medium size and it came out wonderfully.  They feel really good.  (I’m sure the silk in the yarn helps too).  If you’re a Cookie A. fan, she has a book coming out in April. Pre-Order on amazon… Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks.  There’s a pdf preview here.  I’m drooling!!  Here’s some mediocre pictures of my Theloniouses

Thelonious

Thelonious with Shoes

This is probably the first thing I’ve sewn since January.  For my boss on Boss’s Day (today).  Sewn by hand(!) out of some off-white velour.  The pattern is from the book Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals.  I present Tooth with Crown.  (I work with a lot of Dentists)  There’s probably a small industry in selling plush teeth to the dental industry if I make up my own pattern

Also finished these socks out of bamboo yarn.  Very unforgiving splitty yarn.  I had to force myself to finish them.  If they hadn’t of fit they’d be in the trash bin!  Back to wool yarn!

I spent last weekend picking up parts for the light box this was photographed in. It consists of some PVC pipe and fittings, a cheap hack saw, cheap task lamps, 100W Daylight compact florecent bulbs, white poster board and some thin batiste white fabric. It was super fast to chop up the PVC pipe.  (The hard part was figuring out how to put 10 foot pieces of pvc in my car).  I need to take a picture when I actually get the fabric panels built. I just draped it over so I could take pictures immediately. My inspiration was this DIY Light Box.  And since nothing is glued, it breaks down!  Hopefully this will be usefull for phoographing small stuff, selling stuff on etsy/ebay and for yarn pictures

More quick fancy light box pictures: Knit Purl Sock Club September 2008:

And another sock started… (I need more commute time)

I started a sweater last Friday out of the Woobu from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.  Lovely stuff. I will finally make a sweater!  I have some other stuff (some sekret!) on the needles as well and I’m switching between them all so my finger’s don’t get bored.  I think my New Year’s Resolution for 2009 will be to buy no yarn or fabric until I knit/sew/dispose of the stash.  (I wonder how long that one will last???)  Anyway, the sweater is the Tangled Yoke Cardigan from Interweave Knits Fall 2007.  Pictured at left.  I sure hope it fits.  If anything it will be too small, but that’s fine.  (I’ve lost 3.5 pounds this week alone!)

These are my favorites from Norah Gaughan, vol. 3. They scream FALL IS COMING!!!! KNIT ME!!!!  I of course promptly ordered the pamphlet (and vol. 1).  I really like the first one (Loppem) but at my current shape I don’t think it would be flattering.  I’ve seen some plus size ones on Ravelry and I’m not digging it with a big bust.  I think upside-down V shape the front makes accentuates the hips. The second one looks too big for the model, but I like the idea.  Probably too shapelss for my figure though.  The back is gathered to a yoke.

Just ran across this one today. It is called Indigo by Tonia Barry.  I’m not sure what hit me first, the color or the cables?  It is BRILLIANT!  I’ve seen a lot of cardigans with cables like this but they’ve all been hoodies.  Hoodies are fine and all but I think they’re a bit too casual for work (which is hilarious becuase I wear jeans a lot to work).

And oh dear, American Girl doll clothes!!! Someone might want these for gifts!  Lacy Bolero From Elaine Phillips and Very Easy Cardigan for American Girl or 18″ Doll by Ceci Riehl

Don’t even get me started on nordic stranded sweaters.

No, it is not me!  Miriam Tegels, who holds the Guinness Book of World Records record for the World’s Fastest Knitter (that is for 118 stitches in one minute) was sponsored by KnitPicks at the North Portland Library tonight.

I decided to be brave (I’ve never really been to NoPo, outside of Lloyd and Convetion Center areas) and took the bus from work up to the library. That took over an hour! I arrived about 5:45 and she was almost done talking. The room was packed and it was hard to hear. KnitPicks was taking lots of video so hopefully something will make it on their site. There was also someone going around videoing people’s hand’s knitting (maybe my hands will be famous some day!)

Sadly, I had messed up the settings on my camera and everything came out grainy. I fixed them up a bit in Photoshop.  I loved this building.  A lady I followed in said it was a Carnegie library.  I’d love to come in and do a photoshoot there.  The downstairs was packed with books and people and computers.

After the talk, she sat down and knitted and people could gather around and watch and talk with her. A pleasant evening, that ended with a raffle! I didn’t win (I was one number off) but Kaaren won a Renaissance Sampler!  (Kaaren and Dallas below)

More knitters:

And some grainy, sorta blurry videos.  Must remember to check camera settings next time!

Miriam Tegels Demonstartes Knit Stitch from akimbo on Vimeo.

Miriam Tegels Demonstrates Purling from akimbo on Vimeo.