tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19104743968628152442024-03-04T12:22:36.180-08:00Fake It While You Make ItBecause let's just face it - I don't know what the hell I'm doingCarolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.comBlogger539125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-61530940065591812792018-11-04T10:35:00.001-08:002018-11-04T10:35:21.361-08:00My Marathon Sweater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I can pretty confidently say that I'll never run a marathon, so knitting this sweater is probably about as close as I'll get to experiencing what it must be like to run in one.<br />
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It took forever.<br />
99% of the time it was incredibly boring, but 1% of the time it challenged my atrophied brain cells.<br />
And I felt like quitting approximately 123 times.<br />
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But, in the end, I finished because sometimes I like to show my knitting who's boss.<br />
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Now I should say that the negative feelings that I may have about this sweater have nothing to do with the pattern (which is <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/boxy">Boxy by Joji Locatelli</a>). The pattern was well written and I have absolutely no complaints about it. My gripe is really about learning the hard way what I like to knit. And more importantly, what I don't like to knit. Because that's really the main problem with this sweater - the miles and miles (and miles) of stockinette stitch. I thought it would be perfect for mindless travel knitting, but it ended up being a little too mindless and I had a very (very!) hard time forcing myself to pick it up and finish it.<br />
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Now on to the details. The pattern comes with directions to knit the sweater either flat or in the round. I, of course, chose in the round, because I'll always choose to avoid the extra step of sewing up side seams if possible. The sweater is knit in lovely hand-dyed <a href="https://www.manosyarns.com/the_yarns/silk_blend_fino/">Manos de Uruguay Fino yarn</a>. I apparently like this color a lot because it turns out that it's the exact same color way as <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/02/smitten.html">this sweater</a>. I modified the pattern to make it a bit smaller, and as you can see, it still ended up very...boxy. The smallest size called for casting on 370 stitches and I cast on 330. It was a pretty easy modification, but it did leave me scratching my head at times to figure out how this change affected the rest of the pattern. Nothing that couldn't be sorted out with a little bit of math, but sometimes, I'm just not in the mood to sit my butt down and calculate knitting patterns.<br />
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I should also point out that this pattern is meant to have some purling pattern around the shoulders but I was so frustrated by the endless knitting that in the end that I just stayed with stockinette stitch and I'm perfectly happy with the result.<br />
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But mostly, I'm happy that I'm done with this sweater. It's by no means perfect, but it's done. And that's perfectly good enough for me.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-40048953377485152102018-10-14T10:47:00.002-07:002018-10-14T17:41:07.289-07:00A Whole Heap of Handmade Garments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, hello there. It's been a while. And not for lack of sewing, because that's been humming along over the past couple months as I've worked to fill some gaps in my closet. Mostly, it's for lack of photo taking because, honestly, I really do hate taking pictures. And when I finally muster up the effort to take some pictures on the weekend, most of my newly made clothes are in the hamper because I've worn them all week. Now this, of course, is the best problem to have because it means that not only were the things that I made not utter failures (I've had more than a few of those in my day), but that they're actually well-loved garments and really, what more could you ask for?<br />
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Now because of my utter disdain for taking photos I decided that the only way that I'd ever get around to blogging about handmades would be to include several items in one post. So today, I present my first pair of <a href="https://store.closetcasepatterns.com/products/ginger-skinny-jeans-pattern">Ginger Jeans</a>, my first <a href="https://shop.deer-and-doe.fr/en/sewing-patterns/29-melilot-shirt-pattern.html">Melilot shirt</a>, and my fourth <a href="https://shopwiksten.com/products/womens-kimono-jacket-sewing-pattern-1">Wiksten Kimono</a>. Let's start from the bottom and work our way up, shall we?<br />
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I've been interested in making the Ginger Jeans since the pattern first came out, but then I got distracted by the <a href="http://www.basteandgather.com/shop/birkin-flares">Birkin Flares</a> and then the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/603306981/persephone-pants-and-shorts-pdf-sewing">Persephone Pants</a> and when I thought about fitting a new pair of pants I just felt tired. There's something overwhelming about diving into a new pattern for the first time, knowing that you're going to have make multiple tweaks to get it to fit right. So, in the end, these sat cut out in my basement for several months until I could muster up the nerve to sew them up. I had great plans to baste them together first to adjust fit issues (especially since these are made out of lovely Cone Mills Denim), but I knew that I'd never get around to actually making them if I did that because I really hate making muslins. So, instead I just dove blindly into this project, keeping my fingers crossed that they would look quasi-decent in the end.<br />
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I stressed a bit over what size to make because I fell somewhere between a size 8 and 10. I ended up cutting out a size 10, knowing that I could take in the side seams if necessary, and spoiler alert that's what I ended up doing. And now that they're all sewn up, I'm wondering if the size 8 would have been a better starting place. Something to think about for next time I suppose. And also for next time - they ended up being too long (I'm 5'6" for reference) so I'll need to remove about an inch of length and I'll probably slim down the calf and knees a bit to address some fit issues. I opted to not interface the waist band because I'm an old lady who goes for comfort above all else and I stand by my decision. I also had to move the pockets once the jeans were all sewn up because they were way too low in the position that the pattern recommended. All in all, I'm pretty happy with how they turned out - especially since I took the lazy (wo)man's route and didn't do a whole lot of fitting beforehand. Apparently, the sewing Gods were on my side this day.<br />
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Now on to the shirt - my first <a href="https://shop.deer-and-doe.fr/en/sewing-patterns/29-melilot-shirt-pattern.html">Deer and Doe pattern</a> (well, if you don't count the <a href="https://shop.deer-and-doe.fr/en/sewing-patterns/20-plantain-t-shirt-pattern.html">free Plantain Tee)</a>. I've always loved their patterns but I don't have a store close by that sells them, so I'm pretty excited to see that they're now available as PDFs. <br />
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It's a pretty basic blouse (no sleeve placket on the short sleeve version) and it went together fairly easily, although I will say that I went back to using <a href="http://foursquarewalls.blogspot.com/2013/09/sewing-collar-different-order.html">these instructions</a> for the collar attachments because in my opinion, these instructions can't be beat. The fabric is <a href="https://www.cottonandsteelfabrics.com/cotton-lawn/">Happy Stripes in the navy colorway by Cotton and Stee</a>l. I actually like the cream color way of this fabric more, but I was concerned that it would be a tad sheer which would mean that I couldn't wear the shirt to work, so I went with the darker color way instead.<br />
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And last - but obviously not least - the <a href="https://shopwiksten.com/products/womens-kimono-jacket-sewing-pattern-1">Wiksten Kimono</a>. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit how many of these I've sewn, but I really do love this pattern. And more importantly, I love the finished project. I've made 2 short ones, 2 medium length ones, and now I want to make at least one long one. I figure, once I make the long one it will officially be out of my system and then I can move on to some other obsession. <br />
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As for length preference, so far the medium length ones are my favorite. I obviously love the extra length, but I also love the larger pocket. I wear them for work a lot and you'd be impressed with how much stuff I can fit into the pockets. For this version, I went with a basic black twill for the outer layer and a <a href="https://www.cottonandsteelfabrics.com/cotton-lawn/">Cotton and Steel cotton lawn</a> for the lining. I wanted something neutral and very wearable, but with a bit of added whimsy for the lining and since I obviously love to wear <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/01/a-nettie-tee.html">fabrics</a> with <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/search?q=octopus">animals</a> <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/03/quilted-vest.html">all over them</a>, I figured that the butterfly lining would be a good choice. <br />
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As for the sizing, I went with my recommended size based on my measurement (a size small). I know that many folks had to size down when making the version in <a href="https://makingzine.com/pages/downloads">Makingzine</a>, but Jenny sized down the pattern when she decided to sell it independently and I found the recommended size to fit well (which was a relief because I was really worried that it would come out looking huge).Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-54315976469189222362018-09-04T10:39:00.002-07:002018-09-04T10:39:17.697-07:00Persephone Pants + Wiksten Kimono = Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, this summer has turned out to be much more eventful than expected (and not in all the best ways) so it's been a while since I've posted anything. This summer has also reminded me, however, that creative pursuits are often the best therapeutic outlet in rough times. When my dad was hospitalized for two weeks several years ago I knit constantly on a pair of socks and I'm 99% sure that those socks were solely responsible for the maintenance of my sanity.<br />
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In any case, back to somethings that I've made recently - another pair of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/603306981/persephone-pants-and-shorts-pdf-sewing">Persephone Pants</a> and a <a href="https://shopwiksten.com/collections/all/products/womens-kimono-jacket-sewing-pattern-1">Wiksten Kimono</a>. Now this is not my first pair of Persephone Pants. Truth be told, this is actually my fourth. My first were made out of some Bull Denim from Joanns. The fit was great but the fabric sags a bit after even a small amount of wear and because they're made from black denim, they're fading up a storm. The second pair was <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2018/04/persephone-pants.html">this striped pair</a> which I still looooove. For the third pair, I went down a size to see if that would fit better. Spoiler alert - it didn't and those will soon see the donation pile. For this pair, I went back to a size 8 and made them out of some duck cloth from <a href="https://www.bigduckcanvas.com/canvas-fabric-wholesale-10oz">Big Duck Canvas</a>. Between the fairly stiff, thick fabric and probably going up a few pounds in the past couple of weeks, these pants are now really tight (and wedgilicious). <br />
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I really do think that the thickness of the fabric makes a huge difference because my striped pair is the same size and remains nice and fitted without being overly tight. I'm planning on making a full length pair next for the upcoming fall and winter and I'll stay at a size 8 but I plan to use a slightly thinner fabric than recommended and hopefully that will keep the pants from trying to ride up in my nether regions.<br />
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Now on to the upper half of my body which is apparently garbed in an ever-so-wrinkled Wiksten kimono (I blame the kimono for the wrinkles because I wore it all the previous day too because I love it so much). For this pattern I hemmed and hawed about which size to make because everyone commented that you should size down in the original pattern but the ease was reduced when it became a printed pattern so I was at a bit of a loss as to which size to make. In the end I decided to follow the size recommendation on the pattern and I made a size small in the short length. Now this kimono uses an ungodly amount of fabric, but that's really the only negative thing I can say about this pattern because I love everything else about it. Truth be told, I've already made 3 (one in the medium length and two in the short length - maybe one day I'll get around to photographing them but don't hold your breathe). The one thing that I learned in making this jacket a couple times is that I now cut the pocket lining out of the outer fabric too because I couldn't get the lining fabric to be completely invisible on the outside of the jacket and it drove me a bit crazy so now I eliminate this problem by just making the pocket and pocket lining out of the same fabric. And I also learned how much I love when pattern matching works out. Look at perfect collar!<br />
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And that, my friends, it basically what you'll find me wearing nowadays. It may get a little more wrinkled because I'm never taking it off.<br />
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-29177257282073330192018-07-17T19:14:00.000-07:002018-07-17T19:14:00.778-07:00Mini Emerson Cropped Pants and Shorts<br />
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Garment basics - it turns out that kids need them too. And while I love sewing dresses for the girls (and they usually love wearing them), they're not so practical for everyday wear so I was excited to try out the <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/mini-emerson-crop-pant-short">Mini Emerson Crop Pants/Shorts</a> pattern by <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/">True Bias</a>. With summer quickly approaching, O was in need of some shorts and I wanted to sew up the cropped pant version to see if it was a style that interested her. <br />
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In fact, while she initially said that she only wanted the shorts version, I made the cropped version first because I think they're just so darn cute and because I had this striped rayon in my stash that I thought would be perfect for a pair of swingy, drapy culotte-esqe pants. As it turned out, these short little pants are everything I could have dreamed them to be. I love the look of the striped fabric with this pattern and while I didn't do the greatest job of stripe matching on the waistband, I'm going to cut myself some slack because they still turned out pretty darn cute. And they must be alright because O ended up loving them and wears them often. And every time she does I think, "man, I wish those were in my size!"<br />
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For the second version, I made the shorts out of a linen-rayon combo leftover from<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-whole-lotta-fabric-around-my-bottom.html"> this project</a>. The fabric ended up being a great choice for these shorts (although, yes, it wrinkles easily but it's kids' clothes so I'm not gonna stress about it) and I'm equally in love with the way they turned out. <br />
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O, however, has a wee little complaint with them. With a somewhat wide leg, apparently it's a little too easy for others to see up her shorts when she sits like her mother sits - with her legs wide open (what can I say - all those times my mom told me to "sit like a lady" fell on deaf ears). I tried to convince her that it didn't matter because she obviously has the cutest underwear (because <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2014/02/surprise-undies.html">they're homemade</a>!) but this is the age where someone seeing your underwear is apparently a huge deal so we'll have to see if it's a deterrent to her wearing the shorts in the future. <br />
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Hopefully not, because she sure does look cute in them!<br />
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<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-18014047957083869512018-07-15T16:25:00.000-07:002018-07-15T16:25:57.695-07:00Jessica Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I first started sewing garments, I almost exclusively made dresses. Fitted dresses, flared dresses, woven dresses, knit dresses. I tried them all and had various levels of success. There was something thrilling about being able to make dresses as a new sewer and while I'm not somebody who naturally loves wearing dresses, I was definitely able to incorporate them into my everyday wardrobe. Fast forward a decade, and the truth is that I rarely make dresses anymore. My garment sewing is much more practical nowadays and filled with lots of basics. And while I was able to wear dresses intermittently to work in the past, that's not something that I can do in my current role making them much less useful in my everyday life. Which brings us to the fact that I haven't sewn a dress for me in long, long time (I think this <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/05/i-think-im-in-lovewith-this-dress.html">Alder dress</a> was the last dress that I made - hello, 2015). But in scrolling through Instagram I randomly saw a version of the <a href="http://mimigstyle.com/free-jessica-pattern-and-sew-along/">Jessica Dress by MimiG</a> and my interest was piqued. And as I did more digging, saw other versions, and found that it was a free pattern, my interest was cemented and it moved to the top of the queue.<br />
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I hit up <a href="https://drygoodsdesignonline.com/">Drygood Designs</a> to look for some fabric and bought the last of this gorgeous blue jacquard. Originally I was imaging a more drapey fabric for this dress (like a linen/rayon blend) but then I fell in love with this fabric. When I brought it home, though, I had some definite hesitations about using it for this dress. It has a more body than I would have liked in a fabric and I worried about how that would look in a gathered skirt. Plus, I worried that the princess seams in the bodice wouldn't work well with the simplistic pattern on the fabric. I suppose someone smarter or more patient than me could have done some amazing pattern matching to match things up on the princess seams, but while I have many life skills, pattern matching is not one of them. In the end, despite my hesitations I decided to move forward with my initial plan.<br />
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Now this is where I mention that in making this dress, the person who almost never makes a muslin (me!) actually made a muslin of the bodice. I ended up cutting out a straight size small but after making up the muslin I took out some width near the top of the bodice and added a wee bit of width around the waist. I also ended up making the pockets smaller because those pockets are freaking huge! <br />
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The actual sewing went together pretty easily. It relies on some individual customization so there's no suggestions as to how long to make the straps, where to place the buttonholes, and it has no pocket marking for the skirt. Those things really are best made to your individual body or choices, but I imagine that for a beginner the lack of even a suggestion could be a bit frustrating. I ended up using 1/2" buttons and placing them every 1.75-2 inches (I can't remember exactly). I do know that I ended up placing 5 buttons on the bodice alone and 13 buttons all together (I didn't add them all the way down the skirt - this way I have a bit of a "slit" in the front).<br />
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Now here's the great and not-so-great thing about making your own garment - since finishing it, I can't help looking down at the bodice and wondering if I should have fit it more around the bust or elongated the straps. It seems a little baggy around the bop of the bodice, but I also have a bad habit of overfitting things, ultimately making them not the most comfortable garments to wear. Ben swears that it's not noticeable and it's probably just me being way overly critical in a way that I would never be about a store brought garment. So today I'll endeavor to remember one of my favorite sayings - don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-73455295799563113062018-05-26T10:58:00.000-07:002018-05-26T10:58:45.412-07:00Mini Colfax Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With Me Made May quickly coming to a close, this is typically the time that people start to talk about the gaps they've found in their handmade wardrobe. Not so over here, however, because the fact of the matter is that I have plenty - plenty of handmade clothes, plenty of store bought clothes, plenty of everything I really need. So yes, I can think about all the things I'd still like to make for myself (because truth be told, there are many things on that list) but lately I've been thinking of all the things I'd like to make for my kids. <br />
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Back when I started this blog, that's mostly who I sewed for and I loved seeing my kids in handmade clothes. Sending them out into the world in a handmade item was like sending them out in the world with a tangible reminder of my love for them. But over the past couple of years, as I increased the number of things I made for myself, I greatly reduced the number of things that I made for them. The truth is that between back-to-school shopping and being the lucky recipients of many hand-me-downs from kind relatives and friends, they're not hard up for clothes either, but I miss sewing for them and seeing how excited they are to have a new item of clothing. <br />
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And with that in mind I set out looking for a new pattern to make a dress for O. I quickly settled on the <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/mini-colfax-dress">True Bias Mini Colfax dress</a> which just so happens to be incredibly cute. Now I know that Kelli has said in the past that she likely won't release more kids patterns because they don't sell as well, but to that I say "noooooooo!" because her kids patterns are fantastic.<br />
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In trying to work my way through stash fabrics, I settled on this rayon which was a gift from my mother-in-law when she traveled to Indonesia. I think it was originally meant to be a sari but sari's don't get a whole lot of use around here, so I figured that repurposing the fabric was the way to go. With all the gold on the fabric, O of course loved it and the rayon makes for a nice, light summer dress. <br />
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Given O's string bean status I cut out a size 7 in width and a size 8 in length (she just turned 9). It fits her perfectly right now, but honestly I wish it were a tad bit longer to ensure that it fits her all summer. No worries, though, because there's a younger sister waiting in the wings to steal all of O's clothes. <br />
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And now on a totally unrelated note, I present to you the one thing O and I have in common - the ability to make ridiculous faces. I love this little stinker.<br />
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<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-5010363757957032042018-05-01T10:58:00.001-07:002018-05-01T10:58:41.790-07:00A Sandal Making Extravaganza and Some Tips On Where To Purchase Supplies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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About a month ago I found myself lucky worm my way into a slot in a <a href="https://www.rachelseessnailshoes.com/">Rachel Sees Snails</a> sandal making class that was held in Seattle. The class was a whirlwind hands-on experience in sandal making. I loved the process and the fact that it doesn't require too many specialized tools to get started (having to make a huge up-front investment is always such a deterrent to diving into a new craft). Having absolutely no experience in leather crafts, I spent the next week googling some of the basic supplies and trying to locate places to find some of the more specific ones. Most basic leather working supplies can actually be bought on-line - either through <a href="https://www.amazon.com/">Amazon</a> or specialized leather stores like <a href="https://www.tandyleather.com/en/">Tandy Leather Craft</a>. I headed up to <a href="http://www.macphersonleather.com/">MacPherson's Leather in Seattle</a> to purchase the actual leather but in the end I ended up only buying leather for the soling there. I didn't buy any leather for the uppers because all the leather is sold in fairly large pieces - which come with a fairly large price tags - and I knew that I wouldn't want to make every pair of sandals out of the same leather. Where's the fun in that? I also found out that they don't sell rubber soling there unless you have a corporate account, so that required me to do some additional googling to find that product.<br />
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Etsy, of course, was a huge help and I ended up getting my rubbing soling from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/478677491/shoe-rubber-gum-crinkle-sole-rubber-45?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soling&ref=sr_gallery-1-1">this store</a> and the leather for my uppers from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheLeatherGuyMN">here</a>. The leather store is a bit of a pain because the leather is not organized by weight and the vast majority of the leather they sell is too thin for sandal making, so it was a slog to go through all the options to try to find the correct weight. In the end, though, it was worth the effort because I was able to buy several 12x12 pieces leather that allowed me to make a couple different pairs of sandals.<br />
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The first pair I made was for my littlest kiddo. She had a some definite ideas in what she wanted - in particular, a diagonal strap across her foot. Unfortunately, having such a little foot, there were some limitations as to how diagonal that diagonal strap could be but she seems to really like the way they turned out. This is the kid that rejects about 99% of the things that I make for her, but in this case she put the sandals on right away and headed out of the house in them. It warmed my little heart.<br />
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The second pair I made was for O and this one gave me a little more trouble. I feel like the fit is not great and honestly, fitting sandals with kids is a bit of a pain in the butt because they are not the most patient of creatures. She also seems a little less than enthusiastic about how these turned out but I'll give her a little more time because it's basically been raining non-stop since I finished the sandals.<br />
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And the third pair were for my most appreciative recipient - me! I love this blue leather and knew that I wanted to make a strappy, slip-on pair of sandals with it. Despite loving all sorts of cute sandals, I knew that they also had to be comfortable or they would just sit in my closet, unworn. Fortunately, with all the straps, it allowed for lots of opportunity for fitting and the straps provide a lot of support around the foot (I can't wear basic flip flops because it hurts my toes too much). To say that I love the process of sandal making would probably be a bit of an understatement but I'm beginning to realize - exactly how many sandals does someone who lives in the rainy capital of the United States need?<br />
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Now, as a disclaimer I should probably note that these sandals are not as "done" as they should be. Technically they need a little sanding around the outside so that my imperfect cutting is not so noticeable. Word on the street is that a Dremmel is a great tool for smoothing out the edges but with buying all the new supplies, I figured that I would be responsible with the budget and wait on purchasing yet another thing. Being a responsible adult can be such a drag sometimes.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-29643403500179349142018-04-22T11:13:00.000-07:002018-07-15T16:26:42.132-07:00Persephone Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't even know where to start this post. <br />
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Do I start by talking about the hesitation I feel almost every time I consider trying out a new pants pattern because I often don't feel up to the task of dealing with fitting issues? <br />
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Or do I start by talking about how smitten I was with the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/annaallen">Persephone Pants Pattern</a> from the moment I first saw it? <br />
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Or do I start by talking about how pants sewing has totally stolen my heart over the past year and made getting dressed in the morning a much more enjoyable task? <br />
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Or do I just start by telling you how much I love these pants?<br />
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Yeah, I'll just start there because I do freaking love these pants. And while I was (and am) smitten by this pattern and I did hem and haw for several days before making it because I felt exhausted by the idea of dealing with various fit issues, I am so glad that I took the plunge because these pants ended up being everything I could have hoped for. And don't tell anybody, but I really didn't end up doing any fitting adjustments because fortunately the pattern is made for ladies with big old ten inch differences between their waist and hips and I fit perfectly into the size 8 recommendation (29" waist, 39" hip). Really the only modification I made was to hem them a 1/2 an inch higher (I'm 5'6" for reference). <br />
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As for the actual sewing, this pattern was super-fun to make. I realize not having an outer side seam can make fitting a bit more difficult but I loved having one less seam to sew and it really makes for a great pattern for patterned or striped fabric since you don't have that side seam to break up the visual interest. As for using striped fabric, I should have been a little (or a lot) smarter about stripe matching but I ended up with a pretty good match on the front and a slightly less good match on the bum. You win some, you lose some. <br />
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I did manage to match the stripes in the pockets to the pants since you can sometimes see them ever-so-slightly and I went with a bias cut on the waistband and belt loops to add a little visual interest (and to avoid pattern matching hell).<br />
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The fabric is an Italian cotton bottom weight that I bought back in November at <a href="https://www.esthersfabrics.com/">Esther's Fabrics</a> on Bainbridge Island. I originally planned to make some <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/lander-pant-short">Lander Pants</a> with it, but now I'm thinking that I like that pattern in a fabric with a <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-lander-pant-round-2.html">wee bit of a stretch to it</a>. While this fabric is a bottom weight it's definitely lighter weight than recommended for the Persephone Pants (recommended weight is 10 oz and up), but it seems to still work well with the pattern.<br />
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The turtleneck is made from the <a href="https://itch-to-stitch.com/product/hepburn-turtleneck-digital-sewing-pattern-pdf/">Itch to Stitch Hepburn pattern</a> and a <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/search?q=pickering">Pickering knit that I bought from Fancy Tiger Crafts</a> back in 2017. I know I've mentioned it before, but I love the Pickering Knits and while buying knits on-line can be a bit of a crap shoot, I've always been happy with every one I've gotten from them. And as for the turtleneck pattern, this is actually the first Itch to Stitch pattern that I made. It's a fairly simple pattern given that it's a knit turtleneck but it seems well drafted and I love having patterns for basics like this one.<br />
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And if I can throw in one last me-made item in this post that may never end - my sandals! I took a sandal making class with the lovely <a href="https://www.rachelseessnailshoes.com/">Rachel Sees Snails</a>, hosted at <a href="https://drygoodsdesignonline.com/">Drygoods Design</a>, a couple weeks ago and these sandals were the fruits of my labor at the class. I've been bitten by the sandal-making bug and have made a couple more pairs since that time and if I can get my butt in gear, I hope to write up a post about material sourcing sometime soon.<br />
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Alright, my friends, that's a wrap.<br />
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<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-15721449320018506202018-04-15T09:44:00.000-07:002018-04-15T09:44:05.590-07:00Making A Short Sleeved Dress In April Is A Sign of Eternal Optimism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The stash busting continues - although not so much with scraps this time as I had several yards of this Art Gallery knit left over from making the kids some <a href="https://www.peekaboopatternshop.com/alex-anna-winter-pjs/">Alex and Anna Pajamas</a> 2 years ago. It's a cotton lycra blend that is incredibly comfortable and works great with the <a href="http://makeitperfect.com.au/products/joey/">Joey Dress</a>. How do I know this, you ask? Well, because I made my <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/09/first-day-of-school-joey-dress.html">first Joey Dress</a> with an Art Gallery knit 3 years ago. Ohh, look how cute O was back then (although she's still pretty cute)!<br />
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I love that the dress comes with a couple different options and this time around I opted for 3/4 length sleeves, although truth be told, they're more elbow length than 3/4 length. I also chose the size based on O's measurements which means that I chose a size 2 sizes smaller than would be recommended based on her age and I just added some length to the bodice and skirt.<br />
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Having made this pattern before, I can't say that there were any surprises this time around except for discovering that my serger was in dire need of servicing. I thought it was just a tension issue at first but it soon became apparent that something was seriously wrong and the serging on the inside of this dress is atrocious. But given that most people don't go around looking at the inside of other people's clothing, we'll just keep that secret between the two of us, okay?Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-74266661141890030962018-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:002018-03-16T06:00:32.219-07:00Turning Scraps Into a Mini Ogden Cami<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now don't get me wrong, I love new fabric and patterns as much as the next person, but sometimes it feels like the act of purchasing new goods overshadows the actual creative process and that's when I find it helpful to take a break from the buying and engage in some stash busting. Fortunately, I have two little ones to sew for which makes finding uses for leftover fabrics much easier. While my favorite pattern for stash busting through knits will forever be the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thatdarnkat">That Darn Kat undies pattern</a>, the <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/mini-ogden-cami">Mini Ogden Cami</a> is quickly becoming my favorite pattern for stash busting through wovens. The <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/ogden-cami">women's version</a> can often be made with a yard of fabric with some creative placing and the kid's version requires even less (my favorite other pattern for stash busting wovens - the <a href="https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2014/07/24/corinnes-thread-city-gym-shorts-for-all-ages/">Purl Soho City Gym shorts</a>!). <br />
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This fabric is actually leftover from making some some <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Easy-Sewing-Origami-Pillow/1169402768">Origami Pillows</a> from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Happiness-Simple-Projects-Living-ebook/dp/B012KKHWN0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520789422&sr=8-1&keywords=sewing+happiness">Sewing Happiness</a>. I now realize that I probably should have taken some photos of the pillows, but you'll just have to take my word for it that they're lovely and really fun to make. I had about 3/4 of a yard left over and thought that cotton-linen blend would work great for an Ogden Cami (we'll just ignore the fact that it's still 40 degrees F outside). <br />
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While I wish I were a minimalist who could fully embrace the natural beauty of this fabric and the clean lines of the Ogden, I have to admit that I love little extra touches and I added some to this top with some decorative stitching on the straps and some contrast stitching along the hemline. Nothing earth shattering, but it's nice to add your own personal touches to makes, right?<br />
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Now it's back to digging through the stash for other odds and ends to try to make something out of.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-10116807469207465662018-03-10T17:57:00.000-08:002018-03-10T17:57:36.515-08:00Things I've Made and Never Blogged About<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9NlQUFLFqNDDt1wKwOOPX1AdA2lbNNHLZthLlHwR-eXqioI6qTsydUtq9ULIYtsYq3dsPZlQ7D9JBqVSI3zEzsQ5sP5mf5HDWpqCay-bSzvgxUfhLGKntLUxnAqDbPG4jCvB81oeLad2/s1600/IMG_5544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9NlQUFLFqNDDt1wKwOOPX1AdA2lbNNHLZthLlHwR-eXqioI6qTsydUtq9ULIYtsYq3dsPZlQ7D9JBqVSI3zEzsQ5sP5mf5HDWpqCay-bSzvgxUfhLGKntLUxnAqDbPG4jCvB81oeLad2/s640/IMG_5544.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
We shall call this post "Things I've Made and Never Blogged About" because I actually finished this sweater sometime around November. I was in full knitting mode at that time, buoyed by the fact that knitting during my downtime is a far more productive use of time than just playing around on Instagram. Fortunately, I'm not opposed to knitting a beloved pattern over and over (and over) again so knitting this sweater ended up being just the right mix of mindless and interesting. On a side note, this is a completely different mindset than I had when I first started knitting. At that time I had a list a mile long of things I wanted to make and I couldn't understand why anybody would limit themselves by making the same pattern multiple times. Apparently, that sentiment no longer exists because this would be the fourth (<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/11/one-row-at-time.html">1</a>, <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/11/one-row-at-time.html">2</a>, <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/12/one-bloomsbury-for-you-one-bloomsbury.html">3</a>) <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bloomsbury-kids">Bloomsbury Sweater</a> that I've made and the truth is that I'd make it again in a heartbeat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_QCnyKcE88Zx2qgATPG1WJYESOKOzQMkvIvs0llgepmoJWTguaG6-KXDjOvMSgv_7SEqfNkg4niEmmX3r7zGUEFXXMs6w8cvAfMCmbe-R2E1cV1y1ejUlXcuPiSvbLPaT4mFcHfpx0sn/s1600/IMG_5535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_QCnyKcE88Zx2qgATPG1WJYESOKOzQMkvIvs0llgepmoJWTguaG6-KXDjOvMSgv_7SEqfNkg4niEmmX3r7zGUEFXXMs6w8cvAfMCmbe-R2E1cV1y1ejUlXcuPiSvbLPaT4mFcHfpx0sn/s640/IMG_5535.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
The yarn is <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/manos-del-uruguay-maxima-1">Manos de Uruguay</a>, which just so happens to be the same yarn that I used for <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/02/smitten.html">my pink version</a>. I love the slight varigation of the kettle dye and it's so incredibly soft and warm. It's also held up fairly well with wear, which isn't always the case with such soft single ply yarns.<br />
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O remains a tiny little thing so I picked the size according to her chest measurement (size 6) and just added a bunch of length to the arms and body. The ease of doing this is why I will forever love top-down sweaters. I was worried that I went a little overboard in the body length because I'm always afraid that she's going to grow out of things too quickly, but fortunately it seems to be a Goldilocks length - not too short, not too long. In fact, some might say that it's just right.<br />
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Also, on a totally unrelated note - I love this little kid.<br />
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<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-18779802987238329032018-02-17T10:24:00.000-08:002018-02-17T10:24:07.101-08:00Sometimes The Sequel Isn't As Good As The Original<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, as it happens, not all knitting projects turn out to be raging success stories. In fact, some turn out to be sad disappointments. Like this sweater. I had high hopes for my second <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tegna">Tegna</a>. Mostly, those hopes had a lot to do with fixing some of the issues that I had in making <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/12/de-flared-birkin-flares-and-tegna.html">my first Tegna</a> - namely fixing the neckline that came out far wider than anticipated. Instead of fixing the problem, however, it seems to be even worse in this one. I realize that it looks okay from the front, but the view from the back shows just how ridiculously large it is (Bonus - it gives people a nice view of my big back mole which fortunately you can't see in these pics!). And there's a good chance that this sweater could go into some 1980's off the shoulder territory with just a bit of movement.<br />
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There are few things as disappointing in knitting than finishing a sweater that took weeks to make only to realize that the size is totally off. Especially since I was a good little knitter and even made a gauge swatch to make sure that the sizing was right.<br />
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On the upside, the yarn, Madeline Tosh Light, was lovely to work with and I love the bright green color - even if I am slightly camouflaged amongst the trees. Also, the lace bottom is as lovely as ever, so at least there's that. Fortunately, while resiliency may be more of a struggle in other parts of my life, I'm a resilient little knitter and already have my next project on the needles. You can't keep a good woman down, right?<br />
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Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-58832543223175961852018-02-11T14:24:00.000-08:002018-07-15T16:27:26.690-07:00Brown Birkin Flares<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's a part of me that feels like "For the love of God, Carolyn, stop making pants!" but there's another part of me that says "Make all pants, all the time!" To be fair, there was a real gap in my wardrobe when it came to pants. I grew out of many pairs over the last couple years and while I had some cropped pairs that I could wear in the spring and summer, I didn't have a whole lot of options for colder weather. That may partly explain my pants making spree but you know what else explains my pants making spree? I just really like making pants. The most intimidating part is definitely the fitting aspect but once you have a pair that fits, the actual sewing isn't bad. Yes, it's a bit time consuming, but it's definitely worth it in the end.<br />
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And with that diatribe, allow me to introduce my latest pair of pants - dyed brown <a href="http://www.basteandgather.com/shop/birkin-flares">Birkin Flares</a>. The fabric was once <a href="https://threadbarefabrics.com/collections/the-denim-store">white stretch Cone Mills denim</a> that I purchased with the idea to dye it another color. I originally used some Dylon dye but it came out more of a clay color so I dyed it again with Rit, using significantly less water in my washer, and it came out much closer to the color that I was looking for. To be honest, it's still a little a lighter than I was originally hoping for and I may just end up throwing it in the dye pot (otherwise known as my washing machine) once again. The good news is that this is my second pair of jeans that I've dyed and I'm happy to report that the dye seems to be holding up well in the first pair so I'm hoping that it will in this pair too.<br />
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This certainly isn't my greatest sewing job. The top stitching ain't perfect, the rivets gave me a super-hard time for the first time ever (don't look to closely at them!), and the waistband is not as tidy as I would like it, but the pants are still super-wearable and I imagine that they'll get a lot of use. I made a size 30 once again and took some width out of the leg below the hip all the way down the leg to reduce the size of the flare. Some of my past pairs seemed to have shrunk a bit in length after repeated washings (despite pre-washing the fabric) so I left this pair a little on the longer side in case they decided to shrink up a bit as well. <br />
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And that may be a wrap on my pants making for a while, especially since I want to spend February stash busting through some scraps and that generally means sewing for the kids, since tiny people allow for the use of tiny scraps of fabric.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-69578227545490051502018-01-28T13:15:00.000-08:002018-01-28T13:15:59.732-08:00The Lander Pant - Round 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a couple weeks since I finished my first <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2018/01/2017-superlatives.html">Lander Pant</a> and those weeks gave me some much needed time to think about what modifications I wanted to make to future pairs. Most of my fit concerns were with the crotch, button fly, and waistband areas. I found the waistband a bit tight and restrictive for my taste and I was concerned about some pulling at the fly making it look like I was about to bust out of the pants. After trying my first pair on a couple times, I also became concerned that the the crotch was a tad too short for me so I delved into the world of of YouTube videos dealing with measuring crotch length and making needed adjustments and I found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jnVVhuoh7Y">this one</a> particularly helpful. As it turns out, based on my measurements the crotch was an inch too short for me, but to be on the safe side I ended up only adding 1/2 an inch total to the crotch (1/4 to the front and a 1/4 to the back). I also figured that some of the pulling could be address by adding an extra button to the fly and that actually seems to have worked really well.<br />
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Well, not at first since I accidentally added 2 extra button holes initially because I wasn't paying attention and then I had to unpick 3 buttons holes to fix the spacing issue. Let's just say that there's some unintentional denim distressing around the fly. Another change that addressed some of my concerns is that I made this version out of some stretch Cone Mills denim, (<a href="https://threadbarefabrics.com/collections/the-denim-store">purchased from here</a>) which is far more forgiving than non-stretch twill when it comes to fit issues.<br />
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In an effort to keep some of that stretch around the waistband I cut the waistband with the stretch going around my body, but then I chickened out and interfaced the waistband (as recommended by the pattern), essentially negating the stretch. I was worried that without the interfacing on the waistband it may not hold up well with wear, but now that I think about it, I probably should have just left it off because I've made several <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/12/de-flared-birkin-flares-and-tegna.html">Birkin Flares</a> without an interfaced waistband and they've held up great.<br />
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Lastly, I opted to leave out the pocket lining in an attempt to reduce some bulk and instead just finished the top portion of the pock with bias binding that I then folded over and sewed down. It worked out great and this is probably a modification that I'll continue with on any future pairs that I make.<br />
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As for the fit, the pattern is well-thought out in that it includes a larger seam allowance on the outside of the pants so that you can try the pants on and adjust the fit as needed. I hemmed and hawed about how fitted to make these pants and in the end opted for a fit that's not super fitted. I slimmed out the hips a little bit but left the larger seam allowance on the leg to preserve the wide leg look. I'm still trying to decide whether I should have gone with a more fitted hip but I can definitely say that these are incredibly comfortable to wear - something that I couldn't say about my first pair. And I may officially be an old lady, but I do like my pants comfortable.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-74730397328351470282018-01-21T11:26:00.003-08:002018-01-21T11:31:55.886-08:00Safari Duffle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes I can track how my latest obsession came into being and sometimes I have no idea where it originated from. This project falls distinctly in the latter category because I can't quite remember when I became smitten with the idea of sewing up a duffle bag. I'd like to think that it has a little something to do with all the childhood associations I have with duffle bags. You see, we moved a lot when I was a kid and every move meant packing up my duffle bag and heading off to the next place. This continued well into the teenage years and, in fact, when heading off to college, that's all that I took with me - 2 duffle bags of belongings. Even as an adult, duffle bags continue to hold a special place in my heart and being the stubborn person that I am, I've refused to purchase a suitcase with wheels and instead continue to lug duffle bags and backpacks around airports. The only problem is that our last remaining duffle bag is humongous and not particularly practical for all occasions so I knew that a smaller duffle bag would end up getting a lot of use.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQ2-Pef9bC5Rw35dAuS8zuPIQGui-SMwBX9NEkgYJjQg1GKEe6hCvUk_eKsSPW1h6TL5yB4Zju69obi8lF7pI-LkRE5rAstPU1oXwuTS6mTZ-Od4yOJ040-a7BUeTdz2dm1quc4NOJ748/s1600/IMG_5928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQ2-Pef9bC5Rw35dAuS8zuPIQGui-SMwBX9NEkgYJjQg1GKEe6hCvUk_eKsSPW1h6TL5yB4Zju69obi8lF7pI-LkRE5rAstPU1oXwuTS6mTZ-Od4yOJ040-a7BUeTdz2dm1quc4NOJ748/s640/IMG_5928.jpg" width="640" /></a>In determining what pattern to use, I considered the <a href="https://grainlinestudio.com/shop/accessories/portside-travel-set-pdf/">Grainline Studio Portside Duffle</a> but in my googling spree I cam across this free <a href="https://sew4home.com/projects/storage-solutions/our-classic-safari-duffle">Safari Duffle Pattern offered by Sew4Home </a>and it jumped to the top of my list because:</div>
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1) It's free and free is my favorite price<br />
2) Look how fantastic it is!<br />
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I'm not the most experienced bag maker so I was a little leery of using a pattern and tutorial from a website that I wasn't familiar with but I'm happy to say that this one was fantastic. I would say that my biggest feedback on this pattern is that it should include some instructions on reinforcing vital seams - something that I learned from making the <a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/12/desmond-backpack.html">Desmond Backpack</a>. I ended up sewing all the bag seams twice and reinforced the straps with 5 rows of stitching on top of each other since they'll be under a considerable amount of stress and I don't want them to come off.<br />
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As for the fabrics, I spent a lot of time debating what to use. In the end I used an incredibly heavy canvas from <a href="http://www.seattlefabrics.com/">Seattle Outdoor Fabrics</a> for the main exterior fabric. It's seriously heavy - something like 16 oz, so I opted to leave out the interfacing called for in the pattern. On a side note, I love that store but bringing two rambunctious kids there is a bit of a nightmare. At one point they almost knocked over a 6 foot tower of packages to be sent out and I kept thinking that they were going to knock over and be buried under giant bolts of fabric (Spoiler alert - we all survived). The inner lining is <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/products/canvas-jungle">Canvas Jungle by Cotton + Steel</a>, allowing me to give into my deep love of fabric with animals on it. I'm kind of kicking myself for not paying close attention when cutting out the lining and ending up with sideways tigers but in the words of Alanis - you live, you learn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OmCWLgiVYDF6HfnG5I9YCxYVOCi_DGt0TI6NvisiX2S3Vvt1o1HJVRjmYJ_FsxcMcJrbbM4I70qGsvQLV_oCONDc0anByuzd08wOyNtB_NhJzk62V8bokkkDDWwyt8Bw9m8dGmK7VGW5/s1600/IMG_5952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4OmCWLgiVYDF6HfnG5I9YCxYVOCi_DGt0TI6NvisiX2S3Vvt1o1HJVRjmYJ_FsxcMcJrbbM4I70qGsvQLV_oCONDc0anByuzd08wOyNtB_NhJzk62V8bokkkDDWwyt8Bw9m8dGmK7VGW5/s640/IMG_5952.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The duffle has 2 exterior pockets but I felt the need for interior pockets as well so I added two elasticized interior pockets. The zippers were just purchased from Joann Fabrics (of note, the pattern called for a separating zipper but that's not really necessary) and the hardware is all from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BagmakerSupply?ref=l2-shopheader-name">Bag Maker Supply shop on Etsy</a>. It's probably not the cheapest place to get them from, but they have an amazing selection and I'm so happy with my purchases. It's not easy to find brass hardware in the wild and I love the way that it coordinates with the brass teeth on the zippers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJprXgpeXQpqNJLrgrv3t2CK2e8JsO81AMYJncdtTgNIYFo4f4UU1P3Xud-ufk5jc1lAGuO5bIv0AHTTdfn3oVZTj_u5VwyDkpBpsxlolBlP23zDHJmq9fIWgQUiFzUH61WobuavzWLniv/s1600/IMG_5946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJprXgpeXQpqNJLrgrv3t2CK2e8JsO81AMYJncdtTgNIYFo4f4UU1P3Xud-ufk5jc1lAGuO5bIv0AHTTdfn3oVZTj_u5VwyDkpBpsxlolBlP23zDHJmq9fIWgQUiFzUH61WobuavzWLniv/s640/IMG_5946.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
As for the bottom fabric, my original idea was to make it out of <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/products/duck-cloth-canvas-black">Moda black duck cloth</a> and to use quilting to add stabilization rather than interfacing. Once it was all sewn up though, I quickly realized that the difference in stiffness between the sides and the bottom was just too great and I ended up sewing in a layer of the exterior fabric to the back of the bottom to add some more structure. It wasn't the most well thought out solution but it seems to have worked out okay.<br />
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Oh, and if you have an eye for detail you'll notice that I made a typical Carolyn mistake in sewing up this bag in that I reversed the placement of the D-rings and swivel clasps. I felt like a complete and total idiot for making that mistake, but as it turns out it doesn't affect the functionality of the bag at all and I'm guessing that most people wouldn't even notice (except that I just pointed it out to you).<br />
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And that, folks, is a wrap on my new favorite project.</div>
Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-47335607522835727632018-01-14T10:58:00.000-08:002018-01-14T10:58:10.117-08:002017 SuperlativesIt's that time of the year again - or at least it was 2 weeks ago. Time for 2017 Superlatives! Or as I shall call it this year, "all the things I made and never blogged about in 2017."<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Most Worn</h3>
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This year was probably more about practicality than anything else and what could be more practical than a comfy knit cardigan with giant pockets? (Nothing. The correct answer is nothing.) That may explain why I love the <a href="https://jalie.com/jalie3248-drop-pocket-cardigan-pattern">Jalie Drop Pocket Cardigan</a> so much. My first version was made without any alterations in a light jersey knit and came out around hip level. I wore it a ton this summer since I tend to run cold and almost always have a coverup with me. This is a shortened version in a much thicker knit which makes it look a bit more structured. I wear this version at least once a week to work because it fits all my work clothes requirements - mainly that it's machine washable and has giant pockets to hold all the stuff I tend to carry around. I've made two of these cardigans so far and have another one already cut out and ready to sew. And because it's a Jalie pattern and comes with something like 20 different sizes, I can basically make one for everyone in my family. Gotta love Jalie!<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Least Worn</h3>
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It almost feels unfair to put these pants here since this is more a wearable muslin than a finished product, but one of my least worn items this year was my <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/lander-pant-short">Lander Pants</a>. Now I have to say that I love this pattern and will certainly make it again, but I learned a little something about myself in making this pair - I do not like restrictive waistlines and, after having 2 kids, restrictive waistlines don't like me (first piece of evidence: all the stretching around the button fly). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh8BDrJk_XfeQyK0ghzN-6Hfi1F_oEZjDXP6vXOqdwvvfZaKLw5UpoDGKqjKnIVkGbW-FOkeyLAEnEOBtGWhvCWNbQurWd9zCpsBBazY1-SF86AlMu2OaHOkVkDb24PxMZETws1zkP8X1/s1600/IMG_5883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhh8BDrJk_XfeQyK0ghzN-6Hfi1F_oEZjDXP6vXOqdwvvfZaKLw5UpoDGKqjKnIVkGbW-FOkeyLAEnEOBtGWhvCWNbQurWd9zCpsBBazY1-SF86AlMu2OaHOkVkDb24PxMZETws1zkP8X1/s640/IMG_5883.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now I could probably solve this problem with some alterations, but for my next pair I'm going to go for the lazy (wo)man's solution and make a pair in a woven fabric with a bit of stretch. I'm hoping that the ease in the fabric will solve my tight pant woes because these are definitely supposed to be fitted for stylistic purposes, but I also like a little give in my pants. Also, if I opt to make the pant length Landers again, I'll definitely need to add some length to the leg because even with a deep hem built into the pattern, the length was a tad shorter than I would have preferred. Oh, and the fabric is <a href="https://fancytigercrafts.com/products/ventana-twill">Ventana Twill in the plum color way</a> that I purchased from Fancy Tiger Crafts. I was initially going to go with something a little more, well, traditional, but then I thought "what's the point of sewing if you can't make yourself pink pants?"<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Favorite Pattern</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE-inKqaaaLaiAoBvC9lWzN5YnxWJcLwxpk9okzq4KdX_64b3eF6IA_8n9m1l5Si-Ob-79XPqyMwA76zvCAIX5Xqh9ctBUlXnsrEJfA1GVPvrRjy5TPSBqyem4P9I5vgNHRKh9ismqzTK/s1600/IMG_5897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE-inKqaaaLaiAoBvC9lWzN5YnxWJcLwxpk9okzq4KdX_64b3eF6IA_8n9m1l5Si-Ob-79XPqyMwA76zvCAIX5Xqh9ctBUlXnsrEJfA1GVPvrRjy5TPSBqyem4P9I5vgNHRKh9ismqzTK/s640/IMG_5897.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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Hands down - the <a href="https://sewhouse7.com/products/burnside-bibs">Burnside Bibs</a>! It's unique! It's fun to make! It's washable and has giant pockets! (See I told you there was a theme this year). I made three pairs in a month and I wear them all the time - at home, out and about, and at work (I told you I didn't work anywhere fancy). I'd love to make more - next time with a bit more length in the leg - but I'm wondering how many pairs can I have before I become a crazy woman who only wears overalls.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9CO0KU8MIgaSBKmF5ZP6IwBPHpwGbM3zF2afj1AiyQLQ92jZqA3i46uJZj91gMvuYC1s7eDIG1yQDfdxnwMiJMPGSBIIUlrpIVHolOqRN0V1PHAm8n1RNhPLyxl29V92PQfuo6eb2oUG/s1600/IMG_E1245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9CO0KU8MIgaSBKmF5ZP6IwBPHpwGbM3zF2afj1AiyQLQ92jZqA3i46uJZj91gMvuYC1s7eDIG1yQDfdxnwMiJMPGSBIIUlrpIVHolOqRN0V1PHAm8n1RNhPLyxl29V92PQfuo6eb2oUG/s640/IMG_E1245.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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Oh, and all my versions were version 1 with no alterations made (this is a very forgiving pattern in terms of fit!). My first version was a cropped pair in a light denim and my 2nd and 3rd versions were in a linen/rayon blend that I purchased from Joann Fabrics. All three fabrics worked fantastic with the pattern and were super easy to sew with.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Favorite Knit</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqYtq3Qn2us6IgcpP9Rk16Gw6MqrGbMMEj1NCE5Nz0IInDTKFRuFIhRdHfKnE9WcO4xTfiwhyphenhyphenQ8AB1ezPJOBA_H7Fi-6lg9NpAYTJPjE2tNhdi9cBJyaBvDMvRokhDO_PytWPxdh8K1Rs/s1600/IMG_5487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqYtq3Qn2us6IgcpP9Rk16Gw6MqrGbMMEj1NCE5Nz0IInDTKFRuFIhRdHfKnE9WcO4xTfiwhyphenhyphenQ8AB1ezPJOBA_H7Fi-6lg9NpAYTJPjE2tNhdi9cBJyaBvDMvRokhDO_PytWPxdh8K1Rs/s640/IMG_5487.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Without a doubt - <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/02/smitten.html">this pink Bloomsbury</a>. I've made this pattern so many times and each time I love it just a little bit more. In this case, that extra love was probably the result of working with delicious single ply Manos de Uruguay yarn. It's like wearing a little hug every time I put it on.<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Overall Favorite Project</h3>
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That award would have to go to <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/12/de-flared-birkin-flares-and-tegna.html">my jeans</a>, because I always figured that if I ever got around to making jeans I wouldn't enjoy the process and my handmade jeans would always end up second best to my store bought ones. As it turns out, I was wrong - so, so wrong because I have loved my journey into jeans making and my homemade jeans are my first choice every time I reach for a pair to wear. As someone a bit on the hippy side, having jeans that don't restrict and constrict around my hips is amazing. I can't wait to make some more pairs in 2018!<br />
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As for resolutions, honestly I felt too tired by the end of 2017 to reflect much on the year that's passed and to contemplate hopes for the year to come. So, rather than create my own motto for the year, I've decided to borrow one from the great <a href="http://magicschoolbus.wikia.com/wiki/Ms._Frizzle">Ms. Frizzle</a> - "Take chances. Make mistakes. Get messy." Let's do this 2018!<br />
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And for old time's sake, superlatives from years past:<br />
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<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2017/01/2016-superlatives.html">2016 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-superlatives.html">2015 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-superlatives.html">2014 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2013/12/2013-superlatives.html">2013 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="https://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2012/12/2012-superlatives.html">2012 Superlatives</a>Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-24539261229984918952018-01-08T17:02:00.000-08:002018-01-08T17:02:20.849-08:002017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you had asked me one year ago what will be most remarkable about 2017, I would have told you that, without a doubt, it will be finally finishing grad school. And while I did graduate in August, saying farewell (and good riddance) to weekends of studying and out-of-town clinical rotations, this is not what I'll remember most about this year, because in October Ben was diagnosed with testicular cancer. <br />
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With a little bit of distance from that chaotic, and frankly, terrifying time, I can recognize that we have so much to be thankful for. Thankful that he ended up being diagnosed with stage 1 cancer. Thankful for family and friends for their support. And thankful for dark, early morning drives to work where I could cry in my car in peace. So now we wait and hope for the best, but in the meantime we also return to glorious everyday life with kids, because in the wisdom of Robert Frost:<br />
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"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-57317054540364062672017-12-29T11:34:00.001-08:002017-12-29T11:34:23.178-08:00Comox Trunks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL1ynUGJmeOLeImife25zWqBggqlWG6k83YGRgFs75q674cShFCnE6vjgUCNnpDeh1v1k8svk-RzxIs8en7Nb5UxD-uTzHqWdOs9hkTgJsxWUnPSTXnZAzZwyisAXZtpiAsyHzRolLHfZ/s1600/IMG_5645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJL1ynUGJmeOLeImife25zWqBggqlWG6k83YGRgFs75q674cShFCnE6vjgUCNnpDeh1v1k8svk-RzxIs8en7Nb5UxD-uTzHqWdOs9hkTgJsxWUnPSTXnZAzZwyisAXZtpiAsyHzRolLHfZ/s640/IMG_5645.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Before 2017 comes to a close, here's the only other Christmas present that I made this year - undies for Ben! Now, you know I love sewing undies for the kids and for myself, so Ben's been complaining for years that he doesn't have any. Fortunately, <a href="https://threadtheory.ca/">Thread Theory</a> filled a gap in the sewing community by introducing great men's patterns and a couple years ago they released the <a href="https://threadtheory.ca/collections/wholesale/products/comox-trunks-pdf">Comox Trunks</a>. They also created a<a href="https://threadtheory.ca/blogs/sew-alongs/tagged/comox-trunks-sew-along"> sew-a-long</a> with some extra tips and tricks, like how to remove the front "hole" if your partner doesn't use that "exit."<br />
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I did some secretive/not-so-secretive measuring of Ben and opted to sew a straight size 30. It would have been nice to sew one version, seek feedback, and then make necessary alterations to subsequent pairs, but these were a surprise gift so I had to take a leap of faith in hoping that these were going to fit okay.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQD3uSRHZvLNDb8R7BjOJwA_7RxzjjtmGqsYxqkdqLvMiVe1wAZ8WGfTtJ3LGJqaLNil1y4CEy3AiORsviW6OEtKjo-jrD313wgfB_lJKisKf3QxE56ev_3418wHru1-wK1P-IOLN7ytL/s1600/IMG_5638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQD3uSRHZvLNDb8R7BjOJwA_7RxzjjtmGqsYxqkdqLvMiVe1wAZ8WGfTtJ3LGJqaLNil1y4CEy3AiORsviW6OEtKjo-jrD313wgfB_lJKisKf3QxE56ev_3418wHru1-wK1P-IOLN7ytL/s640/IMG_5638.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fortunately, the fit seems to be pretty good, although after wearing them for a couple days he did mention that he would prefer the inseam to be about an inch or so longer. For the record, these are pretty short so that may be something to consider when making them for that special person in your life (or for yourself).<br />
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Most of the fabrics are <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/search?q=pickering">Pickering International knits</a> that I purchased from <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/">Fancy Tiger Crafts</a>. They're definitely not the most affordable knits, but I have loved every Pickering Knit that I've ever used and they're perfect for some undies. The elastic is from a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/StrapCrafts?ref=l2-shopheader-name">random Etsy store based out of China</a>. It's a bit of a crap shoot when buying elastics without being able to handle them, but fortunately 3/4 of them were perfect for the project (one ended up too stiff to use and the rainbow elastic had some issues when I sewed it on). I particularly love the black and white striped elastic and I wish I had bought a couple more yards of it.<br />
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As for the construction, I made the first version with the "exit" hole, but removed it for the following 3 pairs (which makes the undies even faster to construct). Using what I learned from making the kid's undies, I also opted to add zig-zag stitching over every sewn seam. This has made the kid's undies hold up really well over the years and I'm hoping that it'll work wonders for Ben's undies as well. I also used <a href="https://handmadephd.com/2015/12/20/comox-trunks-pattern-hacks/">this tutorial</a> to hide the seams when inserting the bottom gusset and it makes for a more professional (and probably more comfortable) finish.<br />
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Now we'll all be wearing homemade undies in 2018!Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-55818112007797470582017-12-27T16:06:00.001-08:002017-12-27T16:06:47.664-08:00Desmond Backpack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQAKFj69fXy0rh9auar1OVZTxb_CEwqJa6YiDzjoWjmT9r1RkATwqrEmpEMCr2UkSit9t_lGiZfPsYbx-EPAMd90YJSLbryyHS5Kiv_tQAg9nAyFf38u1oyJZGUiun9bnGNVcxe_8uunS/s1600/IMG_5654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQAKFj69fXy0rh9auar1OVZTxb_CEwqJa6YiDzjoWjmT9r1RkATwqrEmpEMCr2UkSit9t_lGiZfPsYbx-EPAMd90YJSLbryyHS5Kiv_tQAg9nAyFf38u1oyJZGUiun9bnGNVcxe_8uunS/s640/IMG_5654.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Over the past couple of years I've made exactly *zero* Christmas presents for family and friends and during that time I felt exactly *zero* guilt for choosing to do so. More than anything, it's the pressure associated with holiday sewing that turns me off. The idea that everything must be perfect (which is NOT how I usually sew) and that it has to be done by a certain time makes it more trouble than it's often worth. I mean, life has enough actual deadlines. Why add arbitrary ones on top of that?<br />
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But this year I got an early start on sewing presents, which is a good thing because I had to make this one twice in order to get it perfect (or as perfect as my sewing will ever be). I present to you the <a href="http://www.taylortailor.com/shop/patterns/desmond-roll-top-backpack-pattern/">Desmond Backpack</a> - a pattern by <a href="http://www.taylortailor.com/">TaylorTailor</a>. <br />
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Now, let's talk about my first version and what I learned from that little foray into sewing mistakes (full disclosure: the only bag I ended up photographing is my second version).<br />
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First, I learned that the sew-a-long on TaylorTailor is amazing so if you're thinking of making this pattern, definitely use that as a resource (in fact, I never actually used the instructions - just the sew-a-long). <br />
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Second, I learned to pay attention, because in finishing my first bag I realized that I sewed the straps on upside down so that the pretty webbing design feature on the straps ended up on the underside, leaving some not-so-pretty visible stitching on the outside. And with all the heavy duty extra stitching that you do in making this backpack, there was no way that I was ripping anything out. In the end I sewed a cute little square that covered the ugly stitching, but I was still pretty annoyed with myself. <br />
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Third, my first version was also in waxed canvas and I learned how finicky this fabric can be when it comes to ironing. There were times when even with a low-heat iron and a pressing cloth, the iron still left permanent marks on the fabric so for round number 2 I mostly just finger pressed seams. <br />
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And lastly, I learned function over beauty because for version number one I used cotton webbing simply because I liked the look of it better but it really doesn't feel as substantial as a backpack should and I wish I would have used the nylon stuff the first time around (plus, burning the edges is really fun).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU90dt3WOXrbXYlSs0LfLyFhyphenhyphenm-sExcQF0I9jGKQ5SNhv5gNDkMNEF4WtnrOj3tGHcIIupVBnApeweEmhXdk7mBa_Z0b_h_l1PtS-ZC9jVMW44-LGeTMcDBzZUkQLXAKaZ0YU9aGsSvaG/s1600/IMG_5656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAU90dt3WOXrbXYlSs0LfLyFhyphenhyphenm-sExcQF0I9jGKQ5SNhv5gNDkMNEF4WtnrOj3tGHcIIupVBnApeweEmhXdk7mBa_Z0b_h_l1PtS-ZC9jVMW44-LGeTMcDBzZUkQLXAKaZ0YU9aGsSvaG/s640/IMG_5656.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Okay, now on to version number two - with the exterior made from a <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/collections/tiffanis-staff-gift-pick-2017/products/waxed-canvas">beautiful waxed canvas</a> and the lining made from <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/products/monstera-canvas">Monstera Canvas by Cotton + Steel</a>. The waxed canvas is the green color way but to say that the color is subtle would be an understatement. It's really quite hard to see any green in it. It probably looks more gray than anything. Both were purchased from <a href="https://www.fancytigercrafts.com/">Fancy Tiger Crafts</a>, which may or may not be my new on-line guilty pleasure.<br />
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Both times around I bought the entire <a href="http://www.taylortailor.com/shop/patterns/desmond-backpack-hardware-kit/">hardware set</a> from Taylor Tailor. The quality is great and it's nice not to have to hunt around for all the odds and ends you need to make the bag. I opted to add padding in the form of quilt batting to the straps which made turning them a complete and total pain in the butt, but was well worth it in the end for a little extra comfort. I also paid attention and actually sewed the straps on right side up the second time around. Gold star for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47UVtvLhDyx9rPpDhKDyh2GKCrDZrUcQKbdx6DCmZ_yvGYbJLs9t33S9WjdJyIpabH_oEVojPYfw5ndL_YJkLUsm2uxpcn5ha3vCEbYR_sVat2Ns4BFfFg3jdSXQQyWVSGugBES0UZenR/s1600/IMG_5658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47UVtvLhDyx9rPpDhKDyh2GKCrDZrUcQKbdx6DCmZ_yvGYbJLs9t33S9WjdJyIpabH_oEVojPYfw5ndL_YJkLUsm2uxpcn5ha3vCEbYR_sVat2Ns4BFfFg3jdSXQQyWVSGugBES0UZenR/s640/IMG_5658.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Now for the controversial part - to roll the top forward or backward. As a biker and a lover of roll top bags, Ben swears that you're supposed to roll them backward for maximum effectiveness but I say roll whichever way suits your fancy. In fact, that's my general life philosophy for the most part.<br />
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You do you.<br />
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(Also, an extra-special thank you to Ben who was not actually the recipient of the bag. He just so happens to be the most willing, available model. Thanks, Ben!)Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-30565758285350334912017-12-19T09:42:00.004-08:002017-12-19T09:42:37.499-08:00De-flared Birkin Flares and a Tegna Sweater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Many moons ago (otherwise known as 17 months ago), I made my first pair of <a href="http://www.basteandgather.com/shop/birkin-flares">Birkin Flares</a>. They were the first pair of "real pants" that I had made and I was so pleased with the results. But sadly I quickly outgrew that pair of pants and they haven't been worn all that much over the past year because too tight pants = really uncomfortable.<br />
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So when it came time to re-enter the workforce this fall I turned back to the Birkin Flares pattern because I was in desperate need of new pants. Now 2 things that you should know about my work place:<br />
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1. It ain't fancy <br />
2. It ain't clean - so anything I wear to work needs to be machine washable<br />
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Now truth be told, this is actually the third pair of Birkins that I made after re-discovering the pattern this fall. I hope to talk about the other 2 at some point, but let's just focus on this pair of pants for now because they're my favorite pair (shhhh - don't tell the other pairs).<br />
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For this go around, I ended up tracing up 2 sizes up from my first pair to a size 30. I also ended up slimming out a bit of the lower thigh and taking away a lot of the flare. The pattern is great because once most of the pant is sewn together you can baste the outer legs and loosen or tighten as necessary for a perfect fit since denims can vary in how much give they have. In this case, I ended up taking in a bit more than the recommended seam allowance. Oh, and the fabric is <a href="https://fancytigercrafts.com/products/pacific-blue-stretch-denim-ind">Pacific Blue Stretch denim</a>, a made in the US denim that I purchased from <a href="https://fancytigercrafts.com/products/pacific-blue-stretch-denim-ind">Fancy Tiger Crafts</a>. It was great to work with and I love the deep indigo color. <br />
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As for finishing touches on these jeans, I used navy topstitching thread and opted to leave off the rivets, which I think gives it a bit more of a "trouser" feel than a "jeans" feel. Perhaps that makes them more appropriate for work - or so I'll just keep telling myself.<br />
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Now on to the sweater because - surprise - I made that too! The pattern is the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tegna">Tegna Sweater pattern </a>by Caitlin Hunter. Now I should confess that me and this sweater did not get along for the first 2 weeks that I worked on it. In fact, I may have cursed everybody's name who raved about how amazing this sweater was to knit. First off, you have to cast on 300 stitches and then knit a lace pattern and I ended up twisting my knitting when I joined it in the round, which required me to rip out hours of knitting. <br />
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Needless to say, I was not a happy camper at that point and was a bit bitter. But once you get through the first couple of rows of lace (I hate knit 4 togethers!), the knitting was much more enjoyable and I really do love the finished product. The fitted sleeves with the loose flowy top is unlike anything else I've made. And the fact that it's made out of <a href="https://fancytigercrafts.com/products/one-silky?variant=47142779084">ONE silky by Fiberstory</a>, a beautiful wool/silk combo yarn makes it sort of dreamy. It also made it stretch out in length when I blocked it, so it's longer than I originally planned but we just roll with the punches around here. I really do love wearing it, which is perhaps one of the highest compliments that you can pay to a handmade item. <br />
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The other highest compliment? That as soon as I finished this Tegna I went in search of yarn to make another. Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-15001744511135095662017-10-29T10:48:00.001-07:002017-10-29T10:48:42.000-07:00Hello. It's me. (*To be read in Adele's voice*)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, how do you start a blog post after 8 months of radio silence? By ignoring most of what has happened over the past 8 months, because it's been full of ups and downs and twists and turns - as most life paths are - and if I waited until I had the words to speak reflectively about it, you'd probably never hear from me again. So for now, we'll just focus on a sweater that I finished recently. <br />
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Now looking over my past couple of posts you might think "does she even sew anymore?" and I can assure you that I do. Yes, sewing definitely slowed down during my time in grad school - especially during those out-of-town clinical rotations - but it never completely dried up. As always, I'm just pretty terrible about getting around to taking pictures. It's good to know that in a world of constant change, some things stay the same.<br />
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Perhaps I feel more motivated to take pictures of knitted items because they're a much greater investment in time and I feel that I owe it to myself to at least get some photographic evidence of all the hours I spent knitting away. And this case, all the hours I spent cabling away, because look at all those cables! Fortunately, it was a super-basic cable pattern that didn't require a whole lot of brain power - just staying power.<br />
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The pattern is the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coastal-pullover">Coastal Pullover by Hannah Fettig</a> and the yarn is <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/valley-yarns-northampton?via=59dd2a87617070426a02591f%2C59dd2b6e617070426a069562">Valley Yarns Northampton in the gold color way</a>. I'm kind of smitten with this color lately, which seems very timely for fall, but truth be told, I also found myself making may items in this color in the height of spring and summer. Given my coloring, I'm not convinced that this is a color that I actually look good in, but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.<br />
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The pattern was good, although personally I was a bit confused as to how to continue the cable pattern with the raglan increases and sleeve decreases. I felt that I could have used a bit more guidance at that point but it all turned out just fine in the end. The neck is a little more of a funnel neck than I would have preferred and I should have followed the darn directions and bound off in pattern, but I'm also learning to not be so darn nitpicky about the things that I make. Are they perfect? Far from it. But as it turns out, that neither am I, so I'll just take them as a reflection of who I am.<br />
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As for the yarn, I have always been happy with the Valley Yarns that I've ordered. They seem to be a good product at a good price. The only issue I ever have is guilt at buying something on-line rather than supporting local yarn sstores, but sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. <br />
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And this girl's gotta get some motivation to document some of my favorite makes over the past year because 2017 is quickly coming to an end and how can I have an end of the year wrap up post if I've posted a whopping 3 finished items?Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-27520392890849478822017-02-05T09:56:00.000-08:002017-02-05T09:56:08.863-08:00Smitten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think that it's safe to say that when you knit the same pattern three times in a row, you are officially infatuated with the pattern. Which, of course, means that I'm infatuated with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bloomsbury-7">Bloomsbury Pattern</a> because this is the third one that I've made it in the last several months. <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/11/one-row-at-time.html">O often wears hers</a>, although sadly it seems like she's growing out of it at a super-sonic rate. And <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/12/one-bloomsbury-for-you-one-bloomsbury.html">my first Bloomsbury</a> is on regular rotation and probably gets worn at least once a week. <br />
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After finishing that one I knew that I wanted to make another one in a lighter color with a softer, squishier yarn. Manos de Uruguay was the perfect choice and I love that it's kettle dyed giving the sweater just a little bit more depth. And the yarn definitely lives up to the squishy factor that I was looking for. It's a single ply merino that is incredibly soft, although I fear that it'll probably pill pretty easily in the future because of this. We'll see.<br />
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I mostly just followed the pattern as it was written although I confess that I'm often not a stickler for counting rows (knit 14 rows for the collar? Eh, this looks about right). The pattern and I did get off to a bit of a rough start since the set up rows require a bit of concentration and I stupidly decided to start the sweater while watching a Harry Potter movie. Needless to say, there was a lot of starting over (and cussing). I also stupidly didn't read the pattern all the way through before starting the sweater (which is basically knitting 101), and because of this I missed adding in some of the lace pattern and, once again, found myself ripping back. Once the basic pattern was set up, though, it was smooth sailing and a really enjoyable knit. I've already worn the sweater a couple times and I can officially say that I'm smitten. <br />
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Smitten enough, in fact, to venture outside in some sort of Pacific Northwest snow/sleet to take these pictures.<br />
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<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-16027740834113365302017-01-07T18:08:00.001-08:002017-01-07T18:08:38.144-08:002016 SuperlativesI realize that 2017 is well underway but when I sat down to write a post about my 2016 makes I ran into a problem - namely, that in reviewing my posts from the past year I realized that I never posted about fifty percent of the things that I had made. This is what you get when you've been a slacker for the past twelve months. So, folks, this is about one part "2016 superlatives" and with a smidgen of catch-up thrown in for fun. And with that little disclaimer, let's get started!<br />
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MOST WORN</h4>
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Okay, first up - most worn for me. To choose this bra and undie set feels like a bit of a cop-out since I chose this pattern as a <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-superlatives.html">favorite pattern in 2015</a>, but this little <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/03/pretty-little-things.html">lacy Watson </a>set is definitely one of my most worn items for the year. This was the year I finally tried out the long-line version of the Watson (with my first attempt being a disaster thanks to the printing ratio being off) and I successfully experimented with making the Watson with lace edging, which I officially adore. Oh, Watson, you are so simple, yet so freaking awesome.<br />
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And as for the kids, probably the most worn item of 2016 was <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-one-in-which-i-take-advice-of-some.html">this Hummingbird dress</a>. Part of the lure of this dress was no doubt the fact that it's made out of double-gauze. I mean, who wouldn't want to wrap themselves in double gauze each and every day? I think O also loved the style of the dress and the addition of the lace over the bodice. And the tips that I was able to incorporate from other fine ladies who had already sewn their own versions of the dress definitely made it a more successful project. <br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"> LEAST WORN</span></h4>
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Definitely <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-marlborough-bra-round-two.html">this bra</a>. The bra band ended up being way too tight and it soon become apparent that it was going to be incredibly uncomfortable to wear for any significant period of time. So off it went to find a new home. Dear bra, may your new owner love you in a way I never could.<br />
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As for least worn for the kids, I'd say that <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/07/shorts-on-line-shorts-on-my-kids.html">these gold shorts</a> rarely saw the light of day thanks to C's extreme pickiness when it comes to clothes. In fact, you could put almost anything that I've made for C in the least worn category. And yet I keep making things for her. <br />
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What's that definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different results. Yeah, I may just be insane.<br />
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FAVORITE PATTERN</h4>
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For favorite pattern we're going to mix it up a bit this year and instead go with a favorite pattern designer because this year I sewed my first <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/">True Bias patterns</a> and I'm super-smitten with the results. The first pattern I tried out was the <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/emerson-crop-pant-shorts">Emerson Cropped Pants pattern</a>. It was released shortly after I sewed <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-whole-lotta-fabric-around-my-bottom.html">these incredibly voluminous culottes</a> and so I was excited to try out a more streamlined version of culottes. Fortunately, the pattern did not disappoint. They were so much easier to put together than the culottes that were made with yards and yards of fabric. I love that they have pockets and I'm a big fan of the length. I was a bit concerned aesthetically about the elastic in the back, but as it turns out, the elastic doesn't bother me a bit. I do wish that the rise was a tad bit higher and I think the next time I make them I'll put some pockets on the back just because I like the look of pockets on the bum a bit better, but other than that these pants are a hit and they got me excited to try another pattern - the <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/ogden-cami">Ogden Cami</a>.<br />
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Initially, I bought the <a href="http://shop.truebias.com/product/mini-ogden-cami">kid's version</a> of this pattern because I figured that O would love it and she certainly did. The first one was made from some leftover rayon challis, which is one of the great things about this pattern - how little fabric it requires. <br />
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In fact, when I finally got around to making a version for myself I bought the recommended amount - 2 yards - and with some creative layout techniques I managed to cut out one for myself and one for O which means that we now have matching tops. Hurray! Of course, it's now 20 degrees out so these tops probably won't see the light of day for several more months, but such is life. Also, as a testament to how much I love this pattern I have plans to sew many, many Ogden Camis in the future despite the fact that they probably aren't very practical for my lifestyle. Sometimes you just have to follow your heart. <br />
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PS - that fabulous cherry fabric is <a href="http://www.cottonandsteelfabrics.com/catalog/fabric/substrate/rayon/?page=3">Cotton + Steel rayon challis</a>. Gorgeous stuff!<br />
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OVERALL FAVAORITE PROJECT</h4>
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And now as we we wrap things up, I have to give a nod to my new found love of knitting because I managed to squeeze out a couple of sweaters before the year wrapped up and they are definitely some of my favorite makes. <br />
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For the kids, my overall favorte project has to be <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/11/one-row-at-time.html">this Bloomsbury Sweater</a> that I made for O and I'm happy to report that she gets a ton of wear out of it and the yarn has held up great. <br />
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As for me, I'm equally in love with <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/12/one-bloomsbury-for-you-one-bloomsbury.html">both</a> of the <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016/10/and-now-one-for-me.html">sweaters</a> that I knit for myself. To choose one would be like choosing between my children! I've made a lot of sweaters in the past and these are definitely two of the most wearable sweaters that I've ever made. The knitting bug has definitely hit me hard, but I couldn't be happier about it!<br />
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And with that, I wish you all a happy and healthy new year. <br />
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I plan on entering the new year with this quote in mind:<br />
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"I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I never let it keep me from doing a single thing that I wanted to do." - Georgie O'Keeffe<br />
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A look at years past:<br />
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<a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-superlatives.html">2015 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-superlatives.html">2014 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2013/12/2013-superlatives.html">2013 Superlatives</a><br />
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<a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2012/12/2012-superlatives.html">2012 Superlatives</a><br />
<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-46902765111428777272016-12-27T17:36:00.002-08:002016-12-27T17:36:53.827-08:00Hats!Now let me just preface this post by saying that I love Ben but something he's just plain wrong. Like when he tells me that a day playing in the snow is not the perfect opportunity to break out all our new hand knit items. <br />
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Um, snow days in the mountains are made for hand knits, am I right?<br />
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First up, C's new cat hat. Now we all know that C has a long-standing cat obsession. Over the years I've made her <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-things-we-make-for-our-children.html">not one</a>, but <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2015/09/meow-meow-meow-meow.html">two cat dresses</a>. She's had cat jewelry, cat shoes, cat tights and now she can add a cat hat to the mix. The pattern is <a href="https://andresueknits.com/2014/10/08/kitkat-hat-pattern/">free</a> and is really the simplest pattern to knit. It's written for an adult, but can be easily customized for a smaller head. I think I cast on 84 stitches (instead of 88) and knit until the hat was about 7 inches long. The hat essentially a square that is given shape by a small stitch on each "ear" and by the top of your head filling out the top of the hat. Because of that, be sure not to knit the hat too big because it's shape is less cat-like without your head filling out the top (I learned this the hard way). The yarn is <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/valley-yarns-amherst">Amherst merino</a> and is leftover from <a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/2016_12_01_archive.html">my Bloomsbury sweater</a>. I ended up with two leftover balls of yarn, which of course means that O also got a matching cat hat.<br />
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And if the kids each get a new hat, well, it's only fair that I get one too. Mine is the extra-slouchy version of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/16-sixteen-cable-hat">Sixteen Cable Hat</a>, with an added cable thrown in at the end. I was super-lazy in making this hat and didn't swatch when I should have, so it's a bit looser around my head than I would have preferred but I still love it and it's definitely been getting a lot of wear over the last couple of weeks. The yarn is <a href="https://www.yarn.com/products/valley-yarns-brimfield?via=57f6c82969702d26ae0186e9%2C57f6c87769702d26ae025b3e">Broomfield, a merino and silk blend put out by Webs</a>. It's lovely to knit with and lovely to wear and it seems to be holding up well.<br />
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And now, folks, we are officially ready for the cold weather!<br />
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<br />Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910474396862815244.post-79652284616228090002016-12-21T10:38:00.000-08:002016-12-21T10:38:09.562-08:00His Loss Is My Win<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As 2016 is wrapping up I'm realizing that there are a whole heck of a lot of things that I never got around to blogging about, mostly because I made them for me and often can't muster up the energy to take pictures. And when I do muster up the energy, it's at the end of the day and my clothes are sort of a wrinkly mess.<br />
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Like this Archer, for example. <br />
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Yes, yes, I made yet another <a href="http://shop.grainlinestudio.com/products/archer-button-up-shirt">Archer</a> (<a href="http://fakeitwhileyoumakeit.blogspot.com/search?q=archer">number 5</a> if you're keeping count), although I finally got around to lengthening the body which is a pretty small modification, but it definitely makes it more wearable.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LPPqxHdSzu2dqlRrDxkIyPNHzbdDefGJwExFptvSohxy-fRKhZCRR1vSHuuZJmuy86oqAdx0g4aQl19O25QaiUKHknsLlsVUNcCU5yWHsFdSDz7K_AJySGjXKODBrQOwvLgBx99jEoHA/s1600/IMG_5279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LPPqxHdSzu2dqlRrDxkIyPNHzbdDefGJwExFptvSohxy-fRKhZCRR1vSHuuZJmuy86oqAdx0g4aQl19O25QaiUKHknsLlsVUNcCU5yWHsFdSDz7K_AJySGjXKODBrQOwvLgBx99jEoHA/s640/IMG_5279.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The fabric is a Japanese cotton lawn that I bought several months ago at <a href="https://drygoodsdesignonline.com/">Drygoods Design</a>, but it looks like it's now sold out. I originally bought the fabric to make a shirt for Ben since he's been complaining that I sew for everybody but him, but the stripe is slightly uneven and variegated and the fabric is a bit crinkly and when I brought it home all he could say was "it hurts my eyes!" I tried to explain that if he was the one wearing the shirt, he would actually be the only one who wouldn't have to look at it (kind of like the <a href="https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/09/20/priority-french-writer-ate-lunch-everyday-base-eiffel-tower-place-paris-not-see-2/">guy who ate at the Eiffel Tower everyday so he wouldn't have to see it</a>) but he wasn't buying my superior logic. Fortunately, his rejection of my fabric wasn't an issue because it just meant that I got to use it for my own evil purposes. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF1C57iB6tTW61vCW7iH1TjuKeQZt11pDu1xFlnyQ9a69qj-C0IndQ8h5xfJWnLL0X_pz6Lt8kLjgVdW1jYL-4OCcLjrMPrn7a99ZhsBA4ZGtlTyrALae0H4sKa04k4-oUz_Wtg_mfSuX/s1600/IMG_5277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTF1C57iB6tTW61vCW7iH1TjuKeQZt11pDu1xFlnyQ9a69qj-C0IndQ8h5xfJWnLL0X_pz6Lt8kLjgVdW1jYL-4OCcLjrMPrn7a99ZhsBA4ZGtlTyrALae0H4sKa04k4-oUz_Wtg_mfSuX/s640/IMG_5277.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some might even accuse me of purposely buying a fabric that Ben hates so that I could ultimately use it all for me. <br />
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But, of course, they would be wrong.Carolynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14329368015151415166noreply@blogger.com4