Archive for March, 2007

Mar 31

I always knew it…

Today I got validation of something I have always believed. I am Hermione Granger.

I used to work in a local independent bookstore. I went in there today to kill some time with my boyfriend before we saw The Producers (so good!). I wandered downstairs to the desk where I used to be, and my old boss was there. We were chatting and he mentioned that they are keeping my resume. I said that I’d let them know if I was free around Christmas to help out. He said that he was thinking more for Harry Potter Day (July 21st!). I let him know that I would LOVE to work that.

Then he looks at me sideways and says ‘I always thought you had a very Hermione look about you’. I laugh, and said I’ve been told I act like her too. To this he laughs and nods (humph!), and then says they are going to be doing a big thing the night before, and then all day that day, and I think I agreed to be Hermione for it! He said he is certainly going to let the other managers know, and make sure my resume is kept nearby.

I think that may just be the coolest thing in the world.
Tomorrow or the next day I think I may follow up with the Kids department manager (it was actually my boss’s last day today, so he won’t be around to remind everyone).

Not to boast, but I think I’d be great. Hermione is me. I am her. I was that kid in school. I mean, they don’t even have to rent me a costume, I’ve got my own uniform still from high school. :P

1
comments

Posted in Uncategorized

Mar 30

Blogiversary-ish

I missed my unversary earlier this month! Strictly, I started my blog in September of 2004, but I only moved over to blogger in March 2006. Happy un-versary to me!

That said, I don’t have much to show from the past while. I have turned the heel on my first Roza sock, done the shaping and a few plain rows. Not much else. I’ve been uber-tired, so when they haven’t asked me to actually WORK and work (the impertinence! working? pah!) I’ve just felt sleepy and brain-dead. I’ve played a lot of Spider Solitare, Killer Su Doku (how can I concentrate on that but not a sock?), and looking at sewing patterns and fabric online.

I think, when I have time again, I’ll really like sewing. That collared shirt I started has been in a terrible state. I’ve got the pocket attached, and half a sleeve attached to each of the fronts. Nothing else. Rehearsal started and ate my life on the 18th.

I work (if you can call it that) from 8:30am-4pm, get home at 4:20ish, leave the house by 5:10pm at the latest, and am at rehearsal from 5:30pm-10ish. Luckily, the director has seemed tired the past few days, and has made an effort to finish early. But that still leaves me getting home late, typing up my notes/report of the rehearsal and feeling bone-tired. And always, somewhere in there, someone has to load/unload the dishwasher, clean the dishes that don’t fit, tidy the island so it can be used, and I still am YEARNING to get that storage room cleaned out. Sadly, the boything hasn’t been able to help out, as he has had a pretty similar schedule recently only he’ll start a bit later, and be home closer to midnight. Ahh, what we do for art. :)

That said, there’s all sorts I want to buy. Bad, consuming me. HotPatterns.com has some amazing clothing patterns, much more modern than anything Fabricland has. I’ve almost convinced myself to splurge on those. Then there’s Cookie’s sock patterns. I love all the knee socks. Would I ever finish a pair? Who knows. But after looking at the HotPatterns prices, these are ever so affordable.

My favourite line in the HotPatterns collection is the ‘Artful Dodger’ line. I just love that Victorian menswear-inspired look. Maybe I’ll work on getting together a good winter wardrobe. And some summer dresses. And a cardi-wrap. And so, SO much!

I have birthday money coming, so I may splash out as a treat for myself. Speaking of birthday, my amazing boyfriend bought us tickets to The Producers for tomorrow! I’m excited, we weren’t going to be able to go because of his show schedule, and my rehearsals schedule, but then my rehearsals were shuffled, making room for the Saturday matinee. Mum finds it highly amusing that two people ‘in the business’ have a much harder time seeing shows than everyone else. Ironic? Yes. Funny? No.

1
comments

Posted in Sewing, Socks

Mar 25

Insta-project

So I have finished both sleeves on the capecho now. I actually did that last Monday. I still need to knit the collar, sew the seams and see if it fits. I was a bit scared of that, so on Tuesday I decided I wanted a quickie project, something small. I dug in the stash, and pulled out a skein of Crystal Palace Cotton Chenille. A pattern for a washcloth shaped like a flower (from Weekend Knitting, I believe) was in the first knitting magazine I ever bought (IK Winter 2003). I started and finished on the same day. I wove in ends the next day only because I had rehearsal that night, and so no time after dinner.
IMG_2455.JPG
I have two more skeins, one in a baby blue, the other in apple green. I think they (and some nice soap) will be mum’s Mother’s Day present. The washcloth is just perfect for a quick knit.
Then Wednesday, I still didn’t feel up to tackling the rest of the capecho of doom, so I decided to get some more stash on the go before my Webs order arrived (it, incidentally, was shipped Friday) so I started on one of the projects I marked in the newest IK. Roza’s Socks:
IMG_2456.JPG
The yarn is Lorna’s Laces in Somerset and is behaving very nicely, no pooling so far. We’ll see what it does on the foot though. I’m about an inch away from turning the heel. I hope to finish this one before the month is out.
I did all that sock at work listening to the audiobook of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I love that book. Love love love. So much so, that I had this idea (dangerous I know). I want to start making my own clothes. What if I embroidered a little raven on each one? Somewhere hidden, it’d be my label. That, and then I had this vision of a pair of perfectly-fitting pants (sigh) with a quote on the inside of the waistband. Literary clothing, it is the next big thing. It can be the Childermass collection.

1
comments

Posted in Socks

Mar 19

Length of a piece of yarn?

Back in the summer of 2006 I tallied up my entire yarn stash, and put it in a spreadsheet. I then I set it up to calculate the number of kilometres of yarn that I own. I just tell it how many balls of the yarn I have, metres per ball, and how many balls of said yarn I have used so far.
Every now and then I make a note on one side of what the stash was sitting at on a certain date.
July 2006 (when I did started the sheet): 8.33km
Jan 1 2007: 7.65km
Today: 6.5km (about 4 miles for the Americans)

I’m doing rather well, especially as I’ve bought yarn this year. I do have to confess though, that it’s only so amazing today because I sold 12 skeins of brown Waterspun on eBay recently. That’s 1.4 km of yarn. Then again, 900m went into Rambling Rose, and close to that has gone into the Capecho so far. Clapotis was 500m, it all adds up. But, managing the stash isn’t just about making stuff out of the yarn, it’s about thinking about what you will actually use. I didn’t think I’d use my novelty yarn, so I donated it. I was tired of this brown yarn, so I sold it.

Also, I may have alluded to a large Webs order. I was feeling bad about that, even though I can afford it. I also had promised myself that I would constrain my yarn stash to one drawer unit, and I need room for the coming Webs stuff. I may need to get rid of more… But there isn’t anything else that screams ’sell me!!’, so I’ll just have to get knitting.

1
comments

Posted in Seven Things, Stash

Mar 15

Progress report

I haven’t posted in a bit! And I’ve been busy. ish.
First, I don’t think I’ve ever posted pics of the capecho:
IMG_2453.JPG
That’s where I currently am. Tomorrow I should finish sleeve 2 (sleeve 1 is on the left looking weird because it is on a stitch holder) and hopefully start the collar. I’m leaving the sleeves on holders in case I want to lengthen them.
I haven’t tried it on… I only finished that first sleeve today, but I’m a bit scared. And I’m so close now I may as well finish. Wrapping it around me when it was just a line of pentagons, it did seem a bit long. I’m hoping sleeves will pull stuff down? Failing that, do you think it would be possible to get rid of the first pentagon? Un-pick it? The thing is, other pentagons are picked up along its edges; will they unravel, or can I fix that? We’ll see I guess when I get there. Each pentagon is 4″ on a side, instead of 5″ for the XS so hopefully it’ll work out.
I ordered some yarn off Etsy a while back, and it arrived the other day.
IMG_2448.JPG IMG_2450.JPG
They are both from Yarn Ahoy, who is now actually on vacation. The laceweight is amazing, all tan, gold, a touch of orange, a touch of green. It’s going to be something from Victorian Lace today (Leaf and Trellis with Trellis border I think? In the book it is yellow). The handspun is equally lovely, but unfortunately, I ordered sock yarn (in similar but darker colours than the laceweight). I emailed, and got one back the same day saying to keep the handspun, and she will send the sock yarn out free of charge. Now that is service. :)
This evening I went to Fabricland to get interfacing for the shirt I’m making. And of course, you can’t go into Fabricland without buying other stuff. Stuff I need though, like a seam ripper (mine broke), rotary cutter (whee!), thread (oooh, not black or white!), some patterns (I was planning on those), and some fabric (not planning on that).
I’m going to make a summer dress (one of the patterns I bought) and I found the cutest fabric:
IMG_2444.JPG
Bugs, frogs, lizards and leaves. So cute! And see what the leaves say?
IMG_2446.JPG
I’m an explorer! (Why do I hear that in a Ralphie Wiggum voice?)
Cute, casual, summer dress coming right up. After I make one in the stripe.

My gripe with the pattern I bought (McCalls 4826) was that it had two possible envelopes to buy. One was sizes 4-10, the other 12-18. Looking at the measurements, I couldn’t decide if I am a 10 or a 12! (which is a weird debate in itself, because most things I own are a 2 or 4). In the end I did notice that they had a finished garment measurement as well, so I went with the 10. That was odd, because a size 12 is a 34″ bust, but the finished garment bust was 35.5″. Halters are not something you want ease in, I thought. A 10 has a finished bust of 34″, but the body measurements say bust = 32.5″. As I’m 33″-ish, I think I made the right choice…. But that’s why I’ll make a muslin.

2
comments

Posted in Sand Dollar Cardi, Sewing

Mar 11

Bits and bobs

So this is what happened to my needle:
IMG_2442

I’m going to email the Denise company and let them know.

I finished sewing the skirt! I put in a zip! Did French seams! Made some mistakes! But it fits, and there’s no raw edges hanging out. And when I say fits…. when they say ‘waist measurement’ they mean WAIST. I’m so used to the waistbands of everything I own being below my belly button, that I sort of forgot. So the skirt fits, but definitely sits much higher than anything else I own. Not that I’ll be wearing it, this was a learning thing.

Tonight I cut out fabric for my next project, the green shirt from this pattern:
IMG_2433.JPG
Although I’m doing it in a stripe, with one pocket that I have stolen from the pink version. The same stripe I did the skirt in, actually. I started with 9m of that fabric, I’m going to have a whole wardrobe soon.
It was great, the pattern was already cut out for me! And all the bits were still there, which was a worry.

I have frogged the Bubble-stitch Vogue sweater, and I’ve actually put the yarn up on eBay. A whole 12 skeins of Classic Elite Waterspun! I’ve just had it for so long and never done anything, it’s just excess baggage. That, and I have ordered some yarn, and I need to (a) make space and (b) feel not so guilty by selling some stuff. It’s not like I can’t afford it, I’m just not used to having extra yarn money. I made a Webs order. And let’s just say I qualified for the 25% discount. In my defense, I will be receiving yarn for 5 projects ($1.50 Cardi, Eyelet Rib Bandeau, Anemoi Mitts, Raspy, Crinkle), and if you average the price out, it’s super cheap. Usually for sweaters I end up paying more more for yarn than I would for ready-made, but this is much, much cheaper. But yeah, I was just tired of looking at that brown yarn. It’s making me wonder what else I can sell off.

I’ve got some beaded necklaces I made ages ago, I never wear them. I may put those up on Etsy. Hm, if I take pictures tonight, I can do that from work tomorrow….

I’ve done a couple more pentagons on the Sanddollar/Capecho thing. With my gauge, each side is coming out at 4″, a whole inch smaller than the smallest size listed. I’m hoping this will cut down on the flappyness. Tomorrow I should finish the last pentagon, and start on the sleeves!

Tomorrow evening the boything and I are going to see 300 in IMAX which will be so cool. The last thing we saw in IMAX was V for Vendetta, so it has a tough act to follow. :)

1
comments

Posted in Bubble-stitch Sweater, Sand Dollar Cardi, Sewing

Mar 08

BLARGH

So I couldn’t knit yesterday at my boring job because I broke a needle. Today I brought a fixed needle.

But I left the pattern at home.

Usually I ignore all the Mercury in retrograde stuff. Maybe there is some truth in it.

0
comments

Posted in Uncategorized

Mar 07

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!

At work, nothing to do, and my needle broke!
It is my trusty Denises, the black bit that attaches the needle to the cord snapped in half. Most of it is still in the needle tip.

What am I supposed to do for another 4 hours? I purposely didn’t bring a book so I would knit more and get more done. poo.

0
comments

Posted in Sand Dollar Cardi

Mar 06

Sew Thrifty!

I’ve been trolling sites like Craigslist and Freecycle, trying to score some cheap sewing stash. I want to do this right, and so I just want time to try different things, to learn that way. I don’t want to go out and buy zippers or bias binding. So, on usedcalgary.com, I found a lot of notions, and went and picked it up tonight.
IMG_2430.JPG
I’m excited about the zippers. There was also a lot of stuff labeled ’seam binding’. How does that work? I assume you use it on seams, but where? Sew it on after? Fold it under? I’ll find out, I’m sure.
And isn’t this lace cute?
IMG_2431.JPG
After I did that I was feeling in a thrifty mood, so I went to Value Village, the one farthest from my house. I figured I was already way out of my way from finding the lady’s house, may as well go a bit farther. And oh, did it pay off.
I bought some fabric, again for testing:
IMG_2432.JPG
The floral is heavier weight, almost a twill. I realise now that it is a curtain, I couldn’t see the top edge in the store. The other one is very lightweight polyester-type thing that I’m sure will be an interesting challenge to sew. It has a bit of stretch too.
Then I browsed the patterns, which was an adventure. I was giggling to myself, and you will soon see why:
IMG_2433.JPG
I would wear this shirt!
IMG_2434.JPG
Plain-old summer dresses, not bad.
IMG_2435.JPG
The shirt dress I would wear. The white outfit however, is not a shirt and pants, oh no, it’s a jumpsuit
IMG_2436.JPG
THE PANTS!! OMG THE PANTS!! I would wear the tops. BUT THE PANTS!1!!!11

And then my major find, and the only thing in the whole night that cost more than $5:
IMG_2437.JPG
Yes, yes that is a Harry Potter duvet cover. No, I will not be wearing it, I think I may make a bag.
The great thing about the duvet is that before Christmas I went thrifting, and I was looking for pillowcases for felting, so the lint doesn’t clog the machine. I found two Harry Potter pillowcases and bought them just because, well, I had to! And that was at a different VV Boutique. I had even been plotting what to do with the pillowcases, and wishing I had a contrast fabric. Now I have a bed’s worth. :)

1
comments

Posted in Sewing

Mar 06

Spring IK

But first, go here and help another Heather bring literacy to the world! You may even get some yarn. :)

Yesterday I updated my Flickr set of Future Projects. It was a nice feeling, deleting the few that I have made, but I added in more than I took out. And there’s still tonnes more that I just haven’t gotten around to putting in there. But here is what I’m thinking about from the new IK:
Dollar and a Half Cardi
Dollar and a Half Cardi.
LOVE IT. WANT IT NOW. I think I want to try a bamboo yarn, it needs to be a drapey one (well the patern yarn is linen!). It’d be a nice summery sweater. I want to use a colour, but if I do it in a neutral, I could wear it with everything… Navy blue? That same brown?
Entrelac Socks
Entrelac Socks.
SO CUTE! Not entirely sure how comfy they would be, but they are adorable.
And, does anyone know where Eunny has gone? The socks are her design, and I love reading her blog, but it hasn’t been updated for a while. Or bloglines has lost her.
Eyelet RIb Bandeau
Eyelet rib Bandeau
Very cute I think, it could also work over a collared shirt too. An alternative to a vest for office wear. I’m thinking teal, or emerald green.
Green Tea Raglan
Green Tea Raglan
Cute, kinda plain, which can be good. I really don’t like doing moss stitch though, so probably not.
Roza's Socks
Roza’s Socks
I like socks. I like that this pattern is simple too, so you could do it with a variagated yarn.

I think my first project from this mag will most likely be the Bandeau, then the cardi. And the socks in there somewhere.

0
comments

Posted in Future Knits

Mar 05

Wardrobe Refashion

Wardrobe Refashion

The new round doesn’t start till April, but I’d just like to post this now. I may still buy things between now and April, but I’m going to try not to. I have to admit, for all of April it will be very easy not to buy clothes as I will have no free time. May, I do have time though, so that is when my willpower will be tested. :) I’m letting myself buy fabric though, as I want to try sewing clothes.

The Pledge
I Ryrafty pledge that I shall abstain from the purchase of “new” manufactured items of clothing, for the period of 2 months. I pledge that i shall refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items for myself with my own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of my contract. I pledge that I will share the love and post a photo of my refashioned, renovoated, recylcled, crafted or created item of clothing on the Wardrobe Refashion blog, so that others may share the joy that thy thriftyness brings! Signed Rycrafty.

The Rules
1. No buying new! (handmade is excepted; So this allows for Etsy purchases etc!!) All clothing must be Recycled, Renovated, Preloved or Thrifted, or Handmade only for the term. Employment related and special needs clothing (ie sports, school), shoes and undies are excepted from the rules, although you are encouraged to have a go at making these.
2. In extreme circumstances, maybe a special event, or the worlds greatest and most amazing never to be repeated sale that you simply can not pass up, you may use the Get out of Refashionista Jail Free card. You are able to use this card once during the 2 month part of your contract; ie 1 for 2 months, 2 for 4 months etc. Of course you need to fess up on the blog and display the button!
3. You must post on the blog at least once a week to let the community know what you’ve been up to. This will not only give you brag points, but inspire and encorouge others! Of course you need to display the button on your blog and have copied the pledge in at least one post, and provide a link to your pledge under the button.
4. You need to be honest and admit when you’ve fallen off the Refashionista Wagon! Go directly to Refashionista Jail, do not pass GO and do not collect $200! Apply for parole once there.

0
comments

Posted in Wardrobe Refashion

Mar 04

Taming the BEAST

I have taken the first steps.
Here we see the BEAST in its natural habitat:
The BEAST
(Up until December, its natural habitat was an old wine box. It has insisted on staying out.) Lucky funny-bear standing by in case of meltdown.

IMG_2428.JPG IMG_2427.JPG

And there was no meltdown! I sewed straight! On the lines! I played with the different stitches it does too, as you can see. It can apparently also sew on buttons, but that is just scary. I’ll do that myself, thanks.

I went to FabricLand yesterday and bought that fabric from the remainder section. Stripes on purpose, so I can practice. There are only so many straight lines you can sew though, so this week I’m going to start on a simple A-line skirt from Sew U. I bought this book (along with In Stitches) an embrassingly long time ago, with the intention to do just this. But I’ve finally built up the courage, and dare I say it, enjoyed sewing my lines.

I was proud of myself for leaving FabricLand with nothing but a membership and cheap-o practice fabric. I wandered for a while, and have all sorts of ideas, but didn’t buy anything else.

I did find buttons for Rambling Rose, pictures… soonish. My photographer is working 14-hour days all this week, so I won’t see him much and definitely not in daylight.

Saturday Seven:
On my way to FabricLand I dropped of a box of all the stuff I’ve collected recently to give away. One full office paper box, and about half a garbage bag. Mainly clothes, some books.

0
comments

Posted in Seven Things, Sewing

Mar 02

Sneak Peak

My creation

I’m going out to buy buttons tomorrow. Soon the real thing with whole pictures!

0
comments

Posted in Rambling Rose

Mar 01

Redecorating

The other night I got a sudden urge to re-do our computer room. It’s the only room in the house that really didn’t fall perfectly into place. In all the other rooms, the furniture all just magically fell into place and fitted. The computer room is fine, usable, but not quite as nice.
What I really feel it lacks is a desk for me. I have one, a very very small one, but I want something I can spread craft projects out on. I got the sewing machine out just before Christmas, and it was just so frustrating, because the desk is basically the same size as the machine. If I wanted to cut, I had to be on the floor. If I wanted to use the machine I had to clear every single other thing off the desk. The feeling of trying to work and being to cramped and all that mess I’d just created all around me (not to mention the fact that I can’t work a sewing machine to save my life) just made me cranky.
We also need to figure out how we can fit a futon into our house. So, I got a measuring tape, my scale ruler and some paper and went at it. When the plan was done I cut Post-its into the shapes of furniture, and went about finding the perfect layout. The room (about 9′x 11′, minus a closet nook, and with an odd angled wall) needs to fit the boyfriend’s computer desk, a futon, and my planned big wonderful craft desk (ha!).
I think it can be done. It will be cramped whatever happens, and when the futon is in bed form, it will be very very much in the way, but that’s to be expected.
I’ll take some photos of my drafting and post them when I get home.

I’d definitely need to save up some serious moolah to buy said desk, drawers, shelves, etc, but I think before I let myself spend more money at Ikea, I need to make a deal.

I need to learn to use my sewing machine, and love it. I want to make skirts and shirts and things, I want to make a quilt/blanket. I just can’t get over the hate I have for said machine. The desk and crafty area would most suit a sewing machine, I’d have all sorts of space for cutting, laying out. But I need to learn to love it before I remodel.

The desk idea though isn’t just for the sake of the sewing machine. It’d be nice to have a space for my laptop other than the coffee table with the cord running across the room. It’d be nice to have a big table for when I’m going through a script. I put off any work like that right now because I either have to hunch over the island, or hunch over the coffee table, or lie on the floor. And I know I could have my own craft business, but I can’t do that from the uncomfortable floor.

…I guess the hunching over the island thing would be cured by cutting a tiny bit off our current chairs, but we haven’t gotten around to that. We have no saw at home.

With all this in mind, I’ve been surfing and finding the most amazing pictures of other people’s studios and workspaces. I’m sure they have their own faults, but the grass is always greener and all that.

But first, learn to love the sewing machine. Feel the love.

EDIT:
the (cunning) plans.
Option 1:
Option 1 Option 1

Option 2:
Option 2 Option 2

Option 4 (option 3 was just dumb, but is on Flickr if you really want to know):
Option 4 Option 4

I think I like 2… but this is the last I’m going to think about this until I can tame the beast.

0
comments

Posted in My home