Prom, 2000 – yes that’s me and the husband, when we were young!

Years ago my personal sewing style was to make something quick and dirty.  I knew all the right things to do, but I deliberately cut all the corners to get so a finished garment fast.  But along the way I started to knit – a lot.  Knitting forces you to slow down, to consider every single stitch and how it affects design and shape.  The more advanced I became in knitwear, the more I realised how I appreciate a well-thought-out garment and a perfect fit.

When I would have in the past sewn a quick shirt that after a few months I’d realise isn’t fitting right, or doesn’t sit well in my wardrobe, I found myself just not sewing at all.  Then I started lose faith in my sewing abilities.  I’d been so out of practice, and a lot of the more recent things I’d made I just wasn’t that keen on anymore.  If you’ve read this blog for a few years, you may remember the Crafters’ Ceilidh, a blogger meet-up in Edinburgh.  Meeting up with so many fantastic sewists renewed my resolve to get back into sewing again, and to do things right this time.  That’s when I made Minoru.  What a success that was!

Then I made a Lonsdale dress.  Again, a slow but perfect success. I was really started to understand that by taking time, planning, sewing in stages (no more all-nighters ending in tired sewing and angry seam-ripping), I could make a real piece that was just perfect for me.  And perfect enough to wear to my big brother’s wedding!

And now, I’m on to my next project.  The Kat Strapless Dress by Grainline Studio.

[Image via]

A few weeks ago I bought and downloaded the pattern.  Last weekend I bought my fabric – enough of each colour to later decided which should go where.  This weekend I made a muslin while watching dressmaking videos.  Months back, I also purchased the Sew Retro Bombshell Dress online class by Gretchen Hirsch through Craftsy.

[Image via]

I don’t think the lines of that dress are right for me, and while in the future I could easily adapt it to something more me, I’m not just ready to do that yet.  So while working this weekend on the Kat dress muslin, I watched through a lot of the class videos, just for tips and to get into the dressmaking mindset.  It really helped to learn a few tricks I didn’t already know, and was nice to have on also in the background.  Plus if something strikes you and you want to ‘bookmark’ it, you can with a notes option!  So while watching the videos, I also started to think about which colours to put where.  I realised I couldn’t visualise it properly and had to sketch out different versions.

I thought that I’d prefer the predominantly pink version, thinking it needed the heavy blue at the bottom to anchor it, but looking at the predominantly blue version, I think that’s my actual favourite. Which is good because blue is more flattering to my skin than pink. It was easier to continue with the muslin too, after having made the decision. Its nice to envision which fabric I’d be working with when on a particular piece.

So it turns out that the fit of the muslin is perfect!  Obviously, you see it here pinned to the mannequin, but that’s just for display.  The mannequin isn’t exactly my size, but rather more for photography purposes – rest assured, it does fit me!  Some might think, well that was a waste of time since no pattern alterations were needed but I’m glad that I made the muslin.  I feel that sewing the muslin familiarised me with the pattern and steps.  I now know where I should clip in order to prevent puckers, and I know where to expect trouble.  There are a few puckers and creases, but I now know where to expect the trouble, and how to compensate for it.

Making the muslin of a pattern whose design you are still working out the details for is super helpful in encouraging you to make those decisions.  Plus now, I’ve had the time to think about other changes to make.  For example, I’ve decided (thanks to the Bombshell videos) that I’d like to underline the skirt portion with organza to give it more body.  Looks like I went from a sewer who used to cut corners now to one who creates more corners.

This morning after assessing the finished muslin, I decided to clean up, shower, and do dishes.  Years ago I’d have stayed in my pajamas, dirty, hunched over the machine all day, rushing and making bad decisions (sure, why not a pink zipper for a blue dress? I don’t really care).  But today I’m glad I put it all away.  I’m excited to get it all out next weekend, once my properly-matched zipper and my organza have come in.  I think my finished dress will be just perfect for taking my time.  So now, 9 PM on a weeknight, what I really want to do is start cutting out that fabric, but what I should do, and will do, is settle in with some tea, my ongoing blanket knitting, and a book (I’m currently reading Foundation on my Kindle) to wind down before bed.  Look at me, growing up!

Exhibit A.
Pattern:  Aestlight Shawl
Designer: Gudrun Johnston, The Shetland  Trader
Yarn: Shilasdair Luxury 4-ply
Status:  Nearly 3 years old.  Worn year-round on an almost daily basis.  When I ride in airplanes or in long car-rides, this is my security blanket.  On cold wintry days, I tie it tight around the neck.  Note in the fourth image, while any eye can spot the yarn breaking from far too much wear, a trained eye can spot where I first mended a previous hole.  The week after the mend, a new break sprouted, and I have yet to mend it.

Exhibit B.
Pattern: Simmer Dim
Designer: again, Gudrun Johnston, The Shetland  Trader
Yarn: High-Twist British Falkland by Ripples crafts (yarn no longer available)
Status:  Nearly 2 years old.   The shape of this piece is best for shawl-style-wear and I prefer to wear my shawls to the front like a bib.  So while this shawl has not become my staple, I do very much love it.  The simplicity of the design works really well.

Exhibit C.
Pattern: Kirkja Shawl from Knit Now Magazine
Designer: Karina Westermann, Fourth Edition
Yarn: Highland Pony Sport by YarnPony
Status: A week old!  I started this for a quick and instant-gratification project, and boy did it gratify!  I love fun and simple projects.  The yarn was so squishy and soft, and the each stitch of the lace pattern fed beautifully into the next.

So I’m not sure what I’ll cast on next, but I think I’ll be more careful next time I reach for the green!  Do you find yourself inexplicably drawn to similar shades or styles?

Fun, quick, perfect.  I was still agog over the tubular cast-on after having talked about it in the class I taught at EYF, so I thought, better give it a go.  Gosh, it makes a firm and sturdy (yet flexible and NOT tight) hat brim.  Ysolda does a fabulous video on this cast on.

On a different topic (albeit wooly still), a few weekends ago was Easter.  I spent the Saturday with my friend and colleague Lizzy, working an event for Eribe.  The event was called Casting the Net and was organised by the Borders Arts Trust.  They did a fantastic job on the event and there were loads of visitors.  Felicity, one of the project managers, did an excellent blog post about it all.  She even got a nice picture of me at work!

(c) Felicity Bristow

It was really fun to set up Eribe products, interract with the visitors, and teach everyone to knit/finger-knit!

(c) Felicity Bristow

On Easter Sunday, Trent & I strolled up to a nearby farm to visit some lambs.  They were wearing clear plastic jackets – I assume the jackets are meant to keep the lambies warm, as it is still unseasonably cold here.

And then, emerging from the open barn, were some just-born lambs! Following their mummy! Being herded! Under the watchful eyes of the cows!

Of course, some weren’t ready to follow just yet and had to be carried.

What a treat to see some just-born lambs! I hope to befriend a farmer next lambing season and actually get to see some births. The rest of the walk was relatively lamb-free, but we sure did get a eye-ful of the lovely Scottish Borders landscape.

Here’s hoping for a long warm summer, and soon!

I made it to Edinburgh early on an 8:20 bus through snow and rain, and trudged with my supplies through the city I love and miss, and joined the (HUGE!) queue that was already forming outside the Old Drill Hall where EYF was held.

Once I made it through the doors, I could not believe my eyes!  The hall was jam-packed with stalls, full to bursting with lovely yarn and fleece and patterns, not to mention the CROWD!  I couldn’t really take too many pictures because the place was so bustling, but I did make my way straight to the merchandise table for some goodies!

I mulled around taking in the excitement and catching up with so many knitterly friends!  Some people I hadn’t seen in years (Helen of Ripples Crafts, and Fiona – what a lovely surprise!), and some I just hadn’t seen since our move to Galashiels (Rachel, and the rest of the knitting group).  Ysolda was there with her lovely assistants Sarah and Bex, and of course her beautiful samples, books and the photo booth!  Cassandra of The Stitchery was there, as well as my good friend and fellow EYF teacher Vala (if you recall she & Iain of The Lindstrom Effect did the brilliant EYF logo), and also fellow teacher (and fabby designer) Karina!

I was a bit distracted until my class and stole into the room a bit early to set up.  The students were really keen and eager to learn, which made for such a great environment!  I met some really great knitters and loved getting to know them, learn about their projects and experiences, and share with them the tricks and the techniques that I love using.  The time passed of course far too quickly – I felt we could have gone on for hours more!  After the class, I was ready to shop, and Rachel & I ran all around chatting and browsing.  By the time I left, the cow which the Craft Reactor folk where working on had completely been transformed into a sheep!  Fantastic work!

I pretty much zoned out on the bus ride home, quickly learning that I was too tired even to knit!  And now, the following morning, I find myself sleepy still, but recovered enough to blog and play with my new toys!  I’d made off with more loot than I usually allow myself to buy, and felt pretty good about my purchases.

I hear talk of the event being on for next year, and sincerely recommend you try and attend if you can!  What a fantastic event, which Edinburgh really needed!  A huge HUGE “Well done” to the amazing organisers - Jo, Mica and Linda.  You really outdid yourselves, and deserve a huge thanks!  I am so honoured to have been involved, thank you.

Last weekend, I had the lovely opportunity to go the the Wool Festival in St. Abbs.  The event is run by Louise of Woolfish.  I got a ride with my pal Mica, of YarnPony fame, and helped set up the stall (translate: got to fondle lovely yarns!)

There were some other really interesting stalls there too, and of course really lovely people.

Jennie Howe’s hand spun yarns were lovely, and the stand she put together was pretty enticing.

There were some extraordinary hand-knots by Morag Patterson, who runs a lovely knit-to-order bespoke service.

Some lovely geurnseys were on display, courtesy of Mavis Clark.

I really enjoyed meeting with Jon and Claire of Natural Born Dyers (what a great name!).  Jon demonstrated to me their “Spurtzler” spindles, which were pretty interesting, and supposedly simple!

I’m excited to see them again in a few weeks at Edinburgh Yarn Festival, where perhaps I’ll be brave enough to buy a Spurtzler of my own!

I was however brave enough to buy some fleece.  I’d just seen some images recently of the Manx Loaghtan breed (Oh! the horns!) and couldn’t resist buying some of the fleece to try on my new drop spindle.

Before leaving, I had to pop around the town really quickly, just to see how lovely this seaside Borders town was. What do you think?!

And of course, upon returning home I just had to break the fleece out and give the drop spindle a go. More on that later!