Habit forming

I have belonged to Ravelry for awhile now. I find I have a ritual when I start to look at my bookmarks in the morning. I start with 3 or 4 clothing blogs, 1 online fabric store, and then I get on to Ravelry. First up, I go to groups, I am just so curious as to what new groups have been started since I last looked. I am only in about 7 groups and I have dropped out of a couple and may drop out of a couple more. Most of the time, I am only interested in knitting, or maybe my local area, I don’t think I’ll join any, tv show, ( I confess, I did belong to Greys Anatomy for awhile but I soon got tired of reading who had a crush on who and or why) religious or political groups, food related, book related or music related. I am pretty fickle with my blogs and sites that I visit. Everyday for years or just a couple of weeks. It is the same with yahoo groups, I have come and gone from quite a few of those as well.

Next, I check out the forums, just to catch up on the latest. I don’t post alot, still don’t manage to get pictures posted, although I have the how-to sheet on my desk, I haven’t bothered with it yet.
Third, friends. Activity and then their blogs. (this is my favorite part)
Last, I do patterns. I check out all the designers who are featured.

One of my favorite online magazines has folded—Magknits.
Some sites that are just starting up are the following:
Craftstylish:
Knitting: Inside Studio
Sewing republic:
Is the site for Bernina, it will have free patterns.

A week from now I will be on vacation. I have found a fabric store in Rome, which has 200,000 bolts of fabric. I am going to put it in the gps, as well as the tavern down the street. The men will get to watch the people walk by and have a cool one, I no doubt will need a cool on as well after my foray into the shop.

New book: 200 Braids to twist, knot, loop or weave by Jacqui Carey. Great photos and instructions, just the thing to use for that unique finishing touch.

2 BWOF tops.

I’m a Burda World of Fashion sewer once again. It has been a decade since I attempted the process of tracing out a pattern, although I have quite a few magazines. My excuse was not knowing what size I required. I made the beige sweater knit too large and then just tried to make it work. I cut off all the seams and unpicked the neckline. Then laid a couple of pattern pieces over what I had done and changed the armseye and fixed the shoulders. I didn’t want to lose all the shirring that I had done but as a result it is pulled up rather high but the neckline before was too low. I took in the side seams as well and then sewed the sleeves back in place.

This top I am happier with #123 from Feb. 08, the collar is actually 4 inches in depth and can be rolled slightly or draped more like a cowl neck. The model in the photo had her shoulder stuck out thru the neckline, looks kinda stupid that way on me. I made the hem band a few inches longer to go around my middle and I like the fit and fabric of this piece.
Both will be going on vacation and I hope to make a beige cardigan that can be worn with both tops, I am just still pondering how I will do the neckline.

It’s Spring, it’s green

My first project spectrum 3 Earth has been completed, I used the Valley Yarn Stockbridge and made another pair of Fetching wrist warmers. I think this yarn is really good value and I am tempted to buy more, Webs is having a sale.

This top has had an extension made for it. I felt it was a little too short and landed at my widest point. So I knitted another few inches and then hand stitched it where the original ribbing joins the garment. There is a slight difference in colour. It still needs a little steam and then I’ll try it on and see if it looks any better.

I have made a few things on my sewing machine and will try to post pictures of new clothes tomorrow.