Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Welcome April...





Goodbye March!! It was not a successful sewing and knitting month for me. I only finished one wearable garment! Time out to whine...



I started with a major disappointment - Butterick 5854 (blogged here).

Such a cute blouse pattern, I thought it would work so well. But it really did not suit me at all.
I kept trucking on and turned to another new pattern, this one from Marci Tilton - Vogue 8876. 

I was so sure that this pattern would be wonderful that I did my muslin in my intended fabric, a cute poplin from Fabric Mart. Over 4 yards of it! Thank goodness I was able to stop before I used my Robert Kaufman mini-dot contrast fabric as well.

Wrong. This style is not simply not for me. Wadded.



Never ever ever give up. I used a heathered red french terry from my stash to sew a maxi dress using McCalls 5893... Actually, it had emerged from its pre-wash a heathered pink. aarrggh.

This became the dress that kept on growing...on the hanger, it got longer and longer and longer. And unlovely. Wadded.




At this point I went into recovery mode and pulled out my knitting needles! On Ravelry I found the Weekend Retreat Cardi - good name, yes? It's a really nice little shrug -  it's knit top-down in one piece, no seams - perfect.  

It's from Lion Brand, so you can get the free pattern download there or on Ravelry if you're interested.

Fun to knit and easy to size...but I managed to get my gauge wrong. I thought for sure that I knit 18 stitches x 24 rows on size 8 needles with the worsted weight yarn I was using. So I did not even check. 

I measured the length as I worked - but not the width, since I had so many stitches on a circular needle. And yes, my cardi is too big. 

Frogged. 

But I will save the yarn and do it again - sensibly!

Hello April, welcome Spring! 

Bye for now, Coco

6 comments:

  1. sayonara march, indeed! practice some short-term amnesia, and hit the april ground running! good luck :)

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  2. Well, I guess you are glad March is over and done with! April is a whole new month ahead hopefully with a few more successes in store for you - love the colour of your wool ... J

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  3. April is sure to bring fabulous garments to your sewing room. You have had months and months of near perfection with only a few problems in March.

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  4. Sewing is like learning to walk - one fall doesn't stop you!

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  5. Wow. Knowing that you have wadders is a bit of encouragement for me- your work is so lovely- I know April will show you back on top and inspirign me anew!

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I love it that you came by...and thank you for your comments! Coco