Action Hero : : Knitting Weblog

I Think I'm in Love

2010-02-08T18:32:00.000-08:00

Not much crafting to report. Last weekend, I finished a scarf from The Lima Collection pattern book made with some extra Rowan Lima I had on hand. I plan on searching for some fabric for the Rooibos dress this upcoming weekend. So, let's talk about shoes! I had been coveting these No. 6 buckle boots since I first saw them over a year ago. I finally found them on sale by chance from Bird, a great online boutique with locations in Brooklyn, NY. They were 25% off, which was enough for me to treat myself. They finally arrived today and they are fantastic. I have a pair of Swedish Hasbeens peeptoe sandals and I was expecting these boots to have the same stiff leather, but they don't. The leather is extremely soft and pliable and they are very comfortable. I can't wait to wear them!

PS I'm completely drooling over all the clogs in the No. 6 spring/summer 2010 lookbook. They are absolutely gorgeous.

Sencha Blouse

2010-01-28T10:05:00.000-08:00

I finished the Sencha blouse last weekend. You can see more pictures here and a pattern review over at the Bolt blog.

Rowan Brea Sweater

2010-01-23T17:39:00.001-08:00

Rowan Brea Sweater
Originally uploaded by actionhero

I finished weaving in the ends of this sweater early this afternoon, so I could wear it out running errands. The only mods I made were shortening the sleeves just a tiny bit and knitting four rows of garter stitch at the hem and the sleeves edges to prevent curling. This sweater is very warm, soft, and cozy. I love how it turned out!

One Project at a Time

2010-01-14T06:37:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of posts, but I usually only work on one project at a time and right now I'm focusing on knitting this Brea sweater. It's knitting up pretty quickly and I'm almost finished with the front. Pictured here is the completed back. I really love this yarn and it was well worth the money spent. I'm looking forward to wearing this sweater!

Brea Cables

2010-01-07T21:15:00.000-08:00

Once the cable pattern started, the knitting on the sweater got fun! This Lima yarn creates an amazing fabric that is extremely soft and a pleasure to knit. I just decreased to shape the armholes. Just a little more to go before the back is done.

Splurge

2010-01-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

I headed out to one of my local yarn stores this afternoon, Close Knit, to buy the Rowan Lima Collection pattern book and some Rowan Lima yarn to knit up this Brea sweater. I love the gathers that form on the bodice under the cables. I also really dig the color of the yarn, a sort of mustardy heathered yellow. I haven't made a sweater with Rowan yarn in a while, so it was definitely a New Year's splurge!

Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 2472 Tunic

2009-12-31T17:15:00.001-08:00

Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 2472 Tunic
Originally uploaded by actionhero

I sewed up this tunic in a couple of hours yesterday using the Anna Maria Horner voile I bought the other day. I used the same Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 2472 pattern that I used for this dress. I love the diamond motif on this fabric, so retro and fun!

Little Folks Voile

2009-12-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

I stopped in at Bolt this afternoon to browse among the fabrics, hoping something would catch my eye. And here's what caught my eye. These are a couple of fabrics from Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks voile line. That's Diamond Mine and Baby Bouquet. This fabric is really nice and is very similar in weight to Liberty lawn, which I love. I plan to make a couple of shirts with these fabrics this week. Stay tuned for photos of finished projects!

I Need a Project

2009-12-27T15:45:00.000-08:00

I'm on vacation this upcoming week and am looking for some fun knitting and sewing projects to work on. I've been searching through my patterns and books to find some fun things to make. Hopefully, trips to the fabric shop and yarn store tomorrow will inspire me!

And the Winner Is

2009-12-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

I finally got the three zippers I ordered last weekend and I decided on using the aluminum zipper. I did try to machine sew the zipper in, but it stretched out the knit placket too much, so I had to rip it out and sew it in by hand. I also sewed in some snaps to hold the placket down. I made the smallest size, but it's still roomy enough to add a couple of layers underneath. The Schulana Merino was a bit aplitty to knit with at times, but the finished fabric is dense and very soft. I'm really happy with how this jacket turned out!

Zipperless

2009-12-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday morning knitting on a smaller placket to the left front, though the directions didn't call for one. Even though the zipper would be sewn to that unfinished edge, I thought it would be neater with an actual placket, or band, there. I had a bunch of separating zippers in my stash that I thought I could use, but all of them were too short. So I ordered three different zippers from ZipperStop: aluminum, antique brass, and molded plastic. I'll have to decide which one looks best once they arrive in the mail.

Weekend Knitting

2009-12-06T22:51:00.000-08:00

I finished knitting the second sleeve of the sweater tonight. All I have left to do is knit the garter stitch flap on the right front. Interestingly enough, the left front isn't finished in any way. I may just knit on a few rows of garter stitch just so I can sew the zipper to a flat edge. This jacket will be a perfect layering piece for the cold weather that's hitting Portland right now.

Lovely Blouse

2009-11-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Photo from saraicat

Local Colette Patterns has five great new patterns, just in time for more holiday sewing! There are several new dresses, a coat, and this fabulous blouse, which I had to purchase immediately. All patterns are available for pre-order now with free shipping. Check them out!

Holiday Sewing

2009-11-29T08:14:00.000-08:00

I sewed up Amy Butler's Liverpool shirt this holiday weekend. Look for a pattern review and pictures posted at the Bolt Neighborhood Blog.

A Spring Dress for Winter

2009-11-19T21:14:00.000-08:00

I finished sewing on the sleeves this evening. It was easier than I thought it would be. I think all the pleat markings on the pattern intimidated me. I finally figured out how to insert the zipper too. Essentially, you clip the seam allowance above and below the pocket and fold those sections over to form a continuous seam allowance with the pocket on which to sew one side of the zipper. I don't know if that makes sense, but once I figured it out, the illustrations in the directions completely made sense. Unfortunately, it's much too cold to wear this right now. It'll be on the dress form until spring!

Knit On

2009-11-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

I've got a bunch of stockinette stitch left to do for the body of the jacket before I can move on to the sleeves. Hopefully, it won't take too long. It's perfect knitting for watching movies or Glee.

So Far, So Good

2009-11-15T20:59:00.000-08:00

I started sewing the Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 2497 dress late this afternoon. I got the bodice and the skirt sewn up. The zipper is on the left side and I think it will probably be sort of complicated to sew in because of the side seam pockets. I must have read the directions a dozen times, but they are a little unclear and the pictures don't seem to match what they're saying. Oh well, I can troubleshoot it later. I really like the blouson effect of the bodice.

Black Collar

2009-11-08T15:08:00.000-08:00

I swatched with the Schulana Merino and met gauge with the recommended size six needles. This sweater is knit in one piece from the top down. Here's the start of the collar with the pink markers marking the raglan sleeve increases.

I Got a Package

2009-11-05T21:23:00.000-08:00

A crazy storm seems to have landed into town, so the evening has been windy and rainy. I found a waterlogged box on my porch when I got home and it was the Schulana Merino Superlight for the New Motorbike Jacket that is next on my project list. It looks like I'll have some great knitting weather this weekend.

Tulip Skirt

2009-11-01T17:09:00.000-08:00

I still hadn't sewn up the olive green linen that I scored from Fabric Depot a couple of weeks back, so yesterday I cut out the Tulip Skirt pattern by Jenny Gordy that was in the fall 2008 issue of Stitch magazine. Due to the time change, I woke up pretty early this morning and decided to start sewing up the skirt. The pattern was pretty simple to follow, though I think the placket instructions weren't completely correct. You are supposed to cut out two plackets and two placket facings, but the directions only seem to address one placket. There didn't seem to be any errata for this particular skirt, but I was able to figure it out easily enough. The only mods I made included adding topstitching on the waistband and placket and using five buttons instead of four. This linen was a dream to work with and holds an excellent drape. I think the skirt turned out cute and will be perfect for wearing with tights and boots.

Next Up

2009-10-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

I have this fabric all prepped and ready for a project. I'm thinking I'll probably use the Cynthia Rowley Simplicity 2497 pattern.

Weekend Sewing

2009-10-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

I started this skirt project yesterday afternoon and finished it up this morning. I used the houndstooth corduroy I bought at the Fabric Depot sale last weekend. The pattern is Simplicity 2656. I made view D, not thinking it would be a mini skirt, but it ended up being pretty close. The finished length is about two inches above my knee. The pattern was straightforward and easy to follow, though that crazy yoke was sort of a pain to sew with the pockets and gathers and all. Speaking of pockets, I lined them with some of my leftover Small Susanna Liberty fabric. I like the contrast of the floral with the check. Once I saw this zipper at Bolt, I knew I had to buy it because it would be perfect to sew on the outside of the skirt.

PS Thanks Amy for the zipper/skirt inspiration!

Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity 2472 Dress

2009-10-20T21:53:00.001-07:00

Cynthia Rowley for Simplicity 2472 Dress
Originally uploaded by actionhero

I stayed up a little later than I should have last night to finish this dress. It was a relatively quick project, taking about three hours total, including cutting out the pattern and fabric. This is a super simple pattern and only has three pieces since I used seam binding for the contrasting trim: front, back, and bottom band. The dress has Dolman-style sleeves that are cut as part of the front and back. See the technical drawing here. The fabric gets wrinkled very easily, but I love the color. My favorite thing about this dress? No fasteners, it just pulls on over your head! See more detailed photos here and here.

PS Thanks to Mariko for the cute seam binding!

Fabric Depot Score

2009-10-17T18:00:00.001-07:00

Fabric Depot Score
Originally uploaded by actionhero

I headed out to Fabric Depot this afternoon, not realizing it was a 35% off sale day. It was pretty packed in the store. However, I did find some great fabric. The moss and brown oversized houndstooth is a corduroy from Robert Kaufman. I had a hard time deciding between that and this other Kaufman print that is reminiscent of Orla Kiely's stem pattern. I'm not sure what I'll do with it. The army green and eggplant colored fabrics are linen/rayon. The red and black plaid is a very lightweight flannel. I've been jonesing to sew, but hadn't seen any great patterns or projects. I found these two new Cynthia Rowley dress patterns, 2472 and 2497, and I think I'll make the shift dress with the eggplant linen. I was also inspired by this Marc Jacobs top and want to draft up a pattern that is similar. I love his oversized sketched plaid fabric. Maybe I could print my own?

Getting My Money's Worth

2009-10-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

I was trying to decide what my next knitting project would be when I started browsing through the fall issue of Knitscene again. Somehow I found a jacket I wanted to make that I hadn't seen all the other times I had looked at the magazine. I love the styling of this Motorbike Jacket with the asymmetrical closure and hidden zipper. The pattern calls for Schulana Merino Superlight yarn, which is like knitted I-cord and creates a nice dense fabric. I think I've found an online retailer that carries the yarn too.