Knitting, sewing, cross stitching, my life in general.





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Confessions of a sewing maniac.
Wow, I've been doing a lot of sewing lately. There are a lot of cute maternity patterns out there now and I've been dying to try them! I definitely won't suffer from a lack of clothing over the next 8 months. I figue I might as well do it now while I have the energy and motivation (and before I start making all baby stuff)!

My cotton Padres print maternity top is finished except I need to hand-sew the hem. Yesterday I finished a cute pair of yellow maternity shorts and cut out the pieces for a red and white gingham maternity jumper/dress. I also dug out a peachskin maternity dress that I started a few months ago (I was getting a head start. ahem) and I just need to do some finishing on that one. I think I'll post some photos tomorrow.

This morning I was at JoAnns bright and early (you know, before they even opened the doors, hanging out with all the crazy old quilting ladies). They have a big memorial day sale going on this weekend and I wanted to get there before the lines got ridiculously long. I got some cute flannel at only $1.99/yd (1 hello kitty and 1 strawberry shortcake), some cute black printed polyester for another maternity dress, and 2 cute cotton prints for who knows what (hello kitty as well. ahem). Simplicity patterns were 99 cents so of course I bought all the maternity ones that I don't already have plus 2 baby patterns. Got some thread for 50% off as well.

Uh, so you can see what I will be doing this weekend. I also have to work on my project for the SnB book and sew up a mohair sweater for someone at the local SnB group. Those 2 things should really be top priority since they pay and all.
posted by Stephanie at 12:16 PM

 
I actually did some knitting yesterday! Last night was SnB at a coffee house in Hillcrest so I brought along Knitting for Baby and decided to start on some new projects. First, I swatched for the mommy (maternity) sweater. I'm using some great acrylic/cotton that I bought from elann last year (and yes, I'm too lazy to go find the ball band and see what it's called). I'm actually going to wash and dry the swatch before I do anything cuz it would be really nice to have that kind of easy care with a mommy sweater. I also brought some koigu leftovers and started a stay-on baby bootie.
posted by Stephanie at 7:28 AM

 
I managed to do a little sewing yesterday. 
posted by Stephanie at 10:32 AM

 

I used this pattern 
posted by Stephanie at 10:31 AM

 

New purple Maternity shirt 
posted by Stephanie at 10:30 AM

 
Yup, I'm still here. Life is just utter chaos right now. Friday was my last day of work and we're trying to figure out what to do from here. It would be nice if I could just stay home and focus on taking care of myself and getting ready for the baby, but that's not just economically feasible right now. We live in San Diego and my husband is a post-doc. Good news though, I did talk to a lawyer and I might actually have a case against the company that fired me. Looks like discrimination laws apply to temporary employees as well....

Crafts. I'm working on a cute little cross stitch from a magazine. Yesterday I finished up a orange cotton hawaiian shirt for me. I'm working on my knitting design for the new Stitch N Bitch book (called Stitch N Bitch Nation). I need to stop procrastinating on that because the pattern and sample are due by June 4th. eek!
posted by Stephanie at 1:53 PM

 
Funny how you can go from being so incredibly happy to crying. And it's not just the hormones. I'm being fired for being pregnant. Yes, this is very much against the law, but since I'm a temporary employee it's apparently legal.

I work in a chemistry laboratory and it's just not safe for someone who is pregnant (that's why I had to tell my supervisor as soon as I found out). If I were a permanent employee, they would be forced to reassign me to something less dangerous for the next 8 months. Un-fucking-believeable.
posted by Stephanie at 9:37 AM

 
WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!
posted by Stephanie at 5:37 PM

 
Go Padres!


posted by Stephanie at 9:50 PM

 
Friday.
I finished the two cross stitch items I was working on for exchanges. First, a bookmark

second, this is an insert that will go in a coffee mug



posted by Stephanie at 9:47 PM

 
Wow, it's already Thursday and I haven't posted all week. That goes to show you how much crafty-type things I've been doing. Little to none. All week I've been working, sleeping, and battling with my allergies. I did stuff some knitting (socks) into my purse last night for the Padres game, but it was actually a good game so I didn't work on them. I found it funny when I opened up my tiny purse for the security guy to look in and all you could see was yarn and bamboo needles. Yeah, I look dangerous all right.

Finally started on the secret knitting project today and lunch. I'm pretty happy cuz I have everything figured out. Now to just do the knitting!
posted by Stephanie at 3:13 PM

 
Ah, Monday. It's almost 1pm and I'm finally awake. Gak.

Yesterday I managed to get in some sewing and cross-stitching. I sewed myself a cute bucket hat for summer from some hawaiian print cotton. It's pretty cute. I also cut out another project--a cardigan from some blue knit fabric I got on clearance. As for cross-stitching, I started on the Padres logo. I decided to use waste canvas and put it on a white baby onesie. It's going to be so cute.

Oh, I also need to get cracking on a secret knitting project. Secret cuz it will be my first published design! And it will be in a book! That's all I'm sayin'. Heh.


posted by Stephanie at 12:42 PM

 
Who wears short shorts?

posted by Stephanie at 7:52 AM

 
Sewing.
The sew-a-long top is finished except for hemming the bottom. I'm not real pleased with the fit--the top part is too big and the whole thing just looks a little wonky. Good thing the fabric was cheap. I'm going to put it aside for now and later I will see if alterations can be done to save it.

Yesterday I went to JoAnns on my lunch hour to pick up some new patterns for $.99. I also bought 1-yd pieces of several cute cotton prints (including strawberry shortcake!) to make some little shorts for summer. I seem to keep cutting things out and not sewing them. Here are the things I currently have cut out and sitting in the living room somewhere:

1) Sewing room accessories: sewing machine cover & snippits holder
2) basic dress from some pretty floral lightweight polyester
3) Shorts in cotton hawaiian print
4) denim drawstring capri pants
5) Orange Hawaiian button-down shirt
6) Orange Hawaiian bucket hat

Uh, I think I should fire up the sewing machine, no?


posted by Stephanie at 11:52 AM

 
Lessee..I finished up a small gift yesterday and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I want to keep it a suprise, though, so I won't be able to post the pics until next month.

I've been sewing on the silky sew-a-long top and I'm almost finished. I just have to sew in the second sleeve and then hem the bottom. I'm not thrilled with this project...I'm not sure if it's the pattern or the slippery fabric that I don't like. We'll see how the final product actually looks.

Oh, and this is what I got for my anniversary present.

Want to have some fun designing your own cross stitch patterns? You can download the free 4-day trial version of Pattern Maker here. I used it to make a pattern of the new San Diego Padres logo. Cool!
posted by Stephanie at 6:35 PM

 
ok, here's a lame-ass pic of the new skirt I made for tonight. No, we don't own a full-length mirror and no, there's no one else here to take my pic. But you get the idea--it's cute. hee.


posted by Stephanie at 6:31 PM

 
Happy Anniversary to me!!!! I've had the greatest husband ever for exactly 2 years now. Well, we've been together for almost 9, but it's only been official for 2. heh. We're both working today and then tonight we're going to dinner at an 'upscale Hawaiian' restaurant. I bet you didn't know there was such a thing, eh? Well, it's Southern California so of course there is. DH has been wanting to try this place for a while and I think it's fitting since we honeymooned in Hawaii.

In other news, I went to JoAnns on my lunch hour yesterday and picked up some special-buy polyester 'silky' fabric at only $1.99/yd. I got 2 different floral colorways and last night I cut out one of then for the sew-along top. I made a little bit of progress on it. I even made one mistake already but I fudged it rather than trying to rip this fabric (not happening).
posted by Stephanie at 9:59 AM

 
Boo, it's Monday. Did you have a good weekend? I did a lot of relaxing, some cross stitching, and some sewing. I sewed a simple skirt to wear out for our anniversary dinner tomorrow night (2 years already)! Maybe I will get someone to snap a pic of me in it so I can show you. I worked on my poppy baby cross stitch and started a small graduation gift for my sister (I will keep this secret for the moment, just in case).

I got my new issue of Interweave Knits and I liked a lot of things in there. There wasn't anything that I just had to start right this second, but those cute little baby hats are definitely on my to-do list.

I joined Alison's sew-along. I'm not sure if I will use some fabric from my stash or treat myself to something new. Maybe both--I really need some new short-sleeved tops. I'm hoping to start on that tonight.
posted by Stephanie at 9:56 AM