It kinda looks like a sweater!

My Minions,

Behold!  The work on my Basic Chic Pulli sweater has finally resulted in something resembling a garment!  

I'm about halfway through the waist decreases now and was sorry to have to put it away last night as I prepared for an Imperial Business trip.  The use of hand painted yarn means working with two balls of yarn at a time and this project does not travel well across the house, so it certainly would not be a good choice for Imperial Travel.  I can't wait to start working on it again!

Early last week I finished making the toe of my other Opulence socks in Lothlorien.  I decided on My Cup of Tea for the pattern and after one repeat decided it was not a mindless pattern and therefore not a good office or carpool project.  It was set aside shortly thereafter.

The pattern is supposed to resemble crocuses.  I think one pattern repeat must be insufficient to really see the pattern, but here's how it looks so far.

These socks, while a poor choice for office and carpool knitting, met the portability criteria for travel and they are with me this week on Imperial Business.

I still needed a good mindless knit after discovering My Cup of Tea required following a chart that was not easily memorized, so I started a pair of plain vanilla toe up socks in KnitPicks Felici sock yarn.  This colorway is called Blackberry Jam.  Its bright and fun and the stripes change often enough to keep me knitting.  I allowed the mismatching as I think it adds a bit of whimsy.

Due to some rather untimely work currently in progress at my house, which resulted in my sewing project being covered in plastic for its own protection from plaster and fiberglass insulation, I was not able to do any sewing on my pant muslin.  I'm hoping to find time for it this weekend.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe

Weekend Progress

My Minions,

My weekend was less productive than I had wished, but I was able to knit and spend time in my sewing room, and that time was glorious!  I started by prepping my pattern and fabric to create my pant muslin and figuring out the most efficient layout.  I'm using a one yard scrap of wool blend twill that I think is pretty close in hand to my ivory wool twill fashion fabric.  I didn't worry about not having enough fabric to make the full leg as I don't anticipate any fit issues past mid-thigh.

Cutting and marking took me about 4 hours.  I guess I didn't have to cut out and mark all the welt and pocket facing pieces, but I think it will be good to practice the techniques before touching my fashion fabric.  I also used tailor's tacks for marking, because I prefer them quite honestly, though a Sharpie is probably much faster for this type of work.  Anyway, here everything is after being cut and marked. I followed the rules and walked away until the following day only to then discover that I needed to take a trip to JoAnn's for a zipper since I only had invisible ones in my zipper stash.  I never did get around to any actual sewing, but I'm ready now!

I started some socks for my new office project.  I started with some pretty yarn in multiple shades of blue that I had gotten before I ever learned to knit.  After knitting both toes, I was unhappy with the hand of the resulting fabric.  I forced them upon the Prime Minister for his opinion and he said they felt cheap and plastic-y and asked where I had gotten the yarn.  Sigh!  Well, at least it wasn't just me that thought there was an issue with the work resulting from the yarn.  I admitted to having gotten it at Hobby Lobby and he reminded me that crap in equals crap out and we unceremoniously ripped the work off the needles and threw the resulting mess into the trash.  I should have gotten a photo.  Then I got out my knitcircus Opulence in Lothlorien and started over again.  I only got one toe done and I still have to decide what pattern to use on the socks.

I'm pretty particular about what shades of green I like and most of them have a lot more blue than yellow in them, such as turquoise or teal, but I like this gradient of green.  It reminds me of money.

I was also able to knit a bit on my sweater, though I still have not gotten to where the sleeves and body break apart, so it still doesn't look recognizable as a sweater.  I'll spare you the messy looking photo and share when I have something that I can put on.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe

Fiberista Club Package - Spoiler!

My Minions,

Warning! This post contains spoilers!

My arrival home yesterday was very exciting due to the delivery of Fiberista Club's debut shipment! Fiberista Club is a new yarn and fiber subscription service focused on fiber education and exposing members to exotic and luxury fibers and yarns.  I think their packaging is very sophisticated and perfectly matched with the feel of the club website.

I was very excited to dig into this package and see what I got.  This is what I saw on first opening my box.

I picked up the card first to read the back which gives background on the yarn company and the base yarns that might be found in the box.  This box contained yarn by Dream in Color in either a worsted weight cashmere and merino blend or a sport weight yarn blend of merino, cashmere, silk and mohair.  My account preferences say I love all yarn sizes, so I was anxious to see which yarn base I got!

The small envelope contained cute project tags and I immediately affixed one to the Empress Mum's sock's in preparation to give them to her on her birthday next week.  The back of the tags have a spot for fiber content and washing / drying instructions.

Finally, the yarn!  My tissue-wrapped bundle contained the worsted weight cashmere merino blend in a lovely earthy grey color called cocoa kiss.  It's soft and squishy and smells heavenly!

The pattern for this month's box are supposed to be released via email tomorrow.  The information card hint was the front of the card so I'm expecting a cowl.  I currently have no need for a cowl, so I will probably start exploring other project options for this yarn soon.  I'm glad the club offers a member's only shop where one can buy additional yarn if necessary.

Lastly, the card thanked the reader for membership support and noted that the February box is due to be shipped on February 2nd.

Before I wrap up for the day I wanted to share a finished object!  I noticed on my return to the office that I was really close to being finished with my dedicated office project, the Hitchhiker Shawlette in Bergère de France Soie, a 100% silk fingerling weight yarn.  So I toted it home with me in the evenings and Voila!  It is finished!

This will be a nice little wrap to wear in my office when the HVAC is set to "Snow."  I'll have to decide on a new office project sometime this weekend.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe

Manly Mittens

My Minions,

My apologies for being away so long.  I was struck by the flu virus and it knocked me out!

Prior to being taken out by the flu, I finished knitting The Heir's mittens and after a quick pre-dye fit check, he has deemed them suitable for his purposes.  Here they are after dyeing, drying and a weekend of wear.

I'm told they are not the correct shade of red, but are close enough to wear when playing.

While I was dyeing the mittens, I gave the Empress Mum's socks another dunk in the dye bath. They look much more even now, though they are still not perfect.  I know next time to dye the yarn before knitting.

I also started swatching for my sweater before getting sick.  My first gauge was completed on size 7 needles and had 22 stitches in 4 inches after blocking. I did my next gauge on size 8 needles and got 20 stitches in 4 inches after blocking. The pattern calls for a gauge of 20 stitches to 4 inches so I cast on with size 8 needles and got this far before falling ill.  It doesn't look like much, but the pattern says its a yoke (in progress; there's still a lot of knitting to do before the pattern moves on to the body).  I'm a bit dubious that this will all come together into a sweater.

I'm hoping to stay healthy and have more exciting things to show you soon.  It's anyone's guess whether it will be a pant muslin or sweater progress.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe

Oh Stash, My Stash

My Minions,

This seems to be a popular time of year for stash flashing, and as I find looking at other peoples stashes fascinating, I though  I should own up to mine.

First, let's take a look at my fabric stash.  It lives in the sewing room closet.

This part of the closet is basically for making muslins.  I got all of it super cheap for around $1 per yard and bought it specifically for testing fit.

This is the oldest part of my stash.  It's all been pre-treated, measured, and tagged with quantity, fiber content, and intended project.

Below is the part of my stash that has been pre-treated, but not measured or tagged.  I would put it on mini-bolts, but I don't have anymore and buying more feels like enabling.

This is the newest part of my stash.  I have no projects in mind for it and it is still in its original packaging.

This is  my collection of interfacing.  There are also some elastic laces and bows in there that should be in the notions and trims cabinet.

I also have a modest sized bin (I think it's 2 cubic feet) where I keep scraps too small for a finished garment, but large enough for testing fit, making facings, or adding contrast or detail to a finished garment.

Overall I feel I have an adequate fabric stash.  I like what I have and can often find something appropriate for a garment I want to make.  It's rare for me to encounter something I can't pass up when browsing, and stashing slowed considerably over the course of 2014.  I think I'm ready to implement a one-in, one-out rule here.

Here is my yarn stash:

Note the visible sections of the bottom of this chest.  This stash is clearly insufficient.  I have specific projects in mind for most of the yarn, though there are a few in there that were purchased as inspiration.  These inspirational yarns will find their pattern and place in my queue in their own time.

I intend to keep my yarn club subscriptions which will hopefully result in some good projects when supplemented as needed with yarn from my local yarn shop.  I am currently subscribed to Yarnbox Luxe and Fiberista Club (their first shipment goes out on Monday!)

Since I don't necessarily feel I have stashing "issues," my New Year's sewing and knitting resolutions will not be focused on stash reduction.  A review of my 2014 projects revealed that 70% of the projects completed in 2014 were for other people, which explains why I feel I've accomplished so little in terms of supplementing my own wardrobe with handmade items.  Therefore, my New Year's resolution for sewing and knitting is to say no to others  and focus on making all those projects in my queue that I've been meaning to get around to, with the exception of my sister's wedding gift.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe

Sapphire Socks

My Minions,

I finished knitting the Empress Mum's socks over the weekend and had a grand time dyeing them blue.  It thought it went really well when I pulled them out of the dye and hung them in the basement to drip dry.

I thought it went so well, that I started knitting The Heir's mittens with the intent of dyeing them in the same manner.  Look how far I got while the socks were drying in the dark basement...

That's the right mitten.  And the left was cast on before I brought the Empress Mum's socks upstairs for rinsing and blocking to find...

...that my dye job would have made great variegated yarn, but leaves a bit to be desired when applied directly to a finished product.  I may try to dye them again and see if I can even out the color a bit. With respect to The Heir's mittens, he'll just have to deal with the dye job he gets the first time around since he did not conveniently forget that I said I would knit these up for him after the Empress Mum's socks were finished.  I think I should be able to finish knitting the left mitten tomorrow.

When The Heir isn't looking, I've been swatching for my first sweater.

The ladies at my local yarn shop did not think my choice for my first sweater was a good one, though all agreed it is lovely and should stay in my queue.  They directed me toward some better "first sweater" pattern options and I decided on a basic pullover knit top-down in mostly stockinette.  It does have the option for lace at the neckline, so it won't be entirely boring.  And they helped me pick out the yarn you see above, which is Malabrigo Rios in Cumparsita, which is a rich wine red (I don't know why my camera insists on showing reds as purples).  Unless that swatch grows when blocked, I'm going to have to go up a needle size.  I'll know for sure tomorrow.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe

An Imperfect Skirt

My Minions,

It is with my head hung in shame that I report to you that I was not able to fix the awful seaming and top-stitching on the Donna Karan Skirt.  After much unpicking and resewing, I had the same wonky results.

This waistband has defeated me.  After so much time invested, I was too stubborn not to finish the skirt.  The zipper installation was unevetful and had great results.

The fit on this skirt is great despite the waistband issues.  The tops I'm likely to wear with this will cover the waistband, so I'll probably wear it quite often even though it is flawed.  So here it is.

I think this fabric was too thick for this particular pattern, though doubleknit was on the suggested materials list.  It is quite a bit thicker than the other material suggestions of gabardine and crepe.  I believe I have a roll end of gabardine in my stash of sufficient length to give this another try, but I will need to recover from the trauma of this particular skirt first.  I may also try it again in doubleknit since I have enough left for another skirt.  Only time will tell.

During this period of healing, I will be working on pants.

My plan is to remove some of the flare from the leg and make the pants without the cuff.  The welt pockets may be my undoing on these so I plan on making a few practice runs with scraps.  I'm planning a pair in a lush and drapey metallic gunmetal silk and wool blend suiting fabric and another pair in a creamy wool twill suiting fabric with black welts.  So basically, I'm reproducing both of the pants on the pattern cover above.  Since my sewing self-esteem is currently a bit lacking, please prepare yourselves for a few muslins before any fashion fabric is cut.

Until next time,

Jessica, Empress of the Universe