Sunday Stash - Yarn, Yarn, and Some Fabric (long post, scroll down for fabric)

First things first, I'm alive and well and very busy. Four out of five applications led to interview invitations. Once the first two resulted in job offers I cancelled the following interviews because I knew from advance information that number two had the best pay, a more challenging work description, and I felt really good during the interview. It's still only an intern but I'm still really happy with my decision because the team's super nice, pay has improved a ton from the previous intern, thus alleviating our financial situation, and suddenly the prospect of a real job is on the horizon, too. These past two weeks have flown by without sewing but with the fulfilling knowledge of moving on and upwards and with the not unwelcome rhythm of a regular work schedule.

Knitting, however, has continued. Evidence A.

I still like the pattern but I think I might unravel these 30 cm of work again because I don't feel the width at the moment. The first ball lasted longer than I'd anticipated so I could make it wider without losing the length I want. For now, I've put it away to ponder my options. Instead, I've started this loop.

Jenny Faifel's lucky no 7 in a thicker yarn. This is a wearable test run - I love these colours! - for the scarf my sister would like for her birthday in late November made from this fingering weight yarn.

I'm not completely over my dread of the time-consuming thinness but seeing the progress I'm making with my scarf I'm a lot more confident about making that deadline.

The pattern is yarn-hungry, roughly three balls of 120m for 45 cm (18'') so I've stocked up and even had to reorder the grey at the shoppe. Some thicker grey wool (right side) for a warm hat begged me to be come home with me.

Yesterday was quite the stash day. On top of yarn from the first store I stocked up on wadding, rattles and a squeaky sound-making thing for plushies at store number two.

Half metre cuts of these pretties had to be purchased and are likely to become seasonal cushion covers.

All I had originally intended to come home with were these essentials for a new skirt from my tried and approved Burda pattern. Hehe. I think it will look simply fabulous with the zig zag loop. Also, it's got to have pockets. I pulled out my lovely Alice skirt the other day and have fallen all over for pockets again.

Last but not least I even bought elastic to fix the husband's sweatpants. Something he's asked me to do for months. *hangs head in shame* I have to put this out here with a picture or it might take another shamefully long period of time before I tackle it. Hah, fixing things simply isn't fun and therefore no priority. Am I right?

Another pretty addition from three weeks ago which will leave soon is this beautiful mirror ball dot print. I'd seen the collection over at Molli's and knew it was perfect when my sister asked me to make new cushion covers for her brown sofa. Now I only need to sew them!

Oh, and another important addition made a week ago is this Cake Cabarita Knit Top pattern that I bought from my dear friend Perlendiva to finally make a perfectly fitting top for myself. She just opened Santa Lucia Patterns to make it easier / quicker for us Germans to buy indie designer patterns. She's even offering translations. Go on and take a look. I think she's doing a fantastic job and am hoping this business will take off in no time.

Whew, quite the post. Congrats and thanks if you've made it to the end! I really hope more regular posting and blog reading will resume once I've really settled into my new routine. It's weird to neglect this space and my crafty friends like this.

Happy sewing and join Sunday Stash, this time hosted by Blossom Heart Quilts!

Has It Really Been A Week?

I've been away but for good reasons like collecting job interviews (one more on Tuesday and Thursday each, wish me luck!) and spending a long weekend at my parents which was absolutely wonderful. There I even had time to get on with my knitting. Here's my scarf / shawl at 20 cm after the first ball of wool and three pattern repeats. Don't be fooled, it's actually a rich black without so much as a hint of blue.

Two more rattle-filled monsters (check out RevoluzZza's tutorial) were finished last Thursday for my friend J who will gift them to toddlers in her circle of friends. I cannot get enough of these little cuties.

That's it for the moment but hopefully I'll be back with more finishes and good news soon. I'll try to catch up with you guys over the week, too, but please don't be mad if it takes a little longer.

Happy sewing!

Sunday Stash

Are we even capable of making a short trip to the shop for one or two essential supplies without adopting other things? I went to buy basting spray and was only browsing the yarn section because my sister has implied that she wouldn't mind a new scarf for Christmas or her birthday in November. No serious intention to buy anything yet, I swear, but then I saw this lovely grey and the vibrant yellow mustard nestled against each other and couldn't help it. They begged me to take them home.

 

Perfect for my autumn goal to learn knitting in more than one colour. I even found just the right pattern after browsing Ravelry for the longest time. (I think. You never know until you start.) Only to discover that I will have to adapt it to thicker yarn and a larger needle size. Sigh. Frustrating.

I had to satisfy my knitting itch, though, and so I cast on a different project with a luscious merino / silk blend that I've been stashing since December 2011. I chose this pattern but have made it about 2.5 times as wide because I want it to be more like a stole and not just a scarf.

This is the quick and easy 2P 2K band I managed yesterday evening. Let's see whether I'll like and stick with it once I've managed a pattern repeat.
 
Happy sewing!

 
P.S. Yep, I guess that much knitting on my mind is a good indicator that summer has moved on. Seriously, the temps have dropped considerably over night, there's autumn foliage in the park and the air smells differently, too.