TGIFF - Zig Zag Scarf Edition

Finally! I've finally finished the blue and grey zig zag for my sister. Never mind that it had a November 2013 birthday deadline, I'm just glad that it's done after nearly 11 months and ready for the approaching autumn weather.

Knitting began in October 2013 once I had quickly made up my own version in a thicker yarn to gain confidence in the pattern. Alas, the fingering weight yarn which the pattern called for drove me insane. Progress could hardly be seen even after sessions of several hours which was demotivating. Transitioning into work life and new responsibilities also took it's toll. I'm not a summer knitter and with gran's death and the pregnancy - I ended up not touching this WIP for at least six months if not eight, best not think about it, although it was only a few repeats from a finish.

Anyway, it's done! My own version was a bit longer than necessary so I'd decided to make the one for my sister shorter. This is how the loops compare in size.

And another close-up. It's a beautiful pattern, easy to memorise and easily manipulated for wonderful colour effects but if I make another one it'll definitely be in DK weight or thicker. Now, cue the celebration that I'm freed up for other guilt-free knitting projects as well as my quilting.

Happy sewing & knitting!

My Perfect Weekend...

...included hilarious attempts to make cake pops with my sister & Indian takeaway on Saturday, relaxing with the husband & homemade roast duck on Sunday, and this...

As planned I cut the pieces for my skirt. Success! Even though I didn't actually sew a stitch, I did iron interfacing to the yoke and am ready to start sewing any minute now. Well, I might assemble the yoke and the pockets on a good evening during the week but most of the work will be kept for the weekend. No need to rush and repeat stupid mistakes like this.

Intense knitting was also part of my perfect weeked. I still have to weave in the ends of all the balls of yarn inside but it's finally time to learn how to merge the ends and turn the whole thing into a loop. The pattern does link to a tutorial which I've not yet bothered to look up. Risky to start a pattern without having internalised all the know how? Maybe but I'm positive I'll be fine.

This means I can finally start with my sister's version. Fingering weight yarn and smaller needles should keep me busy for a while but I'm pretty confident to make the deadline of her birthday in late November. That's still a whopping six weeks from now. Eeeeaaasy, right?

I'm glad that my weekend included more crafty things than the last few. I think I'm slowly getting back into managing a proper dose of hobbies into the work and household chores routine as well as seeing friends and family. How was your weekend?

Happy sewing!

Zig Zag Update

I hope you're not yet sick of this scarf because I'm more in love by the day. These days it's my only creative outlet, too, filling at least an hour after work and dinner, helping me to unwind. (Work's still going swell and I'm feeling right at home, by the way.) Last night I got to glorious 116 cm! Only 46 cm until the162 cm the pattern calls for. Whoohoo. This close to actually wearing my pretty.

Knitty enthusiasm aside, though, I hope I get to get sewing this weekend. I'd prepped my latest skirt fabric haul Friday last but felt like I might have caught a cold so kept a low profile with lots of sleep and tea, hot baths and cuddles. Still, definitely longing to work with this, I miss the sound of my machine.

Happy sewing, well, and knitting, of course!

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!

Life's Loopy Ways

Maybe not exactly loopy, ah well, but I've had an awesome week, did you, too? First I had a successful interview on Monday - I'll be interning at a foundation for the following three months. The intern is paid (lowly sure, but better than nothing), I can learn a lot and it will be good for my vita, and I can work with people who care about our wonderful city and try to bring about many different things. I had my first day on Friday and am really looking forward to Monday.

The afternoons of the rest of the week were spent with my sister who's started her maternity leave whilst the mornings were dedicated to sewing projects. Mostly prepping and cutting things. Now that I'll have little to no time on weekdays it'll be nice to have things ready to just sew. Thursday morning, however, I committed to finishing two quick projects before enjoying the holiday with a yummy BBQ with a great crowd.

My sister's partner's mum wanted a loop scarf and then my sister wanted one, too. We'd picked and ordered the fabrics over a month ago and they finally arrived on Wednesday. I really like the print we picked for her.

The one for my sister is a lot brighter.

I love how the chevrons and the ombre dots look together. So cheerful! I used a fancy stitch for that extra special touch on both scarves, but whereas I used teal on the first one to blend in I used green and teal as eye catchers on the second (teal on the bobbin, green on the spool) and boy am I glad I did that.

And here's my reward for unselfish sewing - beautiful scraps and more tiny diamonds. I really needed to restash these after the cushion cover I sent away so I gladly accepted this form of payment.

So, let's see how I settle into the new routine. Hopefully sewing and blogging won't suffer too much. Anyway, I'm happy and I've got two loop scarves to show for TGIFF. This week at Quilt Matters.

Happy sewing!