Nearing the end.

This may be the longest project I've ever worked on without taking a break from it. I cast on Ella in mid January, two and a half months ago. But the end is (almost) in sight.

(Bad model pose, no makeup!)

What happens though, is that you get up to the ruffles and think to yourself "Hooray, just the ruffles, and I'm done!!'
Just.The.Ruffles.
My God, the ruffles. You have all those stitches for the skirt, then you double them. Then you purl back, then you do another increase row, increasing into every second stitch.

Then you do a picot cast off. Cast on 2, cast off 3. The neverending ruffles. The skirt hem alone took two days to cast off. But it was done. Then I started on the front placket ruffles. I almost wish I'd done plain plackets, but I know it'll all be worth it, if I ever finish.

One down, one to go.

And this week I had a happy realisation. I'd bought myself a new Inoui winter scarf. And totally unintentionally, it matches my Ella!

Meant to be!

Sewing again!

I've made myself a few new sundresses this year, and I know I promised to blog more about my sewing, so here's one of them - the Colette Crepe pattern!

A little while back, Kris put a call out on Twitter that she was ordering some Colette patterns and did anyone else want any? Did I ever!

I'd been looking at the patterns on and off for a while, trying to decide which to start with, and this was the perfect opportunity. I got the Crepe pattern, and also the Chantilly. I'd spotted the fabric a few months ago, and bought the last of the bolt, not knowing how much I'd need or what pattern I had in mind, but absolutely loving the print.

As soon as I saw the Crepe pattern, I knew it was meant to be.
It's a wrap style dress, which overlaps and ties in the back.
The fabric for the ties is a Kaffe Fassett shot cotton in Vermillion that I picked up at Calico & Ivy. One benefit to working in a fabric store is that you can pull out bolts of fabric, look at them all day, and not feel like you're holding up the store staff while you take hours to make your decision!

This pattern is a great pattern for all levels of seamstresses. The tie is the only fastening, so there's no mucking around with buttons or zippers. The neckline and armholes are faced, and there's darts in the bodice for fit, but it's not too difficult a project. There are pockets, which I love, but they're easily left off if you think you're not up to it. Each Colette pattern comes with an entire booklet of instructions, which are very comprehensive without being confusing.

And the result is fabulous! I always feel pretty in this dress! I make a point of trying to always something handmade when I'm working at Calico & Ivy, and this dress always receives compliments. We've been stocking the Colette book at Balmain (Although it's temporarily out of stock), and I think my next project will be the Taffy top from the book - maybe in some Liberty Tana Lawn. (Drool!!)

Although as a teaser, I have made my Chantilly dress, too. More details next time!!

A Weekend off!

This weekend, for only the second time this year, I have the entire weekend off. No work, for two whole days straight!
So it's time to catch up on Ella. (Fat chance!)

The skirt is supposed to be done by Monday, we've had three weeks to do it. I've actually got a little bit further since I took this picture yesterday. I'm finished with the increases, and I'm happy with the size - now I just need to knit six or eight inches until the skirt is the length I'm after.

I'll be on the lounge, in front of the TV!

So..

Working two jobs and undertaking the equivalent of a fulltime load of study doesn't seem to leave much time for knitting.

Who'd have thunk? Apparently not me. Woe, woe, woe is me. Cry me a river.

Anyhow, things are bound to slow up soon, but until then we'll continue on in a slower manner than usual. It helps (or perhaps doesn't) that I tend towards the hyperactive.

Ella is inching along. Last week we started on the skirt. As you can see, I'm a little behind.

I managed abut a whole inch last week. I'm aiming to catch up this week! Speaking of little behinds, mine isn't really. It's two sizes bigger than my bust, so I'm a little worried about how the skirt is going to fit. I'm decided to do the increase rows a little closer together than the pattern says, and try it on as I go. Lets hope that it works, because if I have to rip back, it may take me forever and a day to finish!

I did take a close up picture though. The bodice was blocked before I picked up the stitches for the skirt.

Look at the way the yarn blooms once it's blocked! Gorgeous. So nice and squishy, and beautifully soft.

The only other project that has seen any action is the socks I knit on when I'm on the train. I'm trying to love them.

Two socks, same needles, same pattern, same ball of yarn at the same time. One is pooling.

Like I said, I'm trying to love them. They're not for me, so I don't have to love them, just finish them!