Addicted to Craftsy: itty-bitty Giraffe Bum

Is anyone else out there finding that Craftsy has become a bit of a... um... habit?

I'm making this critter in daffodil and flamingo pink!

This summer I took Kenneth King's Jean-ius class. Last summer I watched parts of Gertie's Bombshell dress class to learn more about boning and waist stays. And now I'm doing Susan B Anderson's knit giraffe class. I have another knitting class waiting for me, too. And a bunch of Craftsy's free mini-classes waiting to be watched - Know Your Wool, Short Rows, and Modern Buttercream. I didn't really mean for this to happen. But.... mmmmmmmm.... buttercream.

Phin's brother and his wife are expecting a new baby girl in February. Since I already made my SIL a diaper bag for their first child, I decided that it's time to start making stuffed animals, like the ones that were crocheted for me when I was small. I was never a babydoll kind of little girl, but I have a huge menagerie of stuffed animals that have been loved in a very Velveteen Rabbit sort of way.

Chickee, Babar and Bronto - my crochet menagerie

Here's the start of the giraffe. It's knit bum first. 

Giraffe bum

Am I alone in thinking this is silly? Phin is getting tired of me chanting "giraffe bum, giraffe bum, he he he" while I knit.

Before I signed up for the giraffe class, I had already bought the knitting book Itty-Bitty Toys, which has the giraffe pattern in it. 

Even better, there's a whole section on using up remnant sock yarn to make stuffed animals.

I have lots of remnant sock yarn

And now I'm thinking that when I'm done with the giraffe, I need to start making my remnant yarn into a herd of little elephants.

Elefante from Susan B Anderson's blog

Then they can trample my enemies.

I may need to knit some hippos, too. They could help with the trampling.

Anyway, knitters and sewists, what are your thoughts on Craftsy or other on-line classes? Are you as hooked as I am? Or do you do better with more traditional media - books, live classes, etc? I love live classes, but one of the nice things about Craftsy is that you can go back if you miss something. How do you like to learn new sewing and knitting techniques?

Burda Classics?

Did anyone else who subscribes to Burda get an email yesterday about Burda Classics?

 
Apparently it's a special issue that will contain "classic patterns, haute couture, perfect fits, feminine silhouettes, charming suits, romantic looks and exquisite evening wear". Since I interpreted that as "no sack dresses or dirndls" I immediately hit "purchase" for $10. Now, I'm not really sure what it is I bought. It's due out in October.

Anyway, if you have insight, please holler. If you want to jump on the bandwagon with me, click here for details (at least US details).

Book Review: Vintage Lingerie

Here's what's on the nightstand*.

I think one of my post-leather jacket projects will be a kimono robe and some coordinated pjs and/or lingerie. I really want to sew up the one vintage pattern in my stash in the near future - a 1940's McCall's slip pattern. So, I bought this book for inspiration and practical knowledge and to expand my options.

The book is beautifully photographed, featuring loads of vintage lingerie from museum collections. A few pages are devoted to each set or piece, talking about how and when it was worn, what it was typically made from, who (age/class) wore it, etc. It is very inspiring in that regard. Some of the pieces are absolutely stunning and I really love thumbing through this book - it's rich in the fantasy and inspiration department.

The patterns are definitely not for beginners. They are basically small graphed drawings that you have to enlarge by hand or copier, and then add seam allowances, etc. The grid needs to be enlarged to 1'x1' squares, but the book doesn't specify what percentage to enlarge by (I have one book that tells you to enlarge by say 400% so there is no guess work and you can use a photocopier). The patterns only come in the size of the actual garment, so there would be grading involved too.


There are two patterns at the back of the book - a 1930's mesh brassiere (bralet by todays standards) and a 1905 long half slip - that come with step-by-step instructions. But aside from those, there are just a few pages of general techniques for the whole rest of the book. Sewing any of the other patterns would require a lot more of an investment in terms of figuring out how to construct them and add the embellishments (lace, trim, hand embroidery) which is what is so lovely about many of these piece. That said, this would not be insurmountable for an experienced and confident sewist with a grasp of lingerie construction. Plus some patterns (Pantaloons (bloomers), tap pants and bralettes) would be much easier than others (a boned corset that doesn't mention how many and where the bones go).

Every time I flip through this book I want to sew something from it. But I think what is likely to prevent me from sewing anything in the near future is that these are not vintage-style patterns; they are patterns for actual vintage lingerie. Silhouettes have changed over the years and women's figures have changed, too. So, many of these garments won't really fit the way I would come to expect/want from my lingerie (ie: '50's pointy busts, 20's/30's flattened busts...) But for those who want actual historic lingerie, this is indeed a goldmine of opportunities. 

Anyway, this will probably be an inspirational book for me for the foreseeable future rather than a practical one. But it definitely gets the thumbs up from me on that count. It really is fun to read about the different pieces and their histories and to ooh and ahh at all the pretties.

* Sorry for the lack of pictures. There aren't any pictures from inside the book on any on line book seller sites and taking pictures with my camera didn't work out so well. Oh well. 

Obsession: Unmentionables

Sometimes I have a one track mind. Within minutes of posting about bras and proper fit, I noticed that Colette Patterns put out their first line of "dainties" lingerie and lounge wear, the Selfish Seamstress gave away an Elan bra pattern on her wonderful sewing blog, and SewStylish magazine featured an article on trimming a cami with lace.

The writing was on the wall. Lingerie was on my mind. But what to do? I contemplated a shopping spree, but lingerie is so very expensive - well, at least the good stuff is. Then the light dawned: Why not make it myself! (duh) This "I can sew" revelation was akin to the day I realized that I could alter RTW clothing rather than paying someone else to do it (that is to say that it was a really obvious fact that I had somehow overlooked). Although I did not take up sewing to save money, I am convinced that I can make a cami, for example, from beautiful fabric and trim for much less than RTW would cost.

Anyway, I ordered two books from Half.com and the first arrived on Monday: Singer's Sewing Lingerie. I've read the first few sections and think it is great. What I've read is full of practical information on materials (fabrics, lace trims, elastic...) and techniques, like what seam treatments are best for various fabrics and garments. At this point, I get more out of books that prioritize technique over inspiration, so this approach is right up my alley.

I also ordered Kwik Sew's Beautiful Lingerie book, which has the added benefit of coming with patterns. After it arrives, I will decide on a first project and then begin to amass supplies.

In the interim I will be working on my pants and the two knit tops I've blogged about. Speaking of which, have you noticed how I am NOT have ANY luck with knit tops recently? Seriously, I am 1 for 4 at this point, with the 2 tops that currently are not working (although I have high hopes), one that is in the UFO pile and only one that I love. Anyway, stay tuned.

Mishmosh: Projects, Books and Spring Cleaning

Things are still busy at the office this week, and it is frustrating to not be in the Craft Lounge. Thankfully, I am taking tomorrow off and plan to spend the day sewing, running and baking, but in the interim I am trying to get myself mentally organized.

Projects

Here is a mini re-cap of where things stand with my current sewing projects:

• Amazing Fit Pants - Muslin 3.0 is cut and ready to be sewn. Let's hope that this is the final muslin! Then it will be on to sewing pants. Many many pants. In every color and style.

• Vogue Black v-neck top - I worked on this last weekend and it is very nearly done. All that I need to do is finish the armholes and hem it. It is much longer than I initially thought it was going to be. So, I have to decide how much to hem.
  

• Blue Cowl Neck top - I haven't made any progress on this since my last post about it. It kind of got shunted to the side in my pants obsession. However, I will pick it up again most likely this weekend.

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Books

Now that I am sewing primarily for myself, and not making any gifts or taking on any alteration projects, I decided that it was time to add to my sewing library. So, I decided to start with two classics that other sewists swear by - the popular Palmer/Pletsch Fit for Real People and Pants for Real People.

The styles may be dated, but the advice is sound!

They arrived on Tuesday and I've thumbed through them over the last two nights. Already the books have demystified a few sewing issues for me. I can see why this series is a must have for sewists and glad to have it in my collection.

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Spring Cleaning

Lastly, I've noticed that with spring coming, many other sewing bloggers are thinking about their style, or lack of one. I've been suffering in that department, too. I lost a chunk of my wardrobe when I lost weight. And a lot of the replacement clothing I've bought in the last 12-18 months has not lived up to the style or quality of what it replaced. A wardrobe purge is imminent.

I am hoping that my pants project will help jump start a wardrobe makeover for me. I do not have favorite pants at the moment, but there are at least 5 beautiful fabrics for pants in my stash. And now that I am on my way to making great pants for the first time, I feel as though I will have the basis for building a great wardrobe. More on this subject will follow...

My First BWOF!

For my non-sewing readers, BWOF is short for Burda World of Fashion, the popular German sewing magazine. I signed up for a trial subscription (English version, of course) and my first issue - July 2009 - arrived yesterday.


Burda is different from other fashion or sewing magazines because, well, there aren't really any articles. What each issue does contain is fashion spreads of stylish clothing and then the patterns and instructions on how to sew them. And, in the June issue there are any number of cute garments and accessories that I would enjoy sewing, including some that are very quick and easy. Really, this issue makes me wish I had a beach vacation to look forward to and start sewing for!

I wore my halter top last weekend and it left me feeling inspired to sew more things for myself. With tomorrow and Monday off, I hope to get lots of sewing done - primarily my maxi dress and tank top. Both should be pretty quick projects depending on how fitting goes.

Have a Happy 4th of July, everyone!

Summer Reading: Jane Austen Meets Shaun of the Dead

Last summer, I went thru a Jane Austen phase, reading Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility in a short span. Then I went through a vampire and other ghoulish creatures phase. So, with summer approaching, a mini-revival of the two, albeit a silly one, is in order.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies follows the plot of the classic romance, but with the English countryside beset by legions of the undead. You will be pleased to know that the Bennett girls are master zombie slayers, famed for their "Pentagram of Death" fighting formation as well as for their beauty. I am only a few chapters into the book but I'm hooked. If you love P&P and laughed at Shaun of the Dead, this should be right up your alley, too.

Happy Friday!

Stretch Assignment

In my sewing adventures, I haven't really worked with knit fabrics yet. Sure I've altered a few knit garments that I own, but I've been a bit intimidated about doing a full fledged knit project. So, to help me get over that hump, I bought Sewing with Knits, which many sewists regard it as the definitive guide to knits.
It hasn't been updated since 2000, so the styles are pretty dated. However, the advice is detailed, yet easy to grasp, and sound. Knits present some challenges: they stretch when you pull on them so it is easy to distort or stretch the fabric while cutting and sewing, seams have to stretch along with the fabric or they will break, and most knits don't hold a crease, so you can't turn and press a hem. However, on the plus side, knits are easy to fit since they have so much give, and their construction is usually pretty simple since they don't generally have structural elements like darts, or even zippers or buttons in many cases.

Anyway, I have some black jersey tucked away in my stash, but before I get to that I am going to take a page from 2BSewing's book and remake an oversize, boxy tee shirt into a more pleasing form as my first knit project. Here is my "before" tee shirt - it was given to me when I completed my scuba diving certification, inducting me into the KCD dive family. It's been sitting in a drawer since it's too boxy/baggy. I usually get rid of things that don't fit well, but if I could convert this into something that I could wear to the beach or on a dive boat, it would be fantastic.

A rectangle with sleeves. Um, yes... those are deodorant marks...

If this works out, Phineas may have to pad lock his teeshirt drawer. (My love, consider yourself forewarned.)

'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out, Contagion to this world. ~ William Shakespeare

It seems appropriate to post about my latest obsession, Twilight, on Halloween.

A few weeks ago Polyhymnia lent me the 4 book series. In all fairness, she did warn me that Twilight was addictive. But I didn't take her warning seriously and now I am stuck - obsessed with a neo-gothic teen vampire romance. I called her when I was half way thru and accused her of being a literary crack dealer.

Yes, I know how cheesy that all sounds - teen vampire love. And the books are not without flaws. The author's gratuitous use of the words "dazzle" and "smug" are reason enough for censure. However, the world and characters she's created are compelling. Love blazes in the all-or-nothing, forbidden fruit way that the teenage girl lurking in the back corner of your mind will devour. Fans have even been saying that Edward (our hero) is the new Harry. Nonsense, I say. Harry was never as sexy.

OK, so am I encouraging you to read these books? NO. Absolutely not. Consider yourself warned: Twilight is like crack- highly addictive, chocolate coated crack. Thank god I only have to wait until November 21 for my next fix, when the movie comes out. Other addicts are welcome to join me and Poly at the midnight showing.