white cat, black sweater

Okay, so the cat isn’t entirely white, but she sure sheds white.

This, of course, is the nearly-done body of my Goose Rocks hoodie, which (of course) I won’t be able to wear until at least October, considering the way the weather’s been going lately. But it’s still going to be a good hoodie to have in the fall, and knitting it is a pretty good time. The construction is a little odd compared to other low-seam (not seamless – the arms are knit separately and sewn on) sweaters I’ve made in the past, and the more I work with the cotton-based yarn, the more I find I don’t mind it. Plus, I get to do many, many cables: my one true knitting love.

Some sewing-related stuff also came in the mail today, which was very exciting for me. I ordered some fabric online shortly after finishing my sexy cowgirl pillow – trying something a little bigger is one of my goals for the summer. Ideally I’d like to make a quilt, but I’m scared of actually quilting (it looks hard/ what if I make a mistake/I’m not worthy, etc), so we’ll see.

I also couldn’t resist a half-yard of this fabric – anyone who knows me well has, at some point, heard about my ridiculous love of Alice in Wonderland, and this was too good to pass up. I’d love to turn it into a skirt, but being a classy lady older than about nine, I’m not 100% sure if I can pull it off. There’s a fine line between “hipsterishly cute” and “childlike in a sad, empty sort of way.”

Maybe if I used a skirt pattern that involved panels of different fabrics? I’d like to think if I toned it down with really sensible black and a grown-up A-line pattern, it might be more okay, but it’s possible that I’m just thinking wishfully.

Also, out of curiosity – if I had a pattern to write up, perhaps one that was related to last week’s blog post, would any of you be interested in test-knitting? The only things I can offer as compensation are a copy of the pattern, and eternal glory.

i know you want (pop) you want (dance) you want (rock and roll)

It’s starting to look like winter!

This is, honestly, my favourite kind of weather – there’s something about getting all dressed up in warm, fuzzy clothing and being able to think to myself, ha ha, weather, I win that’s satisfying in a way I can’t quite articulate.

It’s also a reasonable excuse to take some time inside, to organize my life (my apartment needed cleaning in the worst way), and make things. For instance, I got a chance to play with my new Christmas present, finally. I got a sewing machine, which is something I’ve been thinking about for a long, long while, and I managed to turn this

Into this:

It definitely took me an embarrassing amount of time, and I’m sure in a few months my inability to cut or sew a straight line will seem painfully obvious, but whatever. The thrill of look, guys, I made this! has yet to wear off, so far.

Song of the Entry: DJ Earworm – United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It on the Pop) (Listen)

round and round in circles

IMG_7847, originally uploaded by pirateygoodness.

Oh man. It’s been freaking forever, I know, and I have a whole bunch of really super excuses, but they’re not that interesting. Basically: life caught up with me, I haven’t been crafting, such is the way of the universe. I’ll see what I can do about that in the future.

Anyway, I did ultimately sew something (you will recall, I bought some fabric). This is another very very practical project (as in “sewing something for a specific purpose” – there are much more practical things to do with my time than handsewing, I am positive) – a little mini-wallet for cards-and-bills. Really, the only reason I’d ever use this is for times when I want to go to bars and don’t want to take a purse with me, which is. . .not often, admittedly. But whatever, it’s cute.

I worked out the pattern myself, after staring at these amazing wallets on Craftster for a half hour or so, and since I had a bit of time on my hands that day, it sort of. . .came together.

Song of the Entry: Big Japan – All The Fish in the Sea Are Stupid Sluts Anyway