Screw you, Delaware

Guess where I am?

New Mexico! When I got off the plane in El Paso (not in New Mexico, but in Texas), I thought, "wow, its pretty hot out here, but its not that bad. Maybe its low 90s?" Actually, it was 102, but as I had just left Delaware, where it was 88 degrees with 91% humidity, I'm feeling quite comfortable. Not that I've bothered to leave the couch and actually go outside or anything.

So I've been happily knitting along on my Bolero (pattern is here), and finally got enough pieces finished to pin them together and see if it might fit. Oh, it fits - everything except the sleeves. Observe:

Yeah, you see that part that the sleeve is supposed to fit into? And you see how the sleeve does NOT fit into that spot? I would call that a problem. Now, before you say anything, I followed the pattern exactly, I have perfect gauge, and even remembered to measure everything in centimeters like I was supposed to. I can only blame this pattern. Since it was translated from Norwegian, I even went back and checked the English translation against the original. The 27cm sleeve does not fit into the 36cm sleeve holes. Suggestions? Obviously I'll have to re-knit the sleeves - so they should be longer as opposed to wider, right? The ribbed bottom of the sleeve fits around my arm, so I don't really want to make that bigger. Those crazy Norwegians.

Can't stop sewing

In my continual effort to create a Santa Fe-worthy wardrobe, I found a use for one of the large scarves my roommate gave me. This one was just begging to be a skirt - I cracked one of the tiny mirrors by sewing over it, so does that mean I'll only have 7 minutes of bad luck? (Bangles courtesy of said roommate as well.)

I also dug down deep and found the motivation to finish that half a sock. The yarn is a no-name from Maryland Sheep and Wool, which I scored for a mere $3.95. I'm not sure what I think of cotton socks, but I better like them because I still have 3 more balls of this stuff.

Never Talk to Strangers

Last winter I made the mistake of opening my front door to some Jehovah's Witnesses. I should have known better, seeing as that no one I know has EVER shown up unannounced. I talked to them for a little, telling them I was in fact Catholic, and knew all about the Bible and whatever else they were selling.

Obviously I didn't learn my lesson the first time, because when someone knocked on the door this afternoon I opened it, and saw the same two ladies standing there. "Hi, Sarah?" They asked. I thought quick, "Um no, she's not here, that's my roommate." Wow, they said, "You two look a lot alike! Has anyone ever told you that?" Attempting to add credibility to my obvious lie I said, "Um, she's my sister. She went home to visit her parents." (I SHOULD have said OUR parents . . . but I'm not that good at lying.) "Oh," they said, "we'll just come back later and see how she's doing."

I've gotten in the habit of just hanging up on telemarketers, but that's a little harder to do when there's two sweet looking ladies standing at your front door. Maybe I'm doomed for lying to Jehovah's Witnesses, but I still don't understand their agenda. It's not as if I stood there and told them I didn't believe in God or had never heard of the Bible. If they keep coming to see me, do they get to steal salvation credits from the Catholic school I went to for nine years?

In crafting news, there are in fact many projects going on. But I never finish any of them.

There's one completed sock out of Lion Brand simple stripes, a lacy scarf, a sock in-progress made from my discount Maryland Sheep and Wool cotton sock yarn, and a green scarf (now frogged - I HATE big needles). That pile of red that you see is the back, one sleeve, and one front of a short sleeved bolero to go with the best dress ever. What IS this "best dress ever" that I speak of?? Well, you'll just have to wait and see.

I love summer vacation

While the sewing machine was still taking up the majority of the dining room table (if a table in a corner of my apartment actually qualifies as a "dining room"), I thought I would finish up some small projects I've been thinking about for a while. First are two headbands made from Heather Bailey's simple yet awesome pattern.

I also made another knitting needle case, this one for my double points and crochet hooks.

Then, I packed up the machine and put in back in my closet. And then my roommate did a horrible, horrible thing. She's moving back to Pakistan after living in the US for 6 years, and decided to give me all of her old clothes. And by clothes I mean extremely beautiful Pakistani scarves with impressive designs. I have 15 of these, and at about 2 yards apiece, I have just aquired nearly 100 feet of fabric. Just when I was getting my addiction under control.

More Sewing

The sewing binge continues (enabled by the 60% off sale at JoAnn's) with a skirt. The fabric is slippery and flowing and perfect for a skirt. And it was my first zipper - I don't need no stinkin' zipper foot.

New Clothes!

There comes a time in every woman's life when she starts hating all the clothes she owns. I hit this point a couple of weeks ago, and a giant shopping bag to Goodwill later, I now want more clothes! Being my crafty (and cheap) self, I'm not going to BUY new clothes, of course. I've had this fabric for a few years ($1 a yard at Wal-mart), and it was destined to become a skirt. In fact, it was sitting on the table, under the pattern, when I realized it was um, see-through. I found a pattern that featured a nifty doubled-bodice section that turned out to be perfect! I replaced the zipper in the back with some buttons, and added a ribbon to eliminate a rather scandalous gap in the front.

Also, you probably have noticed the change in my blog template - the change is still in progress, so if anyone knows how to get the banner to actually fit the area its supposed to, then let me know!