Machine Knitting
January 4, 2012I took a 12 week machine knitting class during the fall that I didn’t tell you about! I’m so sneaky. It was something completely new for me. I’d never seen a knitting machine before. The ones we used were very, very basic. Everything is manual and there’s no electricity at all. The first part of the class was spent making lots of samples. It’s backbreaking! Lots of crouching over. I think if I got a machine, I’d have it up so I could stand while using it.
For the second half of the class, after making more intricate swatches, we were supposed to make a sweater or vest. I did neither. I ended up making this cowl scarf. I used a superwash wool from WEBS. Instead of taking up most of my time working on the sweater, I learned how to use a much more heavy duty knitting machine. One of my reasons for taking the class was so I could learn how to make beautiful sweaters like Hetterson.
One thing I really enjoyed about the process was how fast it was! I made that scarf in 2 hours. No way could I do that with hand knitting. But in the end, when I knit, I do it because I enjoy the clicking, the hand motions, the relaxation of it. Knitting is a peaceful and enjoyable pursuit for me. Using a knitting machine changes that and it becomes more technical like sewing. For now, the idea of buying a knitting machine is on the back burner of my mind.
Plaid Shirt for Christmas
January 2, 2012
I made this Vogue 8759, view C shirt. Oh boy. It’s not that it was incredibly difficult, it’s just that sewing a man’s shirt is very different from something I normally sew. Plus I wanted it to look really nice. There are things that didn’t turn out so hot but I learned from them. For example, the top button closes but the band looks weird.
The back is three pieces and I didn’t quite line up the plaid, other than that it’s all lined up. All the seams are flat fell. That took forever! But it looks really good, if I do say so myself. One of my favorite parts is that the back collar / yoke / center back piece line up.
Chris picked out four plaid fabrics over a year ago. I started one shirt but the fabric was a really loose weave flannel that just drove me to the edge. I still have it. Maybe I’ll return to it. Anyway so all Chris wanted was a handmade shirt and it took me a year to give it to him. He was very surprised and happy to receive this shirt on Christmas! I didn’t make any pattern changes and it fits him really well. It’s meant to be a more modern fit and less like a dress shirt. I’m quite happy with the way it turned out and how much Chris likes it. The next time I make a shirt for him, I’ll check out Shirtmaking to perfect it. Oh and a side note, how weird is it that the pattern called for using French seams? On a man’s shirt? That seemed strange to me.
2011: The Speediest Year
December 30, 2011This year has really zoomed by. I guess that’s what happens when one ages, things go by faster. Wow that was quite a gold nugget right there! Silliness aside, it has been a busy year and I thought that I would continue in my new tradition of a list of things (see 2010′s post). Also note that the books/movies/tv aren’t necessarily things that came out in 2011, just things that I experienced during this year. So here it goes!
Books
Magical, poetic and visually stimulating book: The Night Circus
Best series to zip through while simultaneously chewing on your fingernails: The Hunger Games
Intriguing book on fundamentalism, charisma, murder and Utah [also inspired me to read other books on the FLDS]: Under the Banner of Heaven
Overly detailed yet addictive epic fantasy: Game of Thrones
Very fun mystery series with an energetic 11 year old named Flavia de Luce as self-appointed detective, beginning with Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
Music
A.A. Bondy rocked it this year as I went to see him at my first concert in something like 3 years! It’s also interesting to note that somebody named Auguste is from Alabama
Drinks
Chris made a bunch of awesome beers this year and they keep getting better and better
Without a doubt the yummiest cocktails I’ve ever had were imbibed at Rum Club
Movies and TV
Fun and cute but overhyped: Midnight in Paris
Really, really silly show but fun because it’s set in Portland: Grimm
What-the-heck-where-they-thinking / Most infuriating show that I love to hate [Lemon's insanely bad accent among other things!] and “watch” while I’m sewing [also embarrassing that I'm admitting here that I even "watch" it]: Hart of Dixie
Excellent show about a testosterone fueled motorcycle club/gang busting guts and lovin’ sluts [also I knit really fast when I watch this b/c it's so intense]: Sons of Anarchy
Our ancestors were artists and they will make you cry: Cave of Forgotten Dreams
Things I Did
Started a clothing line: Rank & Title
Knit a sweater: Gimli
Sewed a few things [tank tops, knit dresses, leggings, dresses, shirts as well as clothing for R&T]
Knit a few things [sweaters (unfinished ones count), socks, hats]
Took a knitting machine class
Went to Mt. Hood for the first time
Wrote a lot of tutorials and blog posts for Colette Patterns and I learned so much doing them
Prettiest national park I visited this year even if it was the only one, but the worst food ever: Yellowstone National Park
Random
Excellent and fun makeup tutorials by British sisters: Pixiwoo
The best almond brittle with salted chocolate ganache ice cream in town: Salt & Straw
The world’s best sewing book (information, design, patterns you name it!): Colette Sewing Handbook
The End
Thank you for reading my silly list of the past year! I will be back next week with some posts as I’m going to try a bit harder to at least get one post in a week. Have a wonderful and safe New Year’s Eve!
Happy New Year to you! :)
-Caitlin