Block of the Month: February

 This month's Craftsy BOM blocks were puzzle blocks.  They were a lot of fun to make, and it was a good chance to use up little scraps from my stash -- a win on both fronts.  Special thanks to Emma who gave me most of the fabric (except the batik blue) I used for the Chunky Chevron.

Balkan Beat Blox in progress

Balkan Beat Blox Complete

Fabric references:
Balkan Beat Blox uses the white scraps from the Simplicity New Look dress made out of IKEA cottn fabric (fabric design by Malin Akerblom) that I made last year.  The dark blue is from the Bombshell Dress, and the brown and yellow floral came from a fat quarter purchase from my former LQS in Munich (Quilt et Textilkunst).  That fabric is called "Dark Organic Leaves" from Art Gallery Fabrics's Naturella collection.

Chunky Chevron w/funky postcards from my friends

chunky chevron close-up

Fabric references:
Chunky Chevron uses the dark blue batik scraps from this Butterick skirt.  The red  and yellow are both from Kokka Fabric.  The yellow Forest Animals print is called "Trefle" and I couldn't find a name for the red.

Block of the Month: January

January's Block of the Month... As part of signing up to be a monthly quilt block maker on Craftsy, I'm following along every month and making a 12.5" block or two each month.  Of the two January variations, I've yet to do the wonky pound sign, but here's my wild asterisk!  This block was made from some really old scrap fabric.  I was so happy to finally use them... together.

glamour shot of asterisk block

here sits the asterisk block on top of my 80 li'l squares

Beatnik & Updates!

Wow.  You don't realize how much and how often you use the internet until you are cut off.  Cold turkey.  The last blog post took about three hours to upload using a random connection at a nearby cafe within a mall.  Finally, internet has been installed and I can now blog regularly again.  ((phew!!))

January was a busy crafting month for me, and I was really pleased with the completed Beatnik, a free sweater design by Norah Gaughan from Knitty Deep Fall 2010.  I made some modifications to the pattern, but the essence of the design is still there.  I love how it turned out and it fits really well... plus it's incredibly warm which is what I need these days.  Can you believe it actually snowed here in Amsterdam.  Everyone's been telling me since I moved here that it doesn't snow, etc. etc.  Well, guess what, it did.

So, here's what's keeping me warm...

"Beatniks to Murgatroyd"

My modifications to the pattern were as follows:

• knit in the round instead of flat
• 25 st side cable patterns changed to stag-horn cable w/ twisted st center (much easier to follow)
• added 1” even at hips
• knit full length sleeves (each was approx. 50g yarn in Lana Grossa Alta Moda Alpaca)
• added 4 extra rows near the top of sleeve cap for better ease, used one size larger for sleeve shaping

Yarn was purchased at Wolladiho; a local yarn shop in Munich that I will miss since it was right across the street from me.

Quilting progress: I made 80 squares for the top of our quilt.  Yay!  Next is sashing them together.

Sewing progress: I can now proceed with trousers, finishing UFOs, and some quick sewing projects!

Blogging full speed ahead!

WIP: January is Flying By

After moving in December, I took a trip to visit my family, and then returned to a flat full of boxes and a nervous dog.  So, after much unpacking, organizing, and finding a local cafe that has wi-fi... I can post again!  Hopefully soon I'll have internet once again at home, but just wanted to post my latest in-progress photos.

Sewing
In sewing, I've been cutting out paper patterns and readying them for this year.  I've also begun my big project which is a quilt and have laid out the fabric for my trousers project.  The quilt is a disappearing 9 square pattern and I'm hoping I bought enough charm squares to make it cover our double bed... I hope.  So far I have 48 squares.  I think I need 90 or so.

Knitting
I'm trying to finish all the WIP projects from 2011 and I'm still finishing the very cable-heavy sweater "Beatnik" by Norah Gaughan.  It's nearly complete with just one more sleeve, the top front, and the collar.  So close!

Bombshell Dress: Part 2, the Dress!

Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  It's definitely holiday party time!

This dress is my New Year's Eve dress.  (( How in the world?  Did you make that? ))Yes, it can be done by you, too!  I followed the Craftsy course led by Gertie (Gretchen Hirsch of Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing).  The Craftsy course featured a Burda pattern for evening dress #122A Bustier Dress w/Draped Detail from the 05/2011 Issue of Burda Style Magazine.  The course itself is a series of videos that walks you through every detail of making this dress from start to finish.  It was great.  I loved it, and it was a great way for me to get back into sewing regularly.

Burda 122A

Modifications:  I omitted the drape detail as is shown in the course.  I modified the bust cups to fit me... I added about 1.5" to the top of the cups and 1" to the bodice.  There was also the swayback adjustment to the bodice top (Tip: If you adjust the bodice piece widths, don't forget to add extra space to the corresponding skirt pieces so they still match later).  To make a rounder cup, I flattened the design line of the bust pieces where they join top to bottom; it makes a less pointy cup.
 

belt accessory, top stitching

I thought it needed some visual interest, so I added a top stitch to most of the seams in the dress.  Then there's the optional halter strap which is just a fabric strip with a few button holes.  Gertie guides you through that, too!  Finally, I added a belt accessory, and that was it!

just strike a pose... serious adri

Okay, so maybe I should explain why I'm in the bathtub wearing rubber gloves... Well, that was the best place not covered in boxes and packing stuff.  Plus, the light was great!  And, I love the yellow rubber gloves.

back view; surrounded by cardboard

shameless.

Details...
The outer dress fabric was purchased from the sales bin at Karstadt in Munich.  The grey cotton lining was from Ribes y Casals in Barcelona.  The grey acetate or some kind of nylon skirt lining, Petersham ribbon, and zipper was from Orag-Haus, Munich.  The spiral steel boning, casing, and caps were from Spitzen Paradies.  The belt clasp was a birthday gift from my friend, Véronique.  It was part of a collection of vintage buttons she gave me.  And, a big thanks to Alyson who convinced me to make this dress as a sew-along with her!  Thanks, Alyson!!

Part 1 of how I made this dress can be found here.