A post all about knitting?? Who would've thunk it, especially since I can barely knit. I crochet like a madwoman and understand the basics of knitting, but I just haven't spent enough time practicing knitting to be good at it. I was remarking to my mom this past weekend (who is a great knitter) that I really need to learn how to knit. I see so many wonderful garments being knitted by other fiber artists that I really want to be able to "join the club" so to speak. She then asked me if I would like her knitting machine. Oh.My.GOODNESS!! I couldn't believe she still had it!!! It's bulky, heavy and you have to do everything manually, but it can knit ANYTHING and it's older than me (which means no cheap plastic construction - everything is sturdy metal). She still has the original bill of sale when my grandparents bought it back in the 60s for $50. I've always wanted to learn how to use it and now I get my chance!!!
I definitely still need/want to learn how to knit by hand with more skill, but this knitting machine is going to be FUN!!! The only downside is I get stuck with her entire stash of yarn...most of which is in ugly colors and scratchy acrylic. Oh well, it'll be good yarn to practice with!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
2009 wardrobe makeover
This is my biggest goal for 2009 - to begin the process of making over my wardrobe. Last summer, when I went through my closet and donated 3 10-gallon totes of clothes, I determined some major holes in my wardrobe. I have enough clothes to get me through a couple of weeks, but most of them are casual.
These holes include slacks, woven tops, work dresses and skirts, some dressy knit tops, blazers, a winter coat and spring/fall jacket. Since my other big goal for 2009 is to dress for the job I want, not the job I have, I need to fill in the gaps with some dressy basics that I can use to build a professional wardrobe. My professional-dress goal comes with some inherent problems, though:
1) My workplace is extremely casual. While it's not unheard of for people to dress up, most of the time coworkers assume you have a job interview. This is definitely problematic if your boss thinks you are seeking employment elsewhere.
2) I don't have the time or money to immediately create this ultra-professional wardrobe.
Because of these two "issues" (and I use the term loosely, since I can easily overcome the first one), I have decided to approach this in phases. The initial plan is to phase out my casual items by incorporating versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down. By starting with versatile transition pieces, I can eliminate some of the job interview talk that floats around the office. I can also continue to wear some of my casual items with dressier items until I have made a bigger dent in my list of "needs".
My first mini-wardrobe will consist of two pairs of slacks (I need to try out some muslins to find a pair that work for my figure) and two woven tops. I should have a plan fleshed out by this weekend and hopefully my first pants muslin cut out.
These holes include slacks, woven tops, work dresses and skirts, some dressy knit tops, blazers, a winter coat and spring/fall jacket. Since my other big goal for 2009 is to dress for the job I want, not the job I have, I need to fill in the gaps with some dressy basics that I can use to build a professional wardrobe. My professional-dress goal comes with some inherent problems, though:
1) My workplace is extremely casual. While it's not unheard of for people to dress up, most of the time coworkers assume you have a job interview. This is definitely problematic if your boss thinks you are seeking employment elsewhere.
2) I don't have the time or money to immediately create this ultra-professional wardrobe.
Because of these two "issues" (and I use the term loosely, since I can easily overcome the first one), I have decided to approach this in phases. The initial plan is to phase out my casual items by incorporating versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down. By starting with versatile transition pieces, I can eliminate some of the job interview talk that floats around the office. I can also continue to wear some of my casual items with dressier items until I have made a bigger dent in my list of "needs".
My first mini-wardrobe will consist of two pairs of slacks (I need to try out some muslins to find a pair that work for my figure) and two woven tops. I should have a plan fleshed out by this weekend and hopefully my first pants muslin cut out.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
year in review??
So it's several days into 2009 and I've been thinking about some of what I had hoped to accomplish in the past year versus what I actually accomplished. I determined I got in a little over my head with planning for garments that have yet to see the light of day. Having a baby in mid-February has made it difficult to get as much accomplished as I had hoped and by the time I started having spare time and sewing mojo, it was time to work on Christmas gifts.
What did I accomplish in 2008?
*I made 2 baby quilts (one for Andrew and one for a friend's baby)
*I did several machine embroidery projects (lipstick cases, photo frames, Christmas cards, quilts and the beginnings of three advent calendars)
*I made a machine embroidered and quilted wall hanging for my sister-in-law
*I made a machine embroidered and quilted sewing tote for my mother-in-law
*I made three tops, three skirts and a dress over the summer
*I made a Galaxy-inspired dress for my company holiday party
*I also completed two large-scale cross-stitch designs (one for my son and one for a friend)
Not as much as I had hoped, but quite good considering life constraints - and the fact that I did absolutely no sewing in 2007 and the first half of 2008. I also started several projects that are not yet finished. These include coats for my husband and myself, a shirt for my husband, a shirt for my father-in-law and a skirt that I started over the summer and have yet to finish.
During my pregnancy, I expressed a dire need for business-appropriate attire. Even though I work in a fairly casual office, I have decided to start dressing for the job I want rather than the job I currently have. So for 2009, in addition to finishing outstanding projects and some more craft and machine-embroidery projects, I would like to make another coat (perhaps two), a blazer and dress skirts and slacks to wear to work. I would also like to make a pair of trouser jeans that are styled after the best pair of jeans I have ever owned (they just happen to be maternity jeans and since I have no plans of having another baby I won't be able to wear them again). I hope that this short list is not all that I accomplish in 2009, but I have to start somewhere and I've found my previous years' goals were too lofty given other responsibilities I have in my life.
Aside from sewing-related goals for 2009, my other primary resolution is to work on my time management. I work a standard 40-hour work week and have weekends off. I am approaching my 5-year anniversary at my company and will then double my vacation time (I already get 2 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick each year). I attend school one night a week and have reading and writing assignments for class. My son is nearing his first birthday and although he is becoming more independent, he needs more supervision than ever before (he's almost walking). My intention is to find 30 minutes each day to spend on sewing and craft-related projects and spread school work out to one hour each day instead of an entire weekend day as I do now. If I can accomplish this, I will have more time during the weekends to spend with my family and on sewing projects without compromising my other responsibilities.
Wish me luck!
What did I accomplish in 2008?
*I made 2 baby quilts (one for Andrew and one for a friend's baby)
*I did several machine embroidery projects (lipstick cases, photo frames, Christmas cards, quilts and the beginnings of three advent calendars)
*I made a machine embroidered and quilted wall hanging for my sister-in-law
*I made a machine embroidered and quilted sewing tote for my mother-in-law
*I made three tops, three skirts and a dress over the summer
*I made a Galaxy-inspired dress for my company holiday party
*I also completed two large-scale cross-stitch designs (one for my son and one for a friend)
Not as much as I had hoped, but quite good considering life constraints - and the fact that I did absolutely no sewing in 2007 and the first half of 2008. I also started several projects that are not yet finished. These include coats for my husband and myself, a shirt for my husband, a shirt for my father-in-law and a skirt that I started over the summer and have yet to finish.
During my pregnancy, I expressed a dire need for business-appropriate attire. Even though I work in a fairly casual office, I have decided to start dressing for the job I want rather than the job I currently have. So for 2009, in addition to finishing outstanding projects and some more craft and machine-embroidery projects, I would like to make another coat (perhaps two), a blazer and dress skirts and slacks to wear to work. I would also like to make a pair of trouser jeans that are styled after the best pair of jeans I have ever owned (they just happen to be maternity jeans and since I have no plans of having another baby I won't be able to wear them again). I hope that this short list is not all that I accomplish in 2009, but I have to start somewhere and I've found my previous years' goals were too lofty given other responsibilities I have in my life.
Aside from sewing-related goals for 2009, my other primary resolution is to work on my time management. I work a standard 40-hour work week and have weekends off. I am approaching my 5-year anniversary at my company and will then double my vacation time (I already get 2 weeks of vacation and 2 weeks of sick each year). I attend school one night a week and have reading and writing assignments for class. My son is nearing his first birthday and although he is becoming more independent, he needs more supervision than ever before (he's almost walking). My intention is to find 30 minutes each day to spend on sewing and craft-related projects and spread school work out to one hour each day instead of an entire weekend day as I do now. If I can accomplish this, I will have more time during the weekends to spend with my family and on sewing projects without compromising my other responsibilities.
Wish me luck!
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