Finished!

I have been wanting to make another Barcelona Skirt for a few months. Last week, I sewed up this one in the blue chrysanthemum fabric by Amy Butler. Today, a week later, I finally sewed the hem. I made the skirt slightly smaller than my altered Pink Barcelona skirt, and I think I finally have the fit down.

I love this skirt. It is easy to sew and easy to wear. I already have fabric picked out for a third!

Running Mojo

My day always goes better when I have had a run, but I have been finding it hard to get started, and even more difficult to keep going once I start. I have come to the realization that I haven't really enjoyed my running since we moved to the top of a large hill (small mountain?) in a tropical climate. I try to think back over the last year and a half to identify a "good" run, and I honestly can't name one! Last year, I had marathon training to keep me motivated. I thought about training again this year, Nolan is training this year, but I decided I didn't have it in me. I thought I would feel some regret about not getting it together to train this year, but all I feel is immense relief!

When we were living in Korea, I almost always ran the same route. I would run along the flight line until I got to half the distance I wanted to run, and then I would turn around and run back. I guess to some people this would seem boring, but I loved it. I would just zone out, and before I knew it I was home again. I ran about 4 or 5 miles most days, in any weather, and I never brought my i-pod. I actually looked forward to my runs. Now I run on my treadmill at home because I hate the heat and dread the hills. Even with TV or my i-pod, I struggle to get in 2 or 3 miles, and I find it hard to make myself run at least 3 times a week.

I don't know what the solution is, short of moving to the plains of someplace far north of the equator. For now, I am finding some motivation by fueling my other obsession and listening to knitting podcasts while I run. I keep reminding myself of how great I feel after a run, even an awful 2 mile treadmill run!

Dancing Sock

I am working on a pair of socks for Gwyneth out of Dancing Yarn (discontinued) that I bought from Knit Picks a few years ago. I had tried another sock pattern with this yarn, and decided I didn't like the yarn. It has elastic in it which makes it extra stretchy, and it looked funny with the stitch pattern I had chosen. After I made Henry's orange socks, Gwyneth told me she wanted a pair of socks too. The yarn is pink and purple, her favorite colors, so I decided to use it for a pair of small girls sock. I am making a basic 2x2 rib sock using the 4 Stitch Ribbing Pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks as a guide. I am about 1/3 of the way done with the second sock.

I love the way the yarn is knitting up. The color isn't pooling too much, and the elasticity of the yarn is not a factor with such a simple rib pattern.

The Perfect Skirt and Lots of Needles

This morning I finally sat down and took in the waist of my Barcelona skirt. I have been dreading doing this alteration since I first decided it had to be done, but in the end it took me less than 45 minutes to do (I do still need to top stitch the waist). I took in an inch at each side. It now sits on my natural waist, and it doesn't feel like it is going to slip off over my hips when I wear the apron with it! Now that I have the fit right, I am planning to make a second skirt with this Amy Butler print.


I love this skirt (even more now that I have tweaked the fit)! It makes me feel much more put together than my usual uniform of shorts and t-shirts, but it is just as comfortable and easy to wear. I may have to make a few more and change my uniform to skirts and t-shirts.

I also received my Knit Picks order today. I think it has been almost a month since I initially placed the order. I accidentally had the package sent to our old APO address in Korea. I wish I could say that this is the first time I've made a mistake like this. When we were living in Korea, I had a package sent to our old APO address in Germany. I'm feeling a little flaky, but, in my defense, when you move every 2 years or so, it's bound to happen!

I called Knit Picks, thinking I would have to wait until the old order came back before they would send out the new one, but they said they would just send out a new order, no charge. They didn't even charge me for shipping, which is supposed to be $7 to Hawaii.

I ordered three sets each of #0 and #1 DP needles, two sets of #2 DP needles, and one circular #2 needle (what I really needed when I placed the order). Obviously, I was feeling a bit deprived of small metal DP needles!

Knitting Denial

I was so happy when I was knitting the back of my Josephine top because my gauge was coming out perfectly. Everytime I did a measurement it was right on. I was surprised when I started knitting the front and my guage was off. I actually ripped out the first 8 rows once because the knitting was looking messy. On my second attempt, the knitting looked better but the gauge was still too big. I kept knitting telling myself that it would work out in the end. At first I just tried to knit a bit tighter and decided it would be fine once I got a little further up. Then I thought maybe I could just fix the gauge difference with blocking. Finally, today, I made it to my first decrease, I consulted my notes, and I realized that I was two rows behind where I did the decrease on the back. I could no longer deny that my gauge was not coming out. The front has been frogged.

Mummy and Rooster

It was pouring all day so we had to scrap Gwyneth's idea to use toilet paper for her Mummy Costume. I remembered yesterday afternoon that I had some muslin in my fabric stash. I tore some strips out and sewed them together (it wouldn't be Halloween without a little sewing!) I also sewed a little cover for her head, and then I wrapped her from head to toe. She wore a pair of Nolan's long johns underneath, and Nolan had to explain what long underwear is to the Hawaiian boys next door, funny. The costume looked great, but it was unraveling after one pass up and down our block.

Henry's costume was much easier. I happened to find a cute Rooster costume at Old Navy (half-price even)! Henry was not convinced, but Nolan really loved the costume. We talked it up all week, and in the end he carried it off without a hitch. He said a perfect "Tricker Treatle Doo" at every door. I bet he got lots of extra candy for that!