We are getting ready for spring down south although yesterday it felt like summer was already on it's way. A change last night corrected that anomaly. It's technically winter here!This skirt has been sitting around cut out for about 3 weeks. I finally got the impetus to sew. If I haven't sewn for a bit, I start to get antsy. I had to sew.This pattern is from Ottobre 01/09, pattern #19, Hertta skirt. The fabric is Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market. The cotton lace at the bottom I bought last week at the Stitches and Craft show. The skirt went to together easily although I don't know how I feel about gathering the skirt in four different spots to get it to fit to the waistband. I just don't see the benefit of it, or how it's a special design detail. In my head it just make construction more complicated because I had to fiddle with four different spots of gathering. Maybe I'm just sulking because trying to use the ruffler in that small a length would be overkill and too hard to get just right.Oh yes, the skirt...
And we all like photos, so here's a full length one. 
In my last post I mentioned buying Moo a t-shirt at the Stitches & Craft show. Mollie liked the print as did I, but we both disliked the boxy look of the t-shirt. Thanks to the wonderful Teri's suggestion we now have...
Mollie loves the new style of her shirt and I think it looks much better on her.I basically followed the tute, but I also unpicked the hem to give the shirt a bit more length and to add a lettuce hem. I really like the red thread contrast on the rolled hems.
I went to the show on Thursday. As you will read on most other blogs, the Incubator was the best part. I concur. So what did I get? 
A couple of bag patterns and hardware from NicoleM. Nicole was lovely and helped me to pick the right bits for the bag that I want to make. Nothing flash btw, just a little something for the boy.Speaking of bags for the boy, I couldn't resist a robot tote from Kristen Doran Design. I also spent a bit of time chatting with Kristen who is very nice. We are both fans of Converse. I also stopped and introduced myself to Justine of MixTape. I subscribe. I picked up some wool felt from Winterwood. I know the colours aren't my usual colours, but I wanted some things for doing machine embroidery buttons/patches.I bought some Clear Grip and a 24" clear quilting ruler. I can always use a long ruler!Some cotton laces. I bought two different ones because I wasn't sure what I needed/wanted for the skirt I was making Moo.And for Moo a t-shirt with a print from Pippijoe.
I love the print on the shirt, but am not that crazy about the boxy shape of the shirt. I'm toying with the idea of a few modifications.I bought a 2-day ticket, so could have gone back, but Saturday I was just too tired and today, well, I decided to trace out five different tops from Ottobre for Will. I thought it was better use of time.
These books arrived in the mail a month or so ago. I kept meaning to take a photo, but you know, the house stuff keeps distracting me!So these books are mentioned and recommended on Paula Burch's website. Paula is a PhD scientist, so I trusted her recommendations. Should you buy these books? No, unless you are a chemist or have studied chemistry and think it's very cool. Me, I wanted to stimulate that part of my brain again. I have a degree in chemistry. Which leads me to the question...have you visited All About Hand Dyeing?If you have any interest in dyeing, you can't go past it. If you ever wonder why I don't talk about how to dye things, that is because I don't believe in reinventing the wheel. If there is already good information out there on the web, I'm going to point you that direction.On the other hand, if you want to hang out with me when I dye...well, that's cool too. Just wait for the renos to be done.
True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 18 Result: 2 I couldn't figure out how to get it to paste nicely. Oh well, it says 2.So the winner is Gilly! (Jodie, I counted your two entries as one.) Gilly send me your address, and I'll get the fabric on its way to you Monday! I'm expecting to see something soon since you are getting your overlocker!
Yeah, I'm sure you do, but before I get to that I must thank Chrisy of Sophism Press. Chrisy has designed two lovely capelet patterns which I received today in my email. She was extremely generous and gave the pattern away to all who commented on her blog post. Now if you know me, I'm sure you are thinking, "Sara doesn't crochet." And yes, that is true. I could learn, or I could outsource. I think I'll be hitting Tracy up for some of her crochet skills very soon. So these home renos...well, they are starting. Starting....TOMORROW! Yes, I am screaming. Yes, I am freaking out. The builders said they would start NEXT Monday, but I had a phone call at 4:30 this afternoon asking if they could start tomorrow. I have to clear out the kitchen because they are kindly moving some of the cabinets and my stove into the dining room to create a makeshift kitchen. I thought I was going to have next weekend to do that!Oh yes, the fabric! I dyed this fabric ages ago. It is organic cotton rib knit. It's 100% cotton. 
I had plans, but I never got around to them, and now I doubt that I will. Each piece is about 50cm long. I think the fabric width is around 140cm, but might be 150cm. So I've decided that a lovely reader of my blog should get it. Leave a comment, and I will use a random number generator or get one of my assistants to draw a name.
