Chantilly - fitting

Look!! Actual sewing has taken place! Well, kind of, it is only a muslin/toile but still! Please excuse the tummy ;) It's quite snug, but that's what I aimed for what with the weight loss/gym thing. (As a side note, my first weigh in was last Wednesday, and I lost a pound and a total of 5 inches!). 

On to the fitting! I came up with a cunning plan for the fitting. As the yoke is completely separate, I cut the size 6 so it would fit my shoulders. Then I cut a 6 for the armholes and graded out to a 12 (yep, 3 whole sizes bigger and it's still snug! Ick!). It worked pretty well!

The front fits really well I think. I wasn't sure if it was a little tight across the chest but Dom says he thinks it's ok. Opinions please? Bearing in mind that when I lose weight, it comes off my boobs a little too. As I said, it's snug across the waist but I'm ok with that for now. 

The back needs a tuck taken out horizontally. Dom pinned it out for me and I need to tuck out about an inch. Apart from that I think it's ok. Once I've taken the tuck out of the back bodice piece, I'm happy to start on the real thing :) (Unless you think I should add a little width across the bust?)

This is such a pretty pattern! I absolutely love it, and I think I'll be making more for summer dresses :)

Ashley x

Socks and Swallows

Pretty stitch markers that mum got me for Christmas :)

This yarn has caused me no end of trouble! It's a lace weight mohair/silk mix. (Angel by Debbie Bliss if you're interested). It was the first 'designer' yarn I ever bought, and this is the third pattern I've tried in it. The first was too boring. The second pattern I chose seemed to be going well, I didn't work on it for months. I picked it up again at the weekend and did a row. I had an extra stitch. Hmm. I tried to fix but it was so hard to see where I'd gone wrong in this yarn. Anyway, I've settled on the Swallowtail Shawl (link goes to Ravelry page). When I chose the second pattern, I passed over the Swallowtail as I thought it would be too hard. However, I've made a shawl or two since then and I'm pretty sure I can do it now :) Of course, it's all going to go wrong now I've said that ;)

I've also been working on a pair of socks for Dom. They're the Manly Aran socks from Toe up socks for everybody. I've finished one so far and I'm currently having a little break before starting on the second one. Here's a sneak preview:

It's a great pattern and I've learnt to do cables without a cable needle! It's pretty scary at first but I think I've got the hang of it now :) They fit him really well and he keeps asking when they'll be be finished.

My fabric order from Croft Mill was dispatched yesterday, but my pattern order from Sewbox is still processing. Hmm, might have to work on something else while I wait!

Ashley x

It's back!!

It's back, it's back!! My sewing mojo is back!! Or at least, I'm pretty sure it is ;) I think the Pendrell dress scared it away, but now that I've decided that it's ok to have a UFO (unfinished object) I actually want to sew again because it means I don't have to work on that dreaded dress! I mean, heck, I have plenty of knitting WiPs (works-in-progress) hanging around, including a cardigan that I haven't worked on in forever. 

Now, no sewing has actually taken place yet. However, some fabric/pattern shopping has! And I have a massive urge to browse through my pattern box. Here's what I just ordered:

Chantilly

Rooibos

Bleu

The fabric is for the Chantilly, and I also ordered lining. I cannot wait!! Now I'm off to browse through my patterns!

Ashley x

Changes

This week I joined the gym. That's my key fob to get in and a coin for my locker. I decided to pay a little bit extra to have a fitness assessment and a personal program done. I figured if I'm going to get the most out of it, I need some advice on the best resistance machines to use and how often to go and what not. I've never been to a gym before, so I was a bit nervous. Luckily, the staff are all lovely and really friendly. 

I've found the personal programme is perfect for me, and the fitness assessment is going to be really helpful as I now have a sensible goal weight :) Yep, Christmas took its toll and I have some weight to lose plus some extra that I've been wanting rid of for a while! I also really want to improve my fitness, it certainly needs improving! 

So now I face the dilemma that every sewist faces when trying to lose weight - do I carry on sewing? Do I sew clothes so they're a bit too small so I can shrink into them? Or do I just choose styles that look good belted so I can just tighten my belt? Hmm. . .

While I had my keys out, I also took a photo of the key ring that my youngest sister Ebony made for me :) Apparently she spent ages picking out beads that she thought I'd like!

Ashley x 

Rose Gold and an Icing Swirl

I finally got round to blocking it. The top photo shows the detail better, but the second photo shows the colour better :) I love this hat, and I can't wait to wear it! My Ravelry project page is here, all the details are there is you want them :)

I'm not sure where the last two weeks has gone! I've been around on twitter, but nothing has been blog worthy. We've just been taking it easy, and Dom got the new xbox game Skyrim so I've been watching him play that and following along with the story. I'm enjoying it so far, it's got dragons in it so what's not to like? ;) And if you think it's weird that I like to watch him play a game, then this proves I'm not the only one! I was so surprised by this post, but I feel exactly the same way :)

I started and finished another hat on Friday too! It's the Icing Swirl hat by Ysolda and it's knitted from Melange Chunky on 6.5mm needles which is why it only took me a day to knit :) My project page is here. Here's a couple of photo's of it blocking on a balloon:

Because of how thick the yarn is, it should be really warm :) It's suddenly got really cold the past couple of days, so I can't wait for these hats to dry properly. It's so frosty in the mornings, it looks like a thin layer of snow!

Hopefully it won't be another two weeks before I post again this time :)

Ashley x

December - Finished projects

Rather than do a review of the year, I'm just going to carry on as usual with my month review. I don't make resolutions or have aims for the year. I just like to go at my own pace :)
So here's the one project that I finished that isn't a Christmas present:

And, as promised, here's a round up of the Christmas presents I made:

Phew, sorry for the photo overload! ;) Starting in October was a wise move, I was finished in plenty of time. I'm looking forward to next years Christmas crafting already!
Happy New year! I hope 2012 is wonderful for you :)
Ashley x