Laowai

I’ve finished three projects lately.

First up a new-to-me dress pattern. It’s the Friday Pattern Company Hughes Dress.

Here’s the description from Friday Pattern Company: It features Viennese seams, gathered sleeves, and a gorgeous scoop neckline. The bodice is lined and the skirt has an a-line sweep. It buttons up the front and has an adjustable lace-up tie in the back. The tie can be cinched in or loosened depending on desired fit.

I wanted a basic dress that I will actually wear. I chose a sturdy blue Tumbled Non Stretch Cotton from Core Fabrics (love them!). I should be able to pair it with lots of different cardigans or scarves. I skipped the patch pockets and added pockets into the side seams instead. And I used a completely different sleeve pattern because I did not like how the original sleeve hung. I used my Cashmerette Upton dress sleeve and it worked much better.

I think I will add a hidden snap or two between buttons at the top to prevent gaping. Overall – very happy with this dress. And I’m looking forward to taking it to Zurich soon.

Next – something completely new – a hat.

I took a hat making class at a local millinery shop called Brim and Dash. The woman (also named Kathy) who owns the shop and teaches the class was great – she talked to me about millinery stuff the whole time and I found it all fascinating. She also offers felt hat workshops – ooh – I really want to do that too.

Her hat blocks were just beautiful to look at.

The class ran from 10 am to 4 pm and it took the whole time to make my raffia hat. Shaping and hand sewing and more shaping and then choosing my finishing ribbon – it was so fun. She was a great teacher and she told me my stitching and my bow were good.

Lastly – I finished my summer sweater.

This is the Tolsta Tee pattern that I’ve made a couple times before.

It seems the same thing happens every year – Summer comes and I feel I must make a cotton sweater and as I make it I am reminded that I don’t really like knitting with cotton. It has no spring, no life and as you wear it it gets saggy. I really should stick to just sewing with cotton.

And yet, I do like my sweater. I wanted some texture added to this basic and reliable pattern so, with lots of help from my knitting teacher, I figured out how to add this cable pattern.

So what’s next on the crafty agenda? I always have ideas swirling in my head and I have yarn waiting to be used. But I really should focus on my windows and going swimming.