project: adam's pants

Is this really the last week of May, and only the 3rd post I've made for the entire month? Ugh. Clearly I've lost all track of time for my projects this month. Let's shoot for a better craft month in June.

I finally made it to the Rhythm Method's show this past Monday, only to be greeted with open arms and another pair of razor crotch pants. Hard to believe, but this was the third pair of razor crotch pants I have fixed this year, total of 4 so far in my life. Clearly, the word is getting out that I can help you with your razor crotch needs.

So Adam from the Rhythm Method gave me his favorite jeans to repair. I have to say, this is the worst case of razor crotch I have been called onto repair thus far. Like, yarns have disappeard. There were three holes all leading to one another. And on top of that, one belt loop was half way off cause the yarns were worn away (HOW??). But I said I would fix this, and am always up for a good challenge!

The before picture of Adam's pants

And so, since so many yarns were missing, I really had no choice but to have the patchwork denim show through. Sigh. I tried my best on the large hole in the front, but that was a tough one. I should have probably cut away the excess white yarns, but I think they will eventually wear off in time.

I'm hoping that the repair is acceptable for Adam, as it was quite a challenge. I guess I should now start marketing myself by saying, "will repair razor crotch pants for beer."

On another note, this Friday is another Windy City Soul Club...and I didn't finish my dress. Next month? I have, however, started a research sketchbook that will hopefully get me on Project Runway Season 9. Come on- we all know that the show is in need of a quirky, red headed vegetarian that can't keep her mouth shut to save her life...right??


playlist: adam's pants

"walking with a ghost" - tegan and sara
"let's go surfing" - the drums
"despicable dogs" - small black
"sunrise/sunset" - the dutchess & the duke
"the way i feel inside" - the zombies
"title and registration" - death cab for cutie
"no sleep" - sam roberts
"digging a hole" - the chapin sisters

project: circular knitting needle organizer

Last week, I was attacked by my circular knitting needles.

While I was on the hunt for my size 9 16" circulars to start a hat, I got lost in the tangled web of circular knitting needles. I had been tossing all of them into a ziploc bag to keep them all together and "organized," but this wasn't going to be acceptable any longer.

When I finished class on Tuesday, I realized that I had no plans for the afternoon/evening. This would be the only afternoon for the rest of the week that I had free, so I was going to take advantage of it. I decided that I would make a circular knitting needle organizer. I went to the fabric store, bought some calico fabric, drew a quick sketch of what I wanted my organizer to look like, and got sewing!

My first mistake was not drawing a technical sketch of how I wanted everything to be finished. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, and the main reason for that was because I was working from a design that was in my head. So I cut the binding wrong, but made it work somehow. I did decided to back the main floral fabric with muslin to add some stability. Another thing I would have done different is to put two small tabs at the top to hang the organizer, not one long strip of fabric.

The best part about this project was slipping all of the various needles into their designated size slots! That and hanging it on the wall. It fits perfect right next to my window, and I can't wait to get my yarn racks made to place right next to them on the wall. It feels good to be getting organized!

Oh, and the last thing I would like to share is a picture of the Mucho Margarita Cupcakes I made for FD221's Seis de Mayo party last week. Hands down, the best cupcakes I ever decorated...and tasted. And yes, they were vegan. Yum.




playlist: circular knitting needle organizer

"stay close" - delorean
"mouthwash" - kate nash
"friends with lofts" - netherfriends
"stillness is the move" - dirty projectors
"angel echoes" - four tet
"she comes alive" - baby monster
"life magazine" - cold cave
"rough gem" - islands
"antichrist television blues" - arcade fire

project: mariposa hat

The Windy City Soul Club dress didn't make it to Friday's event. I tried it on: too big. So I need to fit it and make some alterations. The new goal for the dress is May 28th. It looks absolutely stunning! The fabrics are great together, and I think the colors will still work with my skin tone. Future blog posts about the dress to come!

In the mean time, that knit tank top I was working on got pushed to the side for a mindless project, like a hat. Every year I visit Minneapolis to see friends and family, and always like to check out the LYS while I'm there. So while visiting back in 2008, I stopped by Linden Hills Yarn and was overwhelmed by their AMAZING Malabrigo selection. I don't know what was going on with the yarn stores in Seattle, but none of them carried much Malabrigo yarn. Major bummer!

While drooling all over the Malabrigo selection, my eye was immediately drawn to this one color way called Mariposa. As we all know, red heads look good in green. This green was a beautiful mix of mint, with hints of chartreuse and then flecks of purple and brown along the way. Gorgeous! I had to have it for a hat.

Upon getting back to Seattle, I started searching for a hat pattern that would suit this lovely yarn. I came across a pattern called "The Amanda Hat" by Sleepy Eyes Knitting. I printed the pattern out, and didn't do anything with it until last Monday. Noticing a trend?

Pattern was a piece o'cake. I knit it up in a week (mostly on the blue line to and from work). I'm extremely happy that the colors did not pool, and are all spaced out really well. The hat a little big on me, but I do have a ridiculously small head size at 21 1/2" inches. Why do I know this? Thank you, grad school wig class.

So one more project completed that I can't wear until Fall! But hey- the yarn is out of my stash and one more project has been checked off the list! Woohoo!


playlist: mariposa hat

"like janis" - rodriguez
"the funeral" - band of horses
"fly around my pretty little miss" - built to spill
"i don't blame you" - cat power
"quicksand" - david bowie
"rose parade" - elliott smith
"do you realize??" - the flaming lips
"perfect day" - lou reed
"recommendation" - mirah
"don't let it bring you down" - neil young
"winterlong" - the pixies
"please please please let me get what i want" - the smiths
"marquee moon" - television

Props to Adam for making this wicked rad playlist!