Sigh. I have a lot of projects that I am working on and not enough time in the day. I decided to actually take a little inventory about things I am knitting and came up with this list:

• Cable baby Sweater – knitting is done. Need to sew on the snap band I made. Lazy!
• Vodka Lemonade – so close to separating the sleeves from the body. Literally like 2 rows.
• Velynda – not going to even mention this since I pretty much haven’t even finished the ribbing. Not very far at all.
• Ribbon – This has no sleeves! Why is it taking me forever?! I think I have the front and back ready to join and complete the body.
• Ribby Pulli – Sleeves. That is all.
• Chic Cables and Lace Cowl – started this again in a different yarn. Not even done with the cowl yet…
• Great American Afghan squares – So behind! I need to wind all the cashmere I have and just keep knitting squares until I run out. Then wait for the next shipment.

So, as you can see my knitting plate is quite full. However, I am not finishing anything. Good gracious.

In other news, I’m getting excited about the Pattern Review Weekend in NYC. Of all the times I’ve been there (and there have been a lot) I have never gone fashion fabric shopping! So. Excited. I need to make a list of things I should be looking out for and things I need (like wax tracing paper).

Like Robin, I am obsessed with Craftsy classes! I love that I can take a class on something that interests me and have access to it for-ev-er! Since I’ve been getting back into sewing and learning the world of fashion sewing, I have signed up for all the “advanced” sewing classes Craftsy has to offer.

As you can see, it’s quite a lot. However, I wait until there is a half price offering or a few weeks back they offered everything for $14.99. I wish I would have been able to get the cheese class then! I even got Sewing Machine 911 for free! Go check that out if you’re interested. It’s a good way to see how the classes work and are setup.

I am going to start my muslin for the Sew Retro Bombshell dress very, very soon!

Happy Crafting!!!

…I spent a lot of money on two Diane von Furstenberg vintage patterns. I kind of fell in love with the idea that I could make my own DVF dresses. I’m not going to mention what I spent on them, but let’s say I’m not going to be cutting these patterns any time soon! If I decide I want to resell them, I’ll make sure they are in the same condition I received them in.

What I’m really excited about is that I’ll be going to Pattern Review Weekend in NY on a few weeks, so I’ll be on the hunt for some awesome prints. Then it’ll be a DVF Bonanza!

Knitting is not my only craft du jour! I have been known to sew a bit, too. Well, friends, I’ve gotten back into it. I’m taking a class at Vogue Fabrics to get myself back into the groove. I also used a tiny part of my tax return and bought a serger. I. am. so. excited. I took it out of the box yesterday and played with it a bit. I even took out the pre-threaded threads and re-threaded it myself. And it worked. Love it!

To help me get more into the groove, I bought some books! (Of course I did!) Actually, I rejoined Crafter’s Choice. I got some deal where I get 4 books for $1 and then only have to buy one more at “regular” price. Not a bad deal actually…so, I got a few knitting books that have yet to ship and the sewing books you see here. I was a little unsure about the Love What You Sew book, but I think it’s fantastic. There are some really cute projects. She loves shirring, but I think it’s a good way to ease into different techniques while making some cute things. The Collette Sewing Handbook is a good reference book. She talks about different fabrics, techniques and there are 5 Collette patterns included. Then there is the Sarah Veblen book about fitting. I have nothing but good things about this book, so I’m excited to start reading it.

So, instead of going back to a project I’ve already started, I decided to start something new…big surprise, I know. Anyway, when I saw Thea Coleman’s new design I knew I had to make it. And I had to go get the right color yarn for it. She shows her sample in a yellow, but I wanted a limey green.

So, I headed off to Loopy Yarns. We had just had Miss Babs here for a trunk show and to kick off her line at Loopy Yarns. I saw one skein of a DK lime green, but nothing else…and I was told that it was for a yarn they are not going to carry. So, I kept on my search for the perfect DK yarn. I ended up finding Anzula Cricket in keylime! Perfect! And this is a really nice fiber mix – 80% Superwash Merino, 10% cashmere, 10% Nylon. It’s got a great hand and is just the color I was craving.

I’ve gotten passed the never ending seed stitch collar and have started the raglan increases. This pattern really keeps me on my toes since there is a pattern to follow. I really like it. And get this – I may just do the 3/4 length sleeves. I mean, it’s not really a color to be wearing in the winter, so I plan on wearing this with a cute summer dress or skirt. Who needs full sleeves in the summer? (Well, I do, but I think I’ll be ok with this one)

Well, I did it! I finished Julissa for Easter. I even have modeled pics for you. Now, please realize that this sweater was completed, but not washed/blocked. I will be doing that this week.

I made the sleeves full length and still had some yarn left over. I also noticed that I probably could have even made a smaller size because it is very stretchy. I think the lace has more give.

This is probably more of the too color, too. I like to call it an icy blue, but it’s been difficult to photograph in the condo. Oh, the joys of city living!

I’ve already started the next project….what did you think was going to happen?

Who every said I can’t be monogamous? Oh, yeah, that was me! I have, however, been! Julissa is my one and only right now. And because I’ve been focusing all my energy on her, I might have a new Easter Sweater. This picture shows her without arms, but I must be honest – She has two of them right now.

I didn’t want to do the 3/4 length sleeves because, well, I’m not a huge fan on most sweaters. So when I got to 3/4 length on the first sleeve and realized I only have one ball of yarn left, I slowed down. I put that sleeve on waste yarn and went to work on the other sleeve. As I pass the 3/4 mark on this sleeve, I realize I do have enough yarn. I think.

The pattern says there should be 2″ of ribbing on the sleeves, but I think I might do about 4″ to be closer to the body. Besides, I think ribbing takes up less yarn than cables? I’m hoping.

At this rate, I should be done with her by Sunday just in time to wear her to the family Easter celebration.

Ok, enough blogging…I have knitting to get done!

I really like Julissa! Isn’t it obvious? I started it and I’ve stuck with it! I feel like that in itself is an accomplishment. I really do feel like I need to finish this and then go back to something that I’ve already started…I have tons of half started things lying around.

In other news, it’s freaking summer here in Chicago! I think today is supposed to get up to 80. It’s the middle of March and people are running around in shorts. Geez! Doesn’t Mother Nature know that I love winter for the sweaters? That’s OK…I’m sure it’ll snow again before the summer really gets here.

Sigh. You all know how I am with working one project at a time. It’s just Not. Going. To. Happen. Amen!

While I have the Epic Project going, some designing things I’ve been creating, Velynda, Ribbon, and that damn Ribby Pulli I got bored. Yes, bored. Or…bored. Yup, I think I got it right. Nothing is moving along quite how I like it,  and I wanted to make something exciting.

Enter Leap Year’s Day and Loopy Yarn’s sale. I had quite a few gift certificates to Loopy given to me by the Boy’s family for Christmas that I haven’t touched! And it was Feb! I had no intentions of getting any yarn really, but Yoda and I went with the Boy to the UPS Store a door or so down from the yarn store. Yoda loves UPS, Ace, and Loopy because she gets a treat at each one. Talk about spoiled.

Anyway, I thought I would go in and see if there was any good yarn left. I received my 25% coupon for coming in before 1pm (I was on my lunch). Then I spotted the Madelinetosh. And it was included in the sale! Essentially, if I bought enough for a sweater, I’d be getting one hank free. Ok, you got me. Then I hit up the Malbrigo. I made myself stop there…it would have gotten uglier than it already was!

As I sat there thinking about my purchases though out the next day, I wondered what I could make with the Madelinetosh. It was my first time using it, so I wanted something that would really show it off. A few Ravelry searches and there she was – Julissa. I had already added her to the queue, so I already knew I liked the pattern. That was it! Fate is sealed.

I started knitting this pattern the other night and LOVE it and the yarn. I think the yarn makes it look more professional than some others. Even though the pattern is a bit involved, it’s moving along quite quickly.

Good Lord! I update the site and look at me…a slacker. I’m not really a slacker, though. I have been knitting, just not telling you all about it. So, shall we get on with it?

Remember I talked about the Epic project? Well, I actually got a square done. This is the square that Hunt Valley thinks we should do first. They base the list on the amount of yarn used. Go with the one that uses the least first and start saving the extras for those squares that need 3 hanks. Makes sense to me. Only, there are a few squares I would rather substitute for the squares that make the pillows. However, I’ve read that the pillow squares are the most difficult to do. Sigh. Of course they are.

I’m waiting until I get my next shipment of yarn (should be this month) to decide what I want to do. The next square is one of those I’d rather swap…

Barbara Selesnick Square