And don't get me started on redheads...
Photos by The Sartorialist. Have a great weekend, everyone!Oliver + S Little Things to Sew, by Liesl Gibson from STC Craft on Vimeo.
I've always loved their patterns, which I sew over and over. Animating their characters was so much fun!
As a bonus, they've gifted me a pattern to give away to one reader of this blog. It's the Bubble Dress pattern (size: birth to 24 month). It's the sweetest pattern, and you will love sewing it; I did! To win, leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winner by the end of February, in anticipation of the book's March release. Good luck!
Made of Felted Tweed (one of my very favorite yarns), I knit it from the top down using calculations made with this (genius) pattern (Ravelry link here). You start with the neckline stitches and increase in four points around the body, then put the sleeve stitches on holders while you knit the body. This sweater has a secret, however. Can you see it?
I ran out of green, and one of the arms has two rounds less of that color! I made up the length by adding one round of color to each of the next stripes, and you can't really tell. Only you and I will know...
I made a simple rolled neckline, and edged it in reverse stockinette stitch, so the cuffs would roll the other way. One of my Crafty New Year's Resolutions was to not follow patterns exclusively, and make things my own way more often.
For a sweater made of scraps, I think it came out alright! I wore it to work yesterday, and it was cozy, warm, and fun.
Like this one and the one before it, I used my favorite pattern and whipped it up in no time (Ravelry link here).
The first baby, William, was born yesterday to my beautiful friends Janine and Tom in South Chicago. How I love you, J9! 
I can't wait to witness all the love you'll give him in coming years. Congratulations!
You're supposed to roll them up on a wooden spool and maybe stuff them with whipped cream. I didn't have the special spool, so at first I rolled them by hand. But I decided they were nicer flat, as I loved to see their pretty design.
They went to work and were enjoyed. Next time, I want to try a different recipe, and am thinking something like my old fortune cookie recipe might be possible.
I'm so happy to have this little contraption, if only just to revel in its beautiful design.
is the best thing in the world! It also shows me how time flies.
My favorite baby sweater pattern (so easy and fast, with such a great result! Ravelry details HERE), made for a baby shower this past weekend.
The baby is just weeks away. Though my three friends having babies this month don't know each other, in my life, they're in a race! Can't wait to see who's first.
As if I needed another reason to move back to New York, my coworker sends me this photo. Enjoy your weekend!
Once again this year, I made almost all handmade gifts for Christmas. It exhausted me, but I loved doing it. What I learned in the process (among many craft skills) is that there's no reason to squirrel away these gifts for Christmas when I make them throughout the year. So this year, I'm going to give the children in my life gifts throughout the year. This one is for a very special girl, though she won't get it until the weather turns warm again.
I did some freehand embroidery on the front and used some buttons that I had in my stash. I love this dress so much that I want to make a simple bubble skirt for myself, out of my go-to A-line skirt pattern. With the construction technique I learned from Oliver & S, it seems really simple. We'll see!
It was a sold out dance party of 19,000 people. Have you ever seen a 50 year old man with a gigantic beer belly dance with a 20something stylin' black girl, like there's no tomorrow? Friends, it was glorious...
...and a great start to the New Year. January already promises to be a very busy month. I've got a lovely little freelance job, lots of sewing projects and some resolutions to share. Plus, three of my friends are having babies this month! I hope you'll hang in there for the ride.
