If you've been hanging around these parts for any length of time, you probably equated my complete failure to mention June sewing with yet another missed target. And, I wouldn't blame you. I've been playing catch-up...basically since I started! But, I'm back on track this month! 

I used Simplicity 4475, view 2. I knew that I wanted to line my dress with a muslin fabric, and I didn't want it to feel bulky or stiff, so I decided to forego the front and back neck facings and used the lining as a self-facing. I also added a subtle, white piping to the neck and sleeve edges. 

While it was time consuming, I hand-stitched the lining around the arms and zipper. I machine hemmed the skirt lining a half inch shorter than my outer skirt, and hand-hemmed my main fabric. It's also worth noting that I shortened the pattern by six inches prior to cutting.

For fabric, I went in search of a small, dainty print; I found this calico quilting fabric at Joann. I will warn you, I needed a whole additional yard of material from what the pattern called for, nap or not I had mere scraps remaining by the time I got to the front skirt panel. I had to make an emergency trip to get more! Disaster averted! 

This pattern is VERY easy to put together. The raglan sleeve construction is surprising self-explanatory. The fit on my finished dress is pretty fantastic. Overall, I'm thrilled that this dress came together so beautifully. 

My favorite part of this dress is the full skirt! Look how flouncy it is! I'm so happy to end this month on a high note! Hopefully, this pace will carry me into July and be a sign of good things to come!

With my June knitting cast-off, I'm dedicating all my fiber time to my new, somewhat secret endeavor, which has grown quite steadily since I last posted.

This sneak peek leaves little to the imagination; I'm sure you can sense the direction this project is headed. The "somewhat secret" element of this WIP is that I'm free-wheeling! If all goes well, I plan to write the pattern down and add it to the  *FREE* pattern library on Ravelry! Now that I've given away enough information to jinx all my further  efforts, I should probably go find some wood to knock on or a four-leaf clover....

Fortunately for June socks, my latest project craze is not so portable or transportation friendly as they are, or were, rather. 

I'm mostly happy with the way my Harvest Dew socks turned out. After reading some of the project notes from other knitters who tried this pattern, and after my last experience with Socks That Rock, I decided to modify the stitch count. I worked over a total of 44 stitches. As I knit, my socks looked a little narrow. I was briefly concerned that I wouldn't be able to get them on but was eased at the discovery that they fit, almost perfectly. My only major upset is with my cast-on edge. I wish it was... stretchier, or something, but it gets the job done. I'm not losing circulation or anything like that. 

Pattern:  Harvest Dew by Rose Hiver
Yarn: Socks that Rock lightweight in Bag Lady

Danger was put-out at the idea of sharing his puppypuff with me for purposes of this photo shoot, especially during nap-time; Dulce was too busy playing to participate. 

It feels like forever since Mike and I have been home and able to ease through a Sunday morning. Summertime is especially chaotic this year, and it felt fantastic to sleep in and stay in our pj's past noon. 

We pretty desperately need to make a trip to the grocery store, but with what we did have on hand, I whipped together PeanutButter and Banana Crepes and drizzled them with some honey. I used this basic crepe recipe and added a teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon. I spread a shmear of peanut butter (we used the natural chunky variety) and some banana slices before rolling. Not too shabby and HELLA tasty. Word to the wise. Have a glass of milk on hand; you're going to need it! 

Hmmmm.... when I planned my giveaway week, I didn't anticipate NOT being able to giveaway a present. You see, Ms. Laurie Kivi, winner of a skein of Madelinetosh in Oxblood and her choice of a pattern from CookieA's Ravelry shop is.... non-responsive. What's a girl to do in this predicament? 

If any of you out there have a way to reach out to Laurie to let her know that she won, be a pal, and give her the heads-up! 

If I don't hear from Laurie by June 29, I will "random number generate" a new winner from the comments on THIS post. 

Those of you who have already commented, you maintain your entry (remember 1 per person!!), but to make things fun, consider entry RE-OPENED until June 29! If you missed out the first time around you have a second chance! Leave a comment HERE to enter! (NOTE: While I adore any and ALL comments, and you are welcome to comment on this post, doing so does not earn you a shot at the prize! You must go HERE).

I want to dedicate this post to all the daddies! I hope you are enjoying your Father's Day! We celebrated a day early. I made a trip to my parents house to hand deliver my dad's finished sweater.  

I was nervous to have him try it on since we didn't follow the rules and measure prior to knitting... I just sort of winged it and used one of his current winter sweaters as a blocking template. The verdict? IT FITS! Truth be told, I could have spared myself a few inches length through the torso, but he's not complaining, and I can live with it.  

I was also nervous to install a zipper in a hand knit (first time!). But, it was much easier than I'd anticipated. I wish I had some sort of helpful instructions or a link to a video that would outline how easily a zipper can be added  to a sweater, but I don't. I used what I know about zippers in sewing and went for it. 

One of my favorite features of this design is that all the edges have turned hems. This makes the neck, sleeve, and bottom edges really crisp and finished looking, and it provides a really polished look to the FO. I decided to add a strip of bias tape to both front edges before stitching down.I think it looks really fantastic and adds a special little touch. I should also note, I used sewing thread to fasten down all the hems, because I was concerned using yarn would create bulk; it worked beautifully. 

Pattern: Avast by Jesse Loesberg 
Size: Large ("40chest)
Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool in OaK Tweed- 3 skeins (NOTE: I used FAR less yardage than the pattern suggested I had a tiny bit of third skein remaining at the end which puts me to roughly 1395 yards; the pattern claims 1680yards are needed for this size). 

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I love you! 

Rarely, I am able to hold my focus long enough to execute a complete process. Displaying my monthly FO's might present an illusion that I am a capable task master; the truth is, I have a firm enough grasp on my own instability to know: I am distracted easily, flighty, and too restless to commit to any single project at a given time. I need variety, and I need it constantly. Or, I get bored. (I think this personality trait plagues many knitters...not sure about sewers...thoughts?) Hence, the tri-fold project plan. I try to defeat my own wit by dividing my attention to three separate, uniquely stimulating projects each month in order to curb my wandering mind and keep myself en route.

What I didn't factor in was my inability to direct my own motives of need over those of want.

Within hours of laying my June sweater to block, I had pulled piles of yarn from my cubbies and cast-on... something new. I suppose the error of self-psychoanalysis is that the psyche will always be one step ahead of any attempts to tame it. 

May sewing got shuffled to the side in all the excitement of giveaway week. As I mentioned before, my May project was actually finished in June. This wouldn't have been the case if things had gone according to plan (do they ever?), but it worked out.

My May sewing was....a process. Of course, as soon as I announced that I planned to sew a scantily-clad summer dress, the weather shifted to cold/rainy. I lost my motivation towards the pursuit of all things summer. I spent too much time thinking and started having second thoughts about how the fabric would work with the pattern. I decided to save Butterick 6655  for a piece of jersey fabric and began working on Simplicity 7671  instead. Things seemed to be going well. I got all the way to the hand-stitching before I tried it on and decided I hated it. The fit; the fabric; it was funky. I felt like a five year old in a paint smock. No good. My entire ambition is to create a wearable wardrobe. 

I considered starting from scratch, but I was already past my deadline and hated the idea of wasting the fabric. Then, a salvaging contingency plan was born! I cut my dress at the waist and gathered it.  Then, I fabricated a waist band from scrap, fused a heavy interfacing to it and faced it with my lining fabric. VOILA! 

I'm thrilled with my end result. High waisted skirts are possibly the most flattering garment, ever, right?  I'm giving the skirt a test-run today. I'm fairly positive it's going to earn a place in summer wardrobe rotation. 

... On a completely separate, but not entirely unrelated note, I'm blocking my June Sweater! 

Knitting for people who aren't on hand to measure is a little scary, so I borrowed a sweater from my dad's closet and used it as my blocking template. A finished sweater in time for Father's Day is definitely within reach. Maybe this month will be the month I finally get myself together and back on schedule...maybe. 

I wish I had a present for each and every person who joined last week's festivities! You're all wonderful and really know how to make a girl feel special for her birthday! I enlisted the help of the random number generator, and I have the winners!

I can't wait to get your presents in the mail! 

It's HOTTER than Hades here in the Windy City! It's time to cast on a project that doesn't double as a wool lap blanket. 


It's a perfect opportunity to start my June Socks! I put my birthday present to work and settled on Rose Hiver's Harvest Dew. Now, I just need to find myself an iced beverage and hide in the A/C. 

How do you keep your cool knitting during summer months?