Lucy is Sew Awesome!

Lucy learned to sew this past week. Thanks to J-Dub for the lesson and loaner machine. Dad, in a fit of inspiration, removed Mom from the house during the duration of Lucy's instructions. Lucy is Sew Awesome. Kiki is Sew Nervous.

Her first projects were these corduroy bags.

They are made from leftovers from the hemming of one of her pairs of pants.

Lucy made this apron & dress for part of her 4-H project this summer. Letoya gave us a denim skirt a couple of years ago. Steve wasn't wearing it, so Lucy cut it up into a dress. The pattern was from a Japanese pattern book, "Camisoles and One Piece", a gift from Illanna. No English instructions, but great pictures. The apron fabric came from Ikea. Pattern from Mom's head.

Mom showed Lucy how to make a little sundress like the ones she used to make for Lucy & Lily. 1 part Target shirt, 1 part cool fabric (Ikea sheet set used here), and 1 part sewing. Lucy made this dress for her little cousin.

She also made this awesome bag to go with it. It's amazing what you can get from one pillow case. We still have the double-sided duvet cover (two reversible all-cotton fabrics) left over. Check out the sales, and buy some sheets, even if they don't fit a bed in your house. Five dollars, people.

She also made a pillow from some other pants leftovers (ahh, the benefits of being short). Hey, now that we think of it, these pants were also a Letoya find.

Lucy's last project of the week (yes, these were all made within a week - the same week that included the last 2.5 days of the school year and packing for nine weeks in Indiana) is this super-cute shirt. It is also from that great Japanese book from Illanna.

We are so proud of Lucy. She did a fantastic job learning to sew. Good luck at The Fair.

Kiki made a couple of early birthday presents for Lulu to take with her to Indiana. This shawl is the "Ogee Lace Skirt" by Gryphon Perkins from the Spring 2007 Interweave Knits. It was such a fun, fast, easy knit (everything else Kiki makes lately is on size 2US or smaller needles....this one was on 10's....ahhhhh, big needles). Can't wait to do another one.

Here is a detail shot of the lace pattern. Kiki used SWTC Bamboo yarn. Don't know if this rainbow colorway was ever sold. Living in the neighborhood of South West Trading Company means coming across samples, prototypes, and other oddities from various sources, and we can't keep unlabeled yarns straight. You should see our house. Good thing we keep good notes on everything else....

Here is Lucy modeling it the way the magazine shows it. This picture also gives a better view of the lovely dress that Lucy made. How many adults can turn a blind hem?

Kiki also made these socks for Lucy. The lace pattern is an adaptation of the "Lacy Summer Socks" (perfect for summer, ehhh?) from the Knitting Lingerie Style book by Joan McGowan-Michael. The yarn is Crystal Palace's "Panda Wool", 46% bamboo, 43 % wool, and 11% nylon. We recommend the yarn (and this blue-green colorway, number 9573 "Ultramarine", is especially nice). The bamboo makes the yarn a little less stretchy than the usual sock wool. That's just a little tip and in no way a condemnation of the yarn. Only two days ago, Kiki was happy to see that it was "only" 100 degrees outside. We almost had to wear sweaters.

The girls have arrived safely in Indiana, and already forgot to call us once. But they called again tonight, happy, tired, ready for bed, and a little chilly with the 70 degree nights. We miss them so much already. Nine weeks seems like an eternity, but they are in the best hands possible, and farm living agrees with them, at least for two months out of the year.

Our love to them, and to you all.

Goodnight,
kiki and steve

Coming soon - Hanillannakwanzamas Knitting, other recent (or ancient) creations, and Episode 3 - Revenge of the Stitched