Monday, September 21, 2009

Say it ain't so!

I got this far...nearly finished with this dress top before I realized that the sleeve lengths were not symmetrical. I had failed to cast on 10 stitches in one of the sleeves (a little over an inch difference)...and continued working all the way up and over the neck, and completed the sleeves before I realized that one sleeve was shorter than the other. UGH! There's no way to fix this other than to tear it out and start over.

A couple weeks ago I had a gal contact me looking to get me to make her a couple dresses. I turned down the order because of all I've go going right now. But, after this little debacle I'm more glad I didn't take on any paying customers right now, because I could only afford to make this severe of a mistake with my own kid's clothes. I'd be so much more devastated if I'd just had to tear out a week's worth of work for a waiting customer.


Which brings me to confess the real heart of why I've been shying away from custom orders this past year...I can't take the stress. I'd much rather just make a dress and find it a good home then try and create on demand. It's so much easier that way...though I do realize I might end up with an incredibly adorable dress that nobody wants that way. My little stash of pre-made dresses usually wind up as gifts, eventually.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Baptism Gown

There you have it...all done.




Thursday, September 10, 2009

Teach your children well

Each of my children spent some time having knitting lessons as part of their art program last year. It would be such a shame if I am unable to pass along the knitting skills I've achieved to my own children. Lately, though only my youngest is interested in continuing her studies under my instruction. Today, she crawled into my lap and insisted she wanted to "do some knitting." She tossed the yarn over each stitch for me for about 3/4 of a round before she was satisfied that she's practiced sufficiently. Sure, it slows my progress down a bit, but I'm more than happy to let her help one the easy rows (which require only the knit stitch anyhow).


Right now I'm working on a very special project for our new baby. I'll only give you an in-side-out preview of my work thus far. I'm working on the skirt utilizing some lace and cable patterns.