Friday, September 14, 2007

What I Did on my Summer Vacation

Nonnahs spoke a couple posts ago about 're-entry' following a vacation. I generally like to give myself a day or two to settle before going back to work after a break or a trip, but I don't feel like I have true re-entry issues...that is, not until this last vacation. Maybe it was the level of work and productivity we had been running at all summer. Maybe it was the fact that we no longer have an imminent deadline we are working towards at the office...just the next day. I don't know. What I do know is that I have felt weird and I've had trouble doing normal stuff like emailing and blogging. Consequently, I have a thousand things to post about and have needed to post about for weeks. In order to save you all, I figured, once again, photos are the best option...

First, I've finally begun to put into practice 'my plan' to supplement my t-shirt wardrobe with some skirts. So far, I'm pleased with the results. They are fun and quick to make, have fit in well with things I already have (except shoes, I really do need a new pair of brown shoes), and are actually serving to inspire my future knit projects (a side-effect I wasn't expecting). It's even more fun when you get he opportunity to sew with someone else...

This is a skirt that makes me happy. It is certainly not "cute" in the fashion sense.

But this makes me happy:

Here is an example of one that came out fairly well, even if I had to attach the elastic 3 times. It goes with 4 of my t-shirts, so it's doing it's job. (btw - see what I mean about the shoes?) (And what is with that dude behind me? Sheesh, you can't even take an FO photo in the office without getting harassed anymore.) Both of these skirts are basic A-lines using Sew What? Skirts as an inspiration.


I also finally managed to take a photo of the Amy Butler wide-leg pants I made from In Stitches. I wear these all the time and have fabric for another pair...that I may even work on this weekend...

I also finally finished a dish/wash cloth I had on the needles for a ridiculous amount of time. I actually put this away as part of my UFO roundup at the beginning of the year and decided to take it out and finish it for August's UFO Resurrection Challenge contribution.

It got stalled out because I had planned to make it more of a towel than a dishrag, but it had been one of the things that led to the trouble I had with my hands last year (cotton on straight needles). When I pulled it back out, I realized that it was pretty much a prefect size...especially once it was washed. So I knit a couple more finishing rows, bound off and ended up with a nice little addition to my grandma's 92nd birthday haul:

Now one of the things I am most excited about is that I finally organized my stash! I was dreading seeing it all in one place. But when I needed to locate the last two balls of yarn I needed for my Seraphim shawl and I had NO idea where they were, I knew it was finally time to take on this project. So, a couple Saturday's ago (blogless) Dr. Nyl came over, we took it all out, photographed everything, and re-packaged it by project type. Honestly? It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be and I feel really good about my stash. It was nice to see what I have, be reminded about what I plan to make with some of these, and consolidate out some of the things I know I will never use.

Finally, as hinted in our retreat wrap-up post, I finished Seraphim.

And I blocked it...

Now, I just need to take a couple more photos (preferably where I don't look like I've recently been run over by a tractor) and I will have a FO post to share!

10 comments:

Nasus said...

I love the skirts...and grandma is adorable! And I apologize on behalf of that dude in one of your pics. He really means no harm and simply wants his 15 minutes of fame wherever he can get it...

Anonymous said...

Great skirts! I actually made a very similar elastic waste A-line skirt using that same fabric. And I wore mine to work the next day with a yellow shirt too - you have great taste :)

knitzalot said...

Whew! You've been busy! I love the skirts.

Theresa said...

You've been busy busy! I love the skirts and pants. Sewing. Hmmm . . .

Jennifer said...

A sock monkey skirt is inspired! Love it!

What a lovely peek at Seraphim. I can't wait to see it modeled!

Anonymous said...

It's really nice to have people I can live vicariously through, since not much knitting or sewing or organizing has been going on around here lately. On the other hand, I've been slimming down chasing after a one-year-old.

That means that when I do get around to knitting and sewing again, I'll have more cute options in patterns than I had before. That's a plus.

Anonymous said...

Love, Love love the skirts! The monkey one is just too cute for words.
Can.not.wait to see Seraphim

Anonymous said...

OMG! I made the same exact wash cloth in the same exact colors. Does that mean I have your grandma's kitchen?
And sock monkeys. How can they not make one happy? They bring out the inner child. Love them. :-) See, I just had to emoticon.

Anonymous said...

I love your skirts! Thanks again for helping me get out my sewing machine again (literally). :) PS: Your grandma is too cute!

Octopus Knits said...

The skirts are great! (sock monkeys are always welcome and that floralish print is gorgeous!) The pants look very comfy, too!

What a great use of an UFO -- your grandma sure looks pleased! ... and such a neat and tidy stash!

Can't wait to see Seraphim...