OMG Anna Sui

So cute, I could almost barf. I adore Anna Sui, and I loath that I cannot pull off so many of her darling ensembles. Have at it crochetter moms, aunties and grandmas of fashion loving tweens. 

photos via style.com

MJ FW2012 RTW

You know...

 

 I think maybe...

   

 just MAYBE...

 

 Marc Jacobs

 

 might like FUN FUR.

 

 He certainly digs the glitter eyelash.

I'm predicting a spike in novelty yarns sales and I give it a week before the DIY tutorials start popping up on the intertrons.

 all photos via vogue.com

Reality Check

Recent FOs

•  Friendship bracelet (swap); Not sure how long it should be, but I made it 6" long plus ties. I’m supposed to mail to my swap partner in Australia tomorrow. I finally have a reason to mail something for personal reasons to another country! I am so tickled, it’s silly. 
• Slim line T-shirt; This is a procrastination/instant gratification project that I cut out Thursday and whacked out on Saturday. The pattern is by Angela Kane and is supplemented by her newest video series. I love her videos. They are a bit long because she doesn't edit away the majority of the working steps. You see her go through every step, and during the processes she mentions a lot of handy tips that probably wouldn't make it into a shorter video. I've gleaned a lot from watching her work. Plus, her voice is so soothing and encouraging. I used a 100% cotton XL t-shirt from MM that he didn’t wear because it had a pocket (I unpicked the pocket, ha!) I used the original shoulder seams, neck binding, sleeve seams and sleeve hem, so all I needed to do was serge the side seams & set the sleeves. Because the t-shirt was so long it turned out more like a t-shirt mini-dress. It's perfect for hanging out around the house in. I had my BF try it on for size and I think the shape is a bit to slim in the shoulders and the armholes a bit deep for his liking. I 'll try out the classic t-shirt next for him. 

Current WIPS (that I have worked on in the last week)

•  Knit nautical top (franken-knit from a this pattern); 85% complete – just need to finish the front. So close to done that I am almost completely bored. I CANNOT start another knit/crochet project until this is wearable.
• Raglan sleeve t-shirt; Burdastyle 01/2011 120. Cotton cashmere rib knit - I've had this cut out for months but finishing the sleeve hems came first and my twin needle has been very very finicky and that honestly killed my sewing mojo. Last night I got it out and made it work. Assembling the rest of it was quick and all that is left now is the hem. 
•  Chanel Jacket; the muslin is done. I need to finish refining the pattern and then cut out the fashion fabric. For the first time in my life I am terrified of cutting fabric and am procrastinating with the above and below items. I have been telling myself to get on with it for a week now and I find myself making excuses to do other things instead, like the above mentioned recent FO's.

Desperate Start-itis (things I am forbidden to start until one or more of the above are done) 

• Another tiny pocket tank (#3) with slight FBA. Loud floral rayon up-cycle!
•  Lion Brand Mesh Raglan Pullover. I have the yarn! It was frogged from another desperately ill-begotten project (crochet bathmat… yeah… BATHMAT) I must redeem the yarn. I also need to get it off the floor of my craft cave where it taunts me.
• Tiger Lily Tank by Lion Brand. Yarn was on sale, it was a heat wave, I am weak, and I still want to knit it.
• Bombshell dress (Burdastyle/Craftsy/Gretchen Hirsch). I totally impulse bought this course since. Who knows how long that sale price will last!? It was the promise of FBA handholding for that bustier that did it, and the thought that I could look like Joan Holloway at a barbeque by my birthday if I start NOW.

Feeling overwhelmed and I haven’t even mentioned my UFOs.

Beating the heat on my "balcony"

Crochet Lace Tank Front
Originally uploaded by wzrdreams

Pattern: Airy Lace Shell from LionBrand.com
Yarn: Cotton-Ease (Lake), 3 skeins

I made the size Medium, which has a 40" finished chest. That size called for 4 skeins, but I had some extra odds and ends floating around my stash and this was definitely a stash-busting project so I decided to hold off on getting a fourth skein until I knew if I actually needed it. Since I modified the front neckline to be lower than the back neckline, I was able to just squeeze this out of my 3 skeins minus the DC border along the bottom edge.

To modify the front neckline, I simply started it right after I finished the armhole decreases.

This pattern couldn't have been easier. It was well written, and it was a very quick, satisfying project. There is also a version written for the Lion Brand Collection Cotton-Bamboo, and I think versions written for Microspun and also one of their organic cottons.