Brooklyn Bridge

Shot with my vintage medium format stereo-optic camera on the Brooklyn Bridge

It is not necessary to have a viewer to see these in 3D. If you can successfully view a a "magic eye" poster, you can see this. Relax your eyes and enjoy!

Burdastyle Book

Since a bunch of other people have blogged their good news I guess I can announce that I'm involved in the upcoming Burdastyle Book also. I'm actually pretty excited about it. The project required that I submit sketches and fabric swatches and gave me some limitations (and deadlines!)... which kinda makes it like being back in design school. But it's better than school work because strangers will actually be able to see my design in PRINT for years to come. That's wicked cool if you ask me and I don't mind a little ego stroking motivation.

So, I'll be making a skirt, and I'm in the muslin making stage of things as I write this. Burdastyle sent me fabric that is pretty much spot on what I had in mind for my design. I would love to show and tell more about the process of the project, but showing isn't allowed. I'll be sure to post updates when the eventual release date approaches. Wish me luck!

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.

Built By Grace Dress

BuiltByGraceDress1
Originally uploaded by wzrdreams

Here is my latest instant gratification project! It seems to be the only kind of project I cam able to actually finish these days. Even now I have a stack of garments that are all 99% done and lack only buttons or a bit of embroidery. Silly me. I am such a sucker for the quick and colorful, but who can blame me?

This is the Simplicity 2865, Built by You, Jersey dress.
I found the fabric on 39th street at my favorite LFS and it cost $4 a yard for 60 wide cotton jersey. I fell in love with the fabric immediately and that is always a good sign. Sure enough, 48 hours after purchase, this sweet and simple shift was complete. My only pattern mod was to lengthen the torso 1". I also used the serger to apply the bindings in one pass. There are more pics on my flikr page for interested eyes.

After McQueen

Happy New Year! (Vogue 2984)

AK Jacket Front
Originally uploaded by wzrdreams

Picking up some OJ on the way to New Years Brunch.

Vogue 2984 - Klein Jacket pattern. Self lined, shawl collar wrap jacket with slit pockets and back/side peplum.

The pattern ran small, but I read up on it on patternreview.com before hand so I was prepared and cut a jacket 2 sizes larger than I would have otherwise. I also make the armhole slightly bigger at the suggestion of a previous pattern reviewer and my pattern maker (I work for ladies suit company as a tech designer and using the cutting tables is my favorite job perk), who happened to walk by while I was cutting this out. He suggested that I trim the armhole 1/4" and then sew the armhole seam at 3/8" instead of the prescribed 5/8". I took his advice and am quite satisfied with the fit of the armhole.

It’s completely self lined, which makes it very warm, but one thing I would do differently is change the sleeve lining to a thinner material, the double layer of wool gets bulky in there. This was also the project that I learned you should preshrink even your woolen fabrics. Steam press!

Ms. Green (blue)

Mr. Green (blue)
Originally uploaded by wzrdreams

Well here's a recent FO that sat in my UFO pile for too long; elastic in the waistband, only needing a moment at my sewing machine and 4 waistband stitches left to close. Sometimes, my laziness is maddening. ANYway. I went to Miami and wanted to have these cozies to lounge around my parent's apartment in. Aside from the bulk of the seams, they are extremely cozy. Cotton ease is very squishy. I think if I were to knit another pair of lounge shorts (and I doubt that I will) I would probably go for a pattern without much in the way of crotch seams. Actually, if I found the right yarn at the right price, I could be tempted to knit the Unmentionables from Knitty, but it hasn't happened yet.