this season's first knitting project

do you remember this post where I wrote about Happy Knit's anniversary party?

I started working on the slippers on that weekend, and it didn't take me too long to finish knitting all the parts.

 upon assembly, I came across the designer's blog for Bickford seam video tutorials.

then I did some research on 'felting' because I've never done it before, but it didn't look that hard.  however, our washing machine is an old front-loader, and it seemed having a hard time felting.  in addition to it is a front-loader having some trouble felting, compare with the top-loader, maybe the hottest set water wasn't hot enough?  hm :I                           well, that's done anyway and took them a few days to dry(I'm sure it would have been quicker outside!)

 made couple fabric covered buttons, and sewed all the parts together.                 taddaaaa :) 

actually they are technically NOT DONE yet,,,

the pattern called to put something, like puffy paint, on the bottom sole to give them more friction.

yet my housemate gave me a better piece of advised to sew leather on the sole to make them more durable and warmer.

I think it's a great idea and I'd love to try that.

that will be my first project with leather as well.

a simple, no stress project for a first timer!

I will tell you all about it once I get them done :)

stay tuned!

burdastyle book -work in progress-

a little sneak preview of what I am working on for the Burdastyle book project.

these are the fabric I am using for the coat.

I did not get what I was imagining for my variation,

which was really disappointing and frustrating...

but it seems like a lot of the people who are participating in the project didn't get what they wanted to use for their projects either...

and I'm sure those kinds of compromises are expected and needed for a project like this.

now, I'm over it, and feel better about what I got.

I worked on the pattern modification and muslin a little bit.

even though I probably should work with muslin first before starting with any kind of project,

I never have.

but for this project, I was a little too scared to just give it a go and start cutting/sewing the fabric,

and I am little more careful...

although this hot weather is not really helping my motivation to be up for the winter clothes sewing,

I will be starting on the actual fabric soon as there is only half of the time left!

work, work, work!!

life in transition + little announcement

my life is still somewhat crazy and unsettled.

well, not there just yet.

we moved into a new place two weekends ago,

and had been painting the room and bathroom for the entire first week!

the walls and sealing were cracking and peeling, which was original old paint.

took us a while to get ready to paint and actual painting part was an experience,too,

because we used all natural/non-toxic paint, called lime paint.

anyhow, it's all done and finally we moved our stuff to the room,

and slept on our own bed first time for the past THREE months!

{{crazy}}

still need some organizing and more furnitures(which my husband will be making soon, I hope!),

but it feels really good, and relieved to settling in!

I have to introduce this unique household/members to you guys,

but I will save it for another post for sometime this week ;)

before I say goodbye for the day, I have a little but exciting announcement to make!

many of you who are also a member of Burdastyle community might already know about this book project.

I am super excited about the book and to be a part of it!

there will be 60 different artists/seamstresses/designers making a variation of the five different patterns(blouse, skirt, dress, coat, and accessory) that are included in the book.

I will be making a coat!

is any of you also participating?? what are you going to make??

would love to know who is participating!

more knitting

oh, it's so gorgeous out!
but here I am sitting inside knitting in our shady home(our suite has lots of big windows, but gets no sun)...

after leaning how to knit, all I want do recently is to knit.

yes, yes, I know the spring is just around the corner and we've been having nice sunny warmer days.

but a few days of the coldness left is a good enough reason for me to knit.

I am sure it will fade away once the sunny beautiful spring really hits here.

here are what I've been working on :)

●my toque(that's what we call knitted hat here in Canada) #2●

based on this pattern.

but I didn't repeat the cable pattern all the way around, instead broke them up with some knit stitches in between.

currently on hold because I ran out of yarn, and the store I got it was out of stock and put it in order...

●fingerless gloves for my hubby●

it took me a few re-do's to get a pair of gloves done for him.

originally I was going with this pattern,

but my husband is pretty picky(with pretty much everything!),

and he said it was too long, too baggy around the wrist, etc,,,

and finally turned out how he wanted(well, sort of,,, close enough... :I)

he didn't really like the yarn either because it was too 'sweater-like'.

ha! oh well, that's all I had!!

●my toque #3●

based on this pattern.

I liked how Novita did hers, so I decided to integrate the cables(braids) into it.

it is a bit too big and loose, but may shrink a little after washing it(although the yarn itself came pre-washed).

but I still like it :)

although I don't really like cold winter weather,

now I get excited just for the perfect opportunities to wear my knitted things :) :) :)

need help - Portuguese-English translation / sewing input

do you remember this pattern I was going to try out?

I finally got around to buy fabric, and cut all the pieces.

then went to a couple different online free translating sites to translate the instruction for the pants.

although it is all in a weired grammar and wording, I managed to figure out the most part.

however I am stuck with this following part of the instruction:

•Una os fundos da frente e das costas do bolso com uma costura pelas laterais.
•Una os fundos externo e interno do bolso, direito sobre direito, com uma costura pelas bordas externas.
•Prenda a frente nas laterais das costas, coincidindo os números 5 e 6 de montagem. Deixe livres as aberturas inferiores.
•Costure as palas nas bordas superiores das costas. Pesponte, pelo direito, rente às bordas inferiores das palas, prendendo as folgas no avesso.

there is a cool pocket detail on these pants.

and if you look at the diagram of the pants, it looks like there isn't any overstitch on the bottom part of the back pocket.

(sorry for the dark photo!)

from the wacky Internet translation, and translation my sis(who studied Portuguese in University) did for me,

it seems like the bottom of the pocket is left open.

but then, the pockets are not functional... which doesn't make sense to me...

maybe it's just for the look??

so here I am, still lost in translation, desperately needing a help...

if any of you know Portuguese and could tell me how the back pockets are done, I'll most appreciate your help!

or if any seamstresses out there have any input for me, yes yes enlighten me please!!