Crafting Recovery

Well, that was one intense semester. Thankfully it’s the most intense semester I’m ever going to go through, because I don’t plan on getting a second PhD. I took a pedagogy class, taught my first ACS class, and had my preliminary exams. And I have survived! The pedagogy class was really helpful in giving me a fresh perspective on teaching, as well as support while I taught something I had never taught before. Teaching had its usual ups and downs, but of the students who filled out the evaluations, I did good! It was also a great learning experience both as a student and as a teacher. I’ve already got next semester figured out.

The preliminary exams almost defeated me. I had a similar experience with the comprehensive exams during my master’s program. But this was so much more intense because they expect more from us. I got a conditional pass and needed to write one last essay to fully pass. Thankfully I did, and I am able to continue in the program. But it was not a great three months while that process happened.

So I’ve needed to take some time for myself to feel balanced again. My creative side has reared its head and pointed out that I’ve had to ignore it for my academic side. It has taken over, in a good way. It started when I made up some Christmas presents for my sister and nephews. Then I started on a pair of Dragon Scale gloves after finding out that using two strands of fingering weight yarn mimics sport weight and I could use my large stash of fingering yarn to make them. It also adds depth and dimension to the color of the gloves!

Of course, I couldn’t be happy with just the one project, I started – and finished – another: Barney. Barney is my octopus hat, inspired by the octopus of the same name from Mira Grant’s Newsflesh book series. I cosplay as Dr. Abbey, whose lab Barney lives in. I thought it would be a great touch for the costume. Also, it’s just fun to have.

How can you not love a purple octopus hat?!

Now I’m still letting the gloves wait while I work on another costume piece. I made a scarf from lace weight yarn that mimics the stripes of the Thirteenth Doctor’s shirt. But when I wear it, the stripes get all clumped together and it doesn’t work the way I wanted it to. I ran across a beautiful cowl pattern that I love and decided to make a Thirteenth Doctor cowl to replace the scarf. It is beautiful. It is going to work so much better than the scarf.

Eventually I’ll get back to and finish the gloves. But the more important thing is that I’m feeling so much better and myself fully. I feel like getting some academic work done without feeling like I’m neglecting to have fun. Sometimes you just have to let go of everything else and just focus on what makes you feel good. Granted, the most important part of that is finding the time where you can afford to do that. The time where you can ignore most of the rest of the world and just focus on you. I’m lucky enough to have winter break, and I’m making the most of it.

Knitting Geek: Mark’s Scarf

December 24th, 9pm Eastern Standard Time. From here on in I shoot without a script. See if anything comes of it, instead of my old shit.

I have been a fan of Rent since I was introduced to it in 1997, my freshman year of high school. I have been trying to make a Mark scarf for a few years now. Last year I started to try to make one for BroadwayCon, but when I ended up not going, I ditched it. Well, I finally got it done, in time for BroadwayCon! And here’s the pattern:

Mark’s Scarf

Supplies:
Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Sport: Midnight Heather (MH) – 3 skeins, White – 2 skeins
US5 straight needles

Pattern:
CO 50 MH
Knit in stockinette stitch for 28 rows.
Switch to W and continue for 28 rows.
Continue until you reach a total of 17 stripes.
Knit half a stripe of W (14 rows).
BO W.

Notes: Obviously, adjust for size. You don’t want the scarf to hang too low or hit too high up. Feel free to omit the white half stripe. The pictures don’t always show a white half stripe, so go with what version you want. Also, I used a slip stitch at the end of the rows for a more even edge.

Block out your scarf by soaking it in a sink of warm water and a small amount of mild soap for 5 minutes. Rinse it in cold water gently until the water runs clear. Be as gentle as possible while it is in the sink. Lay it out on a towel (layering as necessary) and roll it up to gently squeeze the excess water out without stretching the scarf. Unroll the towel and transfer the scarf to another towel, laid out the way you want it to look, and place it on a flat surface to dry. I use my ironing board because it allows air to move on both sides.

Add the fringe once your scarf is completely dry. Cut 4 18-inch lengths of MH yarn and place the tassel between the second and third stitches of the second row. Skip two stitches and do the same. Continue until you reach the end. Note: If this feels too crowded, you can space it out more. But the fringe on the scarves tends to be thick.
Do the same thing on the other end.

You’re done! Go have fun and make money to pay your rent!!

What a weekend

I was planning to get working on Harry this weekend, but I realized I didn’t have the space to get the fabric laid out. So I worked on the haori instead. It took so long to get the lining attached, and I didn’t even finish that. It doesn’t help that I’m trying to line brocade. Two slippery fabrics do not work well together. I think if I ever do something like that again, I’m going to get a lightweight sew-in interfacing just to provide some friction.

Anyway, I think I’ve figured out how to attach the sleeves but still be able to use french seams to encase all the edges. Also it seems the sleeves are going to be lined in a bit of a patchwork way. I don’t have enough lining leftover to line the sleeves. But I have enough fabric between the extra brocade and lining that I think I’ll be able to come up with a pretty lining.

Speaking of lining, I’m not going to make the removable flannel lining. I’ve got some fabric that was originally going to be used with the flannel. I’m liking the idea of making another haori using those fabrics. I may even make one up for someone else who was supposed to get what I was originally planning to make. I think they’d like having a haori, even if it’s just for keeping warm around the house. But there’s a chance they’ll read this, so I have to be really vague. Don’t want to ruin the surprise!

Seam ripping is so tedious!

But sometimes it’s necessary.

On Sunday, after we got home from my in-law’s, I hunkered down in my workroom with some old kimono and a seam ripper. Years ago I made my first kimonos for a “Gods and Goddesses” party a friend was throwing. I saw it as the perfect excuse for me to finally make a kimono. It didn’t turn out too bad at the time. At least in my opinion. But I just didn’t like how it looked on me and haven’t worn it since. I had a picture of me in the entire outfit somewhere. If I find it, I’ll post it.

Since then I’ve learned a lot more about kimono and sewing. I thought I could take the two I made from broadcloth (:facepalm:) and resew the seams so the raw edges would be enclosed and use them as juban. I got the collar removed from one before deciding to move on to working on getting the one I made from brocade to the point I can make it into at least one haori, hopefully two. I spent at least four hours seam ripping that one kimono. I had to remove the okumi (front panel) from both sides and detach the collar from it. There was also the lining.

OMG that lining was attached in the worst way ever! I ‘hemmed’ the edges of the brocade, then I simply folded in the edges of the lining and sewed the two together. It was horrible! So much unnecessary sewing. Then I attached it to the rest of the kimono by simply sewing along the seams. I don’t know how I thought it was a good idea. Thankfully it didn’t harm either fabric too much and I’ll be able to use the lining fabric in the haori. But this time it’ll be sewn on properly.

Hopefully I can get two haori out of this. If not, what’s leftover will make a nice vest. If I can only make the one, I may try to figure out how to make a removable flannel lining for it. I’d like to be able to wear it in a variety of temperatures and the flannel or lack thereof would limit when I could wear it. Thankfully I’ve gotten better at sewing, so I’ll probably be able to figure something out that will still look good.

Now to figure out what I want the himo to look like.

Weekend progress

So, I mentioned on Friday I was hoping to be here today:

Yeah, I’m closer to here:

But that’s because on Saturday I finished up the yukata! After a lot of sewing and seam ripping and sewing some more, it’s finished. I’m hoping to get a couple of pics of me in it this week before the convention this weekend.

Now I can focus on studying and getting the scarf finished for the weekend. As long as I have some time to just sit and knit I know I’ll be able to put a decent dent in the scarf. Hopefully that’ll be tonight. I was going to go to the gym after work, but the gym is at school. And school is closed today for the holiday. I guess my first time to the gym’ll be on Wednesday after I meet with a teacher. Not exactly how I was planning for this to go.

But the point of all of that is that I’ll have time to knit tonight that I wasn’t going to have before. Yeah, when I get home I’m going to sit down and start knitting. Maybe I can get half of what’s left finished. Then if I can keep working on it after class Tuesday and after the gym Wednesday, I might have it done in time. If I’m close, I may take it with me to work on while in line Thursday night. But I’d have to be a couple of stripes away from being done. I don’t want to have to have more than two colors with me.

I am really looking forward to this weekend! Now if they would just get the schedule up. ::scurries off to check::

It begins

Last night I finally got things organized enough to start the yukata. I am so excited! I’ve decided to use french seams for it since it’s unlined. This way all the raw edges will be tucked away in the seams and I won’t have to worry about shedding all over the place. I’ve got the main panels, sleeves, and overlaps all done. I’m hoping to get some work done on it tonight. I might actually have this done by the weekend. I got the obi whipped up last night. It turned out quite well. It would be nice to get it completely done this week.

Once that’s done, I’m going to get working on the frock coats. I’ve got my old Harry Dresden duster that is way too big and is made of the wrong kind of canvas. But I think it would make a nice, light frock coat. Of course, that’s after I do my brocade frock coat.

After all of that, I’ll probably actually get working on the costumes that are patiently waiting for me. I’ve been putting them off long enough. I had planned to work on them over winter break. But considering I just made it so I can use the sewing machine Tuesday, and classes start again on Monday, I don’t think that’s going to happen.

But soon after those are ready to go, I think I’m going to make a few vests to go with my frock coats. What can I say? I’m getting a bit inspired to make some awesome clothes.

“Witty Little Knitter”

‘Pity about the scarf. Madame Nostradamus made it for me. A witty little knitter…’
~Fourth Doctor

I have been a knitting fool lately. Well, knitting and crocheting. I’ve been working on a Fourth Doctor scarf for a few months now. Partially because the thing is 12 feet long when it’s done; partially because I’m in no rush to get it done, so I simply pick away at it. I was considering getting it done for Ohayocon, but I’m waiting on more yarn, so that’s probably not going to happen.

Last Monday I finally finished my net bag! I know I mentioned it before but, while reading No Impact Man he inspired me to use some yarn I had lying around to make a net bag. I’m planning to use it for produce when I’m at the grocery store. It’ll help me to keep from needing to use the plastic bags. I can’t wait to start breaking it in.

Soon after I finished that, I went on Ravelry again and looked for a slouchy hat pattern. I’ve got an awesome hat for everyday, but sometimes I know I’m going to want something like a knit slouchy hat. I found one I like, so I got started on that.

I just love knitting/crocheting!

I love Jo-Ann’s!!!

Recently I’ve been thinking about making myself a yukata, so I stopped by Jo-Ann’s this afternoon to look at fabrics. That’s when I found this:

It’s the Enterprise! I’m going to have an Enterprise yukata! I bought some cool star fabric to make an obi from. They’re going to look so good together. The obi is a dark blue and the pattern is subtle, so it won’t look busy overall.

My goal is to have it done in time for the first day of Ohayocon. It’ll be fun to wear that around the convention. In fact, I think it’s going to become my convention yukata. I may go ahead and wear it while in line to pick up my badge for MARcon. Definitely for Dragon*Con. Who knows, maybe by the time Dragon*Con rolls around I’ll have another one. There were a lot of really neat fabrics at Jo-Ann that just scream “Yukata!”

Punky ideas

Years ago I made a Komon for a costume. I’ve worn it once. This means I have a bunch of nice brocade sitting around doing nothing.

Recently I’ve gotten the desire to make a frock coat. I really want to make one in black, probably corduroy. Then I remembered I had that brocade that I really, really like.

In its own way, that coat in combination with my wonderful new coachman’s hat, it will be a bit of a steampunk look. I’m slowly starting to find myself drawn toward steampunk fashion. Not all the gears and brass and goggles. I went to a panel at Ohayocon that talked about how steampunk is more than that. It’s a lot of fun really.

Now I just need the space to work on it.

I am good!

Near the beginning of No Impact Man, Colin mentions wanting to get a net bag to use for his shopping. That made me think. A net bag would be really easy to carry in my handbag and would cut down on the very rare instance of needing a plastic bag. Not that the plastic bags are all that useless around our house. The bathroom trashcan is designed to use them, it’s really nice.

But back to the point. I thought about getting one and then realized going out and buying one wouldn’t be lessening my impact. Luckily I have a crafty mind. Literally. I went to Ravelry and did a search for net bags. I found a few patterns and eventually settled on one I liked. I have a bunch of yarns of different weights at home, so I started in on my first net bag last night. After starting over three times, it’s looking really good. I’m hoping to get at least two made, maybe a third smaller bag if I have enough yarn. Oooh. I just remembered more yarn of the right weight I can use. Yay! Lots of bags will be made! Hehehehe.