I rarely fit into normal adult-sized furniture. We like our new Ikea armchairs because they are not as oversized as so many offerings in America.

However, there was still a minor problem, especially for our library and my preference to sit and read for hours on end.

My feet didn’t touch the floor.

That gets painful quick. I am only 30, but I no longer am game for sitting cross legged for hours.

We didn’t like any of the foot stools in the shops. They were either too big or even bigger with price tags to match.

No problem, E and I are no stranger to making what we need.

First we decided on the size I required and then stopped by home depot and joann’s. Yes, I know, we used big box stores. Does that defeat the purpose? No. Do we wish we had easily available alternatives? Yes. There is a large fabric store near us and I had a negative first experience, which was my fault but I’m still not ready to try them again.. yet. We’re looking for lumber stores that agree with our available shopping hours.

The base came together quickly. It is well constructed. That part we’ve done many times before.

We covered the top with foam, cotton muslin, and a lot of staples. Is it perfect? Definitely not. I became very impatient at this point; the foam was not cut straight. Does it work? Yes. Is it passable? Yes. It just doesn’t have that each corner is evenly balanced look. This part went easier than I expected. I held the fabric taught and E stapled around for me. Even though we own lots of clamps and things I do see this portion as a two person gig. Despite my impatience I am happy with how this part came out.

Then my impatience was almost the end of me. I never fully sketched out on paper what I planned. I had a yard of upholstery fabric. It wasn’t the cheapest, nor was it the most expensive out there. I had a plan in my head about what I would do to cover. I even thought ahead and planned for hem allowance of a sort.

Don’t think it went badly. It didn’t.

I cut a rectangular top and then cut enough for the sides. I sewed the sides together and the bottom hem of the resulting circle. I then eyeballed the pinning of the sides to the top and went at it. Without planning and thinking of the corners; they are something I’m not very experienced sewing.

It works. It definitely covers the frame, very snuggly (thus no photos of the base frame, I am not in the mood to wrestle it off).

I forgot, however, that at the mental design stage of this project, I wanted to incorporate corner pleats so that it would more closely match the style of the arm chair slip covers (which I happily bought ready-made).

Oops. It’s not a big deal and I hope some day soon to try again and this time try to practice sketched plans, sharper corners, and patience. Why? I love using this little stool so much I move it between the library and living room depending upon where I sit. It might even be the perfect height to go with my spinning wheel. I’m spinning more, or at trying to. I’m unofficially attempting to spin 5 minutes each day during Tour de Fleece and through the anniversary of our buying this house. Which is coming up. I can’t believe it’s been a year. We’ve both accomplished more and less than we expected. And that’s okay. We’re happy (and healthier).

In any case, I think that is a clear sign I need to make another one don’t you? Maybe this time I’ll pause to plan a little better and document the process along the way.

p.s. Froggie is Shadow’s other new BFF. I’m apparently not allowed to play with him (froggie) anymore. He’s Shadow’s friend.

Please, at this time/season change, give the machines and tools, which give you pleasure to work with some extra care and maintenance. For you as well.

Photos of what I sewed forthcoming; I want to write up the overall project properly as much for my benefit as anyone else.

I have said for years that when I have my own studio (aka office) I’m going to acquire my own dressform. It might not happen this year or next, but it is a goal I plan to save for.

I am looking for something that an amateur won’t outgrow quickly. I don’t think I’ll ever extensively sew my own clothing, no matter how much I long to. I want to be able to throw a garment upon it pin it in place and get a rough estimate as to drape, shape, size, etc.

I know about the ducttape method, but I really want something nicer (and don’t have any t-shirts I’m willing to sacrifice for the cause). I’ve seen forms like this at Joann’s for years, but don’t know anyone with one nor if it’s really worth it. I’ve heard comments go both ways on all forms and feel they’re all a coin toss.

So, please, advice? I don’t want to spend a lot of money, but I want to make an investment that is sound. I really want to be able to stick pins in it — I stick pins in me all the time and it just doesn’t work very well, I do not like red polka dots on my garments.

Except for last night. I wrestled my muse and I think we both brushed ourselves off and walked away happy.

In about forty-five minutes last night, with the ferocity of the thunderstorms we have recently been blessed with, I more than doubled the writing found within my summer exercise book. The words within took an unexpected turn based upon a memory and some recent reading, but it felt amazing. Thoughts, phrases, and a living scene flowed from my pen, and I’ve spent the day multi-tasking wanting to spend more time with this. It’s different from what I’ve been writing, but I was forcing a character and a place wanting it to work. I still want that story to work, but now is not the time for it. I see parts of both within my new creation, but time will tell what fruit these seeds bring.

I’ve also been reading and thanks to a new pillow catching up on sleep. Thus there isn’t as much reading as I would have liked, but sleep is very important too.

小さな刺し子―カンタンに作れる雑貨&袋もの by 雄鷄社

I always fall hard for these Â¥280 ($3.95/us @ kinokuniya) books. The simplicity of the projects and the styling of the photos makes me look to see if any new ones have arrived (I have never researched their publication schedule. I should.) I love how it doesn’t matter that my Japanese vocabulary is limited to 出口 (exit) and finding 上野 (Ueno) on a train map. The diagrams show (either with arrows or different colour threads) the best way to execute the patterns.

The designs within this volume inspire me to try to step away from my plain solid fabric ways and try a little contrast with simple embroidery embellishments (it’s 99% running stitch, which apparently is known as sashiko, a traditional Japanese embroidery technique).

新パッチワーク—縫い方のすべてとキルティング

I tend to fall hard for these Japanese craft books despite a limited Japanese vocabulary. I find the photography, fabric (fibre) choices, and patterns inspiring. Since I recently bought a new sewing machine, I’m re-learning how to sew after a many-year lull. I figure that learning simple techniques a la Laura Ingalls Wilder will help me as they helped her. Not to mention they may help me stay small and slow at first. I didn’t start knitting socks straight out (though I came close).

When I can sew a straight seam and press them flat and then do adequately with curves, then I will feel able to take the next step into more elaborate things such as clothing.

This book will definitely help me gain those skills. While it is mostly about hand piecing, there are similar principals that apply. It shows me where to stop sewing. How to snip a corner and press the seam for a nice flat finish. It also includes several quilting patterns and shows how they look on a quilt. There is a combination of photographs and coloured pencil (?) drawings to supplement the text I cannot read and do not miss.

(Please feel free to view all my reviews at goodreads.)

I also re-read Little Women but as I’m making my way through Little Men and Jo’s Boys as well, you’ll be spared—for now—my stabs at a “review”. I will say that a very different reader read this book, especially the second part. Sure I still laughed and cried and hoped and wished, but as parts expressed difference relevance for me today than a decade ago when I last read it I enjoyed it in a different way than before.

I made singles on Squeaky (who doesn’t squeak much anymore but is purring because I’m playing about 10 minutes almost every day). The first bobbin was much more evenly spun and consistent on all counts. I think this is because I was very impatient to see what it turned into.

I then plied the singles. This time I used my brain a little and made a simple lazy kate out of an old shipping box and some dpn’s so I could put the bobbins where I could more easily ply from. I ended up plying two very full bobbins worth on Squeaky and for variation in technique did the last little bit by spindle.

And I made these yarns.

I definitely see improvement in my spinning over the past year. I have a long way to go before I think I’ll produce anything remotely useful but I’m having fun and learning a vast amount of really cool things about fibre and spinning and patience.

The yarn definitely turned out pinker than I expected, but I have a feeling that’s due to how I pulled apart the roving. The little bit as PG’s neck warmer I’m currently classifying as about a DK. The rest is a heavy worsted to Aran. I’m totally guessing here because I’ve not yet notched out a bit of wood so I can wpi (wrap per inch) it and figure it out for real. I’ve tried just wrapping it around any rulers I have laying around but that doesn’t seem to work for me.

Yardage ended up about 155 yards for what I’m calling the Aran and 42 yards for the DK.

I also made yarn (a while ago) with that “robins nest” roving. But it’s really fuzzy and so far has eluded its portrait.

What’s next on the wheel? Already some “pocket money” merino from Cabin Cove Yarn. My goal again is consistency and I think I have to pull back and figure out what to do with what I spun today. Yesterday I was spinning a single that reminded me of about a laceweight. Today I feel it’s spinning thread. Speaking of thread ….

There is a new singer in the house. I’m not yet sure her name, but a gift card to a certain store made this a good buy. Why this one and not the green hello kitty Janome I was eyeing? Stitch size variation and that I have a bunch of Singer stuff already for Shira that she’ll share. I’m still experiencing some bobbin tensioning issues, but if it wasn’t 10 pm on Tuesday night I’d probably still be working to solve it (I only brought her home at about 8:30.. right now I just go too far at one extreme or the other. It’ll take some play and isn’t anything outside my knowledge or experience.). She purrs along quite nicely and I’m looking forward to start sewing up the fabric stash. I don’t mind some sewing by hand but largish scale projects (i.e. more than 10 inches of sewing) are not my cup of tea. Since it’s the three weeks, I won’t embark on any clothing, but I’m not aware of any issues with piecing together fabric for simple bags and things at least not until Rosh Chodesh Av. In any case, right now I’m not sewing anything functional, but learning how to accompany her song.

Book post will come on Thursday, bli neder.

Made:
Summer Shawlette
by Sandi Wiseheart
Interweave Knits, Summer 2006, also published at Knitting Daily
less than 1 skein Lavendersheep Espresso Tencel Sock Yarn [50% Superwash Merino Wool, 50% Tencel, 4oz/112 grams; 400 yards]
CO: Thu 10 April 2008
BO: Wed 16 April 2008 (yes, it really is fast)
Needles: Addi lace© turbo, 24" US 5/3.75mm
Mods: er, a few unintentional ones on the lower lace border. I’m not a huge fan of the arrow-head lace but I didn’t want to tempt my timing by pouring over stitch dictionaries. ;) (back detail) Also none of my photos do justice to the beauty that is this yarn. There is a slight shine, and it softened considerably while I was working with it and even further upon Soak’ing and blocking. I’m not quite sure if I’d want to make a pair of socks out of it, I’ve discovered that I wear socks really really hard, but with my leftovers (once weighed) I will explore the option.

Made:
Simple Matzoh Cover
by Me
Verdict: Smiles around, so I think that’s positive. It’s a step up from the disposable napkins we use in the past and hopefully less wasteful. I still want to make a fancier version, but may just continue to build upon this one each year.

Supplies:
- 4 cheap 2/99¢ nice-looking-but-hopefully-machine-washable napkins
- embroidery needle
- embroidery hoop (mine is 7", I think)
- 1 spool Gütermann Metallic Effect thread, #41 (Silver)
- regular thread, to match the napkins as close as possible or contrasting, or whatever you grab first
- a source for the lettters, I used both my Complete Guide to Yarmulka Design and a haggadah. I wanted slightly my letters to be seriffed for a “traditional formal” look.
Caveats: It’s been eons since I’ve embroidered. Back when I wanted to be Laura I practiced all the time (I wonder where all those things went). Sure I’ve done a few little things here and there, but nothing that I was sharing! My lack of practice definitely shows.
Step 0: Determine that crochet is not working out. (it was pretty though, proof)
Step 1: Wash & Iron the napkins
Step 2: Find center of nicest looking napkin and put in embroidery hoop.
Step 3: Look at clock and utter numerous profanities.
Step 4: Knot thread and start with the Mem (of Matzoh)
Step 5: Look pleased at the size & shape
Step 6: Decide not to pencil it (b/c you can’t find the disappearing fabric ink pen) and eyeball the Tzadi.
Step 7: Repeat step 3.
Step 8: Lightly sketch the Hei to make the tazdi look like a planned design feature instead of the large monstrosity it became.
Step 9: Be very pleased with results.
Step 10: Pin the four layers together and sew at the hem ⅓ of the way down from the upper left corner along those two sides (top & left). This will create the envelope.
…
Step 17: realize you forgot to make an afikomen pouch. (next year, b’Yerushalayim)
Step 18: spill grape juice and wine all over! :)

Have a great week. I read a TON this shabbat and yontif, so I hope to write up my reviews by Thursday, I’ll get done what I can and try to post something.

I don’t often do this, but a personal request: Please think good thoughts for both me and a classmate between 6-9pm on Wednesday as we do our formal Final project presentation. I can easily help tweak others presentations but not my own. *sigh*

Oh, you came for knitting? Photos here, details following. :)

Let’s see… I finished Monkey last week and while they need some elastic at the top I am very happy to have another completed pair of socks. I don’t know WHY I believed I should just follow cookie’s amazing pattern as my sock needs are different than many others. I started with 2.75mm’s on the cuff and first repeat, went down to 2.25mm for the rest of the leg and the short row heel, and I finished off with 2mm through the toe. There isn’t as much stitch definition with the 2mm needles but the foot fits perfectly. I’ve decided that I like short-row heels for two reasons, they’re much faster than a flap and they fit me much better. The pattern was quite fun to knit.

I’m almost done with the heel of my FIL’s sock. I have to review the halacha for three weeks to see if I can give them to him. We probably could pull medical need (his feet are always cold) so as long as I finish them this week I should be ok. I’m in discussion with my MIL as to what she wants for her birthday socks. After I finish FIL’s I need to finish the blue ankle socks with leftovers from Monkey and also my beautiful baby cable socks with my LavenderSheep fiber goodness. I’ve been working with Yvonne on a form so soon custom orders will be much easier to request. Once I get my act in gear it’ll be even better, but I want to get a form out to the world first. :)

Baby knits are chugging along. I have to sew on buttons better for the bootees and then I’ll put up photos. I started a pair of Cargo’s for my friend M’s son, C. But.. uhm.. E doesn’t like the colour, he says it’s too stripey, so I swatched with some cotton-ease (in Taupe) this morning and I’ll be back to the store tomorrow afternoon to see if I can grab another ball in the same dye lot (hah hah hah). Then I’ll frog and cast-on again. *sigh* I wish he had commented before I had finished 3 inches…

I’m almost done with chart B, first clue, of the mystery stole 3. I have no good reason at all why I signed up for this when I have 3 other lace projects on the needles and lots of other knitting to do this summer, not to mention a large pile of other work. I’m using clear seed beads leftover from fixing up my wedding dress (which I borrowed, fixed up a bunch of the beautiful beadwork on, and returned in hopefully nicer condition (not that it was bad, but through use some of the beads weren’t sewed on well anymore. It was a beautiful dress…)). Speaking of lace, I did complete another repeat for mum’s shawl and a bit of work was done on the two seraphims I’m working on.

*sigh*

I found this easy and [photopress:flowerpin.jpg,thumb,alignright]beautiful felt flower pin at craft and as I have a felt stash that just is sitting around, I decided to make one myself. I think hope the recipient will like it and not notice her lace shawl (which she doesn’t know about) isn’t finished yet. (that is the “sew” for the week, which was done totally by hand b/c my real machine is still in pieces in the closet.) I really liked it and I think a few more to have on hand as gifts would not be a bad thing. I’m not really thrilled with my colour choices but that is my own limitation as my felt stash isn’t that big. It was easy and fast even by hand using horrible office scissors.

Darn Craft. I was planning to take E’s old jeans to the thrift store. Then I found this pattern. I also picked up craft yesterday (Tues) afternoon but have not yet had a chance to open it. I totally need to decide if I will buy any more copies or not because at $15 a pop that is a TON of money (that’s 75% of my weekly “allowance”! PB&J for lunch!)

In good news, E played with my camera a bit and said he understands the focus a bit better now. So maybe he’ll explain it to me one of these days.

I made a friend some stitch markers recently. I only am about a month behind on holiday gifts (we won’t talk about the birthday knitting, I frogged the too small knuck, so progress WAS made. sort of.) I really hope that my friend likes them. I only have at least 3 more people to make stitch markers for. At least in the urgent batch.
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Ok, knitting. Mr Baby A and Ms Baby B were born Monday evening. [photopress:kimono_preseam.jpg,thumb,alignright]Which means I need to knit faster. I cast on for the second sweater Tuesday morning but that was as far as I got. This is a pic of the kimono pre-blocking and seaming. I hope that my few wonky sized stitches aren’t too noticeable and bad. I also hope that the baby likes green. I have some store-bought goodies to send as well so if I’m too embarrassed about my horrible first sweater I can wait a bit. I (am writing this at midnight, we’ll chat about insomnia later) will bring my sweater knitting with me tomorrow. The significant thing about this kimono and its brother pullover is that i knit this on 10" straights! Nice cheap metal clanky straights. It was quite therapeutic. I hate big needles and these classify as big needles in my book. Heck the size of the needle on Addi 24′s drives me crazy. I can’t explain why I want these straights to do the baby knitting but there you go. I’m planning on knitting Erica Knight’s one piece classic cashmere as it’s similar in style to the MDK kimono, but with cotton. When both are done and gifted I’ll write them up super proper. If anyone has any huge comments one way or the other about the EK please let me know.

A classmate’s second son was born last November? December? *blush* and I quick knit up a HUGE garter stitch bib in some Sugar n Cream faded denim. At our first class meeting after the break last week I was shown a photo of the handsome baby dwarfed by this bib and it just warms my heart. I reiterated if they wanted to use it to mop the floor I didn’t care. He is a wonderful little baby and I think his father is a very nice guy too. I still need to knit up his real present and figure out a gift for his older brother (who is 3 or 4, I was thinking one of the dinos..)

Other knitting. Mom’s shetland shawl is not going well at all. I just[photopress:e_sock23jan.jpg,thumb,alignright] don’t want to knit it. I have no clue as to why. Maybe it’s because I have to go out to visit her and I’m dreading it because I won’t have Cosette to play with. I’ll probably rip the one repeat I’ve done and cast on another swallowtail. I’d love something fast in garter lace, but we’ll see. I’ll poke around. E’s socks are slowly making progress. I am really really hating black. And that he has an overflowing black sock-bin as is. *sigh* Here’s where they were Tuesday morning. I added about 8 rows on the subway on my way to campus.

I recongize that I broke the progress meters a few days (weeks?) ago. Here’s the roundup:

1. Baby Surprise Jacket #1 – 18% I’ve stalled on this and have no idea why. I expect to pick it up after second rush sweater.
2. MDK Kimono – 99% needs seaming and blocking.
3. Gift for S (who I haven’t emailed in ages) – 8% It’s been sitting there staring at me. I don’t know what my problem is, it’s perfect get ready for sleep knitting.
4. E’s socks – 72% need to get this done ASAP
5. geeknoob’s knucks (her birthday was only at the start of october)- 45% I need to stitch up the first one and reknit the second. I actually frogged it this weekend so I had some progress on it…
6. mum’s shawl – 1% i finished one repeat but am just not into it at this time. I need to produce something fast and pretty and complicated looking. she’s my MOM!
7. purl berets – on hold as I have a long talk with the pattern and my brain. Error exists between needles and yarn. Might gift up and make a wimple or something weird. Who knows. In good news, grumperina solved her problems!
8. surprise for dave – 0% oops. I’ll try to do this soon. :)
9. surprise for sara – 0% as soon as urgent baby knitting is done. I was sketching it out earlier today.
10. wedding afghan for j&v – I need to redo the maths as I’m petrified I’ll run out of yarn. My goal is to get 1/9th of it done each month between now and September.
    …

11. blue socks are dreaming of being cast on.
12. lavendersheep socks are also dreaming of being cast on.
13. Icarus – 0%

Right and how am I supposed to do all this knitting working 60+ hour weeks, keeping the flat clean, E fed, and hamster happy? And I keep saying I want to spin?

Ok. This insomnia is horrible but not totally unexpected. I return home from class half an hour before bed. I’m hungry. I’m tired (physically) but my mind is racing with exciting thoughts from class and things I have to do tomorrow and things that are undone from “today” (Tuesday). It hasn’t helped that I shifted my journal writing to the mornings in order to give that some more focus. I need to work on quickly clearing out my brain so I can just fall asleep when we crawl into bed. I’m sitting on the couch now with a hamster actively running on her wheel (which she’ll only do if the lights are out, as if she’s ashamed of her big butt..) [it's loud. she broke her other one the spoiled overfed furry ball of love] and a cup of chamomile green tea. Last night I went to bed about 1:30 and fell asleep after 2. I hope to beat that tonight as it’ll be another 5:30a wake up and get home at 10:30p.

I should not be allowed in the library. I was all proud of myself for returning 7 books to 4 different libraries Tuesday afternoon. And then I realized that FIVE of my holds had come into NYPL. And their policy is that you must pick them all up at once. That branch is closed on Wednesday so they followed me around on Tuesday. I also picked up two others at the Uni so we’ll see what happens. I was trying to clean OFF my to-read pile. I want to blame Rachel for two of the books I took home, but that wouldn’t be fair. Two of the books I picked up on typography and ROCK. I recently discovered Rachel’s blog and obviously love the title. Can you believe those stranded black and white socks are her first REAL pair of socks? Go woman Go!

What if I distracted you with some stitching? This is a tree from a wonderful book I picked up in Tokyo this summer. E didn’t get that it was a tree. Oy, my stitches were more even when I was 8 (and a Laura Ingalls Wilder addict). I’m planning on adding some more to it eventually. It isn’t quite the right fabric for stitching but what I had.
[photopress:stitch14jan07.jpg,thumb,centered]

What if I distracted you with a blurry picture of Nibi? She’s really cute and makes us happy even if she’s quite spoiled and wants us to hand feed her while sitting next to a bowl (or a bag) full of food? (Please ignore the dirty house.)
[photopress:nibi13jan07.jpg,thumb,centered]

Or what if I told you I balled up a bunch of yarn tonight, including (finally!!) Lavender Sheep’s yummy custom creation? I will finish E’s socks soon so I can work on two other pairs (one is a gift pair, and giftee may or may not read this site so you won’t see anything for now). PG was mad at me for not modeling her lately. I tried to explain it is because I take horrid pictures and my goal this year is to be better. Lighting is a big issue for us here at PG’s nest, but there isn’t much that can be done. It was quite grey today and all photos had to be taken under artificial yucky yellow light. Sorry!
[photopress:lsheepskein14jan07.jpg,thumb,pp_image][photopress:lsheepball14jan07.jpg,thumb,pp_image][photopress:lsheepballwpg14jan07.jpg,thumb,pp_image]

I bought Sensational Knitted Socks last week using a Border’s Coupon and my holiday savings (Review tomorrow!!). It was thus even more affordable than the list price. I like this book and see why it has gotten wonderful reviews. I was looking for a Knitting on the Road or something but I think this will help me more right now. I just have to finish E’s socks (I’m halfway down the second leg). Grumble. Why did I say yes to another pure-black knit?

Can we tell I’m procrastinating work and school work? :)