Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Super Reader Halloween costume

For the first time ever, this Halloween M actually asked for a costume. Although he's into the usual superheroes (he would wear his Spiderman T-shirt every day if he could), he wanted to dress up as an obscure PBS character, "Super Why," a "super reader" from a show for pre-kindergarten kids. I made him a green mask and blue cape. He still wears the cape around for fun, pretending to be a variety of superheros, which of course pleases me no end.

The cape is 20" wide at the bottom, shoulder width across the top, and 24" long from back of neck to bottom edge. I used a single layer of lightweight poly-cotton, so that it would be floaty, and not heavy hanging off his neck.

When I did a mock-up using paper, I started with this pattern in mind, but straighter straps (i.e., parallel to the vertical axis of the cape, rather than inward-curving) lie really nicely around his neck. (The straps on my finished cape do end up curving inward a bit, because of the narrow-hemmed neck edge. Next time I think I'll do a facing at the neck instead of narrow hem.)



Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Thrift-shop haul

Lookit what I scored at the Goodwill store on Geary St (SF) yesterday:

Patternmaking for Fashion Design by Helen Joseph Armstrong. Its previous owner had torn the covers off, hole-punched the pages, and put them in a 3-ring binder.

I did the same thing with my calculus textbook way back when, to avoid having to lug the entire 50 lbs. of it around.

I also got a kids' crafting book, a chocolate brown sheet and a yellow-with-white-polka-dots sheet. Books and linens were 2-for-1, so I paid only $8 for everything! SCORE!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

The secret life of Sew-sew Crafter

I think about knitting all the time. This is my fantasy life: to knit things. to completion. I've collected all sorts of knitting patterns (mostly free) and tips and websites and blogs and online yarn stores. I read knitting books from the library all the time, and I keep a list of knitting books that I want to borrow as soon as the library gets them. I have a stash of yarn that I have no idea what I'm going to do with. I have straight and circular needles in every size (ebay & yard sale specials). However, I have only actually knit:
  • 1 sweater (it took over 5 years (I am not exaggerating), and I want to frog it because I don't like the style anymore), and
  • 1 scarf (a gift, started last fall, finished this March, just in time for the warm weather in DC).

Now you know the skeleton in my closet. is made of yarn.