Knitting Project Update – New Yarn and Future Projects

Joann Fabrics & Crafts had a yarn sale this week as part of National Craft Month.  I got to go on Friday and was able to get a lot of awesome yarn for my upcoming knitting projects.  I got enough yarn for four or five projects for under $30.  I also got a couple knitting needle sets and the newest issue of Interweave Knits.  ^_^  I’m very happy with what I got for the price though I want to find a way to get higher quality yarn at a better price. 

My next knitting projects all come from various Interweave Knits magazines.  After I finish my current project, I want to work on the Embroidered Apron pattern in the 2009 issue of Interweave Knits Weekend.  Once that’s done, I want to work on the Gooseberry Cardigan from the same issue and maybe make a Dumpling Bag from the Fall 2008 issue of Interweave Knits.  Those are all the projects I’m certain I have yarn for though I really want to make a lot of other projects including a few birthday and Christmas presents.

With how quickly I knit and how easy the projects are, I’ll probably have all the above mentioned projects done by the end of this semester in May.  That is if I focus on knitting in class a bit more and sewing doesn’t get in the way too much.  I’m so glad that my professors don’t mind me knitting in class.  Most of the students enjoy it and even the professors want to know how the project is coming.  I still have to remember that I have a lot of other sewing projects to work on for 4-H and my spring geek convention.  Sometimes I wish there was such a thing as a knitting convention.  I would love to go and discuss and learn about knitting for a whole weekend.  That would be so much fun!  I’ll have to look into my idea to see if there is such a thing and if not how to make one. 

New Knitting Project – 3rd Sweater of the School Year

As the title says, I’m on to my third knitting project of this school year.  It’s another sweater, like the last two projects, but it uses a different pattern.  Each sweater I make is unique in it’s own way and greatly differs from the other sweaters I made.  This time I’m making Interweave Knits’ Nora’s Sweater by Pamela Powers in the Winter 2009 magazine of Interweave Knits.  It’s a beautiful sweater that incorporates pleating, lacework, and cabling all into one sweater while keeping the project relatively simple.  I really like the design and can’t wait to see how mine turns out.

So far, I’m about an eighth done with the back piece of the sweater.  I started it yesterday, so I’m rather happy with my progress.  The result is coming along well too.  It looks gorgeous and a little better than the picture.  But that’s because I’m slightly biased and putting my whole soul into making this sweater.  I want it to be the best it can be.  I’m getting better at sweater making and am hoping to show some of my work at my local fair.  If all goes well, I’ll enter this sweater along with one of the previous ones I made. 

When I get more done, I’ll post pictures.  It’s nice to have lots of progress pictures, but I don’t want to overload the site and turn it into more of a media blog instead of a costuming/sewing/crafting blog.  I might post pictures of my other sweaters.  My first one is done and the second is at least half way finished.  I took a break from the second sweater because the sleeve pattern/design was driving me insane.  Overly time consuming/difficult/repetitious patterns are really annoy to knit.  I’m really enjoying the pattern for the third sweater.  Even though it’s mainly uses the stocking stitch, I like how fast I can knit the pattern without having to think too much about what I’m knitting. 

I’ll keep you posted on the sweater and post pictures when possible.  When I get the chance, I’ll talk about some of the crafts I make other than sewing.  I’ve considered doing that more often, but I’ve also thought of making a separate crafting blog.  Then again, another blog means more time spent blogging in my already cram packed schedule. 

I’d love to hear what you think.  Should I start a new crafting blog or incorporate my crafting into this blog?  Remember that I have school, sewing, 4-H, extracurricular activities as well as a possible job to think about besides blogging and cosplaying/costuming.  I’ll leave a month long poll up in the sidebar.  If you’d like to post a reply to my question, that’s great!  Just keep it civil as in no rude, insulting, slanderous, obscene, condemning, and/or demeaning comments.  If you don’t have something nice to say, as in constructive, helpful, informative, positive, and/or insightful (for or against), then don’t say anything until you’ve changed your mindset to something positive.  This goes for all my posts.  If you don’t want to post, then voting is great.  But voting and commenting is even better!  *^_^*

Thank you for reading.  Have a great day, week, month and year.  Until next post!  See you then!

Akari Update 6 – Part 1 Complete

I finished the under dress for Akari Mizunashi’s Summer Uniform today.  So far all looks well.  I’m happy with the way it’s turned out, but I wish I could have done better with the slit and hem.  The slit doesn’t close exactly how I want it to and the hem is a non-traditional bubble hem because I couldn’t get a rolled hem to work with the way I designed the bottom of the dress.  (A bubble hem is a hem that is sewn on the inside of the garment so the bottom of the garment will poof.)  Like with any cosplay I make there are aspects that I’d like to change if I remake the outfit, but overall I am very pleased with it.  For the time, knowledge, and resources I had, I did well. 

PIctures!!!!  Now I have the fuku, glove, shoes, hat, and wig to complete.  ^_^

 

New Blog Layout

I added a few new features to the blog.  There are now tabs to differentiate the different areas of my blog.  Each tab contains links to blog posts relating to a specific topic.  There are now links to my DeviantArt and Coscom accounts.  In addition, I reduced the clutter and shortened my progress list.  I might add a labels add on, but that will be in the future if it happens.  I’m still working to improve my blog, but I’m happy that it’s looking more like I envisioned it.

I’m still open to suggestions for how to improve my blog.  Please, if you give a suggestion, keep it civil and G rated.  I want this blog to be family friendly and demeaning comments are not tolerable. 

Akari Update 5

I finished the appliqué for the bottom part of the under dress today.  It looks so cool!  The general shape is different then I expected, but I love it nonetheless.  Sadly I don’t have any pictures to share cause I can’t find a camera.  I’ll post pictures of the full under dress as soon as I’m done.  I should be able to find a camera by then. 

It’s almost astonishing that I’m almost done with my project.  I don’t have much left to do.  If I keep at it I should be able to finish the under dress and the fuku, maybe even the hat, by the end of February.  All I have left to do is hem the under dress, finish the slit, prepare and cut out the fuku (which shouldn’t be that hard), cut out and apply the appliqué to the fuku, sew the fuku, make the bow, make the glow, apply the appliqué to the glove, draft and cut out the hat, appliqué the hat, sew the hat, and finish the hat.  Ok, so I have a bit more to do than I thought, but I know I can at least get the under dress and fuku done.  Especially, if school continues to have lax amounts of homework.  I love being able to relax more after last week. 

The hat and glove shouldn’t be that hard though I dread making another glove out of non-stretch fabric.  This time I will include ease.  I’m still having trouble with the last pair of gloves I made.  -_-  Ah well, live and learn to not make the same mistakes again.  I don’t know how to make the gold ring for the glove yet.  I had thought of using craft foam, but I don’t know how well that will work.  I have to get the supplies for the jewel and cast it as well. 

As for the shoes, I might have found a good pair of base shoes, but they’re a bit out of my price range.  I’ll have to keep looking and hope I find the right pair fairly soon.  I only have till mid May to get this and three other cosplays done.  Yes, three.  The con is four days instead of three.  I’m so excited even though I’ll have to sew my heart out for a week or two before the con.  Ah, such is life. 

Sango Preparation – Weapons and Accessories

Sango has a lot of accessories.  She has her infamous Hiraikotsu, wakizashi, dagger gauntlet, mask, rope, chain, salve, as well as demon slaying poisons, smoke, and paralyzing salve.  Her Hiraikotsu is carried across her back with a strap fastening while her wakizashi is tucked into her belt on left side.  Theses are the two prominent accessories.  Her lesser known accessories are usually hidden away in her outfit.  Her dagger gauntlet in hidden under her right sleeve.  Her rope is tucked away in her right shoulder armor while her healing ointment/salve is in her left shoulder armor. 

Sango holding her Hiraikotsu.

Sango preparing to draw her wakizashi.

The dagger gauntlet in her right sleeve

 

Sango’s mask flying through the air.

 

Sango preparing to throw her rope.

 

Sango releasing a chain to trip her enemy.

Sango’s antiseptic ointment in shell case.

I want to make as many accessories as I can.  So far I’m planning to make her Hiraikotsu, wakizashi, dagger gauntlet, mask, rope, and salve/poison containers.  I’d really like to have a working Hiraikotsu.  I’d be so much fun to play with, but I have no idea how to accomplish that task. 

As for the other props, the wakizashi is easy enough.  I just have to find a convincing sword and decorate it, or I can make my own or commission it.  The dagger gauntlet is the same as the wakizashi/sword.  I might commission this one since I want it to be able to spring up.  I’m planning to make the mask out of craft foam, and I can get the rope at a store.  I don’t know where to get the grip yet.  The salve/poison containers aren’t hard either.  They are simple shell cases.  I’d like to use real shells, but I don’t know if that’s going to happen.

I still have to get most of the supplies for her weapons and props.  I’m thinking of commissioning her Hiraikotsu and dagger gauntlet if I can get the money.  I don’t have to have the dagger gauntlet this year, but I’d definitely want to have the Hiraikotsu.  I’ll know in the next month or two if I’ll make the Hiraikotsu or not. 

Sango Preparations – Fabric and Armor

I found the perfect fabric for my Sango cosplay.  It’s a Milliskin Matte (Tricot), Four Way Stretch in black that can be found here.  It’s taken me a long time to find the fabric I wish to use.  I want to get my Sango cosplay as accurate as possible, even with the sheen.  It’s a very hard sheen to match since it changes from picture to picture.  Sometimes it looks like a matte while other times it looks like a gloss.  Personally I like the matte look better.  It won’t glare so much and will have a better effect in photos.  I’m going to send in for a test swatch of my top three fabric choices to double check my decision.  I’ll the fabric know for sure in about a week or two hopefully.

Now that I’ve found the fabric, I have to focus on the rest of the cosplay. I intend to use the same fabric for her boots as the leotard so I just have to get souls for the boots.  As for armor, I’m thinking of using pink vinyl atop craft foam.  Craft foam is easy to use as well as inexpensive while vinyl should have the right feel and look to it.  I don’t know what I’m going to do for the silver/gray edging around the armor yet, but I’ll figure that out as time goes on. 

I haven’t decided what fabric to use for her ties and collar edging.  I was thinking of using red satin or silk, but I haven’t priced that idea yet.  I also need to get the pattern for the leotard.   Overall, I think the pattern is going to cost the most.  I’m planning to use Kwik Sew 3052 as my base pattern.  Kwik Sew patterns almost never go on sale and cost at least $9 for one pattern.  Yikes!  The pattern is worth it though because I can use it for other spandex related projects in the future.