Sweater for my Aunt

So I haven't posted anything lately because I have been re-doing this sweater for my aunt for Mother's Day (Yes, I know it was months ago).  I started this with plenty of time, but I wasn't happy with the finished product so I started over.  The pattern is written terribly, so I guessed at half of it (apparently wrongly).  And it did not fit correctly.  Even with proper gauge, it did not come out the second time to fit the way I wanted it to.  I guess I am going to have to start making everything extra extra large because I don't know anyone who could wear any of the other sizes the way the pattern is written.  All the patterns I have tried so far seem to be running so small.

Here is a close up of the pattern so that you can see the pretty yarn:

I'm not sure if it's going to come across on the pictures, but the sweater is styled like a blazer and can pull together if you want it to.  This is the ring I used as a closure (ignore the stitch marker)

Now, let's see what else I can make!  I imagine I would get a lot more done if I could quit doing everything twice!

It's been awhile!

I haven't been able to post what I've been up to because they were gifts that hadn't been received yet.  Now they have!

These are golf club covers I crocheted for my uncle who loves Harley Davidson

And this is a bag I made for my aunt out of placemats


In placemat form:

Stole the pocket from a pair of Hannah's board shorts:

Then made straps from the shorts:

Sewed them on the placemats:

Then sewed the sides together and....

Fabric and Patterns

I'm trying to catch up on my blogging since my trip.  Just prior to leaving I did a lot of shopping, so I have loads of new fabric (with vintage inspired prints of course). 

Browns:

Blacks:

Anybody got any idea for what I could do with this last one?  That print is fairly large, too big I think for a shirt.



I also won a giveway from Subversive Lesbian Anarchic    Thanks Bex!!!

 And I got one pattern in San Francisco.

I think I may be able to alter the belted one to suit my needs.

Camo Cowboy Hat

I'm sure you guys who crochet will recognize this as "Yeehaw Lady" from Stitch and Bitch Happy Hooker.  I made it 3 times and still couldn't get it small enough to fit my head, so I guess I'm going to try to sell it on Etsy.  Apparently I have a very small head.  If you're interested, let me know.

Update:
I put up a rudimentary Etsy listing here

More fabric and stuff from CA

I forgot to post pictures of two vintage purses I got at the estate sale

This one is an iridescent champagne color

and had a little mirror wrapped in paper in the side pocket

As my mother and I were driving the famed 17 Mile Drive, we saw the signs for an estate sale.  The homeowner was an artist and had made the prettiest enamel on copper pieces.  I will take pictures of those and post them too.  She did watercolors and pastels and I found out she was also a seamstress.  Unfortunately, we were there on the last day of the sale so I can only imagine what we missed, but I got these:

Before I went to San Francisco, some folks over at Sew Retro told me to check out Urban Burp, a vintage fabric store.  I have never seen anything like it, a store full of vintage fabric--no digging through bins at thrift stores, fighting other people at estate sales, sorting through mounds of junk at yard sales--just there to browse.  Of course, everything comes at a price.

I think this was $34/yard.  It's a thin, sheer-ish, acetate-type material so I only got a half yard to make two scarves.  I couldn't get the color to really show on the picture, but it's a neon lime color.  Isn't the cat raised up on its hackles fabulous?!

I don't remember how much this one was.

It wouldn't have mattered how much either of these were.  I would have bought them anyway because they are so perfect (for me).  Hands down my favorite fabrics I have ever found.  I am SO excited to make myself something great with these!

I also bought some artwork from an artist on the street in front of Ghiradelli Square named Janet He.  The pictures didn't turn out that good, but maybe you can use your imagination.

We visited the Haight/Ashbury area where there were loads of cool vintage stores including La Rosa, but they were so expensive that I didn't buy anything.  We had a great trip and I didn't want to come home.  I really liked the San Francisco area and Carmel was beautiful.

Sooo...

In the past month, I have gone to an estate sale here at home, did some thrift store shopping, inherited a load of silk and other textiles from 40's Japan, went to San Francisco where I visited some vintage stores and a vintage fabric store.  Then drove south toward Carmel, through 17 mile drive where we found another estate sale (best luck ever!)  I have lots of things to show you, but have been too busy to post pics.  This will come in several rounds, but these are all fabrics I got at thrift stores.  All of significant yardage for making clothes.

This is baby blue and brown

This is the same fabric as above only red and white

Baby blue and red stripes

Score!

I had the good fortune recently to be invited to tour an old home in the area.  It was an amazing 60's mod with architecture that made me want to cry--dark hardwood floors, a built in indoor fountain surrounded by wrought iron, walls of windows and shoji screens.  I never knew anything like that existed around here.  It's like it was made for me, then put on hold for me to find 50 years later.  Except that I don't have a million dollars.  Ugh.  Why oh why did I think government service was a good idea???  Darn me and my idealistic youth!

Imagine my utter thrill stumbling upon, within walls and walls of reading material, that the homeowner had been a seamstress, knitter and cook.  I was given freedom to take what I wanted, so this is what I got:

 The one on the left is a cookbook put out by the Junior League of Memphis in 1952.  The one on the right is from the Willie Maude Willimore School of Gourmet Cookery and has handwritten recipes inside.