Make Yourself
2007-02-17 / 10:14 p.m.
I have been knitting lately, or rather reading about knitting (I killed my arm playing Wii and felt too tired and uncoordinated to knit properly, hence the just reading about it).
I really love Erika Knight’s Classic Knits, which has some really basic and adaptable patterns. This is great for someone like me who doesn’t like to go out and get the exact yarn that the pattern calls for and likes to risk major sizing mishaps by changing the yarn weight altogether. There’s a gorgeous tank top that I think I finally have the right yarn for, a camisole, a shrug, and a deep-v neck sweater. She also has one called Glamour Knits but I don’t really see myself wearing anything from that. I’m really not a glamorous girl.
The Winter Knits Kit from Chronicle books has great packaging, sort of crappy but cute inclusions (a pair of flimsy circulars, some fingering weight yarn, a yarn needle, and some tiny stitch markers). The patterns are a tricky read (especially when they get to lace), so this is definitely not recommended for beginners. As always, Chronicle does not disappoint with the packaging. It’s almost like a permanent, inedible box of knitting candy to take out and look at when you’re feeling low.
On the sewing front (not that I sew, but I want to) I really adore Simple Sewing with a French Twist by Celine Dupuy (published by Potter Craft), Sew What Skirts by Francesca Denhartog and Carole Ann Camp (published by Storey), and Amy Butler’s In Stitches (also published by Chronicle). They all have gorgeous photos and fairly simple, non-threatening instructions for each project. My friend Maria and I hit Michael Levine’s in downtown LA today for fabric, and I even found an Amy Butler print (didn’t even realize it was her until I got it home).
I love the fabric choices in all three books and just wish I had deep pockets and endless free time so I could actually make every project. I think I’ll start with a skirt this week and work my way up to something with more shaping.
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Maria's husband Micheal is taking a photo portraiture class, and he might use me for one of his models. Luckily not feeling so down on my looks today... it must the monthly ebb of the hormones kicking in and making me feel not-so-frumpy.
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In my cd player today: Vivaldi, soloist Giuliano Carmignola, Vittorio (a total accident, but he redeems himself to me with Keane's "Bedshaped" sung in Italian), the soundtrack to Pan's Labyrinth, and Tilly & the Wall's Bottoms of Barrels (which I still haven't had the patience to learn the lyrics to, but they are so catchy I can't help but like them).