Sewing Bras

I've been sewing my own bras for about a year now, but I don't think I've ever written about it here before. I started sewing my own bras mostly out of necessity, however they are pretty fun to make! When I finally discovered the correct size bra (and shape) that suits me, I also discovered that this particular bra had been discontinued. Why?! And while I'm sure I could search and find another perfect bra, I was starting to get tired of ordering bras online from far away places and the cost was getting excessive. Most of the bras I've been able to find in my size are made and sold in the UK, so that means the cost of shipping can get a little expensive. I decided I would try making my own, I mean, everyone else is doing it! I tried a few patterns before I realized I should just copy that favorite bra of mine. Since the band pattern pieces were almost identical to the ready-made bra, I only needed to copy the cup. The band pattern piece I use is from a Make Bra foam bra pattern. Fitting is probably the most frustrating part of sewing your own lingerie (or any garment sewing for that matter!). A lot of people will just not even want to attempt sewing a bra, knowing it will take some trial and error before getting the right fit. To me it is worth it. I guess after you make one bra, it gets kind of addictive! My personal favorite is a foam pieced bra. That means you cut pieces out of foam and sew them together with a zig-zag stitch (no seam allowance between the foam pieces), this forms the cup. I have tried bras without any foam support and they just don't work well on me. I need all the help I can get in that department, if you know what I mean!

My favorite company that sells materials and patterns is Make Bra. I have ordered materials from other suppliers and I have found Make Bra is by far my favorite. Even when you take the cost of shipping into consideration, the materials are still very reasonably priced. They also sell kits which is what I purchased when I first started. I definitely recommend starting with a kit, however keep in mind you may need to purchase a few extra supplies (underwires, a sewing pattern etc), but they will tell you which supplies are not included in the kit. They have loads of information on their website with tutorials to help you along the way. Also, when I have ordered from them, they have always shipped everything incredibly fast.

I like to use a non-stretch fabric for the front of my bras, switching to a stretchy fabric or powernet with a 4-way stretch for the back/underarm band pieces. This gives me the fit I want. Some people think that small chested women have an easy time finding a bra that fits. But trust me, it is not that easy! At least not in my experience. You either have cups that are too big and basically give you no support, or you end up wearing stretchy shapeless bras because nothing else fits and you are left with a not very flattering "flat chest" look, which isn't my thing. I discovered that I had been wearing a band size much too large for my frame and cups that were too small. Of course everyone has their personal preferences when it comes to lingerie, but I prefer something that gives me a bit of lift. If you struggle with bra fitting, I would highly recommend you check out the reddit group, ABraThatFits. And if you are crazy like me, consider making your own bras. The best part is deciding which fabrics to use. For me sewing a bra doesn't take a lot of time. I could literally sew myself a new bra in less than a day. The possibilities are endless when you sew your own lingerie!

Here are a few bra making resources to get you started:

• Clothing Engineer (I don't know where all of her foam bra posts went, but she made several bras using the Make Bra patterns and her blog was a lot of help when I first started. Hopefully she will make them available again!)
• The Sewing and Life Adventures of Emerald Erin
• Cloth Habit: Bra Making Sew-Along
• Cloth Habit: Foam Cup Bra
• Make Bra: Full Band Foam Bra Instructions
• Orange Lingerie: Boylston Bra (This is a new foam bra pattern that I just discovered! Looks pretty good!)

Skincare Update

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I thought I would write a quick skincare update for anyone who was wondering how it's been going. I'm still dealing with acne, but it's going down... slowly. I did change up my routine a bit as well. I have been doing more research and found some other products that I absolutely love so far.

Number one product I am in love with is the CeraVe moisturizing cream. There is a lotion that I got as well and I like it, but it's not thick enough for my face. I am now using it on my body after showers, which works great. But the cream in the pot is thicker and absolutely amazing on my face or any dry patches (like elbows). I mean, I'd probably use it on my whole body, but sometimes thick creams are harder to spread on larger surfaces and I'm lazy! But I absolutely adore this as a facial moisturizer. It actually makes my face more matte after applying, and it feels so good! I use it around my eyes as well. Most thick creams have made my eyelids puff up when I use them overnight, but not this one. It comes in a large tub (now with a pump, which is awesome), but I got it in a small travel size to test out first. I definitely recommend this moisturizer if you have dry skin like me and need something that isn't greasy.

I found a few great reddit groups that have so much good information. In case you are interested, do check out SkincareAddiction and AsianBeauty. I've been spending a lot of time on SkincareAddiction, but both seem pretty awesome. I learned a lot about the ph of your skin and why it's important in skincare. Here's a great article if you want to learn more on the subject.

I've also switched out a few of the "actives" I had been using. I decided to try for a stronger retinol cream, so I stopped using the Paula's Choice 1% retinol product. I thought it was an ok product, but when I started using it I did find a slight bit of itching under one of my eyes (it could have been from something else I was using, though), which usually means for me that it's causing an allergic reaction. It didn't get any further than that, though, so who knows. Now I am using tretinoin .025%, and I haven't noticed any itching. In fact, I haven't noticed much of any of the side effects people say you will experience when starting a prescription strength retinol. Most people say you will peel like crazy, but I haven't experienced this. I eased into it, though, starting with just 2-3 times a week, at night. It took me a couple of weeks before I started using it every night. The only issue I have come across is the "purging" which I believe I have been experiencing since starting retinol. It apparently causes many people to break out more than they usually do when they start (possibly due to the increased skin cell turnover), for a couple of weeks or more. You can read up on why this is if you are curious (do a search for "tretinoin purge" on the reddit group "SkincareAddicts"). I am hoping my skin is finally starting to calm down in that department, but I am still breaking out a little bit (not as bad though, crossing fingers!). I will say the tretinoin really helps speed up the healing process after a breakout, though!

Another acid I have been loving is the Paula's Choice 2% salicylic acid and the BHA9 for spots. I will say that the salicylic acid works much better when I leave it on to work for several minutes to an hour before applying my moisturizer. I notice every time I use the salicylic acid my acne goes down and the BHA9 as a spot treatment works wonders!

Recently I decided to add a new active to my routine. It's called azelaic acid and I've heard it is a wonderful skincare product. I read it is not available over-the-counter and that you need a prescription for it. However, I happily discovered an over-the-counter product called Melazepam which is for people who suffer from rosacea. It has 20% azelaic acid and is actually the same amount you will find in a prescription strength azelaic acid product. I have only used it a few times, but so far it has not caused me any itching or burning, which is what I read many people experience while using it. I'm also still using the .025% tretinoin at night and then will use the azelaic acid in the morning. I'll do a quick update on this post in a few weeks if anything changes with my skin while using the azelaic acid. So far so good! I have been taking photos, but I'm not ready to share any just yet. If someday I see a dramatic change in my skin, I might be willing to share photos. But until then, I'm still figuring stuff out!

Oh, another thought. If my current routine isn't working after a time, I will definitely look into seeing a dermatologist and will consider getting some type of oral antibiotic if it comes to that. I'm worried that the antibiotic would be a short term cure, but I know some people have had success taking it for only 2-3 months and that's all they needed to get their skin back on track.

P.S. Sorry for getting a little "off topic" with my skincare posts. I want to get back into talking sewing and other fun fashion related topics again, but I thought perhaps others who are dealing with adult acne like me  may find this information helpful. And I know how frustrating it can be to deal with this on your own! And as always, feel free to leave comments on what works for you or any suggestions you may have. :)

Update 3/15/16: Okay so after using the Melazepam, I got a whole cluster of cystic bumps around my mouth, one on my cheek and on my forehead. I am afraid it might be the Melazepam (possibly some ingredient in it, not sure if it's the azelaic acid). So I decided to discontinue using it for now. :/ Working on fixing the situation with lots of salicylic acid! 

My New Skincare Routine

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For the last several years I have struggled with adult acne. It may not look like it in my pictures because I try hard to conceal the spots with makeup. There are the odd days that I have pretty clear skin, but it's rare. I never had to deal with a lot of acne when I was a teenager (didn't even see a spot until I was 17 and even then they were tiny and rare). When I finally did have a spot or two, I treated it with benzoyl peroxide. Got on hormonal birth control in my late twenties, started taking zinc and that seemed to take care of the few that I did get. Birth control didn't keep me from breaking out, but it didn't make it worse either. Fast forward, a few years after starting the birth control pill, I decided to go off of it (for other reasons, but mainly it didn't agree with me at all). My skin was clear until the three month mark and I had the worst breakout of my life. They say after you go off of hormonal birth control, expect to break out at around 2-3 months. Cystic acne is the worst! I had no idea! Most people say eventually the acne will clear up, but mine never did.

I tried using benzoyl peroxide again and that proved to be a disaster. Although it worked for me once before, this time around it made my eyes swell up. I didn't even realize the benzoyl peroxide was doing this for quite awhile! Yuck! Well, I certainly wasn't willing to have swollen eyes for the sake of clear skin. There has got to be a better way! I have tried practically everything. I changed my diet. Quit drinking cow's milk (still mostly avoid it, although I honestly don't know why anymore). I went gluten free, went Paleo for nearly a year (don't get me started on Paleo...)! I cut out nuts, and that didn't help. I even track my hormonal cycle religiously every morning (everything is normal and on schedule). I tried taking supplements. I took fish oil (broke me out). I tried fermented cod liver oil (this is probably the dumbest thing I have done yet, messed my cycle up, broke me out worse...I do NOT recommend this horrible stuff)! I took a high quality multi-vitamin (also broke me out and now I don't believe in taking multi-vitamins unless you are pregnant or your doctor prescribes them). I take probiotics (still do, although it doesn't really help a lot with acne). I took Vitex, Estroblock (don't do it!), red raspberry leaf, I drank spearmint tea religiously one month (it made me skip my period and I do NOT recommend this either). Oh man, what else have I done to myself? You name it, I have tried it (with a few exceptions).

I am sick of spending so much money and trying so much stuff to "fix" my body. I know herbalists and naturopaths will always tell you that the problem is on the "inside" and you just have to fix whatever is going on in there. But after all that, I can't help but be a little bit skeptical at this viewpoint. I'm perfectly healthy and I have unnecessarily cut out all of these foods only to find it didn't help (or only slightly helped - like cutting dairy) or in many cases made things worse. I have decided to try something new and stop buying into this idea that you must take a million supplements and eat nothing delicious to have clear skin.

Enter Caroline Hirons... Oh how I love this woman! I have been watching her Youtube videos for awhile now and have read her blog off and on over the last year. However, I never really followed her skincare guide until now. I figured I could get the same results just by using oils and I thought that would be enough. It wasn't. The other day I went back to her website and pored through her "cheat sheets" to figure out the perfect routine for me. She talks a lot about "acids" and how wonderful they are for the skin, especially as we age. And who am I kidding? I am not 20 anymore. I've never had great skin, it has always been dry and now I get cystic acne at the drop of a hat. Maybe I need more of these treatments to deal with my troubled skin. Perhaps all my skin needs is a little acid help?? But I don't want to do this halfway. I'm going to follow her skincare regimen as close as I can.

I'm still testing out products and may change the routine a bit as I learn more, but right now this is what my skincare routine looks like...

Morning:

1. Cleanse: With a fresh washcloth (Caroline calls them "flannels"), cleanse with a gentle cleanser. I am using Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Cream Cleanser.
2. Toner: This is not what a lot of people think of as a toner, this is something that helps balance the skin after you wash your face (if I understand it correctly). It's not harsh or drying at all. I use Paula's Choice Resist Weightless Advanced Repairing Toner.
3. Acid: There are AHA's BHA's etc. I am no expert, but I think this is a pretty important step in your routine. I am using a BHA (2% salicylic acid), from Paula's Choice. I got the sample size, so I may or may not change it when I run out. I am also using a sample of her 9% BHA to spot treat some of my cystic acne and it's pretty great! On the pricey side, though!
4. Serum: I didn't "get" serums for the longest time. I'm still not quite sure how to describe them, but they are wonderful at helping your skin retain moisture. They always go before moisturizer and after acids. I think the main ingredient in a good serums is "hyaluronic acid." I was using a sample from Paula's Choice, but recently ordered Now Solutions Hyaluronic Acid Serum and plan to start using it instead (I'll update how it goes).
5. Moisturizer: You want to make sure you are using a good moisturizer as well, and for me it's a must because of how dry my skin is! Right now I'm using a sample from Paula's Choice, but again have ordered something different to try. I got Weleda Skin Food, and I'm excited to try it after reading all the rave reviews. Again, I will update you on how it works for me.
6. SPF: Sunscreen is always a good idea, especially if you are going to start using acids or retinols. I am not so great at this part during the winter, but I tend to wear makeup with SPF in it anyway and whenever I am outside for more than 15 minutes I wear a good SPF. I just ordered Hada Labo UV Creamy Gel and will keep you updated on how it performs!

Night:

1. Cleanse: You can use any gentle cleanser or micellar water if you are wearing a lot of makeup. I will sometimes use an oil (like pumpkin seed oil or rosehip seed oil) to remove my makeup. I also have a separate cleanser to remove my waterproof mascara.
2. Double Cleanse: The idea is that after you have removed your makeup, you must also cleanse your skin. Caroline is really into "double cleansing." I use a cream cleanser, same one as my morning routine.
3. Toner: Same as morning routine.
4. Eyes: Apply moisturizer or serum before your treatments.
5. Acid/Treatments: This is when I will use my retinol cream. I have only been using it twice a week (just on the second week now). I plan to use it every other day, but trying to go slowly to see how my skin reacts. So far so good, but this stuff is potent and I know a lot of people will start peeling really badly if they go too fast. I'm trying not to make that mistake! My skin hasn't shown signs of peeling, so I'm going to start applying it every two days instead of every three. I use Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment (trial size), and only a "pea" size for my entire face. There is a whole host of information about this stuff, but you can get a prescription for tretinoin (Retin-A), that may be a better option depending on your insurance and if it will cover the cost (it can get pretty expensive). I think using this might be where I'll see most of the progress in my skin. Time will tell, though. I have read you shouldn't expect to see great results for at least 6-12 weeks of continued use. I know it's amazing for fine lines, so if it agrees with me I might keep this up for a long time!
6. Serum: Again, the same as my morning routine.
7. Moisturizer: Same as morning routine.

I know that looks like a lot of steps, but I promise it doesn't take me that much more time than my previous routine. I still think the food you eat can contribute to your skin, but for many of us, cutting out foods or entire food groups won't make a big difference and in many cases can make things worse. I'm going to stick to this routine and see if I make any progress. So far, one week in, I'm already clearing up! I don't want to jinx myself or anything, but thought I would go ahead and share my routine now just in case someone else finds it useful. I'll definitely update how I'm doing and if anything gets worse/better! Wish me luck!  

P.S. I know I'm using lots of Paula's Choice products here, but you don't have to use her brand. There are other great products out there, I just find her products the most accessible. I also like that you can try samples of each product, which is ultimately what led me to purchase.

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Pony Curls!

This post contains affiliate links. Scroll down for coupon codes, updated 5/30/16

I discovered a new way to curl my hair and it's amazing! I have long, thick hair and sometimes it can be a pain curling all of it, especially the back portions. But this method makes curling a breeze. Really, it takes minutes to get the perfect messy curls. If you have medium to long hair, definitely give this a try!

Step 1: Put your hair up in a ponytail.

Step 2: Using a 25mm curling wand*, curl 3-6 sections of your ponytail (depending on how thick your hair is).

Step 3: Let your curls completely cool and then remove your ponytail.

Step 4: Shake out your hair and add some hairspray (if you like). That's all there is to it!






*I purchased my curling wand from NuMe which I love. But feel free to use whichever wand you like best. In case you are interested in a NuMe wand, definitely get it when it's on sale or with a coupon code. I'll include updated links below for anyone interested.




(New discounts! Updated 5/30/16)

ANY wand $28! Use code: PICKONE (expires 5/31)

Buy any wand 50% off, get a FREE Style Setter Straightener and Free Shipping! Use code GETYOURS

Any set $88! Use code ANYSET88 (expires 5/31)

Silhouette Straightener + Argan oil $39. Use code QUICK39


(The codes below may or may not work. Some have expired.)

$110 OFF any set! Use code LOVETHIS

70% off all wands + Free US/Canada Shipping. Use code CURLS70

60% OFF all wands + Free US Shipping. Use code CURLS50

50% off Sitewide (excludes collections, haircare, access) + Free US Shipping! Use code SAVEBIG

Curl Jam + Dryer + WT Shampoo & Conditioner $179. Use code ITSALLGOOD

Megastar + Argan + FREE US Shipping $79. Use code MEGAGOOD

Power Couple Set + Free US Shipping $79. Use code POWERSET

Buy 2 CLASSIC WANDS + Free US Shipping $58. Use code 2FORME

Titan 3 + Free US Shipping $89. Use code 3WAYCURLS

Bold Dryer + Free US Shipping $59. Use code BOLD59

All Sets (including Octowands!) + Free US Shipping $99. Use code 99SETS

White Truffle Collection $49. Use code HAIRCARE

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage of sales if you make a purchase using these links. However, the item featured in this post was purchased by me and I was not paid to write this review/tutorial. All opinions are my own.  

How To Bake: {Heart Shaped} Cinnamon Rolls

My favorite food in all the world: CINNAMON ROLLS! I thought I would try making them into heart shapes for Valentine's Day, although they didn't turn out quite as heart shaped as I would have liked! Regardless of how they look, the recipe is the same and it's the one I have used over and over again for years.

Also, you will notice I used goat milk powder in this recipe, but you can easily substitute regular cow's milk. I try to stay off of cow's milk, which is why I tend to use goat milk powder a lot in my baking.

Happy Baking!

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Knitting Socks

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I have been knitting a bit more regularly than I have in the past several years. Last month I decided to knit some socks as a gift for my sister-in-law and after finishing that pair, I made another and I'm now on my third pair. So far all the socks have been gifted, but eventually I will make myself a pair!

I think socks are pretty simple to make and go rather quickly, as long as you keep your knitting out at all times so you can continue working on them whenever you have a few spare moments!  Socks are pretty easy, but it may take knitting a pair before you start to visualize how they go together. I have referenced several patterns and compiled instructions using what I have gathered. I will try to include as much information as I can and will also link to the patterns I have used at the bottom of the page. 

Are you a loose knitter?

I am a bit of a loose knitter, so I tend to go down one to two needle sizes. Since I was taught the continental (link to video) method of knitting (holding the yarn with my left hand and "scooping" the yarn to make a stitch with the needle in my right hand) tension can, at times, be tricky for me. I'm getting much better at the tension now that I have been knitting more regularly, but it definitely helps to knit up a small swatch before starting a new project. 

Compile your materials.

If you don't know how your tension is, you might want to get several double point needles between the sizes of 0 to 2. I used size 1 for the socks shown in this post, but I have noticed most sock patterns will tell you to use size 2. You also have the option of using a small 9"-12" circular needle, but you would have to have a matching pair of double point needles to work the heel and foot portion of the socks. I tried the 9" circular needle in size 0 and it made my hands cramp up pretty badly, so that didn't work well for me. Perhaps I would have done better with the 12" circular than the 9". I'd love to learn to knit a pair of socks at once ("magic loop" method) with a long circular needle, but for now I'm quite happy sticking with my double points. I also like using double point needles because they automatically divide your work so you don't (at least I don't) find it necessary to use stitch markers, making things less complicated. 

A note about yarn:

Don't forget to find a nice sock (fingering weight) yarn. Remember if you plan to wash your knitted socks in a washing machine and use a dryer, be sure to check the yarn's laundering instructions before purchasing. Many sock yarns will be made with a blend of fibers so they are easy to launder and also wear better. Right now my particular favorite yarn is called "Hawthorne Sock Yarn" by Knit Picks. I also used Knit Picks' "Stroll" yarn, but I really love the feel of Hawthorne much better. 

How many stitches to cast on?

Next you want to figure out how big to make your socks. Most women's sock patterns will have you cast on between 60-64 stitches for sizes 7-9. I usually wear size 8.5 shoes or between 38-39 European shoe size, and the 60 cast on stitches fit me very well. It makes for a tighter fit, but I think it's nice to have a snug pair of socks rather than making them too big. If you have wider feet, you may want to cast on a few more stitches, but make sure they are an even number. I haven't made a men's pair yet, but I believe casting on 72 stitches would fit a men's size 10 or larger. As far as the length of your foot goes, you can measure how long your foot is and then subtract 2" for the toe. This is how long you will knit the foot portion (measuring from the heel) before beginning the toe decreases. We will get into that more later on.

Basic Sock Pattern

Materials

• 4-5 double point needles in either size 0, 1 or size 2, depending on your gauge.
• 100 grams of sock yarn (more or less)
• Tapestry needle  

Gauge

I used size 1 double point knitting needles to make the socks pictured here and my stitches were about 8-9 stitches per inch. 

Size

Women's Small/Medium (60 sts cast on) or Women's Medium/Large (64 sts cast on)

Cast On

Cast on 60 (64) stitches onto a slightly larger needle or two double point needles. Divide the stitches, scooping them (purlwise) off of the larger needle and onto your double point needles, using three double point needles and dividing stitches as follows: 20-20-20 (22-20-22) and join your work to begin working knitting the rib pattern in the round (being careful not to "twist" your stitches). You can use either of the following rib knit pattern:

Cuff

*K2, P2* - knitting this pattern continuously around and around until you have a 2" cuff. 

OR

*K1, P1* - knitting this pattern continuously around and around until you have a 2" cuff. 

Leg

Begin knitting around and around until you reach your leg's desired length (6.5" is a nice length). 

Heel Flap

You want to divide your stitches in half and work the heel flap on half of the stitches. 

First row: (Right side) *Slip 1, K1* continue to slip 1, knit 1 until all 30 (32) stitches are on your needle. Remember when slipping the stitch, slip it PURLwise. (Disregard the other 30 (32) stitches for now, concentrating only on the heel flap stitches.) 

Now you will turn your work and knit on the wrong side:

Second row: (Wrong side) *Slip 1, P29 (P31)*

Repeat these two rows until the heel flap measures approximately 2 inches. If you want to be exact, count how many rows you knit and write down the number somewhere so you know how many rows to knit for your matching sock.

Turn Heel

Row 1: Sl1, P16 (P17), P2tog, P1, turn

Row 2: Sl1, K5, SSK, K1, turn

Row 3: Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn

Row 4: Sl1, K7, SSK, K1, turn

Continue this pattern increasing one stitch (K or P) until all your stitches are used. You will hopefully eventually start to see what you are doing without counting, and will get faster at this. 

Shape Gusset

Knit across heel stitches if you aren't already on the left hand side of the heel. At this point you will start picking up the stitches that you had slipped (Sl1) when working the heel flap. Depending on how long of the heel flap you made, you will have more or less stitches to pick up (anywhere from 16-19 stitches). Make a note how many stitches you picked on on the left side of the heel flap. Now using a different needle, knit across all 30 (32) stitches that were waiting for you. I like to call these stitches the "top-of-the-foot sts". I like to keep them together on one needle, but feel free to divide the stitches on two needles if you find that necessary. Now you will come to the other side of the heel flap and remember to pick up the same number of stitches as you picked up for the left side. Continue knitting the remaining heel stitches until you reach the center/back of the heel, essentially dividing the heel and gusset stitches between two needles. So you should have one needle containing half of the foot ("top-of-the-foot sts") and two needles dividing the remaining stitches. 

The gusset is basically worked so that you are decreasing each gusset by 1 stitch (2 stitches total) every other row. Follow the pattern below until you reach your original number of stitches 60 (64).

Round 1: 

• Needle #1: Knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
• Needle #2 (remember these are the 30 (32) top-of-the-foot stitches): Knit all stitches
• Needle #3: K1, SSK, knit to end (2 sts decreased)

Round 2:

• Needle #1, #2, #3: Knit all stitches

Repeat Round 1 and Round 2 until 60 (64) stitches remain. 

Foot

Knit around and around until you reach desired length of foot, minus 2". 

Here is a guide for most common women's sizes and how long to knit the foot measuring from the heel and before you start to decrease for the toe (the toe decreases will add on approximately 2" to the total length):

Size:

US7 (EU38) = 7 1/4"

US8 (EU39) = 7 5/8"

US9 (EU40) = 8"

Toe

Round 1:

• Needle #1: Knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
• Needle #2: K1, SSK, Knit to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1
• Needle #3: K1, SSK, Knit to end (4 sts decreased)

Round 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat Round 1 and Round 2 until you have 28 stitches left. Knit stitches so they are equally divided between two needles, 14 stitches on each needle. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail approximately 20" to work the kitchener stitch (link to video). Weave in ends (link to video) and start your second sock right away!



Sources and Instruction Videos

Sock Patterns: 

I have looked through many sock patterns, but the ones I have found the most helpful is the Striped Crew Socks pattern by Purl Soho and the Basic 4ply Sock Pattern by Winwick Mum. She has a handy PDF pattern that you can download here. 

Yarn:

I used Knit Picks Hawthorne sock yarn in the color "Nob Hill" as well as Stroll sock yarn in the color "Shale". Both are lovely, but Hawthorne is definitely my favorite!

Instruction Videos:
Basic video on weaving in ends.
How to weave in ends in ribbing.
Knitting the kitchener stitch.

Note: If you find any errors in my instructions, please do let me know. Thank you! 






This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small percentage of sales if you make a purchase using these links. However, the items featured in this post were purchased by me and I was not paid to write this review/tutorial. All opinions are my own.  

Two new blouses in the shop!

Awhile ago I posted about a new top I was working on. I have since updated the blouse so that it has a bit more ease added into the back, which makes it slightly more comfy than the first version. I am naming this one after my dear friend Cathy, because she loves gingham and when I was designing it, I had the late 60's, early '70s in mind. Cathy and I share a love for the '60s and '70s and we are always sharing ideas for clothing inspired by these eras. She is a true kindred spirit and although we have never met, I feel as though we have known each other our whole lives. If you haven't seen her blog yet, please do take a moment to check it out! She is an absolutely amazing artist and photographer. Cathy is a constant inspiration to me and I know you will love her blog as much as I do!

You can find the Caterina Blouse and my other new plaid pullover blouse in both my Big Cartel and Etsy shops.

P.S. The holidays are fast approaching. Anyone else still Christmas shopping? What fun holiday things have you been up to? I'm looking forward to seeing one of my favorite Christmas films, Miracle on 34th Street at the theater this week. There is nothing quite like seeing an old classic on the big screen!

A new blouse and a few things for sale

I need to write a proper blog post one of these days, but for now I thought I would drop by to share a new blouse I'm working on. To tell you the truth, I designed this blouse with the idea that I could use up some of the left over fabrics in my stash. I think it would look great made with two coordinating florals or plaids. The final blouse will look just a bit different as I feel it needed a tad more wearing ease. So I'm selling this one as is for $85. It fits nicely up to a size 33" bust. Let me know if you are interested.

I'm also considering selling my wool cape that I made a few years ago. I haven't really worn it much and I'm trying ever so hard to get rid of things I don't wear often. It fits size S/M and I'm asking $95. Please feel free to shoot me a line if you have any questions! gracefullady@gmail.com

P.S. Most of the items I'm getting rid of will probably show up for sale on my instagram, so feel free to check there if you are at all interested/curious! :)