After multiple knittings--first with seed stitch, then with Turkish stitch--and numerous ripping backs, I have finally finished the body of the Puff-Sleeved Cardi sans lace. I substituted Turkish Stitch a la Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (given to me by my dear B.):
Turkish Stitch Pattern in Peplum
I have also made much progress and then much frogging on the left sleeve. Unfortunately, I have wide shoulders so the poufy-ness of the sleeve shoulders isn't so much so.
Puff-Sleeved Feminine Cardi Left Front (with 70's Linoleum background--groovy baby!)
Additionally, I do believe that I am going to have to cross my fingers and toes and hope that KnitPicks has more yarn in my dyelot as-- between my decision to make long sleeves and to increase the body length and despite considering such things when making the original order of yarn--it looks as if I am running out of yarn. Aargh! (Note to self: Yarn Colorway "Storm", dyelot 13940).
In the realm of super-exciting news, I decided to give in and buy a "new" sewing machine! It is a Brother CS6000 Computerized Sewing Machine--factory refurbished from Overstock.com. I've bought a refurbished vacuum from them and have been quite happy with it; it is as if it were brand new! I am hoping to have the same luck/experience with this sewing machine as I am dying to bring my sewing skills up to snuff and beyond. This city makes me want to have stylish clothes and not pay a fortune for them at one of the gazillion boutiques lining my street!
Furthermore, I want to learn how to quilt after seeing such beauties as this, this, and this over at the Doll Quilt Swap! I got a hold of Kaffe Fassett's Museum Quilts and Quilting for Dummies (I had to set my ego aside when selecting that one!) from the library and am off to Britex to choose fabric for the Floral Columns Quilt (Check out Ashley's at Dogged).
Also in the sewing queue is this purse (See & Sew B4271), which Mamoko is so considerately using his paw to point it out for you:
Which will be made in these fabrics (the green swirls will be the lining) and hopefully I shall find some extra-bitter dark chocolate colored corduroy or cotton duck to use for the strap and perhaps to go along the bottom of the purse as the city is a dirty place and I don't want to have to give the birds bi-weekly bird baths:
The Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection: "Bird Seed" and "Swirls" Fabrics
Now, the hard part: Waiting for my sewing machine to arrive in the post!