Fox Costume

I know it's not knitting, but it is garment-making and I was quite proud of this thing, so I'm sharing it. Last year my daughter decided she wanted to be her favorite animal for Halloween. Her favorite animal is a fox...or more specifically, a red fox. I looked high and low for a costume that would work for her and the only one we found was in the UK and was priced at $50 (shipping not included).

Let's back up a little... When I was in Middle school I took sewing classes. Keep in mind that this was in the late 80's so a sewing class was not unheard of. In that class I made an ice cream pillow and a dog sweatshirt. I probably made one or two other things but I can't remember. Sad thing is that those items have disappeared--I'm guessing in my mother's basement, or given away by her. No matter, the point is the same. I haven't sewn anything since I was about 12 yrs. old. Still, I have my grandmother's sewing machine and Megan really wanted to be a fox, so I figured "what the hell."

I found a pattern that I could modify to make it more fox-like, and together, Megan and I picked out the main fabric (a rust colored fleece) for most of the costume, plus some white faux fur for the belly and ears. I didn't want to make mittens because I knew it would be difficult for her to hold the bucket and Trick or Treat, so I bought some white stretch gloves, some black "witch" fingernails, cut the nails down, and glued them to the gloves. Worked like a charm!

I will say that I was incredibly intimidated to make this costume. The pattern wasn't very helpful and most of the things I had to do I either hadn't done in forever, or had never done. I was so sure she would end up with a Gordon Cartrell costume (reference from the Cosby Show where Denise makes Theo a shirt that is all kinds of messed up). I fretted over sewing in the zipper--my first ever--and worried that one arm would be longer than the other. In the end, it came out quite nice. Not perfect...yet not too shabby. I decided not to sew in the elastic as I practiced with it and sucked. In the end I rolled up her sleeves and ankles inside and pinned them.

She was beyond thrilled! She was a little put off by people asking if she was a cat (she did kind of look like one), but in the end she could've cared less. I got a huge boost of self-confidence and even DH was proud of me. I can't say that I've sewn anything since, yet I do want to start quilting. One day... On to the costume pics:

First, the inspiration. This is the costume that we found but had a heart attack over the price. I didn't put the faux fur at the tip of the tail on Megan's, but wish I had. Live and learn.

Now, here is the costume I made full-length

Side view


Megan being silly

Two down, fifty-four to go

I got started on the baby blanket last night, but had to stop after making two squares. My brain has been so foggy lately that I was having a hard time keeping track of how many rows I had knit up. I literally was counting outloud as I knit...one, one, one...to keep track of which row I was knitting...and then when I'd hit like row 13 I'd double remind myself by saying, "The day my son was born, 13, the day my son was born." Pathetic I tell ya! I did take some pics though, so here they are:

This is the blanket I'm making. It's Debbie Bliss' Garter Stitch Blanket from her "Baby Knits for Beginners" book.

Close-up of the blanket. I love how the squares are turned!

The yarn palate I am using from Mission Falls
From Left to Right - Goldenrod, Moss, Chili, Ivory, Musk, and Lentil

Close-up of the yarn to show the texture in it

The two squares I've knitted up thus far

Hopefully my brain will be more cooperative today and allow me to finish up more of them. I'm excited to see how it's going to turn out!

Starting over

After a trip down to Juniper Fiberworks, I picked up some Mission Falls Cotton yarn for Phil & Julie's baby blanket. While I'm still not thrilled about the blanket being so little, I figure I'll knit it up and if it's bugging me I'll go buy some more yarn and add more squares. I really like this cotton yarn, though. Lots of colors, knits up nicely, and is quite soft. Plus it's machine washable--always a good thing w/babies.

Here is a swatch pic of all the colors they offer:


I got one skein each of: Lentil, Ivory, Goldenrod, Musk, Moss, and Chili. I'll take pics of the yarn together later and post them. They really are beautiful. Very fall-like and I think it will mesh well w/the neutral palate of the nursery. I've already started the first square using the Lentil yarn. I'm digging the nubs and grooves as I go along.

And yes, I was quite amazed that I made it out of Juniper Fiberworks with only my 6 skeins of yarn. Let me tell you, it was UBER difficult! Seriously, check out their website and you'll see a small picture of what the store looks like. There is a lot more that isn't shown. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go in there. The incredibly helpful, and funny, gals that were working kept saying, "She's still in pondering!" and we'd crack up. Good times, baby, good times!

My next stop is to take back the Patons Grace yarn. While it's pretty, and I like the way it feels, it's just too soft for my liking. I have come to learn that I'm a "chunky" kind of gal. I like yarn w/some "oomph" to it. At least for things like blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters, etc. Bring on the texture!!

Liars

Last night Megan and I headed to Michael's to pick up some of the Tangelo Patons Grace yarn, as well as any other colors that might match it. I had decided to make a baby blanket instead, one by Debbie Bliss, and was uber excited to be buying more yarn. From the pattern (Debbie Bliss Garter Stitch Blanket) it stated I would need six balls of yarn (turns out there is more yardage in the Patons than the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran), so I was all set.

When we got there I was so disappointed. The way the sample looks on the Patons website shows the Tangelo as an apricot-pink-orange-cream color. In reality it is ORANGE. Really orange. Not a bad color, mind you, just not what I thought it looked like. I scanned the aisle and although I found two colors that would look nice with the Tangelo, I wasn't "feeling" it. Megan offered up the idea of using the Patons Lavender, which I pondered over, but I ultimately chose the Tangelo, with Natural, and Taupe (which again, in person looks much different than the web swatches).

Imagine how lucky I felt when I talked to Phil last night and found out that the nursery had been done in taupe/natural colors! A little bit of orange will add a burst of color while the Natural and Taupe (chocolate) colors blend in with the rest of the set. Sweet!

So I sat down, cast on, cast off, cast on again, ripped it out--I don't know why but I always have the damnedest time casting on. It's like I forget how. I do it, then when I start to knit I realize the tail is in the wrong place and it won't knit up right. I need to practice this more. Anyways, so I'm knitting and I'm thinking, "Boy, these squares are going to be TINY!" The pattern calls for you to make 56 squares, then you piece them all together, and stitch 'em up. I re-read the pattern and the finished size caught my eye..."19 1/2 in. x 22 in." Oh you gotta be kidding me! That's like a napkin, for crying out loud! I don't know why I missed that but in scanning the internet last night to read about this pattern, I found out that I am not alone. The picture in the book even makes the blanket look much bigger, thus many people are fooled by it and skim past the finished dimensions.

Needless to say I'm deciding on if I want to make this blanket or another one. I really like the way the finished blanket looks. You turn the opposite squares 90 degrees and it gives a nice dimensional look to it. Of course I think the Patons Grace might be the wrong choice for this blanket simply because it's not as thick as the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. I'm going to hit a LYS today and see if they have the Cashmerino in the colors I want and start from scratch. Then I'll take the Grace back to Michael's. :o(

Liars. All of 'em.

I feel so deceived.

Be still my heart

I want to make these sweaters with the yarn shown. They are adorable!! And the yarn (Sirdar Surfer) looks really fun and funky before it's knitted up and gorgeous finished. From what I can gather both LYS sell this yarn by Sirdar so I'm going to try and get by both of them this week and see if there is any in stock. Plus I have to find the patterns. Too cute!

It stares at me

Last night I finished the other sleeve and now it sits...staring at me...willing me to sew it together. I am hesitant because I fear I will screw it up royally now. However I know I'll dig in and put the thing together. In the meantime, here are some (crappy) pics of the almost finished sweater. You'll have to forgive the lighting. I took these last night around 9'ish or so and w/out flash.

Close-up again of the bottom detail

Close-up of the sleeve edging before sewing

Here is the not quite finished project. The neckline isn't my fav thus far, despite it being very easy, yet we'll see what it looks like knitted up.

One sleeve down, one on sticks

Finished the first sleeve yesterday and started the other one today. I should have the second one done tonight if I actually stop interrupting myself. I think I'm a tad hesitant simply because I'm scared to sew the thing together. Totally afraid I'm going to ruin it.

I made the one sleeve too long (about 3/4") but am not worried. I prefer a longer sleeve anyways and she (my friend) can roll them up for the baby. To me it always seemed that the sleeves were the first thing that got too short on my kiddos, so I'm fine that I went too far. Admittedly it was not done on purpose (I just kept knitting not even paying attention to how long the sleeve was getting), however it did work out to what the next size up would be.

With this sleeve I dropped a stitch on the edge so there is a very tiny hole that isn't noticeable except to me. I'm assuming that when I sew up the seam it will disappear as that's where the hole is. Of course DH keeps joking that because of this itty bitty screw up the baby will get pneumonia. He's soooo helpful. ;o)

I'll post pics before I sew it together. I'm just too lazy today or else I'd take some and post them now.