back in black

After a long hiatus involving moving to Yellowknife, getting (two) new jobs, working full-time hours with both jobs combined five days a week for the first time in my life and a whole lotta computer drama, I have finally assumed some sense of normalcy. And that means knitting!
Still homesick as hell, though.

I started these as the cold weather seemed like it would never end (it's still unseasonably cold for May) but of course the weather warms up to mid-ten degrees as soon as I finish.

Wheeeeeeeee multicolored roving! Thrumming looks so cool- and is super easy. With all the extra thickness, the mitten is at least 1.5 times larger than your actual hand.

But even with all that roving (around 8 oz) these mittens wouldn't be warm enough the dead of Yellowknife winter- maybe spring or fall... or Halifax winter.

ALSO, how come nobody told me these existed?? And of all places to see them for sale- a small gardening shop off Kam Lake here in Yellowknife- along with a lot more knitpicks products. They were $80 but seem like a bargain as I'd be set for life for circular needles! I had to try hard NOT to buy them- only because I've already amassed a huge collection of circulars... and saving up for a major shopping trip in Edmonton. Some day, though.

I'll be back soon, promise.

another month another... oh, you know

okay. here is the post about stuff with the thing.

Having a week off work gave me tons of free time so as not to stress out about the big move, but at the same time I went completely stir crazy. I crafted like mad, although along with the strict organized side of me, I finished all endevours perfectly on schedule. In no matter what condition.

First off, I cast on and completed this super steampunk aviator hat in three days.
It buckles underneath the chin, wowee.
I used fuzzy cream yarn to line the earflaps to mimic sheepswool.

I accidently clipped an enormous hole in the dead center front of the hat- can't you tell? It was bad. Real bad. As the alternative was chucking the whole thing and starting over (the only reason I didn't: wouldn't have enough brown yarn for another), I patched it up hastily with little regards to the appearance.

The inside is a mess of retarded intarsia.

I would like to remake it a size bigger, with less mistakes and lined completely with that fuzzy yarn, because it's awesome and was such a quick knit nonetheless, considering.

This month's Masq was "cult movie" themed.

me and my Masq posse.

Is it bad that I already owned most of the components of Amber Sweet's "Zydrate Anatomy" outfit? (as well as a Lydia outfit from Tim Burton's 1989 "BeetleJuice" for Meaghan?)
....don't answer that.
(here I am intimidating Kitt, as Shilo. If only they had played the actual song-- as we were perfectly prepared to reenact the scene)

Seriously, besides the lace for the bolero and the beaded trim and sequined elastic I dismantled to adorn the corset and the bra, I only needed buy the wig.
I was dying to share my costume-making technique with other party-goers (who I assumed would know about Repo?!) Mostly, I got hit on by girls because I am asian.

So yeah, the "skirt" took about 3 hours to make (a long time, for a bunch of straps) while the bolero took 30 minutes. The bra was hand-beaded, one sequin at a time.
Makeup took a long time too (courtesy of wonderful Meaghan).

I was absolutely freezing all night, due to complete lack of pants. I was wearing TWO corsets (one ultratight elastic, one boned) and was squeezed outta my life. The underbust miracle bodysuit was designed to push tits together so that plus a push-up bra ensured my boobs consistently pointed UP and OUT and painfully so (that is NOT my normal posture, realize).
The false eyelashes were murder, (i'm a lightweight when it comes to contacts to boot) the wig kept sliding around, and I stumbled around on numb, aching feet, my organs packed tightly inside my squashed ribcage, simultaneously sweating and shivering and feeling tripped out of my skull.

At least I was in character.

owl obsession

This month's craft blog is devoted to the big (and well-deserved) hype of the month: Watchmen. I will be seeing it again soon for the third time in 2 weeks (but this time in IMAX. So. Excited.) And I loved it. (You either do or don't) But probably the reason that keeps me going back is the overwhelming amount of man candy in a single movie.

PATRICK WILSON AS NITE OWL = SEX ON LEGS
...even with the weight gain and retro haircut! Dan was always my favorite in the graphic novel (underdog? nerdy? gentleman? multiple costumes? awesome ship? HELLO FANTASY BOYFRIEND) and the movie just cemented the crush.

On that note- which Nite Owl fan doesn't have an obsession with the infamously cute snowsuit from the graphic novel? (look it up in the book if you don't know what it is- don't have a pic to post) Inspired by posts of fan plushies across the internets (mostly of Rorschach) I knew it MUST be done.
Time: 9-10 hours / Material: Felt, Fleece, Faux Fur, Acrylic paint, stitchwitch, plastic buttons

This is my very first attempt at making a custom plushie (entirely self-drafted pattern). Considering it was about 90% handsewn I think it came together extremely quickly (there is also a strong motivation aspect when being propelled by fandom)
The coat is not removable and the legs are only continued up to the waist. (where they are then sewn to the coat)

I call it "Version 1.0" because I definately plan to make another one to perfect the design- although the prototype was definately necessary to test the effectiveness of the pattern.
Version 2.0 will include:
- felting the brown "feathers" detail into the fleece, instead of paint
- refining the sewing and stuffing
- more ovalish eyes
Because it was such a success, I did consider making an entirely separate doll to be encased in the coat but it would simply be too much for my skills (and wouldn't get the desired cuddly chubbiness that this plush boasts)

Of course, I lamented this version was not in the movie (probably cause it looks like the kind of coat grannies wear) but I appreciated the high-tech version with zip-up snuggie sleeves. Perhaps he could have put the hood up- but then the chorus of "awwwws!" would have drowned out the soundtrack.

Next in the plan: Rorschach plushie with changeable masks!!!

clothes talk

Sorting through my wardrobe in preparation for 6 months of clothes-shopping-barren Yellowknife, I've noticed some repeat items that I buy again and again- in many different varieties, brands and fabrics- but still the same specific thing.
It is a difficult choice to decide which of them I want to bring- because there are so MANY, and yet I love them all.
This is because I wear them incessantly.
This is because I am completely obsessed with them.

This is what's called a signature look, though. And this is mine down pat:
- Black long-sleeved blazers: I love the way they can dress up a pair of jeans or be dressed down with a printed t-shirt. I've got a collection for every season and occasion (nearly...) whether 3/4 length sleeve or velvet or cotton jersey or lightweight or outdoor-weight. At last count I had nearly 10.

- Flat, knee-high, lace-up boots (black): You simply can't beat the lace-up variety. I wear them every day. When it comes to boot shopping, I shun all other varieties. But when I encounter a lace-up pair, I must have it. I've tried different variations (high heels, calf/ankle height, no-lace) and they simply don't work for me. Call it the Daria and/or Jane syndrome. That shit was all about me.

- Long hooded sweaters (black): The absolute ultimate in lounging gear. And they've got to be long: I'm talking butt-length- or longer. I don't get to wear them enough as I work every day, but I've got half a dozen stuffed in a shelf for single, glorious, warm moments. I've got a knee-length zip-up hoodie that is the only thing I've worn enough to warrant multiple repairs and I'm going to own it forever.

What is your signature style?

Another month, another costume party

This month I got creative with a "Mobsters and Dames" themed Masq as a 30's cabaret dancer. I am accompanied by Meaghan, who used awesome makeup skills to perfectly emulate a silent movie actor, a la Clara Bow.

The craft aspect was the sequined bustier (custom-drafted pattern, fully lined, fully boned). It is a MESS but it looks great because the fabric was so forgiving and hid all the mistakes. It was my first time working with stretch sequins.

I have learned:
- stretch fabric is stretchy and needs to be made smaller than normal clothes. (so often i neglect this fact)
- industrial fishnet tights are incredible- they conform to your legs perfectly, retain their shape, and are immune to picks and runs. They are also extremely uncomfortably itchy and feel like fishing net.
- I would like to start designing panties.

P.S: I am spending all my knitting time at Ravelry which is taking significant attention away from this blog- oh my.

P.P.S: I fly to Yellowknife in exactly a month and must now face the dilemma of bringing a sewing machine and tons of fabric and supplies up there, oh lordy.

** photo credit goes to Paul Smith

Subject: things on my head

Just a little update to show off some new hats.

I totally jumped on the cabled tam bandwagon- they are currently my favorite thing to make.the obligatory facebookey image

can it be-- that i have something other than black in my wardrobe??

On another note- this was not made by me but just too full of crafty gorgeous not to post.
I commissioned Monique Ryan (she has hats at Pretty Things Boutique) to make a little 30's inspired hat to be worn in lieu of a wedding veil (is there anything that girl can't do??). I basically told her what I would like on it (veil in a specific shape, feathers, pearls) but had no idea what she would come up with. I was beyond pleased with the result!

The cute half-moon shape, the flashy pearls, the feathers radiating out of it, the subtle veil, the vintage-y look-- the more I look at it the more perfect it gets! Even the ladies at the bridal store agreed that it was 100% better than any of the cage veil styles they had seen. (the secret is real vintage lace- not the horrible stiff acrylic stuff)
The price was beyond reasonable- almost too cheap for something one-of-a-kind. I only needed to sew on a little hair comb ($0.50 at Michael's) and it was ready to wear.
And if you happen to be interested in THE dress, I put a deposit on that sucker a few days ago. Here is a preview. (DON'T show to Mr. Christopher!)

Tune in next time for: More hats.

Repo! Costume Awesome and then some...

Wow, monthly update.
Okay- I was going to keep this a secret but supposedly I was to finish a project a week and feature it immediately thus update around once a week. That's um.....you know. not gonna happen.
I got some things accomplished.... including (yes, they are in bullet form)

• house cleaning
• remaking Mattie the mannequin (updated pattern and the padding is sewn more-or-less into place so she can now be stripped off the mannequin with padding relatively intact)
• a strange felting attempt (not featured)
• designing a new tattoo
  
• party hosting
• knitting

-- this was actually completed before Christmas- it was a present for my sister.

she loved it, by the way! It looked so good I wanted to jump on the tam-o-shanter bandwagon myself.

*jump*

... oh yeah. and

• REPO! the genetic opera costumes!!!!!!

These were completed in my free time over a few days- I was seriously bootin' it.
There was a seriously bastardized version of costume construction going on with every corner cut possible- barely any tracing of pattern (cut the fabric directly around it instead) modifying the pattern during cutting, draping after initial construction and by the very end... some double-sided tape.
from left: Nathan Wallace, Not-quite-Blind Mag, Amber Sweet and a Genetic Opera-goer.

I made the jacket ("Legal Assassin") for Nathan from a modified bathrobe pattern. Got the exact buttons from the button jar at work. After some searching, the glasses were bought at Ardene (stop laughing)- they were super-cheap and had fake lenses (better than screwing up Mr. 20/20's vision with real glasses) but had a really terrible tortoiseshell pattern. Solved with a coat of acrylic paint. Dress pants and authentic Anthony Stewart Head hairline already owned.

The hooded dress was merely inspired by Mag's "Chase the Morning" outfit-- how could I afford/what would I do with a holographic snakeskin coat? Instead, the total materials cost $30. The lace was on sale for buy-one-meter-get-three-free and the stretch velvet underlay was sent to me by accident by a fabric company and well... free.

I gotta give props to Meag's Amber Sweet ("Extra scene during the credits") costume as well. That shit was goddamn authentic, down to the knotted necklace and the white contacts (so creepy!).

Yeah, the party was pretty awesome. Blue curacao (sp?) Zydrate shooters (I can't feel nothing at all!) incessant sing-alongs to the soundtrack and BIG SCREEN PROJECTION (see the window behind me? not a window covering. movie screen.) with surround sound. For someone who never got to see it in theatres, it was the closest I was ever going to get.

Wasn't sure what to do with myself once it was all over (kinda been hyped up for weeks). Now that I've seen it 3 times in a row, I can pace myself now.

Luckily there is the 1st Haliblogaknittas gathering to be psyched about- will most likely report on that next. If not- you know- in another month or two.