FO: Spring Ruffle Dress from Made by Rae and Sew Mama Sew

{Spring Ruffle Top lengthened to a dress}
I finally finished my second go at the Spring Ruffle Top. This time I lengthened the pattern to dress size. I included the ruffle sleeves and a ruffle around the bottom hem. The fabric is some kind of blend. It came in a big box Papa Gino got at a flea market. Yea, free dress! It is the perfect spring dress. Nice and light with lots of color. =]

FO: Simplicity 2243

LOVE!
Fabric purchased at fabric.com. Its a cotton jersey knit. I didn't check the stretch and cut the fabric wrong, but that was all me. I still love the dress.

My full review is on PatternReview.com.

FO: Simplicity 2209 Lisette Passport Dress

I cannot say enough good things about this pattern from Lisette for Simplicity. It was one of the BEST commercial patterns I have ever sewn. Everything was simple and straight-forward from cutting the pattern pieces, to making small modifications, to actually sewing the dress.

I made it a few weeks ago for a special night out with my mom and grandma. We went to a dinner theater together. The whole night was really great.

The dress is really comfortable and versitile. I ended up lining the bodice and not using the interfacing pieces. The bodice fabric I chose was a bit see through and I really wanted a slip-it-on-and-go dress. Wanted, hell. I need that with as often as I run late in the mornings.

More details in my review at Patternreview.com.

Photos of Simpicity 2209: Lisette Passport Dress and Jacket ~ View B for dress

Plans...

Fabric + Elmers Glue + First Graders = A whole lotta fun

I teach first grade. I love it. Each month a book is chosen for a school-wide "Book of the Month". We read it several times, do an activity and display it in the classroom. This month was my class's turn to display in the main hallway. I know...exciting! This month's book is Abuela by Arthur Dorros and illustrated by Elisa Kleven.

It's hard to tell from this picture, but the illustrator used fabric and trims in her pictures. The grandmother's purse is a piece of lace, the top of the building on the lower right is ribbon, etc. Scraps of fabrics...be still my heart! I know where to get a few (bazillion) fabric scraps.

It took 3 fabric loving sessions, but the kids made pictures of themselves and their grandmas (Abuela in Spanish) or grandpas doing something special.

I present the masterpieces:

FO: Simplicity 2591 Dress

I made this dress: I wear it with these shoes: I freaking love this outfit. I would wear it everyday if it weren't 90 degrees *or* if I didn't sweat like a pig. =] PS: You can read my review of the pattern here.

NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Knit Beanie **Free Pattern**

Several months ago one of the members of the Knit Black and Gold group on Ravelry posted a photo this beanie. She had seen it at a game, but knew it could be handmade for far less than the $20+ price tag. I worked on reverse engineering it off and on and, with a little help from other Steelers fans, we got it all worked out.

*~*~*~*~*~*

This pattern was reverse engineered with the help of Ellisha (ish174), Annie (trainergirl15 and Liz (steelerbear). The original beanie was sold during the NFL’s 2010 “A Crucial Catch” Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. Proceeds from merchandise sales benefited the America Cancer Society and other team charities. If you choose to knit this hat, please consider knitting another and donating it to your local chapter of the America Cancer Society, a local breast cancer treatment facility or one of your favorite team’s charities.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn in 3 different colors
• US 8 needles – 16” circulars and/or dpns
• Gauge: 6 sts/inch in pattern on US 8

Abbrivations

• K-Knit
• P-Purl
• p2tog - purl 2 stitches together
• k2tog - knit 2 sts together
• ssk – slip 2 sts knitwise then knit them together
• C1 over 2 right - Slip 2 sts to cable needle holding in back, K1, P2 from cable needle (needleless-hold yarn in front when slipping)
• C1 over 2 left - Slip 1 stitch to cable needle holding in front, P2, K1 from cable needle (needleless-hold yarn in back when slipping)
• MC – main color of yarn
• CC1 – contrasting color 1
• CC2 – contrasting color 2

Tackling Dummy Stitch Pattern

Round 1: *C1 over 2 left, C1 over 2 right* to end
Rounds 2-7: *P2, K2, P2* to end
Rounds 8: *C1 over 2 right, C1 over 2 left* to end
Rounds 9-14: *K1, P4, K1* to end

Instructions
CO 108 (120) sts with MC, join in the round

Work *K2, P1* for about 1-1/2"

Set up row: *K1, P4, K1* to end of round

Work rounds 1-8 of Tackling Dummy Stitch Pattern once in MC

Rounds 9-13: *K1 with MC, K4 with CC1, K1 with MC* to end

Round 14: With MC *K1, P4, K1* to end

Round 15: With MC *C1 over 2 left, C1 over 2 right* to end

Round 16-20: *K2 with CC2, K2 with MC, K2 with CC2* to end

Round 21: With MC *P2, K2, P2* to end

Continue working Tackling Dummy Stitch Pattern with round 8 using just the MC.

Complete a total of 5 pattern repeats before decreases (1MC, 1 CC1, 1CC2, 2 MC)

Work just round 1 of Tackling Dummy stitch pattern before starting decreases.

**Decreases for 108 sts ONLY**
Decrease row 1 (D1): Move last stitch in previous row to be first stitch of decrease round. *p2tog, p1, k2, p1* (90 stitches remain)
D2: *P3, K2* to end
D3: *p2tog, K2, P1* (72 sts remain)
D4: *p1, K2, P1* to last stitch
D5: move last of round to first stitch of this round, *p2tog, k2* (54 sts remain)
D6: *ssk, k2tog* (18 sts remain)
D7: k2tog to end (9 sts remain)

** Decreases for 120 sts ONLY **
D1: move last st to be first stitch of the round, *p2tog, p1, k2, p1* (90 st)
D2: knit pattern as established *p3, k2*
D3: *p2tog, k2, p1* around (72 st)
D4: knit pattern as established *p2, k2*
D5: move last st to be first st of the round, *p2tog, k2* (54 st)
D6: knit pattern as established *p1, k2*
D7: *k2tog, k1* around (36 st)
D8: k all stitches
D9: *k4, k2tog* around (30 st)
D10: *k3, k2tog* around (24 st)
D11: *k2, k2tog* around (18 st)
D12: *k1, k2tog* around (12 st)
D13: k2tog (6 sts)

** Finishing **
Cut the yarn leaving enough to thread through the remaining sts. Sinch live sts together and weave in all ends. =]