Biscotti and planning

I decided this was a great week to take a break from the Cafe World Cooking Challenge. My husband was away and with just the kids and I, the remaining dishes were just too much work to tackle. I volunteered to bake cookies for fundraiser cookie trays, so I decided to make biscotti from Buddy Valastro's Book. Click the link on that page for "Bonus content: Recipe" and you'll find the recipe I used.

I made mine with chocolate chips and toasted hazelnuts...a great combination that screams Nutella. Since I also ordered a cookie tray, I opted not to make an extra batch for home, which is great because I have enough of the end pieces and the pieces that broke to last us a few days until we get the tray.

I was busy with the biscotti today, but I've spent the entire week totally absorbed by wardrobe planning and sewing goals. I made some pretty big decisions regarding my next few months of sewing. These will include a wool skirt suit and cotton blouses to coordinate as well as a casual ensemble of a denim skirt (which has been on my to-do list FOREVER) and a top to go with it. I'll post on the specifics in the coming week as well as share the pattern bounty I received in the mail yesterday.

Just a reminder about the PATTERN GIVEAWAY (see previous post), I seem to have very shy readers or no one wants a FREE pattern, if no one comments by the deadline, the pattern will simply go to the first poster after that.

Blog Birthday

Well it seems I missed my 1 year mark yesterday. So Happy Birthday Pots and Pins!!!
As I predicted in the first post, I haven't posted every day, but I challenged myself to keep posting by introducing the Cafe World Challenge. You readers might be put off by the gaming aspect, but it is all cooking, which I love to do. It's forced me to post and also to really think about some classic dishes in a new way and introduced me to some international fare that I otherwise wouldn't have prepared.

As far as the sewing goes, eeek, I've been really bad, in the last year I've completed 14 items, with two major alterations, the body armour and an evening dress (which didn't make it to the blog) and one knitting project. Okay looking at it that way, I suppose it wasn't too bad, more than one a month. I judge myself harshly because my mind sews faster than the body and is always on to the next project before I'm done with the current and I think sometimes my mind is too detailed in it's expectations. Are any of your minds also prone to such misbehaviour????

I'm enjoying some mindless knitting....squares for two blankets and a chunky scarf, I've also started a camisole in a lovely hemp/cotton blend, which is a new experience for me as I've never knitted entirely in the round before, this one is not mindless...note to self don't knit this one with husband or especially kids around. I had severe stress trying to follow the pattern on a road trip with the whole family. Yea I know...not too clever!!! I bought myself a sock book, so want to start a pair in the next blog year, and also want to knit something small for my little guy, he deserves more than hand-me-downs from his big brother. Remember THIS POST, well I still love that Minimissimi sweater coat, but have taken it off my To-Do list for now. I need to get better at knitting before I attempt it. That coat needs fabulous yarn and I don't want to waste money on something I'll probably foul up every row.

My next sewing project is a winter wool jacket. I've had an idea of what I wanted for a while and a photo in the Fall 2010 Sew Stylish magazine totally encapsulates my vision. Its on page 14 for those who have the mag, it is a ready-to-wear coat that's been modified by adding fur cuffs and collar. The magazine doesn't have a photo on their website, but have a glimpse at the images below (ignore the fur)





The coat pictured is pretty much exactly what I want, except the fur, yoke at bustline and an applied yoke with the jacket flaring slightly. I thought it would be a pretty common design, but obviously not. I've spent weeks searching patterns and found only some options, but they just don't appeal to me. I'm now searching vintage patterns. Do any of you know a pattern I could use?? I ask myself, "Why am I so inflexible in my vision???" I'm sure after a few more days I'll be absolutely crazy and give up the search. I really want to make a well fitting, well tailored jacket so don't want to add additional effort adapting a pattern to my wishes, when I'm sure the fitting and tailoring will be quite enough of a challenge on their own.

This time last year I was also sad because I couldn't attend the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan, which is less than an hour away across the border. Travelling to the US is not easy on a South African passport, but I became a Canadian citizen earlier this year and am now a proud Canadian passport holder, so in two weeks I can cross the border and engulf myself in sewing heaven.

Personally the last year has changed for me too. My little guy started full-time preschool a few days ago and my bigger guy will be starting Kindergarten next week. My boys sure have grown up. So that leaves me home alone for now. It feels very weird, but I'm hoping to find a job that'll allow me some flexibility to still be available when the kids get out of school.

So here's to another year, I'll hopefully get that Cafe World Challenge finished and spend some more blogging time on my sewing and knitting passions. Thanks for reading and goodnight!!

SWAP Plan

It is that time of year again...no not Christmas, but the day after. That is the official start day of the 2010 Stitchers Guild SWAP (Sewing with a Plan). I didn't finish last year as we moved half way through. I have a little more experience with planning (& executing plans) this year, so I'm sure I'll finish.

I really love the rules this year, as I can actually make dresses. There is an option with 5 dresses, so this is my choice. I will have to make 5 dresses, 4 tops, a bottom and another garment of choice. The rules also state that 2 of the items may be previously made or bought. One can be knitted or crocheted. At least one item must have some form of matched print or stripe, another needs some form of embellishment and yet another must have buttons as the star feature or have an alternative type of closure.

I've been working on a plan that is practical to wear, I want to wear this stuff, and also practical to make in the time frame.

I played with a few colour schemes and only got excited about this:




This colour scheme reminds of the last few minutes of a sunset, when everything is dark, but for that burst of colour on the horizon.


So this is what I have so far:

Bottoms

Skirt Burda 7610 View A, fabric still to be decided (TBD).
Skirt Loes Hinse Boot skirt in a black rayon (viscose) crepe.

Tops

Knitted boat neck raglan sweater in a red, purple, orange variegated yarn.
Loes Hinse Tank Dress Group tank in black rayon crepe with a lace hem.
New Look 6775 View D, Fabric TBD
Black silk blouse (already made) or another top if time permits

Dresses

New Look 6775 View B, in a deep red & white polka dot.
Simplicity 2583 with short sleeve & neck knot, black, grey & white floral cotton pique.
Shirt dress, pattern TBD, in aubergine colour, with pretty distinctive buttons.
Embroidered or beaded fabric still to be found, with pattern TBD once I have fabric.
Knit fabric dress in black, grey or deep red/burgundy using New Look 6775.

I'll update once I find the outstanding patterns and fabric.

My storyboards (click to enlarge):

I'm in LOVE...but can I do it??

This is the object of my undying affection......




It is the Minimissimi Sweater Coat, scroll down on the link's page to get some more views. I found this last week and have been drooling over it ever since.

Now I have never knitted anything this complicated before and have never used a chart when knitting, I love to knit but am absolutely no expert. So I might be fooling myself, but I think I want to try this.
How should I go about it? I think I should try little steps and practice the cables with yarn in my stash and see how it goes first.

The good thing is that I'm visiting my mom in December and I know she'd be able to knit this, so I should aim to start it while I'm there and she can give me pointers while I go. I should also join a knitting group once I get back home so that I could get tips & help from more experienced knitters.

The other excuse to start it in South Africa, is that there's this little wool farm snuggled into the mountains in the winelands and I've always loved to visit it and buy their wool. I sure hope it still exists, because this sweater coat is screaming for their wool.

So a challenge it is!! But what a reward!!

Six-piece Autumn Collection Sew-Along

I've joined the sew-along at Stitchers Guild. My colours are black, white, mist and grey.




I started a black, white and grey capsule last year from mostly ready-to-wear (RTW) garments and would like to continue. I have a large amount of black in my stash and would really like to use it up.


The Plan

The "rules" state:
skirt or trousers in the neutral colour
3 blouses/tops one to match, two to complement
1 layering top or cardigan to match bottom
Jacket in coordinating neutral

I've decided to add a dress instead of the 3rd top and my coat will match and my layering item will be a vest/waitcoat.


1) Black silk blouse in Simplicity 3887 View C
2) White blouse using Sewing Workshop Bamboo shirt
3)Black dress with black/white polka dot accent using New Look 6589 View C (middle blue on pattern envelope)
4) Black skirt using New Look 6546, an a-line just below the knee



5) A waistcoat or vest using Amy Butler Fabric from her Daisy Chain Collection.

I have these fabrics below and will find two others to make a patchwork of the grey & mist coloured fabrics. It should look nice against the black and white tops.



6) A black raincoat using Burda 7750, the longer coat with the hood.