Has it really been that long?

One day more than 2 months since my last post. Wow!

I have gotten some knitting done. A couple of hats from the current Knitty. Easy, fun, but the one I made for myself I just didn't like on my head. So, I gave it to a friend. She always looks good in hats. I started on Ewan's kilt socks - one is done - I must say, it is gorgeous! This design has one split diamond and the marl colors change as well. Quite a bit of color going on. I made a really contact with a woman on dance.net who may hire me to do a pair of dance hose for her. Plus she gave me some really great information about ordering PV tartan direct from the mill. I want to make up some beginner kilties for the school.

In other news my hard drive is out of commission so I am having to borrow my husband's computer at night. No picture uploading going on for the next few weeks.

I decided not to do Craft House or the Curves craft sale this year. With my father-in-law passing away just over a month ago, I want to make sure that there is lots of time during the season to be with people I care about. I love to craft, but I have enough projects on my plate without adding more and turning the next 6 weeks into a frantic mess. Yes, I love it, but it makes me crazy at the same time. A number of the ladies at Curves asked about Erin's Brownie and Cocoa jars, so it good that she made an impression with them.

The tartan for the next kilt is on order. Julius is going to have the Antarctic tartan. Half the cost of the tartan benefits the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, so it goes to a good cause and it is a great tartan. Julius has always loved the emperor penguin so it has a special meaning for him that it would help them.

Swing!

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Originally uploaded by snickerdoodlestudio

The new kilt (and vest and hose) in action at the Green Lane Scottish Festival. I am very happy with how the whole ensemble turned out and so is Erin. The kids had a great time dancing. They were all excited to be able to do some new dances. These dances aren't ready for competition yet but they are fun to do in shows. More pictures of the all the kids dancing if you click through the photo to Flickr.

The kilt is finished

I'm pretty happy with it for a first attempt and the money invested. But, I am glad I won't have to make another one for awhile (Julius still has a hem to let out and has at least an inch in the waist.) I think Erin is wearing it just a little high in the pictures. There are a few little things that I can see at the top and the waist measurement in the pleats is .5 an inch too big, but all that will be covered by the yet to be finished waistcoat. As soon as the yarn comes in I'll be making her hose to match as well. Now, if she can just hold off on the growing so that the outfit will last her through the rest of Novice and Intermediate!



We are off to a competition near Syracuse this weekend, so she'll have to wait to wear this new outfit until September. I'm shooting for the Green Lane Scottish Festival performance.

Dress MacLean of Duart Progress

It's beginning to look like a kilt. The pleats are sew down and since this picture was taken I've basted the whole hem, sewed half the hem and basted some apron edges. Still lots more work to do. Soon I'll be delayed by the fact that I haven't bought hair canvas yet. I know where to get it, but that will entail a trip to Lancaster Co. The details:

Tartan: Dress Maclean of Duart
Length: 2.5 yds, double width cloth (could have used 3!)
Dancer: Erin
Waist 24.25"
Hip 31"
Splits: Waist 12.75" apron, 11.5" pleats
Hip 15" apron, 16" pleats
Length: 24" = 19.5" + 2" rise + 3" hem
Fell: 7 1/6"
Pleated to the stripe: 19 pleats
Pleat width at waist 5/8"
Pleat width at hips 7/8"



When I started the pleats looked like this:
Obviously a little uneven pleat width and some are off by a thread or two.

By the end of sewing the pleats, they were looking quite a bit better:

I'm trying to resist my perfectionist side and not redo the pleats that are off. From a foot or two away it isn't really noticeable and certainly won't be from stage. We'll see how I feel about it tomorrow. Hmm, the more I look, the more I'm thinking rip!

While they danced

I learned how do some Ukrainian embroidery stitches. During the kids Ukrainian dance camp there was an embroidery class for the adults. It was supposed to be 1.5 on three days, but it ended up occurring on four days and basically lasting as long as you were interested. The instructor is a multi-crafter and I hope to learn how to do Pysanky (you know, the eggs) from her as well. She was super nice as were all the rest of the ladies in the class. I learned so much about Ukrainian culture and they were eager to share. A lovely time....now that I'm home, I working on some little bookmarks before I start a shirt for one of the kids.


Oh, yeah, but before I do that, I need to try and turn this into my first kilt. I'm stressing a little bit because the yardage was short and there may not be quite enough!
But, it was a deal, so if not a kilt for the oldest then a pair of trews for the boy or an aboyne skirt and plaid.

Hon Fest Prep

On Saturday, a friend and our daughters are heading to Baltimore for the Hon Fest. This is a slightly belated fortieth birthday celebration. At first I wasn't going to do the whole dressing the part thing. I was hoping to find something at the Goodwill that might work, but if I didn't, oh well. But, the more I thought, the more the bug bit. This could really be fun. So, yesterday I went to Joann's and found a vintage pattern and the most perfect fabric (in my opinion) and made this. Today we stopped by a different Joann's and got some fabric for a cute scarf and some flowers and butterflies and things to stick in our hairdos. One more stop to Payless for some black sandals tomorrow and I should be set. I'm hoping Trish has some big earrings and I've located the perfect set of faux pearls for around my neck. Pictures on Monday!

You've got to visit the Hon Fest website to see all the kitsch.

German Heritage Tartan Socks

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Originally uploaded by snickerdoodlestudio

Another pair of kilt socks for Rocky. These match his own design German Heritage tartan. All the colors in the tartan are in the hose. I think they are rather striking and are going to look perfect with his kilt (which he didn't have finished the last time I talked to him, so it may be awhile before I snap a picture of the socks with the kilt.)

All my pending kilt socks are now finished, until we decide what tartan Ewan will wear, then I'll get to work on his.