Mason shirt!

Sooooo there's this story.  I ordered a box of fabric from a new to me online fabric company.  I got some things I liked, some new fabrics to try, and 1 yard of "Mason" to make Lyrick some leggings. ONE yard.  JUUUUUST enough for her leggings.  But that's fine.  I don't wear animal print.  Not my style but I know she can rock it.  Then it came in.  And OMG I decide I DO like animal print and I HAD to have something with it.  Problem - I already told Lyrick it was for her....and she is attached.

So I started brain storming....I had gotten a tester piece of mason which means at one end there was a 5 inch circle cut from the fabric....which in turn means that I have a yard and 5 inches of this fabric around that hole. Then went to Hobby Lobby.  There I bought several yards of plain black ponte - not the exact same fabric but similar weight and drape and stretch.

I was very thankful for my big cutting board all spread out on my big cutting table (aka ping pong table) and I laid out the pieces I wanted in the Mason for BOTH my project and Lyrick's leggings.  And then I laid out the rest I needed on the black....colorblocking for the win!

And because its still hot and Lyrick can't wear her leggings yet....she has to wait.  But I stitched mine up.  And it is my new favorite shirt. I've worn it twice in the last week and gotten so many compliments every time.  I'm glad I wear animal print now.   :)

The pants are also made by me. But I'll talk about those in another post.  They have been an adventure.  

Medieval Times!

A quick trip to the Schaumburg Castle made for a great way to celebrate some birthdays.   Ticket prices could create some sticker shock....but the food and show are fantastic and we found some online discounts without much searching.  We got the kids a flag with our knights colors to wave as he fought.    I'll just let the pictures tell the story.  :D

We talked to this man before the show.  He's been a falconer at Medieval Times for 22 years.  The falcon is clearly ready for his close up.

Since the castle doors open 75 minutes before the show starts there is plenty of time for some photos....and places to take them.  There is also a bar and some souvenir shops.  You can buy tickets for a torture museum as well but we didn't. 

The "Bill of Fare" is a full 3 course meal.  There is SO Much FOOD! All of it delicious  The dessert was ice cream which would never be my first choice....but still delicious.  

She ate her dragon blood soup (tastes like tomato) and was very excited about her half chicken.  

The show starts as the meal is served.   The horses are phenomenal.

The master of horse did an amazing show.  This horse did some really cool footwork and at the end bowed to the queen.

Knights (3 for the east, 3 for the west) are presenting to the Queen.  Each section is assigned a knight to cheer for (and his 2 friends although "don't get carried away")  They do some lance tricks (capture rings, etc) and the horses run through some "formations" to start things off.  

Ready for the joust.  The "dress" helmets were way fun!

Before the joust netting is dropped in front of the crowd.  Wood splinters everywhere.  

After each joust the knights found hand to hand on the ground.  Sometimes with swords but also with other weapons.  It was fun to see the sparks.  But this was my least favorite part. I can't imagine the strength required though to lift the weapons which were clearly metal and to move around in that sand. 

We had a great time enjoying the dinner and show!  I think we all might have had different favorites but it was well worth the trip to see it.  

Hotel Reviews: Townplace Suites

So we have 4 kids.  Did you know it is a pain in the neck to get a hotel room that will comfortably sleep a family of 6?  Sure we could get 2 hotel rooms....and we have....also a pain in the neck.

We recently spent a couple nights in Schaumburg, IL and we stayed at this "Towneplace suites by Marriot."  They could have raised prices a bit and done some updating and deep cleaning but it was comfortable and clean enough to not give me the eebies jeebies.  Most importantly we had SPACE!  We could have been comfortable there for a week long vacation.  But it was great for the 2 nights we stayed there. 

The hotel was actually 3 buildings and each building was a keyed entry which made everything feel nice and secure.  

Here's the sweet deal.  See those 2 doors.  Those are BOTH bedrooms...with a queen bed in each. 
Shane and I took the one on the right which was clearly intended as the "master" with more space and a big desk.  How many hotel suites has one bedroom with 2 beds...I never understood that.  Do we put all the kids in there and kip on the couch?  Do we share with the little kids?  This made sense!  

We even had a full kitchen.  "fridge, stove/oven, sink, dishwasher, and table service in the cabinets, and a coffee maker).  Since we weren't staying long AND a hot breakfast was included we never used any of it....but man that makes a big difference if we are staying somewhere for an extended length of time.

"Master" bedroom.  Queen size bed.  Desk, dresser, and closet.  Very comfortable.

Second bedroom was smaller but still had a queen bed.  By some miracle Aiden and Maverick shared this without any problems.  

The couch folded out and was supposed to sleep 2....but it wasn't that big.  Lyrick took the fold out couch and Griffin lined up couch cushions on the floor and used it as a bed.  The front desk gave us all the extra sheets/blankets that we asked for and it was absolutely perfect. 

This isn't a hotel I'd heard of before but will certainly search for in the future. 

Upcoming Sewing Projects

I've not sewn for a while.  We were out of town over the weekend.

I have a notebook.  Of course I do.  Each project I want to work on has a page.  I take notes on my finished things so I can easily find things I liked and didn't like and make future plans with less "research" required.

New yummy fabric from Amelia Lane Designs.  All new to me bases!!  I'm excited to check this out!  And have plans for all of it.  I'll talk about it soon.  

  But right here....is my list of plans for the next few weeks.  If I get my way, I"ll sew 2 afternoons a week and knock this out pretty quickly.  I doubt I get my way though.    My reasonable goal is 1 project weekly....or duplicates of one pattern (Lyrick needs several pairs of leggings and once I get the pattern fitted correctly-I can whip several out at once).  Anyway....here is my list!

COMPANY--PATTERN NAME

I already own the following patterns and have fabric for them (either for a muslin or for the real deal depending on how risky I feel)

George & Ginger -- Monna hoodie (the top 2 fabrics in the above photo)

George & Ginger -- Tie me up belt

George & Ginger --  Batty Tunic

Ellie & Mac -- Travelers Tunic

Love Notions -- Sabrina Slims (the navy plaid above)

Sinclair - JJ Knit Joggers

Apostrophe Patterns -- My Fit leggings relaxed (for Lyrick) (the animal print abov- after a muslin)

Apostrophe Patterns -- My Fit leggings snug (For me) (the teal above) 

Rad patterns -- Resistance Motos

Sinclair -- Prani Skirt

I have either already made a muslin and am ready for the real deal or need to buy something to make the next few patterns.  

Sinclair -- Laura  --  Lallybroch panel/Jamie's tartan
Sitch Upon a Time -- Merryweather -- white athletic (Need to buy the fabric)
Hey June -- Bryce Cargo Pants (need to buy pattern and fabric)


I thought about linking all these pattern companies....but deciding to link to my pinterest board where I drop links to all the patterns that I own....you can find all these and more there.  

Sinclair Harper Cardigan

Pattern: Harper Cardigan
Designer: Sinclair Patterns
Size: US 10 Petite

Materials:  White with silver dots.  Mystery Knit from Hobby Lobby

I consider this a successful, wearable muslin or toile, which is fancy seamstress speak for "I wanted to practice and make sure this is gonna fit me before I use favorite fabric"  :) 

Add caption

I like this pattern as far as a basic cardian with pockets goes.  It fits well.  I had a little trouble adding the pockets and they still don't lay perfectly but they are fine.  The petite size is SO nice (It also comes in regular and tall).  Im not a huge fan of white with silver dots but I'll wear it.  I will definitely make it again. 

School!

Sometimes you wait years to see results from decisions you've made or even just months to see the fruits of your labor.   As an example, I've been working out and eating well for months and not much has changed....but that's a post for another day.   Because sometimes YOU SEE CHANGE....almost immediately. 

Lyrick is thriving in public school.  She gets up on her own each morning with an alarm (I am still teaching early mornings), and gets dressed.  Her clothes are already laid out.  She choses her breakfast from the options we have that week (either made ahead and frozen or otherwise).  When I'm finished with my classes, 30 minutes before the bus comes at the latest, she is either eating or close to it and we sit and have breakfast and chat.  She is reading and doing math at school.  Her handwriting has improved immensely.  She gets off the bus every afternoon and has a snack and does her homework.  She reads to me for 15 minutes.  And she DOES IT!  She tells us about what she is learning.  She loves PE and lunch.  It is fantastic.  And then last friday....last friday a thing happened.  A big huge thing....

An A+ on her very first spelling test! 

And just because it made me curious, I checked the boys GPA for the start of this year and all 3 of their GPA's have improved.  Success on all 4 fronts! 

It is so nice to get such immediate confirmation that the right choice was made.  And everyone is thriving!  I am so happy! 

Tourist Sweater!

Pattern: Tourist Sweater
Designer: Joji Locatelli
Size: 40/42

Yarn: Mary Maxim  Natural Alpaca
          80% acrylic, 20% alpaca
          hand wash cold, lay flat to dry
          *I found this yarn marked down at a shop during yarn crawl.  It is the colors I've decided to                    use for a capsule style mix n match for winter/cool travel.  So I bought it all.  2000 yds.

This is a tunic length sweater with a cowl neck, kangaroo pocket and long sleeves.  I am hoping it is as perfect for a travel sweater as I envision it in my head.  The pattern so far is very well written.  I was nervous about a cowl neckline because I don't like turtlenecks or necks that I feel might be trying to kill me.  This one is perfect so far. 

Provisional caston uses scrap yarn and crochet hook to get the pattern started.  It is supposed to "unzip" to release live stitches to then continue, in this case to bind of with the other end creating a loop.  Mine never unzips as easily as I think it should....but the job is done anyway

 

I started adding sitch markers when it hit the quarter, half, and 3/4 mark of the cowl.  It made picking up stitches along the edge to start the sweater body much easier to keep even.  

Finished cowl neck! ready for 3 needle bind off.

The cowl neck is neither too tall nor too tight which means I don't feel like it is trying to strangle me.  

I've pick up the body stitches and done the short rows to shape the back.  I'm starting the raglan sleeve increases and am ready to just keep knitting! 

Since this sweater is worsted weight yarn and knitted on size 9 needles, it should be a fairly quick knit as far as sweaters go.  While knitting the cowl, I got a little concerned about the way the colors are going to pool in the sweater body/sleeves.  I am still a bit concerned (the sleeves and cowl are going to look striped while the body doesn't look so striped)...but I'm just gonna keep on trucking and see what happens.  I can't wait to see how it all comes together!  :D