Maybe I should change my blog title to "Prairie Girl spends most of her time at the sewing machine these days". Sadly I've not had much time for knitting over the last few days, so my Josephine is going pretty slowly. I do have five inches done though, so I guess all hope is not lost! I really hope that this turns out nicely - I love it so far!

But yes. Sewing. I've done a whole lot of it lately and there's more to come in the next few weeks! Knitting is definatly going to have to take, if not the back seat, at least the passenger seat to my sewing.

But before I get into the nitty gritty of pattern making and mass producing the dresses for the dance group , (thank the gods of costuming who have benevolently decided to have me make only 12 outfits this time rather than the 32 of last year!), I'd like to show you a few finished projects.

First up - I finished it just yesterday, is my skirt. I love it. LOVE IT!!!!! It fits perfectly and is super cool and comfy for the heat of summer. I think it's purdy too. Although given that I don't have a full length mirror and G wasn't home this morning to give me fashion advice I was a little nervous walking into work today. I was trying to get a glimpse in the window of the recieving dock area as I came in, but they were positioned just a little too high for a good view and hopping up and down I figured would just make me look like more of a nutbar than I already do well enough on my own. Anyways - I'm well pleased with myself, if you will allow me a moment to toot my own horn - I've had loads of compliments on it today!

I also managed to fix up the Hunch Back of Notre Dame dress. A 2 1/2 inch dart on either side of center back took care of that. I now like this dress too. And thankfully finished it on time! I have to wear it for the wedding tonight. (Nothing like cutting things close to the wire, eh?)

Now, dear readers... here is my very, very, very favourite project of the week. I really want to keep this all for myself, but alas I must not. It is destined for my Mommy's birthday basket of knitting goodies! I made this needle roll this morning before going to work. (You'd be amazed at what you can accomplish by being up and dressed for work by 5:30 am!!! I also made the chiffon shawl for the fancy dress this morning before work too - ok. Making it might be an exageration perhaps seeing as how it's just a strip of chiffon that I serged around the edges, but still. Made me feel productive!) But back to the needle roll. I think it's my best one yet, which is good that I'm improving on them given this is the fourth one I've done! So without further delay... here is my latest needle roll. I hope you like it, Mom!!!

Well... I'm off to a late night at the WAG for (BF)G's stepbrother's wedding. I'm a little disgruntled that they are cutting into my weekly knit night on my couch, but I suppose I'll get over it eventually. Happy Friday all!

Could it be?

A real, honest to goodness finished Gathered Pullover? I know... I'm as surprised as you all are. I know I kept saying I'd finish it, but even I'd stopped believing myself! But now. Here it is. All done.

But it doesn't stop there... oh no siree! I also have a honest to goodness finished Montego Bay scarf, which I absolutely LURVE!!!! It's so drapey and soft and pretty. I decided I liked the fringe just flowey and loose rather than braided, but other than that it is knit exactly as the pattern was written. Did I mention I LURVE it?!?!?

As an aside, I also finished the smaller sized Summerlin that I promised Alex. The original I made was so big it'll probably fit her when she's 10! Tiny wee thing that she is! I'm thinking of popping it in the post to her tonight maybe. Seems silly when she lives only a hop, skip and a jump from us, but I remember loving to get mail when I was little and thought she might feel awfully special if she got a parcel addressed to her. We'll see!

I have also done two modified Dream Swatches. G hates anything that swings back and forth. For some reason it's always triggered panic attacks for her since she was about 2 years old, so rather than torture the poor kid, I made the Dream Swatchs as headbands rather than head scarves. They knit up super duper quick in Panda Cotton! Thanks Knittywhipped for the idea of using Panda Cotton. They are a great fit and super comfy to boot. I don't usually wear headbands, because although I like the look, the sensation of my head being squeezed in a vice really irritates me (Either I have a freakishly large noggin or headbands always sit on pressure points. Not sure which.)

I finished a few sewing projects too this past week. First up is my brown polka dot dress!
I really love it - although really worry that it's a touch short. Coming in a close second is my halter dress for (BF)G's brother's wedding. Not loving that one so much. I believe that the pattern was designed perhaps for the Hunch Back of Notre Dame. The dress bloody well fits like a dream except for the back of the bodice. Given that it's a halter style dress, the extra 4 inches extra make for a huge problem in fit. :(

I started my skirt yesterday after the dress debacle was put aside. I couldn't finish it because I didn't have any interfacing for the waistband and while I briefly considered just ignoring the need for it, I decided against throwing caution to the wind in that department. I've done that one too many times and ended up with one too many nasty wrinkled up waistbands for that to be a good idea!!

Next on the agenda is to continue working on my Josephine Top and make a needle roll for Mom for her birthday knitting themed basket, oh, and get a costume dreamed up and sewn for G for her choreography she's created for the Selkirk Highland Gathering, then I will absolutely without a doubt most definately have to tackle this year's costume efforts for Ena Sutton. (Picked up the bulk of the fabric on the weekend so I've no excuse and I should have the sample done before the next practice, which I believe... ahem... might be this coming Sunday. Ack. Gotta go. Gotta sew...