Liberty and Hello Kitty

I love the the prints from Liberty and how can I not like their new Hello Kitty line. I'm not the biggest Hello Kitty fan but these prints are great. I want to make a blouse with Pink Karenkubo Hello Kitty Print.

I think there are few little girls (and maybe a couple of big girls) that would appreciate handmade Liberty Hello Kitty piece from me.

Are Those Granny Squares?

I was looking @ Sartorialist and saw a post about Prada Spring/Summer 2012. Are those granny squares on that pink/teal-ish coat? It makes such a cool patttern and texture. I really like. The navy/orange swimsuit coverup is beautiful. Hmmmm . . . what can I make with granny squares.

Hats and Old Ladies

I decided to wear a hat into the city today. On top of being very hot [provides good sun protection], people wear hats in the NYC, so I wouldn't stick out like a odd soul. I've had this hat for years and have tried to wear it on many occasions but never found the right time or place. [bought it right before I started to work in NJ] It has as small brim with a tall crown and leather band. It fits me perfectly and I just like the shape of it on my head.

Fast forward to Port Authority [Bus station NYC], I'm waiting for my friend, hat on my head and people watching as I observe there were lots of people with the same idea that I had--good day for a hat. What I also observed was the majority of the hat wearers with asian, ladies and old.

Sigh. . . . I guess I just have to accept the fact, I'm one of those old Asian ladies with a hat. [but at least my hat was cool!]

Flea Market Pattern book

I got this knitting pattern book at the beginning of the summer ($1) and just got around to scanning the pages. Then they sat around in my transfer folder for a couple of weeks as I forgot I that I did it.

Anyway, wanted to show off my find and it has all these great cardigans to make. Don't know when I'll end up making them but I hope I can get at least on made for spring. They are so great.


Here's the book:



a cute 2-tone sweater



a dolman sleeve--this is the one I'm thinking of making



this ribbed shrug looks so great but will it make me look fat?

got the pattern

I got the pattern (adjusted) and will go out to Joann's (the closest fabric store to my office) tomorrow to buy some fabric to make a test run. Let's see if I can sew up a new wardrobe for myself.

update on pattern adjustment

My sister, the alteration goddess, has finished major surgery on one of the flea market patterns. I should receive it in the mail shortly. Then we'll see if it worked. Cross your fingers for me. I'll post a picture as soon as I sew it up.

pattern adjustment

Guess who was so disappointed when she found out how hard it would be to adjust the her flea market patterns. ME! I'm so sad!

It will be a major reconstruction to the pattern I brought to Sac with me, that I had to leave it with my sister. She knows really how to do it as opposed to me that read something on internet.

I guess it's the gym for me. Here I thought I would be sewing up a storm this summer, having all these cute pieces (that fit) to wear. Oh well, it really suck to get old.

ps: are you surprise that i posted twice in a day. I guess I'm a bit jetlag and I'm sitting a WG's laptop and posting away while he sleep.

my fashion flea market finds

WG and I have been going to the flea market pretty often recently. I got some fun vintage stuff for me. I also got a adjustable dress form to help me fix all the vintage goodies.

In the process of uploading my last years vacation pics. Maybe by time I get to CA next month I'll have them posted.


gray striped permanently pleated apron that I'm turning into a skirt.


flower print permanently pleated apron that I'm turing into a skirt.


one of 7 vintage patterns that I got for 3 dollars. I hope my sister can help me adjust them to fit me.


I was looking for a shirtdress and now I have a pattern.


I love the look of this pattern. May need to drop a few lbs to wear it.


I think this will be my first attempt to start sewing again. I'm bringing this to my sister's, so she can help me alter the pattern to fit. I'm hoping I have enough yardage to make this dress with something from my material stash.


Hope I feel ambitious to make a coat this fall.


Picked up this pattern to inspire me to make up some bags to sell.

Trying to catch up

It's a snow day for me today! YOO HOO! I love these days, didn't get them in Hawaii, when I was a kid. I totally understand how kids feel about them.

I decide to be productive and try to get caught up with posting all the things I've been wanting to post since this summer, mainly my vacation pictures. I've been so slow with that. I still haven't gotten to edit those pictures, let alone and posting them. Maybe if we get another snow day this month, I get to the vacation pictures!

But I have a lot of knitting stuff for you. To my surprise I've been knitting and crocheting a great deal these past few months. So I wanted to share with you what I've been doing.

My stripe vest
I've been working on this for sometime. I'm not really happy with it. Size is off and I'm hoping when I block the piece I can make it fit better. Just the ribbing on the armholes to go. But it may go by the lily pad.













Boucle bath rug
This was suppose to be Mom and Dad's x-mas gift. As you can tell, I didn't make it. Too many dish cloths killed me this year. So they'll probably get it at niecey-poo's graduation. It's coming out great. I hope they like it.










.99 cents bag
Really it was .99 cents per skein and I bought 6 skeins. How could I past that up. The pattern is from Berroco.com called the knitting tote. Right now, it looks like a big rust color rectangle. I hope it will transform into a great-looking bag. Need to buy a handle and grommets for the draw strings on the side. And did into my fabric stash for some funky retro lining to finish it up. Will post the finish piece when done.










WG's mittens
I think he's been wanting something for a while. I've knitted for everyone else but him. I wanted to make some thing quick, that looked great to me and he would want to wear. Ta dah! Mittens in Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed with a simple stripe that runs through it. One more side to go, I hope to finish it today.













That's it for me. I'm off to knit by the fireplace. Then get our tax papers together. Visitors are coming this weekend for an overnight. I guess I'll be clean this week. Need more snow days for this Hawaiian girl.