No crafts, just boots.... okay, knitting at the end.

I saw one of my favorite singers last night at the Lakeview Theater: Marc Broussard. FROM THE FRONT ROW! He put on a RIDICULOUS show.

Obviously, the music was the best part. But the second best part was that my favorite, most well-loved, lived in, comfortable shoes....

got some Marc Broussard on them. (:

I am finishing up Victoria, I swear. I made a trial team at school (this is a big deal, but I wont dwell), which is taking me quite a bit away from my knitting. I'm not complaining. (: So, here is a few snippets of Vicky.  

This pattern is amazing, and I'm not kidding.  I've learned more advanced-ish knitting techniques from this pattern than anything else I've ever read or made.  I was kind of in an advanced-intermediate plateau before I started this pattern.  It definitely took me out of my comfort zone and am now back on the learning track.  I'm very happy about it.

I have the edging done and all of my ends woven in.  I just have to do the sleeves.  I positively HATE doing sleeves.  They are boring.  And what's worse, is I have to do two of them.  Hopefully I'll have an FO next time!  

All I want is everything on Etsy that I love.

Just a few of my favorite things to kick off my week.... **sigh** I wish every day was Renegade Craft Fair Day.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade ElleWoodsHerself.etsy.com

DON'T NOT GO!!!!

It's going to be amazing.

All sorts of color-ificness.

Okay, so I said I would be reviewing the Sak's Fall Book for knitwear... but I can't do that while sitting in Civil Procedure. My prof decided to spend two weeks on Joinder, a topic we covered for two weeks in Civ Pro I last semester. I'm going to go ahead and put the "I'm seriously contemplating what you're saying" face on as I copy last semester's Joinder outline into this semester's Civ Pro outline and carry on with this less obvious blog topic.

This one is still for those of you interested in fashion - be it designing or you just like to be that person who says "oh, that's going to be SO big next season - and, if you think of it in terms of fiber color choices, for fashion-conscious knitters, too. (: This post is all about colors for Spring '09.

As we all begin the inevitable stash-buying for winter projects (be it fabric or fiber), all sorts of choices need to be made regarding materials, shape, construction techniques, and, of course, COLOR! Color is so important... we see color before we see the fiber content, the finishing techniques, or the price tag. So, if you're one who looks to the the fashion industry for cues to "what's cool" (I am one of these), here are the top ten colors (complied by WWD) for Spring '09. (The color balance of your screen will, obviously, affect the accuracy of the colors you see)

18-4043 PALACE BLUE

15-3817 LAVENDER

14-0754 SUPER LEMON

15-1626 SALMON ROSE

18-2328 FUCHSIA RED


14-1307 ROSE DUST


16-5804 SLATE GRAY


16-6339 VIBRANT GREEN


16-0435 DARK CITRON


14-5714 LUCITE GREEN

To be clear, these colors are the ones most used by designers this season. This is not the color forecast.... The difference will become clear shortly.

So, who is wondering how the heck these colors are chosen? To those "outside" of the fashion industry, it's a really weird thing. Color forecasts are trending tools used to guide designers in a particular color direction. Color forecasts are put out about 24 months before the collections are "shown".... which happens about 6 months before the clothes shown make it to the sales floor. The color forecast for each season is produced by the Color Institute (no, seriously), which is a the research facility at Pantone (the people who make colors... no, seriously). There are a lot of factors that go into the color forecast. Two factors that I learned about during a recent trip to the Color Institute were the economy (do we have the money for fun colors or should they be practical) and national/international emotional state (do we need comfort colors? Are we in a state of celebration?). The trend cycle - as in: how long has it been since we've seen fuchsia?- is also a large factor. Of course, designers are free to stray from the color direction as published, but this should explain the seemingly uncanny phenomenon of walking into a store and seeing the same-ish colors from so many different designers.

Okay, enough of that. I have an FO!

Pattern: Eunny's Deep-V Argyle Vest
Designer: Eunny Jang
Resources: ?! of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (yes, the cursed yarn)
Size: Wrong
Gauge: Wrong

Okay, let me explain all that went wrong in making this project. #1 - I didn't make a gauge swatch. So I got about 1/4 of the way through and had to rip the whole thing out, as it was apparent I was making a vest for a 6 year old, not a 23 year old. Sad. So I re-cast on with the biggest needles I could without making the yarn too frumpy - size 5. And I upped my size from a 32 to a 36. It looked bigger, because it was, but it was still questionable. And let me tell you, it turned out more like a Deep-V corset than a lovely comfy vest.

Also, I somehow completely missed the repeat for a row that hits right through my waist. The result is a mistake that probably I can only see, but I don't just see a non-repeated row. I see structural instability. Seriously. It pulls really strangely at the site of the non-repeated row. Does this make sense? Maybe I'll try to take a picture. Or maybe I'm trying to forget that this, my favorite project yet, is not perfect. **sigh** Quite a disappointment, really. So many people have complimented me, but I can't help but know that I'm only 90% happy because of the flaw. Boo. In any case, I'm proud that my first finished piece of color work didn't totally suck. I'm going to chalk up the mistake to the fact that I was working with the cursed yarn.

Okay, next time I promise to talk about the big book from Saks. Bon Thursday!

Too excited to wait!

I just finished cutting the steeks... it's more like a Deep-V Corset, but I'm alright with it. Here she is, all unfinished but being worn!


Slightly blurry, but an accurate depiction nonetheless

Don't mind the bra straps.. not so hot.

I should be finished with it by mid week! I'm so excited!

Samsies

I guess Michael Kors and I are the same height.

Micheal Kors Photo from WWD.com ...............................Me looking like a troll styling Ruthie from Ford Models

Today is crazy - I had my first government-issued drug test this morning. Officer Murgit watched me use the bathroom. I wasn't allowed to flush myself. It was weird to say the least, but she was a very nice lady.

I have orientation with "my judge" today... learning all about the current state of the law in the areas mortgage foreclosures and mechanic's liens. My job, as I understand it, will basically be reading over the briefs and motions of the lawyers assigned to my courtroom to find mistakes and check their application of the law. I'm crossing my fingers that I end up loving the subject matter... or this semester is going to be a bit painful.

Later this afternoon I try out for our Mock Trial teams. I am pretty nervous, but I am at peace with the fact that not many 2Ls make it. So far I've managed to stay a week ahead in homework, so I'm thinking positively about making it but would also enjoy staying ahead of the game if I don't.

Tonight I've got a Trial Advocacy Honors Counsel "meeting"... In law school a "meeting" on a Friday night means one thing: Free beer at a bar in Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville. Tonight is no exception. Unfortunately I have to be in bed early, just like every other Friday night until mid-October. I am training for the Chicago Marathon and have a 19-mile run to look forward to at 6am on Saturday. To that I say *THUMBS DOWN*. I really, truly, hate running.

Beyond today, this weekend is going to be a blur. I wont be done running/showering/bandaging tomorrow until about 12. My parents, on their way to see my seester, BIL, and Misha in Michigan, are stopping in for lunch at 12:30.

Random picture of Misha... because I can't help but brag. (:

In the evening we are getting alllll dressed up to go to a fund raiser dinner for Cancer Wellness (the family of our good friends, who have had an unfair amount of experience with cancer, were very kind to invite us - I hope to have enough $$ to buy a table one day!). Then on Sunday morning we have family brunch with boyfriend's mom, Uncle and Aunt, and cousin and her husband. I haven't seen them since before I went to Delaware, so while it complicates homework getting done, I will be so happy to see them. Plus - who doesn't love brunch!?

Speaking of overcommitment, I've cast-on another sweater. Shame on me, but I can't help it!

Victoria by Connie Chang Chinchio from Twist Collective

I've got all this random yarn that is absolutely begging me to be worn... I can't ignore it, especially since the weather is already starting to change (60 degrees today!) and I'm too poor to buy any of the sweaters I am seeing this season. Speaking of which...

I don't know if anyone else got the new Saks book for Fall (frankly, I'm not sure how I got on that list, but I'm not complaining), but there are just TONS of great sweaters in there that I fully intend on trying to make for myself. Those sweaters and hopefully some good gossip from NY Fashion Week (yay!) on the next post.

Until then - happy weekend!

Adventures in Color Work... oh, yeah... and Law School

Wow. The last two weeks have been a little bit crazy. I started back to law school on Wednesday the 20th. I, nor anyone else I know, was no where NEAR being ready for that. But we will deal. How, you ask? I will knit to deal with the pain of 40 pound back packs, 12 hours of studying, and the excruciating pain of waiting for a call for an interview... (I have so many projects going that I have to designate each to a day and knit on my way to and from class).

So the first day of class, a week and a half ago, I re-cast on Eunny Jang's Deep V Argyle Vest. I had done about 9 inches previously when I realized that my gauge was right if I were making the vest for a 7 year old. I am using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (still of the Cursed Yarn lot), a sport weight, and started off with size 3 needles in a size 32. WRONG. I played with my gauge and found that size 5 needles in the size 36 pattern would be best. So there I went. As of Friday morning I had about 8 inches done.

lumpy bumpy color work

My hands were VERY busy this weekend, however, and as of this morning I am about 4 inches away from finished with the initial knit up. (:

Ooh La-La... So curvy!

I have never done this kind of color work before and, as you saw here, steeking is almost always involved with color work in the round. I decided to follow the CORRECT WAY to do it this time, setting up stabilizer rows, decreasing in the correct direction around the steeks, and basically being a professional about it instead of an ill-prepared knitter. This garment is also has lots of shape to it. Decreases for the waist, increases for the bust... it should be pretty fly. (: I have to say, I am really excited to get this done and wear it. I will post pictures ASAP, of course.

I also started my sister's holiday sweater, which of course, I can't post pictures of. ): I am very sad about this as I LOVE the colors. Okay, I'll post colors. She's a new mother and full-time teacher... she probably doesn't read this anyways. (:

The depth of the dye in these yarns is really amazing. I wish I could get a better picture of the blue-green... but these will have to do.

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light

Last knitting thing: I started and finished these booties from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

I cannot say enough about the awesome quality and aesthetic of Joelle's book. Get it, get it, get it.

Well, off to do homework for Con Law II and Trial Ad. I am trying to stay one week ahead at all times to keep the pressure off and make this semester more enjoyable. So far it's working. I got a job offer from a Judge last week to be his intern. All I have to do now is pass the drug test and I will start next week. I also have trial team try outs on Friday. Yikes.