If it Ain't Broke.....Figgy's Ayashe

I have MAYBE mentioned this once or twice, but the Figgy's Ayashe (skirt and top) is one of my FAVORITEILOVEITSOMUCH patterns ;)

Nothing ground-breaking here, folks....just cuteness and more cuteness!  I love this outfit!  I will maybe mention something I haven't before...or maybe I have, but who cares, right?!  I also have a secret love affair with double-sided tape when sewing waistbands...or when attaching ribbon to the insides of hems.  EVERYONE should do this!  I am sure it makes me uncool and not technically good at sewing or something, but hey - I feel better not worrying about whether or not I'm catching the inside of waistband when sewing from the outside of the garment.

Anyway, I thought I'd throw that out there...especially since I've used copious amounts of said tape lately ;)

I actually worked on three Ayashe blouses, but I'll keep the other two for another post, when I have also finished a pair of Zonen Jacob pants (also sewn here and here).  I worked my smarts (which I do every now and then) and wanted to use up three gorgeous bits of fabric I own...but also wanted to match them all to a skirt and a pair of pants!  I made this post's Ayashe blouse in a smaller size....meaning I made the same size I made last time - but lengthened it even more, I believe....and the other two blouses are in the largest size available.  I sometime like to assembly-line-sew, and it works with this blouse.

I worked in some fun ribbon for a hem facing on the skirt, and I used polka dots for the waistband facing and pockets.  I am also excited I used those buttons...as though they don't really match, it also doesn't really matter, and they're just kind of fun!  I picked them up from the yarn store one day, not knowing what I'd ever use them for ;)

Of course, you can see here where the ribbon rides higher than it should :O

It turned out super well, and I didn't have ANY problems sewing on the buttonholes, which was a happy day, indeed!  I had even prepped my husband that I was sewing them...and he never heard me yelling or swearing, aha!

A little Spun Sugar on Camden, along with the Queen Bee leg warmers

Bryce Canyon for Tiberius, along with the as-yet-unblogged Christmas in July

Also, Camden WAS showing her outfit off to anybody and everybody over break, so, she must like it, too!

Our holidays were lovely, and the day after Christmas, we saw The Wizard of Oz at a children's theater in Portland.  It was Tiberius's first big show, and he was a bit nervous/scared during the tornado scene; otherwise, he, too, did well.  He has attended two of Camden's shows, so, I had a bit of faith.  But goodness, the shaking and clenching during that tornado!

Tiberius was a bit nervous of the witch, but she loved his clothes and drew him in ;)

As with the scarecrow actor, we have seen the lion actor a few times, and he is awesome!

Light reading at Powell's

And....some more Christmas-time photos!

I'm keeping count...4th leak since we've moved in - NOT counting ceiling leaks

Santa/grandparents brought a guitar!

Uncle Ben helps tune! 

Every year, Santa has mishaps and drama....

Great Grandpa is pretty handy!

Hanging out with Great Grandpa

Our usual walks with Rocky

Painting role play game pieces

Creeeeepy book.....

All gussied up for the trip north

:O  :O  Awwww!

Spun Sugar - The Green Kind

Such a cozy sweater!  You all know my love for Elena Nodel (FB page) - her patterns AND her yarn!  Though the yarn isn't hers this time around, the Spun Sugar cardigan design IS.

I had gauge with the size 5 needles I used...but partway through the raglan cabling, I started worrying it would NOT be big enough....always sad when one is doing cables.  It turned out, however, that I was fine.  True top-down knitting moment to zone in on:  getting through that sleeve separation to test the fit!

Poor girl and her uber-chapped lips

I do have a weird loose spot where the ribbing ends after the cables, but I'll see if I can ignore it for now.  Other than that, the cardigan turned out all crazy lovely, of course!  My only wish is that it was an inch and a half shorter.  Camden isn't a giant, and I DO tend to knit sweaters longer...but because this IS a long sweater, that wasn't necessary.  I didn't do so, if I remember right, but it still seems too long after blocking.  Such is life, but I hope she doesn't outgrow the width before too long.  Maybe Camden will shoot up a few inches before Christmas???  ;)

My sadness here:  The cable doesn't really come out far enough to be seen....

The pattern was written well, and I had no confusion at any point.  I did make a point to NOT be lazy and actually knit the pockets - I think, also, that I maybe knit one pocket on size 3 needles and one on size 5 :O  :O  We'll pretend that didn't happen!

Also, the yarn!  I was awesome and used deep stash - a yarn I hadn't originally intended for this pattern, but it worked out that I had enough!  I used Blissful Knits (FB page) on the Ambrosia MCN base in the Emerald colorway (link to my project page).  I feel the photos don't truly do the sweater justice, as it really is pretty, and she has had many compliments on it already :)

It is the only cardigan Camden has that isn't too small, so, we'll have to MAKE it work!  Next up is a ballet sweater...knit out of Colour Adventures yarn, aha!  I often can't seem to stay away from Elena's products for too long.

Life in central Oregon......

Smiles for Camden and Aunt Jeannette

Sneaking in car knitting that probably contributed to continued back pinching  

Seattle times 

Helping grandma! 

Intense gaming!

When I wanted him to pose with his sister.... 

The grand pose....

Awww!!!  So glad we saw good friends!