7QT: Zonked Squared

--1--

I think I might have to revise my earlier assessment of cooler weather=separates for me, as I've been searching out the dresses in my closet as the weather has turned.   

Some of it is that a lot of my separates are a bit snug around the middle right now, and some of it is there is just something easy about a dress.  It isn't cool enough yet for tights and boots, but I have a strong urge to Knit!All!The!Things! to make neat accessories and sweaters for the cooler weather.  

This dress is a perfect blank template for fun accessories, I think.

Dress: Land's End via ThredUp

Cuckoo Clock necklace: birthday gift (via etsy)

Earrings: etsy

Shoes: dankso via ebay

--2--

And, on my needles now:  I'm still working on the headband in fits and starts, and cast on a 1940s era pullover sweater in a twisted rib pattern.  The pattern was a little sketchy on details like gauge and finished size, but there were a bunch of people who've knit it up, so I used their notes to pick my needles and add a few stitches to the pattern for extra width.  The yarn is a true peacock teal color and will be gorgeous, I think!  I'm using some yarn I had in my stash.

--3--

My sister will be pleased to hear that her yarn arrived.  She commissioned me to knit her a Katniss cowl at the beginning of the summer, and I said I'd probably get to it in September, as I wanted to finish the mushroom sweater first.  I'm going to do a gauge swatch this afternoon and get going on it soon.  I think it will knit up quickly given how bulky the yarn is.

--4--

I finally got some sewing done this week!  I tackled my modified Emery, using Florence fabric from Denyse Schmidt, which I love.  I know it looks orange on the photos, but it is really more in the coral family, which suits my complexion so well. The design is so reminiscent of 1930s fabric designs, and my mods to the Emery have kind of given the dress a mid-1940s vibe, which is exactly what I was going for.  I'll talk about construction when it is finished, but suffice to say, I learned a few things the hard way (*ahem* self-lined bodices), and this is the first time I added patch pockets without feeling like I wanted to stab myself in the eyes.  I still have a bunch to do.  The bodice is just pinned to the skirt, and I need to finish the sleeve edges and hem the skirt, plus it needs a zipper (I discovered mid-construction that the zipper I planned to use wasn't long enough), but I think it will come together quickly once the new zipper arrives.  I'm also planning to add some small vintage black buttons to the bodice.  I had wanted to finish the rest today (except for the zipper), but I'm too zonked to sew.

--5--

Birdie has been running a pretty high fever since Tuesday night and has been up every hour all night long every night since (and since her fever is spiking right after lunch, nap time has been much been a diaster)  We're keeping her home from preschool until the fever passes, obviously.  She did finally sleep in today, and seems a bit cooler and more peppy, but we'll see what the rest of the day brings.  She still has fever eyes, though.  I'm hoping it breaks over the weekend so she can go back to school on Monday.

--6--

The other reason I'm zonked is Ponchik, who normally gets up 2-3 times per night, including a 30-60 minute stretch around 2:30 and then wakes up for the day between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m.  Between her and Birdie, I feel almost deliriously tired.

--7--

Piglet is also home today because of an inservice day for his teachers (I know!  It is only the second week!)  He is still messing with a pretty bad ear infection (almost two weeks now) and while he seems pretty chipper, I think it is wearing on him, so I guess it is just as well.

And speaking of chipper, Boo is back!  The last few days, Boo has been seriously delightful.  After more than three extremely challenging years with him that made me feel like a failure as a parent almost every minute of every day, it is a welcome break.  We're hoping it means that he's finally turned the corner on the toddler years, but time will tell.  In the meantime, we're enjoying having our giggly (if slightly manic), agreeable little boy back.  

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary with all the other Quick Takers!