drew-o-rama

I'M BACK

I'm back from Paris. Four days of snow-covered frenzied touristy craziness highlighted with a trip to Agnés B. with my mother and her credit card!

view from Montmartre | there's even a photo of me

The trip went very well. Travelling with my mother was a lot of fun and very easy. She was a great travel companion.

my mother getting really close to Monet | there was other cool art, too

I have been to Paris before, but my mother had not. We did all the typical things one does in Paris when visiting for the first time... like Montmartre, St. Chapelle and Jardin des Tuilleries.

it's the typical touristy Arch shot | some non-typical shots here and here

I even introduced her to salade chévre chaud (hot goat cheese) and she loved it so much we ate it for our last three meals. We also stopped at the local crépe stand three times... mmmmmm citron et sucre.

We did go to La Droguerie, but I didn't buy anything. And we didn't go to a yarn shop because there was so much other things on our list. We figured there was nothing we were missing.

hmmm, imagine that... it was right next to Agnés B.

I did do some knitting. I almost finished crocheting a scarf on the plane, made using a large hook and the Gedifra yarn I bought in May in San Francisco. And I worked on a hat for a friend using Bernat Cotton Sox held double.

Hopefully, photos of me modelling Raspy will be up early next week. Stay tuned...

Hint: click on the links above for more photos

UM, HEY, MARTHA

One Christmas, about 13-14 years ago, my mother and I decided we needed to make new stockings. Even though all of her children are adults, she still gives us stockings. So, inspired by Martha Stewart Living, we bought some felt, got out the sewing machine and made some cool, hip stockings. There were very Martha... bright colors, simple shape... very hipster craft mod (even for 1992, or whenever it was).

When my sister arrived home with her husband for the Holidays, she walked in the door, saw the new stockings lying on the kitchen counter and sarcastically said, "Um, hey, Martha."

I was actually sort of embarrassed, and I think my mom was, too. I actually like to think that my sister was just jealous that my mom and I had created some cool new stockings. Well, whatever her reason, the new socks failed miserably. Everybody complained about them... they were too small and nothing would fit inside. And they looked all lumpy once all the goods were stuffed in them. To be honest, I don't know if we still use them... I can't even remember.

Well, I had my own "um, hey, Martha" moment this past week. In a spout of spring cleaning, I organized all my craft supplies and put them on a new shelf in the dining room. This was partly spurred on by the fact that I am planning on buying a sewing machine in the next few weeks so I can make cool stuffed animal things inspired by Hilda and Claire.

it's the krazy kraft korner | before photo

Ok, maybe it's not as organized as Martha's craft area in her multi-million dollar Connecticut home, but it works for me. And I am so much more likely to replace items back on the shelf after I use them. So, take that, sis.

Check out these stockings.

RASPY: PRESQUE COMPLET

For my upcoming trip to Paris, I have been practicing mon Français. Un, deux, trois. Où est Le Métro? Vous êtes mignon... Partons de nouveau à mon endroit...

Well, ok, I haven't really been practicing as much as thinking about it. And that's because I have been busy finishing Rapsy. Yes, you heard that correctly, I am about to finish Raspy. After half a year of working on the miles of stockinette and starting over three times, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. And you know what? I actually started seaming the same night I finished knitting it. In fact, I threw it in the washer and dryer to shrink the required 20%, and still started seaming that night.

almost there...

I know what you are thinking... Where's Drew and what have you done with his body? Well, the thing is, I am actually really excited about wearing this sweater. I think that has been the issue with knitting sweaters in the past.... deep down I didn't really like the finished product so I put off the seaming.

Also, this is an experiment to see if I can make women's patterns work for me. I really don't like the men's patterns out there because they are designed to be so baggy and loose. 90% of my clothes are not like that. I like a tighter fit... more like European clothes. I think it's going to work, which will mean I will be knitting women's patterns for myself more often.

In the above photo, the sleeves are attached, and one side seam. Not that much more to go. I figure I will have it finished tonight, or possibly in the next few days. Maybe the photo shoot of me wearing it will be set in Paris...

JE NE PARLE PAS FRANÇAIS

Cité Metro Station, May 2003

My mother and I will be in Paris over Thanksgiving. Since we are both knitters, I am wondering if any of you can recommend any yarn shops in central Paris. Thanks!

SCARFY SHAWL THING

So my friend Celeste would like me to make her something like this....

OOOOOOOO..... artsy

I am up for the challenge. However, I have no idea where to start. Do any of you have any suggestions on what the pattern might be like and what kind of yarn I should use?

SCARF IN PROGRESS

100% Alpaca + #8 needles = YUMMY