SWEATER

I was extreme amounts of excited the other day when I finally finished my sweater, until I tried it on. I knew it was going to be bigger than I had wanted, but I was still rather surprised when I put it on...

I'm not really sure what exactly happened, since I took the pattern for another sweater I'd made in the same yarn and added about 10 stitches to it, but it's really just gigantic, and I don't really want to re-do it, since it took a lot of time. Perhaps I'll like it better if I shorten the sleeves a bit? That would be the easiest thing to do.
See? It's about the size for the biggest person in the world. But maybe I'll like it better if I wear it out? If other people like it I might feel a little better. Regardless, I won't be re-doing it for a while if I decide to, it was a little stressful to knit!
What can you do?

Dear Magazines, you're killing me

I really do wish that I could live off of magazines, because if I buy many more of the ones I really like I may not be able to afford food. I know I did a post a while back hating on magazines a little, but in the last few months I've cultivated a love affair/obsession with them. To be more specific, with ultra-cool foreign mags, which tend to be far more expensive than North American magazines like Elle or (shudder) American Vogue, but I believe that they are well worth the extra cost, since I tend to look back at them over and over again, whereas with American mags I read them once, then only use them to cut up for projects. I think the only American magazine I'll be reading in the foreseeable future is Nylon, and only because I got a free subscription through Urban Outfitters.

In a way I'm glad that most of the magazines I like only come out twice a year, since they're so expensive, but I'm at a loss of what to do between issues. 
I'm especially excited about this Vogue Collections magazine I got today, which will be my prized possession for the next few months. I don't even want to think about how expensive it was (let's just say the clerk at Chapters did a double-take, picked it up, and said "this is the most expensive magazine I've ever seen!"). It's well worth it, though! It has collections from Paris, Milan, London and New York fashion weeks as well as an accessories section, and let me just say that it is killing me. I looked through it quickly and I was somewhere between drooling and crying the entire time. So, if you find me crying under my covers with all the lights off, you know who to blame.

GIMME GIMME

I need these shoes. I need them I need them I need them. I've always really loved docs, but I've steered away from them in the past because I feel like they would make my feet look bigger than they are and accentuate my skinny ankles (they are really really skinny, in a weird way). My fears were somewhat assuaged when I came into possession of a pair of worn-the-fuck-out 20 eyelet black docs that I've never worn because they are in dire need of insoles and don't have shoelaces (if anyone knows where to buy really long laces, drop me a line!) that didn't make me look that odd.

BUT the point of this post was these blue plaid and daisy docs I just found on e-bay that I need desperately with all my heart. They're even in my size! I mean, isn't that like, a sign or something? I've got about 39 hours to decide how much they're worth. (My heart is saying priceless, but my credit card disagrees)

4:30 am: Who needs sleep?

I just finished the FRONT of my sweater, and it is entirely next level in the best possible way.

The only problem is that I may have overdone it a little on the oversized front, I'm still deciding.

BUT in order to be extraordinarily mean, you don't get to see it until it's all done, sewn together, and on my body. HAHA. And really, who knows how long that might take? A week? A month? (I'll probably be done by monday)

Commencing countdown, engines on.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Intarsia, could you please be more confusing?

Actually, intarsia isn't exactly hard, just messy, since you have to attach a new bobbin (not the word I was looking for, but it'll do) for every colour section, so they do get a little tangled. I'm having a few second thoughts now that I've actually started the sweater. The only intarsia I did before this was a hat with little hearts on it. I've done more than sufficient research (I even learnt how to do faire isle knitting!) so I do feel I'm prepared, but I'm still nervous about the results. I also can't help but think that I should have tried something a little bit simpler first.

Oh Rodarte

I've really been loving Rodarte's F/W 08/09 collection lately, especially the deliciously deconstructed and destroyed knits. And the shoes, obviously. The shoes are absolutely amazing.

But more about the knits. On first sight they look rather simple, but upon closer examination they are surprisingly intricate. 

I think the stockings (tights? hose? I'm not sure what to call them) are probably the most wearable/accessible, and simple. When I finally get down to Michael's I'll have to pick up some thin mohair-esque yarn and large gauge circular or double-pointed needles, and I should be able to whip these up in no time flat. Just drop a stitch here, add a couple there...

And they'll even give me a reason to wear my garters (there's no way I'm doing anything so much as resembling a waistband) woo-hoo, double goodness!

This is what I've been up to...

I guess I've been very INSPIRED (or whatever) lately, but some of that may have to do with switching into homework avoidance mode. Anyway, I designed some pretty sweet-ass sweaters I'm planning on knitting the near(ish) future. I may even do it up like a proper collection and show it at this fashion show dealie-o that's coming up sometime this semester, but considering how I normally do things (read: I don't) that might not actually happen. Of course, this would all be easier if I was in possession of a knitting machine. 

I'm planning on doing the sweaters directly below in one of my favorite ultra chunky yarns, so they should work up fairly quickly. I've actually already charted out the sweater with the big chains in the bottom left of this page, and knitted a sample with yarn I already had to make sure the proportions were right (they are!) I actually had to chart it out a second time and do another sample, since the proportions in the first one were terrible and it just looked all wrong. Thank god the second one is good, though. Charting is a terribly boring annoying process. After I've finished with that sweater, I think the next one I'll do is the diamond ring.

Or, of course, I could move on to these ice cream inspired sweaters. I'm thinking of doing these in a medium-weight cotton so they're a bit more summery, but that depends on how lazy I'm feeling when I do them. I'm also considering dyeing the yarn myself, since I'm not sure I'll be able to find the right colours to make them truly ice cream-like. I did write the flavours in, but I'm wondering if they're obvious enough that someone could actually guess them. 
I made an ice cream cone necklace just like that one last semester, so maybe drawing it in is cheating a little bit. I've really been doing cupcake and ice cream necklaces for a few years now, just because they're so cute. 
Please tell me what you think of these! If they go over well I may actually sell them (hopefully) but I guess they would have to be fairly expensive to cover my time. 

Hard to be soft, tough to be tender

I have literally been listening to this song non-stop since yesterday afternoon. I can't stop! It's Metric's new(ish) single, Help I'm Alive. Which means...new album in the works! Their last (somewhat disappointing) album was released waaaay back in 2005, and I had almost given up hope for a new release. And judging by this song, this record will be more my speed than Live it Out.

Also, you should expect an extensive post at some point this weekend, as soon as I've got my room cleaned up. It's been a while since I did any sort of outfit or things I own related post, so I have a bunch of stuff that's been building up. I'm also working on what will definitely turn out to be an amazingly ridiculous sweater, so watch out!

Ode to Clunking

So lately I have been really into mad clunky chunky platforms and wedges, even though I used to really really hate all things clunky and wedges in particular (side note: what on earth is happening to me?) Though I suppose it could just be a throwback to my excellent grade 5/6 (spice girls inspired) style, which included several pairs of stupid-high platforms. I only wish I still had them so I could show them off to the world. One pair was runners-style with about a 3" white rubber platform that i wore so much the platform actually fell off eventually, and my other faves were bright orange psychedelic floral print sandals. Actually, the sandals might still be in my friend's basement...

Anyhow, there just isn't anything quite as satisfying as clunking around the halls of your school in insanely high, chunky shoes while most other girls are wearing sweats and uggs (or even better, PJ pants!) Or clunking around anywhere else, really. You know. 

I actually gasped embarrassingly loudly when I saw the sequined Miu Miu heels in the middle. I DIE just thinking of how amazing it would be to have them on my feet, not that I would ever even dream of wearing them outside the house. But, since the price tag exceeds my grocery budget for the rest of the semester, I'm afraid I'll just have to keep dreaming. 

AND NOW: The rest of the shoes, clockwise from top left.

Chloe cuteness, Jeffery Campbell craziness, more Chloe amazing-osity, Marni marvelousity, Stella McCartney's queens of clunk, UO something-or-other, Jessica Simpson (I know, right?) absolutely INSANE insanity, even more Chloe (hey, I couldn't resist!), and Frye summer love. 

Note to self: QUIT IT!

I cannot stop staring at these boots. For the last two weeks they have been haunting me. They are glorious in almost every way possible. How does Chloe continue to churn out the most amazing shoes of my life always? I can hardly stand  it. And with a price tag of nearly $900 (and that's the SALE price! Marked down from nearly 1500 bones!) It seems as if I will continue to not be able to stand it for the rest of my life. Side note: can you imagine ever spending $1500 on one pair of shoes? Or even $900? That just seems so insane to me. 

I almost got my hopes up for a minute when I saw these bad boys, though they possess approximately 1/10 of the glory of Chloe, but OF COURSE they were already sold out. I'm seeing a leafy trend emerging here, though. I came across these heels the other day on UO. If things continue like this, I may not have to give up hope on leafy ankle boots quite yet.

Oh yeah, Today was my first day of school this semester! My classes are kind of a mess at the mo, so I'll have to sort that out in the next couple of days, but other than that and 8:30 classes most days it's okay. More on this tomorrow or whatever. Maybe even a picture!

Episode #1 in my Be-A-Better-Blogger Series

This is something I guess I've been meaning to write about for a while, but I just haven't gotten around to it until now. Rebecca Turbow is an independent designer behind the line SAFE that I have love-love-loved ever since I read about her in Nylon about a million years ago (back in the day, before it started sucking) and checked out her website. She always had only a few pieces up for sale on on her site, but they were always either not in my size, or not in my price range. Nonetheless, I was so in love that I would check back almost weekly in the hopes that there would be something in my size. There never was, but that didn't diminish my love (well, maybe a little bit). She fell off my radar for a while recently, but imagine my surprise when I checked back a couple days ago and saw she actually has her full Fall 08 line on sale in different sizes! I still can't really afford it, but it makes hoping easier!

The whole idea of her aesthetic is rounded corners, soft fabrics, and modern lines, all put together to form garments that make one feel safe and comforted. This season's line is actually vert different from those of past seasons, but I guess that I should really stop being surprised at all the grey I've been seeing lately. 
I've seen a definite evolution over past seasons, from the insane astronaut/alien padded ensembles of '04 to this season's styles, which are definitely the most sophisticated (and wearable) than those of past seasons. 

My all time favorite is still the the fabulous embroidered petals of Spring '06. They're still what I'm lusting over, but alas, they are no longer available. I guess perhaps I should have just bought on of the skirts in a smaller size when I had the chance, if only to look and touch it.