Notes From Neptune

I write about people, places, and things.

WAS2017 #3 – The Ginger Jeans

One of the hardest things to do when you take up a craft like sewing is to judge how difficult a particular project might be, or how tedious you might find it to put together. I have wanted to make jeans for a couple years, and I’ve procrastinated on making them that long because of both these things. I was sure that putting them together–zip fly! all that topstitching! fit.. Read More

WAS2017 #2 – Moji 2: The Moji-ening.

Savvy readers will remember last summer I made a pair of lineny pants. Extremely savvy readers may remember this direct quote from the entry introducing those lineny pants: this fabric is woven SO LOOSELY. I not only got the aforementioned holes in the inseam after two wearings, but the reinforced crotch seam started to fray on the butt. WTF Robert Kaufman? I ran through Evelyn’s darning program (not very neatly, I.. Read More

WAS2017 #1 – The Featherweight Cardigan

In addition to trying to create garments that fit well into my existing style and wardrobe, I’ve also been trying as much as I can to work from stash, using up yarn and fabric I’ve collected over the years and not buying anything new unless absolutely necessary. This project was a bit of a cheat on that front, but not exactly. Years ago, when I was still working at Annie &.. Read More

WAF2016 #6: The Schoolhouse Tunic

I told you guys a I sewed a thing this past fall. And I really really did. Pattern is The Schoolhouse Tunic from Sew Liberated, fabric is some of the lovely gray-on-gray stripe brushed cotton from Moda’s Dapper Luke collection (that I got from the shop, of course). I cut a straight 12, like I did with my last SL pattern, the Clara Dress. The only change I made was.. Read More

WAF2016 #5: Elkhorn Creek Cardi

I know. You’re shocked. ANOTHER SWEATER. This one is Portage, a pattern I’ve been in love with for a few years now. But honeycomb cables eat up A LOT of yarn, and it was tough to decide exactly what color family and type of yarn I could use for this behemoth that wouldn’t break the bank. And then came Rhinebeck. I had grand plans to just pick up a couple.. Read More

WAF2016 #4: Carrowkeel

Sometimes, you just need a plain black sweater. This was not part of my original plans for the Wardrobe Architect this fall, but after Catherine knit up a sample for the shop in the gloriously cuddly Arranmore yarn from The Fibre Company, the wheels began to turn. As much as I love a good cardigan, there’s something so easy about a pullover. You don’t have to worry about matching what.. Read More

WAF2016 #3: Rosehips

Remember last month when I was all “no rly the next post will be sewing-relating I promise lol.” Hah. Not so much. I DO still have a sewn thing to show you, honestly I do, but it needs photographing and ironing and all sorts of things and usually I’d rather just wear the damn thing, so… yeah. Slacking. But the knitting mojo has been incredibly strong lately. So strong, in fact,.. Read More

WAF2016 #2: Librarian in the Stacks

I’m a little bit out of order here, as I have a sewn (gasp!) project that was finished first that I also need to show you, but I’ve been wearing it so much it’s kind of constantly in the wash, and also needs to be ironed. So heck with that, and SWEATER! This is Jenny At The Fair, by Mary Jane Mucklestone, from Ysolda’s book The Rhinebeck Sweater. See, there’s.. Read More

WAF2016 #1: The Diver’s Wife

Oh, long sojourn of no-blog. The bonus of which is that I have all sorts of things to show you! But I’m going to start slow and steady and spread them all out over a little bit, so first up… New Wardrobe Architect! The Spring/Summer installation turned out, I must say, very well. The only thing finished from that batch that flopped was the Sara Lace Cardi, only because the.. Read More

WAS2016 Project #6: Butterick 5639 Dress

There are days in the summertime in New York (and I am certain other places as well) that it’s so hot and humid that you want to wear the absolute bare minimum of fabric that modesty dictates you must. This dress is meant for days like that. A crazy rayon challis I found on the remnant rack at P&S Fabrics (RIP, my first fabric store in the city), this material.. Read More