Notes From Neptune

I write about people, places, and things.

WAS2016 Project #5: The Iris Shorts

Continuing on the pants-type theme I’ve got going, I made some shorts! These are Colette’s Iris Shorts (pattern is out of print but still available as a download) from Cotton + Steel’s amazing Les Fleurs collection, a collaboration with the Rifle Paper Co. The pattern was a piece o’ cake. I even went crazy and added single-welt pockets to the back because MOAR POCKETS ALWAYS. I flat-felled all the seams.. Read More

WAS2016 Project #4: Sara Lace Cardigan

A few months ago, we got to host the lovely Anzula Luxury Fibers Trunk Show at the shop. We all predictably drooled over the yarn, but Pia and I drooled in particular over one of the sample sweaters that came along with the show, the Sara Lace Cardigan. We both took temporary leave of our senses (I blame all the cashmere) and bought enough yarn to make the sweater. Pia.. Read More

WAS2016 Project #3: Moji Pants

Well, I made my first pair of pants that weren’t pajamas. Though, in all fairness, these are pretty much pajamas. Fabric is Robert Kaufman’s linen chambray in a pretty denim-navy color. Pattern is the Moji Pant from Colette’s Seamwork magazine. I loved the way these were styled so much in the pattern photo I tried to replicate them as closely as possible… with a few big exceptions. After reading a.. Read More

WAS2016 Project #2: The Far Rockaway Shell

Last summer, I made myself a sweet little tank shell from Shibui Fibers Twig yarn, a wool/silk/linen blend that feels cool and papery. I love that tank. I’d been looking for a good second Twig project for awhile when the Rockaway Beach Shell crossed my radar, and I decided it would make a great addition to my Spring/Summer Wardrobe Architect pile. So right. I love this yarn, and this top.. Read More

Breakfast Fish, Vikings, and the Very Purple Dress

Longtime readers of the blog and knowers of me will be familiar with Maggie. So once upon a time in her junior year of high school, Maggie went to Sweden as an exchange student. She stayed with a lovely family, and promptly fell in love with their son. As doomed adolescent romances tend to go, she left and they split, but she kept in touch with him and the rest.. Read More

Playing Catch-up: Wardrobe Architect 2015!

Guys. I have so much stuff to show you. And in true me-form, I’m going to smoosh a bunch of them into one post to save time and money! (Well, not money. Money doesn’t really enter into the equation when you’re blogging about your passion projects for free. But still.) First, a little administrative update: as I am wont to do when whims strike, I rejiggered my plans for the.. Read More

Finished Object: Mesa Dress

From Colette’s Seamwork magazine, the Mesa Dress. Apt pairing of fabric and pattern? Methinks yes. Fabric is a rayon jersey I got from the same Craftsy sale as theĀ tank dressĀ from last summer. I’d had it earmarked for this specific pattern, and then (big shock) added this project to the Wardrobe Architect pile. It’s a simple shirtdress style, very comfy and good for wearing over leggings in the fall and winter… Read More

Finished Objects: Some fuzzies!

The first pair of socks for 2016, THEY ARE FINISHED. A fun, leafy pattern called Phloem from a forever-ago Knitty, worked up in Anzula’s gorgeous Dreamy sock yarn (merino, cashmere, and silk — NOMZ) in color Iris. I’d been lusting after it since it came in to the store, and I decided that since this year’s Self-Imposed Sock Club was going to be 12 pairs, I would earn a little.. Read More

Finished Object: Bristol Skirt

Bristol…what a quickie. This was my first time making up a pattern from Colette’s offshoot Seamwork Magazine. All their patterns are intended to take under 3 hours to put together, and I can definitely say that’s the case for Bristol (not counting cutting, of course). I had this medium-weight cotton in stash from a Gorgeous Fabrics binge a couple years ago, and I thought the big, bold floral on black.. Read More

Finished Object: Audrey in Unst

Words cannot fully express how much I love this sweater. The yarn is gorgeous. Merino/silk blend from Sundara Yarn, in a gorgeous gray/taupe/purple sort of color called Smoke and Mirrors. The pattern is perfect. Simple without being boring, with thoughtful construction details and pretty architecture. It fits me super-well. It’s like sweater girl-meets-Sandman, and it matches nearly everything I own. The best part? I used up EVERY. LAST. BIT. of.. Read More