Yesterday I cast on for my Sunshine-inspired pullover, using Koigu Premium Merino, on US #2/3.00mm needles. It's hard to tell from the photo but the yarn is a beautiful charcoal-with-a-purplish-hue semisolid. I'm loving how it feels and looks.I came across the Sunshine top on Ravelry and promptly bought the pattern. It is really lovely in both its original incarnation and the second version Lily shows on her blog. I'm going to use the seed stitch border at the neckline, but I'm omitting the lace motif on the sleeves, and probably at the waist as well. I'm thinking a simple 2x2 rib or a cabled rib will work better, especially since I don't want the belled-out shape below the waist. I'll crop it so it will end at my high hip instead.
Last weekend, the Sewing Expo at Kansas City provided quite a bit of entertainment. I took four classes with Cynthia Guffey, all very much worth the time. I think I have finally mastered the rolled hem. She gave great pointers on handling snaps and buttons while sewing them on. All while cracking jokes left and right. Seriously, if sewing ever stopped bringing in money for her, she could make some money doing stand-up comedy.
The vendor hall at this expo was considerably smaller than Atlanta, which is what I'm used to. It was actually kind of nice, now that I think about it. One thing though, quilting is taking over the world. Really! There were more quilting-related booths than garment-sewing-related booths. Don't quilters have their own expo? Atlanta seems to be oriented much more toward garment-sewing, with all kinds of booths selling patterns, fabrics, books and DVDs about garment-sewing, scissors and other sewing and cutting tools, and patternmaking software. Not that I'm complaining about the Kansas City event, I'm glad actually. I managed to buy nothing, nada, zilch, zip... spent no money at all. Can't say that every day. :-)
