Card Shark Dress

Another design for a lolita dress. Maybe when I have enough money to buy fabric I can make it.

I feel like this dress should involve white ruffled trim on the 3/4 sleeves. The rest of the lace should be eyelet and or cutwork lace.

Triumphant urusla

WIP drawing.... photoshop.

Character from my manga.

Mileage Shawl Pattern

Mileage Shawl Pattern


Well, this can be a shawl or an afghan. Its named this because it works up very fast. I like how fast trebles work up, but I also like the single crochet stitch. There is such a neatness created by single crochet stitches.

Worsted weight yarn
I used lily sugar and cream scraps in blue, white, and "landscape".  It will take at least 8 small balls, or two cones.
Size I hook

Chain 59.
Row 1: sc in each stitch across. 58 stitches.
Row 2-3: sc in each stitch across.
Row 4: Treble crochet in each stitch across.
Repeat these rows until desired length, or reach 3 feet in length.

-MNR

Boobs and Exercise, the good and the bad

It might be a secret that I have large boobs. Esp. since I don't post pictures of myself. D= I just can't find good ones!
I am fat, but not every fat woman has large breasts. At least they make my waist look small. But in some ways, I envy fatter women with large breasts. For example, they can find sports bras! Once you hit cup D and up, it becomes astronomically more expensive and more difficult to find. I REALLY don't want to pay $65 dollars for one sports bra. Its a bit unfair that some women have to pay more for decent bra and some pay less... and of course can find their size...

FYI, I researched breast taping as an alternative. They flatten your breast tissue and can cause lumps, poor circulation, and improper taping can crack your ribs and compress your lungs. Oi, being a female can be difficult.

Why am I saying all of this? I used to love running when I was younger. I used to be amazing at sprinting.  I also used to be skinny. I just... really miss running mainly. Of course I want to lose a bit of weight, but that is mainly so I can enjoy running again. It is a great past time.

I feel, the main things that are stopping me are:
1. my boob size:  finding sports bra, them moving and hurting me
2. I hate sweat cuz it causes me skin problems.... even after washing myself
3. my knees and ankles tend to hurt after a few days of running, what with cracking and just feeling like I've sprained them.
4. I have no one to run with (either in my area, within my family, or in my size range). I guess I could search for a running group in my area, but I feel... these people will be people that are experienced, and run 5 miles  a day, with their lean, rippling leg muscles...

I've been working my way up to running 1 block. I also want to know what times people choose to run. I feel that I'm not a morning person, noon is when the sun is pounding down upon you, afternoon is when the few television shows that I actually do watch are on, and obviously you can't jog at night, what with cars and crime. AND MOSQUITOES, ugh, bugs, I hate jogging and having bugs get in my ears. HATE it. If I put on headphones, then the bugs just touch my neck and chest and legs. Why....

What I really want is a running skirt... those look so comfortable. Of course, like the breast reducers/sports bras, they're EXPENSIVE.

I tend to build muscle fast, in general.
I have found walking doesn't build or tone my muscles as fast as running, hiking, stair climbing or bicycling.

I struggle to find a way past these problems. My online searches only yield generic advice for slim people OR  larger people. It truly seems either/or. It may be my search terms that are the problem.


Umm, on another note, I'm almost done sewing a different style of lolita skirt. Hand sewing. It is going to have an elastic band used as shirring: it has a folded over waistband, sewn onto the actual skirt, which has a wider diameter and is shirred.

I don't know, I just prefer sewing by hand to machine sewing, even though it is vastly faster. I've also accidentally stabbed my fingers several times this summer, just by hand sewing. I somewhat want one of those leather thread pullers or leather thimbles, to minimize that. Usually I just wipe my finger and continue on, as it isn't worth it to put a bandage on a pinprick. It stops bleeding in minutes anyway.
I need a new petticoat for that matter. The last one I had I foolishly put in the dryer....I have some old t-shirts and bedsheets I wanted to experiment with. Cotton/polyester. I want to reserve my larger pieces of fabric for actual skirts, dresses and tops.


-MNR

Lolita bonnets, knitted?

I am totally making this bonnet. I've had it on my ravelry to do list for quite a few months. The link to the pattern on ravelry was just fixed, and I dod love my bamboo size 8 circular needles. Now all I need is a decent yarn that won't make my head sweat or dry out my hair.

I'll show you all how it turns out, and if it is feasible to knit a lolita bonnet. =D

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pilgrim-bonnet
http://tanglewashere.wordpress.com/patterns/pilgrim-bonnet/

Many thanks to the designer for fixing the link and posting the pattern.

Taken from met museum website here: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/C.I.64.32.3a,b

On another note, isn't this dress just lovely? Its a 1700s robe a la francaise. I want to sew this, by hand. Because I am an insane person. I've been researching free patterns for them. It basically consists of a back and a front, sewn in at the waist, and the middle is a stomacher that covers the corset. Three pieces, yet SO  many yards of fabric. Around 15 yds. Need to see about getting cheap but pretty fabric from somewhere... when I have money.

https://www.google.com/search?q=robe+a+la+francaise&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=kmFFUM_0Msue6wHM6IGwCA&biw=1366&bih=622&sei=lmFFUJiGL8XF6wGwrYDoBg

BTW, I'm taking a semester off from school. I will be working on a job, but I really wish that my job would be artist. I am trying to get my artwork into some contests and shows. Mainly acrylic paintings, too scared to do oil, for it is horribly messy and dries SLOWLY.

-MNR

Amigurumi tips

Hello all.

I got an email recently from one of those crochet sites, advertising: 5 tips from amigurumi pros.
Amigurumi is japanese term. I don't know the exact translation, but it basically is crochet stuffed animals or toys. I consider knitted stuffed animal/toys to be amigurumi as well, but that is my personal preference.

 From the Crochet Me email/website:
 

Tips from the Professionals on Crochet Amigurumi

Laura Gibbons: Don't give up! I think many people look at the patterns and their brain just starts to hurt because they don't understand it. Take the pattern line by line, piece by piece.

Stacey Trock: Amigurumi should be fun, not frustrating. Don't get too caught up about positioning the ears "just right" . . . whatever looks cute to you is right!

Gina Reneé Padilla: Don't be afraid of crocheting amigurumi, if you know the basic stitches of crochet, then you will have no problem crocheting amigurumi. Take your time, draw a picture, even search online for something that will inspire you.

Allison Hoffman: Keep those stitches tight and stuff 'til you can't stuff' em any more! Sketch the face out first (embroidery, eye placement, etc.), and it makes it a lot easier to transfer your idea onto the toy. Experiment with different kinds of yarn for texture.

Nancy Anderson: Use smaller hooks in order to crochet tight fabric with no stuffing show-through, but rest your hands regularly, as this tight gauge can make your hands hurt. Have fun and don't be afraid to be creative and whimsical with colors, embellishments, and feature placements. It's okay to go a bit wild and crazy, it's just a toy. Best of all, have fun—that's what it's all about.

Well, the advice was OK, but it is mostly what you tell beginners when they're starting ANY craft or activity. Mostly motivational. Their advice is not wrong, its just not how I learned.


I thought I would share some more detailed advice, more helpful advice for making nice looking amigurumis you can either love or be satisfied with.

Amigurumi tips

1. When using single crochet, decrease by inserting hook through back loops only. This creates an invisible decrease, if you want an invisible decrease.

2. When sewing on different parts of the creature, sew them onto the vertical bars (into the holes) made when you crochet around a stitch. Don't sew through the yarn strands themselves.

3.  Memorize (or have handy) the basic circular increase or circular decrease. You know, the kind that makes a sphere shape. That way, if you want to lengthen or shorten a spherical shape, or you want to make a sharper increase or decrease, you have within your power to do so.

4. Insert eyes and sew on any details BEFORE stuffing your amigurumi with whatever stuffing you're using.

5. Use a hook small enough to make a tight gauge, but not so much that it hurts your hand to use. You don't want to see the stuffing poking through, it just doesn't look right generally.