Journal

It’s finished! My first project using the Alabama Chanin reverse applique technique is done and dusted! The skirt is made up of four identical panels. Each panel has a slight flare at the hem, giving the skirt a nice A-line shape when stitched together. The hem is left unfinished, as the jersey knit fabric will… Read more: My New Skirt: Reverse Applique in the Alabama Chanin Way

This past week, the Nobel Peace Prize 2024 was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki for “its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again.” These efforts strive to maintain… Read more: The Nobel Peace Prize 2024 Shines a Light on Nuclear Taboo

The shirtdress is the ultimate one-and-done garment. It is comfortable to wear, looks pulled together with a few key accessories, and doesn’t require time spent in front of a mirror agonizing whether an outfit “matches”. It is a classic that is always in style. Speaking of classic, who can forget Audrey Hepburn’s iconic shirtdress moment… Read more: The New Shirtdress: Femininity and Freedom are Always in Style

I finished knitting the Woolfolk Pringle Twinset back in June but didn’t have a chance to wear it out until now because the weather has been so warm! As I wrote in a prior post, I love how this set turned out. The Woolfolk Tynd yarn knits up into a soft, drapey, and lightweight fabric.… Read more: Wearing my Handknit Twinset in the Wild

Back in my 20s, just a year or so out of school, I found that I already needed a break from my job as a science writer. While I didn’t have the option of taking a real break – as in, quitting my job – I was able to take a mental one by doing… Read more: Writing a Novel is my Ongoing Challenge

I have to admit that, when Alabama Chanin’s unique reverse applique t-shirts gained popularity in the late 2000s, I wasn’t a fan. Unfinished edges (even though cotton jersey doesn’t need to be finished), uneven hand stitching, and exposed thread tails — the details that others found charming went against my tailored style aesthetic. I couldn’t… Read more: Learning How to Reverse Applique the Alabama Chanin Way

I love looking at old photos, and this is one I’ve seen many times. It remains in my grandmother’s photo album – the one with the blue and green geometric pattern on the cover – because despite my best efforts, it refuses to release from the adhesive-coated page. It’s strange because the other old photos… Read more: Finding Truth and Imagination in Old Photos

Sailor collars, crisp stripes, tie closures, and shiny buttons — sailor style is having a moment and I’m all in! I’ve always been a big fan of sailor collars and nautical style. Perhaps it’s because I grew up in the 1980s, when sailor style was enjoying a resurgence in popularity thanks to Princess Diana. Or… Read more: Sailor Style is One of the Most Enduring Looks

A peplum moto jacket seems like an odd combination. After all, moto jackets are tough while peplums are so feminine. But there’s something about marrying the two that somehow works — kind of like how opposites attract! My version has the requisite hardware of a moto jacket — visible zippers in the front and on… Read more: A Peplum Moto Jacket Marries Opposites for Edge

From dramatic to demure, the peplum makes a statement. It’s a style that’s been around since 500 BC and, despite ups and downs throughout fashion history, continues to fascinate. But it can be a rather divisive style. Today, camps of peplum lovers and haters are either celebrating or bemoaning the fact that the style appears… Read more: The Peplum is One of Fashion’s Most Enduring Styles

The moto jacket — or motorcycle jacket or biker jacket — is one of my fave styles. I love the details, such as the notch collar, exposed metal hardware, bold stitching, shoulder epaulets, and prominent zipper closure. It has a flattering silhouette that just skims the body. When made in traditional black leather, it definitely… Read more: The Moto Jacket is Always Stylish and Forever Cool

The new Floaty Knit Wrap is elegant and as light as air — making it the perfect accessory for summer. Handknit with a luxurious silk, cashmere, and merino wool blend yarn using large knitting needles, the resulting fabric is airy, drapey, and light enough to squish into an already-full beach tote. Just having a Titanic… Read more: Wrap up Your Summer in the New Floaty Knit Wrap

Fresh off the knitting needles is my take on the classic twinset — a new twist on the nautical look that is super popular this season. The sleeveless shell is a mix of stripes — wide and narrow — that plays on the traditional mariniere look. The cardigan is a solid navy blue but with… Read more: A New Nautical Twist on the Classic Twinset

The DVF Wrap Dress is truly a classic. I just completed a version in a beautiful fuchsia and gray viscose knit fabric and love the result! The Details For this version, I used a stretchy knit fabric as the dress is cut and fit to hug the body in the bodice. This fabric is a… Read more: A New DVF Wrap Dress in an Edgy Floral Print

Regardless of whether you think the twinset — a knitted shell and matching cardigan — is fashionable or frumpy, it is an iconic style that is 90 years old this year! For my generation, the twinset entered our style consciousness in the early 2000s when J. Crew debuted the style in a splash of bright… Read more: The Twinset Turns 90 and is Still New and Cool

The DVF wrap dress, designed by Diane von Furstenberg, debuted 50 years ago and remains a classic. Like a peak on a seismograph, its popularity spikes every few years — and somehow always seems new and fresh each time. Image from here I was too young to be in tune with fashion when the original… Read more: Fashion Friday: The DVF Wrap Dress is New Again

Cozy hand-knits and charming chihuahuas are made for Saturday mornings and farmer’s markets! Oscar is outfitted in his Puppia harness and armed with his most enchanting chihuahua smile, while I am wearing my latest hand-knit — a cozy “throw on and go” cardi with a bold houndstooth pattern. I think we make quite a team!… Read more: Hand-Knits and a Charming Chihuahua Make Saturdays Extra Special

I have an old haori jacket hanging on my dress form. This lovely piece has been there for quite a while now, its beautiful print showcasing a bright spring color palette tempered by a plain jacquard weave silk lining. Its distinct woody smell, retained from the antique dresser it was stored in, reminds me of… Read more: Remaking a Vintage Haori is my New Project

This cozy wrap sweater — with its giant shawl collar — is a statement piece! Kim Hargreaves’ Devote sweater pattern was the starting point. I made a few tweaks, such as using a different yarn and incorporating some style changes, and ended up with a deliciously cozy wrap sweater with a gigantic statement-making shawl collar.… Read more: A Cozy Wrap Sweater in a Fresh New Color

April — what a glorious spring day here in the San Francisco Bay Area! Blue skies and temps nearing 70 — can’t get more perfect than this. Time to get out and about! Here’s what I’m excited about this month! Renegade Craft San Francisco Spring 2024 With more than 250 creatives represented, Renegade Craft San… Read more: What New Things I’m Excited About in April

I love a beautiful cape — even if Edna disagrees! They exude elegance and drama. Voluminous ones can swing around the body for a cocoon-like effect. Tailored styles have a modern and sleek look. Knitted versions are so soft and snuggly they feel like blankets. Oversized collars, flounces, ruffles, gathers, trims – capes can be… Read more: Everyone Needs a Beautiful Cape … Despite What Edna Says

I love traveling with a hand-knit scarf or cowl — especially one that is lightweight, colorful, versatile, and easy to carry. While my Chunky Twist Cowl is a handy piece for winter travel, the other three seasons of the year call for something a bit lighter. I think the Lacy Silk Scarf works well for… Read more: A New Hand-Knit Scarf Made of Vibrant Silk

Sashiko stitching requires rhythm. Up, down, forward motion — with a threaded needle in one hand and cloth in the other, one hand pricks while the other hand guides. Both hands move in unison, creating lines of stitches that run straight or meander into waves and coalesce into stunning designs. Image from here Growing up,… Read more: Sashiko: Stitched by Hand to Create a Unique Look

March in the Bay Area kicked off with thunder, lightning, and rainy days, but I guess that’s to be expected as Winter departs and Spring emerges. Here are some random things I’m excited about this month! Hinamatsuri or Girl’s Day on March 3 The month starts with Hinamatsuri or Girl’s Day in Japan, which is… Read more: What New Things I’m Excited About in March

Spring weather is notorious for its unpredictability. It can be sunny one day and chilly the next, so dressing in layers is key, especially when you are traveling. I just finished a new hand-knit that would make the perfect layering piece for Spring travel — the Amalfi Cardigan by designer Tayler Harris! It has classic… Read more: Complete Your Spring Look With a New Knit Cardi

Monitoring heart health seems more important in midlife, especially for women. At a recent doctor’s appointment, I learned that I had high blood pressure — a result that was concerning enough for the doctor to recommend that I buy an at-home monitor and check my blood pressure daily. It was surprising because my blood pressure… Read more: Heart Health Needs an Extra Check in Midlife

I admit it. I’ve always loved clothing and fashion, shopping, and especially a good bargain. Over the years, I’ve accumulated bins full of clothes — both bought and handmade — that are stacked in my closet. Nordstrom Anniversary Sales, Cos sales, Britex fabric remnant bins, and closeout yarn sales have all contributed to my oversized… Read more: 7 Ways to Think About Clothing in a New Way

I can’t believe it’s already February 2024 — time flies! Here are some random things I’m excited about this month. Visit a New Fashion Exhibition in San Francisco Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style opened at the De Young Museum last month and I can’t wait to go! The exhibition features a collection of… Read more: Exciting Things are On the Way in February 2024

Woolfolk’s Fleck Bulky yarn is one of my new faves for designing cold-weather knits. It is a super bulky yarn that knits up into an incredibly soft and addictively squishy fabric. It has a cool rustic-yet-refined vibe, with its merino wool base and donegal wool flecks. Simple Designs Showcase Fleck Bulky Chunky Twist Cowl I… Read more: Fleck Bulky Makes Knits With a High Cozy Factor

I need a travel coat, I thought, as I stood at the crowded Southwest Airlines gate waiting for my flight to southern California. It was my second flight in two weeks to see my aging parents and help them with house and health. The airport was packed with people traveling for the New Year’s weekend,… Read more: Why I Need a Special Travel Coat