does anyone have suggestions for japanese clothing sewing books, and places to buy from?  not the craft/stuffie/zakka books, though those are adorable. i remember seeing an entry on a blog somewhere of a cute shirt pattern someone had completed from one... (if i could just remember to bookmark those awesome blogs i come across when clicking through links from other entries, but that's another problem altogether ;P)

i know of http://www.kitty-craft.com/ and i may break down very soon and buy this one from them: http://www.kitty-craft.com/shop/step1.php?number=4641

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[cascade 220 heathers]

anyone want to knit this one with me?

http://www.vogueknitting.com/images/2006holiday/VKH06TOWN6.jpg

it's a gorgeous fall/winter sweater that could be knit in a variety of affordable yarns.  even the recommended yarn - cascade 220 heathers - is fairly inexpensive.  i'll have the yarn a week from today, it's color 9450, seen on this color card: http://www.cascadeyarns.com/graphics/220Heathers04.jpg

anyone up for it?  i'm planning to knit the medium size, and will definitely be swatching first, what with the cables and the close fit and the difficulty level. =]
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[my question is:]

okay, i'm positive that this has been covered, but i've searched and can't find the topic i'm looking for.  here goes:  i'm working on a sock (the first one i  might actually finish) and the pattern for decreasing the picked-up heel stitches is as follows:

R1: work to 3 sts from end of needle 1, k2tog, k1.  continue in established pattern for needles 2 & 3.  at start of needle 4, k1, ssk, k to end.
R2: work even in established pattern.
Repeat R1 & 2 until there are 16 sts on needle 1 and 15 sts on needle 4

my question is: am i decreasing on needles 1 & 4 every round or just round 1 of each repeat?

it seems like a dumb question, but in the photo it looks like it's decreased every round, but i don't understand why you'd need a second round to just continue with the same instructions given in round one, so i'm confused - which incidentially is not unusual. =]

thanks!
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i'm looking for a simple dress pattern a fitted waist and flaring out into a tea length skirt.  very simple, except i want a certain style of straps...the kind that come out to the edges of your shoulders instead of over the top...here's the best drawing i can manage: 



i need a pattern i can go buy at the store very soon, and i don't have the time to learn how to modify a pattern for this particular project.  does anyone know of a pattern like this?  i've searched through mccalls, butterick, simplicity & vogue, but sometimes after you've been through them all you miss things.
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since we are always told that we should pre-launder fabrics before cutting & sewing patterns to allow for shrinkage, i'm wondering if this applies when the fabric is to be dry-cleaned.  I have a length of silk shantung for a dress, and i'm wondering if I should take it to the cleaners before i cut out the pattern.  anyone know for sure?

thanks!
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hey all, i am planning to make mccall's 5177 as my wedding dress.

view a, the gold version at top right
http://www.mccallpattern.com/item/M5177.htm

the problem that i'm having is that the recommended fabrics for this pattern are: rayon faille, velvet, crepe or matte jersey.  now normally, i understand the reasons for certain fabrics given:  the pattern needs stretch fabric, or it needs drapey fabric, etc. etc.  problem is, i don't want to use any of those fabrics for this dress.  i'd really prefer to use dupioni silk or a brocade, with an accent fabric for the bodice shirring.  does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts otherwise?  i guess i'm just looking for some reassurance or warnings before i buy the fabric & get to cuttin.

i'm hoping to find a knowledgable person in a fabric shop who can help me, but the last time i went, they couldn't even tell the difference between certain types of facing, and kept telling me to get "the iron on kind" (fusible) because it was "easy" when the pattern specifically said not to use fusible, so i'm not holding out much hope for their expertise.

thanks! =]
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so i check the mail today (haven't checked it in a week, actually) and find, much to my delight, a yarn catalog!  turns out WEBS Valley Yarns line has decided to publish a print catalog of.  what was funny though, is that i looked at the cover and thought "that girl looks familiar....is she on craftster?....she kinda looks like skrilla"  and it most certainly is, on the cover and also looking very cute in an i'm-so-gonna-knit-that pink hoodie inside.  the yarn for her darling stirling cloche (thread and pattern here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=74644.0) is in there as well.

anyway, i didn't see a thread about it, and thought someone oughta shout it out on here.     the yarns are all very pretty and quite affordable (but then again, it is WEBS after all!)
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so today, as i was walking to the elevator in my building, i spied a girl walking down the hall with the cutest chunky knit, short sleeved cropped cardigan.  ADORABLE!  what wasn't so adorable was when i finally tore my eyes away from the sweater to see that she was a bit confused by my intense attention on her chest area, where I was trying to figure out the lace pattern.  umm, WHOOPS!

anyone else been there?  stared at someone in the elevator or on the bus or in the checkout line, coveting their knitwear, only to have them think that you're the weird one they encountered today? (in her defense, that's probably true, but not the point ;])  i swear, i was THISCLOSE to picking and pulling on her sweater so that i could see the stitches better.  (in MY defense, i hadn't had my coffee yet.)

i know you guys feel me on this one!
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[ROCKS]

Help!  I'm desperate!  I'm trying to find copies of last summer's Anny Blatt #194  & Bouton D'or #82 pattern books.  I've searched and searched and searched and searched.  The closest that I've come is Jimmy Bean Wool *used* to carry them but they are out of stock and won't be getting any more.  I could order them directly from the company....if I lived in Europe.  =[

Does anyone know of a local LYS that carries AB/BdO that would take a phone order?  Anyone have these and willing to trade?  Anyone? Buehler?  The patterns last year were fantastic!  HELP!

thanks for listening to me whine.
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ETA:  WOOHOO!! I finally tracked down the number for the Anny Blatt USA distributor, called them, got the number for a store in NC, called *them*, they had them in stock and took my phone order! HOORAY!  just in time for summer!

I would just like to say that Dee's Yarn Nook in Blowing Rock, NC ROCKS, along with the very nice lady at Anny Blatt USA who was determined to help me! 

[MAYBE]

I searched, but it looks like I'm the first one to spot this, just in at my LYS!!  Normally, Interweave has maybe 1 or 2 patterns MAYBE that I want to make, but this issue?  At LEAST 6!  At the very top of my list, in this order, are the Caftan Pullover, Prarie Tunic, Pullover Flair, the Trellis Scarf, the Streakers Shrug and the Pom-Pom Fingerless Mitts!  Not to mention countless cute ads for other spring patterns!  Interweave really did a great job for the simply-styled knitters this issue.  Anyone else care to gush?!

http://www.interweave.com/knit/interweave_knits/preview/2006_spring.asp

The Caftan Pullover is becoming the post-Knitting Olympics must have.  Yay!



Added bonus is the interview with Robin Melanson, designer of the Corset Pullover sweater so many of us have drooled over. 

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