So for years now I've been trying to figure out how to be a peacock while still being able to sit down on the tail. (Costumes you can't sit in are really annoying.) Then I got the idea to knit a costume... though the eyes are crocheted and sewn on. It came out as a bathrobe-type jacket that I could put over a blue dress.




The bottom half has a specially designed scale stitch and feather stitch to approximate the tail.




This is me in the actual costume, though I posed extremely dorkily in the full outfit. What was I thinking? There's a peacock neckace/earrings in there that you can't see very well and I forgot to shoot separately. Oh well.


Instructions/pattern can be found here.

So I start my serger class tonight- it's 4 weeks long. And I don't know what to make!

I have around a yard-ish of fleece, knit, and sheer veil-ish fabric (apiece) because she said to bring a mix of fabrics "to play with", but I don't have any patterns for this stuff and I don't know what exactly I can make with a serger anyway.

Any suggestions? Links to free patterns online (I'm probably not making it to a fabric store again anytime soon) would especially be good.

I've also got notes for what I did for my costume for my big 50"x40"x50" curves. I was thinking about making up a spreadsheet where you could plug in your measurements and get a version of the pattern for your exact size. As everyone's proportions aren't the same, and you really need an exact fit for the thing to look good. Or, do you think that I should just put out my notes for people to figure out how to size it for themselves?

Would people be willing to buy a spreadsheet if I took time to make one up?

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, so I bought a couple pairs of those sew-in bra cups. I was thinking of either:

 (a) putting them in a T-shirt reconstruction project- I'd like to make a halter, but I have DD tits and no strapless bra (not that those ever worked for me before they hit DD anyway), so I was thinking of building in support somehow.
(b) putting the bra cups into an existing dress or two that I have.

Anyone know of any websites that talk about putting bra cups into already-existing clothes, or how to work with bra cups in general?

So, I volunteer at a craft center and I heard that the theme for the staff party in June is going to be SUPERHEROES!

So, anyone have any suggestions? I'm thinking "Craft Girl" with a utility belt, but what else? Cape or no cape? (I know what Edna Mode thinks on that.) Mask? (I have glasses, but have been pondering trying to make a mask that can go around glasses anyway.) Magic craft wand? I dunno...

Sewing, knitting, and crochet-related suggestions are all welcome, as well as links to free patterns/tutorials that might be helpful in those arenas.

Thanks!

Nice job! I like the fact you did only 3 months at a time...so many resolutions become passing memories over time, and this way you can keep yours fresh throughout the year and also have a nice keepsake at the end of the year of all your accomplishments.

Thanks! I'm afraid to plan more than 3 months at a time anyway in case oh, lightning strikes me down or something, or plans change. I like how you phrased it better though, keep it fresh

This is inspired by Kathy Cano Murillo's resolutions calendar. Except that her calendar is dedicated to one goal, and for me, each month will have a different goal. (This is why I only have 3 months up so far, as I am deciding 3 months at a time.) I used some random calendar that came with a copy of Rolling Stone, and I covered up the various photos and quotes about cars and celebrities and crap.

This is January- the goal was "Setting goals for a lifetime."





February's goals are pagan-related- celebrating Imbolc/Groundhog Day/the day my goals were supposed to be completed by, the coming eclipses, and working on a Persephone-themed story.





March is National Novel Editing Month, where I will be editing my novel from last November.

The scenario: cow photo contest.

The desire: I want to paint one or both of my cows up like Cows on Parade.

What kind of paint would work best on plasticy rubber cows? It would be nice if the paint could stay on/show up enough for a photo but wash off later, but I suspect there isn't paint that would work like that. Either way, I don't really know what I should use. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm thinking of making a purple horn for my costume (purple people eater), since you just can't find ONE lone horn for sale. I am not sure how well it'll stay on my head with the weight and all, though.

So, someone I know online is having an EXTREMELY hard life situation during pregnancy right now, and I got asked to join in a "make something with yarn for her" surprise thingie. She's due mid-September.

Now, I do NOT make baby clothes (you know about the boyfriend sweater curse? In my family it's the child curse- by the time you finish the outfit the child will be long since grown out of that size), so I said I'd do a stuffed animal.

However, I am wondering what, exactly, someone needs to keep in mind when making a stuffed animal for a baby. Is there a particular size I should try to make? Not small enough to eat, I suppose, with no buttons to come off, but beyond that, I really don't know. I haven't done any amigurumi before this. Does anyone have any recommendations/suggestions as to what I should be keeping an eye out for, or any possible patterns?