Nude man Model

Ha, Don't worry. I didn't whip out my camera in the middle of our life drawing class. I was tempted to ask just to see the look on his face but restrained myself.  For my first ever nude modeling class I thought I did absolutely fantastic. Minimal laughing or shocked 'omg I cannot draw that' face.

And no, the drawing above was not said model, we had to draw what is thought to be the acurate proportioned male first. Our actual model was still quite fit, but was older than my own father.

* I'm sure he enjoyed being scrutinized by a class of women all under 30. 

Autumn School

Last weekend I attended the Amuri Autumn school up in Hamner Springs. It's held every year and has about 9 different weekend courses you can choose to take. I (bravely and a little stupidly) chose advanced photography. Ha! After having my new camera for about 5 months, compared to the many years of every other person in my course I felt a little out of depth.

Thank goodness I had a great tutor, which made everything crystal clear. The course was about photo-journalism and what makes a photo great.

These pictures were taken at the lime stone carving, (another course option)

In a teeny-tiny little wool shed, Can you imagine?  10 carvers and 17 photographers, 

These were my best shots,

What have you been up to?

A Trip to a Factory

On Tuesday I went to visit a local Knitting factory, well the only one that operates here in the south island - the other two are up north. 

Because of recent event (cough, earthquake, cough) they had been forced to move the whole operation to a smaller building, so there were plenty of boxes piled up in almost every corner. 

They wash and press each item after it comes out from the machines, just like I do when I 'block' a finished piece. The washing machines were HUGE. I could have hoped on in and had a wash if felt like it, and three other people could have joined me. They can wash up to 150 items at once! 

This was part of the knitting machines - The picture above is an older one. The little pegs can be changed, and this dictates that pattern. On the newer machines it was all computer operated, and took about half an hour to change. The machines with they pegs were made in the late 70's and would take up to two days to change. 

Again an older machine. I didn't get any pictures of the newer ones, they were all sleek and long. They looked quite ghastly. almost if they were spewing out the knitted items. 

The older machines had all the spools up above them, they reminded me of colorful chandeliers.

The above machine made cutting out look very easy, however I would worry about accidentally nicking of one of my fingers.

All their empty spools are tossed in a box. 

Joining in here

Just inspire

The crochet version

And all of a sudden I find myself deeply in love with crochet again. 

The way the thread and hook wanders around the pattern, creating something from nothing. 

Maybe not for a blanket, but on a jersey top,

If I had the time, this vest is stunning

and this pretty neck warmer? I think so. 

What have you been inspired by, or have wanted to make recently? 

Twill sample

Twill sample, a photo by The Lost Seamstress on Flickr.

I have been away for far, far too long. Tests and a new job have been keeping me on my toes, and I have dearly missed blogging.

One of my projects have been making 5cm by 5cm woven samples, the above picture is a sample of two by three twill, stepping one and in a z format. Any one confused?

It's the common pattern used in denim and most heavy weight fabrics.

Trouble

I  have been having some issues with picasa and my web albums, Apparently they are full and that's why pictures haven't been showing up? But I have a feeling it may just be Picassa...
Sorry for the quite-ness, hopefully things will be up and running within no time.

The Skirt of your dreams

Well, that skirt of MY dreams. Sort of.
It started out that way, in my head. As all things do.
Imagine, a chilly autumn day in a bustling city, cobble stone footpaths and a street filled woth brick buildings. A women steps out, Plaid skirt billowing in the winds.

It's not prefect, But it's not bad. And may I jsut point out the the plaid matches.
MATCHES.
Pretty stoked about that.

It's a simple A-line skirt, in a cotton pliad,
Cut on the striaght grian, because I wanted the stripes vrtical and horizontal. It might have draped better had it been cut on the bias but the fabric has a really nice handle so it's still pretty nice.
Overall it took me about 45 minutes to sew. Its fully lined with an invisibe zip and rolled hem.

Allready worn it twice.
That's a win in my books.