I made up a muslin of the Jenny skirt from Burdastyle.  I can usually make a skirt without a muslin, but I’ve never made a European sized pattern before.  I made a size 36, which is the size the chart says I should, based on hip measurement (35.5″) And guess what?

Yes, that’s right… it totally fits!  And I didn’t have to go down 3 sizes from the recommendation.  I may remove just a smidge from the waistband, but other than that it’s just as I want it (it is not hemmed, so it will be a bit shorter.)  I used my leftover gingham for the muslin, and my actual fabric is a bit stiffer.  I hope to finish the actual skirt by the weekend – it’s a super quick sew, even with a lining.

The instructions are… um… strange, but I can sew a skirt without them.  I hope it works out, because there are some other Burdastyle items I would really like to sew (I’d like a Heidi dress and a few others.)

My new Kim Hargreaves book has finally arrived from the UK, and I’ve decided that Petal will be my first knit from the book.

Interestingly, this sweater was first released as a kit on her website a few years ago, and at the time I rejected it for being beaded.  This version has a texture pattern instead of beads.  I adore the little decorative buttons!  I bought the yarn it calls for, Rowan Fine Milk Cotton.  I bought lagoon, a pretty blue-green.  I do love Rowan’s yarns, which I find to be very high quality, but I wish they had better colors sometimes… there are too many wishy-washy pastels for my taste!  This was one of only a few acceptable colors for me in this yarn.

I’m interested in the milk cotton because I find that fingering weight cotton tends to knit unevenly for me, and I hear that the milk yarn is softer.  I ordered it from the UK because I got a good deal – about 7 dollars a ball including shipping, as opposed to 13 in the US… imported yarn is pricey!  So that probably won’t be here for a week or two, but when it arrives I will get started.

That’s all for today – thanks for the get-well wishes!  I pulled off a miraculous recovery and was able to sing my two solos in the concert on Sunday, thank goodness!  The concert was wonderful, and my season with that group is over, though I have others ongoing.  I’m thinking it might be time for me to see an allergist, as this is the 3rd allergy-related problem I’ve had this year, but I am horrible about going to the doctor… we will see!