busy bee

I have been blog-neglectful again due to major dance performance coming up this weekend (Rakassah in Richmond, California). I have been working on my eternal camel belt, which has 50+ tassels that each need a rim of mozunas (sort of like tin sequins) all around each tassel) and other costume repairs and alterations.

I have also been crocheting the "ruffled corset belt" from the new book in the Stitch and Bitch series, entitled The Happy Hooker. I am crocheting this in Manos del Uruguay yarn, which is handspun and hand-dyed, in a very deep and variegated red. Therefore it is bulky, so I will probably leave off the bottom ruffle, which seems to end up looking skirt-ish in bulky yarn, and go for a jagged picot edging on both edges. This belt is to wear to classes as a break from hip scarves. The pattern shows a crocheted tie to the corset belt, but Prada (daughter) has informed me that it might be more stylish to lace the belt with French ribbon. I do not know yet whether I will go for tribal or tarty. I will also be attempting my first pair of gloves, for Prada, the lace-up gauntlets from AlterKnits. It is a pleasure to be working with really nice yarns, pricey as they can be at times--they simply have a better feel to me.

So that is all--and, yes, I am working on my book, having finally found the path into a very difficult chapter. Ciao!