Greetings fellow fashionistas! Whether you know how to wield a needle and thread, have a mean peddle foot with your Singer, Brother or Janome machine, or just like a little drama with your Thursday nights, I’m here to help you relive the fabric-flinging fun that is Project Runway.

I’m Tanya W., and I’m an independent knitwear designer. Which means I’m currently unemployed, with the exception of selling my own original creations on Etsy, like every other guy and gal with a machine (mine is a Soviet-era Singer).

I also design knitwear patterns, and will have three published in 2010 by major publishers — so I’m living the dream (sort of).

I’ve met Michael Kors, so that that counts for something.  My favorite Project Runway designers of the past are Jay McCarroll (for his inspired use of color, knit and crochet), Leanne Brown (Portland represent!), and Kara Janx, with her great, lost “decoy” collection — if you saw it, you know what I mean. That girl knew her color, plus, she had hats designed by Purl Soho, a store near and dear to my hat-loving heart.

Yes, our long national nightmare is over. No, not the fight over health care or what Paula Abdul’s next job will be. The wait for a new Project Runway! The ridiculous travesty Bravo tried to force on us, The Fashion Show, is a sad memory, and Lifetime, which acquired the gold standard of fashion reality shows in a bitter fight with Harvey Weinstein, is finally airing the delayed sixth season. Let’s. Start. The. Show.

But first, a few words about The Project Runway All-Star Challenge. It was a little long at two hours, but thankfully, the drama (meaning Santino Rice) was kept to a minimum. Nice to see second-place finishers Daniel Vosovic and Korto Momolu pull out the one-two finish, even if it was a little bittersweet that Momolu had to finish second yet again. How stunning was her placemat and lava bead gown? She clearly knows how to work with textures. And seeing the sweet (if perennially sleepy) Chris March make it to the finals was a hoot. His Mad Men goes futuristic collection was cohesive and fashion-forward. But Chris, all the spontaneous napping could be sleep apnea staring you in the face. Seek help, my friend.

For season six, we have 16 designers and a new location, Los Angeles. As with all first episodes, there are more egos and design aesthetics than you can throw a seam ripper at, so it’s difficult to get a grasp on who will stand out and who will be the middle-of-the-packers. This week’s winner could be next week’s “auf weidersehen.” But a few first impressions never hurt anyone.

Johnny Sakalis: The West Hollywood designer and recovering meth addict had a near breakdown and almost walked off the show. Only a pep talk from the avuncular Tim Gunn rallied him to finish strong in the challenge. If only we all had the grey-haired Mr. G. to help us through our darkest hours of self-doubt.

Epperson: Nothing much to report from this elder statesman from New York, but I simply love the fact that he’s one of the oldest in the field at 50 years old. Grandpa Fashion, work it out.

Shirin Askari: The Texan says her name means “sweet” in Farsi, the Persian language. I say it means “obnoxiously perky.”

Malvin: This New Yorker claims his designs are “ineffable.” Well, that’s one word. Pretentious works, too, until he proves otherwise.

Tonight’s challenge was one that should have set all the designers drooling on their organza — create a red carpet look that showed their personal aesthetic, yet featured innovation. It could be any red carpet of their choosing: the Oscars, Emmys, or VMAS. Or perhaps, the NASA Nobel Soccer Awards, as young Ari Fish interpreted it.

When faced with 16 designs stomping down the runway to the familiar musical strains, the truly…questionable designs catch your eye this early in the season. And so it was with Fish’s Barbarella-meets-David Beckham soccer ball homage that she claimed was fit for a red carpet in 2080, with a side trip to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. But would Desmond Tutu have worn this silver monstrosity? Or Bono, for that matter?

Even guest judge Lindsay Lohan (?!) looked dubious, but mayhap that was because young Miss Fish resembled her on-again, off-again paramour Samantha Ronson. Frankly, it was hard to get a bead on what Lohan was thinking, with her scrunched-face appraisal of every design. When I think fashion plate, I don’t think La Lohan. When I want cohesive thinking, I don’t run to La Lohan. Now, when I’m looking for a good self-tanner or emotional breakdown, that’s another story.

Dear Ari, all the hair fluffing in the world won't make that dress red-carpet worthy.

And then there was Mitchell Hall’s Miss Havishmam Goes to the Valley of the Dolls nightmare. His complaint that his model had different measurements than what were provided on her card (Quelle horreur! Did she eat one of the bacon donuts from last night’s Top Chef challenge? Now that would be a crime, especially considering that nasty Bravo/Lifetime lawsuit!) was one that the reliably Teutonic Heidi wasn’t buying. “All models lie about their measurements.” And that was then end of that “little chat.” Dish out the discipline, Fraü Seal!

In the end, it came down to Ra’Mon Lawrence’s stunningly pleated but safe navy gown, Christopher Straub’s textured two-tone strapless number for the VMAs, and, surprise, surprise, former meth-head Johnny’s beautifully draped red satin gown.

Frankly, I think there was more to like in the “safe but no immunity” pile (like Irina Shabayeva’s champagne silk charmeuse and lace gown with length to spare), but the judges were seeking the innovation half of the challenge. Straub’s unique textured black overlay on a dirty-white frilly underskirt screamed “youthful, edgy, and cute,” so he squeaked out a win.

Straub claims he made thousands of four-leaf clover overlays on this crinkly gown. Guess it really was lucky.

My personal fave, Irina Shabayeva's champagne with a touch of black couture silk and lace wonder.

Personally, I found it appalling he didn’t even know what smocking is. But I’m in my smocking phase now, so maybe that’s just me.

In other news, Michael Kors, aka The Orange Duchess, is a lovely shade of burnt sienna this season.

So, any bets on who’ll be the first one to break the serger? And what were your favorite designs?