The White Blouse

Do you even notice that when fashion magazines do a list of classic clothing items, a white blouse is always listed?

I happen to own 3 okay fitting RTW white blouses but I am always frustrated when trying to buy new blouses. If the bust fits, the back is too big, if the back fits, the bust doesn't. And everything is always too long. But I was always too intimidated to try and sew a blouse.

While on vacation for a few days, I had one goal. To sew a classic white blouse. And I accomplished it!



Pattern: New Look 6407

Fabric: cotton sateen

Modifications: After making two muslins, I had removed 1 inch of the length, changed the darts a bit, and removed two inches of width out of the back. Next time, I would also shorten the sleeves a titch. They are a bit on the long side of 3/4 length for me. And I totally attached the cuffs incorrectly but even I didn't realize that until today when I was looking at the pattern photo again! Whoops.

This is also the first time I've set in woven sleeves and made a collar and only the second time I've used my sewing machine's buttonhole function.

And this blouse fits better than any of my RTW options. There is no gaping at the button band and the length is good. The back fit is still a little off but I'm very happy with my first attempt at a classic white blouse. And I was so excited to take photos that I forgot to iron it. I promise I'll actaully iron it before I wear it!

Elise

Pattern: Elise by Kim Hargreaves in Vintage Knits

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed, 7 1/2 skeins

Needles: 3.75 mm

Modifications: The feature that I originally loved about this pattern was the ruffled neck and then as I started knitting the ruffle, I just really didn't like how it looked so I decided to leave the neck in the plain garter stitch. In the end, I kind of regret not knitting the ruffle since that's the detail that really sets this cardigan apart but I'm still happy with it. I also didn't knit the cuffs and than attach them because the sleeves are long enough without them.

And here is where I feel like a rookie knitting my first sweater, I had the hardest time understanding Rowan's decreasing instructions for the sleeve cap. I have no idea what my problem was but I ended up rewriting them using instructions for the Handy Book of Sweaters by Ann Budd.



And the reason that I don't have any pictures of it on me yet is because I'm not sure what I am going to use as a closure. In the book, they used a brooch. I used a kilt pin when I wore this to work on Friday but it wasn't really working so I need to think of a better solution.

Stash Busting Project #2

A big lumpy cowl.

Pattern: no pattern. I just cast on a random number of stitches on a 5 mm circular and alternated knit and purl rounds whenever I felt like it until I ran out of yarn.

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Chunky. Odds and ends left over from my Ariosa Wrap Cardi. I have to remember to not wear the cowl and the sweater at the same time.

I officially do not have a single scrap of highland chunky in this colour left in my stash!

Stash Busting Project #1

A new toque for Rob! It turns out that I still have three toques from last winter that are still in good shape but Rob only has one....so he definitely needed another one.

Pattern: made up

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia. I hated this yarn when I tried to make a vest with it but it worked well for this toque. I have enough left to probably make mittens as well.

Needles: 5mm

Quick and easy project!

Crafty...where did my craftiness go!

Since I haven't posted since Oct. 20th, I think it's pretty obvious that I'm having a bit of a crafting drought. I've finished a few things but have yet to photograph them and I'm pretty stalled on what to make next. Even my stash is failing to inspire me.

On the upside, I only have 1 sweater's worth of yarn in the stash! Somehow this year, I have seriously managed to stash bust. My current problem is I'm no longer crazy about the yarn I do have on hand to make a sweater.

But I do have piles of odds and ends so last night, I combed through the stash and made up 5 baggies each containing one little project to use up some scraps. So expect to see hats, mittens, baby sweaters, and socks for the next little bit until I can decide what sweater to knit next and purchase some new yarn. Which I'm a little excited about since I haven't had new yarn in over a year (except for one incident with a bright pink skein of sock yarn)!

Usually when I hit a knitting wall, I end up focusing on sewing for a bit (and vice versa) except I'm also at a bit of a loss for what to sew next. I switched my closet over from summer to fall/winter clothes...and I have a lot of clothes. I definitely don't need any more skirts for a little bit after my skirt making binge of fall 2008/winter 2009 but I'm just not sure what I do need. I think I'll focus on making dresses for a bit. Might be time to comb through my BWOF and pattern stash and find some new patterns.

Anyways, here's hoping that I get my crafty mojo back soon!

Dead Socks

I finished these socks in March 2006 and noticed that they've developed a very large hole in the bottom. Most likely from getting snagged on a nail in my hardwood floor at home. That floor can be deadly!

Reading my blog post from when I originally finished these socks reminded me of how much I hated knitting them at the time but I've actually worn them quite a bit and the St. Ives yarn did hold up very well.

At the rate that I destroy knitted socks (I maybe ruin one pair a year), I seriously still have enough socks to last me the next 15 years. This is probably why I don't knit nearly as many pairs as I used to and most of the pairs I knit now are gifts. I can't even tell you the last time I purchased sock yarn and I still have some real gems in the stash.

M5817

Pattern: M5817

Fabric: Navy wool

Modifications: absolutely none. I really like the double vent at the back of this skirt and I used a closed lining following instructions for an older copy of Vogue Patterns. And I'm so glad that I didn't shorten this skirt, it would have been too short if I had!

Here is the line drawing so you can see the detail of the back vent since it doesn't show up very well in navy: