outfit: February fitted pullover, winter wonderland style

Thanks for the suggestions I got for how to wear my newly finished February fitted pullover that I shared recently (and here is the ravelry link to the project)! I have a short list of ways to try wearing it (feel free to offer more suggestions if you can think of any!). I did wear it last weekend the way I mentioned in that post – with my grandma-dress.

It’s a little funny; in my mind, the blues of the sweater and the dress would match perfectly, but in certain indoor lights they were purpely blue and green blue, respectively. It looked fine though, so the lack of perfect colormatching doesn’t bother me too much. And I can tell you this much – that sweater is quite warm! It certainly kept me toasty even with just the strapless dress underneath. Score one for the sweater. I paired it with a belt to break the blue expanse up a bit (and match my boots of course).

The pictures are on the artistic (wacky?) side – taken at dusk one day with the only camera lens available that day (it’s actually broken, but works as a sort of handheld tilt-lens). I find it funny how the city behind me in this last picture kind of looks like a little model!

Advertisement

February Fitted Pullover for the win, I think?

I wanted to show you the dress I’ve been working on these past weeks, but it’s not done. And, being winter and all of a sudden busy at  my two not-so-new jobs, I really only have Sundays available to take pictures in actual daylight. I plan to have a pretty, summery, and finished (!) dress to photograph and show you next Sunday, but for now, we can take a look at my brand newly finished February Fitted Pullover:

I started this sweater over two years ago (according to my ravelry notes), and the road has been a little less than smooth. While I wouldn’t call this a beginner pattern, it’s not entirely the patterns fault that I’ve had hiccups. I should have printed out the pattern and circled all the numbers that went along with my size, but I didn’t, so I’ve been swapping between, which of course didn’t always work out so well! I’ve also taken alot of breaks (ehem… two years to knit a sweater?), and completely forgotten what in the world I was doing in between. No matter, it is done now!

If you look at this from the right angle, I swear there is a bit of a herringbone pattern going on, which makes me wonder how I can play that up in what I pair this sweater with. In fact… I wonder what in the world to pair with this sweater, period! I’m thinking jeans might be too close in color, and the kind of see-through-ness of the lace pattern could limit underlayers. Let’s all play a game and brainstorm what to do with this sweater, shall we? I’ve noticed a lot of people on ravelry wear theirs with button-down shirts, but that’s not really floating my boat. I’m planning to try it with my grandma-dress (I think the colors will look nice together!), but then what? Help a girl out!

outfit: british-ness

At least, in my head I was rocking some sort of British hunting vibe, with deers and fowl on my dress, a hunting green cardigan, and leather oxford shoes.

Looking at the outfit now, I mostly just see cute and comfortable, but that’s alright! My favorite part is how the skinny cobalt-colored belt (that really belongs to a striped dress I used a lot during Me-made-May this year) picks up some colors from the print of the dress, and keeps the pinkish tan, leather brown, and field drab (I love color names!) from getting too… drab. You’ll have to trust me when I say it was more of a contrast in real life!

The dress is the same one I declared my favorite some months ago, and it’s still a favorite for all the same reasons. Plus, John and I went to the local coffee roastery‘s open Saturday, and a lady asked me where I’d gotten my pretty dress! I’m a sucker for compliments. Also, following my own link there, apparently I really like wearing this particular dress to the coffee roastery, how funny!

And then I hide by people’s houses, just because they are cute and wooden with benches and trees and stone walls. Love my neighbourhood!

my handmade wardrobe, arrested

Jen over at Grainline studio recently posted the contents of her handmade wardrobe, and I was inspired and encouraged to follow suit! (har har..)

I totally set up a whole photo studio in my apartment, with spot lights and lamps and whatnot, but it was night so I got some funky colors, and I think the images came out looking like perp shots, or like the clothes are being interrogated!

None the less, here are the handmade clothes that are currently in my wardrobe (goodness knows I have a lot of me-made things that just isn’t getting used, or has been used to pieces already):

Sleeveless tops

  
Beach blouse, Tiny pocket tank

 
Tiny pocket tank, Svanvik blouse

Layering things. From the top; my own pattern, two tiny pocket tanks from Grainline Studio, and another of my own patterns. The pale blue blouse is from my graduating collection, and I’m happy it fits me so I can have it in my wardrobe! I have to admit, I haven’t actually used it yet, but next time a fancy artsy dinner or gallery opening rolls around, I’m ready.

Other stuff

  
Jersey top, mustard shorts

Aptly named since I only have one each of long-sleeved tops and shorts/pants! The corduroy shorts are still going strong, though a little rumply from all the wear. The jersey top is a sample I got to make for myself while interning for Elmidae in Chicago.

Skirts

  
Mini skirt, Valentine’s day skirt

  
Minde skirt, another Marie skirt

  
Wool skirt, Pencil skirt

Clearly skirts is what I make the most of! Including the miniskirt feels a little like cheating since it was a simple refashion, but man, I’ve used that skirt so much I think it’s allowed in. The drapey wool skirt in the middle is from my graduating collection, and the double layer skirt at the bottom is another Elmidae sample I got to make. The black linen pencil skirt is one of the first things I blogged about here, so it’s funny that it still has a place in my wardrobe!

Dresses

  
Ironwood dress, Grandma-dress

I really like making and wearing dresses, so I’m a little surprised I don’t have more of them actively in my wardrobe! The Ironwood dress is my own pattern, and the floral-patterned dress is a refashion from my grandmother’s old dress.

Knits

  
Bayview Street Cardigan, Geithus lace knit top

Seamless hybrid sweater

I feel like I’m pretty much knitting all the time, but I guess a lot has been smaller things like hats and scarves, or gifts, but these three self-knitted garments are getting plenty of use. Like I mentioned just a couple of weeks ago, I’m casting on for another one of both the Bayview Street Cardigan, and the Geithus lace knit top, which is my own pattern.

I totally forgot to take a picture of the charcoal wool sweater since I made it for John and not myself, but I tend to borrow it from time to time anyways! So instead of a evidence-like photo of the sweater, you get one of my handsome boyfriend wearing it instead. Deal?

The verdict

I have made way more than is actually in my current wardrobe. I use the Hitterdal coat every once in a while, but it’s not really a regular staple. And then there are things that I made that I’ve worn to death, or that don’t fit anymore, or that I simply don’t like anymore.

There is also a pile of half-finished and alteration-ready projects that I’ve mentally already added to my wardrobe, but that aren’t there yet! I have a Minoru jacket in pieces somewhere, a Beignet skirt just waiting for 12 bound buttonholes (oh yeah, that’ll only take a few hours!), and a myriad of smaller refashions. On a personal note, I actually have changed jobs and am done working in the bridal shop. Now I’ll be doing sewing related things just half of my work-week, so I’m really hoping that means more time and energy for sewing for myself!

tiny pocket tanks

I made myself another tiny pocket tank! I loved the first one so much and found it so versatile, I knew I just had to make another as soon as possible. And I did, and just now got around to getting the man to take some pictures of me wearing it. It’s gotten tons of wear, just like the first, printed one – I’m finding it a definite staple in my wardrobe, and I especially like the shape of it – the neckline shape, the shape of the straps, the shape of the hem, et cetera. Staple I tell you, staple!

Remember Me-Made-May? The printed tiny pocket tank was by far the self-made garment I wore the most:

For being a graphic, tribal-looking print, I’ve found lots of uses for it! It’s a bit out of my comfort zone to have patterned clothes, but I think since the shape is so simple, it works really well as building block.

And can we talk about this jacket for a little bit (which pairs really well with the tanks, as both of the pictures above proves)? I’ve always admired the way people like Kendi of Kendi Everyday or E. of defunct but awesome Academichic wears blazers with anything and look smashing. I’ve come to realize that while the traditional blazer-shape doesn’t necessarily work for me, this seersucker- like, 3/4 sleeve, collarless jacket in fact, does. It’s structured without being stuffy, and dressy without being serious. And, it takes a perfectly basic (albeit a very well-shaped basic) tank top up a notch if I need it, and that I approve of.

Now, I think perhaps the next tiny pocket tank will have an actual tiny pocket on it. Maybe a nice, matte silk would be nice? Ooo, yes I think so!