Fashion: Yarn Style

Day 100 of the Hundred Day Challenge!

 

 

Phew! The hundred-day challenge of wearing hand knits during the summer has ended. And just in time for the first real cold day of fall this morning! This last cardigan I wore for the challenge is Uist by Jennie Atkinson, knitted in Rowan Pure Wool dk yarn, which is now discontinued. But, as you can imagine, I am also wearing a sweater today. Hey, it’s cold and I have all this great knitwear in the cupboard! 

 

Day 99

This is a houndstooth pullover pattern designed by Anny Blatt. If you want to knit it, it’s called The Dinky Pull and the pattern is published in Couture Collection Number 217. 

 

Day 98

 

Isn’t this faux fur coat fabulous? It is a Filatura di Crosa pattern using Cincilla yarn which was discontinued to my everlasting regret. You can find this coat pattern in their Cincilla pattern book. 

 

Day 97

Brigitte, by Martin Storey, was adapted by adding extra copper beads into the pattern. I wanted a 1950’s beaded sweater look, and had a lot of fun knitting this. 

 

Day 96

Sarah Dallas’ Diamond Stitch Pullover  is a fun top to wear over a longer blouse, or peplum. The short sleeves keep it from being too warm.

 

Thank you so much, readers, for all your encouragement and support over the last hundred days! It is such a priveledge to be a part of this nurturing community of clever and creative people working to realize our knitting dreams!!!!

Paris Gorgeousness: Handknits, Pastries and Strolling in the Rain!

 

We have just arrived, still clutching neck pillows from the plane. We took a taxi directly from the airport to Laduree tearoom. We only had two and a half days to spend in Paris, as the other two days were spent traveling back and forth. So we enjoyed every moment to the maximum, especially the croissants!

 

In case you are wondering what those little green and gold packets are in the pastry basket, they contain perfect room-temperature French butter.  There are also tiny jars of apricot and raspberry jam to eat with the warm rolls. Ah, Lauduree, how I love thee!

 

I packed very light for this trip as we did not check our bags, which was a great exercise in clothing minimalism. Aislinn by Amy Herzog was my best friend on this trip, I really found it comfortable to wear on the airplane and it rolled into a ball and became my pillow while I slept. You can see me wearing the black cardigan outside of Laduree tearoom above.

 

Day 91: Paris

 

It rained a lot on our second day in Paris so this super warm shawl, Goldfish Memory by Casapinka, really came in handy! Just wish we had brought an umbrella, but we ended up hanging around under the eaves of some gorgeous old buildings instead.

 

We warmed up at L’Oisivethé, a combination teahouse and yarn store where I drank a gorgeous, vanilla-flavored green tea accompanied by fromage blanc and discovered this intriguing hand-dyed yarn:

 

 

Day 92: Paris

 

We grabbed a few rainless hours on Boulevard Haussman near the Jacquemart-André Museum, a wonderful showcase of decorative arts. 

 

 

I wore Aimee by Kim Hargreaves and it was just warm enough to keep off the chill! Here is a travel tip: try Sunday brunch at the tearoom inside the Jacquemart-André Museum. It is considered one of the best in Paris because of the gorgeous décor and unreal pastry cart. Their "oefs en cocotte" (coddled eggs) in herbed crème fraîche were fabulous.

 

 

Day 93 Paris

 

 

After strolling through the Luxembourg Park in the rain, Bernhard and I ducked into Cafe Cercle to warm up and share a crispy ham and cheese crepe. There we people-watched for a few hours while I knitted. Here I was wearing the #11 Lace Tank from Vogue Knitting--I packed it because it rolls up into a tiny ball, perfect for travel. I was really impressed by the beauty of the Luxembourg Park, especially in the dusky light and rain:

 

 

 

Day 94 Leaving Paris

 

 

We sadly said goodbye to the gorgeous bell epoch apartment where we stay in Paris each time we visit. For anyone who wants to stay here, the price is extremely reasonable and we adore it:

Le Magenta Apartment

The décor and antique furnishings of the apartment are extraordinary, and it is located in a wonderful location right off a metro stop, just blocks from the canal, and temptingly close to the famous Pain et des Idées bakery.

 

 

Unfortunately, Bernhard was unable to pick up croissants for us on our last day there because there were 50 tourists thronging outside. So we picked out a chocolate éclair and puts d’amour at Stohrer instead. It seems our trip to Paris ended just as it began, with a few luscious pastries!

 

 

Still Wearing Knitted tops & Skirts + Preparing for Paris!

 

I am continuing to wear my hand knits every day! Some issues with neck/arm/back pain have been keeping me away from my computer, so I have been just posting the daily photos on instagram: #yarnstylist. Here are my photos, starting with today:

 

 

This is my first knitted ensemble, which consists of separate top and skirt patterns by Kim Hargreaves. The skirt is River and is knitted in Rowan Lima. The design for the top is named Leah and it is also knitted in Rowan Lima.

 

Day 88 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

Yesterday was a super crazy day. I’ve been balancing work with self-care due to my pain issues. The reward? My husband can whisk me off to Paris for a few days this weekend, so I needed a “grab and go” garment for the day. I love the fact that Kallilo’s Antarktis is such an easy shawl to wear. You can knot it in a number of different ways to ensure it doesn’t fall off. 

 

Day Day 87 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

 

The Casbah 5ply Gradient Wrap is a new project I haven’t even had time to post on Ravelry. But here it is, a stylish dk weight cardigan that knits up in about a week. The original pattern calls for solid colors but I was dying to try out these Madelinetosh speckled yarns! My girlfriend photographed me at our local yarn shop.

 

 

 

Day Day 86 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

 

Today was a more formal day of work meetings, so I wore my Elizabeth blazer. Although it is knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, I do find myself wearing it during the summer. It’s not really any hotter than a lined wool or rayon blazer would be, honestly, and it fits me much better. 

 

 

Day 85 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

Andrea by Sarah Hatton is another great “throw on and go” piece. Teal kind of goes with everything, doesn’t it? And it looks great worn open or closed. 

 

Day 84 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

 

I was able to get away with wearing my Eva on a cold day---wish those had lasted! We are back in the mid 70’s-mid 80’s again!  Ha! Some of you were probably surprised to see me describe October 19^th as part of the summer, but in the California Bay Area, it often is!

 

Day 83 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

 

This is Cameo by Kim Hargreaves, knitted in Malabrigo Pashmina. 

 

 

Day 82 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

 

I seem to be in a teal mood lately! This is Mystery by Kim Hargreaves. 

 

Day 81 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

 

This is Blythe by Kim Hargreaves, knitted in Handmaiden Seasilk. Sigh. Every time I look at this top, I itch to reinforce the button band with ribbon. I will have to get around to it!

 

Day 80 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

I customized this V-neck pullover based on a vintage-inspired top by Kim Hargreaves called Agnes. The top never really quite worked on me and after several incarnations of knitting it, I realized the high neck was unflattering, so I changed the collar and now I wear it much more often. 

 

Day 79 of the 100 Day Summer Challenge

This is Madame Butterfly, by Marie Wallin. I was able to wear on another rare cold day. Oh, the beautiful things I could wear if it were real fall here! Oh, well. There are a few winter months that we enjoy all the more because they feel unique and special.

 

Now I am off to pack. The next few photos will be from Paris!

The 100 Day Challenge in the light of #slowfashionoctober!

 

Today, I am wearing #09 Skirt by Debbie Bliss. The skirt is knitted in Rowan Frost yarn, which has been discontinued. I spent this morning darning a hole in the edge of the blouse I am wearing, which is designed by the Italian brand, Save the Queen, which I purchased secondhand after a three-year search. One of the challenges of purchasing small designers that feature artisanal details such as the distressing (artistic tears) in the central section of a blouse is making them last. With every hand washing, the “distressing” gets more distraught. Today, when I was getting ready to photograph the outfit, I also discovered a hole in the seam near the armhole, and repaired it with my needle. All of which goes to say that this process of putting outfits together and photographing them is causing me to inspect garments MUCH more closely. I am hoping I will take better care of them as a result.

 

Day 77:

 

Yesterday, I wore Emerald Blocks by Jean Frost. Frost has mentioned that the design was inspired by a cropped emerald jacket in Chanel’s Fall Winter 2012 Couture Show.

 

 

I saw the jacket in the original Chanel fashion show and then was thrilled to find a similar knitting pattern! It took forever to knit, as I hand-quilted each knitted piece with a silk lining. I took a two-day course from Jean Frost on lining knitted jackets with silk to prepare for the project. The time paid off, and back when I was a realtor, a French agent actually referred to it as a Chanel when she complimented it. (heh heh).

 

Over the years, I have fine-tuned the fit of this jacket, taking out the lining in the sleeves, as a sewing expert showed me how the lining in the knitted sleeves had tightened the fit on the body too much. I left the silk lining in the jacket back and fronts. Because I invested so much time and effort knitting and quilting and un-quilting silk-linings, I scrupulously care for this jacket in-between wearings.

 

Here is a close-up of the hand-quilted lining, which still remains in the body of the jacket:  

 

 

I am noticing a strong correlation between the hours I put into acquiring, or making, a garment, and caring for it afterwards. Instead of having a closet filled to bursting with cheap, fast-made imported clothes, why not curate a small collection of handmade clothes or garments one has hunted through consigners, second-hand, and small batch local makers, filling in the rest of the necessaries with cheaper mall-bought brands? I suppose this is my goal, and I feel that one element of my participation in #slowfashionoctober will be to find uses/good destinations for clothing I rarely wear, without sending it to landfill. There is an looming garbage problem caused by the cast-offs of the fast fashion industry and I feel inspired to try to cut down on my personal contribution to the problem.

 

Does anyone know of a charity in Puerto Rico that is accepting clothing donations?

 

 

Handknits at Work and Play: 3/4 through the 100 Day Challenge!

 

Today, I am wearing Aislinn by Amy Herzog. This is officially Day 76 of the 100-Day Challenge of wearing handknits all summer long. And yes, it is 80 degrees here! Aagh!  So far, during this challenge, I have worn Aislinn more than any other cardigan. Why? It is in a neutral color, it has a flattering shape that defines my waist, and it is knitted in the soft, durable yarn, Rowan Calmer. I have found the perfect recipe for a long-lasting versatile cardigan at last!

 

Day 75:

Yesterday, I wore The #11 Lace Tank by Nancy Cassells in Vogue Knitting. It is amazing how little space laceweight projects like this take up! It fits into a tiny corner of one drawer and is the perfect top to pack in a small suitcase. In spite of the fragility of its construction, it has lasted for seven years and is still going strong!  

Day 74

 

This is the Short-Sleeved Diamond Stitch Sweater by Sarah Dallas. It is a modern take on a vintage style, a combination which I really love. I made this top in 2008, before I had discovered how high-waisted I was. This meant I didn’t know to add an extra 1 ½ inches to the bottom of cropped sweaters so they would reach the waistband of my jeans. So it took me a while to figure out how to wear this. Peplum or patterned tanks underneath are the perfect solution, as they add the length to make a cropped pullover practical work wear. 

 

 

 

#Slowfashionoctober 2017

 

Ciao Bella by Laura Bryant

 

October is with us at last! I am so grateful for the cooler weather! In the California Bay Area, autumn brings refreshing cool after many hot months. Fringe Association’s #slowfashionoctober also offers an opportunity to reflect on why I spend my free time making clothes. As you can see, I am not doing it because my wardrobe is bare. Few of us really NEED much clothing any more. So why are we still buying it? For me, the process of making clothes brings a sense of balance, calm, and beauty, reminding me to be grateful for what I have.

 

Wallee

Slow fashion is a rebellion against “instant everything.”  With online shopping and same-day delivery, every want can be delivered to your door. No wonder waste is such a problem! I feel this “instant” society is wasting not just resources but energy and time. There is so much pressure to always be available by phone, email, and text that it is hard to find a place of calm and stillness. That is what slow fashion, through hand knitting and sewing, offers.

 

 

The 100 Day Challenge of wearing hand knits has increased my gratitude for what I already have. It has been a welcome change celebrating finished projects instead of hankering for something new. It is not easy to integrate hand knits into daily outfits without taking the time to think about it, so this is teaching me to create outfits that work. I also plan to  repair and finish old knits this month. Mending and altering old projects comes first, followed by finishing up WIPS. 

By the way, here are the hand knits that I wore the past two days:

 

Day 72:

This is Blossom by Kim Hargreaves, knitted in Rowan 4ply cotton. A short-sleeved waistcoat seems to go with everything, even this wide skirt which is tricky to pair with knits. That skirt really should be a size smaller, but with resale one's choice is limited. I hope to improve my tailoring skills this year so I can take in the waist.

 

Day 73:

Today I am wearing Laura Bryant’s Ciao Bella pattern. It is knitted using Prism Tencel Tape yarn. I added additional waist shaping to this pattern but I don’t think it really needed it. The fabric has a ton of drape because of its tencel fiber. 

 

 

Handknits Hit the Streets: 71 Days into the Challenge!

 

Today, I am wearing Lintilla by Martina Behm. This is officially Day 71 of the 100-Day Challenge! As with any real-life challenge, there are always bumps in the road and the past four days I did not feel well so got behind posting these photos. However, I am up to sitting at the computer once again so here they are!

 

Day 70:

This is my second Wisdom cardigan by Kim Hargreaves, knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed in the Scree colorway. Back in 2011, I didn’t have a lot of handknits I could wear for my job as a realtor and I had liked my first Wisdom so much that I knit a second one. I am not certain I would do that again. My current job as an academic tutor is much less formal. And, although I love the pattern, it did get a bit monotonous, leaving me with two sweaters where probably one would do. But this was before I had discovered a slow fashion philosophy!  It is interesting the way, now that I have simplified my life and am able to return to the teaching career I love so much, I feel the need for fewer things, because overall I am happier.

 

Day 69

This is my first exploration of Amy Herzog’s Custom Fit pattern. I knitted this tank to imitate a store-bought one I really liked, using Lang Yarns Elle. Although the collar is a bit droopier than I would like, I do find this a very wearable top. I did alter some of Herzog’s custom fit measurements, as I do not agree with her that tops should be tight in the hips and loose in the waist—I think that creates a sausage shape which is not really flattering. So I used an hour-glass silhouette instead, keeping it looser at the hips and tighter in the waist area. 

 

 

Day 68

You have seen this Ted Baker dress which I purchased secondhand in a bunch of my photos, and I just love it! I can wear it running around town or tutoring my students, and it is immensely comfortable. Best of all, I can throw on a scarf or cowl and go! This is a cowl I crocheted in Rowan Cotton Glace using lace pattern # 13 from the Japanese “Let’s Knit” series Book 20.

  

Day 67

Here are Stephanie and I at Knit Night for Uncommon Threads Yarn’s bi-annual finish it raffle! Stephanie is wearing Southern Riviera in Rowan Cotton Glace yarn, and I am wearing Eerie by Sarah Hatton knitted in Rowan Kidsilk Haze yarn. The Uncommon Threads Finish It Raffle is SUCH a fun event! For every project you have completed using yarn purchased at the store, you turn in a pattern slip and photo and receive a raffle ticket in return. This encourages everyone to finish up their projects with the hope of winning something fantastic. And I did! I won this gorgeous bag of Classic Elite Mika yarn! Yaaay! I am so excited!  The timing was so perfect for this unexpected gift. Every time I felt too tired and sore this week, I would take out this bag of gorgeous yarn and found myself smiling again!

 

Days 65 & 66 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

Insert title photo

 

Today, I am wearing Victoria by Sarah Hatton. As I now own several basic cardigans, I find it very useful to plan new projects around dresses or skirts in my wardrobe. Now that I own Victoria, I also find that I wear the dress I made it to go with more often. The dress is designed by Kate Spade, and I purchased it last year second-hand. 

 

Yesterday, I wore The Lace Blouse by Jennie Atkinson. This is one of the cardigans I wear the most often in warm weather, because it is so easy. I can throw it on over anything and go! As you can see, the warm weather has returned, which is rather frustrating as I want to wear all my fall knits! We call this Indian Summer here but it will probably only last another week.

 

My Lily is coming along nicely. I am now blocking the back piece and the two fronts, and will cast on my first sleeve today. Squeal!!

Days 63 & 64 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

Today, I wore #08 Peplum Jacket by Debbie Bliss. The jacket is supposed to be knitted in stockinette but I used a slip-stitch pattern I devised instead, inspired by the wrought iron doors I saw in Paris. 

You can read all the details about the jacket here.

 

Yesterday, I wore Temperate by Kim Hargreaves for a short time. But I had to take it off because that mohair haze yarn creates a REALLY warm fabric! Wow! I will definitely reach for that top in the middle of winter, but not before! 

 

 

This is my cat, Manju, curled into a little ball. Watching cats sleep is so restful, isn’t it?

 

Days 61 & 62 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

On day 61, I wore Belarus by Kaffee Fassett. It is knitted in stripes of different colors of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. The sunset color scheme of this cardigan is rather gorgeous. I would wear it more if the shape of the garment were more manageable. The loose folds at the front were designed to contain a lot of extra fabric which completely disguise the waist. So I find that I have to pin it at the waist and make it into a wrap in order for it to work for me. 

 

These are probably the last strawberries of summer for my little garden. The weather has been getting a little colder, thank heavens!

 

Yesterday, I wore Tatsu by Marie Wallin.  I LOVE this top! It fits really well, and goes with a lot of different skirts. The top is also really comfortable because of its light, soft fabric. Rowan Softyak dk yarn is now on my radar, and I can’t wait to knit with it again. Besides, I can tell this summer basic is going to get a LOT of wear.