Fashion: Yarn Style

Days 59 & 60 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

Today I am wearing Madeline by Kim Hargreaves.  It is knitted in Debbie Bliss Rialto dk.

 

Yesterday, I wore Elizabeth by Kim Hargreaves.  It is my go-to knitted blazer whenever I need a professional look for work. I was meeting with a parent and all her son's teachers to craft a support plan for the year to set the student up for success, so I needed to wear a business-friendly knit. The jacket is knitted in Rowan felted tweed aran, which wears like iron. It has lasted six years so far and will probably last another sixty.

 

I have completed the back of Marie Wallin’s Lily pullover, which I am converting into a cardigan. I love this fair isle design so much! Isn’t the color combination in Rowan felted tweed yarn incredible?

Days 57 & 58 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Bay by Kim Hargreaves.  It is knitted in Malabrigo Yarn Arroyo. Yesterday, I wore another favorite:

 

 Striven by Jennie Atkinson. Now that fall weather is approaching, I can wear a great variety of knits, and I am really enjoying it! Striven was made using a duplicate stitch technique with felted tweed to create the “plaid” panels in the body of the jacket fronts. I love the look of the woven-seeming fabric. This is one of the jackets I wear the most often as soon as the air grows crisp!

 

I just finished the gauge swatch for Reflection, by Kim Hargreaves. Isn’t this a gorgeous design? I plan to use the same yarn and the same colorway. 

Day 56 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Interval by Shellie Anderson.  It is knitted in Rowan Calmer yarn. This was a challenging pattern due to the finishing instructions, but by dint of turning the garment inside out and re-seaming it,  I was able to create a successful garment. Note to self: never knit another purl stitch pullover without setting up 2 knit rows on each edge to assist with seaming.

 

Lately, I have been obsessed with the drawstring bag sewing tutorial Kay Jones posted for Bakery Bears patrons. I have made 5 of these already, four of which are gifts. The snoopy bag is mine alone.

 

 

Admittedly, Snoopy was an obsession of mine when I was in my early years, but I think you never get too old for hugs.

Days 53, 54 & 55 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday, due to a birthday celebration that went past midnight with some dear friends. Now I have to play catchup! Today I am wearing Eva by Martin Storey.  It is knitted in Rowan Angora Haze, which is discontinued. Martin Storey is a wonderful designer who often uses vintage inspirations for his patterns, and this whole pattern booklet was wonderful! I still want to knit more of those patterns. Isn't the evening light creepy in this photo? There is a transparency effect on the pant legs due to the light filtering through bamboo leaves.

 

Yesterday, I wore the shawl, Lintilla by Martina Behm. I held two strands of yarn together, Handmaiden Sea Lace and Anzula Breeze to knit this in garter stitch. 

 

 

On my birthday, I wore my Longbourn shawl again, to celebrate. My husband surprised me by sneaking a chocolate cake into the yarn store where my weekly Knit Night is held, and the owner, who is a dear friend, startled us all by producing the cake in the middle of the evening! What a shock! And how delicious the cake was too!

 

Days 51 & 52 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I wore Jen by Kim Hargreaves.  It is knitted in Phildar Soie, a long-discontinued yarn. I wish I had bought more of this yarn on sale when it was discontinued—this cardigan has lasted for seven years and is still in excellent shape! The fabric is still as lustrous and brilliant as ever, and yet it is durable as well.

 

Yesterday I wore Adelphe by Sarah Hatton, knitted in Handmaiden Sea Silk.yarn.  It is humbling photographing my outfits every day because then I found out everything that is wrong. For example, when I looked at myself in the mirror in my dark home, I didn’t notice my bra showing. I took one look at this photo and went home to put a camisole on between layers before I had to tutor my students!

 

 

The background of yesterday’s photo is Shady Lane, in Burlingame, California, my favorite clothing boutique in the whole world. I discovered it as a teenager and was totally blown away because it is mostly all unique pieces, mostly made by very small designers and seamstresses. It was the first moment of my life when I saw in real life that clothing could be art and that made a deep impression on me.

 

My husband took me here to pick out a piece of clothing for my birthday, which is tomorrow. It is funny how being a maker has changed my clothing choices—I rarely buy new any more, and when I do, I tend to support a boutique like this where I can find something produced in a small batch or handmade. And why bother to try on jackets or sweaters, when they could be knitted instead?

 

 

The Longbourn Shawl & The Halfway Point of the 100-Day Challenge

 

 

Today I completed Longbourn by Kay Jones. It has been so fun to wear my new shawl today! This design is a tribute to the book, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. The beautiful cable edging shows the intertwined lives of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett.

 

There is also a gorgeous panel in the middle back (can you tell I haven’t blocked my shawl yet?) which features a butterfly design detail. Elizabeth loved to walk in the country, so the designer, Kay Jones, incorporated that exquisite stitch. The pattern is very easy to follow and extremely well-written so I think even a beginning knitter could make this shawl.

 

The yarn is hand-dyed by Kay Jones and is called Bakery Bears Cottage Fountains. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to purchase it, as her yarn usually sells out in one minute on Etsy. I feel the shawl is a wonderful tribute to the textiles of the Regency Period in England, and I am sure it will be a favorite for me to wear when I am in a Jane Austen mood. It was a perfect knit to celebrate the 50 day mark of my 100-day Summer Challenge!

 

 

Yesterday, I wore Gabriela by Kim Hargreaves.  It is knitted in Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply.

 

 

 

The cabled fabric has held up quite well over the six years I have worn it, but the white color has faded to an eggshell which I do not like as much. I find that now I need to wear it with prints that incorporate white rather than a pure white pant or skirt, which is too bad. However, I know that pure white is one of the less stable colors in wool yarn and now I tend to use cotton blends if I want a garment to stay that color permanently.

 

Days 47 & 48 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

 

Yesterday I wore Alexi by Kim Hargreaves.  If I could only have one cardigan in my wardrobe, I might choose this one. It is so elegant and versatile, I wear it all the time for work! It is knitted in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, which is a favorite yarn of mine. It is quite light and soft against the skin yet doesn't pill much, in my experience.

 

Today I wore Andrea by Sarah Hatton. I am not entirely sure it works with this collared shirt underneath. Upon further examination, I think the shirt collar is so high and the cardigan button closure is so low, that it creates a weird visual effect where my chest looks much lower than it is. I'm actually finding it really helpful to blog these outfits because looking at a photograph is much more objective than quickly glancing in a mirror before popping out the door. Some of the outfits I thought worked are awkward and need to be paired with different things.

 

 

Days 45 & 46 of the 100-Day Challenge

 

Yesterday I wore the Shapely Tank by Joan McGowan-Michael.  It is knitted in Rowan Calmer yarn. I’ve been dealing with my shock about the flooding in Houston, Texas brought on by Hurricane Harvey by baking pies recently.

 

Some of my relatives have really been affected by the hurricane and it's hard to watch and not be able to do much to help. So instead, I am making pies. This year our Yellow Newton Pippin, Fuji and Sentinel Columnar apples produced a big crop, so we made five apple pies yesterday.

 

 

I used Alton Brown’s Apple of my Pie recipe, which really produces a strong traditional apple pie flavor with a flaky crust. In case you are wondering what is poking out of the middle of the pie, that is a PIE BIRD.

 

 

Today I wore my Antarktis Shawl by Janina Kallio.  Underneath, I am wearing a Ted Baker dress I purchased second hand.

 

Days 43 & 44 of the 100-Day Summer Challenge

 

Today I am wearing Embrace by Kim Hargreaves. My husband cleverly used the reflected light fixture to create the illusion of a little halo, thank you!  Embrace is knitted in Berroco Pure Pima which was an enjoyable yarn to knit with, and the cardigan has stayed in good shape after seven years of wear.

 

Yesterday I wore my Crocheted Braid Bracelets by June Gilbank because it was 110 degrees outside! Even inside the restaurant the machines were not working well because of the heat, and I had to send my dinner back. So I am really glad I did not wear a sweater. The bracelets are made with Berroco Zen Colors Yarn. Phew! I hope to drive to the coast tomorrow morning to escape this heat wave!

 

 

I’ve been watching some old episodes of Project Runway lately, and I am kind of obsessed by this cardigan that Heidi is wearing. I think the pop of bright green makes the navy cardigan looks so fresh! I’m not sure about the beading, though. What do you think?

Days 41 & 42 of the 100-Day Challenge

 

 

Today I am wearing Audrey in Unst by Gudrun Johnston.  It is knitted in Rowan 4ply Soft and I found I could only wear the sweater in the morning as the temperature climbed steadily to 110 degrees.

 

Yesterday I wore Aislinn by Amy Herzog. It is knitted in Rowan Calmer Yarn. 

 

 

Today my knitting friend Clementine is wearing the High Trestle Tee by Marie Greene. It is knitted in Shibui Knits Twig held together with Shibui Knits Pebble.  Perhaps this will end up being the pattern that I will use my Calmer yarn to knit. It has a lovely shape to it and looks very versatile!