Wednesday, July 31, 2013

31 Outfits Challenge--#8,#9,#10

I had a great time at the Crochet Convention and saw many great crochet designs. My favorite class was on "Combining knitting and Crochet" which I plan to do more on. In the above picture I knitted the back of this sweater with a linen/silk combo yarn. After finding the Missoni-like fabric to make the underneathe tee I decided to change to crochet on the front and mimic the tee design:

Here are two more summer outfits that I recently finished up:


Crocheted top from cotton yarn, ITY knit tee fabric from FabricMart, linen pants fabric from stash.


Top crocheted with silk yarn, cotton/rayon tee underneath in basic pattern, linen pants fabric from JoAnne's.

This completes my summer projects-- in my next entry I will be starting on fall outfits.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

31 Outfits Challenge--#5,#6,#7

I am going to the CGOA (Crochet Guild of America) convention next week and have finally finished the outfits to wear there.    I am a "crochet lover" from way back and am out to prove that crocheted clothing can be just as stylish and trendy as knitted stuff, and it's not your "grandma's crochet" any more!

A big factor in the new crochet trend is Vogue Knitting Magazine. For the past 2 years they have published a single issue dedicated to crochet and each is filled with edgy and trendy styles from great designers.
My first two outfits are patterns from this magazine, with a few changes to fit and look better on my body

I liked this 70's style skirt called "Half Hexagon Skirt" but not the length or tightness so expanded it a lot to make my "4th of July" version skirt.







I really liked the interesting crossover cable in the middle of the front and back of this design called "Mesh Stitch Dress"  and thought she needed more underwear!           I made mine in a metallic black with different colored ruffles and cables and call it "My Little Black Cocktail" Dress. I plan to wear it for the banquet and Fashion Show at the convention and just hope it doesn't fall off when I'm on the runway!
My last new outfit comes from a new crochet book called "Runway Crochet" which includes patterns by many of the top designers.
I chose a skirt by my very favorite designer, Doris Chan, and made what she calls her "Cosmopolitan Cocktail Skirt"
This yarn is 100% Corn Fiber! (called AMAIZING by SWTC) and is really cool and soft feeling. The top is made from a rayon knit (also breathable in hot weather) and I sewed a silk underskirt with some fabric in my stash----so the entire outfit is great for the torrid weather we will be having at the convention in Indianapolis next week.

I am also taking a dress I made from Last Year's Vogue Knitting Crochet Magazine in a variegated cotton yarn with sewn cotton under-dress.
As always, more later and if you need a new hobby, give crochet a try! (much easier to learn than knitting)

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

31 Knitted Outfits Challenge--#4

I know it's corny but I really like to dress for the holidays!  Guess there's something to be said for being old enough to wear what I like.   Anyway, here is my 4th of July top made from cotton and silk yarn. I learned a new technique on this called "short rows" for crochet which enabled me to make the triangles as I progressed, and didn't have to sew them together later.

The harem pants are sewn from a cotton gauze, thus making it a very cool and comfy outfit for the hot days we are having.


Here's another patriotic top I knitted several years back (thus it doesn't count in my 31 Outfit Challenge) I did just make the Huge navy linen shorts----may take them in later but right now they are too comfy!

Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th tomorrow.  I'll be knitting and watching baseball!