Fabric Mart Fashion Contest

Have you heard about the Fabric Mart "Fabricista" Challenge?  It will be sort of a "Project Runway" type setup with 10 chosen designers and one being "sent home" each week. Voting on their blog will determine the winner.   Here is the information  Fabric Mart Fashion Challenge
I just sent in my entry to be a contestant but plan to have lots of fun sewing each challenge whether I am chosen as an actual contestant or not!  What a great way to use up some of my stash and I can always put the results here on my blog.

I may not progress very far because my "funky" style doesn't appeal to all tastes but if I can convince just one "older" lady that being in your 60's (or older) doesn't mean you can't enjoy making and wearing great clothes, it will fulfill my goal.   That's really why I write this blog and what I have learned from many of YOUR blogs!         So you all rush to sign up too-----can't wait to see some of the results!

(I put some of my older fall and winter clothes here to give a sample of my "funky and arty" aesthetic)

Yippee--I won!

I was just contacted by the Fiber Factor company to let me know I have been chosen as a co-winner in their latest challenge in the "watchers" category for this sweater. You can see it and others in the group at Fiber Factor Challenge #3.

They requested I give them my shipping address so they can send me a prize! I am hoping it's some of those wonderful Addi knitting needles made by the Skacel company that is sponsoring the contest---will let you know when it arrives.

You can read more about my design philosophy when making it at My Fiber Factor Entry

#12--Most Difficult Pattern EVER!

In my blogging challenge to make 31 knitted/crochet items and sewing an outfits to go with them, the yarn project is usual by far the most time-consuming and difficult, but not in this case.  Because the dress was the biggest challenge to me I'll write about it first.

  It is the Donna Karan pattern  #1361 from the new Vogue fall collection. I could tell the pattern would be a challenge when I saw that it was marked "Advanced" and all those outside darts on the front and back!

http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/filebin/images/product_images/Full/V1361.jpg

Little did I realize that it would turn out to be the most confusing pattern I've put together in more than 50 years of sewing!

Cutting out the pattern was the first trial. No body piece is cut double. Each side is different and none of the pieces LOOKS like part of a dress!

I marked the many body darts with tailor tacks and pressed them before sewing. They actually came out pretty good and I was on to the collar portion. This is what was really confusing as some of the body parts flow into becoming the collar.  In addition, instead of sewing on the facings in the normal way, the pattern instructions have you lap one edge over the other to sew. I did this on the collar piece but since it is underneathe and doesn't even show I sewed the other facings the normal way.

Actually, once the darts and collar are all put together most of the hard work is done. The right sleeve was a little tricky to put in because there were several large darts and seams in the body seam allowance.

Amazing, but when I was finally able to put it on it actually fit pretty well, I did not make the attached lining and chose to close it with hidden snaps rather than sewing it closed.

Most of all I was proud of myself for continuing to follow the directions though at times they made no sense!

Now on to the scarf. It is a crocheted circle mobius made from a fine mohair yarn doubled. It can be worn long or short:

This actually turned out to be a comfortable outfit---now on to the next one.

31 Outfit Challenge--#11

Here is the latest outfit in my knitted/crochet items challenge.

This project was my most time-comsuming and challenging yet, and I loved making it.  It is actually my entry as a "swatcher" into the knitting design contest called http://thefiberfactor.com/ being held by Skacel Yarn company. There are 12 actual designers who are contestants in the 6 month contest and they are given a different design challenge each month. Followers who are not actual contestants but want to complete the challenges are called "Swatchers" and there is even a section on their web page for us!(and some sort of prize)

They are now on Challenge 3 which is called "Blank Slate". They were sent 15 skeins of the beautiful yarn called KENZIE by HIKOO and could make anything they want. You can read more about what the entries will be judged on at their website.

I was able to get some of the same yarn, but in a different colorway (the actual contestants had to use a beige color). My colorway is called "Bayberry" and is a wonderful rich tweedy orange.

Since I wanted a complete outfit I immediately went shopping for this soft challis in fall colors to go with it.

I decided to do a "sampler" sort of sweater and started with a simple form made out of rectangles for the back, sides and arms. I divided those up into smaller rectangles and made those with over 25 different lace and texture patterns with diagonal lines. I have recently begun experimenting with joining crochet and knitting in the same piece and did so on this. The body is done with knit motifs and the arms and front band with crochet.

Here are some of the crochet and knit pattern books I used to research and find diagonal designs:

Here are some close up pictures of the diagonal lace blocks in my sweater:

I wanted to stay with the diagonal line motif so chose this pattern for my skirt (the version with all the points at the bottom)

Here is a "caught in the wind" shot where you can really see those diagonal points!

I am definitely ready to start my fall knitting and sewing.  More later!

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.

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)

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!