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!

31 Outfits #3

This top is made for hot weather and is perfect to wear this week.

It is crocheted from an unusual yarn made in Italy. The contents are linen, viscose and polyamide. It is what is called a "thick and thin" yarn, which gives an unusual texture. There are about 3 inch sections of pure linen and then the same amount of the shinier and thinner polyamide.

The linen pants are sewn from a basic Vogue pattern and the mauve under tee is a rayon knit also sewn by me.      
    
You may have noticed I have changed my Challenge name from "31 sweaters" to "31 Outfits". That is because I've seen lots of knitted/crocheted dress and skirt patterns that I am anxious to try. It will also give me a more varied wardrobe than 31 new tops would!

31 Knitted Sweaters Challenge-#2

This crocheted warm weather top is made from the Gedifra yarn "Satata". It has cotton and polyamide fibers which are braided into an interesting texture. I used a plain double crochet and then added the flower motif in the front to echo the pattern in the pants fabric.

The off-white undertop is made from a linen knit----too flimsy to wear alone but perfect with it's breathability for underneath.  The pants are cotton, made from a basic Vogue pattern, using a Burda crotch line.

My 31 Knitted Sweaters Challenge--#1

After participating several times in the "Me Made Months" sponsored by Zo of  Zo's Blog where I wore items I had sewn every day of the month, I decided it would be a fun challenge to do so with my handknitted/crocheted items.  Of course they take much longer to complete than sewing does, so I am giving myself a year, til May 31, 2014, to see if I can complete this challenge. Actually I have MANY things started so my only rule is that I have to actually COMPLETE it during this year. 


   I'd like to use unusual patterns, yarns and techniques and I really have enough yarn already in my stash to complete this challenge, so it will be a way to use that up too. I particularly like the many summer yarns, which are now made with many kinds of materials. I have linen, rayon, bamboo, milk protein , stainless steel and soy yarns and hope to use some of each.

Here is a portion of my stash with summer yarns only:

So, without further ado here is my project #1, a crocheted overtop made with Louet Euroflax linen.

 I love linen yarn as much as I do linen fabric. It takes dyes wonderfully and is cool to wear in summer. The  holes in the fabric made it too bare to wear alone, so  for modesty's sake I sewed a simple tee to go underneathe. The denim pants were sewn by me too, and overlayed with crocheted motifs and sprayed with bleach, thus the tie-dye look.

So 1 down and 30 to go! On to the next project!

Italian Graffiti Fabric

I have had this cotton fabric with what I THINK is Italian writing on it for a long time and had almost given up on finding something I wanted to make with it. Then I read Marcy Tilton's blog post on all the printed pants she saw in Paris paris-trend-pantalons-des-celebrations and decided it was perfect for that.

I know that tight pants are in fashion now but because of my figure and this particular fabric I decided to go with what Marcy calls a "soft" pant.  Though I like my pant legs roomy I do NOT want them to look like long wide bags and found the perfect pattern in Vogue 8499, which were designed by Marcy herself.
                                                                        

These were just what I wanted for several reasons.
1.The 4 pattern pieces for each leg allowed for gradual tapering at the bottom.
2. Both the side pockets and horizontal darts near the knees gave some extra shaping to the pants, and added some interest to the length.

Needless to say, I didn't even consider trying to match any of the writing on the different pieces!

I drafted a basic top that would echo the irregular shapes in the print, but that would be short enough in the front to show the top of the pockets.

I had a hard time photographing them so that the print showed very well but here are several attempts with different lighting.

Since I don't read Italian, I am wondering what the writing says? Hope it's not too bad!

ORIGAMI and sewing

I am so glad warmer weather has arrived! Most of the winter found me with an ongoing cold/cough, lying on the couch reading and knitting with skinny yarn that took forever to evolve into a finished object. (how's that for an excuse for nothing to show?)

I did have the energy to experiment with my new "folding" habit, which is a term Origami enthusiasts like to use for their art.  It is quite a steep learning curve but here is a pic of some of my beginner projects
                                      

I've found that origami gives me some of the same satisfaction that sewing an intricate pattern does, so it is reassuring to find something else I like to do---plus it costs a lot less.  I finished all the models in the book on the left below and now consider myself an "advanced beginner". I'm working through some of the intermediate patterns in the middle books, and dreaming of the day I'll be able to fold some of the models in the Robert Lang book on the right.         Just like fashion, different designers use different techniques and Origami enthusiasts talk about "folding a Lang".  LIke most arts, there is an interesting history surrounding the different techniques that are done in different countries and it's been fun to read about those.

Stayed tuned, because I am suddenly really ready to SEW! I'd also like to include some summer weight self-knitted and crocheted tops in my new outfits.    Sewing Room here I come!