Rose de France

Now that Fall weather has arrived, I finally finished this short-sleeved sweater.  It was started back in June, when short sleeves were much more appropriate, but I got distracted by other things.  At least I had the chance to wear it once before it gets too chilly out!

This is another design from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2 which I love.  Give me enough time and yarn and I just may have to make every single pattern contained therein!

For the most part, this is a very basic sweater except for the contrasting collar, cuffs, and flowers.  The collar and cuffs are actually knit on the bias, which I was not expecting.  

And underneath that collar is a ribbed neckline (again, not what I was anticipating, but it works!).

The original flowers turned out a little too sea-anemone for my taste.  I was hoping for more of a posey of violets sort of look, so I just basted the ends back under the flower center.  Crisis averted!

And you know what this means?  Time to cast on something new!

Sweater:  Made by me, Jumper with Collar and Flowers from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 4044

Shoes:  Colin Stuart

Earrings:  Gift (vintage)

Evergreen with a bit of Moss Stitching

This is the second time I have attempted to knit this sweater.  The first was one of those projects that was started because I had the urge to knit, and wanted to jump right in.  On short notice, the only semi-suitable yarn was a variegated sock yarn that I found at my local JoAnn Fabrics.  As I was knitting, I had my doubts, and I should have trusted them.  The finished sweater was tiny!  Sure, I could get it on, but it was too tight to be comfortable.  And the yarn choice might have worked for a pair of socks, but the color pooling was not great looking on a sweater.

The problem with negative ease is anticipating just how much the finished project will stretch, enough to suit the design, but not so much that it makes me look like I am stuffed inside a sausage casing.  For my second try, I went a little too far in the other direction.  The sweater is just a little too big, but it is super comfy, so it's a keeper!    

This one was also too long for my taste when I was finished, and I had no desire to unravel from the bottom, so I hemmed the knitting.  And it worked! 

I really like the way the hem looks, and may end up adding a mini hem to the sleeves as well, since the edges have a tendency to curl.

And the moss stitch yoke and added ruffle adds the perfect amount of girly embellishments.

I decided to follow the vintage instructions to make some crochet buttons.  As a form (and to make the button edges “solid” and easy to get through the buttonholes) I used my handy dandy Dritz plastic rings.

It feels wonderful to finally have a completed project!  

Sweater:  Made by me, “Young and Pretty” from A Stitch in Time, Volume 1

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 4044

Shoes:  Seychelles

Ribbon Threaded

I finally completed that sweater I mentioned last month!

Of course, it took a while to decide what I was going to do about all the ribbon required by the design.  And yes, it really is necessary!  After sewing my front, back, and sleeve pieces together, I tried the sweater on and had a bit of a moment.  Yikes, that neck opening was big.  Thankfully, a length of ribbon threaded through the eyelet pattern pulls in all that extra width.  I guess they did that on purpose! 

I ended up using some narrow satin ribbon in a lavender colorway.  I have an entire shoe box full of old Spool o' Ribbon in many colors from JoAnn Fabrics.  They seem to have stopped carrying the product, but it sure does come in handy having some extra spools stocked away.  And the good news is that I can always swap in another ribbon if I find something I like better.  

Once again, I managed to make myself a sweater that does not really match anything in the closet. 

Okay, that is not completely true, but it was a great excuse to make another easy to wear skirt with Simplicity 4044 (the fabric of which was leftover from this dress).

I was unsure if I was going to have enough yardage and then remembered just how long this skirt is drafted.  I cut four inches off the pattern piece and it could even stand another inch.

This is now my third version of the skirt.  Yes, I already have a blue rayon jacquard version, but it gets so much wear that I had to make myself another for fear the original will wear out one of these days!

Sweater:  Made by me, "Ribbon Threaded Jumper" from A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Skirt:  Made by me, Simplicity 4044

Shoes:  Poetic License

Earrings:  Shadows

Vintage Knit Lace

I finally finished this sweater - and it only took two years!  And now that it is finally complete, I can say that this is one of my favorite hand knit pieces.   

It is amazing how a lack of finishing notions stops me in my tracks – in this case it was buttons.  Because I knew that I would be unable to finish the sweater without them, I tucked it away over a year ago.  Last weekend, I noticed the unfinished project mocking me from the bureau drawer and decided to do something about it.  The only finishing details it needed was to be sewn together, the edges of the sleeves crocheted, and those darn buttons.

Thank you again, Burda Style, for your blog post about Dorset Buttons.  Now instead of being disappointed when I cannot find the right buttons, I just make my own.

Because I see things much better as a visual representation, I made myself a knitting chart for the lace pattern.  I am forever losing my place when the instructions are written in prose, and this really helps me visualize what the pattern is supposed to look like.

The yarn is a cashmere/merino blend from Colourmart.  This is the softest yarn I have every worked with.  And I love the color!  I have quite a bit of yardage left, so I may be able to squeeze out another sweater at some point.

One work in progress finished, so many more to complete.

Sweater:  Made by me. (Gleam Sweater - from freevintageknitting.com)

Skirt:  Made by me. (Simplicity 4044)

Earrings:  Antique fan earrings from Shadows

Snood:  Made by me.

Shoes:  Seychelles “Little Owl” in Navy Suede