Day: 27 June 2016

crochet

Wintergreen and Belmont

My lovely friend Tan adores green.  She also lives in a place where it gets rather cold.  So I crocheted her a gift.

Wintergreen Cowl and Belmont Boot Toppers

The cowl is the Wintergreen Cowl by Ellen Gormley. I have crocheted this pattern before, and find it a lovely cowl to wear. It sits beautifully around the neck like a crocheted collar.

Wintergreen Cowl and Belmont Boot Toppers

I used Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 in Highland Green, purchased from my favourite local yarn shop Woolarium. The colour screamed Tanya to me. It’s a worsted weight, around 10 ply. I combined it with a 5.00mm hook.

Wintergreen Cowl and Belmont Boot Toppers

This is a very fast item to crochet, once you get your head around the basic pattern. It’s actually Bruges lace, but worked in 10 ply, so the effect is completely different from the usual Bruges lace worked in thread or very fine yarn. I really like the arches and loops. It used about 1.2 skeins of yarn. This left me with enough to crochet matching boot toppers.

Wintergreen Cowl and Belmont Boot Toppers

There are loads of free patterns out there on the internet for crocheted (or knitted) boot toppers. I chose to use the Belmont Boot Toppers pattern by Jenn Wolfe Kaiser. Once again, I used a 5mm hook. This pattern comes in a variety of sizes, so it helps to know calf measurement before you start. I called on another friend who I know wears similar size shoes to measure hers! That way I was able to keep my gift a surprise.

Wintergreen Cowl and Belmont Boot Toppers

These boot toppers combine stitches that I rather enjoy working, with the crocheted BLO rib and shells on top. I had been dubious about boot toppers as a general concept, but Tan has assured me that they actually do provide warmth as well as providing a fashion statement! I really enjoyed crocheting this set, and suspect that I will return to this pattern combination over time.

Wintergreen Cowl and Belmont Boot Toppers

adult's clothing, sewing

You Sew Girl Draped T-Dress (again)

This is one of those patterns that I sew each year.  I think that I have sewn about five of these now.

You Sew Girl Draped Tee Dress in lightweight viscose doubleknit from The Cloth Shop

This time I decided to sew it in a more transitional fabric that could be layered under or over for the cold. Generally I sew this as a summer dress in light to mid weight stretch fabrics. When I stumbled across this crochet printed double knit (pretty much a soft light-weight ponte) at The Cloth Shop recently I absolutely couldn’t resist it.

You Sew Girl Draped Tee Dress in lightweight viscose doubleknit from The Cloth Shop

With a fabric as boldly patterned as this one you really need a simple shape. The You Sew Girl Draped T-Dress is highly reminiscent of lots of those patterns you see in Japanese sewing pattern books, but in my opinion there is that little bit of extra drafting in this pattern that means the neckline stays where is should and the cut on sleeves also maintain their position on the body.

You Sew Girl Draped Tee Dress in lightweight viscose doubleknit from The Cloth Shop

All construction was on the overlocker. I added a neckband to bring in the neckline a fraction and make it more appropriate for colder weather. You can use whatever neckline finish you prefer on this dress – I think I’ve done turn and stitch, binding or neckbands in the past, cutting neckbands to whatever width I prefer. I used the twin needle on the sewing machine to secure the neckband and the hems.

You Sew Girl Draped Tee Dress in lightweight viscose doubleknit from The Cloth Shop

What I do still need to acquire is a lead fishing sinker to weigh down the drape on the inside. I often do this with cowls or drapes that need to fall nicely. At the moment the side drape, in this fabric that is heavier in weight to the knits I’ve used for this dress in the past, is a little more like a folded inwards pocket.

You Sew Girl Draped Tee Dress in lightweight viscose doubleknit from The Cloth Shop

I strongly suspect that I will continue to sew this pattern on a yearly basis. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover that it works just as well as a layering piece as it it does in a cooler summer weight knit. Yesterday I wore it layered over a wool knit (purchased) top with thick stockings and boots, then I added a Tesssuti Sydney jacket and a scarf. Cosy!

You Sew Girl Draped Tee Dress in lightweight viscose doubleknit from The Cloth Shop

Thanks for all the lovely feedback on my work wardrobe in the previous post – I am pleased that a number of you felt inspired or informed by it.