McCalls 6649 and Grainline Alder mash-up

The fact that I can write this title feels like some real progression in my sewing achievement, because it represents being able to imagine a garment and then alter patterns to achieve it, and this is pretty much what I imagined.

I wanted a soft-floaty blouse made of swiss dot fabric.

I used McCall's M6649 as the basic pattern.  This is a great pattern for me (if you ignore the dated envelope illustrations) because it has different cup sizes and means that a fba isn't needed.  I cut a size 14 C cup.  I took my usual 1" from the length to raise the waist line and 6/8" from the width at the shoulders.

I cut the side and back panels (shortened to the right length) from the alder dress pattern and use the blouse cut-outs on the blouse fronts and back.

I'm really pleased with how it has turned out, and the fit is pretty much what I wanted.  I did realise about half-way through that I had gone to a lot of trouble to create a look which is rather like the Bruyere!  I think the flat front panel, and the extra gathers work well though.

I'm particularly proud of the finish on the inside.  Because the fabric is somewhat transparent I French seemed everywhere and this generally went really well, even the sleeves.

The only mistake I made was in the French seaming of the inset panels at the corner.  Somehow I think I didn't do the snip at the corner correctly and, as you can see below, there is a pull, which is annoying but I can live with it.

Pretty good continuation of the dot through the yoke! (Sorry do I sound like I'm bragging, but hey I am pretty proud of this one!).  I think I should have used silk organza rather than iron-on interfacing which has made the yokes rather too "white", something for another time.

This is actually my second 6649 (forgot to blog the first one).  My first was made in Liberty fabric as a bit of an experiment.  Before you start thinking I can afford to use liberty to experiment, this was £5 a metre from Standfast and Barracks.  I'm not sure about the result, I love the fabric but it is probably a bit busy for a garment for me (and hence not worn yet).

 

I had imagined the swiss-dot blouse worn with the Stonecutter jumper, the contrast between a delicate blouse and rustic sweater.
 

I haven't knitted the sweater yet, though I've bought the pattern (think it might take some time to knit!)



I have knitted a cardigan though!  This is the Kelly cardigan, knitted from Erika Knight's Classc Knits.  I first came across this cardigan when I was admiring Anne's cardigan worn in the first series of the Great British Sewing Bee.  Anne used up different ends of wool to create her stripes.  I wanted a lazy way to get stripes and I already had this wool in my stash.  It's Drops Kid-Silk (a mohair and silk mixture).  I've already waxed lyrical about Drops wool, it is fantastic value.  It's on offer at £3 a ball at the moment and I used 7 balls for this (though it might have squeezed out of £6 without the use of two colours).  I used colour 24 petrol for the bands and 25 sea-green for the body.  You knit the whole thing with two strands of wool, which makes it really cosy, though trying to maintain clean stripes requires some thought.

This is a great basic cardigan pattern and a good beginner's knit.  Looking at the photos I do need to work on the fit of my knits.  I should have reduced the length a bit and narrowed the shoulders!

 

.... and there's more.  I also finished a little cowl (bit out of season, but it is still cold!)  This is the Eleanor Cowl.  This is a really enjoyable little knit.  Interesting lace pattern, but not too difficult and a quick little knit.  The wool is scrummy, Madelinetosh Tosh merino dk.  This is not cheap!! But you only need one skein!

Otherwise I'm enjoying a few days off this half-term and having a good sew (of course!).  The weather is pretty grotty, though I had one lovely walk with Dan and all the dogs!  Monty is growing.

Rosie and Tess are pretty scruffy at the moment and don't be fooled by this "we are really good dogs" trick, they are expecting a treat!  Hope you enjoyed the long weekend.

Solja sweater and another Mabel skirt

This is the first time I've made a yoked scandanavian-style jumper. 

 

This is the Solja by Anna Maltz from Pompom quarterly magazine. I really like this magazine.  It's A5 size and comes beautifully wrapped which feels like a real treat.  At £9.50 I think it's good value.   There are usual several patterns I would like to knit, articles on all kinds of wooly topics and a sweet recipe! 



I've got my eye on the cardigan on the cover of this quarter's issue!  I knitted the second size which is quite roomy (I have a loose tension!).   I reduced the sleeve length by an inch and they are still a bit too long!

The body has a little lace repeated pattern.

 
The sleeve was supposed to have this pattern too, but I just couldn't be bothered to try and work out the pattern among the increases on the sleeves, so I knitted them in straight stocking stitch.  The yoke is easy to knit.  I just changed the colour choices.  The wool is Navia Trio, Faroese Shetland wool. I bought it from Island Wool, the colours seem to have changed and the pink, maroon and mustard don't seem to be available any more.   I was worried that it might be itchy, but it isn't at all, it really is very comfortable for a 100% Shetland wool.

I'm wearing the jumper with another Collete Mabel (number 7!).  This time version 1, though I lengthened it by 3 inches (too old for a proper mini I'm afraid).  This was some pretty cheap and grotty ponte roma (really I'm trying to find some plaid ponte but this was the nearest in a dogtooth).  It's a reasonable fit and I like it with thick tights and chunky ankle boots.

Just in case you have noticed I only blogged a jumper three weeks ago, no I'm not a superfast knitter I've just let my knitting pile up a bit waiting to be blocked, and so they seem to be appearing thick and fast. 

I'm rather glad February is almost over, it is a difficult month for me, and the weather is so gloomy at the moment, an excuse to get in a lot of sewing!  I'm in the middle of the Cascade duffle-coat sewalong; I've just cut out the Walkaway dress and a Linden sweatshirt, so I'm a busy girl.  Roll on next weekend!

The Cravat-necked sweater; a bit of vintage warmth

Time for a bit of knitting.  This is the Cravat-necked sweater from Runway Knits.  It is a very simple sweater, just stocking stitch and rib, and I would say is a pretty easy knit for the knitting beginner.    I bought my book second hand for a few pounds on Amazon.  The have a copy for 79p at the moment.

The cravat is knitted separately as a sort of ribbed rectangle and then just sewed on.  The only difficulty I had was setting the sleeve cap which was a bit square shaped and has left the shoulder a bit puffed up.

I knit the size 35", which should work out at 3" of negative ease (though I knit rather loosely and so I usually do size down).  I took one inch out of the bodice length as I have a high waist.

I love the  shape giving you such a fitted waist and I'm pretty happy with the fit.  I am wearing it here with my Butterick 5391 skirt and I wore this outfit to work today with a black jacket.

I love this wool.  I knitted my sweater in Sublime Extra Fine Merino DK and it is lovely.  So snuggly, soft and warm.  I had this sweater on during the dog walk today and I had to take my coat off because I was so warm!  The cravat, being a high neck makes it even warmer.  This wool is a delight to knit with and has excellent stitch definition if you like that pronounced look.  I realise I look a bit like a sweater girl here!  I guess this style definitely accentuates your assets!

Sorry about the poor quality photos, and the rather odd lines (which aren't there in real life), but I think Tess is trying to say she is bored waiting for her walk!

I knit quite a lot when I'm infront of the telli (I hate not having something to do with my hands).    Other knitting projects are on my Ravelry page.  I might well knit this one again in the future, perhaps in a mustard colour.  Are you knitting anything at the moment? Thanks for your comments, it is lovely to hear from others.

I belong to Glasgow in Simplicity 1803

Last week Dan, Gemma and I had a day out in Glasgow.

There was a vintage fair...

 

.... and of course it was the Commonwealth Games, so the city was buzzing!

 



 
We booked afternoon tea at the famous Willow Tea Rooms, designed by MacIntosh

It was a real treat ...

Glasgow is a great place and there was lots to see that we just hadn't time for, so another visit is definitely called for.

On to the dress I was wearing. I've been taking part in Lauren and Andi's Outfit-a-long (OAL) and I have just made it as it finished on the end date, even had to blow dry my cardigan as I blocked it !  The idea was to make a dress and matching cardi.

The dress is Simplicity 1803 and it was quite a different style for me to make as the bodice is a little quirky.

I love the bodice, a really flattering fit and cute capped sleeves which just cover my arms a bit (don't like exposing my arms too much).  The pattern has a gathered skirt, but Lauren demonstrated how to make a pleated skirt and I thought that would be more flattering.  The inside isn't lined but it still looks nice, and with this thicker quilting cotton I thought a lining would be too much. 

 

 I used Lauren's excellent tutorials to help with the slightly complicated bodice construction.   The shoulders and facings are attached in quite an unusal manner (you may get the idea from the inside shot).

 
I was really pleased with how the facing went on, the understitching worked and the resultant neck shape is really neat.

Overall I like the dress, though I'm going to need to make bra strap holders (or use a safety pin) and the waist could do definitely do with about one inch taking out.  Generally the dress went together well until I got to the zip!  Then I managed to melt the first one, and had to unpick the next one 3 times!

The sleeve has a little pleat which is cute.

 
Just a word about this fabric.  I love it!  It's Amy Butler Tumble Roses which I bought at my local quilting shop.  It has a slight stretch and sews like a dream.  Unfortunately I don't think you can get it in this country any more or I would by some more for a wiggle style dress.  I do worry sometimes though that I am dressing too young for my age!  Hopefully someone would tell me, as you get older the "mutton dressed as lamb" label becomes a real worry.

The cardie is my third Andi Satterlund  pattern, Myrna.  I love the shape she designs with a tight little waist.  I love the duck egg blue colour.  Unfortunately I'm not in love with the wool which is  Rowan worsted in duck egg blue. It is really itchy and so I'm just not sure I'm going to get any real wear from it.  Also I think it does look homemade.  The stitches are pretty uneven, and there is a lot of picking up stitches (for the sleeves and button bands) which I'm not great at.  You can also see the button band pulling when its buttoned up.

Well all for now.  I don't know about you but I have also thoroughly enjoyed watching the Commonwealth Games and the Home Countries were superb!  The first time England has beaten Australia to lead the medal table in ages.  There were too many highlights to mention!  I'm enjoying a 2 week holiday at home at the moment, a fair bit of painting is going on in anticipation of a new carpet in a couple of weeks.  Shame the sun seems to have disappeared at the moment.