Friday, September 27, 2013

Agatha Cardigan by Andi Satterlund

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Thank you for your comments on my Hawthorn dress.  It has been worn several times since I made it and it's one of my favourites.

I haven't been sewing very much at all.  I did cut out a shirtdress (Vogue 8829):


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Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to get the photo to be larger without it going all blurry.  Anyway, I have had this fabric cut out for at least a month and just haven't got around to doing anything with it except for pinning the darts.  Because I was so close to finishing a couple of knitting projects, I have been going for it on that side of things instead.  The great thing about knitting is that it can be done any time, almost anywhere.  
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One of the things I had to get finished was the Agatha cardigan in green Cascade 220, which green I can't remember, as I started this cardigan just after Christmas last year and the yarn wrappers are long gone.  It didn't really take nine months to knit.  I was being lazy and put it aside because I just couldn't be bothered with doing all the short rows on the sleeves but, in the end, it only took a very short time to get all the short rows done and I can't believe I had the finished body sitting there for about six months when I could have just stopped procrastinating and got it done!

I really do like Cascade 220.  I've knitted four garments with it, and I bung them in the washing machine on the wool cycle and then give them a blast on the highest spin cycle to dry them out a bit, and they are still perfect.  Don't worry, I do dry them flat on a towel, and not in the tumble dryer. This yarn is very hardy but I don't think it could survive that!

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I sewed velvet ribbon onto the backs of both button bands and it really helps to stabilise them and stop them pulling apart and gapping.  I machine sewed buttonholes in the ribbon before sewing it on to the garment.
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I'm surprised at how much I like this cardigan.  I didn't have a good feeling about it whilst knitting it, I suppose.  I think I had a feeling it wouldn't fit.  Also, I'd knitted it to a longer length than intended, totally by accident (lack of concentration).  There is no excuse for that, as the cardi is knitted from the top down so you can try it on as you go (and I did!)

I have another cardigan finished but for the stabilising of the button bands, and another totally different one, waiting to be seamed.

I plan to get a bit of my shirtdress sewn this weekend, but you know how plans sometimes go awry...

Speaking of plans, I have so so many plans for sewing.  I have written a list but will probably rebel against it.  Maybe I have a problem (probably).  I haven't mentioned that I have at least three sewn items that I haven't blogged but I will try to get around to that soon.

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Colette Hawthorn Dress in Liberty: Mawston Meadow

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Thank you for your comments on my Lola Dress.  Sorry I haven't responded to them all; I have been on holiday in Cornwall.

Every time I see the photos of my Lola Dress (I use my blogroll to keep up with my fave blogs) I see how poorly it fits.  It won't stop me from wearing it but next time I will be certain to make some alterations before cutting.

But now...here is my Colette Hawthorn dress.  And the good news is I love it.  Really love it!  Luckily I had made the peplum blouse version so I had already checked out the pattern for fitting issues (there weren't any!).  The skirt, being full, I knew would be fine.  It would be extremely upsetting to waste two metres of Liberty lawn!
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I put this photo in as the skirt looks nice!
Although I knew the dress would fit, I was a little anxious it would look frumpy on me.  I do not want to look frumpy.  As it happens, the dress does look a bit frumpy on the hanger but once I put it on I feel very feminine in it.  Also I'm relieved to find that, although I made it with plenty of room in the waist (I probably could have taken out some of that ease) it's still flattering and doesn't make me feel like a sack of potatoes, which can happen easily, as I have quite a thick waistline.  So, it's super super comfy, which makes a change as I usually cut everything too small (yes I know it's stupid).
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Close-up of Mawston Meadow
In these photos I'm wearing a petticoat with a little netting, which I think really accentuates the fullness of the skirt without making it look too dressy.
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Petticoat: McCalls M6706
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This dress is so easy to make, I know I'll make another.  Lots of buttons and buttonholes don't worry me, in fact I enjoy them.  And the collar is very simple to put in, and the armholes are finished with bias tape, which is another thing I enjoy doing.  All in all, a very pleasurable experience, in relation to making the dress, and wearing it.
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