FO: Moss Skirt

My first sewing FO of the year: the Moss Skirt by Grainline Studio. This was a pattern which I honestly thought I would really struggle with, because the only garments I’ve ever done before this are pajama pants and the Scout Tee, both super simple projects. But the instructions are excellent and every time I came across something new I would watch a couple YouTube videos before attempting it myself. The only mistake I ended up making was sewing the waistband on upside down! And that was the thing that put this project into hibernation for a couple months, because I didn’t notice I had made the mistake until after I trimmed all the seams and did all the top stitching. But after fixing that mistake everything else got finished super quickly and the skirt fits perfectly!

I used Robert Kaufman Essex linen cotton blend for the skirt, and one of the Cotton + Steel Rifle  Paper Co. prints for the pockets.

Moss Skirt Pattern: http://shop.grainlinestudio.com/collections/bottoms/products/moss-skirt-1

FO: Beach Tank

I just finished my first FO of 2017, the beach tank, a pattern by Jess Schreibstein. This was such a fast knit, and if I didn’t have so many WIP’s going at once I would have finished it well before February. The pattern is simple and straight forward, and the boxy tank is the exact style I want for a summer beach shirt. I’ll probably make another one, but this time a little longer for everyday wear. But what’s more perfect for summer then a cropped, boxy tank made from upcycled denim?!

The yarn I used is Wool and the Gang’s Billie Jean yarn. It’s one of their newer yarns, sustainably made from upcycled denim (pre-consumer denim waste). I found working with this yarn was similar to working with any worsted weight cotton yarn, although it did turn my fingers blue after knitting with it! Quite a bit of dye came out when blocking too (but to be fair, WATG warns that this is expected) and hopefully I won’t get blue skin when I wear the tank. Overall I’m super happy with my yarn choice and the outcome of the project! I’m looking forward to what Jess comes out with next!

Beach Tank Pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beach-tank

Billie Jean Yarn: https://www.woolandthegang.com/product/billie-jean-yarn/yarn-and-wool

Save 15% on your first WATG order: http://watg.co/s/j96c8

2017 Sewing Goals

Last week I wrote a post up about some of the knitting I’ll be doing in 2017, but I’ve also fallen in love with sewing this year so I wanted to write a little list for my second hobby too. These two crafts go well together especially because I want to work on building a well-rounded quality wardrobe this year. So I’ll start with some garment plans I have and then this list may trickle into smaller projects I have planned and even some embroidery.

Tamarack Jacket by Grainline Studio

One project I’ve been wanting to make since it was released is the Tamarack Jacket by Grainline Studio. I want to get into quilting and I think this jacket would be a fun way to work on that. I’ll probably practice my quilting on some even smaller projects before the jacket, things like potholders and oven mitts.

This next sewing goal I’m sure will lead me into an entire new world of it’s own. I want to learn to make my own jeans, and I’ve already been learning so much about different types and weights of denim, and all sorts of new terms too. I was inspired by these embroidered Citizens of Humanity Jeans that I can’t afford, so I decided to embroider my own jeans. And that way the embroidery will be unique too. I was just going to buy a plain pair of jeans and do the embroidery myself, but I think this is a good chance to learn a lot of new sewing skills. So I have a couple patterns ready to go and I will update as I make more progress.

Citizens of Humanity Liya Rock on Blossom

The only other garment on my mind for this year is a pajama set. I’m deciding between the Lakeside Pajamas (Grainline Studio) and the Carolyn Pajamas (Closet Case).They’re both so different and I’m sure I will eventually make both, so I guess I’m just deciding which to do first!

Lakeside Pajamas by Grainline Studio

Carolyn Pajamas by Closet Case

Some other projects include something that incorporates waxed canvas (I’m thinking the Stowe bag), a pin cushion, a fresh cover for my ironing board, and a huge embroidered map. The rest of this post is just some pictures that have inspired me lately. I obviously have a lot to learn and do this year!

2017 Knitting Goals

So this list of knitting goals is certain to change and I also hope that it will grow longer as I move through the year. I have a couple new designs I’ll be working on this year and I also have a list of some patterns that I’m so excited to try. The first is a sweater pattern that I still need to buy the yarn for, Rowe by Michele Wang. I’m hoping it will replace a sweater in my closet with a similar silhouette that’s made of acrylic yarn (ie. it’s not very warm!).

I also want to knit from my stash as much as possible, and two types of yarn I have a lot of are Wool and the Gang’s Jersey Be Good and Wool and the Gang’s Crazy Sexy Wool. With the Jersey Be Good I want to make a Mini Jackson Backpack, just as soon as they release it as a standalone pattern rather then a kit (my fingers are crossed that this happens soon!). And with the Crazy Sexy Wool I’m thinking of whipping up some sort of cabled throw pillow.

Another knit I’ve been wanting to try for some time is the Beach Tank by Jess Schreibstein. I got a sample of Billie Jean yarn which is made from recycled denim and I think it would work well for it, so I asked for a couple more balls of it for Christmas and I’m all ready to cast on now.

Along with these projects I’m still finishing up one from last year! I started an improvised top down sweater in August for the Fringe and Friends KAL put on by Karen Templer, and I have no idea how I still haven’t finished it. It just kept getting pushed to the side, so this year it is top priority.

And that’s it for now. I don’t like to have too long of a queue so I’m going to stop perusing Ravelry and get started on this list. What are some of the knits on your list this year?

Links:

Rowe: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rowe

Jackson Mini: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jackson-backpack-mini

Beach Tank: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beach-tank

FO: Moonlight Garden Shawl

The name of this shawl alone is pretty magical. Pair that with the dreamy yarn I chose and the delicate lacework and border pattern and it wouldn’t be enough to say I’m happy with the first shawl I’ve ever knit.

It’s taken me too long to find a shawl pattern that I really wanted to knit. I knew I was looking for a shawl I could wear the way that I would wear a scarf, wrapped up tight around my neck with the option to wear spread out like a shawl. This worsted weight shawl is warm enough to wear in the winter like a scarf, but I also see myself on a cool summer night, wearing this shawl draped over my shoulders to hinder the breeze.

The yarn I chose was Maxima by Manos Del Uruguay, which is a single-ply worsted weight yarn made up of 100% Merino wool. I went with the colour Sand. It was wonderfully soft to work with and the pinkish beige colour complimented the pattern perfectly.

This pattern comes from Melody Hoffman of bmandarines. The pattern is beautifully formatted and I found it was pretty clear to knit from. It was my first lacework project so there were a couple of times that I had to look up stitches, but I took it slow and it all came together in the end. There wasn’t a huge amount of lacework either so I think it was the perfect first project to introduce me to this new skill.

Moonlight Garden Shawl Pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moonlight-garden