Alpacino Hat

I received this kit by a mistake from Wool and the Gang. They most kindly let me keep it, and sent me the correct order. 

This kit incluted a ball of Alpachino Merino and the pattern for the Viva Hat. 

 

I followed the instructions precisely, except that I made it on the round. I also added a pom pom on the top, since I still got yarn left. 

The result is lovely, and this is not the last time I knit with this yarn. 

Black and Red Cotton Pullover and Black Cotton Jeans

Pullover:

This is the first project I knit for my love, and it has ended up so nice, that it is not going to be the last. I earned his trust in me making nice, wearable clothes that match his style.

Together, we chose the colours of Wool&theGang Pima cotton. I followed Ann Budd's book for circular top-down knits and added the stripes to the design. The only tricky part was to match the sleeve stripes to the bodice ones. I had to change the short rows of the sleeve cap to be able to accommodate the 2nd stripe, and I omitted the first one, as I saw no way of making it with the short rows.

The result is wonderful, the colours are vibrant and cool. I have doubts with the sleeves, they might be too tight around his arms, we will see with wear if he is comfortable with them or not. Anyway, they are very easy to widen, and I have cotton left.

 

Project in Ravelry

Jeans:

This is my 2nd rendition to this pattern, which I draw copying an old pair of tight Levi's jeans my boyfriend has. 

This version has a higher waist (2 cm) and wider legs, becoming "stovepipe". 

This fabric is absolutely gorgeous, perfect in it thickness (13.5 ounces), deep black colour (black-black), amount of elastic (2%) and composition (98% cotton). It is from Denim.lab and I love it. 

The result is excellent, and the pants perfectly fit my sweet love. 

Pink Linen Gingham Blouse

 This pattern is from BurdaStyle magazine, but I had to perform a major modification to solve the issue of being too wide on the upper part of the bodice edge, front and back. 

I solved the issue in the front by simply making the elastic band shorter, but there was too much fabric in the back bodice. I had to cut it in the middle, taking 8 cm off (aprox) and rearranging the upper and bottom tape channels. The result was then perfect, but it is not a pattern up to Burda reputation. 

The fabric is from Merchant and Mills, a lovely linen gingham in hot pick and ivory. I love it. 

Purple Silk-Viscose Pants

A very simple pattern for this wonderful fabric. I found it in Utrecht Fabric market, where we travelled last May. 

This was one of the few fabrics I bought, and it is stunning. The base of the fabric is silk and the ply is viscose. 

The drape is exquisite and the flashes of silvery purple are amazing. Kids at my school are mesmerized by it, as it shines when I move. 

I choose a very old pattern of mine, simple straight wide pants, since there was a scarce metre of fabric. To avoid bulk and fabric, I sew some elastic jersey as a facing at the waist, inserting a rubber band inside the channel that it made.

The only drawback is that this fabric is so delicate, a water drop can leave an eternal mark, wrinkles stay forever, and it cannot be washed or even hanged doubled. But well, it is also forgiving to irregularities, and it only cost me €15, so it was totally worth it. 

Black Sofia Dress

I bought this linen-viscose fabric in the street fabric market in Utrecht, back in May. It was only €5 the metre, and I bought 2 metres with the idea of making a jacket and trouser suit.

Some weeks later, I had the inspirational match: Sew Over It Sofia dress would be a nice in this soft black viscose-linen, and the pattern had some intriguing features, like the cut-out in the back, three flounces, and the bust piece cut on the bias!

After printing the pattern, I traced it in my size, taking the seam allowances off, as I usually do. I tested the pattern on the dress form, and it looked fine, so I went ahead and cut it. This dress presents several options, I chose the longer back bodice with buttons instead of a bow.

I followed the instructions to make the dress, and when I got to the front bodice I realized it only had 0.5 cm seam allowance in the upper edge, so my cut front bodice was 1 cm shorter than the design. I tried to sew it some mm higher, but it is still too low cut, somehow, and that is a pity. 

I hate patterns that include their seam allowances, because it is an extra job for me, but it is worse when one seam in smaller and you only realize it when all the pieces are cut with small seam allowance because I run short on fabric. 

The pattern is lovely, and I might do it again in a lighter fabric in the future. The only critical spot is the part of the upper front bodice, from the shoulder strap to the side. That part is cut on bias, and it stretches easily, I had to insert an elasticated thread to keep it in place. The rest in swell. 

Crotchet Top

Last year, I decided to try my hand at crocheting to know if I liked as much as I like knitting. This pattern is from Katia, it includes some lace and it uses a cotton I love, so it was a good choice, I thought. 

I followed the pattern, first making the back and front pieces and finishing with the lace in the back, the straps, and the scythe's closing. 

I finished in mid winter, so it has been in my wardrobe unworn for half a year, but I was finally able to wear it this summer. When I tried it on I realized my nipples could be seen, and I had to sew and underlying piece at the breasts zone. It is a knit, flesh coloured, invisible underlying, and it does the trick perfectly, as you can see in the pictures: it maintains the sheer vibe of the top, buy my nipples are no longer visible.

Ravelry entry

Emilio Dress

 I bought this gorgeous fabric in Firenze, summer 2022. The seller that helped me took this fabric from out of the counter, as if it were illegal. I marvelled at the stunning silk, and then he pointed at the signature: Emilio (Tucci). Shirts made of this were being sold at 1000 € in fashion district (another instance of how good at marketing Italians are). It cost me 60 €, and it was aprox. 1,5 m. 

It sat in my stash almost a year, until I found the perfect design: a bias cut long dress, inspired in the sateen long dresses of the cinema divas of the classic Hollywood. 

I looked in my magazines for a blouse cut on the bias with that high ruffled neck cut I fancied, and then I lengthened the sides in some evassée shape. 

I cut the dress on the floor, very carefully not to distress the seams, to prevent them from stretching. I was very careful about that along all the process, specially when I stitched it in the machine or when I ironed the seams. In previous attempts to sew bias silk I ruined it in the machine and with the iron, so I was very careful and it did not happen this time, I managed to keep the bias silk in shape.

The result is spectacular. It certainly raised some praise. I am glad that the design and the execution were up to the wonderful fabric. I've worn it twice, at my dear students' graduation party and at my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary celebration.