Black Cotton Knitted Pullover

Well, well, well... another pullover finished!
I am really really happy with this jumper, I could wear it every day. 

After knitting three wool pullovers and realizing I do not live in Sweden, neither I work in the open, I decided to use thick cotton for my next winter knitted pullover. Cotton is not so warm as wool, but not so delicate neither. You can wash it in the washing machine with the rest of your clothes (only you better dry it flat), you can wear it directly over your skin, because it is not itchy at all, as we all know. All the wool I have tried is itchy to wear it directly on your skin. Cotton is not very warm, but when it is as thick as this, it is enough for a day indoors in my whereabouts. 

 

To find a thick enough cotton was not an easy task. I wanted it thick for the extra warmth and also because I wanted it to be black, and my knitting advisor told me that knitting black yarn is not easy for one's eyes. So I got myself a pair of silver metallic 5.5 circular needles, and went on to it. 

As it turned out, it was a very nice and pleasant project to make. The only cotton matching my criteria was Happy Shiny Cotton by Wool and the Gang. I was patient to wait for a good sale on their site, and BOOM!, it was mine for 56 Euros, hahaha!!!

Another advantage of this cotton is that it is very fast to knit, but it still looks delicate and drapes well.
I like to learn a new trick in every knitting project, and this time I decided to give Ann Budd's Top-Down Sweaters Book a try. As with the previous one, it was perfect. I could follow the charts painlessly, and the final fit, as you can see, is spot on.

So, very happy with my knew black thick cotton pullover. I will use again Ann Budd's book, and WATG's cotton again, I hope!

Here My Ravelry project.

Viscose Cobra Corsage Wrap Dress

When I saw Lady McElroy's Cobra Corsage fabric I decided it had to be mine. It is a wonderful design, and viscose crepe is a good combination. 

I decided also immediately, it had to be a wrap dress, and the Liza dress pattern from O'Shea's book is the perfect wrap dress for knit fabrics. 

Again, I made the sleeved variation with a flared skirt. I already explained in my previous rendition of this pattern, the I had to correct armholes, but maybe it was a matter of seam allowances not being included there. I must repeat I hate this method for lazy people of including seam allowances in patterns. It just adds confusion and makes it inaccurate.

Anyways, I have now my tissue pattern with all the modifications made and without seam allowances, for future use. 

It is a wonderful pattern and I will probably cut it again in the future.

It was a wonderful combination, and it has proved right. I love wearing this dress. 


 

 

Black Organic Cotton Long Hooded Dress

This is another of my practical makes. I like to travel abroad in long dresses and I needed a winter version. This is also a dress to quickly put on to go outside for some short errand. I expect to wear it a lot.

 














The fabric is simply gorgeous: organic black intelock. Soft, great drape, heavy, great colour and a very good price, I totally recommend it.

I used my "Universal T-shirt" pattern, very similar to the Frankie pattern in Tilly's book. I wanted to try that one out, but why change things if they are perfect? And this pattern IS perfect for me. So, here we go for the hundredth time.
Since the fabric is Dutch, my recent trip to Amsterdam was a perfect excuse to model it.

I only spent two half days in Amsterdam, but I was able to go fabric-shopping. First, we went to Alber Cuyp market. There are 4 or 5 fabric stores there. I specailly liked Nannuci Tessuti, they had a lovely Liberty tara lawn cotton selection at good price. I bought some silk lining at a shop specialized in silk only.

Next morning we went to Nieuwe Hoogstraat, where there are a bunch of wonderful fabric and yarn shops. 

I bought a future wool/cashmere jacket for only 63 Euros. A bargain. I could have bought lots and lots, but I am saving money to buy a new car and I am being a good girl sewing from my little stash. :-)