Woodland Walk Socks

It's quite a while now since I knitted patterned socks. So it was time for the Woodland Walk Socks by This Handmade Life. I used sock yarn which I dyed myself with walnut hulls from our big walnut tree. One has to be aware that these socks have a different pattern instruction for a right sock and a left sock.

 Sock Yarn 75% wool 25% nylon

Color: Dyed with walnut hulls

  Yardage: 420m/100g

  Size 38  /  Nd  2.5 mm

Shift Dress #1

I still had some green linen fabric which I used for my Sureau Dress. So I set out for another sewing adventure and made a fully lined Shift Dress with an underlapped vent. As a basic I used the Shift Dress #1 pattern form the book Dressmaking by Alison Smith.

Making and Modifications:
First I made a muslin (yes!) with the given pattern size 10-12.
Then I was ready to make some modifications on the paper pattern:
- Made a SBA of 6 mm
- Adjusted neckline front + back to avoid gaping
- Shortened bodice length by 1.5 cm
- Shortened skirt length by 11 cm
- Adjusted bodice side seam width to my measures
- Adjusted skirt shape to a straight line = added a total of 10 cm at hemline width
- Made an overlapped vent
- Fully lined the dress

Fabric: 100% Linen

Fabric weight: 320g/m

Used: 160cm length / 140cm width

Size 10-12

Stockbridge Cardigan #1

I made this basic wardrobe staple: Stockbridge Cardigan by Ysolda Teague. It's a very well written pattern and the fit is amazing. The sleeve caps are shaped asymmetrically with short rows - which needed some attention. Haven't made any bust / waist shaping. The yarn is Ullcentrum 2ply.

I added a little bit of a pattern at the bottom - just for pleasure... It's from the book Hitomi Shida 250 knitting pattern, number 033.

Ullcentrum 2ply 

100% swedish wool

Color: 105 anthracite

LL 300m/100g

Total weight: 310g

Nd. 3.5 mm 

Madeleine Skirt #1

This is my first version of the Madeleine Skirt by Victory Patterns. I made it already in February 2018 from a remnant wool fabric with some polyester content. I like the fine herringbone weave and how the fabric feels. It's quite smooth and does not cling to tights or leggings, so no lining was necessarily needed, especially because of the width of the skirt.

I made size 8 but it turned out too wide at the waist. I tried to get away with belt loops and wearing a belt - but it puckered and with the rather heavy fabric didn't look good.

Last November I came back to it again with fresh ideas: I unpicked the waistband, belt loops, zipper and back seam. I did cut away about 2 cm at each back seam line, then inserted an invisible zipper - the look of it I like much better than the original lapped zipper. I did cut out a new waistband length according to size 6 and attached it. I didn't make a folded waistband but used the same cotton lining fabric on the inside of the waistband as I used for the pockets.

Now it fits perfect! Since it's finished I did wear it quite often this winter with leggings, at the weekends when we go for walks. The big pockets are useful at this occasions - although I might would make them smaller for "office outfits". I'm of a small body size and I have to dig quite deep into the pockets when "fishing" for small stuff... :-)

Madeleine Skirt

Victory Patterns

Fabric: 80% wool 20% polyester

Used: ca. 200cm length x 140cm width

 Size 6

Mimi Blouse #2

This is my second Mimi Blouse from the book "Love at first stitch" by Tilly and the Buttons. Unfortunately I have to wait now for warmer weathers so I can wear it...

I used a lovely Liberty London cotton lawn for this version. And I found perfect matching buttons. This time I placed the first button a little higher up. Otherwise I havn't made any modifications to the pattern. The size 3 fits me very well.

Fabric: Liberty London cotton lawn

100% Cotton  Color: Ros

Used: ca. 160cm length x 136cm width

  Size 3

Mareel Shawl

I finished the Mareel Shawl by Ysolda Teague. I liked her idea of combining a half Pi shawl with a classic Shetland Hap a lot.

Modifications:
After the last 30-row section of color 1, I did a row with enough lifted increases to add two repeats of the chart pattern (when I get to it), then continued knitting for another 10 garter ridges.
Worked rows 21-26, 35-36, 45-50 in natural white instead of light grey.

I ended up with a really big and warm winter shawl. The yarn is Ullcentrum 2ply.

Ullcentrum 2ply 

100% swedish wool

LL 300m/100g

Total weight: 220g

Nd. 3.75mm 

Sockhead Cowl #1

Zu Weihnachten bekam beim Mann einen neuen Halswärmer: Sockhead Cowl von Kelly McClure. Schnell gestrickt und ideal geeignet für handgefärbtes Unikatgarn - hier ein Exemplar von Fadenbunt. Frau strickt einfach, bis das Garn zu Ende ist...

Fadenbunt Merinosock 

LL 400m/100g

Farbe: man at work

Verbrauch: 100g

Nd 3.0mm