Saturday, February 23, 2013

Two new knitting projects.

It's that awkward time of year:  winter's almost over, but spring is a long way off.  My mind is telling me to finish up those last few winter projects (both knitting and sewing) but my heart is telling me to start on the spring items.  What to do?  Cast on two sweaters:  one for winter and one for spring.

The winter knit is another Kim Hargreaves design:  Still, from her book Thrown Together.  Here's the lovely Hannah modeling this sweater in the book:


You can see my peacock blue knitting peeking out from underneath - the yarn is Calmer, and the color is called Preen.


My thinking was to make another Inverted Pleat Skirt to go along with this sweater, using this AMH Velveteen:

{AMH Velveteen, "Clippings" in Lichen}

But the tedious nature of working with velveteen isn't a distant enough memory to motivate me to do it again.

And here's the spring sweater:


This one is Geno from Rowan 43.  I've had this shade of Rowan 4 Ply Cotton in my stash for years, and have waffled about what it should become.  I started Ava with it last spring, but decided halfway through the back that the sweater wasn't something I'd really wear after all.  Geno has been in my queue for a long time though, and I decided it would look very nice in Bloom, which is a more faded red than my camera wants to show.  It's relatively easy knitting too:  a short-sleeved cardigan with stockinette back and sleeves and lace fronts.



To go with it, I'm hoping to make this skirt, circa 1962:


I've traced out the pattern for the darted A-line skirt shown in the middle.  According to my flat pattern measurements, it should fit nicely, but you just never know.  (At least, I never know.)  I don't want to ruin the lovely fabric I've bought to make it, so I'm going to construct the lining first and see how that fits before cutting my fashion fabric.

{Dear Stella "Tuscany" in Taupe}

This skirt will be such a beautifully simple and quick project - a nice palate cleanser after the month-long coat (which is almost done, by the way!  squee!).

What are you all working on?  Have you moved on to the next season, or are you still working on things for right now?

22 comments:

  1. Love, love, love that fabric, I think it will look fabulous made into that skirt :)

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  2. Oh my goodness, that fabric is stunning. I NEED some of it! It's going to look gorgeous made into a skirt.

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    1. I loved the whole line by Dear Stella - it's called Va Bene, and one of the fabrics has little Vespas all over it!

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  3. You are inspiring me to stay with my current/second attempt to knit a fit-to-me sweater from the Gemini pattern

    Hugs

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    1. Good! That one is going to look great on you!

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  4. Wow, you are extremely prolific with the sweaters. I'm just finishing a cute fleece pajama set, hemming some never worn (5 years!) storebought wool pants, and cutting out a really simple wool skirt. However, all my other projects; including that Moss skirt, are for spring. Luckily, everything is coming from the stash!

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  5. Lovely knits! And you are making something similar to what I've just finished. Both are blue, and both have square-ish necklines and puff sleeves.
    Gosh you are so prolific though!

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    1. Not so sure about that: I've only made one sweater in 2013!

      Does this mean the Mary Jane is done now? Exciting!

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  6. Oooh, I like the colours your picked for your new winter and spring sweater, but the print for the new skirt is even better!

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    1. Isn't it great? I fell head over heels for it the moment I saw it!

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  7. I am in the same boat. I am doing a light spring knit but hoping to dye up some aran for my last (?) winter knit tomorrow. Want to squeeze a 'Dragonfly Jumper' in before it gets too warm to wear it.

    Love the sleeves on the 'Still' pattern...very 70's-ish retro. I haven't seen much of that silhouette lately and it is refreshing after all the same-y slim fitting sleeves out there. Adding to my pinterest for future projects!

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    1. Interesting . . . I read it as a '40s vibe. Maybe it's "70s does '40s retro?" Seeing as I grew up in the '70s, it may not be kosher for me to rock that look any more!

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  8. Love that Tuscany print, and I can't wait to see your finished cardis!

    As for me, it's still freezing here in the Pacific NW, so no things for spring *yet*.

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    1. Make no mistake, it's still freezing here too! Dreaming about my spring wardrobe helps keep the blues away!

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  9. That Dear Stella fabric is awesome! I'm just about to cast on for a sweater, but I know I'm going to regret it, because there's no way I'll be done before the weather heats up here and it's going to sit in hibernation for a looong time. I'm hoping that I'll feel like knitting socks all year long, tho! (Even though I don't actually wear them at all Apr-Oct.) :-)

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    1. Oh yay! Sweater for you! Maybe you could make a little shrug or short-sleeved sweater in cotton, that you could use in overly AC'd environments?

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  10. Wow, what a perfect spring combo! Can't wait to see these!

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    1. Me too! I took one step forward and two steps back: ended up ripping out the entire (finished) back of the teal sweater to make the next bigger size. Good thing I enjoy knitting ;-)

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  11. You are so adventurous with fabrics. And you pair them well with knits. These are lovely projects in the works.
    I think I'm always stuck in Fall and Winter. If you visit here, pls bring items to layer in.

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    1. Thank you! I will definitely bring layers - seems like every single time I've been to California (north or south) I end up being cold! We're so used to things being over-heated here in the Midwest, of necessity.

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