Vampire skirt

Black Aline SkirtFirst completed sewing project of the new year. Absolutely impossible to photograph though. Also, my first double-welt pockets! Hurrah. Not so difficult a technique, just a thousand slow, exacting (“turn your handwheel to ensure precision”) steps.

As usual with downloadable Burda patterns, the seemingly triple-translated instructions were cryptic and unhelpful. The pattern pages included curved waistband pieces but the instructions asked for self-drafted rectangular pieces. I chose to use the curved pieces but regretted it slightly when I had trouble easing them into the skirt… fusible interfacing doesn’t love easing – much prefers wrinkling, especially when one is steaming it to death.

I also hate to admit that on top of my first double-welt success, this skirt may very well be the first garment I’ve sewn that actually has a completely invisible invisible zip. I decided to stop being a dummy and use that thinking part of my brains to puzzle this one out. Yes, if you set your needle to the leftmost position AND adjust the width… well… the needle moves over! Right where you need it.

Turns out I don’t need to buy an invisible zipper foot after all. So: don’t believe the hype. Use your regular zipper foot to its full advantage. It’ll love you right back.

  • Pattern: Burda Style A-line skirt
  • Fabric: Brownish-black wool blend twill + black bemberg lining
  • Size: 38, but with side seams sewn at 3/8″
  • Notes: In the future, finish the edges of welt facings before anything else on pocket construction. Get some dark fusible interfacing. Every time I catch a glimpse of that light interfacing on this dark garment I feel like I’m peeking at someone’s undies. Makes me uneasy.

Tricots et potins

Grey Cables detail

Looking for a cheap thrill? Get knitting on that sweater of yours. Make sure you’ve ordered just enough yarn for your size. Make a couple changes, as you do, to accommodate your long torso. Hell, add a couple inches at least. And a wide garter band at the hem. Don’t forget those monkey arms of yours: you’ll want extra length there too.

Knit, knit, knit away. Yarn, after all, is a renewable resource. There’s always more growing somewhere. Knit picks will surely have a ball of gloss in your colour and dye lot should you need it. You’re a valued customer and your preferred colourways are always stocked. Yes, exactly. Knit on that lengthened sweater like your yarn basket is infinitely deep and generous. Feels free and oh so good, don’t it?Grey Cables Pullover


 

Well, it all came down to the wire. A frantic posting on ravelry; a call out to the knitting ether, to the hoarding types, those willing to rifle through SABLE (def. 2) and post a lonely ball to a desperate, (tall) and sweater-less comrade. I almost hit the paypal button for a very expensive solution to an amateur mistake.

But I didn’t. Instead, I ripped back my two gauge swatches. I weighed, measured, compared, tried on, furrowed my brow. I very nearly cannibalized the hem, but luckily found just enough yarn in the long ends waiting to be woven in.

I knit the crap out of that yarn. To the Very. Last. Inch.

Grey Cables Restants

In the immortal words of the Road Warriors: What a rush

  • Pattern: Baby Cables and Big Ones too
  • Size: 36
  • Yarn: Gloss DK in Hawk
  • Needles: 3.75mm for stockinette, 3.0mm for garter portions
  • Modifications: Omitted most cables on yoke and all decorations on sleeves. Kept only the two cables on the front yoke. Too busy otherwise. On yeah, and I made it a bit longer.Grey Cables Back