Summer of Basics: Mélilot Shirt

Karen Templer of Fringe Association is hosting a make-along called The Summer of Basics. The idea behind it being to make 3 garments (knitted or sewn) over three months that would be workhorse garments for the maker.

For my second basic - I've gone back to an previousy made pattern - Deer and Doe's Mélilot Shirt.  I made another version last summer (which apparently never made it on the blog), and I had a list of modifications I knew I wanted to make this go around.

I flattened out the shoulder line, raising the outer edge by an inch to give myself more room in the sleeves and widened the body by 1/2 inch on each side seam, by shifting the pattern over when I cut it. I then adjusted the length of the sleeve cuffs and collar stand to match the additional width. The new fit works great and I used my Curved Narrow Hem Tutorial for that very curvy hem. 

The fabric is a linen blend from JoAnn's, which makes me feel a little bit like a member of the Beach boys in their 1960s heyday, perfectly summery and not a bad thing in my book! :) 

I've already sewn up my final basic, but I need to grab some photos! 


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Summer of Basics: Moss Skirt

Karen Templer of Fringe Association is hosting a make-along called The Summer of Basics. The idea behind it being to make 3 garments (knitted or sewn) over three months that would be workhorse garments for the maker.

I often waffle about joining in on make-alongs, I like the sense of community they bring, but because so much of my making is already dictated by deadlines I generally don't want to add non-necessary deadlines to my life.

However,  in this case, the time frame is generous, and as previously discussed, I'm in serious need of some workhorse garments to fill some sizable gaps in my wardrobe right now. So I'm in.

For my first basic, I chose Grainline Studios Moss Skirt. Normally, my style is less austere and modern than the overall Grainline aesthetic, but I find them so thoughtfully designed, that I've made quite a number of her patterns. I've been wanting a simple skirt with a fly closure to replace my beloved 15-year old denim skirt, and Moss fit the bill. I'm not a mini fan, so I opted for View B with the hem band and added an extra inch to the length of the main skirt portion. Other than that I stuck to the directions, and was surprised to find that I've apparently sew enough flies that I'm no longer scared of them. The fabric is a nice chambray I got on the cheap from Marden's (a surplus store) and I did faux flat-felled seams for a jeans-inspired look. Even with interfacing, the chambray stretches a bit more than I expected, so I may take in the waist band a bit after it's next washing. 

I've already worn it twice in the week since I made it, and knowing how much use my old denim skirt got, I know this will be a definite workhorse. 

The top is a Fancy Tiger Sailor Top made in some quilting cotton, that incidentally I also used in the pocket linings of the skirt. I made it before the make along kick off, so it's not part of my official Summer of Basics makes, but I'm pretty sure I'll be making another soon (my third), so I'll save my comments on the pattern for then. 

All in all, as outfit that is comfortable, easy to wear and feels so very me. A win-win!


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Summer Rain Shawl in Taproot Magazine

As a child, I dreamed of summer storms.

Growing up in northern California, my summers consisted of soaking my swimsuit in the sprinkler and rushing to the driveway to leave an ephemeral body print on the concrete; of running barefoot across the hot asphalt to my friend’s house and trying not to burn my feet; of the dark towels my mother put over the windows in the daytime to keep out the heat.

I wanted my summers to be cooler, wetter. I longed for days that passed like a Country Time Lemonade commercial: afternoons spent floating in an old tire inner tube down a lazy river, swinging from a rope into the old swimmin’ hole, taking laps to the dock in the middle of the lake, numerous bodies of water inexplicably available to the same child in a 30-second spot.

I thought a summer storm would be the perfect antidote to the dry California heat, a backyard sprinkler writ large. I imagined I’d see the clouds building up, pull on my one-piece and hurry outside to dance in the warm droplets falling gently from the sky. Summer perfection wrapped up in a single moment.

Later, in my twenties, when I lived in Chicago, I learned that the reality of summer storms could be a very different thing. Chicago summers were hot and sticky. I slept on a futon mattress on the floor of a studio apartment in Hyde Park, a fan positioned on either side of my bed, hoping for a respite from the heat. The storms I wished for a child would come frequently, but no gentle sprinkle, these; instead, soaking torrents of water, best avoided, but quickly gone.

My second summer in Chicago, my husband and I had relocated to the north side of the city. I’d walk the blocks of my neighborhood on summer nights, the sticky nights made more bearable by the cool lakeside breeze. Our apartment was just blocks from Lake Michigan, and though we visited the shores often, I only swam in its waters twice. My first swim in that wide body of water was on a hot day, the water sufficiently warm, and the feel of lake-bottom plants and tiny fish against my legs a constant reminder that this was no tile-lined pool.

My second swim was on an equally hot day, but the water shocked me with it chill. I paid no attention to the flora and fauna as the icy water stung like daggers and made my toes go numb. I wrapped myself in a towel and we rushed home to change. By the time we reached the apartment, a tornado warning had come in and we watched as the clouds folded in on top of themselves, faster and faster, building up into a dense grey wall on the horizon. My hair still damp from the lake, we sat in the windowless lobby of our building and waited the storm out – the menacing clouds giving us thunder and hail and rain.

As a child, it seemed silly that summer only truly started June 21st. School had been released weeks before and the season of short-sleeves and flip-flops had been in swing well before that. In Chicago, the march of time was marked by the swing from biting cold winds to sweltering humidity. Even so, I didn’t really understand the seasons until I moved to Maine.

Not spring, summer, winter, fall. We had all of those, even in California.

But the 16-day window of Lupine Season, when the highways burst forth in spires of purple and blue and pink, or the two weeks when the strawberries are available for picking, its arrival watched for and counted in pint baskets at the farmer’s market. There is the weekend in July when the window air-conditioning units go in and month-long debate in September on when to take them out. Each week in June, July, and August seeming to be a short-lived season of its own.

Perhaps it is because I no longer live in a land of continuous produce, or because I am a gardener now, that so much of the summer is measured in food – not the dwindling canisters of powdered lemonade of my childhood or the cheap takeout of my twenties, but rather, in limited runs of fiddleheads and sugar-snap peas, of strawberries, then raspberries, then blueberries, to finally end in the bags of apples that are picked in that time between the seasons that can be alternately cold or sweltering hot.

The brevity of these seasons brings a different rhythm to my Maine summers, a sense of urgency and a need to take advantage of everything at its peak that I had never felt before. In this environment, the dozen or so summer storms take on a different role, offering a break from activity. They are not an invitation to play, nor to hide, but to simply be.

In the winter, the Nor’easter asks us to stay inside and enjoy the quiet; in the summer, the rains do the same. The storms are a chance to lay in bed and hear the raindrops ping against the top of that window air-conditioning unit, drumming out a steady tattoo that seems to say “Be still, be still, be still.”

As child, summer storms were illusive, illusionary things; in Chicago, they were wild and sometimes terrifying. Now, as an adult, they are a respite. After a stretch of hot sunny days, the plants in my garden welcome the rain. I follow their lead, raise my face to the heavens, and drink it in.

.............................

The Summer Rain shawl, inspired by my longing for those summer storms and the peace they now bring can be found in the latest issue of Taproot Magazine: GROW. They also carry kits for the pattern, which uses 2 skeins of Milo by Manos Del Uruguay, a gorgeous merino & linen blend with amazing drape that is truly one of my favorite yarns on the market right now. The issue is available on newstands and online now and you can queue up the project on Ravelry


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Comfy Casual

Though my preference for daily wear tends toward toward the more feminine and slightly retro, when it comes to weekend wear, I'm more of a sweatshirt girl. 

Literally, a sweatshirt. 

As in, one old grey striped Old Navy sweatshirt that I've been wearing constantly for about four years straight. 

I've been overdue for an upgrade for years, and the Grainline Linden pattern has been in stash for a while, but I've had the darndest time finding an appropriate fabric I liked. Then I was on Fabric.com looking for fabric to embroider on when this Robert Kaufman speckled French Terry popped up on a sidebar and into my basket shortly thereafter.

It's a nice thick fabric, but be warned, should you follow my example in making it into a sweatshirt, it's a very stable knit, but not a very stretchy one. It worked great for the body, but I decided to do self cuffs/hems (turned wrong side out for some textural variety) and I had to recut a longer piece for the neckband, because it would not stretch to fit at all. The end result came out fine, but I expect it's a bit more open than designed. I also chose to top-stitch my hems with a double-needle in some hot pink thread for an extra (if subtle) pop of color. 

You may never see me wearing it in person, but have no doubt that I'll be popping this on every evening until and weekend until it gets too warm. 


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Heidi Pullover

My sewing mojo has been deader than a doornail over the past few months, so it was somewhat surprising when I saw a new pattern release on Instagram, immediately bought the pattern, and sewed it up a few days later.

The pattern is the brand-new Heidi Pullover from Anna Allen Clothing.  I was a bit hesitant about the lack of bust darts, but I loved the simplicity and style of the pattern, so I pulled this fabric from my stash (Alexander Henry circa 2008) for a wearable muslin. The fabric is a quilting cotton, and hence a bit stiffer than I'd like, but I had a sufficient amount in my stash and who doesn't need a rooster top? 

I made no adjustments to the pattern other than cutting the bust at size 12 and the hips and sleeves at size 14, as is fairly standard for me. The instructions for this pattern are great and result in a nice clean finish inside as well as outside. I didn't go to the link for the thread chain tutorial and instead just crocheted one of out buttonhole thread. The fabulous ceramic button is from Betka Pottery

Considering that I was able to cut it out and sew it in a single naptime, AND it looks great, I'm definitely making more of these. I also think it could be super cute lengthened into a simple dress. (Ohh, in chambray...I foresee some fabric shopping in my future.) 

All in all, a perfect project to kickstart my sewing mojo - so much so, I've got another project lined up for this weekend!


 

 

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Colorwork Cravings

It's rare these days that I get to knit something from someone else's pattern, but whenever I do, it's such a joy that I kick myself for not doing it more often.

Case in point, my most recently finished knit - the Ebba pullover by Diana Walla.

I had eyed the pattern back when it came out in September 2015 (how time flies!) and then I had some time this winter with no knitting deadlines and thought- you know what, let's do it! 

So I went to my LYS - picked up some colors, swatched, went back to LYS to exchange a color when the first combo didn't work out, swatched again, cut my first steek, and then merrily knitted for a month. I completely enjoyed knitting this and I love the finished project. Wearing it twice a week until it's too warm is totally acceptable, right? 

But more than anything, I love that it re-triggered that colorwork-loving portion in my brain. Back in the day, I had a lot of fun designing some colorwork pieces like Zoetrope, but then for one reason or another, I stopped. But  I'm inspired now, and I maybe bought a crazy amount of yarn because I do nothing in halves, apparently, so more colorwork to come!!


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Introducing Caiterly and the Dog Days KAL

Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.
Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.
Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.
Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.
Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.
Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.
Dog Days KAL

While I wouldn't normally volunteer to spends months knitting only in white yarn, especially with a dog and a toddler in the house, the nice thing about spending a bunch of time with the sample yarn in a neutral color is that you really get to play with it and see all the things it can do. That's what I got to do with Quince's Cleaner Cotton™ Willet,.

Ocaso shows off the yarn in a beautifully smooth stockinette stich, Atlee displays the marvelous stitch definition in the textured yoke. Caitlery shows what it can do in fine-gauge cables. I like all three designs for different reasons, but Caiterly is probably the one that is most distinctly me.

With three-quarter sleeves, a fitted bust, and delicate cabling, Caitlery  is elegantly feminine and the details are subtle enough that it can be worn with almost anything. 

The sweater is worked seamlessly from the bottom up- raglan style.and features a ribbon-lined button band. (See my tutorials page for details on how to add this detail). 

Caiterly is available for $6.50 from the following online shops:

Quince & Co.     |     Ms. Cleaver Creations      |      Ravelry

If you knit it and participate in social media, use #quincecaiterly to share and/or tag me @mscleaver !  

To celebrate the release of my three Willet patterns, I'm hosting a Willet-centric knit along with Quince on their Ravelry group.  The KAL runs for six weeks and includes special handmade prize for a FO knit from one of my patterns and several Quince gift cards for FOs worked in Quince yarns. For more details, visit my Knit Along page or the Quince group. I'll be knitting an Atlee myself, and I hope you'll join in!

Caiterly designed by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co.

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Introducing Atlee

Atlee by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co,.
Atlee by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co,.
Atlee by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co,.
Atlee by Leah B. Thibault for Quince & Co,.

The range of what you can do with knitting is so broad and varied - colorwork, cables, lace, brioche, intarsia, etcetera. I love a good complex knit, but sometimes you want a palate-cleanser - something simple, just knits and purls - and why not make it in white?

In comes Atlee, my newest design for Quince & Co. - a simple, soothing tee. In Quince's Cleaner Cotton™ Willet, with an a-line shape, scooped neckline and textural details in the yoke, Atlee is a picture-perfect essential for easy days in the sun.

The tee is worked in the round from the bottom up and split for arms, with the ribbing picked up and worked after a three-needle bind-off at the shoulders. Simple tee, simple construction. Easy enough that you could make one in multiple colors! Which is good, because I want to knit one for myself, but how do I choose between Dinghy, Windlass, or Oar?

Atlee is available for $6.00 USD from the following online shops:

Quince & Co.     |     Ms. Cleaver Creations      |      Ravelry


If you knit it and participate in social media, use #quinceatlee to share and/or tag me @mscleaver !  

I'd love to see your version!!!

 


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Introducing the Paper Bird Shawl

Paper Bird shawl by Leah B. Thibault for Quince and Co.
Paper Bird shawl by Leah B. Thibault for Quince and Co.
Paper Bird shawl by Leah B. Thibault for Quince and Co.
Paper Bird shawl by Leah B. Thibault for Quince and Co.

I'm pleased to introduce the Paper Bird Shawl - part of Quince and Co's annual Shawl Week and the second in my Songbird series of shawls inspired by music.

Paper Bird is simple to knit, but results in a graceful and dramatic shawl, with biased fabric framed by clean ribs and a distinctive edge of sharp points. Knit in Quince & Co's silk/wool blend Tern, the shawl has gorgeous drape. The shawl can be worn spread out as shown, or the shawl's texture makes it easy to fold up and wear as a cozy scarf.

After the ribs are firmly established, the knitting flows easily off the needles. In some ways, the story for the inspiration behind this pattern is longer than the actual pattern itself.

Do you, do you remember? That time you told me you would unfold me like a paper bird?  -Heather Maloney, Word for Word

While listening to the song "Word for Word" by Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter Heather Maloney, I was struck by the phrase "Do you remember that time you told me you would unfold me like a paper bird?"

If you've known me for any length of time, chances are you've seen me make a paper crane ranging in size from over a foot tall (from flip-chart paper) to smaller than your pinkie nail (from a post-it). 

When I was ten or so, I read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes in school, which tells the story of a young girl who gets cancer as a result of the Hiroshima bombings and begins folding paper cranes in line with a Japanese legend that a wish will be granted to anyone that folds 1,000 cranes. We learned to fold cranes in class and while I haven’t been striving for any specific wish, I have probably made nearly a 1,000 cranes since that day. But I don’t know that I ever unfolded one, it seems sacrilegious somehow.

The Paper Bird shawl is my attempt to capture the elegance of a live bird’s wing, along with sharpness and folds of its origami counterpart. Through the combination of ribs and bias stitching, the shawl takes on the quality of unfolded origami.

The pattern is available for $6.00 USD from the following online shops:

Quince & Co.   ||      Ravelry

If you knit it and participate in social media, use #quincepaperbird to share and/or tag me @mscleaver !  

I'd love to see your version!!!

Paper Crane
Making Me Break

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Introducing the Fireside Shawl

Fireside Shawl by Leah B. Thibault from Weekend Wraps
Fireside Shawl by Leah B. Thibault from Weekend Wraps
Fireside Shawl by Leah B. Thibault from Weekend Wraps
Fireside Shawl by Leah B. Thibault from Weekend Wraps
Fireside Shawl by Leah B. Thibault from Weekend Wraps

As a reader, wanna-be author, and daughter of a librarian, I have always loved books. So I'm beyond thrilled to actually be in one myself!

Weekend Wraps is the third collaboration between Cecily Glowik MacDonald and Melissa LeBarre (following Weekend Hats and New England Knits) and features 18 quick-knit shawls, cowls, scarves and shrugs from 15 designers. The book is due out in August, but is now available for pre-order from Amazon or your local bookstore or yarn shop. 

The book focuses on accessories knit in worsted weight or heavier yarn, that result in beautiful knits that take only a little time but are big on style. My contribution to the collection is the Fireside Shawl.

The Fireside Shawl is generously-sized and features triangles upon triangles upon triangles. Garter stitch borders and a knit-stitch heavy pattern means that purling is limited. A easily memorizable repeat and worsted weight yarn (shown here in Spud & Chloe Sweater) make for a quick and cozy knit.

The book also includes designs by Amy ChristoffersAngela TongBristol IvyCarrie Bostick HogeCecily Glowik MacDonaldEmma WelfordJocelyn TunneyKate Gagnon OsbornKristen TenDykeLeila RaabeMelissa LeBarreRachel SteckerTanis Gray and Thea Coleman.

You can check out all the designs and queue up your favorites on Ravelry

All photos courtesy of Interweave
 


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