I'm still slogging away at my portfolio, so here are a few links to good things I read this week:
The Sassy Pillowcase Dress, 20 Years Later
A 33 year old woman makes the pillowcase shift dress from instructions published in Sassy in 1992: " The dress, and I say this as lovingly as possible, looks like a busted-up pillowcase with holes."
I remember reading this tutorial in my sister's back issues, and really wanting to make a pillowcase dress of my own. I asked my mom if I could have a pillowcase. She sensibly suggested that I just make a dress from fabric since it would look better. At this point it all seemed like too much work and I gave up.
I'll Wear Shorts if I Goddamned Want To
A man suddenly feels insecure about how good fashion fits into his life in grossly humid Maryland. The pain of being judged for his practical-but-ugly shorts enrages him. At least he doesn't have to wear heels.
A Job Well Done
Blogger Very Purple Person made her husband some jeans. They look pretty great. Maybe I'll make curt jeans some day.
Things You Find in Thrift Stores
Mary Huff, a knitting pattern designer and fiber artist, lost a bunch of complex, colorwork sample sweaters when someone stole her suitcase. A few of the samples have now shown up in a couple Portland Goodwills.
An Unseasonal Yearning
I was looking for an example of herringbone colourwork when I saw these mittens on Flickr. Lately I've been looking at the ball of Knit Picks silk and wool yarn in orange and cream and wondering what to make. I think this is it.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
knit, Swirl
I might be a little late to the party on this one, but have you seen the photos from Sandra McIver's new book, knit, Swirl?
According to McIver's site, the book contains 18 patterns based on her one piece, one seam circular construction style: the titular "swirl", which involves concentric welts, a curved hem and a dramatic shawl collar. The patterns are organized into four silhouettes. Typically, I wouldn't be interested in a book that is so narrow in focus, and so on-trend, but some of the photos have me slightly stunned.
The photos are all by Zoë Lonergan, a photographer and book designer based in San Francisco.
Must I remind you that I don't really like voluminous knits? That I rarely like garments knit in variegated or self-striped yarn? These jackets should not appeal to me and yet they do.
The stand-out, for me, is this gorgeous yellow number that uses stripes of almost-transparent mohair yarn. The effect is magical. This does not look like a handknit garment at all. (Note to self: figure out some way to incorporate panels of transparent mohair in some future project).
It's been a while since I've seen something as fresh as this collection. The book might be a little one-note (how many drapey, stripy circular knit jackets does one actually need?) but I'm very intrigued by this approach to handknits. Is it nerdy that I'm excited that someone has figured out a nice way of creating vertical stripes on the sleeves of sweaters knit in self-striping yarn? Yes, it probably is. (I love the fit in the sleeves, by the by. Is that close fit one of the advantages of the welts?)
I'm not sure that I would ever make one of these jackets for myself. I'm short, and hippy, and voluminous tops that obscure my waist kind freak me out. I think I could pull off the cropped silhouette, though:
What do you think? Are any of you planning on buying this book?
According to McIver's site, the book contains 18 patterns based on her one piece, one seam circular construction style: the titular "swirl", which involves concentric welts, a curved hem and a dramatic shawl collar. The patterns are organized into four silhouettes. Typically, I wouldn't be interested in a book that is so narrow in focus, and so on-trend, but some of the photos have me slightly stunned.
The photos are all by Zoë Lonergan, a photographer and book designer based in San Francisco.
Must I remind you that I don't really like voluminous knits? That I rarely like garments knit in variegated or self-striped yarn? These jackets should not appeal to me and yet they do.
The stand-out, for me, is this gorgeous yellow number that uses stripes of almost-transparent mohair yarn. The effect is magical. This does not look like a handknit garment at all. (Note to self: figure out some way to incorporate panels of transparent mohair in some future project).
It's been a while since I've seen something as fresh as this collection. The book might be a little one-note (how many drapey, stripy circular knit jackets does one actually need?) but I'm very intrigued by this approach to handknits. Is it nerdy that I'm excited that someone has figured out a nice way of creating vertical stripes on the sleeves of sweaters knit in self-striping yarn? Yes, it probably is. (I love the fit in the sleeves, by the by. Is that close fit one of the advantages of the welts?)
I'm not sure that I would ever make one of these jackets for myself. I'm short, and hippy, and voluminous tops that obscure my waist kind freak me out. I think I could pull off the cropped silhouette, though:
What do you think? Are any of you planning on buying this book?
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
disapearing post
Apparently my most recent blog post disappeared sometime last week! I can't repost it right now because it was my only draft, but this was the gist
1) I've been working on some knitting designs that I can't discuss on the blog.
2) I've also been trying to get some of my half-finished projects completed. This is pretty boring. I much prefer starting new projects
3) I submitted an application to Vancouver Community College's part-time fashion design program. Interviews start in early June, so I need to get my sample garments and portfolio done. I've been planning on applying to this program for a few months, but it still felt a little momentous to actually go and apply. It's not a fancy school, but it is a big decision about how I'm going to spend significant parts of my non-working time for the next 2-3 years.
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