A person could be forgiven for thinking that I had abandoned my totally local, 1 year 1 outfit project, since there has been no mention of it here for months!… *blush* however, it has been plodding along, slowly but surely, and is now FINISHED!!!! Hurrah! At last!
The concept: last year Nicki from this is moonlight conceived the very interesting 1 year 1 outfit project and invited me to take part with her… the idea was that you make an outfit using ONLY local materials and primary supplies grown and/or sourced in your own area. Well you know how weak at the knees I go for a dressmaking challenge! and the more difficult the better! Several of us here in Perth took part last year; Nicki, Sue, Megan and me. Sue, Megan and I met up for a hilarious photoshoot in our outfits one day last February; it was so much fun! and we all had plans for this year too.
from left: Megan, Sue, and me… the links in this post go to everyone’s individual posts about their outfits
So yes, I was all enthusiastic… however! It really is a difficult challenge, far more difficult than you might think! and though I made a good start with dyeing some yarn early, my other challenge, my Year of Handmade, has consequently swept me away with its even higher degree of difficulty … I’m not whinging, ’cause I really do like challenges honestly! however I’ve struggled with everything this year a bit and it’s taken a while for me to get my groove on. Fortunately Nicki announced a March deadline recently, which lit a fire under me. I got cracking, and got finished!!!!
Thoughts going in: I loved my first 1 year 1 outfit project from last year; although I confess I’ve barely worn it at all! Reason being that while I think my embroidered felt is ethereally beautiful, at the same time it is fairly fragile and can only stand up to light wearing on special occasions. So my major priority for this year’s outfit was casual wearability; something that I could toss on and wear on a daily basis without fear of ruining it. I also wanted it to try out some natural dyeing techniques.
What did I make: a simple knitted dress and a matching beanie, showcasing my dyeing experiments in stripes. I just wanted my hard-won colours to shine on their own merits equally without competing with each other, and individual stripes separated by the blankness of the natural undyed ivory just seemed a good way to accomplish this.
My shoes, bag and underwear were all made for last year, and also comply with the rules of the challenge.
Sources; I obtained all my handspun merino yarn from Bilby Yarns, which is an absolute treasure trove for West Australians interested in local wool products and supplies. My yarn is from Western Australian Merino sheep; born, grown and shorn right here in the south-west of WA. The raw fleece is transported to Bilby Yarns in Willagee, where local spinning enthusiasts can purchase it, spin it in their own homes, and sell it to people like me back through Bilby Yarns. It’s such a great scheme!! All my yarn was spun by the talented Beverley L. whose yarn I also used last year! Some of my yarn this year was leftover from last year, and I managed to buy some more of her’s this year…. I’m so pleased I was able to purchase so much of her gloriously lovely handspun! I bought mostly undyed natural white, and some natural grey. The grey is quite rare, and I was lucky to get hold of this! I used the grey to highlight each colour; I like how the grey stripe adds a bit of trompe l’oeil 3D-ness to the coloured stripes, like a shadow underneath each one.
So! I had my natural ivory and grey yarn, now for the colours! All my dyeing experiments are outlined in this post here. I didn’t end up using all the colours I produced… leaving something for the next 1year1outfit maybe?? The colours I chose from my experiments are, from the hemline going up, are:
Orange, from Coreopsis flowers;
Acid yellow; from sour grass stems and flowers,
Blue, from Japanese indigo, and I’m so grateful to Nicki for the use of her dye vat,
Pink, from avocado pits,
and that lime-y green colour at the neckline, and seen in closeup a few pictures down, was the result of over-dyeing, soaking some of my spare indigo yarn in a sour grass (oxalis) dye bath and then with just a single coreopsis flower (orange) tossed in to give it a bit more oomph when I realised the yellow was a bit weak.
The design: is my own!! I did about a million calculations first but even then there was plenty of unravelling and re-doing bits until I was satisfied with it! I wrote down my final pattern below, just in case I ever want to revisit this pattern, or if anyone is interested in knitting an entire dress for themselves! It’s ok, I wouldn’t blame anyone who didn’t but still… The only thing is that it’s only got the one size. That lower hemline with slightly forward slits? yes, it’s pretty obvious that my hemline is totally inspired by the Named patterns Inari tee dress, a pattern I have made five times now and unequivocally LOVE. I just really like the way the Inari dress slits do the job of a walking vent, but is visually more interesting and obvious than your regular, garden variety, centre-back walking vent … and I really like the terraced high-low look of that longer back and shorter front.
The dress is mostly stocking stitch, with the lower edges, the sleeve edges, and pocket opening welts highlighted with various width rows of garter stitch. Those sleeves! OK, I’ll confess these almost did me in … initially I had other ideas, resulting four false starts on the sleeves before the final design decision. Four!! It was a bit gut-wrenching, each time I would be chooffing merrily along with a sleeve, before the dawning realisation that my previously thought-to-be cool idea was actually going to look really really stupid. Gut-wrenching! SO MUCH UNRAVELLING!! But I refused to give up, I kept reminding myself that this HAD to work, I’d put so much into it already and I just could not abandon it in its hour of need. Finally I hit upon this sleeve, a very simple, and plain, , unadorned long-sleeved style , which worked out just right, I think.
Pockets; of course it has pockets!! the dress is knitted in the round, so there are no side seams, but I left openings at the front hip to knit in the pockets later. There are little extension “flaps” at the pocket openings, for a continuous look when you’ve got your hands in the pockets and may catch glimpses of the pocket insides; and the pockets are just little “bags” made by picking up stitches along this edge, knitting a simple rectangular strip and folding it in on itself. The garter stitch “welt” was knitted on before stitching the pocket piece closed.
The neckline; just wanted something really simple and streamlined, so I did one single row of chain stitch embroidery around the neckline edge.
The beanie: is a slightly loose and slouchy beanie, as I love this look and have decided this style of beanie suits me quite well, I think… hope! The arrangement of the stripes is the same as the dress, just on a smaller scale. This got unravelled and re-knitted only once before I worked out just exactly how I wanted it to look.
Le Whole Shebang, with accessories and all:
Shoes and bag; I’m wearing the same shoes and bag I made for last year’s project. At first I worried that they wouldn’t “go” but well; I reckon they go just fine. I carved my shoe bases from Manjimup pine and made the felted tops in natural white and black merino fleece and handspun, as described here. The matching bag is of the same felt.
Underwear: yep, same as last year. Well, I’m not going to make a new pair when I never wear this set at all! However, it is totally 100% local so I’m counting it as part of my totally local outfit again for this year, hehe.
So that’s it!! Am I going to take part in the “1 year 1 outfit” project again next year? well I do have ideas, but confess I’m a little exhausted, by, well… everything, at this point. Maybe, maybe not. The truth is that I actually do have enough totally local materials still, to produce something… so maybe… yes?! We’ll see!
fun fact; the small tree with bright green leaves behind and to the right of me in the picture, is called a Snottygobble. Yes, really!! #weirdAussienames
Following is my free pattern for this knitted, slightly A-line dress with inset, welted pockets, split hem, long sleeves. Includes pattern for optional beanie also. Please link back to me and credit me if you use this pattern, thank you so much 🙂
Location; Leeuwin National Park, in the south-west of Western Australia… although the picture immediately below is actually taken in our own garden, since I forgot to take my bag with me when I went to the park, doh!!
Now, you may be wondering… Carolyn, isn’t it the height of summer? Aren’t you absolutely roasting alive like a broiled lobster in that warm and ultra-cosy-looking woollen ensemble?? The short answer to those questions is; yes, and again, yes. Ahem. The maestro of Seasonally Inappropriate Sewing strikes yet again.
There are no words other than astoundingly creative! Well done indeed!
thank you Rianna! 🙂
That is a great dress if you live in the UK, I would be wearing that every week with leggings! I am not up to mahoosive knitting at the moment but certainly on my wish list! Jo x
Wow, this is amazing! Is it soft wool or is a bit prickly? Whenever I think about living in centuries past when everything was handspun or woven, I imagine spending my whole life feeling uncomfortably prickly!
thanks Fiona! Merino wool is beautifully soft and comfortable to wear against your skin, which is why it is in such high demand. Australia is famous for our wool, it’s one of our biggest industries; did you know Australia supplies 80% of the world’s wool for clothing!
Fantastic – you are an idol – an ideal that I can never aspire to, but admire nonetheless!
thank you Kathleen! 🙂
You never cease to amaze me. Such a great outfit. 🙂
I love this outfit and the idea behind the project, too—wish I had the time/resources/connections to try something similar here. I especially love how colourful you were able to make it this time (though the natural colours of last year are gorgeous. ) it looks like it would be a very snuggly and warm outfit, especially with the toque—will you be able to wear it much in your climate?
thanks Tanit-isis! It is very snuggle and warm…!! I will be able to wear it during our winter though it’s way too hot for it right now 🙂
At first glance I did think, “Oh Caroline she’s made another beautiful Inari…but where on earth did she get THAT knit?” Of course she knitted the whole darn thing herself from self-died wool! Gorgeous of course – and I laughed reading how it WAS inspired by the Inari 🙂 I was proud of myself for at least being correct in the inspiration behind the dress 🙂 You’ll be wearing this for years – in much cooler temps I imagine…like those we are enjoying here in Canada right now.
thanks Kathleen! Yes, I’m looking forward to wearing it during our winter, it’s way too hot for it now! 🙂
Wow, Caroline, you have done it again! This outfit is just amazing – and while last years was equally wonderful I think this excells because it is just so wearable. In fact I want one too! Might have to investigate handdying, it looks so much fun!
I feel speechless and in total awe of this outfit. I love it. I would expect to see something so exquisite in a very high end store window. Your skills are beyond compare to anything I’ve ever seen. This is so beautiful.
I said it on Instagram and I’ll sayit again: absolutely brilliant! You’re my hero <3
your dress is fantastic and the shape/style is perfect on you. I am amazed by the color you achieved with the natural dying, the various colors compliment each other so well. Did you just take the color you got on each dye vat or work on getting a specific shade of the color.
thanks Beth! with regard to the colours, I just took the colours I could get! when it comes to natural dyeing, and particularly when you are restricting yourself very strictly to ONLY local like I was for this project, you have very little to work with. The most creative I got was for my “green”, where I used a combination of three of the other colours, the orange, yellow and blue all together 🙂
This is my post where I outlined all my natural dyeing experiments
The colours look great and you have used them so beautifully. Offsetting them with the grey is genius. Thank you for generously sharing the pattern.
thank you Cathy, and you are welcome 🙂
Amazing! Love the colours you managed to dye, especially the beautiful orange. I wonder what colour snottygobble will give!!
oooooo! very nice dress, and great colours!
Such great yarns and beautiful colours! 🙂
that’s amazing! love this dress! might even try knitting it one day, so thanks for the pattern 🙂
This dress is incredible, you’re such a talented and creative person! I’m really impressed that you were able to get these beautiful colors from natural sources. It’ll be interesting to know how the colors will stand to wash and wear.
thanks Carmela! I did pre-handwash wash all my colours separately and fairly thoroughly, but will be washing this VERY carefully and gently, I think!
squeeeeeeee!! That is absolutely just freaking fabulous!! And complements not only your hair – but also your sense of fun – so well!! That feeling when … the project has just WORKED. Congrats! SO SATISFYING.
ABSOLUTELY FLOORED! You have bought such talent to this project Carolyn, West Australia is so proudly represented in this outfit. I’m struggling along with my self drafted knitting and if it doesn’t work out by March, I’m thinking I might need to use your dress pattern and for 2017! I’ve a back up plan for this 2016s dress which I’m about to start.
Oh wow what an amazing outfit! The colours you got in the wool are so beautiful!
Wow. Love! This dress should also layer beautifully with skinny pants, or over a translucent long gray/ivory skirt. Who doesn’t like adaptability, especially packing for trips?
I can’t get over how beautiful the yarn is, dyed and plain. The gray was genius. Yes, it adds a “shadow”, but it also takes a cheerful stripe (I can’t resist stripes!) into solidly grown-up design territory. Very sophisticated.
I forced myself to choose just one of your colored yarns as my favorite. But I couldn’t. They’re delicious.
Yours are hands down better than these.
http://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-trends/new-york-fashion-week-september-2016-trend-multicolor-stripes-10553816/
Yes, beanies suit you.
Keep on innovating, Carolyn!
Oh my gosh – I want to be like you when I grow up!!! What an inspiring project! You take all of those “some day I would like to do this” ideas and actually make it Happen. I have been hesitant about knitting my first cardigan that DH specially bought the yarn for me years ago. After reading this, I am going to get started!
I love reading your posts & seeing your beautiful work. Especially excited to see that you used Beverley L’s spinning. Her hand spun yarns are wonderful: bouncy, life-filled and perfectly revealing the quality of the fleece they were spun from.
I found some images on Ig of handmade running shoes, made by a weaver and spinner, which I thought you might like: http://instagram.com/sarahcswett
thank you Ruth, and for that recommendation too. Sarah’s shoes are very inspiring to me! 🙂
I’m particularly impressed with the dyeing! And, well, the patience to knit an entire dress, considering just how long it took me to knit a toddler sized sweater.
Love those stripes!!! And what a wonderful dress. The colours that you achieved with natural materials are absolutely amazing.
I’m amazed! Love how you have used the different colours in the stripes. Clever girl.
thank you so much, Vicki! xx 🙂
Carolyn, you are so impressive. I can just see you walking down a catwalk in this outfit to a standing ovation. Where is this challenge in the fashion industry?!
Soooo inspiring, and I love the way you promote our wonderful Western Australian merino wool.
Beautiful! Such a great outfit. I’ve not enough words for it!
I just love the colors your dyeing yielded! They’re so lovely and harmonious.
Your outfit is gorgeous and not only 100% local, but 100% you and your style! I really like how you’ve arranged the stripes and I’m impressed with your natural dying skills! It was q lot of fun reading your post and thank you for the pattern 🙂
Very creative. I love the stripes colours. You look great as always.
I always enjoy reading about your process and end products. Your local garments are truly inspirational!
thank you so much, Brenda! xx 🙂
Standing ovation for another stellar project! Your talent and imagination have fueled so many of us, we applaud and eagerly anticipate your every post. Handmadebycarolyn is like visiting a great museum, thank you for all you share.
aw, thank you so very much Elaine! that such a lovely thing to say… needless to say, you’ve may my day! Thank you!! xx
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You did a really good job with the dress and hat – they’re beautiful! I thought this was a really interesting project – I enjoyed doing my own and I love looking at what other participants have made.
I adore this outfit; every single element is thoughtfully executed and looks magnificent.
This is the most fun and fabulous outfit and you look totally chic. I love everything about it. What an incredible achievement!
You are amazing and the colours in your dress and beanie are beautiful. So much knitting and very impressed with your skills.
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This is extraordinary! What an inspiring and beautiful garment, and the undergarments too! Those are awesome. Thank you for exploring your bioregion through that which you wear, and sharing it with all of us.
You and what you can creatively achieve, is simply amazing! LOVE everything! So interesting to read about the dyes and the colors they produce. I’ve saved your pattern as I’d like to make your beanie one day. Dress too, but that’s probably ahead of my skill level right now.
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