Tag Archives: Jeans

Black with rose-pink accents

28/07/2010 4:50 am \ 4 Comments \

My husband wittily suggested I title my post “Amish chic”, he he  cheeky…  It’s my hat.  But we’ve lived amongst the Amish and I never saw an Amish lady in jeans.  “Amish menswear chic”?  I hope not.  I prefer to think I look more …err, “kind of equestrian”?… yeah, well maybe.
 Yesterday I visited a second hand shop and op shop with my friend E, or “went thrifting” as Americans say…! (lol, I’m already imagining my grandmother, a stickler for correct English, giving me a strict grammar lesson on that one!  But hey, language is supposed to be an organic ever-changing tool for communication, right?  Right.)
Oh, back to the haul.  I got this hat in an op-shop, it’s of stiff felt and lovely.  I also picked up two Metalicus cardigans and a lovely beaded Wheels and Doll-baby cardigan second hand, the latter only needs a few buttons stitching on more firmly to be perfect.  Score!!  And I’m so thrilled I got my Metalicus fix without having to break my Wardrobe Re-fashion pledge!
This morning I noticed for the first time that this scarf actually goes beautifully with the little silk chiffon pockets on my cardigan.  A small detail.  Just a touch of rosy pink to warm up the black elsewhere.
And since lately we are having reasonably warm sunny weather today I’m wearing a summer top, a little white lacy short-sleeved thing, last seen here.  Believe it or not I still have three lengths of different white lace in my stash, awaiting my attention…  I’m really being very good about my stash.  I’ve cut out four more projects ready to go.  Unfortunately three of them still require a visit to the fabric shop, to pick up some needed extras such as a bit of extra lining for one, some matching braid or ribbon for another and some buttons and braid for the other.  I just hope I can escape from the store without succumbing to the siren call of all the new spring fabrics that I know will be there… wish me strength…

Details:
Top; my own design variations on New Look 6483, ivory cotton and crocheted lace inset strips
Cardigan; Alannah Hill
Scarf; knitted using 3 balls Colinette chenille
Jeans; Burda 7863, black denim
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies
Hat;  op shop

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Oversized knitwear

16/07/2010 5:16 am \ 3 Comments \

The latest Vogue magazine has been singing the virtues of oversized knitwear for this winter.  This isn’t a look I go for very often, but I thought for once in a while, why not?  Granted the fashionable colours for this year are more of your putty greys, beiges, caramels, charcoal and black.  Sometimes it is nice though to splash out with a taste of cheery warm scarlet to brighten up the day.
For today I dug out this jumper that I had made for my husband, very early in our marriage.  Definitely pre kiddies, anyhow…  I don’t think he’s worn it for at least ten years.  I mentioned in a previous post how I occasionally borrowed my husband’s clothes, and Caroline commented how her husband’s clothes would be HUGE on her, well, lookie here, people, at what my husband’s clothes actually look like on me, too!  I think “oversize” and “loose” are being achieved here satisfactorily, no?  I think an oversize jumper can look very cute and sexy, when it is styled right.  It’s best worn with close-fitting, if not tight, pants or a skirt; so the big loose top part of your ensemble is balanced out by a sleeker, streamlined lower part.  We have no desire to go out looking at all “dress-up box”, now, do we?
This jumper is made using Patons 8 ply, an Australian pure merino wool that sadly seems to have disappeared from the knitting aisles… it came in a fabulous range of pure self colours which lent itself beautifully to fair isle designs as well as one colour affairs such as this one.
I followed a pattern which has long gone so I can’t share with you here, sorry.  It was my first go at cables, and once these were de-mystified for me in the making of this jumper I’ve not looked back.  Now I’m just like, cables? meh… no biggie.

Details:
Jumper; made by me, using Patons 8 ply to a Patons pattern
Jeans; made by me, Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
Top (underneath); Metalicus

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Aviation chic

07/07/2010 4:16 am \ 10 Comments \

My outfit today has a sort of aviator/biker appeal about it.  I really love the Burberry fall 2010 collection like below, but I watered it down to suit my suburban not-very-high-fashion neighbourhood with its elderly population. 
I’m not sure why the current interest in aviation style clothing, probably a spin-off from the immense current popularity of military-inspired fashion.  Most people getting on a plane in these modern times opt for a comfortable loose get-up involving tracksuit pants, sneakers and fleeces but say “aviator fashion” and the old fashioned images of, say, Amelia Earhart are what immediately springs to mind…  an iconic woman who was adventurous and independent, feminine but dressing with a strong masculine style.   Perhaps a shocking look in her time but considered very sexy and relevant for women of today.  I guess little wonder fashion is aiming to emulate her style.

Details:
Jeans; made by me, Burda 7863, black denim
Tops (underneath); both Metalicus
Cardigan; my own design, snakeskin printed “rubber-y” black jersey knit
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies

Photos below;  at left, Amelia Earhart, found uncredited on the net; at right from Burberry Prorsum Fall 2010 collection

 

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Undersea-garden crocheted scarf

03/07/2010 5:17 am \ 4 Comments \

Now, I am no crochet-er.  I struggle with each and every stitch.
I think it comes down to this, when I learnt to knit, my mother taught me.  I was taught.  Mum took the time and effort, it was a bonding exercise and fun, I was little, with a thirst for knowledge…
In the crochet department, I was self-taught.  And an adult.  And we all know the old saying about the difficulties of reconciliation when it comes to an old dog and new tricks…
I made this about six years ago.  I saw this scarf pattern in a friend’s knitting magazine (can’t remember any details, sorry) and instantly decided I had to have one.  Armed with a book from the library with the different crochet stitches illustrated in all their scary hand-contortionist detail, some lovely mohair wool (I know I know, mohair, huh?) and a copy of the intermediate level pattern, I set out on my first crochet project with determination but no idea of what I was doing.  Pretty stupid, yes?  It’s one of my failings, to just throw myself into a possibly difficult new project with not a clue of technique and no pre-conception of failure.  I say “failing”, but I guess it is a trait that has got me this far, so shouldn’t rail on myself… 
I did not enjoy making this scarf, mohair is a tricky enough yarn to play with, without trying to manipulate intricate stitches in it with a crochet hook.  I solemnly vowed it would be my last crochet project, but I do still love the look of this thing and I admit it, it would be impossible to achieve this lacy, oldfashioned look, which has an air vaguely reminiscent of “granny” squares about it, while still managing to look coolly distinct from the usual run-of-the-mill scarves around.
A hard earned success.

Details:
Scarf; crocheted by me, mohair yarn
Top; Metalicus
Jeans; made by me, Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
on feet; cropped out, but I’m wearing my daggy old slippers and put on my biker boots to go out later!

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Charcoal baggy beret

01/07/2010 2:49 am \ 6 Comments \

So I had a discussion with a few friends about the washing your-hair-on-every-third-day-instead-of-every-second experiment; and the general consensus is that you have to persist for at least six weeks in order for results to show (you can tell I’m a scientist, can’t you? yes I am always this analytical about my life…), so I’m going to keep it up.  In the meantime I wanted something to cover my slightly yucky day 3 hair in this awkward transition phase, so I’ve been knitting up a couple of slouchy berets…
This one is knitted using one ball of Patons Wilderness, knitted up to a tension of 14 stitches/10cm.

Cast on 70 stitches, rib 2K 2P for 10cm, increasing 1 st in the middle of the last rib row, then stocking stitch without shaping for a further 16cm, ending on a purl row.  Shape the crown as follows:
(on a knit row), K2 together, K4; repeat until end of row; P 1 row,
K2 together, K3; repeat this until end of row; P 1 row,
K2 together, K2; repeat this until end of row; P 1 row,
K2 together, K1; repeat this until end of row; P 1 row,
K2 together until end of row
Thread the remaining yarn through a wool needle, pass through the remaining stitches and pull up nice and tight.  Now sew the sides of the beret together down to the rim, and you’re finished!
A very simple project that took about two evenings in front of the World Cup…

Details:
Beret; made by me, Patons Wilderness, colour 0507
Jeans; Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
Top(under); Ezibuy
Top; Metalicus
Cardigan; Country Road
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

 

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Caramel “loopy” scarf

28/06/2010 5:34 am \ 6 Comments \

I made this scarf a few years ago, not really sure now how many.  Originally I had done a class at Ivy and Maude, and was so inspired I went on to make dozens of these.  Well, maybe a few more than a dozen, anyhow!  I gave nearly all of them away as gifts.
The stitch is a very clever stitch where you wrap the wool around your thumb as you are knitting and then cast the wool over to “lock” the loop in, creating permanent loops.  A friend once told me she had seen the stitch in a very old knitting book, so it’s been around…  I thought for about a split second of trying to describe/draw how to do the stitch on this blog but abandoned that thought; its just too complex for my limited descriptive/illustrative skills…!
The beauty in these scarves is always in the wool you choose.  All the ones I made were out of Colinette Fandango; just bought one ball of this divine all-cotton yarn and knitted up the whole ball in this fashion; bingo, instant beautiful scarf.  The colour ranges available of this stuff are what “make” the scarf, imo.
This one has a mix of caramel, cream, fawn and grey and has long been a favourite (it’s got so thin!!)  I have also made ones for myself in red/pink and one in pastel blue/green/pink.  The other ones I made for friends were all of other colours, I never doubled up on shades.  Didn’t have to! every time I went into the shop there seemed to be so many new fabulous shades to choose from, my enthusiasm would be re-ignited all over again!

Details:
Scarf; made by me, Colinette Fandango yarn
Jeans; Burda 7863, black denim
Top; Ezibuy
Cardigan; Country Road
Handwarmers; Sportsgirl
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough
Bag; Gucci
(New!!) Sunglasses; Ray Ban

News; I decided to join up to Wardrobe Refashion again, for another 4 months.  I may not do heaps of refashioning this time but I’ll be sewing my own (as usual), and staying away from shopping for readymade clothes…
Also I signed up for this: 

‘I, Carolyn (Handmade by Carolyn), sign up as a participant of Self-Stitched-September. I endeavour to wear handmade and refashioned items of clothing and/or accessories and jewellery every day for the duration of September 2010’.

Should be fun!

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Black high-waist straight-leg jeans

23/06/2010 4:10 am \ 15 Comments \

I’ve made some new jeans!  
After being inspired by some of the beautiful examples of other people out there making their own jeans, and the success of my own khaki stretch gabardine jeans I decided to give this a go.  These new ones are made from black denim with only a little stretch in them.  When I first bought this fabric I thought it had more stretch than it actually did, but now they are finished I’m glad they are not too stretchy, as they are more like real jeans in my opinion.  So, even though the pattern envelope says “stretch fabrics only”, I would use this advice as a guide only in fabric selection.  Mine turned out alright.  I think so, anyway!
I used Burda 7863 again, and the only variation to the pattern I did this time was to add a zip placket, as seen in the photo below, to protect my tender tummy skin from those sharp (and in winter, cold!) zipper teeth.  Also, I did originally have pocket flaps over the pockets as per the pattern, but removed these as I thought they looked a little “home-made” and not very trendy.  The remaining half of the press stud is still there in the pocket, but I kind of like the look of this.  If I get enthusiastic I might even add some sort of embroidered pocket decoration in the future…  I also made the belt loops a little wider, to accommodate my black belt, but as the waist is so nice and high and because I went to the effort of fitting the waistband to my waist size, I probably won’t even be wearing a belt with these jeans.  The pockets are lined with scraps of leftover patchwork fabric that I had used to line my autumn trench coat, and the topstitching throughout is a single row of long stitch in a deep ruby red; because I had some of this colour leftover from my Rosetta ballgown.
So I’m pretty happy with my new skinny leg jeans!  They are a lot warmer than my khaki stretch ones, so will be great for those coooold winter mornings!

Details:
Jeans; Burda 7863, black denim
Top; Metalicus
Cardigan; Country Road
Scarf; Sportsgirl
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

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Except the boots…

21/06/2010 5:27 am \ 5 Comments \

Today my outfit is completely handmade by me!!  Doesn’t happen with extreme frequency, especially during winter when jumpers and cardigans are in constant appearance, so feeling pretty pleased with this outfit!  And my socks are knitted by me too, although they’re clearly not visible here…!  I really like the mix of blues and khaki combination, muted but strong; a colour scheme I really wanted to wear this winter.
Sigh, one of the factors causing me angst at the moment is whether or not to join up to Wardrobe Refashion again.   I’ve noticed that it is not going to cost us to join up, which is a good thing.  But I keep coming across new Metalicus tops in yummy colours which when I spy them am immediately convinced will fill a gaping hole in my wardrobe…   But do I really need new tops?  No.  Want?  Er, well, yes…. (shamefaced)  Yesterday I got out a woolen Tshirt from winter last year and it had big holes in it, a victim of silverfish (sad face)…  so some new tops should be on my to-get list.  And I have a big craving for some Metalicus.  It’s like a drug.  I must resist.
As well, in the West last weekend Rob Broadfield in his restaurant review penned a particularly scathing (and kinda nasty) comment on a certain type of woman who hails from the western suburbs (which I don’t) and who wears Metalicus (er, guilty).  My friend D once described the type as a latte-drinking, western suburbs airhead.  I think I’m safe on the latte issue, the western suburbs issue, and the airhead issue.  But I am failing on the Metalicus front…  And I definitely do NOT want to be lumped into that, or any, category of women.  I like to think I have my own style and am different from the herd.  (As we all do!)  So teetering here, on the whole Wardrobe Refashion issue…  
I did some more sewing over the weekend and have some new things to show you, but much better suited to a chillier day than today!
Today’s random picture below; cute droplets of water on my benchtop, must be a “sign”, no?

Details:
Jeans; Burda 7863, khaki stretch gabardine
T-shirt; refashioned from husband’s old T-shirt here
Cardigan; refashioned from husband’s old jumper here
Scarf; refashioned from husband’s old tank here
Boots; Andrea and Joen, from Uggies in Dunsborough

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