"I quit"....a year long challenge

Buying clothing that is, at least for now.

Here's why;
Like most people in the western world I have too much clothes that I care too little about. How? All of the clothing I own fits into a duffle bag(very snugly but I can still zip it with a little muscle). Which I think is a great accomplishment for myself but still, I care very little about the clothing I have. I find myself searching all the time for something newer and more interesting.

I was reading an old book not too long ago called The Secret Of Distinctive Dress, it was written in 1915 but still hold some valuable truths. I highly recommend reading it! Anyway, it discusses the idea that even though fashions are constantly changing, you don't need to go buy an entirely new wardrobe every other month. If you choose a few simple pieces that are easily and simply updated you can always be dressed in style without spending a small fortune.

The challenge is this:
1. I will not buy new clothing for a year, I will occasionally buy used clothing to remake
2. I will work on remaking clothing I already own and create new pieces that are classic and timeless while also wearable and functional.
3. Research styles that are flattering to my body type.
4. Improve garment making technique by studying and participating in The Knitting Guild Association's hand knitting masters program, textile design courses and textile technique classes online and elsewhere.


What I hope to achieve:
1. An increased connection with and appreciation for my clothing.
2. Improved technique and design skills
3. A creative outlet and challenge artistically and creatively.
4. A wardrobe that is well made and fits correctly.


I will be posting about my progress here! If you'd like to join me for part of or all of this challenge let me know!

Why I have trouble finishing thi...

I think that because I enjoy the process of creating so much I find myself getting very near the end of projects and then stopping, putting them aside and starting something new. I don't ever want it to be over. Sometimes I just get bored or better yet I come up with some other incredibly brilliant idea that has to be started NOW! It's just that fantastic!

Upon realizing this annoying tendency in myself I decided a few weeks ago to go through all of my unfinished projects and finish them. How did I manage that you ask? I decided to make myself finish at least two projects before starting a new one.

This week the project to be finished was a sock I had started for Johnny just before Christmas. I started it in hopes of finishing it by Christmas but ended up getting caught finishing all the other presents first, it didn't get finished and found it's way to the bottom of my pile of unfinished things. Until this week.

I thought myself clever for choosing to finish this project because it's just a little sock and it was already half finished. How long could it possibly take me?

Just as I had suspected it took only a day or so. But then as I gleefully reached for my next project Johnny stopped me and moaned something to the effect of, you're not finished yet! I was. I had finished the sock. Finally he convinced me that I had to make the other sock before I was truly done.

So I cast on a new sock just as the week started and finished it today. And now I'm done! Really! So I have officially created two pairs of socks, neither pair for my self, we'll have to remedy that sometime soon. Here is the work in progress 

and the finished pieces!

Note: I realize this is a very simple somewhat boring pattern. But hey I'd rather make boring socks he'll wear instead of fantastically interesting socks he'd never think of wearing :)

Chanel inspired evening bag

Since I created an Etsy profile I have become semi-obsessed with designing and making purses to post. This week's project was inspired by the classic Coco Chanel clutch that has been mimicked countless times through the years.

For the body of the bag I decided to use a lattice stitch pattern which looks absolutely lovely but ended up being incredibly tedious. The yarn I chose is a peaches and cream color mercerized cotton that I received from a woman who had gotten it in Turkey years ago. After knitting the main piece I reinforced it with none other than a sheet of plastic canvas cut into the shape I wanted the bag to end up. Then I managed to design a triangle shaped end piece to make opening and closing the bag smoother. 

After I had sewn the sides and attached the shaping pieces I set out to find the perfect lining. When we were in NYC this past December I had found a wonderful piece of delicately striped, light green silk and decided it would be a nice lining. The muted peach and green colors play very well together I think.

When sewing the lining I contemplated including pockets for credit cards but ended up opting for an open interior because it was to be an evening bag not a wallet.  

Finishing the bag presented quite the dilemma. Did I want to add a button? A strap? A wrist loop? A clasp? Finally I decided to create a magnetic closure and no strap. I was looking through my buttons to find the perfect fit and found the perfect one! Actually it isn't a button at all. It was an old clip on earing. I was examining the back trying to figure out how to attach it and noticed that engraved in the metal it had the Chanel logo and " made in france". Doesn't get better than that!! Here is the finished product;

If you'd like to make it your own, click here to buy it at my Etsy shop!
 

I finally made it!!

     I am officially a "real" knitter! And by that I mean I have just finished my first sweater!
Well technically it's not my first sweater attempt. The real #1 ended up being for short torsoed people...a category which I do not fall into. So I took it apart and this last week tried again.

     I have been very busy recently making different styles of bags and purses but when we were in Manalapan, NJ last week I stumbled upon a nice little shop called Knit One Purl Two. I looked around inside and soon found myself siting at the table flipping through a copy of KNITSCENE Spring 2007. It didn't take me long to come across a lovely short sleeve sweater called Butterfly. It called for 8 (50oz) skeins of bamboo yarn so I decided to check the sale rack to see if by any slim chance she had bamboo on sale. Much to my delight the owner of the shop puts all yarns that have been discontinued by the manufacturer directly on the sale rack, no matter how much of it she has left. I was able to purchase an unopened bag of ten skeins of bamboo yarn for the AMAZING price of $19!!!

     Butterfly is a very simple, short sleeved sweater that is knit half in the round and half flat. The only shaping work is that for the button placket in the front. Something new that I had never tried before was crocheting the edges so make a it lay a bit nicer and at a subdued border.

     Now, I was at that time working on three other projects so I decided to wait to start the sweater. But excitement and impatience got a hold of me and I ended up starting the next day! I started knitting on Wednesday and finished everything including weaving in the ends The following Friday(9 days). Not bad if I do say!

      The best part is that bamboo is incredibly soft and antimicrobial so it'll be perfect for hot summer days and works great for layering now! Here is a picture of the completed project :

 

Happy February everyone!