WIP Wednesday - Getting Foxy

A WIP, almost 3/4 done! A friend was looking for fingerless mitts, and I couldn't resist. (I do have enough yarn, after all.) He's a fan of Foxes, and researching his ancestry. Thus, a pattern was born - a friendly fox, and some polish embroidery designs!

Now, I am in fact a rather lazy knitter. I did not set out to create a pattern for this! But Ravelry couldn't provide me with a chart of the sort I desired, so I was forced to make my own. After the mitts are complete I expect that I may clean up the pattern and put it out for the universe to use as they see fit, since the world needs more foxy folks...

No Waste Sewing (Almost!)

I made a thing! Not just anything, a Hangeroc inspired dress, with functional pockets and a fun swishy hem line. And this entire dress only took two yards of fabric. Yep, two yards.

Why is that number important? I mean, it's not that hard to make a dress with two yards... is it? Actually, it is. For a dress with an ample swingy shape that fits a medium sized frame two yards is almost a miracle. Two yards of fabric means saving lots of money (have you seen the price of fabric?) And also saving a lot of waste.

Let's talk scraps. Because I have lots of scraps. (Seriously, lots) And I LOVE scraps, cute little bits that are a memory of making a piece of clothing. I get bags of scraps from family, friends, estate sales, the local craft shop... sewing makes scraps. 

 This, this is all the scraps I have from making that dress. A few strip from squaring off the end of the fabric, the corners of my pockets, and those triangles are from straightening one section of hem. I think with some fiddling I could do away with that as well.

 How? Well, for inspiration I went back in history, waaaaay back! Consider this, if you have to hand wash, card and pick, handspin, dye, weave, and full every square inch of fabric in a garment, you ain't wasting it! Medieval reenactors have come up with a scheme for making an "Apron Dress" which has only straight line cuts and no waste.

The main shape of the dress is on the bottom of my drawing, the triangles above become the extra gores to make it ample and full, straps, facings, and pockets are all cut from the rest. The main difference from this and a reproduction piece is that I added some shaping for a modern silhouette. Thus, I needed a closure instead of having it loose enough to simply pull over my head.

 And here we are, a few hours of sewing, two yards of fabric - a cute, functional piece. And almost no scraps! Whatever will I use for decorating bags...

WIP - Dragon Boats and Baby Blankets

I decided to start the New Year with a sweater project - and epic sweater project.

The Viking Boat pattern has seen many iterations over the years, but  it always seemed a little dumpy to me. I have a bias against drop sleeves ( get it? Bias? Haha..ha... ok it was bad.) I noted a version of the project, that was fitted! A raveler had incorporated designs from other patterns, color changing yarns, and a Led Zeppelin quote. In other words, she made it AWESOME.

So I set out to recreate the feat. I got many skeins of yarn from the sale bin, this is Tracie from Imperial Ranch, and each skein is never-ending! I first had to find a yoke pattern for a comfy shaping, and re-chart the dragon boat. The original is hand-scratched x's on a grid, headache city. Both patterns turned out to be entirely in Norwegian... but since I was only concerned with the charts it was OK. I've picked out a few more patterns to complete the bottom, and charted the Elder Futhark runes to add more Old Norse flair!

And then... I will have to knit the sleeves. *Scream of despair *

I've also been distracting myself with a pair of baby blankets. Last year I started a year long afghan class, with a new crochet pattern each month. I, needless to say, fell behind in my crochet. I picked out my 10 favorite patterns, and made 5 iterations of each, all in different colors of green. I'm now divvying them up into two piles, to create two different baby blankets, one trimmed in bright yellow, and one in sage grey.

When I started this project I was simply planning ahead, assuming abstractly that I would need baby blankets eventually. Now there are two alien parasites gestating, so I have to stop slacking and get them done...

What are you working on?

Knitting Resources.

 When you are considering your tools needed for the next project, do not neglect your computer! Knitting may be an old-timey, unplugged kind of activity, but there are a plethora of excellent tools available for your crafty pleasure.

If you want to try creating your own charts, or charting out a written pattern, check out this link.

To create a pattern from an image, try KnitPro. I used this for my double knit Metallica scarf (RIP *cry*)

If you're interested in colorwork check out this pattern creator on Tricksy Knitter. It allows you to switch out the colors after charting, so it can also be used to try out different swatches on an existing pattern! Perfect for switching up your Lopi.

For all the little tips and tricks you can stand, check out Techknitter's Blog. She gets into knitty-gritty details (pun intended) about knitting techniques, and offers solutions to problems you didn't know you had.

Almost forgot this last one, Stitch Maps is a new way to chart. Instead of a strict grid system, it uses a flexible set of lines to the chart looks more like the finished knitting!

Do you have a favorite online craft resource?

Vintage Patterns

I just received a smorgasbord of vintage patterns from a crafty friends with crafty family. Patterns from the early 50s up to the late 70s in all their flimsy tissue paper glory! The oldest ones are of course in a single size, seems this relative was a "size 11, bust 30" which is quite small for me. Fortunately I have done resizing before,and if ever I use these they would be transferred to sturdier paper first anyway.

There were several gems with "New Look" waist and full full skirts. Those of us who are bottom heavy like when the measurements say "hips - free". Perhaps I will never have the pert hair and brilliant red lipstick, but I intend to rock these dresses in style!
But not every thing can be a hit. As the patterns get newer there are two changes. Naturally the fashions, most of which I find somewhat less flattering. I mean, the bride's maid dresses should make them look like shapeless drab things, but that effect only works if the bride is wearing something less tent-like.
The second change in these patterns, is that home seamstresses became less bold. Many of the 70s patterns advertise "Only 2 main pieces!" (There are patterns from the 50's touting simplicity as well, but to a lesser extent) Unisex shapeless vest? Check. Pom-pom trim? Yep. Painfully fluorescent fabrics? Oh my. Item that is unflattering in order to avoid making closures? Facepalm...
In defense of the decades, the 50s had some truly ridiculous knitting patterns, and the 70s had more useable items. Except for the crocheted bell bottoms and granny square dress... What vintage styles inspire you the most?