Sewing Schedule 2013

I have been inspired by a lot of  vintage sewing enthusiasts to write my own 2013 sewing schedule.  I think that this could help me fill the "gaps" in my wardrobe, as well as help encourage me not to take so long whipping up one dress!

It generally seems to take me four to five months to sew one dress ~ my latest project, a maternity dress, being the quickest at just over a month and a week.  That's because I worked on it regularly, rather than only when I felt like it.  I think it's reasonable to say that if I finish one dress every two months, and a smaller item every month ~ that might be a good rate for me?  I do want to try and get faster at sewing up my own pieces.

So {sew ~ lol} without further ado;

 January:

• One circle skirt w/ elastic waist  {For after baby is born}

February:

• One blouse {1940s style ~ I don't have many tops that look 1940s and I love them, so I want to rectify that.}

March:

• Erm, we'll see.  Baby's due on the 29th.

April:

• Ditto!

May:

• One staple 1940s winter skirt  {I love the simple 4-gore 40s skirt; I definitely need some!}

June ~ July:

• One warm winter dress

August:

• One staple 1940s summer skirt

September ~ October:

• Pattern stash busting!  One summer dress from patterns I have already!!

November ~ December:

• 40's Playsuit?   

And while we are on this role ~ how about a knitting schedule?   As I really only seem to like to knit in the cooler months {Seriously, today it's 37 degrees!! It's been mid-high 30s all last week, and it's supposed to be the week after....  I think you can see why!}, it'll be a shorter list, but that's ok.

April ~ May:

• One short sleeved 40's blouse

June ~ July:

• One long sleeved 40's blouse

And I think that's it!  Do you have any sewing/knitting/crochet plans for 2013?  Do share!

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ 2 ply, 4 ply, Why ply??

I found this post from the Purl bee extremely helpful in understanding why the heck all 4 ply yarns aren’t created equally.  So, for my fellow yarnites {nerds of the hook and needle variety!} who find this kind of thing fascinating, please hop on over for the full run down on all things ply.

2-ply, 4-ply, Why Ply?



Simply put, ply is a measurement we use for yarn, like inches, yards, and meters. Unlike these other units of measurement, however, ply has no standard size.   All of the yarns pictured above are made of a single strand of fiber.  As you can see, they are all very different.  An inch is always an inch, but one ply? That's another story.

There are several factors that determine the character of a single ply of yarn: the fiber, the spinner, and the tension…

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ The Flying Gnome

Animation by Mochimochi Land

If you are into tiny cute knitted gnomes, balloons, snowmen, pianos, unicorns or just about anything else you can think of Mochimochi Land is the place for you!  These tiny knits are available as patterns or complete kits, so you can make your own Mochimochi! 

I personally haven’t knitted up any yet, as I tend to favour amigurumi instead{see here and here}, but I thought this animated .gif was seriously too cute not to share.   > U <     Up, up and awaaaaayyyyyy!

xox,

bonita

How to ~ A guide for seaming a knitted cardigan

I was so eager to finish off my last {and first!} knitted cardigan that I didn’t bother blocking it, or learning how to seam it properly.  While the ribbing is very forgiving, and has settled down nicely into the shape I wanted, I thought that for my next cardigan I should learn a few more tricks for finishing a knitted garment. 

 

First off:  how to block a cardigan using wet blocking, or spray/steam blocking techniques.   Blocking is done at the end of the knitting process, usually before seaming a pieced garment. Here’s an article detailing the benefits of blocking and which fibers respond to what kinds of blocking ~ To Block or Not to Block, as well as a video on how to do the three different methods.

Then, you can seam it together with your choice of stitch style. This video is great in demonstrating how to set a sleeve in.

This one is good for stockinette shoulder seams.

And this website has some great knitting and finishing tips, including this great little video on mattress stitch, which is good for doing up side seams.

I hope you find these resources helpful.

xox,

bonita

Wordless Wednesday ~ 3rd July Ed.

    

    

xox,

bonita

The Daily Diary ~ Pretty pieces and prose

First world blogger problems: when you have lots of little things to talk about, but nothing that is singularly post worthy?  What do you do dears? 

I am in this pickle, so what I have decided to do is start up a new feature called “The Daily Diary”.  This will not be a regular feature, but I plan on using it whenever the above situation occurs. 

I like to think of it like my diary on my blog ~ just a little conversation about daily happenings between you and me.

  …Starting with knitting!

    

I can’t believe I went out and spent $89.44AUD on wool for my next cardigan, but I did.  * _ *  I also find it hard to get over how expensive it is just to knit a cardigan!  Still, I reassure myself that I get a lot of fun out of knitting up my projects and while $90.00 is a lot of money, for a nice alpaca cardigan you’d pay about that much. 

Yup, you heard it correctly. the wool I am using is a 100% baby alpaca!  It’s so soft and I love how the creamy ivory colour allows the pretty cable detail to really shine.  I am making up the gorgeous pattern pictured below right ~ ‘The Sightseer’ from Clarks and Coat’s Bulky knits.  It’s so simple to do that I have knitted up 13 inches in three days!  w00t!  > u <

Next up in the list of lovelies floating through my house ~ this stunning giveaway prize that I won!  Remember I blogged about an awesome Pretty Broach Giveaway a while ago?   Well I was totally thrilled when I won; it’s a fabulous prize and it arrived on my doorstep just the other day. 

Sarah of Snövits äpple did a superb job handcrafting this darling little brooch for me and I love it!  Not to mention she included some lovely surprises for me ~ like the amazing vintage postcard {bottom left} that has a beautiful photograph of a girl and her horse on the front. 

Plus, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to see the precious box the brooch was sent in.  I am keeping my bobby pins in it right now.  Lastly, but definitely not least, the brooch was careful wrapped in a delicate lace~edge linen handkerchief.  What a truly delightful package to receive!  Thank you Sarah, thank you Elsa!  ♥

  

I also had to include a snapshot of the gorgeous new handbag I brought from Oasap, and a sneak peek of the shirtwaist dress that I been working on for oh, ages now!  It’s finally almost finished, and I am so happy with how it’s turned out. : 3

   

Until next time ~

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ Free 1954 Vintage Knitting Pattern

You all know my favourite thrifted red cardigan that I wore about three times in a row for outfit posts right? {It features here, here, and here ~ and probably else where, but I can’t seem to remember where. 
> o < }  Well, it starting to get a tad bit shabby, but thanks to Tasha of By gum, by golly! I can now knit myself a replacement.  It’s not quite the same, but the shape is very similar, and I think it looks super cute, so I can’t wait to try this as my spring knitting project! 

Yes, winter has not even come in full force down under and I am already thinking a season ahead.  Oh well, that’s what you have to do to plan your wardrobe right?  Visit Tasha’s blog to download the free .pdf.   ^ U ^

Vintage knitting pattern: 1954 Mother & Daughter Shrug

I don't know about you, but I have had shrugs and boleros on my mind lately!

As the weather finally seems to be staying nicer and I creep closer to rotating my closet (yay for seeing pretty spring and summer fashions that have been hidden away for months!), I've been thinking about what cover ups I like to pair with my not-too-cold weather clothes. I have a multitude of boxy cardigans, but lately I've been really wearing a couple of my favourite boleros the most. I love that they're just a bit less bulky and nip in at the waist, which is perfect with dresses. I really need more of them in my life!

So I thought what better time to share a vintage shrug knitting pattern?…

xox,

bonita

The Blue Danube Cardigan

Blue Danube Cardigan  ~  Me Made from this Vintage Knitting Book; Bulky Knits    Classic Collar Blouse  ~  Thrifted   Vintage Lilly Love Brooch  ~  Love Vintage Clothing Show, 2011   Plaited Belt  ~  Thrifted    Swingin’ Circle Skirt  ~  Me Made in Casey’s CSSA   Gingham Picnic Wedges  ~  Modcloth

~ * ♥ * ~

You guys, do you know how absolutely excited I am?!!  See that pretty blue cardigan I am wearing?  I made it myself!!  It’s my first knitted garment and I am completely adoring how it came out!  I think that it looks exactly like the picture for the pattern ~ don’t you?  ᵔᴗᵔ

Well, almost exactly the same, except that I haven't yet sewn on the hook and eye at the neck, and I also made mine a wee bit shorter because I couldn’t get enough of the same dye in the yarn I bought. 

Still, all that aside, I can’t wait to start on my next knitting project.  This one was finished in about a month, so I think I might be able to squeeze in another heavy knit in before the end of winter and then I’ll have to start on some more lighter weight {i.e. ~ finer yarn which equals a lot more time on the needles!} projects.  I might even have enough garments to participate in Me-Made May if it’s on next year.  > – <  Fun times!

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Ribbon Button Band Cardigan

This is a fantastic guest post tutorial from Tasha of By Gum By Golly found at Casey’s Elegant Musings is well worth a read ~ a fantastic vintage detail that is easy to add to your cardigans and looks pretty.  Tasha has done it again!! : D

Ribbon Button Band Cardigan Tutorial

Do I have a treat for you today! Tasha of By Gum By Golly (one of the best vintage fashion and sewing/knitting blogs, in my opinion!) has a fantastic tutorial for all you knitters (and sweater-refashioners) out there! This clever lady has figured out a great way to add a button band to a sweater. This is something that a lot of vintage knitting patterns specify, but the instructions are usually less than clear. Thank you Tasha for deciphering and sharing how to do this!–♥ Casey

Hi everyone! I’m Tasha and I blog over at By gum, by golly. I’m excited to be helping Casey out, and I’m here today to share a tutorial with you!

If you’re a vintage clothing aficionado like I am, you may have occasionally found a cardigan finished with grosgrain ribbon along the opening edges of the button bands….

xox,

bonita

Quick Share ~ Stranded {Fair Isle} Knitting Tutorial

This is a great tutorial from Tasha of By Gum, By Golly! on how to get started with patterned/stranded/fair isle knitting.  It’s an excellent resource to have on hand. 

VKC: Getting started with stranded (fair isle) knitting

The very basics of stranded knitting

Stranded knitting refers to knitting with multiple colors in a single row, with the unused color carried or stranded along the back when it's not in use. Hence the name "stranding" or "stranded knitting". Usually, that's limited to two colors, but you may find 3 or more colors in some Icelandic and Scandinavian traditional patterns, for example, and occasionally in vintage patterns. Though it's most commonly done with two colors in a row, so that's what I'll focus on…

xox,

bonita

*clickclick* ~ Knitting Resources

  

~ * ♥ * ~ Teaching the Mr. to knit.  So funny!  > <  ~ * ♥ * ~

Recently I have been super inspired by some knitting resources that have popped up in my feed reader.  It makes me so eager to be done with the never~ending~baby~blanket~of~doomed!* and to be moving onto some lovely vintage/vintage inspired sweaters. So eager in fact that I wanted to share some of the amazing free patterns I’ve found! 

~ * ♥ * ~ I am going to knit the jacket on the left for my first ever jumper!  ~ * ♥ * ~

~ * ♥ * ~ I really like the cardigan on the right.  It’s a nice pattern without being too boring or too hard.  I definitely want to try it next. ~ * ♥ * ~

These bulky knit patterns from 1956 are super adorable!  Sarah from Vintage Bobbin posted them up, and even better, made a pdf with all the patterns available here.  How awesome is she?!! 

I love how the cardigans would be so nice and warm with the thick yarn, and there is the added bonus of being able to complete the project quicker.  Yay for chunky knits!  I know I am going to love them because my favourite red cardigan {featured here and here} is a bulky knit and so far I can’t seem to stop wearing it. 

I have to say that I would shorten the cardigans though ~ they are not quite at that ‘hit the waist’ length that I prefer.  I think that would be easy though, and another advantage ~ less knitting!  Bonus!

~ * ♥ * ~ Miette by Andi Satterlund~ isn’t it pretty?  ~ * ♥ * ~

Another free pattern is this gorgeous vintage style cardigan by Andi from Untangling Knots.  She made the pattern up herself {!! Isn’t she clever!} and has made it available here to download as a pdf.  The thing I really like about this design is that it is seamless so you don’t have to sew any pieces up and it’s designed from the top down so you can: A. fit as you go and B. stop where ever you like and get the perfect length you desire!  It’s a winner in my books. 

Oh, so much to do and so little time to do it in….  It’s okay though because Andi also has some awesome tips on how to read and knit at the same time here!  And before you go “That’s all well and good but I am mostly reading blogs on my computer and can’t do that.” check out her post for a moment because she shows you how to set your Google Reader to scroll automatically!  

In case you couldn’t tell, I am totally a fan of that!  O happy knitting days!!   > ω <

xox,

bonita 

*It’s 330 stitches across and measures approx. 50 inches when complete.  I have been working nonstop on this blanket since March and I have got 33 inches finished, and multiple mistakes. I am sooooo over it, but as this is a special present for Theodore I will keep my nose to the grindstone {or my fingers perhaps?} and slog on.  Here’s the blanket terror in person ~