Knit Picking

I was on the lookout for a red cropped cardi when I spotted this little number in one of my local charity shops. The shop label had been snipped off, but a quick check of the fibre content revealed a good quality cotton cashmere mix - very soft to the touch. Unfortunately it was a shade on the large side. I debated wearing it loose, but decided I'd never feel comfortable with the fit. I'd not normally risk cutting up knitwear, but as a cheap buy, there was not a lot to lose. I used a narrow zig zag stitch on the sleeves, then overlocked the raw edges. A much better fit and a cute cover up for my summer dresses.



Patience Pays Off

I was in the beautiful Spa town of Harrogate last weekend. It must be a wonderful place to live with its eclectic selection of restaurants and individual shops. From a more economical perspective, it also boasts a high number of charity shops. I must have visited about eight or nine in the course of an afternoon. It brought home to me how much time and patience you need to invest in second hand shopping. My expedition netted just one purchase – though one I love. I found this dress which originates from on-line clothing company Wrap. It’s a very easy to wear style in a timeless navy and ivory combination that will be my go-to everyday dress for the summer.

Turning Around A Mistake

I recently made a stripe jersey top with a handkerchief hemline – similar styles are very popular in the shops at the moment. It was a very easy pattern (Vogue 8651) but I wasn’t used to working with jersey fabrics. I hadn’t realised how much sewing can stretch them if they are not handled properly. I ended up with a badly gaping neckline. I considered using some elastic to rectify the problem, but spotted a more creative solution in the wonderful Sew Stylish magazine. The Spring 2011 edition features the how-to for creating pin tucks on a T.shirt. I used exactly the same process on my baggy neckline. And voila – it achieved the dual effect of solving my mistake, and adding a decorative detail.

Incidentally I love wearing the finished garment – jersey is so comfortable and drapes so beautifully. It’s definitely a fabric I’d like to use again so will be swotting up on how to sew it correctly in the future.

Making It My Own

In his book “Appetite” cookery writer Nigel Slater explains how he adapted a chocolate cake recipe to create something that had a connection to the original recipe but he truly felt was his. I’ve just had the same feeling with a crochet pattern. This pattern appeared as Esmee in the January edition of “Inside Crochet” magazine. It was extremely badly written and full of errors, so I was constantly adjusting and tweaking as I went along. I completely changed the sleeve shape to something more flattering. Despite the difficulties along the way I’m happy with the finished result. It is suitably inspired by the original pattern but feels completely my own. I’m now intending to make another version as a sweater using cotton wool so the metamorphosis will be even further removed from the starting point.

Henley: Checking Out The Charity Shops

Experts advise charity shopping in wealthy catchment areas where residents are hopefully motivated to generously donate their designer cast-offs to a good cause. I decided to test the theory out in Henley, the Oxfordshire town, beautifully situated on the Thames. I was lucky enough to be there on market day which added even more vitality to the already vibrant and stylish ambience.

There are four charity shops in the town (one is a books only Oxfam), and they didn’t disappoint. I spotted many top end high street names on the rails – Reiss, Jaeger, M & S Autograph and Jigsaw. I did learn one thing whilst I was shopping – do not go with a friend the same size as you. There are bound to find the good things first!

I didn’t find any designer bargains along the rails. I reckon the best stuff is probably creamed off by Henley’s de-luxe second hand shop “Revolution”. This has the feel of a luxury boutique with a great mix of labels. When I am next looking for a special dress, this will be my first stop. There is a four week window in which to buy an item, with the possibility of a further reduction in the final week. Prices are about three or four times higher than a charity shop, but it is well-edited stock, nothing older than two years.

Did I buy anything on my Henley jaunt? Yes, one thing - a slightly flared oatmeal cardigan by Part Two. I didn’t recognise the label but the fibre content was a wool/silk mix, so I guessed it was good quality. It’s probably a size too big, but as fit doesn’t need to be exact with knitwear, I can probably get away without making any alterations. As it’s an interesting shape, I will have to put some thought in what I can wear with it, though the neutral colour makes it very versatile.

So I reckon my Henley shopping experiment was a success and will definitely be returning before too long – though probably alone!

Review: "Making" Magazine

In the vanguard of the burgeoning craft movement comes “Making” magazine, a glossy take on the home made world. It follows in the footsteps of Martha Stewart Living, but manages to even out-Martha the ultimate Craft Queen herself.  “Making” is beautifully photographed and styled, matching the allure of a high quality fashion magazine.  Each issue has a theme – “light”, “vintage” and “custom made” are recent examples. The crafts themselves are divided into living, garden, kitchen, bathroom and wardrobe with normally around two to four projects in each category. There are also a couple features, perhaps interviewing a designer or meeting some craft enthusiasts. I have found the magazine very useful in providing me with details of courses, shows, suppliers, books and giving me pointers towards interesting blogs.

From a personal perspective the projects vary widely in their desirability, but as my number of copies builds up, I’m finding it a great resource library for ideas. I find I am spotting interesting things I discounted on my first browse through. I’m more of fashion oriented crafter so makes that have caught my eye are a fur wraparound stole, a bib necklace and summer tunic. Though I have to admit I’ve not made anything yet.

I think there is something of style triumphing over substance. Stunning pictures and a seductive layout vastly enhance what is often limited content. The kitchen section mainly consists of a few recipes. A keen cook would find more to choose from in most women’s monthly magazines. So I’m not entirely sure the magazine represents value for money at £4.99 an issue. I took out a subscription offer of 50% discount on the price, so feel my £2.50 an issue is a reasonable price.

So in short a gorgeous stylish magazine – but at a price.

Remake: Shortening A Wool Dress

 

A couple of years ago I bought a Uniqlo merino wool sweater dress/tunic off the internet. It was one of those garments where I should have gone up a size for a looser fit, but I never did get around to exchanging it. I did wear it from time to time, but never felt entirely comfortable with the snug fit. So last week, in a sudden impetuous moment, out came the scissors, and I cut it off to hip length.

I immediately began to regret my impulse as the wool quickly began to unravel . I ran to my sewing machine andI used the overlock stitch to stop any further fraying. The garment was now a little baggy around the bottom, so I took the side seams in slightly (very narrow zig zag stitch for the seam, again overlocked to prevent fraying). Rather than machine the hem, I decided to hand sew, using herringbone stitch. I turned the overlocked edge in which created a kind of mock band on the bottom.

So, voila, I now have a flattering slim fit sweater, far more versatile than a tight tunic.