Tag: makenine

Hinterland, revised.

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It’s been a while since I actually made a dress and it didn’t actually go all that well. A couple of years ago, I made a Hinterland and…

Still can’t believe I caught a cicada on my dress in this one, but that’s not really the point here. Bottom line: I’ve only worn this dress once or twice. It’s been hanging in my closet the whole time and I never reach for it. I’ve never gotten Hinterland out of my mind though, I even put it on my make nine list for this year.

I knew it was coming and so this last week, I decided to finally dig in and try to figure out Hinterland. I started with the less than happy task of trying on the old one to try and diagnose the issues.

Ok, maybe I lied about it hanging in my closet. Clearly I meant to say it’s been balled up on the top shelf. Putting this on, the fit wasn’t quite as bad as I was expecting. The biggest thing was the tightness across the bust and in the sleeve/shoulder. It doesn’t look so bad in the picture, but the buttons definitely pull and look pretty bad if I lift my arms. First idea, more room in the bust. I even talked about the sleeve cap in the first blog post, so that’s another issue. Second idea, more room in the shoulder/bicep. The third is a little less obvious but something that nagged at me immediately is the skirt. I’m just more drawn to more swish. I’ve seen the designer in a version where she just made a bigger, more gathered skirt – boom, idea three.

Beyond that, this just isn’t a great quality make. I tried to shortcut the neck binding and it was a five alarm disaster. There was cutting involved with the repair and I’m sure that doesn’t help the bodice fit in the end.

Bodice muslin! This fabric is a little more stiff than what I’m using, but I didn’t have enough scraps in anything similar, so here we are. I also havent’ sewed darts in a million years, so this is not the best try. All that aside, here we are with a full bust adjustment, sleeveless, no-placket version. I’m hoping this will solve the bust and bicep issues – in any future sleeved versions, I’ll probably explore a bicep adjustment. I also wanted a simple look on this one, so no buttons.

I’ve really enjoyed the process with this dress. I’ve done a little bit most nights this week and then finished it up this afternoon. And, drum roll please… Volia!

I given you Hinterland, version 2. This is more like it. I can’t wait to wear this all summer and fall long. It’s so drapy and comfy right now and I think it will look great with a sweater under or under it.

I think I’ll still futz with the bodice – maybe I just need to raise the arm scythe a little? Everything I make shows my bra and I have to wear a tank underneath. Anyway, I can’t complain, I feel soooo me in this.

So details – my current measurements are 41″ – 35″ – 47″ and I cut a 14. I did a 1″ FBA , added 2 inches to the skirt length, and added 16″ total to the skirt width. I was looking for a much more gathered version and that did it. The fabric is from Blackbird Fabrics, the same linen / rayon blend I used for my Metamorphic Dress and Gypsum Skirt; this colorway is called cactus. This is number 6 of my make 9 for the year and another year of stash project.

Last but not least, I want to give a huge shoutout to my darlin Joshua – the best FO photographer around. You make your old mom with no makeup and dirty hair feel great.

Happy making!

Make nine.

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If you have stopped by this blog before, you may know that I sometimes set up making goals for myself. I don’t always follow through (I’m looking at you, light socks) but when I do accomplish a goal, it feels awfully nice.

Back in February, I jumped on the #makenine bandwagon. I put a lot of thought into my plans, wanting some staples, a few sweaters, and to dip my toe into colorwork.

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I picked out all of the yarn, though my plans changed a bit mid-way through. The final yarn selections were these:

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Now here we are nine months later :

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I’ve talked about all these projects a bunch so I’ll just list them now:

  1. Madewell by Joji Locatelli in The Wool Barn
  2. Dotted Rays by Stephen West in Primrose Yarn Co.
  3. Box O’ Sox in various
  4. Eureka Cowl by Jessica Gore in Brooklyn Tweed
  5. Sunset Highway by Boyland Knitworks in Peepaloo Fields
  6. Void by Melanie Berg in MadelineTosh
  7. Selbu Mittens by Skeindeer Knits in Quince & Co.
  8. Windswept by Molly Klatt in Quince & Co.
  9. Coastal Walk by Joji Locatelli in Tusken Knits

I love them all. I’ve already worn a few of them a bunch–pretty good considering I knit the bulk of these projects in the warmer months. I worried a bit that I was biting off more than I could chew, especially with sweaters and colorwork mixed in.

I’ve been thinking about this make nine project and whether I will revisit it next year. While I really enjoyed it this year, and I’m glad I followed through with all of these knits, I don’t think I’m going to participate again in 2019.

I’ve typed out about seven different explanations but it really just boils down to this: I don’t want to set up big year long goals for myself next year. I want to knit what I feel like, when I feel like it. My making goals next year are likely to be quite vague and loosey-goosey. Things like “up my skirt game” and “knit tons of sweaters” will likely factor in heavily.

At any rate, while I’m not planning to do it again – it was a fun goal this year! There is something really satisfying about turning a grid of designs and ideas into a grid of my own finished objects!

Happy making {nine}!

Midterm Progress Report.

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It’s hard to believe, but the year is at the halfway point. I’ve been thinking a lot about assessment and progress, and about the goals I set for myself six months ago.

I started this year with the idea of challenging myself with my making. I set out six specific challenges and I’ve accomplished two: a knitted garment and a colorwork knit. As for the rest, my sewing mojo has left the building. All I want to do is knit. And that is a-ok by me. One day I’ll get around to those sewing challenges. Probably.

My make nine is plowing right on ahead. We’re halfway through the year? I’m just over halfway through those nine projects. The links for the finished objects will take you to my project pages. The yarn plans have changed for a couple of the others, so we can take a look at those as well.

Madewell — Joji Locatelli

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Dotted Rays — Stephen West

Eureka Cowl — Jessica Gore

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Sunset Highway — Caitlin Hunter

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Peepaloo Fields Twist Sock in (l-r) Tide, Bluebird, Delicate, and Hush

Void — Melanie Berg

Selbu Mittens — Skeindeer Knits

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Windswept — A Homespun House

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Coastal Walk — Joji Locatelli

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Box O’ Sox

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A bit more on my Box O’ Sox. I’m marking it finished for the make nine since it’s a dozen socks completed. But really, deep down in my heart, I know it’s only halfway done. I’m keeping the good times rolling on the sock train, more about that in a previous post.

In addition to all of that, I’ve got a fair number of other finishes. They look awfully pretty all piled up together:

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Six months of making, right there. Not pictured are a project bag, a tiny pouch, and a pair of yoga socks that have been gifted.

I feel that my word for 2018, intentional, is really helping me this year. I’m starting to feel like I’m building a wardrobe with my knits, creating garments and accessories that integrate into the style that I aspire to. I’m feeling rather inpsired by my new color palate, and really moving towards that ideal. With my larger projects that’s meant some teal, mint, grey, and a whole lot of mauve:

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So good. I just love these colors. My favorite accomplishment of the year is taking the plunge into garment knitting. I love knitting sweaters and can’t wait to get to more. Especially if they are mauve, apparently.

I think that’s it for everything I’ve made this year. There was that little bit of sewing and then it’s been a ton of knitting the rest of the time. I’m really excited for the next six months, I cannot wait to see what comes off my needles!

Happy making!