The Big Reveal - Outfit 2

It's finished, it's photographed and it's time to reveal Outfit 2!

In an effort to make things look a little more interesting I waved my arms, leapt and twirled ... "What do models do?" I asked Mr Myrtle as I twisted and turned ... "Not talk" he replied. "Your mouth looks weird". 

I'm only showing you the "less weird" photos ;)

Overall, I'm really pleased with how Outfit 2 turned out. I felt good, I love the colours and it is a great fit. I was warm, the tight trousers loosened after a little moving about and my wedge boots gave me a welcome extra couple of inches of leg.

So, the pieces.

My sweater took the longest to make and was a success. The pattern is Veera Valimaki's pattern Flowing Lines, knitted with worsted weight, super soft and warm Malabrigo. You can find details about my adaptations on my Ravelry project page, here. I made the body about half an inch shorter than the pattern instructed because I wanted my blue top to hang out underneath. In the end, I didn't need the buttons on the shoulders. I am reasonably wide in the shoulders and the neck was perfect as is. 

I am so sorry, but we totally forgot to take any photos of my sweater without my cowl on ... doh! You can pretty much see how it goes. Essentially it's a boat neck. Straight across, slight dip front and back.

I'm in love with my fudge coloured cowl and can't wait to wear it again. The pattern is Jane Richmond's Arbutus cowl and the yarn is Tuhu by Mirasol. All details are on my Ravelry project page, including information about the very fabulous short rows I used.

I used Colette's Clover pants pattern for the trousers and adjusted them to fit tightly. Before sewing them up and inserting the zip, I basted both side seams and tried them on inside out, pinning them down the length of my leg to take them in where I needed it. I ended up having to insert the zip twice after the teeth on my first one broke ... They're comfy and I love the colour of the fabric I dyed and the peek of flowers in the pockets.

My top (with the slightly lower scoop neck than I intended) is made from fabulous, double layered fabric by Nani Iro. I just love it. By some miracle I managed to get it out of almost half as much fabric as the pattern said I required, and managed to get the darker blue around the neck which I think is a better colour near my face.

I broke a couple of twin needles top stitching around the neck and haven't quite figured out why yet. I've got another stretch knit top to make in March so I'll do some research before I start it :)

My hat is another pattern by Veera Valimaki; Here & There. It's also Malabrigo yarn (like my sweater). I have been hanging out to wear this hat. LOVE. Details are on my Ravelry project page. My only worry is that the weather will improve and pretty soon it'll be too hot for hats. I'll wear it every day until then.

Finally, jewellery. No, I didn't make my bangle. I picked it up at a charity shop a while ago, but I did give it a little polish with some linseed oil. 

My mum sent me a lovely shell brooch that belonged to her mother but it is broken and I've decided to get it fixed properly and it's not ready yet. But, I felt like I needed something else and I couldn't get the idea of wood out of my mind. Not being a woodturner, nor owning any woodturning tools, it had to be simple. I hunted around the garden for a branch and Mr Myrtle pointed me in the direction of the abandoned Christmas tree in the garden ... don't ask ...

The long and the short of it is, it was perfect. A slice from the trunk, sanded, rubbed with a little wood stain and a brooch pin glued on the back and ... Bob's your Uncle, as they say. Isn't it sweet?

So there you have it. Outfit 2. We took our photos in the Cambridge University Botanical Gardens in the spiral of New Zealand grass. Our kids were running about and yes, we did get some funny looks ... 

Stay tuned to hear about my plans for Outfit 3. If you haven't already, you might like to subscribe to Truly Myrtle so you don't miss a thing :)