Time For A New Outfit

With my bonus outfit finished (before I properly realised I'd started) and Outfit 5 finally done, it's time to tell you about my plans for Outfit 6. (Yip, you read that right. Outfit 5 is DONE! I know, phew! It took a bit of determination, but I got there in the end. You'll see it just as soon as we get some photos).

So, Outfit 6, what am I making? Being a decidedly optimistic person, I'm planning a summertime outfit, something dressy enough for a summer party, but not so dressy, that I can't wear it everyday too. I'm thinking a dress, with a lightweight, but ever so fabulous, poncho to throw over the top when the evenings cool, and a funky wee bag to fling over my shoulder. Just big enough for those essential bits and bobs: purse, keys, phone and spare knickers for the toddler.

I mentioned recently that I've been trying a bit of crochet. It's been for Outfit 6; I managed to get a bit of a head-start in between other projects. I've chosen a lovely pattern called Berula Poncho, from The Crochet Project, for my poncho. It's designed by Anniken Allis and it's basically a big rectangle so I figured I couldn't go too wrong - or could I? The poncho pattern I've chosen is very lovely, but as I know next to nothing about crochet I've pretty much had to start from scratch, even reminding myself how I should hold the needle and the yarn.

You would not believe how many times I started this thing ... countless. In the end, a lot of ripping and many youtube videos later, I added a couple of repeats and an extra stitch to each edge, and was finally off. Amazingly, it is looking pretty good and I'm now at the stage where I can "read" where I'm up to and crochet sans pattern!

Have you heard of The Crochet Project? It's the brainchild of Joanne Scrace and Kat Goldin and I was wowed when it was released earlier this year. I'd previously thought of crochet as stiff, dense and decidedly un-wearable. The Crochet Project proves this doesn't have to be so. The patterns are just lovely and you'll have to check it out. Anyway, after feeling like my eyes had been opened, I felt an overwhelming urge to learn how to properly wield a hook and my poncho idea was born.

The glorious multi-coloured yarn is a fingering weight yarn dyed by Sparkleduck, who are local to me, on their Socka base; 80% superwash merino wool and 20% nylon. I can't for the life of me remember the name of the colourway, but it looks great over the blue fabric for my skirt.

My Ravelry project page is here.

The dress is going to be fun. Tricky, but fun. A couple of months ago my mum sent me a bunch of sewing patterns from her stash. They are all patterns that she's made herself and patterns that I fondly remember looking at as a kid. Most of them date from the 50's and 60's and are the kind of "vintage" patterns that sewers seem to be scouring the Internet for. I feel pretty lucky to have them.

My plan is to make the sleeveless version 2, without the pockets but maybe with a belt. I've also received a bag full of fantastic old buckles from my mum's stash (and I think she inherited most of them herself!) and I'd love to try to use one for my belt if it works. 

But, there is a rather large challenge. I am not a size 18 bust no matter how much I'd like to be. This pattern will have to be majorly adjusted to fit me and I'm super nervous about it. I'll have to make a muslin first but whether I can pull this off remains to be seen. You'll cheer me on, right?!

I've chosen some pretty gorgeous fabric to make my dress with. It's called indigo linen and it's lightish, crinkles terribly but has great texture and I love it.

I haven't entirely chosen my bag pattern yet. I'm toying between another St. Heliers bag of my own design or an Amy Butler pattern. What I have decided is that I'm going to have a go at printing some fabric for it. Just to spice things up.

And, as we know, no outfit is complete without a bit of jewellery. I'm going very simple this time, doing something with wooden beads.

One last thing. If, like me, you're interested in learning to crochet, you might like to join in with Crochet Camp starting next week. Kat Goldin is running a (free) virtual camp on her very groovy blog Slugs on the Refrigerator which looks like it'll be brilliant. She's starting with the basics and taking campers step by step through some cute wee projects over four weeks!

I'm joining in with my 9 year old daughter - I'm going to re-learn all my self-taught mistakes ... and she's a brand new crocheter. See you there?