The Big Reveal - Outfit 5

Here it finally is: Outfit 5!

Goodness this one was a long time in the making. When realising that we were off to photograph Outfit 5 (due to be finished at the end of May) one of my kids commented "Oh man, you are soooo far behind!"

Well, behind or not, I'm so glad I can actually now wear the bits and pieces from Outfit 5. 

Especially the cardigan. I'm super proud of this design. It's a great cropped summer cardy and I know that I'll live in it. I love the way it sits open, I love the stripes, the cropped sleeves and of course the neckline that matches the tank underneath.

When I was knitting the tank top I was convinced I'd freeze during the photoshoot. Perhaps a delay has been the best thing? When we took these photos it was super hot. Summer has arrived with a bang.

I am also so looking forward to wearing my bangles. It's taken a lot of effort, but I've managed to control the urge to slip them over my hand, and instead have looked at them hanging on my cotton reel holder for ages now. Teasing me with their loveliness. 

I seemed to lose my sewing mojo after I was ill. Consequently, it look absolutely ages to muster up the energy to sew this skirt. I dilly dallied around with my linen-tea skirt first and when I did finally get to to business, I whipped up this skirt in no time. It's another version of my tea party skirt (remember I also made a yellow version too?). I love the way this pattern (Simplicity 2152) fits me. For this skirt I cut out the front and back as one piece, by laying the panel pieces together on the fabric, slightly overlapped to account for seams I'd be missing out and ignored the pockets. I tried my hardest to match the pattern on the fabric, it's ok, not entirely matching, but good enough I think. What I am terribly proud of is my invisible zip. Can you see it? No, you can't. It's INVISIBLE! I actually did it twice, just to make sure the pattern did line up absolutely perfectly.

Finally, after dithering around with the hem, I used bias binding and hand-stitched it. I haven't top-stitched the skirt at all and I rather like the clean line that this creates. All the focus is on that cute print. A hand-picked hem is quick and you can't see it from the outside giving a clean finish.

So, there you have it. Outfit 5. Done. Phew.

As usual, I have ravelry project pages for the knitwear. My tank top is here and my cardigan here.  

See you soon. X