Purple Chair Crochet: Clothing

Monday, August 5, 2013

End of Summer (Work in Progress)

If you've been around this blog, you may remember The Circus Sweater was a recent make of mine (here's a link to the Sedge Stitch Tutorial, if you want to recreate it!)

Well, since this is my most favorite-est time of year (the end of summer!) and we're looking ahead to autumn but not even there yet (a good 6 weeks before I even think about actually wearing the sweaters I'm making), I thought it was the perfect time to start on another sweater while we wait for autumn.

Initially, I started on this lovely, simple pull over...

Gorgeous, right? Yeah, it's not gonna work. I began the first row of this sweater 5 times (5!) and had to frog it. I wonder if there's something amiss in the pattern, because what I was creating just wasn't adding up with the instructions. There was an actual chart, but since I've never made a top-down sweater before, it wasn't much of a help (I'm actually not much of a visual learner- I need words).

Scratch that.

I then decided to base my next sweater off my circus sweater, but to use a stitch that was a bit airier, to make the sweater a bit looser, and the sleeves a bit longer.
It took a few days of internet searching and book perusing, but I've finally settled on (what I think) is the perfect stitch.... The Petal Cluster

I had to alter the stitch a bit so it would work out with straight edges, but it was a pretty simple adjustment.

It meets all my nit-picky criteria: interesting stitch without being too complicated, a tad flowery without being too feminine, airy without being entirely made of a chain stitch. Oh yes, I have high hopes for this stitch. I just have to order a bit more yarn, because I don't think I have enough of my jade green on hand.

Time to get started.
Happy Monday, all! And happy end of summer!

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Thursday, June 13, 2013

The Circus Sweater (Finished!!)

I finished it!
The Circus Sweater!
Weeeeee!!!

I'm happy.

Some details....
The Circus Sweater's inspiration and general instructions can be found at Genuine MudPie's Blog .
I changed some of the details for my sweater a bit.
-I used fingering weight yarn (Bamboo & Ewe via JoAnn Etc) and a 4mm hook
-I tweaked the sweater to my own measurements (it ended up being a snugger fit than the original)
-I crocheted in a Sedge Stitch (tutorial to come)
-I didn't change my stitch for the stripes, but continued on with the sedge stitch.
You can check out my progress by following these links: Picked a Perfect One, Work in Progress, Come Together.

Whew, I'm tired.
I still have a yoga mat bag to make.
I may (or may not) be making a bedspread.
But for today, I'm finished.
Finished is good.
(Is it Autumn yet?! I wanna wear my sweater!)

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Come Together Riiiight Now, Over Me (Work in Progress)

Thisclose to being done with my version of the Circus Sweater. (View my progress here and here).
I need to weave in ends,
block it,
then it will,
come together, right now, over me! Well, over my head. 'Cause it's a pullover. Anyway, something you should maybe know about me is I've had a case of Beatle Mania since my teen years and I show no signs of recovery. I can make a n y t h i n g a Beatle reference. Including, it seems, crocheted sweaters.
Moving on...

The downside of stripes is the ends to weave in. The upside of stripes is the stripes. Stripey goodness!

I haven't forgotten to write the sedge-stitch tutorial. I think that may be after the Finished! post for this project, and *that* post isn't far off. Not at all.

After working on this sweater I've decided that one of the nicest things in the world is fingering weight yarn on a 4mm hook. There's something so incredibly perfect about it. I've also decided that all my sweaters will be with fingering weight yarn when possible. Crochet works into thicker stitches than knitting does, so using a thin yarn really makes what you're making more garment-like, rather than blanket-like. Mhm.

Other musings: I must be the only person I know on this side of the equator making a wool sweater in the middle of June. Ah, well, I've always been colder than average.

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Friday, June 7, 2013

Knit Picks Order is IN! (Inspiration)

Check out what came in the box from my latest Knit Picks order...

How gorgeous, right? It's an interchangeable crochet hook. I attach that cable to it and I can crochet big ol' Tunisian crochet projects. Not that I had any in mind. But now it's an option.

Oh yes, future sweater material.

Isn't that beautiful?

Love love love.

Classic but not frumpy. What a great book! I'm definitely recommending Blueprint Crochet Sweaters to all interested in crocheting clothes.

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Monday, May 27, 2013

Circus Sweater (Work in Progress)

My 4-year-old son opened the door to the porch.
"Are you gonna crochet all day?"
....maybe. :)

Check out the progress I've made on my Circus Sweater!

We're not there yet, but we're on our way. LOTS of blocking needed, otherwise this is gonna be one snug sweater. Fortunately, my yarn is wool (and bamboo, but mostly wool) so it should ease up nicely. Blocking always strikes me as miraculous.

You can find the original Circus Sweater pattern here (via Genuine Mudpie). I've altered the original by using a sedge-stitch, which I'll be writing a tutorial for, oh, any day now. It'll be listed on the Right side of the screen when it's ready!

Happy Memorial Day!!

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Next Perfect Garment (Work in Progress)

I've been scouring the internet looking for the next perfect garment to make. In the process I've come across some LoVeLY designer's blogs. First up: Abigailology ~ she's got a wedding dress in the works! and the sweaters she makes look amazingly cozy! and check out that yoga mat bag! I purchased her pattern on Etsy and I can't wait to get started! So! Many! Exclamation! Points! Ha!

Moving on to Genuine MudPie, another stellar find! Her crocheted coral have made me all swoony, and I love the personality and charm in her amigurumi creatures. She has adorable belt patterns (a must for me, since I like the idea of belts but can't seem to be bothered to actually purchase them),I particularly like her style of dress- nothing fussy.

My basic criteria for my Next Perfect Garment was only that I did not want to purchase more yarn. Pretty reasonable, since I have a ton and some of it has been sitting around for, uh, well, if I'm honest, a couple of um, years. Yarn hoarder sounds a bit extreme, I like to think of myself as a yarn conservationist.

Anyway, Genuine MudPie happened to have a particularly cute and super simple pattern available. She calls it the Circus Sweater, and generously offered the details on the sweater's construction on her blog. And so, I got to work...

So, my personalization of the pattern are as follows:
First, I'm using a 4mm hook with fingering weight yarn ("Bamboo & Ewe" which I ~~hoarded~~ conserved for these past nearly 3 years). My secondary colors for the top are a creamy white and a soft, lilac purple ~ not shown.

Secondly, I'm working a sedge stitch for some visual interest and texture. Sedge-stitching is easy, and creates a gorgeous, dense fabric with lots of texture. Maybe I'll create a tutorial for the stitch in a future blog post.

Thirdly... I mean, I don't have a 3rd customization... I just prefer things listed in odd numbers.

Awkward segue into my new Yarn Bowl! Isn't it dreamy? I purchased it from a local pottery artist, who is a friend of a friend. It's super delightful! I may have taken to carrying it around the house with me and scowling at small children who approach it too closely with their kicky little fit. I said "may have".

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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Friday, May 17, 2013

My Lumpy, Loopy Crocheted Top (finished!)

It's finished!

Whew.

First, excessive pictures.

Then, excessive words.

Yes, my mirror is broken. We're in the market for a legit full length mirror instead of these
$5 ones intended for a dorm-room. In the meantime, the broken mirror is what I work with.

Where does ones hands go during a self portrait? I'll never know.

Blurred front view.

Somewhat clearer back view

Nicely folded (unlike the rest of my laundry)

Lumpy. And Loopy.

Belt for sinching

The structure of this top is incredibly easy. If you can make a granny square (or any kind of crocheted square), you can make this. Each square is approximately 4.5" x 4.5", so this top will fit anyone size XS through L, I imagine. It's easy enough to shrink it down or make it bigger- either make your squares larger or smaller OR add in more squares in general (across, and at the shoulders). Here's a link to the *very basic and not even a little bit in English* "pattern" I followed. I think they may have done the sleeves a bit differently. No matter.

I love the look of this top, but I'm a bit disappointed with my squares. I tweaked what was available to me, and I noticed the squares were a bit on the lumpy side and dismissed it. For some reason I thought it would work itself out. Yeah, not so much. Still, I think it's pretty cute despite the lumpy, loopy look, and I intend to wear it (and just do better next time).

I am *loving* this crocheted clothes thing. Why didn't I pick it up sooner?

Have a Lovely Day!
~Jess

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