I must credit Sue from England for the term “up-cycling”. I like it because it is updated from recycling that covers so many different items in our culture. I want this term to be exclusive to clothing in this blog.
This is a used sweater that I want to update. I like the fit and the design, but was not too happy with the gathered fullness at the sleeve cap. It seemed dated.
I also felt the line of the armhole was a bit off, so I am going to restructure this so it has a closer fit to my shoulders.
I liked the styling of the back, but I did not want to repeat this fullness in the sleeve.
My idea is to cut some of the fullness out and then re-sew a new seam to fit the cap. When I complete this I will post the results.
The wrap skirt is on hold for a few days. I started thinking about how I would clean this after I made it and decided I needed to wash it in a delicate, cold-water wash before cutting it out. It had never been cleaned and, further, I would like to be able to wear it and care for it in the same manner without the need of a dry cleaner.
Do you know these gathered shoulders are very on trend here in England and Europe right now? Your sweater has a real late Victorian/1890s look from the back.
The front appears less structured due to the lapel edges. Could you introduce something in the chanel between what looks like overlocking? I think the US word started with S but I can’t recall it just now.
Or put something like an interesting ribbon, butttons, smocking etc in the chanel to open it out and make it more regular?
Or am I looking at the inside of the sweater and have embareassed myself by admit I couldn’t tell one way of the other?
Blush…
Actually, I am not trying to get caught up in too many trends even though I am a subscriber to an online fashion mag. and watch the seasonal fashions and catwalks for fun. I feel sometimes following too many stringent trends can be a little limiting to one’s personal perspective and creative exploration. That said, the shoulders I have seen on this site tend to be a sleeve that has a bellowed look to it, not an actual gather at the shoulder. No need for embarrassment as the right side is the one shown in the photos. It is meant to have an unfinished look to it, kind of like a la Anthropologie.
Oh, you have a mannequin! My grandmother had a mannequin, and it was like having another person in the room, standing at attention, or just bearing witness. I think she had a name for her mannequin, maybe Bertha, but I’m not sure now. Does yours have a name? And I love a fitted back to a jacket like that! xo Kari
I don’t recall ever giving this mannequin a name, and that is highly unusual for me. I seem to name other objects that seem to carry a persona like this. I am open to suggestions! I have a cement cow, quite large, that I named Isabelle. I think the mannequin should have a French name for sure, something musical and “worthy”!
Here are some French names for you: Fleurette (to go with Mendofleur!), Estelle (star), Babette (stranger), Mireille (miracle), Felicienne (great happiness), Yolanthe (strong), Millicente (of a thousand saints). Oh, there are too many ~ I have several name books ~ I can spend hours searching for just the right name! Here’s one more, Musetta or Musette (a song). xo Kari
You are too good!! What a grand selection of French names! They are all so beautiful and I love the meanings, but I think I will go with Babette because of my love of Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) and I also loved the movie Babette’s Feastbased on her story. Thank you. Now she can be somebody, our dear little Babette. I will do a post on her in a few days and you can make up some stories about her life in the meantime.
I really like the things you are thinking about in this post. All good questions and thoughts. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about patterns, about design details and how they flatter or don’t.
I find it so interesting that Manon Gignoux expressed that she never followed fashion or was even interested in it. Yet, what she has created out of old clothes and old cloth is so inspiring and well noted by current designers. I think what is more important is how we feel in our clothes as well as how we buy them. Perhaps we use what we have and find a new way of looking at it and redesigning it to fit our ethics and our lifestyle. I know I tend to be idealistic sometimes, but it seems to be a way of finding the best place in a sea of options.
The detailing on the back of the sweater is beautiful
I think it is clever to alter the shoulders and that is what makes it more individual. Bravo! to hand washing the shawl.
The one thing I have done is steer clear of dry cleaning.
I always think to myself…Did people in the 1800′s run to the local dry cleaner? No. So, why should we spend the time, money etc. on something like that? I confess, in the past I used the dry cleaners heavily but…no more.
I think there are a lot of chemicals in dry cleaning that we are not sure how they affect us over a long period of time. I admit, I do dry clean coats, but I hand wash all my sweaters in a cold water wash. I think it is a balance. I used to dry clean much more. Now I am very selective about it. I guess people in the 1800′s simply kept wearing the garments and airing them outside occasionally. One wonders. Might be a good research topic.
The colours of the sweater are dreamy, so soft and warm looking. I LOVE the cut of the back, I always look for such a cut in my jackets, as it is always really flattering. I shall watch with interest to see what it turns into! x
I do love the color of this sweater. I am trying to decide what would look good underneath, but for the bottoms I am thinking a wide-legged pant. I don’t know why. I guess because the sweater seems to cut into the waistline so beautifully and I think it would be a nice balance.