Wednesday 19 March 2014

A Happy Ta-dah Moment......





.......YES!.......


....Finally......

Room was found to do a bit of blocking.....Woo Hoo.







Wow, I had been waiting for this moment for quite a while. The mess of all the kitchen work just took over EVERYWHERE. There is still a lot of mess, but slowly as I am able to move bits and pieces back into the kitchen, I am freeing up space else where.









So....my finished pieces....not one....but two.

The same design, but one done strictly to the pattern........and the other, made with a bit of variation.





My first proper pieces of clothing. I have made many scarves and shawls, but no tops. I am sure many fellow crocheters feel the same, that crochet doesn't seem to translate well into clothing. I find that that is where knitting has the edge. I always felt that crochet was for blankets and accessories, whilst knitting was for garments and accessories. I have struggled to find crochet clothing patterns that don't look like something stuck in the 70's.

I have found 3 patterns in my search that I LOVE. This is one of them.

The photos don't really do them justice. A rather unwilling photographer! ha ha! But you get the idea. I may take some better ones at a later stage, but to be honest I just wanted to start wearing them.








The grey one was a dream to crochet. The pattern was pictoral and very easy to follow. I couldn't put it down. I stuck to the pattern for this one and was really pleased with how it turned out. Mid grey, goes well with jeans and boots. The oatmeal one was made because I simply had to use the Rowan Alpaca Cotton for this pattern. I wanted one that was more oversized, warm and soft, that would work well with lots of layers for Autumnal walks. It took a fair bit of work though as I used a big hook, and had to adjust the pattern accordingly. I must have ripped back the sleeves 4 or 5 times to get them how I wanted them. I had visions of a bigger cowl on the neckline, but when I did it and tried it on, I looked like something out of the 80's, so that all got ripped back. I finally got it how I wanted it and I was not disappointed. The oatmeal coloured top was more of a swing top style which I absolutely love.

Two tops, both the same but both different. I can feel a couple more coming on too. Soft pink and pale blue for late summer evening walks.

I am happy.......


The pattern was called Silk Rosa Cowl Sweater, which you can find here if you are interested.

The grey sweater was made using King cole comfort in shade 772. A pretty warm grey shade that is very soft to work with and wear. I made it with a 4mm and 4.5mm hook and used 4 100g balls.

The oatmeal sweater was made using Rowan's Alpaca Cotton in Rice. It was beautiful to work with. I love the colour and the texture and it's oh so warm and snug to wear. I used 7 50g balls and made it with a 5mm and a 5.5mm hook.

So there you go. Finally finished and loving wearing them.

xxx

35 comments:

  1. I have knitted many sweaters over the years, but never crocheted one. I did crochet our Christmas stockings - about a hundred years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love love love love love!

    That's it really.

    Love.

    Clever you.

    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. OH MY GOODNESS!!! I love this! I have never tried to make any apparel for adults before. The closest I have come is a baby cardigan. I love this! It's so modern and the colors are so soft! I feel inspired. Thank you for that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous! And yes...I've never made clothing for myself for that very reason. You've given me inspiration to try!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Vanessa
    Agree, agree, agree with all the things you say about crochet garments - but by Jove I think you've cracked it with these two ! They can be forever known as the 'jumpers that got you though the kitchen makeover.'
    My favourite is the oatmeal one, I absolutely love the swing you have got into the pattern, just gorgeous.
    Kate x

    ReplyDelete
  6. So lovely and not all 70's!! Sarah xo

    ReplyDelete
  7. They are gorgeous Vanessa! Truly they look so simple but so stylish too. A real triumph. I have to say though there are still some seventies crochet clothing patterns out there there are some truly lovely ones too. I have a few on my pinterest boards. I just wish I could make head to tail sense of them all really. But seeing these beauties really gives me hope.



    P x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great! ... Exactly the inspiration I needed. Best regards

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love this! I think you are exactly right about most crochet clothes patterns looking WAAAAAY too 1970s, butth this is lovely. Very light, but looks warm at the same time. I am inspired!

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a lovely pattern, it is really effective. I LOVE IT ... well done and thank you for sharing the pattern with us. Glad to hear that your Kitchen is getting sorted out ...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I agree with you on the knitting/crochet garment making, one of the reasons I want to learn to knit. Love what you have made here, both very pretty and something I would definitely wear, especially the grey color!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I know what you mean about crochet clothing but these two are simply great. Well done and you wear them with great style. Philippa xx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Both of them are beautiful and I can see why you were so keen to start wearing them!! I know what you mean about thinking of crochet as not being for clothes, but these two have proved that idea wrong!!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful! Perfect for springtime! I love the colour too. I think crochet garments work best with an open stitch like this, otherwise they can feel very dense and stiff!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amidst the chaos of a kitchen renovation, you create these two beautiful garments...amazing! They are beautiful, they look so soft and light as a feather, I love the floaty, lacy designs. I can't believe how stylish and pretty they are, as I agree, crochet is usually for accessories, knitting for clothes. Very happy to see a decidedly non-'70s, thoroughly modern and pretty crochet garment! Hoorah! Chrissie x

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know just what you mean about crochet and clothing but you're right, this definitely works! I love them both and well done on re-sizing the pattern. I think the grey is just my favourite but that's probably because I'm having a bit of a love affair with greys at the moment.

    S x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi there! I find myself becoming quite addicted to your blog and the beautiful things that you make. This recent item however takes the biscuit and I simply must make myself this gorgeous grey top! Please can you confirm for me that you're using King Cole Comfort Baby DK? I really want to get this right! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nicola,

      Yes, that's it in shade 772 silver. It's very soft to work with. Have as much fun making it as I did! x

      Delete
  18. These are fantastic! The grey one especially. I'm usually with you in not liking crochet for clothing, except I am obsessed with this:

    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/244461085995120871/

    and this too:

    http://www.pinterest.com/pin/244461085995319147/

    One day, maybe I will!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooops! The first link should go here:

      http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Kupalinka/dusk-sweater

      Delete
  19. No wonder you were itching to get back into the kitchen - so you could block these two beauties!
    They are both lovely in their different ways, and so useful to wear with jeans.
    Enjoy wearing them Vanessa!
    Gill xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. They are both so lovely but I think I love the grey one a little bit more! Its just beautiful.

    Birgitta

    ReplyDelete
  21. Those are both so lovely. Ethereal, and floaty. Perfect. :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yes I also feel the same about crochet clothing but it's something I keep looking out for. I love this pattern they have turned out beautifully, I am currently knitting a cardigan with grey rowan alpaca cotton, it's not easy to rip back as a yarn is it? Congrats on your beautiful creations xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely! Both of them, I particularly like the look of the Rowan Alpaca Cotton. Glad you managed to conquer the kitchen chaos to get some 'you-time' in and finish them. Have a lovely weekend.
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just stunning .. looks like a very comfortable garment too!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Absolutely beautiful crochet, Vanessa! Such lovely soft yarns and you made two gorgeous garments......love them both!
    Hope the kitchen changes are going well, and you have a happy weekend.
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love your crochet tops - so snug but light and floaty at the same time - perfect for Spring and Summer. I so agree with you about knitting for garments and crochet for accessories - you've challenged my perceptions though! As it happens I'm knitting a scarfy/shawly thing at the moment - making it up as I go along, as usual. Must try to follow a pattern one day! Lace weight is pushing all my boundaries - I'll still be clickety clicking at Christmas! Enjoy the sunshine and the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm happy that you finally found time and space to block, those are two wonderful tops! Even though they're from the same pattern, they have their own sweet unique style! I queued this pattern on Ravelry immediately! Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love the stitches in that pattern so I might have a look to work on a shawl or somesuch. Not that I don't like your jumpers, they look great on you, but I know wouldn't work any wonders on me. I know what you mean about the naffness of crochet clothes, in the main they're hideous. I did see a lovely 1950's style jumper pattern the other day that grabbed me though so perhaps. That yarn also looks delicious. I'm banning myself from yarn buying until I get on with all my unfinished's.
    X

    ReplyDelete
  29. Molto bello lo devo fare assolutamente, ciao M.Grazia

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh my, I had no idea crochet garments could be oh so stylish. And beautiful! So clever, I have of course gone straight to the link but the pattern looks so very complicated in that form. I may just have to learn now though what all those symbols mean...

    ReplyDelete

❀ Thank you so much for leaving a comment. If you ask me a question, I will do my best to reply here in the comments section. Just pop back in a day or two and I hopefully will have replied. ❀