The thing these days is, I need some new clothes. Badly. And for various reasons, I both want and need to sew them. I’m fantasizing about smock dresses and shirt dresses and smockish shirtdresses, particularly this one. Things that are as easy to wear as they are to make. To keep from freezing in a light dress and bare legs, though, I’d need a nice little bit of wool around my shoulders and some funky ankle boots on my feet. (Ideally with wool socks in there.) So I’ve had a sort of vague image rolling around in the back of my mind, until I ran across these two photos in close proximity on Sunday afternoon. Together, they’re exactly the vibe I’m after — a softer version of my all-denim wardrobe.
On the left is Carrie Bostick Hoge’s newly sewn tank dress, from Jenny Gordy’s Wiksten Tank pattern, paired with her Imogen cowl, which has been on my to-knit list since, well, a few minutes after I learned to knit. I’m still in love with my denim Wiksten Tank and have wanted to make others, and Carrie’s deep-blue dress version gets my synapses firing.
On the right is the shop image for Elizabeth Yong of Primoeza’s Colour Edge Scarf, which has the most wonderful subtle stitch pattern, along with the contrast edge, and which looks amazing with that perfectly rumpled, blue-striped linen shirt. Ugh, want! (If you haven’t seen the latest batch of Primoeza scarves, you have to go look. Really brilliant work.)
So Carrie and Elizabeth have jointly snapped me into focus. Now all I need is a new pattern or two, some fabric, some yarn and … oh yeah, time. Sweet, precious, impossible time.
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Of course, there’s also the notion of throwing a sweater around your neck, as demonstrated by A.L.C. in this week’s ICYMI: Next of the best of Resort 2013.
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Would love the pattern for the color edge scarf. Will be on the hunt for it.
We really ARE twins separated at birth. ;-D
I have been stalking the same type of smocky/shift/shirt (M&M’s! Sigh) dresses and plan on finally taking the sewing plunge. I bought some vintage linen on my trip to the seaside a few weeks ago and was thinking a Wiksten Tova dress (sleeveless to make it easier). Seeing Carrie’s pretty dress above makes me wonder if I should go with this tank dress first, though, to break myself in gently.
I wouldn’t even dream of tackling the Merchant & Mills shirtdress yet. Curved yoke? EEEk.
Think you should, though, definitely!
The tank is a great place to start. Very simple but with proper finishing, so a good lesson.
Oh my, that combo on the left is gorgeous. Go for it!
Where can I find that wonderful dark gray, short sleeved sweater wrappy thing from the 2011 Moving Images second image with the great back detail? Please, Please. I need it to live.
thanks.
Hi, Mary. I’d love to help, but I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Do you have a link?
http://www.primoeza.com/projects/No22011MovingImages
I cannot recreate how I got there but the second sweater is what I dream of. And, , your blog is the first I look for, every day.
Thanks.
Mary
Hm, I feel like I’ve seen a pattern for something quite similar but can’t come up with it just at the moment. I’ll keep an eye out, though.
love carrie’s new linen dress and her cowl. love all these shades of indigo and the comfort of these clothes! i made the tova in a soft chambray, but would really love linen too.
I keep thinking I have that pattern, but it’s actually THIS ONE! Maybe I don’t need the pricey Merchant & Mills one. I love it so much, but keep thinking it’s a little nightshirt looking. Thanks for inadvertently reminding me of the one I already own!
My wardrobe is desperately in need of a revamp. Looking at a sleeveless version of this http://www.colettepatterns.com/shop/laurel. But thanks for the link to Wiksten tank. The other will be the pants from Shape Shape. Just need to find some time and space to sew. And for the cowl – have the Rivington cowl on the needles. Maybe Imogen after. Thanks for the inspiration.
I have been pondering the Laurel top.
See also the top dress here: http://unaportland.blogspot.com/2011/04/120-lino.html
Beauty! and the grey one too…sigh
Those scarves ARE to die for! I haven’t sewn in years. I think anything I made would look like Lucy’s attempt at making herself a dress. http://www.edelweisspatterns.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Lucille-Ball-sews-her-own-dress-in-I-love-Lucy.jpg
Ha! I just really believe that knitting and sewing use the same part of the brain, and anyone who can do one can do the other. They’re very different skills, obviously, and being new or green at anything is inherently awkward. But, really.
Yeah. I really lost interest because the patterns just seemed too “McCall-ish.” But the simplicity of design of the new patterns/Japanese patterns could be my siren call…
It can be extremely difficult to look at the horrible photos/illos on patterns and just see the shapes and the possibilities. I would never have looked at this and “seen” this — would have blown right past it.
That is the problem! I wish there was a Ravelry for sewers…or is there? If not, someone needs to get on it!
There must be. I think Burda Style is sort of that, but not sure if it’s limited by brand or anything. Anyone know?
So true. I have looked at patterns made with yarn that I don’t like and been able to tell that it would be so much better in a nicer yarn. You’re right. It’s about the shapes and lines!
http://sewing.patternreview.com/ is most like Ravelry – lots of support, forums to join and pictures of patterns made etc. There are a couple of other sites but none as extensive.
Ooh, thanks for the tip!
Yes, thanks Moira! Off to check it out…
Just found a cute, free pattern here that would be nice in linen – http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/so-very-blue?image=48555
Sigh…not a look I can carry off. Booooooo!
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