You guys realize next week is August? And you know what comes after August? SEPTEMBER! We’re almost through summer, and already 2/3 of the way through the Summer of Basics Make-along. There have been so many great garments and moments and photos on the #summerofbasics feed so far, and I thought today would be a good time to share just a few:
TOP ROW: From @ashleybennett88, this is such a clever way of solving the tricky problem of shooting pattern+fabric choices, while also spelling out her three-part plan for SoB. (NOTE: She’s just getting started — you can, too!)
SECOND: Likewise, this is such a gorgeous photo and sweet scene by @paddleboatstudio, which also happens to be a killer idea for showing off finished garments. Hannah appears to have been something of an SoB overachiever in June!
THIRD ROW: The “look at my new PANTS!” twins, @bethtais (her intro post here) and @sv_azimuth (her original plan here)
FOURTH ROW: Such a great, summery WIP scene by @hi.hilde, who is knitting her first-ever socks (her full plan here)
BELOW: And proving that “basic” doesn’t have to mean either boring or neutral, there’s this amazing shot of @callmedwj in her rainbow cardigan, which clearly not only thrills her but will work with everything in her closet and get a ton of wear. Basic at its finest. ;)
What are some of your favorites so far, and how are your projects going?
Love the rainbow sweater!
Just wanted to say that I read Over-Dressed by Elizabeth L. Cline. My eyes were really opened. I am preaching the book to my teenage grandchildren to help make them more aware. Must read for everyone. Please list the websites where I can purchase clothes from Made in America designers who are using authentic textiles.
I had to laugh as I was reading this post and then saw my face at the bottom. LOL Thanks for sharing and rainbows are totally my neutral ;)
Your glasses are PERFECT. (And sweater really great, will go look at more pics)
Thanks! They’re from Zenni Optical, super inexpensive. I just got a second pair in green!
I have a niece and a dear ‘knitting’ friend/sister who would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your brightly colored Rainbow Cardigan. It looks great on you… and I love your happy smile! Makes you like sunshine after the rain.
Well that has to be the sweetest compliment ever. Thank you 😊
You’re so welcome. I’m just tellinya the TRUTH. ; )
That pic of you looking so happy (and adorable) made me so happy!
Awww thank you.
I adore that sweater! And yeah, the beige and grey neutrals are great on Karen but they are decidedly Not Me. If you don’t mind, what is the pattern name? I’ve rummaged through Bristol Ivy on Ravelry but it is hard to spot the same pattern in a very different yarn.
It’s the Teazel cardigan.
Love that knitted cardigan pattern by Bristol Ivy. I made it a Ravelry favorite. She didn’t use the eyelet design in her sweater for her Rainbow Cardigan. There was probably enough detail in the colored yarn. Very pretty sweater. I have some serious sewing to do with patterns and fabric ready for me.
Actually I did use the eyelet pattern! You can see it on my button band in different pics. It just didn’t show in this one. I love that pattern, it’s so cleverly written and is a quick knit.
I love all of them! Kind of wishing I had joined :)
It’s not too late! You could just make one thing.
Kelly, what about a half of Summer Basics and then continue with an Autumn of Basics? No reason not to sew just because Summer of Basics is half way over.
Shoot, if I had the space to, I’d be sewing AND knitting every day. At least I have room to design and knit in… as long as my stash doesn’t shove my husband out the door. OH DEAR!!!
I love the rainbow sweater!! I just got started on my Summer of Basics this last weekend after not feeling motivated to sew the first month and a half. Let’s see if I can get it done by September!
I just finished a Deschain pullover in Kestrel–it’s way too long, which I think pushes it over into being a little less of a basic since it now no longer goes with as many things and is not just a simple, extra layer for cool periods during warmer months. :( Oh, well.
I’m also nearly finished with a simple white top, that I fell into making kind of by accident: I had bought a scrap of 100% linen from A Verb for Keeping Warm on my last trip to SF and had intended to dye it. But as I was trying to decide what to do for Summer of Basics, it occurred to me that I really needed more neutral colors in my wardrobe. I’m attracted to bright colors and flashy patterns, both for wearing and for making, but I recognize that this tendency leaves me with pieces that don’t go well together, which is a real problem because I’m a grad student with a limited budget and a fairly small wardrobe. I have like four professional-looking, woven tops that I cycle through constantly, plus a black, hand-sewn kadhi blouse, and then t-shirts of various ages and designs. I really could use maybe three or four very basic tops that I can layer and that work with any bottom. So, now I’m making this self-drafted white linen blouse. Because it was a smallish scrap to begin with, “drafting” consisted of just cutting the fabric in half, adding darts and cutting out a neckline and then seaming the sides. I’m trying to add white bias tape as a trim to the neckline, but between the slippery, shifting linen and the stretchy bias tape, it’s proving to be a pretty tricky endeavor. I hope to finish today!
zindaginha, the trick for slippery fabrics and bias tape is… 100 PINS. Take your time smoothing the bias tape, resetting pins as needed. Once you think you have it, set your sewing machine to ‘basting stitch’ and carefully sew just to the selvedge side of the seam line to see how it fits together. Once you are pleased, sew the actual seam. Be patient. I KNOW you can do it! I hope you enjoy your finished top.
Oh how I love this blog! I’ve never sewn an article of clothing before being so properly motivated by this challenge and now I feel like this is just the beginning. :o) For my summer of basics, I learned how to draft a pattern from an existing garment (Eileen Fisher viscose jersey tank…my favorite warm weather top, but no longer in production). I couldn’t find a pattern that was exactly like the top I owned, so with a lot of help from Google, I leaned in & taught myself. In doing so over the past month, I’ve learned how to use a french curve and other nifty pattern making tools, how to source designer quality fabric (Emma One Sock is quite a step up from my local Hobby Lobby, no disrespect intended), and how to use a double needle and other stitches on jersey without mucking things up. This evening after work, I’ll finish tank #3 from my pattern and maybe I’ll be brave enough to post a pic or two on Insta. I’m so very glad I found the Fringe blog and that Karen is such a swell motivator!
PS: Lovelovelove the rainbow cardi (and glasses…they totally rock…I’m on my way to Zenni Optical after I post this comment, no lie), but as a new garment sew-er, I’m blown away that people made fitted PANTS. For the love of gawd…PANTS…not the pull on kind. Yowza!
I also love them all! You should be very proud Karen! You motivated us all to be creative and to be happy as we can see on the pictures above. I started my Bellows very confidently but i got stuck at some point because I misread the instructions. After graphing the instructions I could figure out what was going on. Hope I can finish on time…
LOVE the True Bias Emerson Pants and True Bias Ogden Cami!!! Just my kind of casual gear. I should buy the patterns (just to say I have them), even though I don’t really have a space to sew in… in my little Airstream trailer. Really need to reconsider something just a little larger!!! Thinking…
Love the knitting by the pool. I missed out on a few days of knitting as I had only packed one pair of needles during my week on the seaside, I had forgotten the smaller needles required for the ribbing of the front of my second project, a small tank. So I got some catching up to do before starting the third sweater. Yep, three knits are on my plan, I can totally do this.
Love the pants too, especially the camel version. The whole outfit is great.
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