Two projects and some plants that I think might have subliminally inspired them.
I'm working on a new jumper - the design is the No Frills Sweater by Danish designer Petite Knit. It's a very simple raglan-style with minimal shaping, kind of designed to be loose-fitting and fitted around the wrists and hem. The special thing about this garment will be the yarn - I'm using some dark green merino hand-dyed by my friend Nikki. She gave me three skeins of it for my birthday last year and I fell in love with its dark fern green vibes immediately. I wasn't sure what to make for a long while, and then I realised it would be perfect fro this pattern, if i had some mohair in a similar colour. So I commissioned Nikki to dye some to match, and I think that must be one of her specialties, because she did an amazing job. The mohair skeins are slightly different shade, but the two work beautifully together to create a really deep colour. It's like knitting with silky ferns! I absolutely love it and know it will be a very special thing to wear.
Another project, though one recently finished, was a skirt made in a brownish-mauve - definitely the same colour family as the hellebores above, picked from the garden! They are so beautiful right now. (For the rest of the year they're mostly all leaves). For the skirt, I used the Estuary Skirt pattern by Sew Liberated designs. It was easy to make over a couple of evenings. I used to try and race through sewing projects and get stress myself out a bit in the process. These days I try to take a bit longer in the hope of a better result. I allowed one evening just for the buttonholes on this skirt and I can report that they are all evenly placed!
I bought the PDF pattern and am glad I did as I'm sure I'll use it several more times. I think it would look great in a wool fabric for winter, or even a lightweight something for a dressy summer occasion? My favourite part of the design is the comfy elasticated panel at the back of the skirt, but smooth waistband at the front. Clever!
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Working on my projects lately, I've been enjoying catching up on podcasts and the odd bit of new music. Something that combines both is Radio NZ's Mixtape series - have you heard it? It's a bit like another favourite of mine, the BBC's Desert Island Disks, but obviously with a NZ flavour. Last weekend I listened to the Mixtape with musician Hinewehi Mohi and loved the hour spent with her. I recommend having a listen if you're a fan too.
I hope you're enjoying this early spring season, and finding time to do things you love. See you again very soon.
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