Saturday, February 2, 2013

Bits and Pieces

Way back in late October, before the craft show madness set in, before my recent - and current - malaise kicked in, I made a pair of pants.  I started them in October, left them hanging around my dress form's neck for a month or so, then finished them near Christmas.

They were worn a good while back, but the first time I forgot to have photos taken and the second time they were done at the end of the day, so I'm looking rumpled, wrinkled and like I've been done in by lawyers (which by that point I have).

They're my standard side zip BWOF pants pattern, and the plaid, although it's not visible at this distance, has threads of teal, green and dark red in it.  Perfect for about half my wardrobe.

The sweater is worthy of comment for 2 reasons.  First, it fits better than that, I just didn't see how it was pulled when I stood still, and second, it came from the load of stuff I pulled out of my aunt's apartment.

There was an entire closet full of clothes at her place, most of them not even worthy of the thrift store.  There were, however, 2 cotton cardigans in the back that had never been worn.  Because my aunt liked her clothes oversized, and because she had the old-lady-hunch, she bought things big and let them hang.  These sweaters were 2X.  My aunt, at most was a size large.  But no matter.  One sweater was the lovely green here, and the other one was a dark teal.  They were huge, but they were unworn cotton sweaters in colors I liked.  They came home with me.

Eventually I got around to washing them.  New they might have been, but they smelled like Ben Gay and lavender sachet.  A good washing took them down a size.  I cut them apart at the seams and dug out my KwikSew cardigan pattern and put the pieces on top.  The main difference, other than the size, was in the shaping.  The sweater now tapers in at the waist, whereas the original hung straight.  The shoulders are reduced, and the armholes cut way in.  I was able to use the existing band on the hem and sleeves, along with the button placket.  Though I would like to replace the buttons with something more interesting.

Because of the stretch of the cotton, the sweater still seems a bit bigger than the KS medium it was cut to, but that's okay.  I want it for over top of things, and all in all, I'm pleased with the way it turned out.  It's clothing recycling, which I like, it's a nice cotton knit, and it's in a shade of green that I just haven't been able to find.

I'll get around to the blue one eventually.

Oh, right.  The shoes.  The highlight of the entire outfit, actually, are the shoes.  My favorite, or near-favorite (it's hard to tell, every pair is my favorite when they're on my feet) Fluevogs.

They are ridiculously comfortable.  And they seem happiest with the loud stripy socks.

BTW, I actually sewed last night.  It's probably going to snow now.

9 comments:

Carolyn (Diary of a Sewing Fanatic) said...

Ummm yeah it is going to snow! *LOL* But the pants and cardigan are great...nice job!

velosews said...

You did a great job with both the cardi and pants. Seriously the cardi is my fav. Cool shoes too.

Mary Beth said...

How cute! Great job on the pants and on the sweater-save, too. This has got to be the most interesting Fluevog shoe-shot I've seen lately

CarlaF-in Atlanta said...

Glad you're feeling better. Great job on the pants and cardigan. Love the shoes :)

Sewingelle said...

Good to hear you're feeling better. The pants are great and good work on upcycling the cardi. Fabulous shoes! One day I'm gonna get some Fluevogs...

Erzulimojo said...

Whole outfit is great. Super revamp of a that green cardigan -- and the Fluevogs are the finishing touch. I lurve me some Fluevogs with fun socks, too. I have a pair of the black & white Fluevog Danielsons that I wear with black and white polka dot socks. Makes even the hardest days better! Brava on getting your sewing mojo back. How are the chickens?

The Slapdash Sewist said...

What a great outfit! That green really suits you, and the pants fit spot on. And the shoes--love!

Rose said...

That shade of green is definitely your color. The outfit looks good. Great shoes!

Anonymous said...

both outfits look great and an excellent idea to remake the cardigan. I will see if I can find one and do as good a job as you did. thanks for the idea.
Joyce (in NWT)