DIY Midi Dresses

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Hi there, Happy Friday 🌸🌸 Today's update is about two new dresses that I made to wear on special outings. The sleeveless orange midi dress was made in October and the long-sleeved dress was made at the beginning of this month.  Both patterns were self-drafted, and the dresses had ruffles at the bottom tier. And to complete the look, I added a removable bow and pinned it to the neckline.  For the sleeveless midi dress, I used a linen blend fabric a souvenir from my trip to Bangkok and the fabric was enjoyable to sew. As usual, the sewing process started with pinning and sewing the darts and then attached the facings to the front and back pieces right sides together. I pinned it around and then sewed it, but I left a few centimeters open to sew the shoulder lines. I love this method, the finished facing looks clean and neat. I closed the opening area with hand sewing. I gathered the bottom tiers and then sewed them to...

Hand Knit Sweater and Hat

Hello my sewing friends, hope you are doing great. I have been away from the blog because busy with other stuff and my sewing mood was so low. But things are not so bad, in the middle of my lousy mood I finished my hand knit sweater and hat.
This is my first ever knitted sweater and I am happy with how it turned out. It is a simple sweater with square armhole, 2x2 rib stitch for sleeves, neckline and hem band, the rest using stockinette stitch. For the pattern, I just took note of several patterns in ravelry and knit magazine then I make my own.
I am not making a note of each step as I usually did in previous projects. My hand just knit and I did it :)

For the sweater I used 7 balls of schachenmayr Bravo - acrylic in white spotty colour - 00002. Each ball is 50 grams and the needles is size 3.5 mm and 4 mm.
For the hat I used 1.5 balls of grignasco Australia - pure new wool in mustard colour - 906. Each ball is 50 grams, circular needles size 5 mm.

I remember that the knitting process for sweater started with back piece, cast on with smaller needles 98 stitches. Then 2x2 rib stitch for the hem until measures 6 cm. I increased one stitch in both sides in the last row. After that I changed to the bigger needles and work in stockinette stitch, shaped the armhole and marked for the shoulder and back neck.
After the back piece done, I worked on the front piece. I did the same way as the back piece, with different way of finishing the shoulder and neckline.
Then I worked on the sleeves, cast on 50 sts with smaller needles followed by 2x2 rib stitch until measures 6 cm. Change to the bigger needles and work in stockinette stitch. Shaped the sleeve and bind off.
After I had all the pieces, I sew them together in order and shaped along the neckline with 2x2 rib stitch using the smaller needle until measures 2 cm. Done.

Here is the final sweater, front - back and the closer look of the sweater detail.





Now, let's talk about the hat. This is my second version of knitted hat, I made it very simple and a little bit loose. It started with cast on 80 stitches in 5 mm circular needle following by 2x2 rib stitch until measures 4 cm. Then continue with stockinette stitch until the hat body measures 24 cm. After that I shaped the crown until the hat measures 32 cm. Bind off and tighten the end. Done!
I think the process was very easy and I am ready for another version with more difficult stitches such as cable, fisherman's rib, etc.

And here are the pictures of the finished hat, hope you like it as much as I do :)



Knit stitches that I learned from the experts:
Stockinette Stitch from Studio Knit
2x2 Rib Stitch from Studio Knit
How to sew shoulder seam from BerrocoKnitBits
How to sew in square armhole from PatonsYarns
How to seam : set-in sleeve from PatonsYarns
Sweater finishing: How to pick up stitches around the neck from Knitting with Cheryl Brunette

That's it for my today post, I am wishing all my friends a happy crafting and sewing. I am going to prepare my sewing for tomorrow and hope to show you my very late tops for MAGAM March by the end of this month :)

Love,
Hana

Comments

  1. Your sweater is so pretty! Looks comfy to wear and love the color you chose. The mustard hat is adorable! Only knowing the basics of basics of knitting, I am wanting to learn more techniques and clicked on your resources and think I might have accidentally saved your YouTube playlist for 'knit and crochet' instead of just the one resource I was looking at. Hope that was okay?! I am still internet illiterate sometimes. ;)

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    1. Hi Lisa, thank you :) It is very comfy to wear. You can freely saved my playlist and hope to see your knitting garment someday :)

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  2. This is your first sweater?!!! OH WOW! I love it...you'll have to visit me in Canada so you can really enjoy wearing it as well as your new toque {Canadian for hat}! I just love how professional, but cozy your sweater looks.

    I do hope your sewing mood brightens Hana!

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    1. Thank you Sue, it was a big surprise that the sweater turned out good. I can't believe it :) I'd love to visit your beautiful city one day :)

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  3. This is quite an achievement - knitting your first sweater. And it looks good as well - that doesn't always happen with the first garment because it takes a while to master tension. And the hat is cute. Knitting is a really good pastime when the mood is low as it is almost meditative - it gives you something to focus on and distracts you from problems.

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    1. Thank you, Sarah Liz. I did the sweater for two months, it was a very slow project :) I agree with your opinion about knitting, it looks like I am doing yoga.

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  4. Hello dear Hana!
    You and your sweater, both look very beautiful!
    LG Carolin

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    1. Thank you dear Carolin. Hope I can upgrade my knitting to the next level. So nice to see all your knitting garments in your blog :)

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  5. Wow! Beautiful work-knitting is difficult to do well, and you have mastered techniques.

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    1. Oh thank you Mary. Believe me, knitting is easier to do than sewing :)

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  6. Thats amazing for a first Jumper!! I love the wool you have chosen and it fits and suits you so well. And a hat as well... go you! Great job Hana, and hope you are feeling much brighter now xxx

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  7. I am very impressed with your knitted garments Hana. No one would ever know that you are new to knitting. I am wish I had your patience for learning a new craft.

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    1. Thank you, Jean. Patience is a key :) But you can do it if you really want.
      I love your new dress, simple but pretty :)

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  9. that's a gorgeous jumper, and a really cute little mustard beanie too. Your first knitted projects? well done, they look absolutely brilliant! :)

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  10. Hana what a gorgeous sweater. Being able to knit so well is such a great skill!

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