The Return of Handmade Style

I don't think I spent any time in front of the sewing machine or with knitting needles in my hand for the whole summer, but as soon as people started talking about pumpkin spice lattes, it's like an instinct kicked in and the knitting needles started clacking again. This scarf was based on this pattern. I changed it by making it wider, and making the wedges slightly bigger. I also added some button holes at the end, so I could wear it like a cowl. I sincerely hope this giant cowl trend stays around for a while because I love them. I know some people don't agree and think they look silly, but I don't care, I say make 'em even bigger and fluffier.

Handmade Outfit

Nothing fancy about this outfit. It's pretty much my late winter/early spring uniform. Jacket, jeans, boots, and scarf. Remember this? I had a bunch of odd leftover balls of yarn and I was in the mood to make something simple, fast, and useful, so I made a giant scarf. I nicknamed it the travel pillow scarf because if I ever need a nap on the go I can just turn my head to the side and fall asleep on my giant scarf.

I took these photos about a week ago when it seemed like winter would never release us from her cold, rainy, wet, snowy, wet, windy, cold, wet grip. But that last couple of days have been gorgeous. I guess that's the way life in the Pacific Northwest goes. Seasonal depression and vitamin D deficiency grows gradually until you start to dream of moving to SoCal or Hawaii and you've just about had your fill of soggy grey skies, when bam! Seattle hits you with a string of the most perfect, clear, sunny days imaginable. And as you look out to the crystal clear mountain ranges in the distance you can't fathom why you ever thought of leaving.

Handmade outfit

earrings: designed and made by me

jacket: H&M

belt: H&M

purse: vintage

skirt: designed and made by me

shoes: Etienne Aigner

A pause in the New York photos to show another outfit with handmade items. I designed and made both the skirt and the earrings in these shots. I was slow to warm to the maxi skirt trend (maybe it's the name?), but now I completely understand the appeal. They're so comfortable and you don't even have to shave your legs! I made this skirt in one afternoon with a lovely, soft knit that I've had for a couple of years but was afraid to cut up for fear of ruining it. I'm thinking if there is enough interest I might post a pattern/tutorial. What do you think?

I know there is some fashion law passed from one queen bee to the next that you're not supposed to repeat outfits, but I wore this one twice. First at the opening of my friend Sarah's art show in New York and then when my mom and I went to a performance of the Pacific Northwest Ballet this weekend here in Seattle. I figured if there was a 3,000 mile separation between wearings it wouldn't count? Or more likely I just don't care that much. 

On a side note, it took me for-ever to find a pair of heels that weren't sky high. While I appreciate the aesthetics of those kind of heels, I don't really need to be 6'4". I'll leave those heels to the more petite girls. But it would be nice if there was a variety of cute heels available in a variety of heights. 

Handmade

scarf: made by my mom

skirt: made by me

belt: H&M

boots: Target

Oh hi, it's been a while since I've posted an outfit. So here I am channeling a woodsy urchin or something. The one productive thing I managed to get done a couple weeks ago when everyone was snowed in was this skirt. It's made from heavy flannel and wool. I made it specifically for the winter days when I'm tired of my jeans, which is pretty much what I live in alllll winter. My mom made the gorgeous scarf a couple of years ago and is reserved for fancy outdoor occasions and ridiculously cold days when I need four layers of wool around my upper body.

Handmade Challenge: Day 130ish

cowl: made by me

earrings: by Moorea

jacket: Miss Sixty

These photos have been sitting on my computer since it was still a little to warm to be wearing this cowl and I'm just now getting around to posting. As you may have noticed form the general lack of posting, the handmade challenge hit a little hiccup lately. With a new job, I've been so exhausted most days, that sewing became an unfortunately low priority (higher priorities being eating, sleeping, and frustrated crying). And I'll also admit that a couple new shirts, a coat, a dress, and a new bag (which was actually kind of needed) found their way into my closet. Frustration and questions about what direction your life is taking has a way of breaking your will just the tiniest bit. But, I'm glad that I have a job at all so I'll stop complaining and move on to lighter subjects like clothes.


I saw a lot of big bulky knit cowls last year and every time I saw one I thought about how easy it would be to make one, but like a lot of the things I say I'm going to make, I never actually got around to doing it.

This yarn was an impulse buy that has been hanging around for a while mocking me. I didn't buy enough at the time to make a sweater, or even a shrug, but it is so soft and a gorgeous deep turquoise that every once in a while I would take it out and just stroke it, like a Bond villain, and whisper "one day" to it. Finally I decided on designing a simple cowl in an offset rib knit that kind of ends of looking like waves and might even pass for a lazy cable if you don't look too closely.

The earrings are very exciting because they are made by the wonderful Moorea. They are so unique that I fell in love with them the first time I saw them in her Etsy store, and my love has only grown. I'm usually not a dangly earring person, but these are the perfect combination of earthy and glam.

Handmade Challenge: Day 88

dress: from a reprint of a 1940s Vogue pattern

shoes: GAP (who knew GAP had good shoes?)

socks: Madewell

The challenge is about half done and I have to say it has been surprisingly easy. I expected the temptation to be unbearable and that I would crack at least once, but I haven't at all. In fact, it's kind of been a relief. In the past, every time I bought something new I would feel obligated to wear it or I would end up feeling guilty (first world problems, I know) and that led me to ignore a lot of the things already in my closet. Now, I've been wearing things that have been neglected and I've realized what an emotional crutch shopping was for me.

The Handmade Challenge is also a bonding experience for my mom and me. She brought me up in a creative environment where troubles could be banished by building something with your hands. Sewing, among many other forms of creativity, has been a staple activity in our home for my entire life. She has also contributed a lot to this challenge and is working on a couple of patterns I cut out ages ago but never quite got around to finishing. She's the one who actually made this dress. Thanks Mom!

Handmade Challenge: Day 82

outfit details:

dress: from a Simplicity pattern

shoes: DSW

My first photo shoot outside of my own back yard. It was strange, I wanted to take the photos really fast in between when people walked by, I felt really self-conscious and kind of silly. I propped the camera up on a bench and used a remote, so many of the photos were of planks on the bench or crooked close ups of my dog as she walked in front of the camera. It was a learning experience to say the least. But a few of them turned out nicely, so I'll definitely do it again. 

I wore this dress last week when most of the Pacific Northwest was enjoying a late summer. The time for pretty, girly sundresses is swiftly fading though and I had to get one more wear in before I'm forced to wrap my limbs in leggings and layers of sweaters. The fabric I made it from is swiss dot, and I added a row of buttons down the back instead of a zipper. I'm really pleased with how the outcome looks, even though the fit of the dress makes it really hard to breathe! 

Handmade Challenge: Day 55

Forgive me for the lens flare shot. I know they're overdone, but I still kind of love them. Plus this one is totally real. 

necklace: made by me

top: Nordstrom

skirt: made by me

Summer finally came to Seattle for a couple of days, so obviously I had to go super girly in celebration. I'm not sure what kind of logic that is, but there you have it. This skirt is kind of a cheat because I actually made it a couple of years ago (I was even photographed by It's My Darlin wearing it! Which, by the way if you're not following that blog, you need to)

People of Seattle love to complain about the weather and even though we've had like three days this summer that cracked 80 I'm already hearing complaints about how hot and muggy it is. Personally, I am thanking whatever weird weather pattern it was that saved us from the ridiculous heat wave that hit the rest of the country. Plus, for a girl who grew up in Florida, 80 is not hot.

Handmade Challenge: Day 43

 top: designed and made by me

white lace dress: H&M

shoes: MIA

sunglasses: H&M

I found the fabric I used to make this top at the back of my local JoAnns in the red tag section, which is usually full of cheap prints half falling off the bolt that look like they've been run over by shopping carts. But occasionally if you dig through all the duds you're rewarded with something cheap and awesome, like this orange bird print knit. When I got it I was stoked because I knew exactly what I wanted to make with it. I designed my pattern and started cutting out the fabric. Everything seemed to be going according to plan. Then I did a major face palm when I realized I cut out one of the back pieces backwards and I didn't have any more fabric because I had bought the last of the bolt! I couldn't believe I made such a rookie mistake. So I hid it from the world for over a year out of embarrassment and frustration. But my love of the fabric overcame eventually and with some adjustments I finally finished it.

Also, I apologize for the pastiness of my legs. I hope the glare didn't blind anyone.

Handmade Challenge: Day 25

Top: made by me (from a Vogue pattern)

Jeans: Pac Sun

Shoes: MIA

The challenge continues. I haven't posted very many (or any) photos of garments I made since I decided to give myself this challenge, but I would give myself a little self congratulatory pat on the back anyway because I have not purchased any new clothes since I started and I've finished making a couple of things. Including this black wrap top that sat in varying states of unfinished-ness for several years. No exaggeration. I think it was because the fabric I chose was kind of difficult to work with, but I liked the look of the top do I just couldn't bring myself to give up altogether. I'm glad I stuck with it because I like how it turned out (finally).

An Outfit and a Resolution

Nothing too special about this outfit, but I actually had a spare minute (shock), so I decided to prance around my back yard and take a couple pictures. 

Top: made by me from a New Look pattern. It's a part of my new resolution (see below)

Jeans: Gap (these wide flares feel so good after years in skinny jeans)

Shoes: from a brand called Spring Step (I didn't get a great shot of them, but they kind of look like Swedish Hasbeens. They were way cheaper though. Score.)

Jump shots!

I always intended for fashion to be a part of my blog, but I just couldn't decide in what capacity. A recent look at my closet and my bank account helped me decide how I want to present my personal fashion here on my blog.

First, a little back story. At the yard sale I had last weekend I got rid of a ton of clothes, but somehow all the jackets, sweaters, skirts, jeans etc still in my closet are fighting for space. How could I have gotten rid of so much and still have so much? and why do I still feel the desire for more? I don't know about you, but for me it goes beyond a love of clothes. Which I do, I love clothes. I love putting outfits together, the thought of putting one together helps me get out of bed in the morning (I know, I know, but it's true). I like to shop too, and here's where the problem comes in. I love that feeling you get right after you've found something perfect, but for me that feeling is followed up by a creeping guilt. The guilt comes from (among other things) the fact that even though I love to shop, I don't exactly have the income to support it. When things aren't going great (and, honestly, things haven't been going to great for me lately) we all look for something quick to fix it, to make ourselves feel better. New clothes make me feel better, but only for a while because they don't actually fix the problem.

I have so many things I want to do. I want to travel, I want to go back to school, I want to find a better job, I want to show my artwork. But those things take a lot of work, as well as a lot of money and time. To put it bluntly, I get overwhelmed. And finding something pretty that I can have right now, that will make me feel better right now, has always won in the past.

That brings us to the point of all this thrapudic (and more than a little self indulgent, sorry) rambling. I'm taking a queue from some other projects I've seen going around and officially putting a moratorium on all clothing purchases for six months. I chose six months because I think I can actually last that long. A year seemed like too long, like I would be setting myself up for failure. Six months felt like a good time frame. I did give myself one loophole though. I can have something new as long as I've made it. I have a pile of patterns and fabric I've been meaning to get to, so I'll be taking care of two things with one resolution. So, starting now whenever you see me prancing around in front of the camera I will be wearing something I've made with my very own two hands.