knittin' media Monday + S3 - day 13

Just to get into the right frame of mind...

Today, the test knit that has been on my needles for the last two weeks (transit handwork project) is finished. It had been somewhat challenging, a moebius cowl with a simple Fair Isle edge, bordered with I-cord. Before the final steam-blocking, it really looked like a tangled lump...

but a trip around the end of the ironing board, some gentle application of steam, and a modicum of persuasion, and it turned into this

Methinks it will be a great addition to my early winter wardrobe. Probably with the overlapping moebius twist pinned with a brooch, maybe in a blackened bronze or antiqued silver. (further impetus to spend time at the workbench)

≈ : ♥ : ≈

It is a bit frustrating that there are only two of the rayon japanese dresses in my closet. Surely somewhere in my boxes of fabric is another dress length of rayon. Tomorrow is forecast for 80F, and I'm wishing for a new dress.

Today, the lightest of the regular dresses will have to do, this one is soft thin cotton (which was also originally manufactured as quilting fabric). One time when browsing at SCRAP, there was a whole bolt of this Kaffe Fassett "Rowan Stripe" (woven in India) for $5; needless to say the bolt came home with me. It has been used for several things other than my clothing; as a lining for the roman shades in my kitchen, the woven-in stripes made placing the curtain hardware really simple.

I really prefer to wear this dress as an underdress. with a pinafore, but it will be comfortable today, if a bit short. Later this year, my plan is to stitch decorative bands, using various embellishment techniques, to lengthen all the basic dresses to my preferred hemlength. Somehow, when cutting them out, some, but not all, had a shorter skirt pattern piece used, and are a bit scant. No real matter, just an opportunity to use more of the smaller bits in the stash boxes...

The necklace today was one that I made last year, using a very lovely bead made by Jennifer of Highland Beads, and a simple pair of coordinating earrings.