Finished projects for a fabulous weekend
Last weekend I traveled to the Washington, D.C. area to visit my mom and step-dad, for my mom’s birthday. You may already know this part from her blog post, or various Instagram and Facebook shenanigans, but I also got to hang out with none other than Rochelle from Lucky Lucille, who came down to visit, too!
It was AWESOME. All kinds of awesome. All the kinds of awesome that can exist in a land where you finally get to meet one of your closest friends in person, jump in like you already known each other’s insides and outs already (because actually you do), and act like the loving friends you have been in your hearts for ages.
Well, and act like complete goobers. There’s that, too.
Rochelle gave a preview of some of our weekend activities, and today you get the first of our outfit posts from the weekend! It involved a big red wall recommended by my mom, really cold weather, a lot of wind, some hand sewn and knit vintage-inspired items, and more silliness than you can possibly imagine. Seriously, for all the decent photos, there’s like 10 more of us making ridiculous faces or poses.
My outfit consisted of two recently completely projects that I made specifically to wear in honor of my mom’s birthday. My mom taught me to sew, and taught me to knit, and if there’s anyone around whom I’d design and create an entire outfit, it would be her. My mom is the the best.
Now remember when I knit my Dragonflies Jumper in fall? I polled my readers on what color my eventual-next-one should be and a lot of you said purple. And hey, I listened! So you get to see my deep violet-hued Dragonflies cardigan.
My mom and I both gravitate towards red, but growing up I always remember her favorite color being purple. While this outfit was actually based around the dress first and a fabric we both loved, it seemed the perfect match to me that it should get a purple cardigan to top it off.
This was the project I knit during the Ravellenic Games on Ravelry, and I completed it during the Olympics. How it differs from my pullover version: I shortened the length of the body for a cropped fit, knit a gradual v-neck instead of a crew neck, and went with 3/4 length sleeves. (There’s tons more specific notes on my Ravelry project page, as usual.)
I’m actually trying to find a good length for cardigans to wear with dresses and skirts and this one’s a bit short, but still nice.
I finished it off with the only purple buttons in my stash, beautiful vintage ones which happened to be perfect!
The dress is technically another (first, second) version of Emery by Christine Haynes, although it’s getting to the point where I’m just using the bodice as a block and going bananas with everything else.
This one also has a square neckline and a wider skirt like my Valentine version, but I drafted kimono sleeves, which I’m likely to repeat about a thousand times more as I love them that much! It’s one of my favorite types of sleeves–no setting in, a very 1940s look, easy to fit under a cardigan without tugging, but also perfect for hot summer days. A well-fitting bodice with kimono sleeve has been on my list for ages, and I finally have one!
This was about two-thirds of my attempt to re-master a somewhat-oversized 40s dress I sewed a couple of years ago but still love, and with one more change I’ll be there. So expect to hear more about that in the future.
I opted to move the center back zipper to the side because the fabric print was just small enough I felt I could easily mangle some of those skeleton faces or vertical lines when matching it along the center back seam. So no seam, no problem. (Although watching me try to wiggle this off over my head is pretty amusing!)
(There’s no wrinkle above the waistline in the back, by the way, just standing funny. Because it was about 25° F out and I think my teeth were chattering at this point!)
Speaking of fabric placement, I spent a long time getting the bodice just right. I’m particularly happy with the motifs under the bust nipped in by the vertical darts (because that could easily have looked crappy), and the lovely centered motifs right under the neckline.
The only thing I’ll change in the future is bust dart location. I moved them down from my previous versions since they’re pointing higher than my apex, but there must be something about the fit with the kimono sleeves that made that adjustment like I didn’t even do it. Oops. So, they’ll get lowered again in the future.
Wait, I haven’t mentioned being goobers lately. We were crazy. Taking photos together was such fun. And hilarious. I have no clue what we were doing in either of these photos!
Isn’t Rochelle’s outfit awesome? You’ll get to see more on her blog soon!
Wait, I mentioned it was windy, right? It was windy. I probably spent more time holding down my hair or dress or laughing at them trying to take flight than posing for Rochelle’s photos.
Anyway, the dress fabric is Cartas Marcadas by Alexander Henry, and I affectionately call this the Loteria dress. The yarn is Wollmeise DK in Petit Poison Nr. 5.
There will actually be a second of this dress at some point, in the gray scale version of this fabric. It’ll riff off a ModCloth dress that my mom showed me that started this whole outfit!
I can’t tell you just how. much. fun. it was taking outfit photos with Rochelle! We even had matching Luxulite jewelry for the occasion.
It was amazing spending the weekend with her, and so much fun for her to get to hang out with my super crafty mom, too. And while we didn’t take nearly as many photos as we would have liked (we were too busy having fun!), there will be more to see this week on both of our blogs. 🙂
My outfit details
Loteria dress – made by me
Dragonflies cardigan – made by me
Chelcea Crew shoes – ModCloth
necklace – Luxulite
Kate Spade purse – eBay
patent leather belt – Target
Stay tuned!
Filed: Knitting, Sewing, Travel and Adventures, Vintage Wardrobe
Looks like you both had a fantastic weekend! 🙂 Love your dragonfly cardigan with this dress – both are gorgeous. I’m looking forward to spending time with my crafty mom this weekend, it’s great to hang out and talk about sewing and knitting in person. I hope you guys won’t have to wait too long before your next hangout/photo session 🙂
Have a wonderful time hanging out with your mom! 🙂
You’re both gorgeous! I love the new dress and sweater. I’ve been eagerly awaiting fabric details since I saw a peak of it last week. It’s so much fun!
Awww, thanks Michelle!
Just in case there is anyone who doubts that these two can totally act like goobers?
Allow me to erase any doubt that you might have had! They are both adorable — and adorably gooberish! (Goobery? Gooberlike? Hmmm, I wonder what the correct adjective is …)
And I wonder where 50% of this pair got the goober gene from…. 😉
Wow, what a gorgeous sweater! This is so, so beautiful! The dress is great, too!
Thanks so much!
Incredibly stylish ladies and I thought I recognised my friend Katy Crebbin’s incredible jewellery – keep up the good work I love getting your notifications X
I love Katy’s work! 🙂
Ooh that dress is so pretty – love the fabric! Great to see you both having such a fun time 🙂
Thanks, Helen!
Looks like fun! I adore your cardigan – and I mean adore. The colour is beautiful. You are a very talented knitter! It looks great with the rest of your outfit, too.
Thank you! 🙂
looks so much fun! i love the square neckline on this dress – perfect!
Thanks! I really love square necklines!
that cardigan is beautiful! if there was ever a garment that would convince me that I need to learn how to knit, this would be it. I think the shorter length suits dresses like this one. I always feel a bit full in the hips when I wear a regular-length cardigan that ends up hanging over the skirt.
Oh and be warned, I am totally copying your square neckline mod on my next Emery dress! It looks too good not to try!
That’s a nicer way to say how I feel when I wear cardigans that are too long with dresses: dumpy! lol
And yes, please feel free to copy the square neckline, I love it!
How fun! I really love both your and Rochelle’s outfits, but I think I’m partial to your amazing dress, Tasha! I’m a big fan of the Emery pattern, too. Any chance you’d share a little tutorial on how you drafted the kimono sleeves for it? It’s a great look!
Thanks, Sue! You’re not the first person to ask me that, so we’ll see. I actually have a tutorial I’ve been meaning to do for ages for another hack to give a pattern kimono sleeves, so I perhaps I need a kimono sleeve month. lol
Wow! Major props for knitting that lovely sweater! I’m not much of a novelty print person, but I squealed- YES SQUEALED- when I saw your dress. Love the details (no zip in the back, placement of darts) that let the fabric shine. Two thumbs way up!
Thanks so much!
It’s a challenge figuring out the right length for a cardigan to get it to look good with both dresses and skirts! I like mine to be shorter with my dresses, but it bugs me when they are the exact same length as my waist band on a skirt because I end up with a gap when I move my arms. My solution so far has just been to knit more sweaters.
Yes, exactly! What works with my high-waisted pants is sometimes too long with skirts or dresses, and what’s short enough for a dress is too short for other things. Argh. So your solution is what I’m working towards, too!
the fact that y’all are sharing your weekend with us over a course of days is all kinds of vicarious goodness overload. I LOVE IT. did y’all coordinate your outfits? luxite? greens? cardis? seriously? HAPPINESS.
I’m so happy people are enjoying sharing our adventures! 😀 You’d be surprised that there was a lot less coordination of the matchy matchy outfits. It was crafty kismet! 😉
It’s over-the-moon awesome that you two were able to meet up in person at long last and that you had such a stellar, fun filled time together! All the photos you’ve both been sharing have been so filled with happiness and it warms the heart through and through to see as much. I really hope you’re able to get together for many future, wonderful, visits like this.
♥ Jessica
Thanks, Jessica! And I sure hope we are, too. 🙂
Your cardigan is stunning!! I’m also really loving the kimono sleeves on Emery. I might have to steal this idea.
Thanks– and feel free to steal the idea!
Do you have any tips/helpful tutorials you referenced for making the kimono sleeves? They are by far my favorite style and I would love to modify some of my favorite patterns with them, but they always come out VERY strange when I try!!
And your dress looks fabulous!
Thanks!
I don’t have anywhere to point to, as I just did it myself. However I am going to try and do a tutorial sometime for a different project and show how I added kimono sleeves, so at least look for that sometime hopefully later this spring. 🙂
Wonderful! I will definitely look forward to that!
You would make me (and I am sure others who have also commented) so happy if you could share your kimono sleeve secrets! They are my favourite and yours look amazing so I would love to replicate them. It would be much appreciated!
*swooning over the fabulous outfits*
What serendipity to find a friend who completely gets you. And with all of the gooberyness you two look like such awesome-tastic fun to hang out with!
Ha ha, thanks! 😀
Waht great photos! And you two looked fabulous, you really did a great job with this cadigan. And I love this fabric!
love, ette
Thank you! 🙂
How adorable are you two, omg.
LOL! Thanks. 😉
This post makes me so happy! You two look like you are having so much fun and both of your outfits are adorable! Isn’t it great having another blogger to take photos with? My husband loves it because then he is off the hook! 🙂
Sooo much fun!! I hope you two get to meet soon too. xo
Hee hee! You two are all kinds of fun!
Thanks, we were definitely having a blast!
Ok, I’m literally green with envy that you two got to hang out for an entire weekend and have what definitely appears to be an awesome time! Plus, both your outfits are incredible! Tasha, I adore the colour and detail on your cardigan and your dress is the bees knees…your pattern placement is perfection!!!
Thanks so much, Marie! It really was amazing. 😀
Yay! Your photos make me so happy! Two of my favourite bloggers together! So much fun!!
It was so much fun! And as Mel and I are gearing up for a trip to Dublin, it’s making me have fond memories of Edinburgh and getting to hang out with you! I hope we get to do that again sometime too! xo
I love this dress. It´s awesome
xoxo Perlchen Noir
Thanks!
It sounds soooo much fun you two together! I believe it was something rather special. Your outfits are beautiful. I love Rochelle’s new pants and your cardigan is so pretty! I think the length is pretty good with your fun dress. I think 3/4 sleeves are so darling, it was a great choice. And the pattern of your cardigan is one of the most incredible I’d seen! So beautiful 🙂
I wish you a wonderful time!
Miss Beta
It definitely was special. 🙂
Thanks! Yes, I’ve been enjoying 3/4 length sleeves lately as I can show off my watch or jewelry without pushing them up, because bracelet length always feels not-short-enough or not-long-enough. lol
Gorgeous, all of it! I’m definitely going to buy that fabric. I’ve only just started sewing but I definitely DEFINITELY need a skirt in that fabric.
I concur– it’s awesome fabric. You do need a skirt in it! 😉
Looks great! I really must learn to knit!
I’d highly recommend it! 😉
*sigh* It seems like just yesterday… If I had to describe my ideal weekend to anyone I would/and will describe this one we had. So. Much. Fun. Can we please hang out again soon? Please please please please!!
<3<3<3
Yes pleasssse!! *mwah*
You two ladies provide me with THE BEST inspiration on how to wear vintage and vintage-inspired pieces in a modern way! Plus, you both are totally using your hair as an accessory, which is something I always forget about! Smart smart smart!
Thanks so much! 🙂
I squealed with delight when I saw your dress! I made a dirndl skirt out of the same fabric this past October after seeing a similar skirt on Etsy! And my kids love looking at all the skeletons and their silly poses. When making my skirt, I didn’t want to lose any of the skeletons. Great placement of them on your bodice!
Awesome! It really is great fabric, isn’t it?? Glad you’re enjoying your dirndl skirt in it!
Lovely lovely makes and I absolutely adore the fabric for your dress. Your cardigan and jumper is beautiful too. I love the green bag, it’s the perfect accessory! XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk
[…] the Tasha/Rochelle adventure continues! To follow up with her recent outfit post, I wanted to share what I wore for our magnificent outing. Tasha and I had planned to sew something […]
Oh my gosh, I just discovered your blog and I LOVE IT! I’m right outside DC, too!
*swoon* The dress is just lovely! I’m currently working on a similar novelty print dress that I hope will fit well enough to because a go-to pattern! Fingers crossed.
[…] adventures of Tasha and Rochelle! I know, bittersweet, isn’t it? When we last met I shared my outfit post, and yesterday Rochelle shared hers (she also shared a preview on Friday), and today wraps up our […]
I adore your finished project pictures! It looks like you two had a lot of fun. I particularly love your new cardigan, I’m rather tempted to knit one like it for myself, the yarn just looks so plush and squishy in every photo you post.
Really like your cardigan!
– and damn it must be nice to be able to adjust a pattern like you can:)
Wish I was that skilled!
[…] reason to try and fuss and fuss with the original bodice–I just went with the one I used for my Loteria dress. Except I lowered the bust darts again, and this time was the […]
[…] by the way, I’m wearing this with a corduroy skirt I sewed before I met up with Rochelle in D.C., so it never made it to the […]
[…] in March when I met Rochelle in D.C., I bought some yarn at Fibre Space, a great yarn shop in Alexandria, Virginia. I was mainly […]
[…] seen each other since we hung out in March. (You can see our two outfit posts from then here and here, plus our adventures at National Park […]