Crochet baskets

I'm really getting my craft on lately.

I do love classes and I've decided that crochet is something I'm keen to learn more about. I saw some Instagram photos of cool bowls made from "t-shirt" yarn and thought it would be a fun skill to learn. Sure enough, there was a class out there waiting for me and at only $50 it seems like very good value!

This class is run by Classie and is held in a cafe near Town Hall - so very convenient. The class comes with a hot drink which basically allows us to sit at our table until the class is over!

The yarn is THICK and the hook is BIG so it's quite a lot of awkward holding and moving to get used to. I got there in the end though and made this soft bowl that I'm very happy with. I used ALL the colours on offer and love the way it turned out. It now sits on the back of the couch and holds some balls of wool for the various projects I have on the go at home.

My bowl could also be worn as a hat if need be!

Or I can just use it as a bowl!

I have bought some more of this t-shirt yarn from Lincraft and I quite fancy using it to make a mat -- perhaps for the bathroom. So many crafty ideas, and so little time!

542 Ebony Tee's

I eluded in my other post from today that I've been on a bit of an Ebony Tee bender...I haven't made 542, but it sure feels like it!

This first top was meant to be a dress, but based on the length of the tee I thought it too would be really short. I went about adding 2" to the length which also entailed adding width. Short version - WAY too big and sack like and WAY too long. I decided to just turn it into a tee rather than faff about taking in the sides. It's a different shape to my other Ebony Tee's as I just cut along one of the stripes and then rolled the hem...it's dipped at the sides and shorter at the front/back. The fabric is from the Hoi An Central Market - I was very sad when I thought I'd ruined the garment, but I actually wear it a lot despite wondering if it was too short at the front/back. Who knew?

The next three follow the pattern, with my usual modification of adding 6.5" to the length. As we're heading into winter I also added 1" to the sleeve length as "bracelet length" = cold wrists and we don't want that. This fabric is from Tessuti -- a viscose elastane jersey. It's actually quite thin fabric so perhaps not really right for warmer weather - but it's pretty and I like it. Again with the rolled hem (because I LOVE it)!

More fabric from Tessuti - that you'll recognize from this Marianne Dress. I liked the print so much I bought more of it with the intention of making a Mandy Boat Tee but that pattern isn't really working for me at the moment due to tight sleeves and too high neckline. I wore this out to dinner on Saturday night and it felt sufficiently fancy whilst still being very comfy. 

And, lucky last (for now)! I bought this fabric from Darn Cheap Fabrics -- either the last trip or the trip before? No idea what it is other than it's stretchy, and cozy. I bought it with the intent of making an Our Fave Top -- but the sleeves on that are also too tight and the neckline too high, ergo this top was born. The fabric is quite thick and I almost feel like I'm wearing a PJ top. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this top yet...

And that's all for now. I really like this pattern (oh, really?) so I'm sure there will be more in my future...

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Pattern: Closet Case Files "Ebony Tee"
Size: 16
Modifications:  added 6.5" to the length. Rolled hem. These all have 1" added to the length of the sleeve.
Fabric: as above
Changes for next time: none for View B? 

Ebony Tee - Dress

I've made about 500 Ebony Tee's since my last post, and now a dress!

This is actually my second attempt at the dress pattern. I thought that the dress would be S-H-O-R-T like the Tee so added 2" to it...which also entailed adding width. Turns out I did not need the extra length at all, nor the width, and I made myself a bonafide tent! It's since become a top, but more on that another time.

This attempt is made as per the pattern - no changes at all. I've sewed the size 16 and it's a very swingy style with a subtle high-low hem happening. The fabric is from the Fabric Store - it's a viscose 7.7.& /lycra 6% /polyester 17%...not great for hot weather but good as the weather is now quite chilly (finally). The fabric was 160cm wide and only $20/pm. Seems too good to be true!

Not sure how "flattering" the dress is from the back as it's VERY wide...but I can't see it so "whatever".

I really like this dress and have spied some fabric at My Hung in Parramatta for a possible second version.
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Pattern: Closet Case Files "Ebony Tee"
Size: 16
Modifications:  none.
Fabric: Fabric Store - viscose 7.7.& /lycra 6% /polyester 17%...not great for hot weather but good as the weather is now quite chilly (finally).
Changes for next time: none  

Vietnam, and did I actually wear what I made?

So, it's two weeks since I've returned to reality from what turned out to be a FANTASTIC holiday in Vietnam!  After reading a not-so-positive travel biography before I visited I have to admit I was expecting Vietnam to be terrible, really hard going and not enjoyable. I had the lowest of low expectations and I'm glad they were not met. What an incredible country. Beautiful, hectic, friendly, funny, delicious and joyful. I cannot wait to go back!

I went a bit bonkers sewing for my trip and, along with some items I'd made earlier (just for everyday life), I ended up packing 2 x Mabel Skirts; 3 x Gabby Dresses; and 5 x Marianne Dresses.

Did I wear it all? Yes. And, no!

I only ended up wearing one of my Mabel Skirts - on two separate days with clean t-shirts each day. Vietnam was SO hot so I guess I was saving the second one for another day but just never got around to wearing it. Luckily it was not too hot in Hanoi (relevantly speaking to the rest of the country) so I used some anti-chaffing cream to keep my inner-thighs in good shape (just in case anyone is wondering about skirts, thighs that touch in the middle and hot hot weather).

All of my Gabby Dresses were worn - multiple times actually. All three of them were in quite cool, thin viscose jersey (bar the striped one which was a bit thicker) so did the trick. I wore them with pairs of Dave's long undies underneath to avoid the dreaded chub rub due to the hot hot weather. These dresses were good as they could be worn on the back of a moped or in a cyclo without flashing everyone.

I only wore three of out the five Marianne Dresses I packed. Two were just in a fabric that was too thick and thus too hot for Vietnam. Did I mention it was HOT! Again, Dave's long undies saved the day.

I think I over-packed. I could've left out those two Marianne Dresses that were never worn. Plus I rinsed out clothes as I needed to and we also had an opportunity to to do laundry along the way.  I probably could've left the Mabel Skirts at home -- they weren't very practical in terms of motorbike riding or sitting on low low stools at various eateries.

I would definitely pack a variety of what I've made for another hot-weather holiday. I'm really keen to visit Cambodia and Vietnam (again) in 2017 so I have my wardrobe needs all sorted!