In this French city (unknown) above, again we view the Modern combined with the Past. Our Lady of the Early 20th stands in front of a much older skyline that belongs to an different era – more Fantine, less Lady Sybil.

Which is one of the things I love about Fashion: its ability to move fast and yet be a cultural thermometer, standing on the timeline of all…

SO easy to change out of the bustle, the corset, the shawl and move into the freedom of the shift, the scarf, the sweater…

All decorated, all embelished in a most, to our eye, busy, still ornate way, so characteristic of late Edwardian fashion…

The dress on the left is from a 90 year old magazine I found at a flea market: the summer McCall Embroidery Book (click pic for bigger pic). The hemlines are going higher but the lovely detailing of the past remains in this Knitted Wool Dress pattern ($.25).

The book is filled with lots of looks – some patterns included, some like this one that you would receive by mail or in a local department store. Most of the patterns came in one size (36) and have a paucity of detail compared to those of the 21st.

Especially interesting to me was the inclusion of many sweaters.

Sweaters with square necklines, batwing sleeves, mostly belted (loosely) or with some type of midriff detailing…

The garment in the middle of the picture is a Pullover – long and tunic-like – worn over a silk slip.

On the left is a lovely crocheted pullover with very interesting stitch detailing…

I’m fascinated by this as well:

Not only is this a charming little girl’s knitted dress, a darling Little Kitty is in the picture, and, just like today, enthralled with the yarn. Methinks the ‘lil cat is included in this sample as an eary SQUEEE factor to hook you into the *get it* now of everything on that page!

Gone (although I’m sure still being worn) are Shawls. In their place: scarves & hats galore! The prequel to Vamp was all about the accessories…

I’m thinking you could wear this one today, February 3, 2012.

These: not so much but

still they have a contemporary feel, and I especially like the belted stole. Not really sure what those aprony-like collar combinations are for (utility? decoration?) but then again Les Hommes were wearing disposable collars like mad back in that day.

If one had less wardrobe, one could freshen it with some layering!

But the most interesting to me, having just released a shaped headband pattern, is the Embroidered Headbands that were surely the after-dark, dinner-set don’t leave home without it must. Lady Sybil was certainly emboldened by her Paul Poiret-inspired outfit!

I bid you TGIF! (Wear a headband this weekend and REBEL!)

>>> the winner of the Sweet Shawlette book: the lovely Patty D — a big thank you to everyone! We’ll post about the beauty and fun of little projects in the near future… <<<

Nothing like tying up some loose ends…

Heh. Or in this case, finishing a Re-DO!

A few weeks (months?) ago, a Mondo Cable Cardi I made in Fall 2009 went back on the needles for some serious mods: what about changing the cap sleeves to long sleeves to refresh the whole look of it? Yes.

I’m getting ready to move and have been sifting through everything – fearlessly culling the used from the unused and sending the latter on its way.

But this was something that just seemed like it needed a second chance!

It was perfectly OK the way it was, but it just wasn’t getting enough play in the wardrobe.

The new rule is: if you don’t wear it there isn’t room for it. I’ve been merrily giving even unexpected garments their walking papers and I have to say – it is very liberating! ;p

But this little number had some great things going for it: it fit well and I loved the fabric (lightweight but cozy).

SO it earned a turn back on the needles when, while doing all that culling, I found some leftover yarn…

Since the sleeves were knit downward from the armhole, it was a quick frog of the ribbed edging on the cap sleeves and then a replacemet of the live stitches on the needles.

Something that always happens: the live stitches, being blocked, were flat and a little twisted. But I knew that at the end of the modding, I was going to give this a nice warm bath in some gentle, lavendar-herbal shampoo.

(It would, as they say, all come out in the wash – the stitches would puff up and match the rest of the sleeve.)

As I was working on the sleeves, I tried the sweater on several times. Each time I found myself folding the neck edging inward – to see if it worked better for this as a narrower band.

The MCCardi comes with instructions for a 1 (2, 4)” Collar so it would be a no-math exercise to replace & re-knit the neckline. I also wanted to try out some after-thought “buttonholes” with some smaller, lighter buttons.

And VOILA!

With a little bit of tinking and evening knitting, it’s like having a whole new sweater!

I thinkt it deserved a little “portrait” with my knitting library…

Monday Morning Mirth

No Shame: being one of the millions sucked into the early 20th-century sudz-fest that is Downtown Abbey…

I know I’m not alone in relishing the sets, the wardrobe, the tugs on my heartstrings…

But what is rather startling is that even though I’ve fallen head first into the rabbit hole, it’s still possible to burst the bubble!

YES! Only mixed metaphors will do when you see something so Machine Made before its time show up in the downstairs kitchen…(even though it’s sort of thrilling to see ye stitchery dramatized!)

So, really, what’s wrong with this picture?