Sunday, July 30, 2006

Zero knitting

This feels like betrayal - there is no knitting content this time. But I have not had idle hands...

I'm going to Edinburgh in a week. Just four days, quick visit, but I'm very excited about the trip. Have never been to Scotland.

Inspired by the trip and the previous little knitting bags I remembered that I had this fabric in the fabric stash, not much but just enough for a little dress...
So I have been sewing. It has been a couple of years since I have done any serious sewing for myself and I did quite many mistakes there along the way. I used to sew a lot for the children when they were small (enough not to refuse mom-made dresses) and for myself as well. I enjoyed getting out the patterns and threads and marking pens and rulers and sharp scissors and all kinds of little things designed to help the process and I have even done some fabric shopping... I had not realized how many beautiful fabrics there are out there! And I went to the library to get books about haute couture garments. Because that is where my passion is when sewing. I try to apply couture techniques where I know them. Hand picked zippers with waxed threads. Mitered corners. Handworked buttonholes. I'm still learning but these techniques are fascinating. Just fascinating.

So, I might need to sew something else as well. I would like to build whole outfits, where I'd make some parts out of yarn and some out of fabric. But that is but a dream... Still I dream of a dress with a matching shawl or a skirt with a matching cardigan...

Thank you for the comments again! Some answers to the questions in the comments:

The socks were my own and the heel was an experiment to hide the gusset decreases into the pattern. (The model in the pictures was my daughter Nadja.)

Mr Cat is called Kille, very, very typical tomcat's name in Finland. There are loons as well in Finland. Am sure Mr Kille knows excatly where here. And how many.

While the temperature during the night has been quite low it has not dropped down to zero again and the days have been very nice and warm, which means 20 degrees C and even a bit higher. Comfortable.

Cloudberry is very shy and wild berry. It hides in faraway places deep in the dark forests and wet marshlands. It is expensive when bought (this year about 12 euros per kilo) because it is so difficult to find. It is valued highly by the bears as well and if not meeting the king of the forests himself many pickers find his tracks. The best berry sites are well kept secrets. When I eat cloudberries I can taste the forests and the heat of the summer. I associate the berry with the wild things there are out in the nature.

The children will be going back to school in a couple of weeks. Which means getting back to routines and hopefully then I can find more time to think and knit (and sew) and blog as well. And my first born will come home next week. Finally. I'm counting hours now.

26 comments:

  1. I can imagine the ideas forming for you as you pour over the haute couture clothing books. The fabric is very nice. A shawl would be a most excellent compliment for it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great dress!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your dress is beautiful and the material makes me think of Scotland. The picture you have of the shoulder seam shows a beautiful match of the pattern and very fine work on the edging.

    I hope your oldest enjoyed her time with her Grandmother. I'm sure you'll savor reunion when she gets home.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The material looks like my Scottish b-i-l's clan plaid. Love the dress!

    Next thing you'll be weaving material for a skirt from yarn you've spun and knitting the matching shawl.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful dress! If you wanted to make a cardigan, shawl or shrug to go with it, you have many colours to choose from and I know you would do a terrific job. Getting nice fabrics for sewing here is not an easy task! Enjoy your time in Scotland. Have you read any of Alexander McCall Smith's books? He lives in Edinburgh.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh I do love couture sewing! I love the plaid you chose for your dress. Very nice for Scotland.
    I don't see any errors.
    I will be going to Edinburgh too, next year in Sept. I am very excited about my trip. I have never been before either. Please report how you enjoyed the Country and the City when you get home.

    Thank you for the information on the cloudberries. Your description gave me a wonderful vision in my head. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous10:19

    This is a beautifully made dress Lene! And I like the idea of complete outfits knitted and sewn. I am looking forward to seeing what you create...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous12:16

    I always feel a sense of awe when I visit your site. Your work is beautiful and the words you use are so descriptive. I too have begun to sew again along with the knitting. Both are such a joy.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous12:45

    You are such a talented woman, Lene. Sewing! I used to sew for my daughter when she was little too, but I don't regret the mess of threads and tiny bits of fabric on the floor each evening. Knitting is so much more clean...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous13:45

    What a simple, lovely dress!
    Your finishing looks perfect. I did some sewing when I was a teenager, but my recollection of it is a painful battle. Perhaps when I'll have lots of time...
    Thank you for showing us so many beautiful things (Oh the stockings!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous17:11

    Edinburg is a beautiful city, I spent several days there years ago. Have a wonderful trip.
    And beautiful dress, another one of your many talents!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Lovely dress! The fabric is great. Sewing seems to be popping up all over with knitters, I've recently decided to give it another try, myself!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous21:13

    A very nice dress, the close up of the edging is so neat.
    We have had our firstborn away from home almost all of the summer, different camps and language training, and I understand very well the hour counting. It's hard when they get so independent and strong, and at the same time so wonderful to see them try their own wings.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your blog is one of my favorites. I "found" you because of your knitting, and now I discover that you sew, also. The dress is gorgeous, by the way. Here in Idaho we have huckleberries - they grow in the mountains and come ripe in mid to late August. They look a little bit like small blue-berries, but have a distinct, delicious taste. The best huckleberry sites are closely guarded secrets. And, the Bears like them, too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous23:15

    that dress is just beautifully done lene! i haven't sewn in ages either, though tailoring used to be my profession.
    i am told edinburgh is jsut wonderful in august—there is a big arts festival! i hve never been, but it's on my list for some day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous23:33

    I love your tartan dress. You will be just in time for the fringe festival in Edinburgh - hope you have a lovely trip. Welcome to Scotland!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous08:32

    No betrayal! My mother made almost all of my clothes until I married and moved 1200 miles away. She still made many things for me. Like you, she was a wonderful seamstress using tailoring and couture techniques...always zippers and buttonholes (bound) by hand. So I come for the knitting, but I am not disappointed. Your dress is lovely. Enjoy wearing it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I really like your dress. And you even made matching bias tape! My sister makes her own bias tape but I tend to avoid making anything that needs it.

    Even though I have lived in Finland for a long time I still do not like cloudberries and I don't understand how anyone could. Maybe I just haven't had them the way I might like them (whichever way that might be!)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous13:56

    i hope you have a great time in edinburgh - shame you won't be in scotland for long enough to come over to the west coast, we could have had a knitting meet-up & a cup of tea! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous19:49

    First, let me say that the sewing is lovely. But have you considered a belt or sash? The fabric pattern skips where the bodice meets the skirt. Given the beautiful details you have sewn into the dress, the pattern skip catches the eye in a way it would not do if your other work were not so fine. Perhaps a contrasting belt/sash or a self-belt in a strip of fabric with a pattern picked to bridge the gap. If the belt were contrasting, you could make several, and get several different outfits by matching various belts to your other accessories (under blouse, bag, shoes, lace shawl). Very fine work you've done there.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous22:34

    You will love Edinbourg. I 'm french and live actually in France, but I traveled a lot, and I have seen many different towns in different contry : Edinbourg is the one i like the best, with kyoto. Lot's of fantastic places and people, streets and houses full of mystery, a beautifull contry-side, a mall where you can bye only hand-made sweaters and jackets, a machine-knitting designer at "Grass market" with great ideas, several yarn shop, and, in Prince's street, big stores which also sale yarns... and pints of guinness when you're tired

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous05:54

    The dress will be perfect for Scotland - your details are perfect!

    Schools here don't start for almost another month. I'm sure it will be nice for you to have a little quiet, though. Enjoy your trip.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That dress is so beautiful - clean lines and beautifully finished. I am totally inspired to get back to sewing - like you I love the idea of designing entire outfits.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow - what lovely finishing details. Wear it with pride and have a great trip.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I look forward to reading about your trip!

    ReplyDelete
  26. beautiful dress! I have just started sewing again, too.

    I enjoyed reading your story of flying back on Thursday. I was also in the air Thursday but only a domestic US flight. A bit unnerving but nothing like what you experienced.

    ReplyDelete