It's not often I feel this way but recently I'd been finding myself wanting a drapey cardigan - you know the type: soft and flowy with interesting drape giving movement and shape. I scoured Pinterest and pattern companies for ideas and patterns. It didn't even occur to me to go and look in the shops. These days I hate having to shop (except for fabric or patterns of course, which goes without saying ;-) Nothing was appealing to me and in the end I got out of my stash a mid weight wool and thought I'd sew a poncho type thing.
But then I went to my favourite charity shop to look for some woollen jumpers to felt and repurpose (more on that another time) and there lurking in the bottom of the crate was a lovely Country Road fine wool blend cardigan in soft grey in my size.
I quickly scanned it for any tears or staining and all that seemed to be wrong with it is a couple of small holes in the sleeves which will be easy to fix. And that is another issue that makes me so glad I sew - if I had to throw a garment away because it needed mending and I didn't know how it would be such a shame. What would our Grandmothers who were brought up with 'make do and mend' think of this I wonder? Maybe they'd be horrified at the way we throw away anything that's not perfect nowadays, or maybe they'd be happy that we have the option to buy new more often, who knows... but I do think its a shame not to pass these skills down to our children at least, which makes me determined to be more patient when teaching them!
- - - - -
And in other crafty news, something I have been loving working on lately is knitting another seven circle scarf. I love wearing my grey one (seen in the pic above) and had been thinking I'd like to knit another one this winter. Even though I am a novice I do enjoy knitting (though I only seem interested in winter) and I find it so much more sociable than sewing. I can sit in the lounge room with the Mr and knit of an evening rather than disappear to my sewing space. It's portable in a way that my sewing almost never is and just a lovely relaxing activity. And I just love this pattern, it's fun to knit.
So when I was fabric shopping with my crafty buddy Deb recently and she took me on a detour to a wool shop (bad influence ;-) I couldn't resist this lovely blue wool/cotton mix to go with all the blue I've been enjoying wearing.
Deb also introduced me to her favourite metal circular needles and I am in love - so smooth and lovely to knit with. Do you have favourite needles? A favourite pattern you love knitting? And are you a cop-out knitter like me and just knit in winter? :-)
funny . . . I often think the same thing when I go thrift shopping and find something that someone has clearly gotten rid of because of a very-fixable flaw. Their loss is my gain, but it's still a shame. Your cardigan is a beautiful find! It looks lovely on you:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lucky find. I am a winter only knitter too and for a few years now I have been using wooden knit picks. I love the colours and they are very gentle in my hands.
ReplyDeleteYep, Winter knitter here too! I have a cowl that I started last Winter that I don't think I'll even finish this Winter. I should put it on the couch to remind me to work on it. I have favourite needles...my Denise interchangeable set. They're very comfortable to work with and I love that the set replaces so many single needles. I do also love bamboo needles!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous find!
ReplyDeleteIt's been so long since I have shopped for clothes too (other than basics) - just doesn't interest me.
I wish I could knit - mum taught me when I was little, but it's been nearly 30 years since I have knitted...
Ooh, great find! There's nothing at all wrong with buying something like this.
ReplyDeleteI do knit all year round, and wish I could knit faster.... my favourite needles are Addi Turbos, designed for faster knitting :) I only have some sock circulars at the moment, but I'm saving my cents for a full set.