Fall 2023 FO Wrap Up
Oh hey y’all!!!
I’ve had this blog post on my To-Dos for WEEKS!!! It kept getting put off in favor of other projects (which is totally fine!), but I wanted to make sure that my last few amazing FOs didn’t slip through the cracks and not get a write up.
I’ve been doing a pretty decent job of keeping up with my “Selfish Project” Finished Object notes since I decided to start doing it back in July. I know a lot of people keep track of their notes and their makes using Ravelry, but I have mixed feelings about that platform. From a designer perspective, it’s essential. Ravelry is where I get most of my pattern sales. I also do use it to purchase patterns and store them in my library there. If a designer has a website and lets makers know they have a preference for shopping there over Ravelry, I have no problem purchasing from their site and popping it into my patterns folder on my Google Drive, but for the most part, Ravelry is where I do probably 80% of my buying and selling of patterns. As a maker, I also love Ravelry because it gives me a place to see other’s projects and check out their notes (if the design needed adjustment, any mods made, how it looks on body types similar to my own). But Ravelry isn’t the most user friendly, is sometimes really confusing, AND it’s not accessible to all. So in an effort to still have a space to keep my project notes, write up stories about my projects along the way, and make sure anyone who wants to see my finished makes and notes CAN do so, I’m going to keep up this little blogging journal of FOs. I’m honestly not even sure how many people will check these blog posts out, but they make me feel accomplished and organized (I’m a Capricorn, it’s required) and I enjoy it.
SO let’s take a look at the 3 Selfish Project FOs I’ve made since September!!!
**Also, I know some people don’t like the term “Selfish Makes/Selfish Projects”, but I’m a big fan of reclaiming the word “selfish” as a positive attribute. I think it’s ok to be selfish in the sense that we put our self care and mental health first. Yes, it is lovely to make gifts for others and if that brings you joy, please spend your yarny time however you like!!! BUT, we are also allowed to spend our precious free time making something just for ourselves and not feel guilty about it. Selfish projects are good for the soul!!!!**
Selfish Project FO #1: The Thick Tanline Shorts by The Little Wolf Knits
The Thick Tanline Shorts
I finished this INCREDIBLE pair of shorts back in the first week of September as part of the Hot Stitch Summer MAL. I wove in the ends juuuuust in time for the end of the MAL and was quite pleased with myself to finish on time. So maybe they aren’t quite a fall make, more an end of summer make, but I’m still including them here :)
I used some beautifully bright Sprinkled Fiber DK yarn that was part of a Pressed Flower Shawl kit that I’ve had for a year or 2 and never got around to making. I don’t actually think I’ll ever make the shawl now that I’ve seen the sweater and totally want to make that, so the yarn was fair game for other projects.
I ended up using 235 grams of yarn for my shorts in total. For the sizing, I was VERY highly encouraged by people who had made the shorts to trust the negative ease! The shorts are meant to be worn with 0-6” of negative ease at the waist. I’m usually an XL in bottoms, but the XL (size 5) would given me 2” of positive ease in the waist. The size 4 would give me 2” negative ease at the waist and 3” negative ease at the hips which was within the suggested range. I made the size 4 according to pattern and they fit beautifully! I actually think I could have even sized down to size 3 to have a nice snug pair of booty shorts.
My recommendation if you decide to make this pattern is to go with as much negative ease as you feel comfortable!!!! Even with the 2” negative ease at the waist, I did end up sewing elastic into the top of my shorts to make sure they don’t slide down my hips when I’m moving about. They definitely fit great, but in this case, more negative ease would have helped if I want to dance/jog in them. And they are comfy enough you will want to LIVE in them!!!! I wear mine for lounging, for sleeping, and as a bright, cute casual outfit for the beach and coffee dates here in Florida.
These shorts are really a great adventurous beginner pattern. The slip stitch detailing is so simple but beautiful and with lots of rows of mindless stockinette, it’s a great one for zoning out with an audiobook or Netflix series marathon.
Selfish Project FO #2: The Poppy Cardigan by Evelyn and Peter
The Poppy Cardigan
This was another September FO I finished which could technically be called a “Summer Make”, but I’ve done the vast majority of wearing it here in the Florida fall. I had been looking for another short sleeve cardigan to add to my handmade wardrobe for a while. I love my handmades that I create for my Florida lifestyle, but when I travel non-beachy destinations, I feel like I need a light layer to put on so I don’t feel ….. quite so out of place. LOL. Don’t get me wrong, I still rock my favorite looks no matter where I go, but when you’re in a market place in Montreal when it’s 72 degrees F out, it’s helpful to have a breezy short sleeve cardi to pop on over your cropped, open back, halter tie bralette to make you feel “city chic”. When I saw the Poppy Cardigan on Rachel’s IG page, it looked like the perfect comfy, cute, and breezy layer I was looking for.
I bought my kit from LionBrand Yarn to make the size XL cardigan. They sent me 6 skeins of 24/7 DK Cotton as part of that kit. I only ended up using 427 grams (4+ skeins) of the yarn however, I did not meet the suggested pattern gauge which could be part of the reason why. I did however, lengthen my cardigan more than the pattern suggested, so the kits might be an overestimate for yarn or they might not.
I had some trouble hitting the pattern gauge for this project. It calls for a size J (6.00mm) hook and I had to size up to an L hook in order to hit pattern gauge. With the L hook, I felt like the fabric I created wasn’t as pretty as the J hook, so I opted to just stick with the J hook and block the cardigan aggressively/make modifications if I needed based on my own gauge. Following the pattern for the size XL with my “smaller” gauge, I ended up with a cardigan with 6” positive ease instead of the 14” recommended in the pattern, and honestly I’m very happy with that. I like that the fit is still positive ease but not quite so oversized. I did crochet the top to the recommended length, but found that it felt too short for the look I was going for. I ended up adding an additional 2” of length to the back and front panels to get a look that covered my bum. I also did a split hem as opposed to seaming the cardigan all the way.
All in all, I really enjoyed making this cardigan (again, meditative stitches for the win!!!!) and it’s a cardigan I keep reaching for to style with my other handmade tops. I might make this pattern again but play around with the stitch count to get a second cardi that has the 14” suggested ease. Maybe in a soft pink or lime green :) :) I’d also like to make the sleeves wider next time as I do feel my sleeves are a tiny bit snug with the version I created.
If you’re an adventurous beginner crocheter or are new to garment making, I think this is a GREAT pattern to give a try.
The Ellie Blouse
So this truly was a fall make ;) I cast on and made this top in the span of just a few days as it was my last minute Disney Bounding costume for Drinks Around The World at Epcot!!! I’ve had this gorgeous blouse in my To Make Queue for quite a while and when my friend Jenny and I decided to be Ariel and Belle for our Disney Bound, I knew exactly which top to make.
The Ellie Blouse is a made-to-measure, size inclusive crochet top. I found the instructions to be REALLY clear and Becks includes photos for almost every step along the way so I’d rate this an adventurous beginner-intermediate pattern even though it has some more “advanced” stitch work and techniques.
I used Hobbii 8/8 Rainbow yarn (DK) to create my blouse and I used approximately 482 grams (about 10 skeins).
I love, love, LOVE the fit of this blouse. The poofy sleeves which can be worn on or off the shoulders are so gorgeous!!! The added elastic really does help to keep the sleeves in place. I even added elastic to the top of the shoulders and halfway down the neckline because I knew I’d be wearing it mostly off the shoulder. A really cool feature of this blouse is that it’s reversible so you can wear it with a straight edge neckline or a vneck neckline. It’s no surprise that I wore and will continue to wear mine with the Vneck side front facing. It feels so sexy and romantic and pairs just as great with a pair of highwaisted jeans as it does a green mini skirt for Disney Bounding.
This is a design I KNOW I’ll be making again. While I think my purple version is great, the Hobbii 8/8 is actually quite heavy and this top weighs a ton even though it’s cotton and cropped. I think I’d like to try it in a sport weight linen to create a really light and airy version. I’d also like to play with the sleeves and maybe make a 3 quarter length sleeve with that dramatic pouf. I also want to add a bit more length to my next one so that it sits more around my natural waist/belly button than my rib cage.
I’ll be making a blog post for my very latest FO, the Super Soft Coat by One Of A Kate sometime this week too!!!! I just finished it a few days ago and I it is SO EPICALLY AMAZING and has a hilarious story behind it, so I think it deserves its own post.
Thanks for reading, y’all!!! Please let me know if you have any questions about these FOs or if you plan to make one for yourselves!!! And please make sure to show these awesome designers some love.
Happy Yarning, Y’all!!!!
XOXOXOXO
