Happy Halloween!

© Happy Halloween!

The big picture

© The big picture

Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore

© Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore

This cardigan design features

frost flowers and ridges swatch for hem
from "Stitchionary 5: Lace Knitting" by Vogue Knitting and
hot pink contrasting cuffs, neckline, and button/button hole rows.

Lion Brand Yarn, Amazing,

53% Wool/47% Acrylic, 147 yards/50 g ball,

 Machine wash. Dry Flat. Do not iron. Do not bleach. Dry clean any solvent.
Color # Pink Sands/207, Art #825, Lot #2139, 8 x Yarn Balls
Needle: US7 4.5mm
 
Atomic Blue, Painted Lady Sport,
100% merino, 200 yards/50 g ball,
Color Queen Anne Pink, 1 x Yarn Ball
This yarn is 100% organic (there are hay bits to pick out when knitting).

Needle: US7 4.5mm

Buttons: Shells, Favorite Findings by Blumenthal

Striving to live

© Striving to live

Lurking

© Lurking

Outnumbered

© Outnumbered

Networking

© Networking

Sweetheart Dress

Top: Corset cups, Center: Tapering of triangle towards waist, Bottom: Slip-stitch ripples on skirt

Left: Front of dress, Center: Built-in bra and waist stay, Right: Victorian boot button loop closure

 © Sweetheart Dress

This knitted corset dress features

seed-stitch removable straps,

seed-stitch set-in cups shaped with short rows,

victorian boot button loops back closure

from "Knitting Beyond the Edge" by Nicky Epstein,

slip-stitch ripples swatch for skirt

from "Stitchionary 5: Lace Knitting" by Vogue Knitting,

built-in strapless bra, and waist stay.

Lang Yarns, Georgia,

96% Cotton/4% Polyester, ~120yards/50 g ball, Machine Wash/Dry Flat

Color # 730.0006, Lot # 4297 , 12 x Yarn Balls

Needle: US4 3.5mm

Buttons: 11 buttons of La Mode Style 37465 (Hook 988), Blumenthal

Thanks to J for the constant support and challenge to make a more ornate piece.

Check out the matching build-in bra here!

Mostly complementary

© Mostly complementary

Make peace with nature

© Make peace with nature

A Matching Bra

I designed a knitted corset dress. In order to make it easily wearable, I decided to include a built-in bra.

Bra choice: Hanes Concealing Petals Strapless Underwire Bra in white, 36B

I needed 34C for strapless bra to work on me but Hanes does not produce this bra in C cup for size 34. 

Dye choice: Rit Liquid Dye in evening blue
 

Rit Liquid Dye in Evening Blue

Dyeing Recipe
Ingredients:
1 gallon hot tap water
4oz Rit liquid dye (8oz bottle)
1/2 cup vinegar

Tools:
Rubber gloves
Unwanted pot (I bought a crock pot from Goodwill thrift store for USD1.99)
Unwanted spatula (again from Goodwill for USD0.99)

Steps:

1. Soak bra thoroughly in warm water.
2. Add all ingredients in pot and stir well.
3. Add bra and removable straps into pot.
4. Submerge items under dye mixture.
5. Move them around every 5-10 minutes for one hour. Make sure to move sliders of adjustable straps as well. (I forgot on mine.)
6. Rinse well in warm water until water runs clear.
7. Press as much water out as possible.
8. Hang dry.

Dye mixture

Last rinse cycle

Bra composition

Results:

The main nylon fabric turns out vibrantly blue. The polyester cup linings are mostly light blue. The bra hooks, sliders, and hooks-and-eyes appear undyed. The bra also appears just a little bit darker when wet.

I also dyed a piece of 100% white cotton fabric (muslin) for comparison. It turns out to be dull teal as indicated on the Rit liquid dye bottle itself.

Left: Wet, Right: Dry

Left column: Right side, Right column: Wrong side
1. & 2. Cups, lining, elastic band, and under-wire channeling
3. & 4. Side reinforcement and thread color
5. & 6. Back bands, hooks-and-eyes, straps, anti-slip rubbery bands

Dyed 100% cotton (muslin)

© A Matching Bra 

Check out the knitted corset dress here!

I have wings but I cannot fly

© I have wings but I cannot fly