MiH x Coco and Vera :: Sewing ::

People, I made that skirt.. I know I can hardly believe it myself - I made that skirt, I made that skirt, I made that skirt... And Cee is totally rocking it - because there is no way in a million years I would look that good in it. And she styled in Paris - in Paris, man, can you believe it - and for a proper photoshoot, as if it was for a magazine. Thank you I heart Paris to let me share the pics! 

And the result is quite stunning. I cannot believe it - I think Mr MiH may be sick of me swooning over my own handy work. To be fair I never thought it would look this good! 

You will remember the first Tibi skirt I made for Cee. This one is really similar - same pattern, same fabric (from the same shop but in a different colour of course), same modifications (ie lengthening it). 

I only changed the pleats to make them more like a real Tibi skirt and also added a wider horsehair braid (found here) at the bottom for more effect. Also you will note that it was in the end totally worth matching the fabric to the braid - thankfully I did, phew!

The pictures make me as happy as I first had a glimpse at them on instagram. I may leave you, and have my happy dance in the living room! 

Catching up - The Tibi skirt {Sewing}

I am slowly catching up with blogging - not much to be fair, catching up with sleep has become my priority these days. However when one of my makes appear on a blog, I will make time to read it. 

A while ago I had a post about the Tibi skirt - and had found a Butterick pattern that looked quite similar. Well, a skirt was made and now styled by Cee and appeared last week on her stylish blog. 

I followed the pattern except for the length - I added 12 cm. The fabric is a dupion silk - in a lovely midnight blue colour. I added horsehair braid (found here) at the bottom to give it more volume - following Gertie's tutorial.   

The pattern is not that hard, but the fabric was a bit of a pain, it frays quite easily and I spent some time trying to tidy the seams, and I am still not super happy with it. 

However I love the result - what a beautiful skirt for a fraction of the price of the Tibi one. I will try to make one with folds that match the real thing, so stay tune!

Le Béret de l'écolière | Free Pattern + Yarn Giveaway {Knitting}

It took a bit longer to actually blog about this. Baby MiH is teething (I cannot remember when he was not teething to be honest - any tips?) and apparently 3am is party time at ours now.

So hopefully we (you and me) can make sense of the notes I made when knitting Cee's beret. It is not guaranteed, but I will try my best. if you spot any mistakes - please share! 

The diametre of the beret is 26.5 cm 

 

Pattern: see below

Yarn: Tanis Fibre Arts Silk Mulberry in Silver Label Mulberry Silk (Boysenberry) (one skein) - the yarn is held double.

Needles: 4 mm circular and change to DPNs when needed
Size: Adult

CO: 110 stitches in the round (to join in the round, see my tutorial here) - remember the yarn is held double.
Beware not to twist the stitches

Brim: Work in twisted rib for 5 cm (ktbl, p)

Increase - set up rows

R1:* k2, m1* to end of row
R2: knit
R3: *k3, m1* to end of row

Then knit for another 10 cm

Decrease

R1: *k3, k2tog* to end of row
R2-R14: knit
R15: *k2, k2tog* to end of row
R.15-R.28: knit
R29: *k1. k2tog* to end of row
R30-R36: knit
R37: k2tog
R38-44: knit
R.39: k2tog
R.40: k2tog
R.41: k2tog

Finally add an i-cord on a few rows (depending how long your loop wants to be)

And finally for the giveaway and a chance to make your own beret, oh yeah! You have the pattern and you could have the yarn to knit your own! How lucky are you? You could also knit Knitted Bliss pattern written especially for this skein!

You have 3 chances to enter the giveaway:

1. This giveaway is open to my followers only - old and new. 

Let me know how you follow my blog in the comment box.

2.Follow me on twitter, and tweet about the giveaway - and mention @noaslibellule
3. follow me on Instagram (natmadeinhome) and post the above picture

and come back to leave me a third comment

The giveaway ends Friday 28 March at 5pm (UK time). Please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger Good luck!

Le Béret de l'Ecolière | A Finish {Knitting}

 

I have posted quite a lot on social media about this project, and it is finished, gone to Canada, styled and now blogged! Whoohoo! It will be a free pattern to be released in a couple of weeks on the blog.

The Beret was knitted for the lovely Cee from Coco and Vera - and marks my third collaboration with a fashion blogger (my first two collaborations resulted in a slouchy beanie hat and, of course, the book clutch). I love these collaborations. They take me out of my comfort zone, and really make me think from the end result to the process to achieve it. I usually see a pattern and then try to imagine what it would look like - it is a very interesting point of view to do it the other way.

The brief was simple: a raspberry beret that would not be itchy. Cee happens to be allergic to animal hairs, and was really sad not be able to wear any knitting stuff.And the thread solution came from the TFA's Year in Colour Club 2013 January package, a skein of Mulberry Silk (100% silk). And guess what, it works for Cee!

 And it is amazing to knit with. And the colour, OMG the colour.. I have tried really hard to capture it - but I am still not sure I am doing it justice. 

In case you wonder, the beret requires one skein, held double. It is really not complicated, but makes a nice change of shape! Better get back to writing this pattern..