WIW: some older handknits - YouLookFab Forum

A couple of outfits from this week with some older handknit pieces.

1-2: today's outfit featuring a much-beloved pink lace hoodie. I've worn this a bunch every year since I made it in 2010 and still love it. It's still in great condition too. It was super (almost uncomfortably) warm this morning, so I took the opportunity to sport bare legs with my skirt and boots; I am going to be out late tonight so I figured I'd better play it safe and bring the trench and scarf along although I haven't had to put them on yet today.
(handknit hoodie, halogen tank, H&M skirt, Frye boots)

3: This handknit striped cardigan is the only "classic" cardigan I own nowadays. (After totally going off cardigans for a couple of years, I ditched all my storebought ones.) Although I'm getting back into cardigans now, I still am not wild about the classic, fitted cardi silhouette. I prefer drapier, looser ones nowadays with funky shaping and asymmetrical lines. I actually wore this with only one button buttoned, as I thought the proportion with the three buttons in this photo was a bit off. The jeans are better IRL- the combination of the light wash, distressing, and weird photo lighting are doing funny things here and making them appear tighter than they are. I do think maybe they are a smidge too long for the current trend, but since I wear them tucked into boots 95% of the time I don't really care enough to hem them.
(handknit cardigan, paige top, Rag and Bone jeans, Born oxfords)

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10 years ago

Peri

Veteran

Love the color the pink one! Very fun that's its a hoodie!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I love the positive and negative pattern mix in #2. And how adorable is that pink hoodie.

*pinching those cheeks*

You look deliciously curvy in #3. Fun to wear old stuff, isn't it?

UmmLila (Lisa)

Love the pink one. What are you knitting now?

Aida

Fun to see some older handknits! Adore the first outfit, both with and without outerwear. That scarf is particularly good with the skirt. Signature look with the mid-calf boots! I really like the boyish, if you could call it that, lower half (denim, oxfords) paired with the curvy top half. Jeans length looks fine to me.

kerlyn

Love that pretty pink sweater and how you styled it!

Dee

Ok, I need to ask: How many sweaters have you knit??? And what is your secret to getting them to fit perfectly every time?

The first outfit is great with the mid-calf boots. And the jeans length looks fine to me in the second. You could always make a small roll if you want to get rid of the excess scrunch.

Meredith

Gorgeous colors and your knitting skills always amaze me. I wish I had a hobby that produced beautiful and functional things!

TraceyLiz65

Love the curves of the 3Rd look. That pink sweater is a fun addition to the neutrals of your skirt.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I can see why the pink hoodie is a favorite; it's such a fun style and color and looks terrific on you. The whole outfit is fun. I also really like the striped cardi and how it is the star of the second outfit. Your knitting is so impressive.

catgirl

Never can go wrong with your beautiful creations!

Diana

Thanks, everyone!

As for what I am knitting now... I am working on an intricately patterned fair isle sweater that is taking a looooong time to knit. The pattern pic is below, but I am doing it in teal instead of black, working long sleeves, and modifying the shape a bit. I also have a shortish cabled sweater that I just need to sew up - the knitting has been done since May, but now that it's getting cooler I should get on the finishing! I'm also working on some accessories and such.

Dee, I don't know for sure but I'd say I have around 20-30 handknit sweaters? Not counting the ones that have fallen apart, don't fit, or were given away. Also not counting things like tanks and summer tees.

Sweaters are actually not that hard to fit if you know your measurements and your common adjustments. They are stretchy so more forgiving than wovens! For example, I know I have a short waist so I tend to shorten the upper part. I also usually grade my sizes, so I'll do a larger size at the hip and smaller at the top. I'll also often eliminate things like ribbing at the hips that produce a shape/fit I don't like. I guess I've made/tried enough sweaters that I more or less know what will or will not work. That said, I do still sometimes end up with something that doesn't fit quite right... but since it's handmade a lot of times I can just rip something out and fix it. That pink hoodie in the outfit above actually was originally too short when I first made it, and it had a rolled hem which made it even shorter, so I fixed it by removing the hem, knitting down a few extra inches , and redoing the hem with a folded one that doesn't roll up.

ETA: a good starting point is to measure a sweater you own and like the fit of and then work your project to those measurements.

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annagybe

Actually I really like the classic cardigan. Been looking on and off for one for me. Do you have any cropped wide leg pants or jeans, or long culottes? For me I picture wearing a cardigan all buttoned with bottoms listed above and oxfords or some sort of chunky footwear. Just a suggestion.

Ooh, Anna, I'll try it with my olive culottes! Thanks so much for the suggestion.

Diana, I've knit 3 or 4 sweaters and adjusted things as best I can. They all looked fine, but nowhere near as perfectly fitted as yours. Actually, one I knit stretched out so much due to its own weight that I ripped it back and shortened it. So I'm just very impressed with all of yours - and that even you have to re-knit them sometimes.

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