Friday, February 13, 2015

A Stitcher's Wardrobe: Jeans and a Tee


I'm off to the grocery store today, and this is what I'm wearing. This will look dressed up in my neighborhood. My grocery store is nothing fancy, just meat-and-potatoes for a simple girl in a middlemost New Hampshire community.  My hope with this project was to make practical and durable clothing for my non-glamorous lifestyle -- squatting for the lowest can of corn is doable in this. Also stacking firewood.

My shirt is my first iteration of my raglan tee, cut from fabric scrounged out of my parents' barn. My cowl is a crocheted triangle stitched closed. The yarn is bulky alpaca from Ecuador, a gift from my son. It was brown, I dyed it purple.



When I go to the fancy grocery store in Portsmouth I'm happy to just look at the people in their nice coats and colorful scarves and kicky boots. Often they are also wearing something that looks handmade. Those people don't shop at my store.


This sweater is from last year, but I wanted to show it to say this color green goes with everything. Everything.

Gotta go, if I get there early enough the cute old men will be there.


12 comments:

Emily loveaslug said...

I'd whistle at you.

Teri said...

I tend to call my look "PNW urban hippie". We can get away with just about anything here.

Is the top your standard raglan? I have a raglan top that I'm taking a second look at.

Ellen Mason said...

Hi Teri! Yes, this is my standard raglan, the one I've been picking away on. I've made three, and now it's just right. Time to make a pile of them, they're versatile and comfortable.

Anonymous said...

Love it all -- particularly the green sweater. Can you tell me the pattern and yarn? Thanks.

Ellen Mason said...

The pattern is one I made up -- I have not published it. The yarn was spun by MacAusland's Woollen Mill in PEI. I dyed it. It's a rustic New England/Atlantic style medium 2ply wool, toothy and sticky, minimal processing, knits up at 4st per inch.

Ellen Mason said...

Just writing that yarn description makes me yearn for a sweater on the needles. Better get at it.

Mary Lou said...

Love the basket stitch yoke. i can't wear that color at all, sadly.

Anonymous said...

Is there a commercial pattern you used to start your tee? It is just so smart looking, I'd love a try at one.

Kim said...

What pattern do you use for your tops? Or do you use a base pattern and modify it? The tops in your wardrobe this past week have been very cute!

Ellen Mason said...

Thanks for the love on my raglan shirt! I started with a dress pattern and drastically modified it, not an avenue I would recommend to others. Merchant & Mills top no.64 is a raglan suitable for woven fabric -- have not tried it, but it looks similar. BUT, what if I offered for purchase shirts already cut, already dyed, ready to sew? Curious about this idea, and kind of excited, too.

Kim said...

Yes, I would be interested in a pattern! Keep me posted.

Dianne@sheepdreams said...

Yes! I'm definitely interested.I've been searching for the perfect top for ages, to no avail. I'm really enjoying these "outfit of the day" posts!