Hitchhiker shawlette

I'm on a roll this week, finishing things off... and also starting more things, because lets face it, I do like to have more projects than I've got time for all on the go at once.  Keeps me interested. 

I took so many photos in an attempt to capture the colour properly, but I've failed.  If you think it looks pretty in the photo, you would love it more in the flesh.  The colours are more beautiful in real life.     Behold, Hitchhiker by Strickmiche in all its glory.  The yarn is Araucania Botany Lace.  Which, confusingly, is actually a sock weight yarn.  It only has a number for its colourway, not a pretty name... and somehow I find that disappointing.  Its 100% merino and very squooshy, bouncy and luscious.  The only thing I'm not sure about is the halo that the yarn has gained as I've handled it.  I hope the wool holds up to a lot of wear because I can see this becoming a very well worn shawl.  The shape stays put magically when draped and the colour is fab for cheering up black or navy.   The pattern is named Hitchhiker because it has 42 of those little teeth on the edge.  Well, actually mine has only 41 and a half teeth, but that's a mere quibble really.  Its one of four shawlettes named for various aspects of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams.   I think 42 was the meaning of life as calculated by some super computer.    All the shawlettes in the series are designed to use up every scrap of whatever fabulous yarn you choose (which is the reason mine has only 41 and a half teeth). 

 

As you can see, its quite a nice size.  The last photo shows it draped over my new black boiled wool jacket... prior to it receiving buttons and losing its traced markings. 

 

So, having completed that, I spent this afternoon working on dress patterns.  I've altered the flared shoulder princess dress pattern I drafted last year...  taking just a touch more off the armhole for increased comfort, and that is sat on top of its intended fabric awaiting cutting out.  I shall be finishing the neckline and armholes with a bias strip turned to the inside to see if that is softer and more comfortable than the facing that I have used previously, acting on suggestions from readers last year.  But I've also started on a new dress pattern based on a sloper I draped last year.  I have a  feeling there may need to be more than one muslin of this one as I'm not totally certain I've got the drafting completely right.  I've drafted an armhole princess seam bodice, and the intention is to create a vintage style summer dress.  If this works out as planned, the final garment will have a full circle skirt, and sleeveless, fitted bodice.  The bodice and skirt to be attached with a waist seam and the plan is to wear it with a skinny belt.  I've not decided what neckline shape its going to have yet.   The first muslin will be in sheeting as usual, but won't have a circle skirt because I have a particularly fabulous piece of fabric that has been in my stash ages which is earmarked for a non-circle skirted version of the dress and I need to work out on the muslin, how to achieve said non-circle skirt.  Ruth over at RuthieSews gave me the fabric a few years ago and its got a print that has so far defied my every attempt to fit pattern pieces onto it (and I've tried several times).   Preliminary investigations suggest I might get the bodice from it with careful cutting but I will have to make the skirt from a pleated or gathered oblong of fabric due to the difficulty in matching the large print.   But skirts are slightly easier to fit than bodices aren't they?  So get the bodice right, and design interchangable skirts....  et voila... different dresses that aren't really all that different but lead a casual observer to believe I have more than one dress pattern in stock.  Less fitting, more wearing.    Works for me  (or it will if it works).