Fehrtrade duathlon leggings

Back in July I won Melissa’s Spring Race Challenge, and not only did I win a great bundle of fabrics and some special accessories, but I also got to meet Melissa. I’m sorry I didn’t take a selfie with her, as I’m a very big fan 😀

The duathlon shorts were part of the prize and then Melissa announced her Spoonflower collaboration with Laurie King. She had me at “UK shoppers, you can order one yard of Performance Piqué from Spoonflower and still be under HMRC’s customs exemptions value!“. I ordered from US before and ended up paying 30% more for custom and handling fees. But she was right, I didn’t pay anything extra for this fabric and it was delivered in 2 weeks.

The fabric is quite firm – it doesn’t take pins easily and it doesn’t have any vertical stretch. I added 4cm length below the waist as recommended by Melissa to make up for the lack of stretch. Even so I managed to make my leggings 7cm longer than the capri length, so I can still wear them now that the weather is not that warm. I had to piece the side panels, but they look ok.

I cut them in size XS because my last pair of Fehrtrade leggings in size M was a bit too big. If I make then again in a stretchier fabric, I’ll go down to XXS.

The pocket is not wide enough to hold my phone, but my card, parkrun code and keys fit just fine. Here I am after my second Parkrun ever, wearing my new leggings with a matching XYT top.

I was thinking of making another pair using the fabric I won and widen the side panels so I can slip my phone in them. But now that Melissa released a free armband pattern, I might make one of those to keep my phone 🙂

 

One more Burda 08/14 seamed dress

This dress was ready a month ago, just in time for the “One pattern,  many looks” contest on Pattern Review. It didn’t make it into the contest because I misread the rules and added sleeves, but adding pattern pieces was not allowed, only altering the existing ones.

I used the same pattern, same size, altered in the same way as the first time. The first dress fit great, but it’s made in ponte roma. This one is cotton sateen, there’s less stretch in this fabric since it’s a woven, but I didn’t expect it to be so tight. I haven’t worn it outside yet 😐

This is what I had in mind when I decided to use the stripes. It was more dramatic in my head, but I guess in reality is less… impressive?

There is some thought in the chaotic swirl, there’s a continuous line going from my right underarm to side left, I marked it on the pattern before cutting. I knew I won’t be able to match all the lines because of the different angles but I wanted to have at least one row that matched.

I have a few more finished items to show you – a pair of Duathlon capris and a modified Scout. Simple quick makes, because lately knitting is eating all of my time. I’m knitting the gorgeous Old Romance and I’m almost done!

There’s another knitted top that I abandoned for Old Romance. It only needs 10 more rows, so that one should be ready soon too. After that I have a few hats and cowls planned. I’ve been to the knitting and stitching show today and I touched the softest wool I’ve ever touched in my life – MrsMoon’s Plump – this is going to make the greatestest winter set.