Tag Archives: cardigan

The Homestretch

Posted on by
16
Cardigan: Woolovers

Top: H&M

Trousers: Sussan

Shoes: Skechers

With just over a week until my official due date, I’ve definitely hit the homestretch on this weird and wonderful experience of being pregnant. The reality of what’s coming still hasn’t quite sunk in, so apparently it’s just going to feel like a crazy fever dream from start to finish. I’ve been lucky though. Against all odds, it’s been a relatively uncomplicated and easy pregnancy, though I’ve definitely reached the “oh, I’m uncomfortable” stage by now.

I’ve been on maternity leave for a bit over a fortnight now, which is like the weirdest, laziest holiday you can imagine. I’ve been reading, sleeping, catching up with friends, and just generally mooching about pretending like nothing out of the ordinary is going on.

Things I haven’t done include: pack my hospital bag (it’s all ready to go… I just have some weird kind of mental block about putting it all in a bag), write a birth plan (“have a baby” apparently isn’t detailed enough), cook a bunch of meals for freezing (that would require going out to the supermarket, and I just can’t build up the motivation), or sort out the situation with my embarrassingly overstuffed wardrobe (just, no).

As far as the wardrobe thing goes, I’ve been rather adding to it rather than culling it down, though my priorities have changed from whatever-fits-the-bump to whatever-I-can-get-my-boobs-out-of-without-stripping. Breastfeeding singlets mostly, but thanks to Woolovers I’ve also managed to add this gorgeous new blush wrap cardigan in a trans-seasonal cotton-silk blend.

Woolovers has always been a great resource for basics – especially if you were looking for a specific colour in knitwear – but recently they’ve become more and more fashion forward, and now you’re starting to find the kind of trendy styles in knits that you used to be able to find at Boden, and nowhere else. Add a luxe cashmere line, a local Australian warehouse, a size range that goes up to XXL (a size 26), and if you haven’t tried them before maybe this is the winter to give them a whirl.

Along with this lovely wrap cardigan (which I’ve worn pretty much every day since it arrived) I also received this cute striped sweater which boasts a fun intarsia heart print.

Sweater: Woolovers

Jeans: Good American

Shoes: Skechers

It looks just a little bit awkward with a nine-month pregnant belly underneath (though I’m starting to think Good American has imbued their jeans with some kind of uncanny magic that disappears bumps) but I love it, and I’m impatient so I’m wearing it right now.

Love to everyone who has left comments on my last posts – I read all of them, and even if I’ve been lax at replying to them lately they always brighten my day. What an extraordinary, strong, supportive group of people you are. Thank you so much for supporting me and my journey.

Homesewn Hues

Posted on by
12

Moneta Dress: DIY from Colette Patterns & Spoonflower fabric

Belt: Trenery

Cardigan: Princess Highway

Shoes: Funkis Melbourne

 

It has been such a pleasure to get back into my sewing again. I’ve been experimenting with some new patterns, having a go a frankensteining some of my own, and dusting off a few old favourites.This is one of the latter.

I’ve made, er, I think five Moneta dresses now: Black cats, cockatoos, whales, a plain black one, and now this one. The pattern is starting to get that really fragile feel to it, so I’m going to have to transcribe it onto new paper if I want to keep sewing it. Which, obviously, I do.

Since Gorman‘s collaboration with Australian artist Dana Kinter I’ve been on the look-out for fabric that features native floral motifs (ideally from an Australian artist). If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently discovered the mother-load with Nerida Hansen (oh my God, more on that in a future post), but for a knit fabric it’s really Spoonflower or bust.

I’ve had a lot of luck with Spoonflower in the past – it’s expensive, but the range is unparalleled, the quality is fine (usually), and artists from all over the work can sell their designs there.

The fabric that I picked for this version of the Moneta dress was from Kara Cooper of Mount Vic and Me. It’s a gorgeous graphic design that features brightly coloured Australian wildflowers, gum nuts, and blossoms and leaves on a rich black background.

Errr…. that’s a black background. Guys? Black?

This is not a black background. And this is not the result of overzealous washing either, it arrived in my mailbox this colour.

And, look, it’s fine. And I’m pretty sure it’s just the fabric that I picked (cotton-spandex jersey, for the record), but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was a bit cross. I don’t think I’ll be buying another black-pigmented fabric from Spoonflower again, or at least not in the cotton jersey.

Still, the design is everything I hoped it would be, and once I got over my disappointment I realised how nicely the muted colours worked with a blush cardigan (or a yellow cardigan, or a grey cardigan).

And it goes beautifully with my new yellow clogs.

I bought a pair of Swedish Hasbeen clogs a good five years ago from Modcloth, and I’m embarrassed to admit that I can probably count the number of times I’ve worn them on one hand. I knew they were going to be a commitment: You have to break them in, the internet told me, then they’ll be the most comfortable shoes you own. And I tried (sort of) but they were so uncomfortable after such short periods of time that I never got past the breaking-in stage.

I’d heard better reports from people about Funkis clogs, so when the team at Funkis Melbourne offered me a pair to road-test I thought I’d give them a whirl.

I got the Gertrude clogs in the mustard colour in my usual size 39 and guys, they’re great. Everything that I’d hoped for from the Hasbeens and more.

They have a thicker rubber sole than the Hasbeens, and I can barely feel the road through them when I’m striding. The thicker sole also means that you don’t get as much of that unmistakable clop-clop noise that usually accompanies clogs. The leather is a little bit softer, and softens more quickly, and they seem a little wider in the foot, which is good for me. The strap’s just a teensy bit shorter than I’d ideally like, but it’s loosening a bit with wear and I have very high arches, so it might not be an issue for many others.

The first day I wore them I packed a spare pair of shoes (just in case) but it turned out I didn’t need them. They were perfectly wearable from the first step, and only started rubbing a little by the end of a hot 9 hour day. Every day that I’ve worn them since they’ve been more and more comfortable. In fact I’m so enamoured with them I’m pretty tempted to treat myself to a second pair. What do you reckon? The Josefina, or the Tilda? Or both?