Tuesday 6 January 2015

Renfrews With A Twist

This is a very sloppy post. The camera batteries are dead, so I took these pictures with my cell phone and they are topsy-turvy. (Thankfully I have no aspirations of being a fashion blogger.)

I have been doing a bit of sewing, and some knitting. I am a very slow at kniter but I wanted to make my friend K an infinity scarf for Christmas. A project that would take most people one day took me close to two weeks. The project was easy enough, but I am easily distracted so there are several 'design features' to make the scarf truly original. However she likes it so all is good.

But I digress. Bring on the crazy pictures of some easy Renfrew modifications. All the sweaters are a lovely wool jersey I had in my stash and finally worked up the nerve to use. (It's taken me a long time to cut the 'good fabric'. I don't know why; it's not good for anything laying in a box somewhere.)

The first one is from Modellina November  (I think) 2013. I saw this magazine on sale once at McNally's and promptly bought it. I have never seen the Modellina in stock there again. Such a pity. This one contains some very interesting patterns so I would think others would be the same.

Modello 34. I'll wait while you turn your head, tho' it may not be necessary to look at the pattern layout sketches. This was a very easy idea to adapt to the Renfrew; I just made the Renfrew's neckline smaller and traced off the curved collar piece to fit.

 

This off-white-but-soon-to-be-dyed-because-some-colour-ran-onto-it sweater was made using this
split cowl collar tutorial. I like how it turned out and plan to make another, and not wash it with anything brightly coloured.





The tie front sweater is a modified with the neckline and tie from Butterick 5859.

I like how the simplicity of the Renfrew lends itself to so many other neckline styles.
And I can stay warm on my way to work and in my drafty office.

2 comments:

  1. I've never seen that magazine either, but am very much in favour of altering bases that fit well. Why reinvent the wheel! I have a Mac pattern with a similar collar to the first top. I think it's pretty as well as a little unusual.

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    1. It has taken me awhile to realize that you can make many tops from one pattern just by altering the neckline. I knew that with skirts but I have no idea why that knowledge didn't transition over.

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