Fair Isle

So back to the Isabel Green wardrobe and a Fair Isle tank top to wear over the 1940's dresses. Fair Isle is one of the small islands off Scotland that make up the Shetlands and is where the 'Fair Isle' knitting technique originated. Yes that's right, not only are they responsible for the very cute little ponies, but also the gorgeous geometric knitting pattern. Imagine what a quaint little place it must be, everyone running around in cosy cardies on miniature ponies!

 

I sense that there has been abit of a Fair Isle comeback in the fashion stakes (we often miss these in Tasmania) and I have to say I want to jump right on that band wagon. I'm really loving the whole 1940's wartime look thanks to the Nanny McPhee inspiration.

 

So when Mum said that she wanted to knit something, I was just a little bit thrilled about the prospect of picking my very own Fair Isle cardy or tank top pattern and then she found this amazing website called The Vintage Knitting Lady where you can buy copies of old knitting patterns in pdf format. Mum currently has one on the go for Maggie (the 1st picture) and I can't wait for my turn.

Mum also joked that maybe Kim would like one too. But that really would be way too Sullivans!!!!

An Update on the Isabel Green Dress

I must apoligise for keeping you in suspenders for so long over the Isabel Green dress but to be honest I can still only just bare to bring myself to talk about it. Abit like the cowboys I got myself into a pickle with a couple of weeks ago, but that's a whole other story! For those new to my blog, I'll briefly fill you in. After watching Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang and getting very excited indeed about the costumes and sets, I decided to set myself the impossible task of creating an Isabel Green wardrobe  (she's the main character). Eventhough I accepted that it would be a stupidly difficult task as the costume designer was also responsible for Atonement and Pride and Prejudice.

Anyway, my gorgeous 'hopefully sister-in-law to be' found the perfect Vogue pattern for the dress so I made it my mission to devote an entire 'Stitch n Bitch weekender' to making the dress. I had been warned that Vogue patterns were ridiculously difficult and the pattern had 14 pieces!! But it really was very nice and the closest to the 1940's style that I had seen.

Making the dress was a massive learning experience for me which I have to say I gained a lot from and enjoyed the challenge, but unfortunately when I finished it I realised that the dress was way too big for me. So whilst I was pretty happy with the fact that I had managed to make a really complicated and detailed dress, I could not wear it!

Not to be defeated, I decided to just whip up another one! I did the obligitory half thumb adjustments and was pretty pleased with how easy the second dress was to make. However, I could not believe it when I tried it on and it was still too big! How can this be? I had even measured myself and checked the guide on the pattern. I was so frustrated so out of desperation I just took it to the overlocker and whizzed it in another inch each side, tried to put it on and woops, I couldn't even get it on. It was too small!!!! Ok so I give up, it isn't meant to be.

The Isabel Green wardrobe project has been abit of a 'I don't want to talk about it' subject around here ever since. Until last week that is when I decided it was time to try another pattern. I have had real difficulty finding 1940's style patterns but I liked the look of the little blue and white dress with the collar and gathered sleeves so I thought I'd give it a go and I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out so I took some photos of me wearing it today. The chartreuse coloured fabric with the little white flowers isn't really 1940's style either but I love it. I bought it in the Retro Shop in Bangalow during our road trip and saved it for a dress. I may have gone off on a bit of a tangent with this dress but never mind, it's certainly been inspired by Isabel Green.

But if you can help me out on where to find 1940's patterns, I'd love to hear from you.

The Isabel Green Dress

Wow you'll never guess what has happened? My brothers gorgeous girlfriend, who also sews, has only gone and got me THE best pattern for the 'Isabel Green dress' I posted about before here. It's pretty funny really because as you may know, I have been searchng for the perfect pattern for a while now and out of the zillions and zillions of dress patterns I've looked at, we chose the same one.

I just wasn't confident enough to actually buy it because I thought it looked way to difficult for me. Plus it's very fancy being a special Vogue pattern, especially when like me you're just used to tatty old op-shopped patterns.

But since she kindly bought it for me, I think it's given me the little push I needed to give it a try. I'm sure the lovely girls at Stitch n Bitch will help me out when (not if) I get stuck and it's good to try something out of your comfort zone from time to time right?

Not sure when I'll make a start on it, at the moment I just keep loooking at it affectionately:) Oh yeh, and I still need to choose the fabric, but that's the fun part. Wish me luck.

An Isabel Green Wardrobe

I'm not yet sure this will make it to the 'publish post' button and actually to 'my creative space' but it's something I've been thinking about for a while and I  just want to kind of officially 'log' it as an idea in the hope that it might actually inspire me to see it through. I find that sometimes, if I blog about an idea I feel like I have committed myself to it.

Have you seen any of the Nanny McPhee films? As well as being great stories, hilariously funny with awesome casts, they have THE BEST wardrobe and set design ever.

Check out those quilts, the brass beds and the floor rugs.

The miss-matched fine english china, the chicken on the dresser! the rear stable door to the kitchen.

Don't you just love that couch......oh so cute! And the blue painted wooden shelves for the special occasion blue willow china. Here lives Isabel Green. Mum to three 'free range' children, part-time assistant at the local shop and upkeeper of the most beautiful farm. Not only does she have the most adorable children and the most perfect farm house I've ever dreamed of living in, she also has a very impressive wardrobe. And this is where my idea is.

I have set myself a challenge to make myself an Isabel Green wardrobe!!! I love this beautiful blue tea dress, with the blue/purple lace cardi.

Dresses like these are just so easy and comfortable to wear. Feminine and flattering, cool on warm days, great with slips underneath on early autumn days and with jeans/tights and boots in the winter.

I already have a dress similiar to this one sitting at the back of my wardrobe which with the aid of a couple of doilies (although not splattered - private joke), I'm sure I can refashion successfully to resemble this.

But this coat is my absolute favourite. I just love the bright green colour. And when she first wears it in the film, in amongst all the choas she accidentally puts it on inside out and you see the beautiful floral lining. It'll be a very special project this one, one that needs super special attention.

There's nothing like setting yourself a little challenge hey? I'm fearful I may be biting off more than I can chew here though, the costume designer was also responsible for atonement and pride and prejudice.

See more creative spaces at Kootoyoo.