Hat Exhibition - Sun 18th March - a Sneak Preview

Yea!!   I'm part of an Exhibition (& sale) of Autumn Hats at Yuga Cafe - 172 St Johns Rd, Glebe - on Sunday 18th March.

Bold Red Hat by Carole Maher

There will be over 40 Couture Hats - all lovingly hand-crafted by a dozen Sydney Milliners who are members of the Australian Milliners' Guild.  The range will be diverse - as each milliner has a distinctive style of their own.

For example, Carole's style is bold and current, whereas my style is very vintage inspired.   There seems to be such a 1920s buzz at the moment with The Artist  winning so many Oscars & Miss Phryne Fisher solving crime on the TV ...

Flapper Girl Hats by Lyndell

The French call the 20s - les années folles.

Interestingly, from the hats I've seen so far - several of us are going for 

strong - swirling - contrasting lines 

Black & White Swirl by Carole Maher

Orange & Black Swirl by Lyndell

Swirling Beret by Jene Walker

The venue - Yuga café - combines great food, with a relaxed exhibition space and beautiful floristry.  On the 18th you can enjoy a delightful long Sunday brunch while contemplating magnificent millinery - and (if my nerves don't get the better of me) there will be live piano music a-tinkling in the back-ground ... 

The Milliners will be there to help you select a fashionable hat that flatters you.  Something perfect for the Autumn Races or to complete an ensemble or – just because hats are irresistible!

Well getting everything prepared for the exhibition it quite tiring - I think it is time for a nice cuppa' tea ...

Sweet Tea Cup Hat by Amalia Pearl

More Knitting for Bythe - 2010 / 11 Fashion

It seems that I love assigning myself rather long-term projects ...

This one is for my granddaughter - I've bought her a Blythe doll & the idea is that every winter and every summer I will make the doll an outfit that reflects the fashion of the time.  Not haute couture / strange cat-walk fashion but what I see young trendy women wearing on the street.  Then when granddaughter has one of those VIBs (Very Important Birthdays) - 18, 20, 21 ???  she will get the doll and a collection of outfits - 2 for each year of her life.

Of course I'm behind with the project but after a flurry of knitting I've finished the outfits for last year!

Winter 2010 -

In grey self striping sock yarn (a cotton blend called "On-Line")  a little suit.  Simple pencil skirt and not-at-all-simple short jacket.  Little jackets like this were still very in this year and they do remind me of the fashions of the 19teens - feminised tail-coats etc.  Anyways - I did lots of short-rows to make the almost circular peplum - long at the back with a box pleat, curving up to a raised waist in the front.

 Back View

There is a wee half-belt with buttons at the back, a standing collar, 3/4 sleeves quite loose and with big cuffs. Collar & cuffs in Moss (aka Seed) Stitch.  A winter outfit has to have accessories - I'm planning to make a big bag, I have made a beret.  It is a Meret by Woolly Woormhead sized down by using thinner yarn and needles (ps: link is to Ravelry).

Summer 2010 / 2011

 

 Teeny weeny shorts - in a denim coloured yarn (again meant for socks) and a bat-wing top.  Very 2010 / 11 and also quite 1980s - there is nothing new under the sun!

 

The top is in a lace-weight yarn (Knit Picks Shimmer) I loved this yarn in the skein but when I started to knit a shawl with it I didn't like the way the colours pooled - on this tiny project the short length variegations work much much better. 

And a little Post Script:  Just before Violetta & I did this photo-shoot I got new prescription glasses (now on multi-focals which does make me feel old!!)  However, I must really have needed new glasses as I'd not noticed before that Violetta has really pretty painted nails - lavender colour   :-)