Category Archives: Jumper/Pinafore

“Classic and Cozy”

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Happy Tuesday to you!

Gina is here to say hello and good morning (or good afternoon), and to model her new ensemble for you!

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She is wearing a hand knit jumper pinafore and blouse set.  This pinafore design was inspired by this photo.  I fell in love with this real life Little Darling all cozily attired in her knit pinafore, and had to create one for my Little Darling.

I also have a knitting pattern for this pinafore.  You can find it here.  This is the fourth pinafore I’ve made.  If you’d like to see the other three pinafores, you can check those out on my Flickr page.  The first version in pink has had minor changes made to it, but the other two are exactly the same.

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Now, on to Gina and her “Classic and Cozy” Christmas ensemble.  The pinafore was knit with deep red Peruvian Highland wool.  The wide ribbed waistline fits her perfectly, and the skirt has decorate stitches to give the appearance of soft pleats.  The shoulder straps actually button, but don’t need to be used for dressing.  The back of the pinafore has a placket with beads along the entire length, but only the top three are working buttons/buttonholes to be used for dressing.  Embroidered on the skirt is a poinsettia motif designed to coordinate with the blouse print.

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The elbow length sleeve blouse is made with a sweet poinsettia cotton print.  Poinsettias in red/pink are sprinkled on a pure white background.  I thought this fabric gave the look of a crisp white blouse but with added holiday flair.  The blouse body is completely lined in white cotton lawn.  The sleeves have double turned seam allowances and hems that are hand stitched in place; the bodice lining is hand stitched over the armhole.  (You’ll see no raw or surged edges inside this blouse.)  The blouse snaps only above the pinafore area to decrease bulk.

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Gina carries a pure white bear which is a purchased miniature.  She is customized with her own hand made pink poinsettia (wool felt, beads) and a red organza ribbon.  All of her embellishments have been carefully and securely sewn on with needle and thread; ribbon ends are treated to prevent fraying.

Gina’s other accessories include a two-strand bracelet, white cotton ribbed tights, and a red organza ribbon for tying in her hair.

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“Classic and Cozy will be available tonight (November 14, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

I hope you all enjoy your day! ❤

 

 

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New Knitting Pattern for the Little Darlings

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Finally, after 4 sample/test knits this pattern is ready for you!  I am just a wee bit tired of knitting jumper pinafores at the moment, but I wanted to plough through and get this one to you for your autumn knitting pleasure. 🙂  I hope you enjoy knitting it.

If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that this design was inspired by a vintage   jumper I saw quite awhile ago on Pinterest.  I’ve no idea who the original designer was.  If anyone knows, please let me know.

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This pinafore is quite easy to knit with minimal shaping.  It’s knit flat with plackets for buttons and buttonholes on the back.  You’ll start at the bottom with a seed stitch border and go up.  Stockinette stitch is used for most of the skirt.  As you get to the fitted high waistband, you’ll make decorative decreases which look like soft gathers or pleats.

When the entire skirt is finished, stitches are picked up for the straps.  I don’t like picking up stitches, probably because I haven’t practiced enough, but these are a very small number to pick up, and they’re picked up along a straight edge.  It wasn’t hard at all, and I’ve included tips.  If you really don’t want to pick up stitches simply knit the straps then sew them on.

Working buttonholes are added to the straps and for the first three buttons.  The remainder of the buttons are sewn through both plackets, as they’re not needed for dressing.

The Little Darlings have sloped shoulders, and the straps are meant to fall right at the shoulder/arm joint, so the straps need a fabric blouse or t-shirt to “grip” onto.  I’ve used quilter’s cotton which works nicely.  If you have the top already made you can adjust the straps when you get to this point in the pattern.  The straps could be lengthened and criss crossed in the back too.

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The buttonholes are made with a yarn over.  These buttonholes are just a tiny bit larger than the ones on my sweater patterns.  Four millimeter beads will still work, but five millimeter beads or 1/4″ buttons are a better fit.  If you’re using the smaller size, making good thread shanks is important.

I’ve use Knit Picks fingering weight yarn for these three pinafores:  Stroll Tweed Sock in North Pole Heather, Palette in a blue heather, and Gloss in cranberry.  The gauges came out slightly different for each, but all three different yarns worked with the same pattern.

I wish all of you a wonderful day!  Thanks for visiting with me today. ❤

“Do You Want to Color?”

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Hello to you all!  Now that it is mid September all school children should be back in the classroom.  I know a lot has changed since I’ve been in grade school, but children still spend time coloring, right?  They must, if a box of crayons being on the school supply list is any indication.  By the way, I think that new box of crayons is the most exciting school supply!

I have quite a few memories of coloring in school, especially in first grade.  Coloring is actually one of my only memories of first grade.  My teacher would line up piles of mimeographed (remember those?) coloring pages on top of the heater.  We were to start by coloring a page from the first pile, turn that in when finished, and then go on to the second pile, etc.  I’m sure we actually learned something in first grade, hope so anyway.  Since I LOVED to color when I was young, that is probably why I remember coloring and not the math or science lessons.

My Little Darling, Lucy, has a new coloring book and crayons, and a brand new fall outfit to show you.  I showed you a peek at this ensemble last time.  In case you didn’t see that post, you can go back and read it here.

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Lucy’s coloring book contains pictures of things from her backyard.  Those butterflies, snails, bumblebees, birds, feathers, and flowers are also pictured on her blouse.  Her “beeswax” crayons coordinate with her ensemble and have their own crayon box.  (The coloring book and box of crayons are hand made by me.)

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Lucy’s pinafore jumper is hand knit and made to look like a vintage jumper (probably) from the 1970s.  You can see that one here on my Pinterest board.  Lucy’s is made with a slightly muted sky blue (wool, nylon, Donegal) tweed yarn.  Two bullion stitched and beaded butterflies flutter on the skirt.

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Her blouse bodice is lined with hand stitching; the sleeve seam allowances have been double turned and hand hemmed to produce an inside garment completely free of raw or serged edges.

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Lucy also has a pretty blue rayon ribbon for her hair, cozy tan/white striped cotton tights, and a butterfly charm bracelet.

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“Do You Want to Color?” will be available tonight (September 11, 2017) at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

Here’s a question to ponder, what was your favorite school supply?

Wishing you all, my friends, a peaceful and beautiful day.

 

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