Lets take a look at the autumn fashions

For many of you summer is already here and we're not far from it in Finland either. We're packing away our winter garments and planning our summer wardrobes, but designers are way ahead of us. They've already launched their autumn/winter 2013-14 collections and are probably thinking about next spring already.

Once in a while I take a moment to browse through the high fashion collections to get an idea of what will be in the next season, for work and for inspiration.

Here are my favourite picks from the runway:

Valentino A/W 13-14
I love this little black 60's style dress from Valentino, very Wednesday Adams.

Valentino A/W 2013-14
In this ensemble I especially enjoy the icy blue floral pattern on white.

Alexander McQueen A/W 2013-14
Look at that gorgeous detailing, just look at it, amazing.

Chanel A/W 2013-14
Chanel actually wasn't one of my favourites this season, but I did like this casual 60's style knit outfit very much. And the model reminds me of Brigitte Bardot ;)

Lanvin A/W 2013-2014
Lanvin also left me a little cold this time, but I just couldn't pass this gorgeous bustle-sash-thingy little black dress + I love the jewellery on the model.

Red Valentino A7W 2013-14
The Red Valentino collection was my absolute favourite this season. I just love the rich Slavic patterns and colours and the retro doll-like shapes. I want them all!

Red Valentino A/W 2013-14
I mean, how cute is this outfit!

Conclusion? Dig up your baby-dolls and slack, 'cause it looks like the late 60's, simple shapes with rich colours will be en vogue next fall and winter!

The go to -outfit

You know those stupid-ugly-fat -days, when everything you put on looks stupid and you just feel outright drab - no matter what anyone else says? Sure you do. Everyone gets those sometimes. I get those too. When one of those days strikes I have one go to -outfit that always makes me feel like a decent human being again and not feel too self-conscious.

I made these 40s style dungarees as a sample for my summer collection to test how they wear, and they were a hit! They're cute and look good with almost any cardigan or blouse. Plus they're slimming and comfy! Today I wore them with a red cardigan and red clogs. You can't see it in the (crappy phone)pictures, but there are actually huge pockets on the front too.

What's your go to -outfit?

My next knitting project?

I think I'm hooked. Not only to knitting, but more specifically to 40's "victory" jumpers. I already have at least 2 knits in line, but I totally fell in love when I found this lovely style on V&A Museum's pattern archive and I thought this could be my next project. I just can't decide which colourway I should use. I already made my last jumper in red-blue-white colourway so I wouldn't want the next one to be too similar.

You can download the pattern for free here

I used the Tricksy Knitter knitting chart maker to try out different colour combinations. I do like the original colours, but as I said, I wouldn't want it to be too similar to my previous jumper.

I'm quite drawn to the orange colourway, but also the black/red/yellow would be quite interesting. Which one is your favourite?

Liebster Award and a few great blogs for you to check out

Yet an other Sunday. Gosh, these weeks go flying by, don't you agree? I just returned from a dress-swap of which I'll tell you more about later.

I also received my first Liebster Award from Kristin at Sew Classic this week.

Thank you, Kristin!

 Here are my answers to Kristin's questions:

1. How old were you when you started sewing?
-I actually have no idea! I've been sewing as long as I can remember, since I was a little kid.

2. What compels you to create something?
- I started sewing more for myself when I went to high school and started experienting with my style. I also sow because I couldn't find or afford to buy the clothes I wanted to wear. Now it's mostly because I enjoy creating something unique and I have the skill to transfer my ideas into wearable garments. My brain is bulging with ideas and it would probably explode if I didn't let them out once in a while :D

3. What is your favorite medium to create? (e.g. sewing, knitting, painting, writing, etc)
-Sewing most definitely although lately I've enjoyed doing a bit of knitting as well. But I like to see result fast, so knitting can be a little frustrating sometimes.

4. What is your best memory of sewing?
- My first memory of sewing success. I made a velvet evening gown for a Barbie-doll in elementary school sewing class and my teacher liked it so much it was put on display in a glass cabinet. I was so proud! :D And also any time I get a revelation and finally "get" something I've been pondering about.

5. Is there a time period or style that you create within?
- My favourite decades in style are the 40's and 50's, of which I mostly recreate the 50's

6. Is there a time period or style you're drawn to but never work within?
- I like the 30's too, but for some reason it still feels a little distant for me. I'm getting used to it though and am having ideas of 30's inspired outfits I would like to create.

7. Do you have any insecurities regarding sewing/crafting/etc?
- Making a wedding gown for someone can be quite stressful. Not because of the bride or because I would lack the skill. I guess it's because the garment is so very important to the bride and she'll probably keep it for the rest of her life that you'll need it to be perfect. There's a lot of emotion involved.

8. If you make vintage inspired or period clothing, how often do you wear it?
- At least once a week.

9. What's your favorite thing you've made? (Not exclusive to sewing.)
-That's a tough one. My most recent favourites are probably the 40's style dress and 40's reproduction knit.

10. If you could give any piece of advice to someone that you've learned about anything, what would it be?
- If you want to learn something, you just have to jump right in and try. Try until you get it. After that there're no limits.

11. What's your favorite dessert to bake?
- Double chocolate cupcakes, yummy!

***

And here's a bunch of lovely blogs you should all check out. It was a tough job, as there are so many great blogs out there, but I tried to pick blogs with less than 250 followers.

(not in any particular order)

Rosie The Crafter 

Jenni is a Finnish girl creating vintage inspired jewellery and crafts with a make do and mend principle.

Sew Retro Rose

is filled with vintage inspired sewing and other eye candy

Sewing Galaxy

I can't understand half of what this German lady is saying, but her sewing skills are just amazing

Sewing Vintage Knitting

Anthea is blogging from Netherlands and she's very skilled in sewing and knitting, not to mention all the retrolicious pictures she's posting.

Susan's Diary

Susan is a German girl who loves vintage style and heavy metal music and doesn't hesitate to combine these two. I love her already!

The Home Blues

Milenushka is an Israel based girl whose blog is visually very inspiring. I also like her analytical style of writing.

Kittens Klädkammare

Kitten is a Finnish Swede blogger and a newly graduated seamstress writing about her vintage passions.

Beswingtes Allerei

An other German blog I have no idea what's being written, but oh how inspiring all the images and retro sewing projects are!

Anna Neah

I fell in love with this Swedish blog the second I set my eyes on it. She is a very skilled sewist and I'm just blown away by her creations.

And here are my questions. Anyone can answer even if you weren't nominated. I would love to read your answers.

1. Who's your style icon and why?

2. What is your favourite material to work with (in sewing, knitting, crafting)?

3. When and where did you first learn to sew/knit/etc.?

4. Is there a skill you don't yet master, but would like to learn?

5. What inspires you the most in your craft?

6. If you could only save one piece of clothing from a fire, what would it be?

7. What is your favourite style era and what do you love about it the most?

8. Where do you mostly get your clothes i.e. do you make them, get them thrifted or buy them new?

9. What is your most used/favourite accessory?

10. Show us your most favourite outfit.

11. And because Kristin's question was so good, I'm going to ask the same thing: 

 If you could give any piece of advice to someone that you've learned about anything, what would it be?

Finished knit #4: Rainbow Jumper

Ha! I was finally able to finish this knit I started pretty much one and half months ago. I fell in love with the design at first sight and just had to get my own version. I first saw this Rainbow jumper on the blog 1940's Style For You and followed the lead to the author's Facebook shop where you can also buy the pattern: here.

The instructions were for a teeny-weeny 32 inch bust so naturally I had to add some width to it. I used a 100% alpaca yarn from Hjerte Alpaca. It's impossible to tell which colours were used for the original, but I chose to use red, navy, sky blue and white. The yarn was so thin it felt like I was never going to finish this jumper, but I did! I sure did!

I have to admit I'm just a little bit in love with the jumper-

Ok, I'm deeply in love with it.

As you can see, the spring is quite late and we still don't have any leaves on the trees. It's was, however, warm enough to survive 10 minutes without a jacket to snap a few photos.