Raspberry Bereft

Well. Let me introduce the latest oddity off the sewing machine: a sweater knit skirt and matching hat. A SOLID sweater knit skirt and matching hat. A solid sweater knit skirt and matching hat that was supposed to be a CARDIGAN.

When Olgalyn asked if I might like to play with some yardage of a decidedly Kalkatroonaan hue from her shop, O! Jolly!, I leapt at the chance. I love her bespoke sweaters. Olgalyn can make sweater knit cascade like it's spun silk. And what's more, her blog is filled with advice on creating your own sweatery make. Would that I had followed some of it. I planned on making this lovely, deep raspberry wool into a cropped cardigan, the better to pair with all my maxi skirts, and I announced this plan at one of the gazillion Prets in the city, she in a bespoke sweater, looking like a model, me in audition gear, drooling rabidly over wool and cappuccino.

Unfortunately, the best way to guarantee that I will go off the rails is to make a plan. Announcing the plan pretty much seals the deal. Although I know this about myself, I have not truly learned it. Am I really that stubborn, that obstinate, that I even balk against MYSELF when I perceive that I am being Told What To Do??? I SET THE DAMN PLAN MYSELF! FOLLOW YOUR OWN ORDERS, WOMAN!

Because, look. This yardage should not be a bodycon skirt. Sure, it has the stretch factor to accommodate such a shape, as you can see in the super awesome blurry shot above, but I guess the side seams will bunch with movement by virtue of the sweatery ribby goodness. Although both seams are true and all that good stuff, you can see what happens to them when I move. 

See? Lots of ribs and glorious waves in this stuff. After my brain broke on copying my vintage cropped fitted cardigan, I moved to a giant free cut boxy sweater, and then the crazy train just kept going.

But that color! Maybe I got drunk on color and all hell broke loose. I mean, it's gorgeous. As you can tell from the photoshopped background, this knit had me singing Prince on repeat. Which is why I tried to make a beret to salvage the ensemble.

THAT'S NOT A BERET. THAT'S A MINI PILLSBURY DOUGH BOY.

Beret or not, I have worn this little cap out in the recent furious winter chill, and it is toasty. In fact, I think I'll have another go at reincarnation...I think I want a ...wait lemme ask Ruggy what I'm thinking of...a USHANKA! OOOOO! And I just happen to have some faux fur lying around! The ear flaps could extend down and wrap around the neck if needed! THE TIES COULD HAVE POM POMS! POM POMS, Y'ALL!

An excellent plan. Forget I said it.

Many thanks to Olgalyn for the beautiful fabric, I hope I have not hurt your knitted soul too much...I do plan to reinvent it. I just don't plan to let myself know it. I hope you sewists out there head over to O! Jolly! and grab some for yourself-- bonus, it's on sale through Valentine's Day. What would you make???