How did your 2015 look like? Let me know in the comments!

Love,
Dominique

This one is by far the perfect layering piece! I mean get yourself a blouse, this spencer, a jacket, a coat... Maybe some trousers or somethin'... Who knows?! Get wild, go crazy!

For this project I've used three balls of wool in W&W Papatya Batik from Pera & Pasha (they unfortunately don't have the colour I've used anymore, but Chocolate or Yellow Autumn might be your guy). As the name might suggest, it comes all the way from Turkey! Getting international here at Fashioned by Pluche, I know...

The colour of this yarn makes me think about caramelized apples (hence the name: Turkish yarn + caramalized apples = I've created a creative wonder for the world to see. Magical, really, these powers of creativeness I entail. 'How can one person be so creative?', I hear you ponder. I know, I must be alien). I've never had a caramelized apple, but I think the thought of it is better than actually taking a bite out of one (same principle goes for the title of this post WHICH IS GENIUS and something I've put much much effort in (but it does, right! Looking like caramalized apples and it does come from Turkey. Whatever...)). Here's how YOU can get an apple too...




You first have to cast on 100 stitches for the hem. The hem is 17 cm long and is in 2x2 ribbing.
When you get to the hight of 17 cm, you'll need to decrease to 88 stitches. This you can do by knitting every 7th and 8th stitch together (12 x). However this will be done in the 'pattern' we'll be going to use every alternate row. So:

Right side
15 stitches in garter stitch
2 stitches purlwise
10 stitches in garter stitch
2 stitches purlwise
30 stitches in garter stitch
2 stitches purlwise
10 stitches in garter stitch
2 stitches purlwise
15 stitches in garter stitch

Now we'll follow that up with the reverse side:

Reverse side
17 stitches in garter stitch
10 stitches purlwise
34 stitches in garter stitch
10 stitches purlwise
17 stitches in garter stitch

Repeat this 2x (so in total you've knitted 4 rows from the hem -including the one where you've decreased to 88 stitches). Now it's going to get funky! aka: Make a small forward cable every 6th right side needle.


So first of all knit your 15 + 2 stitches of the right side needle. Now slip 5 stitches knitwise onto the cable needle to the front of your work (so facing you).
Knit 5 stitches on the 'regular' needle.
Slip the 5 stitches on your cable needle back onto your 'regular' needle, and knit them. And that, my darling, is your first cable. Repeat this on the other side (so the 10 stitches is the place where it's at).

As said, repeat this every 6th row until you've made your 20th cable. Now as we did at the hem, instead of 6 rows, you'll knit 4. After those 4 you can start 2x2 ribbing for 5 cm long. Cast off and jobs a goodun!

The front of the spencer is exactly the same as the back. So make yourself two of these, sew the sides together (45 cm) and give some attention to those armholes...

To make everything look super duperly swish, you should grab yourself a crochet hook of 4.5 mm and stick this bad boy (with some leftover yarn) through the lower part of the armpit (at the seam).
Make first a row of double crochet (or single crochet in American terms).
Make a second row, still in double crochet, but now decrease 2x2 (so after every 2 double crochet, you take 2 stitches together and make it one, twice).
Make a third and final row, again in double crochet, and decrease 2x1 (so after every 2 double crochet, you take 2 stitches together and make it one. Nothing more, nothing less).


And ta-da, just manoeuvre away all those loose hanging threads and... well... go eat a caramelized apple. You deserve it!

Love,
Dominique

Love,
Dominique

Guess who just came knocking on my door? That's right! My Vintage Secret Santa knows how to play the game... dangerously.

As I've typed somewhere at the start of these holly jolly 12 days, this year I decided to join Jessica from Chronically Vintage in her annual Vintage Secret Santa presents swap (that's a mouthful indeed).* One of the best things I've done this year! Who'd thought that searching gifts for a complete stranger (you do get an impression of the person, but still, stranger danger) would be so much fun! (let alone receiving a gift from another stranger in return).


For my Secret Santa victim (the lovely Esther, on Instagram: @polyestherkes_circus) I went for the colour pink as base (because she herself has pink hair) and worked my way around it. As the 'Vintage' in 'Vintage Secret Santa' make already believe, the pain of the game is the element of vintage or vintage inspired. I went for the latter and made her a pink faux fur collar/cape and -after a little snoop around the interwebs- I found this metal postcard (who knew they excisted) with a pin up on a motorcycle (besides being a pink-head, Esther also enjoys classic motorcycles and loves midcentury clothing DING-DING! I know I'm good...). To complete the job I wrapped it all up -according to theme- and send it on its way. AND I WAS SO NERVOUS! What if she didn't like it or ya know, it got lost in the post or worse BOTH! But luckily all was fine... I mean, three photos on Instagram is a sign of genuine excitement AND 'the gift wrapping queen of the lowlands <3' is definitely going on my CV. Without a doubt.


As my mother rightfully stated: "This gal (she didn't say 'gal', but lets pretend she did) really has done her homework!". And I can hardly argue with her. That bag, that brooch and that hat/turban are just the cutest (and very very me... I already know how to wear them, so more (*ahum* better) pictures coming soon!). Thank you a million times to my Secret Santa, Hilde (on Instagram: @demuze), for these absolutely perfect gifts! You've done an outstandingly good job... (something to put on your CV). ;)

Oh, I'm already looking forward to next year! It's rather addicting, really...

Love,
Dominique


* "The premise of this wintertime gift exchange is very simple: One signs up, is partnered with a randomly assigned partner, your name is likewise teamed with a random match, you send out a gift (or gifts) using the details that your VSS match provided when they signed up, and you in turn receive a gift from your own "Secret Santa." That's it, easy-peasy and fun as all get out!!!" By Jessica from Chronically Vintage [here]

Who are we kidding? Just put on some Bublé and you'll be fine...

Love,
Dominique