I'd rather be knitting

A few of you have seem interested when I've posted about my knitting endeavours in the past so I thought I may share what I've been up to in that respect, lately. I haven't been knitting as much as I'd like but I don't like forcing it, either.

This photo is pretty terrible but, the day I took photos, I really didn't want to photograph myself...

This was made from a 1930s pattern for a 'house coatee' which I actually had a lot of trouble with, so I shan't share the pattern. When I followed the pattern for one of the front pieces it ended up tiny - more like the size of a child's jumper than how it should have turned out. So, instead of giving up and finding something else to make, I just winged it by adding extra stitches and rows as I felt necessary (but making note of it, of course). The way it turned out it really is something I'd just wear around the house and that's how I've been wearing it. I used Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe in Beach Glass and, while I'm still very much a knitting novice, I will say that I quite like this yarn.

Last time I posted about knitting I showed the progress of the scarf I was working on - well, this is the finished result. It's super warm, I must say and, while the pattern is very simple I think it's quite effective. I also used Bamboo Ewe for this scarf but in Geranium. The pattern called for 4-ply but I used this, instead, and just changed needle sizes - I also didn't knit it as long as the pattern suggests (50 inches). I don't recall exactly how long this measures but I just figured I'd knit it to my taste and stop when I thought it was long enough.

I've finally started on the 'Three Hour' sweater. I've since finished the back and, while it does knit up quickly (I used a slightly smaller gauge yarn, and, therefore, smaller needles) I'm still only half-way through the front.

I like the double rib - looks warmer, somehow. Plus, there's more stretch.

I'm not sure what it looks like on other screens but this yarn photographs quite a bit redder than it actually is - it's called 'geranium' and there's something a bit...faded, I think, about it. It's a really lovely shade but not an intense, 'fire engine' red as it seems to look in the photos.

Link to my Ravelry page. 

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

Vintage Fair Finds

Hat - made by me; 1940s sunglasses - etsy; sweater - Alannah Hill; 1930s skirt - Red Ruby Vintage; cherry purse - Dangerfield.

Over the long weekend the Autumn 'The Way We Wear Fair' was on, once again, at the Burnside Ballroom. Mum and I went along and I managed to find a few lovely things (last time I just bought a hat!)

I'm ridiculously in love with this lobster plate - Carlton Ware made similar plates and bowls but this is just a, well...nothing, really...except positively amazing, of course. I'd seen one similar elsewhere just a month or so ago but I got this for a third of the price. Hurrah!

Got some more '30s - '50s Paton's knitting patterns - I had to try very hard not to buy the entire lot that were there! I'm just getting to have so many but, oh, do I ever want more. It's not just because I like to knit from them but they're such great inspiration for hairstyles, too!

This lovely cardigan appears to actually be a bed jacket (most pattern companies tended to put out booklets in themes, and still do I suppose, and all of the other things in this one are most definitely bed jackets, etc.) but, unlike the other patterns in the same book, I think it looks very much like an everyday cardigan. Having mentioned themes, I thought it'd be interesting to note that all of the little sweaters in the green book are inspired by flowers!

A couple of images from the first booklet.

I'm very pleased with this particular find - a 1940s hostess gown (I believe that's the right term? Or house coat? I'm not entirely savvy with loungewear terms, to be honest). I've been wanting one for a while but never really wanted to shell out the dollars - this one's a little worn but fits me perfectly and I love the floral pattern.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Think of it as personality dialysis!

A rather brief post, this time, to show off my lovely new-to-me yellow dress! I was waiting to get my new black petticoat to wear with it but, alas, it did not arrive in time - I'd had my heart set on wearing it when Mum and I went to see Wicked (for the second time, the first being in Melbourne in 2008) so I had to wear it with my other petticoats...all three of them!

Details: 1950s hat - etsy; black belt - op-shop; 1950s dress - Exclusive Vintage; gloves - Salvos; vintage stockings - ?; shoes - Rubi Shoes.

I really love the design on this dress - I suppose it could almost look like the paving on a Yellow Brick Road, couldn't it?

And here's a shot of Mum and I together.

We both enjoyed the show a lot - it was every bit as magnificent as I remember it being and I even cried a little, despite my best efforts not to, lest my mascara run. I'd write more but I'm not in the mood - the costumes, sets...everything was amazing. I'll just leave it at that. There are a few other blog posts I've got lined up but they require putting more effort into text so I'll tackle them when I am in the mood.

Hope everyone has been enjoying their long weekends, if you celebrate the holiday or not!

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly what a day.

This post is a little bit different in the sense that it's a what I would have worn post, as opposed to a 'what I wore' one. The reason is simple: I was meant to go out with a friend but felt poorly, so we decided to have dinner & watch movies at mine, instead. But before she came over I put on what I would have worn out because I felt at least well enough for that.

This house still hasn't left my house, since I got it, which I think is a real pity because it's a doozy! (from adelinesattic) When I first got it, I imagined dressing it up with my brown heels and a little green or brown Robin Hood-esque hat (have had my eye on this Wearing History pattern for a while, actually), as well as some gloves and a nice little sweater. I would still love to wear it that way but I think it looks equally as cute with these tan & cream shoes and the little handknit (by me) hat. I'm always excited when I realise my dresses look great with lace-up shoes and socks! And I really shouldn't be surprised when they do, anymore, but each time I am.

After I had finished this hat I was initially a little worried by the size of the pom-poms...but I got over that pretty quickly. I still dream about having a head-piece like this one...but I'm really not that keen on making pom-poms that large - takes far too long!

This is/was one of those dresses I absolutely adore but couldn't quite figure out if it was 'me' or not. Does that make sense? Does anyone else have items in their wardrobes like that? Something you love but aren't (or, at least, at one point weren't) sure if they suit you, I guess. It's a little bit difficult to describe what I mean. Anyway, after dressing up and reflecting on these photos, I've decided it is me and I can't wait to wear it out. Now, if only those shoes were as comfortable as they are cute...oh dear.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

To market, to market, you know the rest...

The other day my friend, Kate, and I went to the Fisherman's Wharf Market at Port Adelaide to browse the bric-à-brac and take photos. I had my Canon 550D and new-to-me Lomo Smena 8M (bought from etsy) in tow and took a few snaps I'm quite pleased with. Expect this post to be quite picture heavy! (I'm rather awful at leaving shots out when I like them).

It was a lovely sunny day so I decided to make the most of it and wore this frock that I bought from Exquisite Bones last year. (Photo taken by Kate).

I made Kate pose by the boat.

Inside the markets.

I really loved that dachshund spice rack (I'm not sure what else to call it...) but it was 259 or 359$! Sigh.

Cheesy record covers are my favourite!

So many flowers on that hat!

 Me by the 'great wall of denim handbags' as Kate called it.

 

Photo taken by Kate. You can see a few more photos she took that day on her tumblr.

I find most of the interesting things at these markets are highly overpriced but it's always fun to browse and you can sometimes grab a bargain - I got a vintage bra & a pair of stockings for only 6$ all up! Oh, and, despite the implications of the subject title we did not, in fact, buy a fat pig. Maybe next time...

Sorry for the complete overload of photos in this post but hopefully it was enjoyable to see some of my surroundings as well as outfit shots. Some of these photos can be found on my second Flickr (which I use for things I don't usually put on the blog) and there are a few more shots at my first Flickr account.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

In my veins hot music ran

Oh gosh, it seems like my blogging has dropped to once a week (if I'm lucky!) - there are quite a few reasons why but I don't feel like going into them, right now, so here are a couple of outfit shots, instead.

Outfit details: dress - DearGoldenVintage;  top underneath - Target; belt - gift; stockings - Voodoo; shoes - Kmart; cardigan (pictured below) - etsy.

This is what I wore to see Cherry Poppin' Daddies on Monday night. I had a great time and danced, danced, danced and sung along when I could. We got a photo with Steve after the show and chatted with him and I spoke briefly to Dan on the way out - they were really friendly and I think it's great when bands have time to speak to their fans.

I really don't bring this adorable little cardigan out enough! But since taking it to Melbourne, I've been wearing it a bit more.

One of the things I love about these stockings (Voodoo Killer Legs 'Vintage' Stockings) is that they get the little wrinkles around the ankles you usually only get with fully-fashioned nylons. 

As you can (hopefully!*) see I've had a haircut. I rather miss my long hair but it was getting to the point where the curl would just drop whenever I set it so I decided a drastic chop, rather than a trim, was in question. I like my short hair but I also like it long. But it'll grow and I can play around with other sets in the meantime!

Outfit details: beret - handknit my me; 1940s dress - Red Ruby Vintage; socks - We Love Colours; shoes - Payless.

And this is what I wore to uni, last night. I didn't set my hair so I just tucked the ends under using my straightener. 

I'll leave you with a video I uploaded a little while ago (but filmed last November) of me singing/playing uke. It's not a vintage song but, hey, we all need a little variety! (Cover of Say Hi's Sweet Sweet Heartkiller). Thank-you, YouTube, for the ever-so-attractive screengrab...

(Speaking of music, fans of '60s girl groups should check this link out!)

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

*I say this because people rarely notice when I get a haircut, these days.