Monday, November 19, 2012

This one is for my mother


My mother is an avid knitter and on her last visit here she knitted me this wrap/poncho.


It took her about a week. I saw something similar when we were browsing through a magazine and she said 'Oh, I can do that!' So we went to the local yarn store and picked the wool in three colors.  It is super warm and easy to wear. It is basically a long and wide rectangular shawl, where one end is sewn together to make a sleeve, and the other end attaches to it by a single button.


Easy to say of course, I would never attempt it, even if I know how to knit, theoretically at least.  Thank you Mom, you are the best!

***

This winter I wanted to get a pair of off white cords.  I would not wear white jeans in the winter but cords are another story. Btw, I was looking through my recent posts and I realized that I wear cords a lot. There is something about the texture of cords that make them super appealing when it is colder. I was for long partial to J.Crew matchstick cords, but this year I discovered that their midrise toothpicks fit me even better. This was a surprise to me, because when I tried toothpicks in the past, they were a disaster: too short and too wide in the hips, while giving me a muffin top and cutting off the circulation to my calves.


Midrise toothpick cords

These are size 28. I am in between 27 and 28 in most denim. I wear 27 in J.Crew matchsticks, both jeans and cords, but these fit me perfectly in 28. The length is also perfect, right down to my ankles. There are super soft and extremely comfortable. I like the higher rise and the fit in the rear.


The color is called sea salt, which would  make me think they would have gray undertones, but that's not the case. They are definitely more 'creamy', which I prefer.


Here, you can see the pattern of the poncho better. I love this color combination, it just soothes my soul.


I loved how this outfit turned out and I got quite a few compliments. The cords would also be great with a longer camel/gray/blush/charcoal sweater. I am on the lookout for a perfect slouchy turtleneck to wear with them when it gets even colder, do you have any tips?

***
That's all folks!

 Do you wear cords? Do you own J.Crew matchsticks or toothpicks?

Do you knit or have somebody knit for you?
 
Please share, It would be no fun without you!!!  

27 comments:

  1. Your mom is super talented!!! I LOVE that wrap/poncho. It is super, super cute!!!!

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  2. Oh I love this on you and how nice to have something from your Mom. The cords look great and I also wear them all winter . I've been knitting forever and have made fisherman cardigans in every colour. I love cables and find it boring if I'm not working from charts. Last Christmas I made my daughter a true Canadian sweater with beaver across the bottom. She's picky and it took me about 1 month and I was on the fence about it.Fit perfect and she was over the moon . It's in my blood with one grannie from Scotland and one from Ireland.

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    1. Marsha, your kids are so lucky (like me!). I wish I could knit better, I remember I used to do it a teenager and I found it almost addictive. Maybe I can get back to it?

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  3. I love this wrap! Good mama! I like the cords on you - makes your legs look like they go on forever - tres chic!!!

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  4. I am a knitter and was so happy to see a fashionista using a hand crafted knit! YEAH! Looks great - Mom is wonderful!

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  5. Awww how nice of her! My mom is also a biiiiig knitter and they always have so many projects on the go :) I hope one day to be as talented as my mom :) Thanks for sharing her work!

    Tasia

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  6. The poncho is beautiful. Your mom is very talented. I knit, but need a pattern with good instructions.

    The high rise toothpicks look great on you. I've been a matchstick fan for years. I tried my first pair of toothpicks (not the high rise) and didn't love the fit. Maybe I'll try a pair of the high rise. Would you recommend sizing up?

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    Replies
    1. Hi maryeb, these are mid rise. I tried the high rise denim and did not like the fit. I sized up compare to my size in matchsticks, I wear 27 in matchsticks (I have several pairs but none from this year) but took 28 in toothpicks.

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  7. Your mom is awesome, she did an amazing job!

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  8. My mom doesn't knit but my grandma did and so does my MIL (she makes beautiful k its for my daughter since she was born, I keep almost everything but I could sell them for top dollars, they look like something coming from Bonpoint).
    I love cords too but I am a toothpick convert, I just like them better on me than the matchsticks. I have a pair of matchsticks in sea salt and they had grey undertone, I was happy that they had brought them back but the color k
    just look like the champagne...

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  9. Interesting, I have 4 pairs of toothpicks, and a muffin top in everyone of them, I wonder if this style would work better for me too? My mum can't cook/bake/knit - she was a stranger to the domestic arts, she would have been better off in another era pursuing a career.

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    1. I did not like the lower rise toothpicks either when I tried them last year and before. So yes, these may work better for you.

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    2. Hi, I have the midrise toothpicks in burgundy and LOVE them! I ordered them in tall, size 28, but am having the waist taken in just a tad. Have been thinking about these sea salt ones and might pull the trigger on them, too. I'd like to do a 'winter white' outfit this year. Loving them on you!

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  10. Amazing that your mother can create that shawl w/o even a pattern! And how great that you now have a completely unique piece that you love.

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  11. That wrap is gorgeous, your Mom is very talented. My Nana is a wonderful knitter but she would use the ugliest and cheapest yarn and MIX them all together, her technique was fabulous but she'd only use materials from the bargain bin. As I got older I would buy good wool for her to use!

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  12. Hi ajc, I am in awe of your mother's knitting skills! The wrap looks great!!

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  13. Your mom has great knitting skills - that poncho is awesome!

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  14. What a gorgeous poncho. Your mom is amazingly talented. How special to have a gift like that. I have no talent in the knitting department. Your whole outfit is perfect.

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  15. I am so glad to get all your comments!!! Thank you! You are right, I am very proud of my mom and happy to wear something she made for me. And of course it is one-of-the-kind. I love it!

    I am going to forward your comments to my mom, she will be very happy to hear her wrap is a hit among fashion lovers :)

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  16. Your mother is very talentedThe colors you chose are fabulous, and you, as usual, have done a great job of pairing the poncho with other pieces. The poncho has such a cosmopolitan flair. I love it.BTW- I love the Everly shoes too. However, I could never walk in them, and that is my barometer for new shoes. Especially when they cost as much as a small trinket from Tiffany's...

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  17. Oh- I almost forgot- I would be happy to help you pick up your knitting again. Just let me know when you want to learn!

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  18. What a lovely gift from your mother. I've always wanted to learn to knit but I seldom have time to sit still long enough when I'm not working. It's a curse of our age that we spend so much time sitting at a computer both professionally and privately. Oh well, maybe some day.

    The cords are nice and pair up so nicely with the poncho. It's just perfect in the variety of neutrals with the sleeves to keep it in place. Such a treasure.

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  19. Oh ajc, what a beautiful gift from your mother, and one that I am sure you will treasure always! I love the neutral colors, and the way you paired them with the off-white cords, This entire look is one of my favorite color combinations, and it looks gorgeous on you, too!

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  20. Your post reminded me of my most favorite pants in grade 5, circa 1980. They were a creamy off-white cords, the brand was Road Runner if memory serves. Loved them to pieces! You've inspired me to go try a grown-up version, mid-rise sounds right up my alley.

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