My latest two finished projects are both repeats of a sort! And I’m pretty excited about both of them. This is my Shooting Star Bolero and my Cotton + Steel Arrow Dress.
Oh yeah, if you missed that I went red and that photo surprised you, you can catch up on my hair color! Also we very recently painted our den and bedroom (FINALLY OMG) and hung up art, so welcome to a new place for me to take photos! I’ll give you the grand tour of the final room once we have the cellular shades installed. (The bedroom will be a little longer to reveal as we wait for a couple of small furniture pieces to arrive later this summer.) Suffice it to say we’re over the moon about both spaces now!
But back to the topic at had! The yellow bolero is another version of my Knit for Victory bolero, from a pattern I designed for myself (Ravelry project page here). The original is in dk weight but I wanted to try something a little different and used a fingering weight yarn knit at a looser than normal gauge. You can kind of see that it’s a bit more airy in the photo below. It was knit at about 6 stitches per inch. The yarn is Wollmeise Pure from my stash, and the colorway is Sternschnuppe. When I looked that up in German it means shooting star. Hence naming it the Shooting Star Bolero!
The only other change I made was to knit the cuffs and band in seed stitch instead of ribbing, in one size smaller needles than the body (which was knit on size US 4, for reference). This was completely seamless, with the sleeves knit top down and the front band picked up and knit out from the edge.
As it happens I kind of knit it on the fly as my road trip knitting when we went to St. Louis, and my gauge was off, so it’s a tad smaller than I planned. Which is totally my own fault for trying to swatch using my iPhone to measure my gauge and not blocking it. I was stressed out at the time so in that case it was just more important to knit! And thankfully it’s still very wearable, and the fabric is lovely and drapey.
Now for the dress! It’s another version of Simplicity 1523 from 1945 that I used for my Singin’ in the Rain dress, just with a different neckline. The fabric is from Cotton + Steel, which has garnered a lot of well-deserved attention this spring and summer. It’s a new collaboration with five amazing fabric designers, each with their own line of prints, and a few lines of more basic prints that coordinate. Seriously, sooo many amazing fabrics. It makes your head spin!
Rochelle and I were both waiting for months for their launch and put in pre-orders because we were so excited, and the fabric does not disappoint! Very soft for a medium-weight cotton, and it’s lovely to wear.
And HELLO THESE ARROWS. I can’t get over how amazing this print is. The designer is Melody Miller, and it’s from her Mustang line. You really can’t tell but those dots that follow the arrows are gold metallic. I know!
I bought mine from Hawthorne Threads and they’ve already sold out of this print but fear not, looks like more is on the way! (And I know lots of other places are starting to stock Cotton + Steel now too!)
I actually cut the entire dress except the waistband on the cross grain, so the arrows technically should go horizontally. But I really desperately wanted them to be vertical, with them only horizontal on the waistband.
Which would of course require having a wide enough piece of fabric left to cut the waistband on grain. So when you have plans like that, here’s a tip: don’t wait to cut your waistband last! I discovered that I didn’t have a long enough piece to cut it with horizontal arrows. Gah! I spent at least an hour trying to figure out how to piece it together from the skinny strip I had left, which meant there was no way I could match the arrows exactly.
In the end, I managed to make it all work with, and the seam at the side is nearly invisible. Of course it’s not lined up well on the zipper side, but I’m lucky I could even get this part to work!
And I think the placement of those two arrows on the center front totally makes up for that fact, anyway!
I didn’t end up having a navy zipper, so I went in the complete opposite direction of having it match, and picked orange. It’s a fun little flash of color for my lapped zipper!
You may have seen that Lladybird Lauren teamed up with knitwear designer Andi Satterlund for an outfit-along this summer. So these projects are my outfit! Of course, I often plan to knit and sew things to wear together, but I’m always up for an excuse to plan out an outfit. 😉 And I knew immediately how I’d accessorize it—with my 1940s cowboy boots and a tooled leather purse.
(Yep, I moved the coffee table out of the way for photos and then stood in front of it where I moved it. Ha ha!)
Anyway, I adore this dress and I think it pairs great with the bolero, plus I know the bolero will be perfect with plenty of other things in my wardrobe, too. Definitely a successful outfit!
outfit details
40s dress – made by me
bolero – made by me
40s pee wee cowboy boots – eBay (originally bought for our wedding)
lucite earrings – Leetie Lovendale
tooled leather purse – misc.
Bakelite bangles – misc.
brooch – The Pink Bungaloo
Cedar says
This turned out beautiful, that fabric is to die for….and your bolero is perfect! I may have to knit up a version for myself, since it is about all a pregnant lady can slip on pre and post baby!
Tasha says
Thanks! I bet boleros and cardigans would be perfect for you right now!
Ginger says
Ooh, that print! The outfit looks great! Here’s a silly question: do you ever find it tricky to get in and out of dresses with a side zip while keeping your hair intact? I feel like such a mess after I finally get in the dress, but I think I’m doing something wrong!
Tasha says
OH YES. Gawd I look like an insane person when I get dressed!! I love doing side zippers (admittedly part laziness, since it’s so much easier, but I also like that they’re more discrete), but lately they’ve been starting to really bug me for exactly that reason. I’ve been annoyed with shimmying in and out of things like a lunatic. So on my current project I’m going for a center back zipper!
Rochelle New says
This is my most favorite outfit I’ve ever seen on you! The dress fits you perfectly and looks excellent with the accessories you paired with it. I’m totally dying over those boots and the tooled purse!!! Squueeeeee!!!! Too much cute for one post! …why did I not buy any of that arrow fabric. WHY.
Cindy says
Fabric.com has that arrow print in stock, not that I’m trying to enable you or anything.
Tasha says
Thanks dear! <3 Cowboy boots are the best!
Moe says
Gah! This outfit is perfection!! Every time you make one of those short sleeved boleros, I keep telling myself I need to try making one soon. They are so smart- looking and functional! And that fabric you used on the dress is FABULOUS, and need I say how nicely the yellow and navy compliment your new copper hair? Yes, I need. The whole thing is glorious!
Tasha says
Thanks so much, Moe! Yep, you could totally do a bolero. They really aren’t that much knitting, I swear!! 😀
Helen Mae says
I need one of those tooled leather bags. I love the horizontal arrows on the waistband of your dress and the orange zip is super fun.
Tasha says
I love tooled leather bags! And thanks. 🙂
Lauren says
Arghh I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, but I LOVE your red hair! Love love love! You make such a cute redhead (I mean, you’re cute regardless… but ohhh, that red!), and your hairstylist is an absolute magician. I can’t get enough of Ginger Tasha. I love it!
Also loving this whole outfit. What a fun ensemble! I’m so glad you were able to get that waistband to work, because the arrow placement is basically the best part of the dress 🙂
Tasha says
Awww thanks, much appreciated from a beautiful… blue head? lol What does one call someone with gorgeous blue hair?! 😀
Mary says
I *just* ordered that print too! I used to compete in archery, so anything with arrow print makes me swoon. I also ordered one of the coordinates for the waistband and trim of the dress I’m planning on making, but now you’re making me want to do a horizontal arrow waistband as well. Gahhhhh! I hope I have enough of the print for me to do that. You’re also making me want to take up knitting again. I might even be able to realistically finish a bolero…
Tasha says
Awesome, and sounds like the perfect print for you! I do think another fabric would be great for a waistband, I actually liked the way the look of the turquoise inner band was with the fabric. So you could definitely go either way!
And I always encourage everyone to take up knitting (especially if you’ve done it before). 😉
Hayley says
I am in love with that print! Will definitely have to hunt some down!
Tasha says
Yes, it’s a fab print!
Janey says
I am utterly in love with this fabric! And the details of your construction are spectacular! Also tooled leather! Adore!!
xoxo
-Janey
Tasha says
This print has your name written all over it, Janey! 😀
Laura says
It really surprises me not one whit that you’ve made a dress in the fabric I’ve been mooning over. I love your review of it, and wouldn’t have realized there was metallic gold to be had in it…
Tasha says
Thank you! The description on some of the sites selling it does mention the metallic. And some of the other Cotton + Steel fabrics have metallic in them too!
Jessica says
This outfit turned out fantastic. I love that print, and the navy with the yellow work really well. The little touch with the orange zipper is so fun – I like that it’s a quirky little peek of color if you know it’s there, but it doesn’t draw attention to itself. Very fun.
Cheers!
Tasha says
Thanks! Yeah, I really like the orange zipper. Sometimes lapped zippers can be hit or miss in terms of actually hiding the zipper, but in this case it’s pretty discrete, so you just occasionally see the fun color. 🙂
Lauren of Rosie Wednesday says
I love how you changed the direction of the arrows on the waistband! Divine!
Tasha says
Thanks, Lauren! That’s why I was hellbent on making it work, even after I dumbed out on cutting the other pieces!
Marie says
I want to scream out loud with pure delight! Your entire outfit is divine, you rock so hard Tasha!!!
Tasha says
Awww, thanks Marie! xo
Lisa Suit says
Absolutely fabulous! ! You look just gorgeous and I love the way it coordinates with your new hair color! Also, I know you said you weren’t planning on publishing a pattern for that hole to,but if you ever change your mind I will be first in line!!
Tasha says
Thanks, Lisa!
Lisa Suit says
*For that bolero. Gaah stupid auto correct!
Julie says
I adore this entire outfit! if you ever tire of it let me know, I can find a great home for it here in Brisbane
Tasha says
Ha ha, thanks!
Rebecca says
So awesome! All of it from hair to boot perfection! So much to love in this post! Thank you for sharing all your beauty, knitting and sewing tips they’re so much appreciated!!
Tasha says
Thanks so much, Rebecca! 🙂
Helen // Grosgrain Green says
Love love love this fabric, and the dress. It’s beautiful!
Tasha says
Thanks, Helen!
Lynne says
I can’t stop looking at this dress, it’s gorgeous! I can see why you loved this fabric print, and I love vertical arrows and the horizontal arrows on the waistband. You’ve such a good eye for details like that.
Victoria says
This is an amazing outfit- I love it so much! Did you need much more fabric for cutting the dress out in the direction you did? I would really like to knit some boleros, but I am just learning to knit. I haven’t make any sweaters yet, I was thinking of taking the Craftsy class “My First Sweater”, but I would like to make more vintage-y cropped ones. Do you know of any patterns that are good for beginners? Sweaters or boleros.
Jessica Cangiano says
Splendidly lovely across the board! The dress, the mustard cardi, your new living room colour – every element!!! I really like that you went with vertical arrows for the body and horizontal for the waist. That combo just knocks it right out of the ballpark.
♥ Jessica
Stacia says
This dress is amazing! I am goo-goo eyed over the fabric!
Joanna says
Oh this is so masterfully made and fits you so well. This print is so spot on!! I’d want to wear this dress everyday. So well crafted. Glorious!
retro rover says
this could be the most perfect outfit Ive ever seen I love it
retro rover
Annabelle says
This is such a great outfit, the sweater coordinates perfectly with the dress. I love the fabric you picked out, and choosing the run the arrows on the vertical is brilliant. I am going to have to hunt down that new fabric collection 🙂
Nicole says
This whole outfit is just spectacular, as is your new hair!
Abigail says
What a darling outfit! I love the new Cotton and Steel line, and thank you so much for tips/ideas on modifying your knitting pattern! I love shrugs and boleros, and the mustard yellow coordinates perfectly with your dress.
Nicky Gray says
Id like to see the whole tattoo on your right arm.
It looks like there are cotton reels on it ???
Emily says
So in love with your dress!
Angela Raney says
Hi, I love the print and the dress! Could you tell me what pattern you used? Was it a vintage pattern or a pattern you made yourself?
Tasha says
Hi Angela, I mentioned it in the post. 🙂 It’s a pattern from 1945.
terri says
This is stunning!! It fits you perfectly and looks super well made, great work!