Coral Moment

Today I am thinking of the tactile qualities of memory. The color of the sky the day I graduated from college; now four years past, but the memory still as hot and blue as the day it happened. Sitting on the fire escape at the school last summer, when the rain rolled in and my ballgown laid in a heavy pile of silk and pins on my work table. The feeling when a customer says that dress looks nice on you, and I think of Sufjan Stevens crying on stage while singing about his mother.

I've been having trouble writing about much of anything for the past few weeks. Secret projects and private matters both have been taking up my time and energy lately, and although they're not all that mysterious, they're still not mine to write about. So instead, I've been grasping for things that are real - wool, cloth, soap and water - and feeling alternately perplexed and joyful at the state of things.

And lately, this skein of yarn is one of the wooly things that's been sitting on my table and asking to become something. My friend Michael is quite a gifted spinner, and a few weeks after I admired this beautiful coral wool/silk on his wheel, he brought it to the shop and asked if I'd like to have it. (Would I??) Yesterday afternoon, I was taking photos of it in the dining room and realized how perfectly it matched my outfit - and after a rough day, that was a really nice little moment.

Hope you have an equally nice moment today. Happy Friday, friends.
<3
Cory

Local Love: Sassafras Boutique

  

This week, I went down to Sassafras, the Seattle boutique where my friend Katy works, to hang out and put together some fun, springy outfits to share on their Instagram. Sassafras is a shop that houses both retail and work spaces to showcase and support the work of local designers, and it's super cool and inspiring to hang out in a place where Seattle fashion is thriving.

And the company was top notch, too! In addition to being a sparkly unicorn of friendship and positivity, Katy is an NYFA grad, talented designer, and savvy businesslady - so of course I jumped at the opportunity to chill with her. We had such a great time going through the racks and pulling tons of beautiful, fresh, and funky pieces to play with - and this was one of my favorite looks from the day!

The dress is the Madison Dress, by BOHO Republic, and I might have to take one home with me this spring: it has that classic '50s silhouette with some major vavoom in the waist/bust ratio area, but with the easy fit of a fuller silhouette, cleverly nipped in by a shirred waist - so you can look adorable and eat all the tacos you want, which is a) a necessary part of being a fancy lady, and b) sometimes a seam-busting challenge with true vintage pieces.



The other thing I'm wearing - which I did take home because I loved it so much - was this pair of tagua nut slice earrings by Diana Fakhoury Designs. I've been feeling a major Megan Draper moment in my fashion sense lately, probably because of binge-watching Season 7 of Mad Men in my spare time, and these earrings were just the right amount of mod and swingy to indulge it.

I already posted pictures of them styled with my outfit from today on my own Instagram feed, where I would love for you to follow me. If you want to. If you're not too busy eating tacos.

Big thanks to Katy for the awesome day and photos, and to Sassafras for having me! Happy Friday, friends.
<3
Cory

A Yarny Weekend at Madrona

I've started this post about four times, because I'm afraid I won't be able to get the words right and it will screw up the magic - because oh, last weekend was wonderful.

I spent Valentine's Day at the Madrona Fiber Arts market, a yearly fiber event in Tacoma that attracts hundreds of knitters, spinners, crocheters, and weavers. I've been attending for three years, and working at the Fiber Gallery booth - either setting up or working the show - for two.

In the years that I've been attending, my love for the community has grown, seemingly without bound. This time, I went with my friend Sooz and one of her friends, and along the way, I ran into people from many beloved corners of my life: customers from the shop; a few of my Issaquah Tinker buddies; dyers and designers who have long been my role models, and who I am now proud to count as friends.

Madrona is always a busy weekend - and to be perfectly honest, an exhausting one - but it always fills me up in the most wonderful ways. Here are a few of my thoughts and impressions from this year.

 

 Dressing up for Madrona on Saturday really reminded me of the power of clothing as a tool for expression and connection. As I've thought about my aesthetic - in terms of both my design and my personal style - expressive is a word that I keep on returning to. As much as I'd like to say that I'm a buttoned-down aesthete with a perfect house and curated closet and tidy studio, that just... isn't true. As so many of us are, I'm a barrel of contradictions: I'm a chatty introvert, a messy neat freak, a perfectionist who appreciates screwing up sometimes. I like high heels and the color pink and putting bows on everything, but I just don't jam with precious.

And I like for my style to reflect those contradictions as much as possible; it feels the most genuine - and the most comfortable - to me.

So when I put together this outfit, I was aiming for vintage and pretty - but also approachable and easy-to-wear. I wanted it to be visual shorthand for some of the things that I really care about: quality construction, attention to detail, strength and femininity coexisting. I wanted it to be expressive.

And when I got to Madrona, it was really, really cool - because so many people came up to me and said the nicest things about my outfit, or recognized my Fluevogs, or complimented my shawl. It made me feel connected and seen, and it helped start conversations with some wonderful and engaging people who I might not have had the opportunity to talk to otherwise.

But enough about clothes - let's talk about yarn! These were a few of the vendors that captured my imagination this year.

Canon Hand Dyes

 

With yarn colorways and names inspired by literature, Canon Hand Dyes' booth was a lovely little trove of gem-hued mini-skein packs, gradient yarns, and self-striping yarns in bright, harmonious color combinations. Self-striping sock yarns were one of my first yarny loves, and it's unusual to see that style of yarn in larger gauge bases, so I was really excited to see the stripey goodness in DK and worsted weight as well as fingering weight - especially in such wonderfully evocative colorways. I only brought home one skein of yarn with me this time, and it was from this booth!

Jorstad Creek

 

I spent quite a while in this booth, quietly dazzled by the color and presentation of this truly special yarn. Jorstad Creek specializes in local hand-dyed yarns, with bases ranging from squooshy 100% merino to unusual breeds like Icelandic and Finn. I was particularly taken with the Narfi Icelandic laceweight: jewel tones layered over the natural color of the yarn created deep, complex and luminous shades in a wonderfully lofty & tactile yarn.

A huge thank you to Kaia and Kerry of the Jorstad Creek booth for taking time out of their afternoon to talk to me about their beautiful yarn. I love learning about the process that goes into a business like this - not only the creation of yarn, but also the development of branding vision & supporting infrastructure like design and photography - and they were kind enough to share their story with me.

One of a Kind

I love buttons, and I'm always on the lookout for unexpected and beautiful ones, so I was really happy to find One of a Kind's beautiful, handmade ceramic buttons. I love that they have a wide variety of styles - abstract plant prints, classic motifs, graphic and modern novelty prints - in not only buttons, but also super-cute shawl pins and pendants. If I ever need colorful, perfectly cheeky buttons for a project, I know where to look first!

Overall, I kept it pretty low-key on my purchases this year, in keeping with my goal to tend a more thoughtful stash. I couldn't resist one skein of Canon Hand Dyes self-striping - I'm thinking for a Missoni-inspired hat design. I also got two strings of gold beads for a shawl from Bead Biz, a button from One of a Kind, and a pair of Estonian lace socks from the Haapsalu Lace Center, sponsored and supported by Nancy Bush.

I also chatted with Nancy for a few minutes about Estonian lace and design, which I really enjoyed - her design and educational work have introduced Estonian history and traditions to so many of us in the knitting community, and the graphic elements of Estonian lace are a major influence on my design work. I'm really excited to own an authentic piece of such a beautiful and unique knitwear tradition.

Okay - I think that about does it! Thank you to the organizers, teachers, vendors, and fiber enthusiasts who make Madrona such a wonderful event. And thank you all for reading.

Happy Wednesday!
<3
Cory

Things I Love: The Ultimate Sheep Sweater

 

Friends, this sweater makes me feel really, really serious.

 

JK LOL!!!!!!!! SHEEP-FLAVORED DANCE PARTAY

Big thanks to my friend Sooz, who found and bought me this fabulous sweater at Target, just because! I am a lucky, lucky person. <3

Happy Friday!

Ballgown: Day 10 (Or, Ballgowns & Hipster Headphones)

  

First off, thank you to everyone who has reached out to me on the blog, in person, or otherwise, with your encouragement and kind words - it's so great to know that you enjoy hearing about my process, and I hope my photos and thoughts inspire you as much as sharing them does for me!

Last night, I left my room a mess for the first time. I worked from the morning into the afternoon, taking breaks to help Sparklepants and Rockett with a few things to set up for their ballgown presentation. I hand-basted the back of my bodice together, and cut into my lace for the appliquéd front panel, and not much else: the end of the day came fast, and I left everything mid-thought to go watch the presentation.

Both of their gowns were absolutely stunning, and perfect for their design aesthetics, and so incredibly different from each other. It was really cool to see the gowns go from pieces of fabric on the table all the way to full outfits with hair and makeup, and both dresses really came alive on the body. I'm so proud of my ballgown buddies! I'm also excited (and slightly apprehensive?) for my turn to come up next.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying hand-basting things together. Someday the random pieces on my table will be a dress, too...

I looked like a total hipster yesterday, with my vintage shorts and crocheted top, Keds, and my big dorky headphones that I stole from Lumberjack so I don't disturb classes by blasting my music. Something that I've really appreciated about this process is how much music I've been getting to obsessively listen to, since I can't stream music at school and have to consciously choose new albums to load onto my phone every day. (Rdio saves my life omgggg)

I'm not sure I've ever mentioned it, but part of the reason this blog is called indie.knits is because of my love of music. Lumberjack and I used play guitar and sing together between classes, and go on dates to little indie music concerts around Seattle when we were in high school. (D'aw, our friendship is so old.)

I associate certain albums with very specific times in my life: finals of my freshman year of college was snowdrifts, calculus, and Radiohead's In Rainbows on repeat; the show at NYFA was steaming red wool crepe while listening to Sin Fang's Flowers; Iceland was insomnia and Phantogram's entire catalogue. I have an emotional - almost visceral - connection with good music, and the albums I've listened to while working on ballgown are almost like friends keeping me company. And, like friends, there will always be room in my life for a few more.

Happy Sunday!

<3
Cory

Ballgown: Day 9 (Or, Puzzle Pieces)

  

After a much-needed day off on Thursday, I got back to it yesterday. My bodice is cut, and I've started the long, slow process of construction. I marked darts and tucks in chalk, and sewed - very slowly - skittery chiffon-weight georgette so light it barely exists. I hand-basted crepe-back satin to its underlining; sewed the lining to the back panel and understitched to give it a soft, clean roll; stood on the back steps in the sun for a few seconds before sewing the next seam.

Laid out on the table, it doesn't look like much, but I have almost all the puzzle pieces made as of last night; now I just have to put them together. Tonight is Sparklepants' and my good friend Rockett's ballgown presentations, so I'll be taking a few hours off of sewing to cheer them on.

Happy Saturday!

Love,
Cory

Finished Object: Oh, Zelda!

  

Hallelujah and pass the corndogs - at long last, Zelda is finished!

After all the ripping and trying on and pinning and reknitting and nose-wrinkling and reknitting again, I can say that I am super, super happy with this little blouse. She's cute! She's flirty! She's the best damn pink! I'm so glad she's out of my WIP basket!

I've learned a lot about my knitting style from this project. As I was knitting the sleeves, I realized that knitting sweaters is on par with sewing clothing in my crafty hierarchy of enjoyment; I like it, but unlike with other knitting projects, I really do it for the end product. Fit is so important to me - and making garments to fit so often involves reworking them multiple times - that the actual process isn't fun so much as a labor of desire and obsession. On the other hand, I like to knit shawls, socks, and other non-fitted garments for the sheer enjoyment of knitting, and the end product isn't so important.

So given this newly discovered information, it's kind of ironic that I'm currently hooked on knitting sweaters. I like the control of making my own fabric so much that I already have another little blouse on the needles!

Blouse Details

Pattern: Zelda, by Joan McGowan-Michael. Such a cute result, but be sure to check for errata on this one - the magazine it was published in changed hands, so Ravelry notes are your best bet for errata notes and mods.

Ravelry Project Page: Oh, Zelda!

Yarn: Mirasol Yarn Tupa, a 50/50 merino/silk blend.

Needles: Size 5 (3.75 mm) & 7 (4.5 mm) US

Yardage: With 2 extra sleeves fully knitted, this took 8 skeins (1096 yards) but could definitely be done in 7 (960 yards).

Modifications: All my notes and modifications are on my Ravelry project page. I sewed the little tulle shoulder pads for support as written, and they give a lovely little boost to the sleeve caps!

Brooch: Thrifted

Skirt: Cory Ellen Spring 2013

Shoes: Fluevog Miracle Cana

Outfit: That '70s Thrift

  

Last Friday I went on an epic thrifting outing with a friend, and came up with this layered, easy on-and-off outfit for the occasion. I always try to wear full-coverage leggings and a camisole while thrifting - for the times when there aren't any dressing rooms and you try on clothes willy-nilly in the aisles - so even though I looked a little more dressed up than usual it was actually the perfect thrifting ensemble! I also found out that this vintage skirt from the '70s goes with practically everything - it paired nicely with tons of colors, from fawn to deep turquoise. It's my first vintage skirt that fits my smaller waist, and I have a feeling that I'm going to get a lot of wear out of it.

For some reason, I've been finding myself really drawn to '70s silhouettes and colors. Something about prairie blouses, earth tones, and collegiate plaids have been really resonating with me lately - they make me think of crisp spring afternoons in Oberlin and pictures of my mom when she was a long-haired teenager. I think it's interesting how vintage clothing as objects are reflective of the sociopolitical context of the time, and something about the '70s aesthetic feels more positive and progressive than other vintage eras. There's a softness to it, but also a strength; Victorian-inspired crochet blouses are beautiful and feminine, but they're also a marked upgrade in comfort from the fitted styles of earlier decades.

I've been thinking a lot about it lately, because although I absolutely love fashion from the late '40s to the early '60s, I can't quite separate the beauty and craftsmanship of those garments from their more problematic aspects. Much of the New Look aesthetic feels deeply tied to the walking back of women's rights in the post-war era - the clothing, while beautiful, created and enforced physical restrictions on female identity and mobility, with full, unwieldy skirts that made movement more difficult; girdles to make the body smaller and more shapely; and cute, lacy aprons to normalize and beautify domesticity. Although I still love my mid-century vintage garments, I find that I have to mix them with contemporary clothing or vintage from other eras to enjoy them fully.

These two garments from the '70s, on the other hand, have an easiness and confidence to them that I really enjoy, to the point that I don't mind being era-matchy while wearing them. Plus they complement our giant owl coffee mugs nicely, which is pretty great (and pretty '70s) too!

Cardigan: Cynthia Rowley cashmere

Blouse: '70s, from Trove Vintage in Ballard

Necklace: Love Nail Tree

Skirt: '70s, also from Trove

Socks: Kai Mei by Cookie A

Shoes: Fluevog Bellevue Laura Evans

Finished Object: Quincy

  

At long last, I've finished the Quincy cap I've been planning for 2 years as part of my self-imposed Hat Challenge! Bet you thought I'd forgotten - fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you slice it, my brain is like a small, yappy dog when it comes to plans and commitments. Remember that thing you said you'd do five years ago for someone you barely knew? How's that goin? Do you feel bad yet? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?

Well anyhow. I cast on for it in July of last year, knitted for a bit, got distracted with wedding plans, and dropped it. Then Beetlegate happened, blah blah blah... long story short, two or three weeks ago, I picked it up for a paltry forty-five minutes and finished the sucker. It has been waiting, dry and happy, for woven-in ends and photos ever since. Monday morning, I decided to tackle a few little repair and finishing projects, and voila! Super cute '20s-vibe cloche and one less Work In Progress for the Brain Chihuahua to obsess over.

Done, and done.

Edited to add details!

Ravelry Page: coryellen's Quincy

Pattern: Quincy, by Jared Flood

Yarn: Araucania Azapa, color 80073

Yardage: ~130 yards

Needles: Size 10 US (6.0 mm) 16" bamboo circulars, Size 9 US (5.5 mm) double pointed needles

Thoughts on an Outfit: Stripes & Layers

  

A couple of weeks ago, I finally caved and bought new pants that fit my slightly skinnier butt.  And oh man, there are few better feelings in the world than the one that comes from wearing clothes that fit!  I'm still working on my daily uniform, and I've settled into a nice groove wearing jeans, layers that usually include draped tops and vintage knits, and kickass shoes.  It's comfy enough to work or play in, but it still feels intentional and put-together.

I will say, shopping for clothing since losing weight has been a jarring and conflictingly wonderful and terrible experience.  On one hand, probably 75% more items fit me correctly, which is pretty great.  On the other hand, the inherent privilege I've been experiencing as a smaller-bodied person is unsettling.  Why does the size-6 me get to wear jeans that fit and the size-10 me didn't?  Why does our culture feel the need to pathologize larger-bodied people when clothes don't fit them, instead of simply working to change the clothes so that they do?  Why can't the fashion industry be more transparent and non-judgmental about clothing sizing & fit?  And why the hell is it fair that my smaller body gets a free pass on dealing with these issues?

I felt comfortable and beautiful as a size 10, and felt in many ways that being visibly satisfied with my body as a larger person was political - like, I'm here, I take up space, and I'm not sorry.  Although I like my "new" body, I'm not comfortable with it yet.  It's pointier and smaller.  I have weirdly prominent collarbones.  My face looks different in the mirror.  I haven't quite gotten used to looking down and having less of me there.  I'm also not sure how to feel about the fact that, consciously or unconsciously, I made myself smaller.  Even though it wasn't a choice so much as a side effect, it still feels as I'm tacitly approving of and conforming to societal standards - and pushing back against many of my core values - simply by existing in a smaller body.

I expect that it will take time to figure out all my feelings on the subject, but in the meantime, I'm practicing being kind and patient with myself.  (Thankfully, wearing cool shoes and eating Theo ginger chocolate are non-optional aspects of this process.)

Jeans: Madewell High Riser Skinny Skinny Jeans

Shirt: Thrifted

Camisole: My own design

Cardigan:  Thrifted, vintage Halle Brothers

Shoes: Fluevog Coffee Breva (2011, no longer available)

Necklace: Love Nail Tree

Quick Post: Karaoke Party Dress

 

This last Saturday, we had a karaoke party at my school, where we all ate chips and busted out our favorite songs in front of friends and total strangers alike.  I used to sing a lot in high school, so it's always really fun to do karaoke!  I haven't dressed up for a bit, I thought it would be fun to wear this dress, a little number I bought a while back that I think is either from the '30s or '40s.  It's an old-school rayon crepe, and it's wonderfully swingy and fun to wear.  I just love the softness of the dolman sleeve and slightly blousey bodice, combined with the nipped-in waist detail.  Of course, I couldn't resist adding footless tights for warmth and maximum dancing coverage, a pair of Fluevogs, and a pendant necklace - although, by the end of the night, I was running around in red sneakers!

Modeling Future Beauty

This past summer, Seattle Art Museum featured an exhibition called Future Beauty: 30 Years of Japanese Fashion, a stunning collection of garments from designers ranging from Issey Miyake to Yohji Yamamoto.  I checked out the exhibition in late July and was incredibly inspired by the innovation and artistry of the clothing; I love the complex conceptual and architectural elements of Japanese fashion, so it was really amazing to see so many pieces in person.

As a grand finale to the exhibition, SAM invited my school, New York Fashion Academy, to present a runway show inspired by Japanese street and high fashion.  Although I was swamped with preparations for the wedding, I was itching to participate - so, when my friend Nicole Hood of Samara Clothing asked me to model for her capsule collection, I jumped at the chance.

 

The shoe rehearsal was the Tuesday after the wedding, so I was still a little dizzy from a magical weekend with my friends, family and brand spankin' new husband!  It was a blast, though, to hang out with all the designers and their models, many of whom I recognized from the April runway show and earlier model calls.

Shoe rehearsals are a standard preparation for fashion shows; they give models a chance to walk the runway in the shoes they'll be wearing, hear the music, and plan any choreography or posing.  I know I was happy to have a chance to walk those steep marble steps in heels before I did in front of hundreds of people!

The day of the show was surprisingly relaxed backstage.  Nicole directed hair & makeup, coordinated our accessories, and gave us some last-minute direction about posing and attitude.  Her collection was three looks with a smart, sophisticated feel - appropriate for office and evening alike.  I loved the color and cut of my dress, and it fit me perfectly, which is a rare, wonderful thing for me.  I also tried on the shorts from her collection during a fitting, and holy damn were they cute!  (Needless to say, I'm ordering a pair.)  

It was my first time modeling for runway - other than subbing for absent models in jeans and flats - and it ended up being a great experience.  The audience was overwhelmingly gigantic, but had a great energy that made the whole thing very exciting.  Once I was out there, I hammed it up and had an awesome time!

Seattle photographer Bret Doss was kind enough to photograph both the shoe rehearsal and the actual event, as well as to provide the photos for this post.  He's always an absolute pleasure to work with - friendly, engaging, and a magician behind the lens!  (Lumberjack called me as soon as Bret's runway photos were posted on Facebook, and I won't go into details but I believe the word "foxy" was involved.)

Thanks to everyone who made this event happen - the behind-the-scenes folks at SAM and NYFA, my friends and fellow designers, the sweet and friendly models and dressers, the photographers, and the audience who made our event a success.

Happy Monday!