Happy Friday, everyone! I just wanted to pop in and let y’all know that the Outfit Along is back for a second year! WOOHOOO!!!
Once again, I’m joining forces with Andi Satterlund of Untangling Knots to combine a sew-along with a knit-along. The idea behind the Outfit Along (OAL) is to make a complete outfit by sewing a garment and knitting a garment. This is a great opportunity to stretch your crafting skills, and we’ll have two official patterns that we’ll help you with along the way.
The official sewing pattern will be McCall 6887, and the official knitting pattern will be Andi’s newest cardigan pattern, Vianne. I will be blogging about the official sewing pattern and Andi be blogging about the knitting pattern so we can all sew and knit along together. If you don’t love the official patterns, you can still join in! The Outfit Along is about making an outfit you’ll really wear, so to participate, all you need to do is to sew a garment and knit a garment to make an outfit. You’re more than welcome to pick projects that fit your own style and skills. You can look through the 2014 Outfit Along FO thread in the Untangling Knots group on Ravelry to see the variety of patterns people chose to use last year.
You can read all the juicy details over at Untangling Knots, but in a nutshell:
– We will be kicking off the OAL on June 1, 2015.
– The deadline for completion is July 31, 2015, which gives you two months to finish both garments.
– Did I mention that finishing within the deadline means you are eligible for PRIZES? Yes! We are cooking up some fun pattern giveaways to reward those of y’all who complete their outfit within the allotted deadline, so stay tuned for more information!
– To be eligible for said prizes, you must finish BOTH garments by July 31, 2015 and post them in the OAL Finished Outfit thread in the Untangling Knots group on Ravelry. Prize winners will be randomly selected from those who finish both their knit and sewn garments and post pictures in the appropriate thread by the deadline.
The official knitting pattern, Vianne, is a seamless, top-down cardigan, knit using DK weight yarn on US 8/5mm needles, which makes it a lovely lighter weight cardigan for the summer months. The v-neck cardigan features a set of mirrored lace panels that run along the front neckline and frame a large mesh panel on the back. To celebrate Vianne’s launch, Andi is offering 20% off up until the official OAL start of June 1. Use the code OAL2015 to snag the discount! You can read more details in the Untangling Knots shop or check Vianne out on Ravelry.
The official sewing pattern, McCall 6887, is a fun little summer dress with a surprise cut out in the back! You probably remember my Pineapple Delight version from a few weeks ago – well, I’m dying to make more, and I want to drag all y’all down with me (mwahaha). The pattern features front princess seams, skirt variations (flared or fitted) and the optional open back (there is also an option for a non-open back if that’s your jam!). I will be covering basic construction of the dress, and including tips swapping out the lining for a clean bias facing, and adding pockets. The pattern is rated as “easy,” so y’all beginners should have no problem tackling this! Also, just a head’s up – I just checked my local Joann’s and it looks like all McCall’s patterns are on sale for 3/$5 through 5/16, so go save some dollaz!
Since I’ll be traveling around Peru during the first couple of weeks of the OAL, we won’t start the sewing portion until June 22nd. Of course, you are welcome to get a head start and begin sewing on June 1; there just won’t be any sew-along posts until the 22nd! Andi will be managing the knitting posts over on her blog starting on June 1. If you knit and sew along with us, you’ll get your projects done in plenty of time.
Help spread the word and grab one of the badges below or use the hashtag #OAL2015. If you want to hang out and chat about the OAL, come join the OAL2015 Discussion Thread in the Untangling Knots group on Ravelry. You do need a Ravelry account to view and post on the thread, but it’s totally free and totally worth it if you do any knitting at all 🙂
Y’all, I am SO EXCITED. Who else is joining in the Outfit Along this year?
LLADYBIRD 
Crochet instead of knit acceptable?
Of course! As long as the crocheted make is a garment and not an accessory, it will qualify 🙂
A bolero count?
I’d consider a bolero a garment, so yes, it would count 🙂
I hope you bring this back next year. By then, I should know how to use my knitting machine and I may participate with glee!
Omg, we have to bring it back next year simply for the fact that I am DYING to see what kind of magic you work with that knitting machine!
I have the Brother machine (bought aeons ago). If you have the book that got sold with it it takes almost no time to learn. You will be banging out cardis well before next year.
Definitely joining this year. And how crazy….I seriously just bought this pattern earlier this morning. I guess some things were just meant to be
Sounds like fate to me! 😉
You temptresses! I llooooovvvveeee that dress pattern but me knitting a cardigan in two months might take some voodoo witch doctor level magic to make happen lol …never say never.
Well, it’s DK weight – I bet you could do it! Voodoo witch doctor level magic GO!! hahahaha 😀
This year, I hope to finish my OAL outfit from LAST year. Woops. Such a cool concept…I’m glad y’all are doing it again and maybe by next year I’ll be ready to sign up again. Have fun in Peru!
Maybe this year will be just the push you need to finish your stuff from 2014 🙂 You can do it! 😀
Oh heck yes I am in for this! I’m also travelling in June – flights from the UK to Canada – but that adds like 8 hours (each way) of knitting time! Woo! And that dress is ah-maze, it would be so nice for summer to make!
Oh, you’ll have PLENTY of time to finish then! I wish I could bring my sweater to Peru, but I’ll be backpack only so space is very limited! I’ll be putting the sweater on temporary hold and knitting socks instead 🙂 haha!
I’m so damned excited for this! I absolutely love your pineapple dress!
Yay!! I think it’s gonna be an awesome OAL this year 😀
I like Andy`s cardigans and your sewing projects. I`m taking part and I`m very excited about the outfit along.
That’s so awesome! Can’t wait to see what you make 😀
Can I make the Plain Jane sweater instead of the (gorgeous) Vianne? I’m a baby knitter.
Of course! Any sweater pattern qualifies as long as you’re knitting (or crocheting) some sort of garment 🙂 You definitely want to make something you’ll wear, so there are no hard and fast rules on pattern selection for that reason 🙂
Maybe I’ll finish in time this year! I just finally blocked my sweater from last year so I can actually wear it, but I have worn the dress a ton. Can we start the sweater before June 1st or will we be disqualified?
We’d prefer if you start on June 1 along with everyone else, however, no one is going to go crazy and keep tabs on everyone’s start date soooo if you want to start a little early I’d say just keep it hush hush 🙂 haha
Ahhh! I wish I could knit to do this! I have already made the dress twice and would love to do it again for this !!
Well you can always make the dress! 🙂 Just can’t be eligible for prizes if there’s no knitting involved 😛
Oh my gosh YES excellent choice of garments, too!
Your OAL last year provided me with a tutorial which allowed me to start sewing (after knitting for 8 years), and now I’m obsessed!
I’m moving countries in 3 weeks, but I’ll do my best!
Oh, that’s so awesome!! That makes me so happy to hear 😀
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this! Love both patterns, I’m in!
Yay!!
This is a great idea! I’m pumped to break out all of the needles.
Yay! USE ALL THE NEEDLES hahah 😀
Loved this last year so I’m in again! I bought Andi’s pattern now off to choose yarn and fabric…
Awesome! Can’t wait to see what you make 😀
Dang it! I just bought McCall’s patterns at Jo’s this morning too! Of course, I bought a couple that I’m far more likely to wear than that one, as cute as it is it just isn’t me. Dress, check. Knit…oh heck no. Knitting just isn’t me. I’m a crocheter at heart, though. I just pinned a couple of very cute cardigans, but finishing one in two months might be a bit of a stretch! A shawl wouldn’t happen to count, would it? 😀
I would think that a shawl doesn’t technically count as a garment (since you can’t very well wear it on it’s own), but you may want to double check with Andi on that. I bet you could crochet a sweater in 2 months! Crocheting is SO much faster than knitting 😀
Dang it! 😀 Well I did find a lovely cardigan that will do fabulously. Now I just need to check my yarn stash and see if I have enough to work with.
I’m in! Now I just need to decide on which dress version, A or C… I love your pineapple dress!
Do what I did last year and MAKE BOTH! HAHAHAH!! Actually, don’t make both… you might want to pull your hair out by the time the OAL is over 😉 lol
I hadn’t even thought of making both! Why the heck not?! Although I do have to knit too…
What a fun idea! I think I’ll join. Must check my stash for supplies, cuz I’ve banned myself from any shopping until I’ve used up some of my stash. 🙂 I’m not a dress person, I hope trousers or maybe a skirt will be fine?
Trousers or a skirt are fine! As long as you end up with an outfit – and most importantly, an outfit that you will wear! Definitely don’t make a dress if you’re not a dress person 🙂
Squeee! So excited to join in again this year! Have an amazing time in Peru! My daughter and I were there in 2007 and we LOVED every minute of it! (a note about knitting – I could knit on Air Canada all the way there, but not back. It didn’t matter what airline we were on the Peruvian air authority wouldn’t allow people to board with knitting needles. Hopefully that’s changed by now though but might not hurt to check so they don’t take it away on you!)
Oh man! I hope that’s not the case with the knitting needles, because I’m definitely bringing mine with me (and I’m doing socks, so they are size 0 metal DPNs – aka, the scariest looking ones haha). Unfortunately, we are only bringing carry-on, so I won’t have an option to check luggage. I will have to look into that before we leave. Thanks for the head’s up!
Just picked up the dress pattern for $1.99 at Hobby Lobby 😉
Awesome! I guess it’s on sale there, too, that’s good to know 😀
Well, I am a newbie to adult sized clothes, children’s are fine, we have four girls and they often wear handmade, this Mommy has brought the dress pattern this morning, and is now panicking like a good ‘un on how I can complete this challenge in my busiest work months (I make wedding hair accessories and jewellery) but I won’t do it without a challenge laid out!
Sometimes I need a good challenge to get my ass in gear and actually finish something within a certain time frame! You can do this 🙂
Hmm yes, I’m all for needing a deadline. Thanks lovely, it’s nice to have someone cheerleading for me for a change hehe x
I’m in! I’ve been seriously jonesing for that cardigan pattern since Andi posted it on Instagram when she was knitting it (god I’m such a stalker) so yay!
Hahaha no judgement here… I stalked & fangirled Andi’s poor Ravelry for like 2 years so I TOTALLY KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN. Somehow, she doesn’t think I’m a super weirdo. Haha! 🙂
I”m really looking forwart to the OAL. I will use Andi’s Mary Mead pattern for the cardigan. As for the sewn garment, I’m not sure yet. Maybe Peony.
Oh, I can’t wait to see your Mary Mead – I’ve been wanting to make that one up! Maybe for my next project 🙂
I’m in!
What a fun idea. Sewing: got it. Knitting: yikes; needs alittle help so this will be good. But my motto is: why the hell not? How hard can it be?
Not hard at all! Whenever I feel overwhelmed with a knitting project, I just remind myself that there really are only 2 stitches when it comes to knitting 🙂 Just make sure you swatch so you know your gauge is accurate (and thus your finished sweater will fit the way you like), and you should be fine 🙂
Love both of these patterns! That dress is so cute and so many options, and always on the search for cute cardigans for the office, :). I may have to join in which means fabric and yarn shopping… ;).
Decided to attempt the McCall 6924, I’ve been eyeing it for awhile and found this beautiful pink Hawaiian print voile to use.
ahhh, I was eyeballing that one, too! Can’t wait to see your version 😀
I am sooooo in! I loved the OAL last year, and I’m excited for this year’s. Your tutes are always the best!
Yay!!!
If my sew-jo is back by that time, I happen to have 1000 yds of dk yarn burning a hole in my stash…
Sounds like you’re already halfway there 🙂 And not to peer pressure you, buuuuuut, I’ve always found that muslin-making really helped reignite my sew-jo (and then I have a finished muslin that I can put straight into garment-making, ha!)… 😉
I have had M6696 sitting in my pattern stash waiting to be made into a striped chambray shirt dress…
So excited to do this. I’ll probably do a different sweater and dress, but love the idea of doing it with everyone and a deadline, so I could actually wear them this summer!
Yay! I agree – sewing and knitting with everyone (and a deadline) is my favorite part. Sometimes you need that little push to get something done in time to wear it 🙂
What a great idea. I read this post on saturday and ordered my pattern and yarn right away. This is the perfect opportunity to lose my cardigan-knitting-virginity 🙂
A perfect opportunity indeed! You are going to love it 😀
I am so tempted to join! I’ve recently lost an interest in sewing, so perhaps this is a good excuse to bring back that interest. I probably will have to pick two completely different patterns since my baby is due at the end of July – and neither of those patterns will work well for my 9 month prego body or even my post-partumn body 😉
You should totally join! It’ll get your mojo back for sure 🙂 And yes, definitely make something that is wearable for your current/postpartum body – because, I mean, at the end of the day, *you’re* the one wearing it 🙂
Added it to my social sewing calendar! http://swoodsonsays.com/sew-a-long-calendar/
Awesome, thank you!