Huff Makes Stuff: Outfit Seven: August

I've finally caught up! Here is August's outfit... in August! I have a confession, it has been ready for nearly a week and I've had plenty of opportunities to photograph it but I waited 'til I got my new hair. It had been over a year and a half since my hairdresser laid hands on my hair, and it was incredible to get a proper style cut and colour instead of the shaggy growing out 'do I've been sporting lately.

I am very pleased with this outfit. This was a big departure from the outfit I had originally planned, but given that elements of it have already been getting near constant wear I'd say it's one of the biggest successes of my 12 outfits so far.

Starting from the outside, this oversized cardigan is a simple big boxy shape with pockets, but in warm black drapey knit fabric it goes with just about everything in my wardrobe. It's casual and comfy without being sloppy. The pattern is from Burda Style 7/2013, 109A. I have bought a fuzzy, lacy knit to make another for spring.

I bought the fabric for my shirt at the same time as the fabric from March's skirt. They are the same print on different backgrounds. I love the bright red and bold graphic floral print. It works perfectly with the pattern, you guessed it, another Burda mag 2/2009, 120.

Because the fabric is an almost sheer cotton voile, I used french seams throughout. It was well worth the little extra effort to enclose all the edges, the finish is really clean and the seams are nice and secure.

I put a bit more thought than I usually would into the pattern placement. I didn't want sheer background patches at the bust, or a great big flower arrangement bursting out of my guts. I'm pretty smug about the way it turned out. Perfect for the transition into spring that the weather has been hinting at this week.

When the pattern for the Maroo Mitts was released I fell in love with them. I love the scalloped colour work, and the colours used in the samples were right up my alley too. I've been hoping to get more confident with knitting colour work, but just hoping wasn't doing much so I've started practicing. These are a fantastic introduction. I had decided to knit them without being part of any outfit but noticed that the greys and yellow fit in so nicely with the colours in this outfit, and I just happened to have greys sitting in stash and yellow left over from my cowl, so here they are!

I bought this super smooshy grey 4ply yarn from Wendy Dennis a couple of years ago at the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show. 200 grams was perfect for the Mara shawl that has been in my Ravelry queue for a couple of years too. On 4mm needles I used about 90 grams got the garter body of the shawl and then 95 grams for the the ribbed ruffle. Blocked out it became a great big squishy hug.

Finally pants. For the record, I don't do leggings. I wear running tights when I run, I wear tights under dresses, skirts, even under shorts. I do not wear leggings. These pants were borderline. The ponte knit is dense enough to avoid unsightly sheer stretching over my widest parts. The pattern had enough structural detail to take them far enough out of leggings territory and into pants land.

These were my first garment from a Style Arc pattern. They are the April Pants. I must say I was very happy with the pattern. Again I put more effort than I have in the past into these pants. All the seams are overlocked and topstitched, the result is a very smooth neat finish. The fit is perfect, the pattern is great, I'm looking forward to making the Sandra Jeans I bought at the same time.