As soon as summer starts nearing I start noticing an explosion of straw, raffia and rattan accessories on Instagram. And it totally makes sense, the natural fibers are perfect for beach-going, sunny days and generally just that vibe of la vie est belle.

And as a crafter, I am pulled to these materials like a moth to the flames. There’s not much point to knitting heavyweight items made of wool and other warm and cozy fibers during the warmer months. I live in Kuwait and we casually watch the temperature hit 50 degrees Celsius every year.

A couple of summers ago I got my hands on viscose raffia blend by Ice Yarns. Which is actually 100% viscose. It was super soft but also did not hold its shape at all so I ended up with a beautiful but floppy bag.

Last year, I found twine at my local Daiso and tried it to make bags. It is much more structured and did end up looking gorgeous but it was still not what I really wanted.

After sitting tight for three months of lock down, I had run dangerously low on yarn and caved and ordered raffia. I tried to find something that was specifically made for knitting or crocheting but none of the available ones shipped to my location. So, I found the biggest most affordable rolls and decided to dive head in (which is my signature MO).

I was so excited to try it out when it arrived, that I did zero research about working with raffia, which was a mistake. So here are my tips so you can learn from my mistakes.

There’s raffia and there’s paper yarn

These are actually two different things even though they look the same and can behave like each other. Raffia comes from an actual tree and is water proof. Paper raffia is what the name suggests and can disintegrate if you soak it.

It is really tough on the hands

So take breaks, because after an hour or two of crocheting with it I could hear my joints creaking. This isn’t soft or buttery and will punish you for not stopping.

You might have to figure out its weight

The kind I bought did not indicate what yarn weight it was so I had to guess. It is probably a sport – DK weight yarn. I used a 4mm hook with it and got a nice sturdy fabric that held its shape.

You can hold it double

The first project I made was a hat and I wanted a nice thin fabric that would still move and not be super stiff. But when I wanted to make a basket but, I held the yarn double and used a 4.5mm hook. Super thick and strong.

It does not like being ripped out

I could rip out a stitch or two. But when I messed up my hat dimensions and hat to rip the whole thing out, it was torturous. The stitches kept getting stuck and after I was done the paper had lost its beautiful shine and smoothness. So maybe think really well before you start working.

Even the simplest stitches look gorgeous in it

Because the interest is in the novelty of the yarn, even a simple single crochet bag or hat can look like something you pulled off a shelf at a designer boutique.

You can glue the ends together

Instead of weaving in the ends, I just glued in the new yarn when I needed to add in a new roll. Just unfold the paper flat, cover it with regular stick glue and add the new piece onto it. Fold it back onto itself and hold it until it is dry. Try to overlap the paper for about an inch so it is nice and secure.

It can rub your skin raw

Not only was it tough on my joints, the skin on my knuckles that kept brushing the thing i was working on was raw after I was done. One more reason to take more breaks.

It has zero chill (stretch)

There really is no stretch at all in it. So if you are new to this kind of crochet, you might want to practice on a swatch first to get your tension even. You can’t really block it so you need to get nice even stitches as you work. It is forgiving and still looks great with the odd stitch, but for a more polished looking finished object, take the time to do it right the first time.

All of these things said, I really do enjoy working with paper raffia, because the end results are so worth it.

If you have ever crocheted with raffia or paper yarn, please let me know what you think. Have you ever used something non-yarny in your crafting? Let me know about that too. I am always curious about the different things we can use.

Photography has always been something that interested me. When I was ten, I spent weeks saving up my pocket money to buy a camera. It was a terrible camera, but I thought it was the best thing in the world. I would forget to move the film and would double expose it. Without a screen to show you what you were doing, my fingers would make appearances in the photos.

When digital cameras came out, I saved for one and it was probably even worse than the analog. It still didn’t have an LCD screen and the resolution was probably 128×128, yes, this was decades ago. I still loved it and used it but my photography skills never got any better.

And then smart phones came about and better digital point and shoots, and I started taking more pictures. A couple of years ago I got my first DSLR and it was NOT a game changer the way I thought it would be.

It wasn’t until last year when I finally decided I needed to hunker down and learn the ropes for real. And suddenly I started to understand what things like composition, ISO, aperture and shutter speed really meant. And yes they don’t always apply to the little camera in my pocket, but the knowledge explains why and how things happen.

And then I went for a smaller lighter mirrorless camera which now lives in my bag. It is easy to whip it out for shots whenever I feel like it.

A few weeks ago I wanted to do some sort of photography challenge/series for fun and to get more practice. The Alphabet seemed easy.

WRONG!

I had already started with Airplane when I started questioning if I should be literal or more abstract. Should they all be square, since I was posting on Instagram. Should it be a coherent collection?

Since I didn’t overthink it, I just did whatever I felt like. The only constraints were that the photo needed to represent the letter and that they had to go in order.

I learned that too few choices are difficult but so are too many. I was elated when I found an X on the ground because I had been thinking for days what to do with that stupid letter. And then there were letters like B, do you go with Ball, Balloon, Beach, or Building?

Constraints are actually good. When you keep some things constant, it helps you become more creating in other directions. There is also science behind it.

I need to think some things through. I am an over thinker, but I am also a leap and figure it out kind of person and I can easily swing between both sides. Which is sometimes a problem. Now that I have completed one of these, the next time, I will have a better plan. I would love to do a black and white abstract themed challenge. The constraints and rules are clear, so there will be much less agonizing over each picture.

I need more directed creative work. I do this for a living, I create content. And I do it for fun. But I grow the fastest when I have clear direction to go in. Focusing on one or two areas helps me hone one skill at a time.

I am definitely doing this again, maybe just not right away, because I love the randomness of my Instagram feed.

Creative work, anything that you make or create opens you up to other people in a way that makes you vulnerable. I create things for a living and in my hobbies and it is a jarring thing when you pour your soul into something and only to have someone come back and say “I did not like this”.

Everything we make feels like an extension of ourselves. Our way of telling the world this is who I am. And like any rejection, it feels very personal. Brené Brown, shame and vulnerability  researcher and one of my favorite authors and humans gave an insightful talk on why your critics don’t matter, which I encourage you to watch below.

Briana West wrote “we were born to survive which is to create”, on which she elaborates on Medium. And when we stop doing it we suffer greatly. We all have this innate need to bring forth something from nothingness.

It is the holiday season and many of us are busy knitting, crocheting and generally making gifts for our loved ones. And there will be that person in your life who will shrug when they open the gift you slaved hours for. Or will have things to knit-pick about it (pun not intended).

How do you handle that kind of rejection? Well, you learn to grow from it.

Give it time and distance. Sometimes you really need to walk away from something to get a healthy amount of perspective. This helps you from overreacting or giving your emotions the reins. Take two steps back and cool off first before you delve deeper into this.

It is not about you. There is a huge difference between who you are and what you do. When someone critiques your work, they are doing just that. They are not tearing your being apart. And people who don’t take things personally are at an advantage here. It is easier for them to step back and think, how can I make this better, instead of thinking that person hates me.

Expectations vs Reality. Sometimes it has nothing to do with your work and is more about the recipient’s expectations. Learn to know the difference. If you wanted a chocolate chip cookie and I gave you the world’s best oatmeal and raisin cookie you won’t be happy. Instead of trying to explain that your cookie is better try to figure out what they really wanted or expected. Maybe the situation is salvageable and if it isn’t then there is always a next time.

Is there constructive criticism in there? Sometimes, if you deconstruct what was said you can find the useful bits. My daughter can be the harshest critic and she is one of the gentlest souls I know. But if I make her something that she doesn’t like, she will say so. But often times she is right. The yarn is too scratchy, the fit is too tight or the style is not what she likes. So yes, sometimes believe the critics. Not all of them are out to get you, and even the mean ones can be useful.

It is totally OK to be upset about it but not forever. We are all human after all. I am never giving up on doing the things I do because someone didn’t like the end result. So no matter how upset I am, I am going to keep going and so should you. If you don’t work on something you won’t get better. So, don’t wallow forever.

Look at how far you have come. Something went wrong this week with some photography I had done and it was devastating. Not because I think I am the world’s best photographer, I am far from it. But because I had worked so hard and thought I had done well. But this morning I was looking back at my pictures. Almost every single photo I took in 2011 was out of focus. In 2018 only some of them are. I have grown and so has my work.

Remind yourself why you do it. All of the creative things I do, I mostly do for myself. Even my day-job. I love writing, I love doing photography, I enjoy the company of my friends at work. I love my hobbies, I love knitting, I love making things. I do these things because I enjoy doing them and the recognition for them is nice but it is not my true motivation. Find your own why for yourself.

Remember how hard it is when you criticize someone else. There will be times when you are on the giving end of criticism. When it is your turn to dole it out, make it helpful and kind. Because karma!

And don’t be afraid of being vulnerable it can fuel your best work.

Knitting in public means people get curious and ask questions. And I love answering them. To be honest, I love a conversation with curious people and when it is about knitting it feels like a bonus.

So the barista saw me knitting the Tegna sweater. She asked me what it was and loved the lace panel. She then started asking me how to get into knitting and what to do.  I think that everyone needs to at least learn how to knit, it is a great affordable hobby, that can be done anywhere and is great for the soul.

But how do you talk to people about knitting without scaring them away?

Start with the basics

Usually, the biggest barrier to entry is getting the basic supplies. While you can get everything online, it is always easier to just go to the nearest local yarn store and buy basic needles and yarn. The added benefit of getting familiar with your yarn store is that they are usually eager in offering support and can be helpful to a beginner. Tell them where they can buy their needs from.

Offer Supplies

Most of us who have been knitting for a long time will have extras or duplicates in our knitting needle collection. Offer them a starter set.  A pair of needles and a ball or two of a basic wool or cotton yarn will get anyone started. Bonus points if you can offer them wood and metal needles so they can try both. 

Start Simple

I generally like to start people off with 4 or 5mm needles and a DK or worsted weight yarn. Easy to handle, neither too bulky nor two fine and most people find them easy to deal with. I love fingering weight yarn and smaller needles but when I first started out there was no way I could manage them.

Suggest a pattern

Most people start off with a scarf because they are usually simpler. I don’t think that’s the best way to start. Dishcloths are my go-to. They are smaller and a great way to learn different stitches and they can be used year round. Don’t just tell them to google a dishcloth pattern. Find one for them. They will learn how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off.

Continental or English

Your job is not to end that debate nor to push your favorite method. A total newbie will not know that there are two main ways to knit. I started out knitting English and it was easier for me. But then I realized that continental knitting was very similar to the way I crocheted. Explain that there are two ways, send them YouTube links and let them have a crack at them.

YouTube or a Class?

While on the topic of YouTube, not everyone can learn from video, some people really like to take a class so they can master a new skill. A middle ground is a platform like Craftsy. You get the best of both worlds and I find that many beginners love it.

Let it go

If they are not interested you should walk away. Don’t be that person who tries starting the knitting cult. There will always be other people who will be knitters in the world, find them and help them get started.

About this Tegna sweater. It was a dream to knit. The lace was done in a flash, the stockinette body was done before it became too boring. Even picking up for the sleeves was simple. The back, front and shoulder shaping was simple to follow and quick. Might not be a great beginner project, but would definitely recommend.

Summer came and went. I flew back home and the yarn sat in the basket for weeks, ignored. On a whim, I decided I needed a pullover, because why not.

After hours of Ravelry searching. I think I spend more time on that site than actually making things. I settled on On the Beach Pullover by Isabell Kraemer. Top-down with contiguous set in sleeves, the design is relatively simple, making it easy to knit and even easier to wear and style.

Isabell really knows what she is doing. The pattern has all the information you need, but nothing extra to distract or confuse you. Instructions are clear and simple. The layout of the pattern is easy to read too. The original pattern is for a sweater with positive ease. However, I made a measurement mistake (assumed I was smaller than I really am). I also disliked the fabric swatch when I got gauge. I was using cotton so I just went with smaller needles and decided on a tighter fit. That might also be why it rolled like crazy at the hem and I knew it wouldn’t block like a wool so I frogged it and knit a 2×2 ribbing. The neckline wasn’t as clean as I liked either so more ribbing there too.

Overall, I think this is a beautiful classic sweater that can be worn year round if knit in a summery yarn. But I would definitely knit another one or six in solid colors and in softer yarn with more give.

Lace socks are gorgeous but the humble stockinette aka vanilla sock will always be my favorite. Self-striping yarn will elevate it but even a solid sock will keep your feet warm and will be a joy to knit. The fact that the project is easily carried just makes the process even more enjoyable.

Knitpicks Felici is my sock yarn of choice. It is affordable, the colors are always fun and exciting and they knit and wear really well.  This year was the first year in a decade where I worked full-time in an office and it has been a struggle to keep up with my reading and crafting. But I am a resourceful person, so I have found a way around it. I listen to more audiobooks, I knit smaller projects or more meaningful ones. But I am grateful for all of it. I wish I could knit a pair of socks for everyone I cared about.

There are three little secrets to finding the joy in sock knitting. First love the yarn. If the yarn is scratchy, not stretchy enough or just not something you want to touch while you are knitting you will neither enjoy the knitting or the wearing of them. It is OK to get rid of the yarn or put it on hold for a different project. Life is too short for bad yarn. That is a lesson I learned over time. As a beginner, the yarn was precious. But now, it is just a part of a total sum and if it is not working, it goes away.

Second, try different needle configurations. I am a double-pointed-needle girl. I just love the rhythm. Magic loops work for some people but I just find them fiddly. Don’t get me wrong, they are great for sleeves because I don’t have DPNs for all the needle sizes but not my first choice. Nine inch circs are great too but I don’t like having to switch them out when I get to the heel or the toe. I never liked the two circulars method either. Again, these are all personal preferences. Experiment, but give yourself enough time to actually get the real feel of a technique then decide.

The final secret, is to actually have fun. This is a hobby. This is your thing. This is what you do to relax, wind down, or whatever it is that you need to do. Don’t stress out. Frog them, start over, and stop fretting over having to work things over. And most of all, breathe and enjoy the ride.

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I think I am getting closer to being able to sew the way I want. The bodice is fully lined. The seams are all French and there isn’t a raw edge in sight. I think I should have sized up for this one. I was between sizes so I went down instead of up because of reasons. It is still wearable. I just think I would like an inch of space. I wanted to match the pattern. But it hurt my brain. And do you remember this bag? It is still one of my favorites. . . . . . . #ryantop #sewing #slowfashion #memadeeveryday #imakemyownclothes #crochetbag

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I also managed to really up my game for this one. All the seams are French. The yoke is self-lined and the gathers are enclosed in it. There are ZERO raw edges and that makes me super happy. It took double the time, but it was so worth it.

I finished my Creme Brule top too!

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It is finished. And I LOVE this T-shirt. Pattern is creme brûlée by Juliet Moody it was a fairly quick and simple knit. Didn’t make any changes at all. It is light and airy and the lace adds visual interest to the simple construction. Would definitely knit this again in a finer yarn. . . . . . #slowfashion #imakemyownclothes #memadeeveryday #knitting #slowknitting #summerknitting #joolsywoolsy

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I knit it as the pattern says. But I did wear it backwards a few times until I realized that. It is the perfect summer tee. The lace gives it some visual interest without overpowering it at all. I definitely would like to knit this again in a finer yarn.

And finally, I got my hands on some t-shirt yarn and crocheted a bag! What else? It is not like I love making anything more than bags!

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T-shirt yarn. About 1kg. I am not sure how much in yards because the ball only had the weight on it. 10mm hook. You could also try an 8mm or a 12mm. Whatever is more comfortable for you. You will need handles of your choice. The ones I used are 25 cm long. The number of stitches at the end of each round is in parenthesis ( x SC) Repeat stitches between asterisks *…* US terms are used. Rounds are worked continuous. No joining to complete the round. You can use regular SCs or the waistcoat stitch. Swipe to see how it is done. Instead of inserting your hook under the top v you insert in the middle of the stitch. Base: Round 1: Start with a magic loop. SC 6 in the magic loop. (6 SCs) Round 2: SC 2 in each stitch. (12 SC) Round 3: *SC 2 in next stitch, 1 SC* until the end of the round. (18 SC) Round 4: *SC 2 in next stitch, 2 SC* until the end of the round. (24 SC) Round 5: *SC 2 in next stitch, 3 SC* until the end of the round. (30 SC) Round 6: *SC 2 in next stitch, 4 SC* until the end of the round. (36 SC) Round 7: *SC 2 in next stitch, 5 SC* until the end of the round. (42 SC) Round 8: *SC 2 in next stitch, 6 SC* until the end of the round. (48 SC) Round 9: *SC 2 in next stitch, 7 SC* until the end of the round. (54 SC) Round 10-18: SC in each stitch. (54 SC) That is it. Finish off. Weave in ends and add handles. #chocolatemintsinajatpatterns #crochetbag #tshirtyarn #freecrochetpattern #crochet

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The pattern is in the Instagram comments. If you aren’t already following me, please do, I hope to release a pattern at least once a month going forward. But I will probably be avoiding t-shirt yarn for some time. That stuff is brutal on my hands, but it does look pretty. So I am pretty sure it will eventually call me again.

Have a wonderful day! And be kind! To yourself and everyone around you.

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I made a pair of #lunpants with the elastic this time. So comfy. So soft and light.

A post shared by Yasmin Gamal (@jessyzz) on Apr 25, 2018 at 5:39am PDT

Then I decided to make a striped skirt. I got a little bit over confident and decided not to use a pattern and to just follow the YouTube tutorials. Mistake number 1. I was also using a knit fabric. Mistake number 2. Mistake number 3 was making it.

It turned out terrible in every way. Ironically the stripes matched perfectly. But the seams were wonky, the hem was unever. The elastic pulled in all the wrong directions. The machine ate my fabric twice. And even the iron melted the fabric.

I should have stopped when I was ahead. There comes a point when I know I need to stop but usually don’t until disaster strikes. I was sewing because the fabric was there and I just felt there was a need that had to be met. I wasn’t making a garment that I wanted or needed. I was making for the sake of making.

I had just done a stash inventory and felt really excited that I had a lot of usable fabrics.

That is the problem with crafting for me. At the beginning it was therapy. Something to keep my hands busy. To stay engaged in something from start to finish so I would feel accomplished. And as much as I still love making things, I really want to make things that will last, be cherished and are things that I actually want to keep and use.

I have sort of managed to get there with knitting. But not yet with crochet or sewing. I still crochet bags with the full intent of giving them away because I don’t need them or have the space for them in my closet.

I have been trying to minimalize my wardrobe. Not 100% minimal or capsule, but just own less in general. It is liberating for me. I generally don’t own a lot of clothes anyway and I like it that way. So there is no need to add more items to my wardrobe unless they fill a need.

But that is challenging for me, because there are many afternoons where I just want to make something and get it over with. But you really shouldn’t do that with clothing.

So, I am going to step away from the sewing machine for now. I think I will stick to smaller projects like heated rice packs and reusable grocery bags so I can get the satisfaction that comes with finishing a project that I can use.

And in the meantime, I am going to do some wardrobe planning and building.

I first saw the Fringe Dress by Chalk and Notch on Instagram and thought it was a gorgeous pattern. But I was also terrified of it. It has two views. One has buttons, the horror! And the other has a complicated neckline that means needing facings and the use of fusible interfacing. More horror!

But I remembered that I had read Pema Chödrön’s book The Places that Scare You and I was determined to go there. She says “Live your life as if it were an experiment” and “Nothing ever goes away until it teaches us what it needs to”. And I guess I needed to stop being worried about failing or things being hard and start experimenting more often. Maybe button holes would magically disapear if I just learned how to make them.

I bit the bullet and bought the pattern. I also decided to get it printed at a copy shop. I don’t have a large table or space to peice the pages. It is a game changer! I walked out the door, 2 minutes later with two A0 pages of my pattern. Obviously, the person working there had never printed a sewing pattern and was really curious about it, too.

I cut the fabric and put it away for the night. I was totally determined to slow down enough so it wouldn’t get exhausting or frustrating. The next day I started sewing. I had decided to make view A with view B sleeves. I don’t like sleeve tabs in general.

The instructions are so detailed with lots of pictures that I felt someone was holding my hand during the entire process. I didn’t have to second-guess myself or google things to figure out how to do it. I even lengthened the skirt and redrew the pattern because I am taller and don’t like my dresses too short.

I pressed every seam. Didn’t hurry myself at all and tested making buttonholes on scrap fabric. I even tested fusing the interfacing so I knew how much heat and pressure to use. I even undid the skirt because the gathering didn’t look right and did it again. I am glad I took my time. By the end of the day I had a wonderful dress. Sadly, I didn’t have the right buttons for it but when I added them the next day I did a little victory dance.

Here it is!

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I wore my fringe dress out today. I made two changes to the pattern. I lengthened the skirt. I think I could add another couple of inches. I also took out the back darts after trying it on because they just looked off on me. Other than that I made it as the pattern said. The details in the instructions made it a lot easier than I was expecting. Can’t wait to make another one. That is a total of 3 dresses and one pair of pants this year. There is a cardigan minus the sleeves, a black dress that is almost ready and I already cut fabric for a white top. I still need another two projects to hit my goal of nine. . . . . . . #memadeeveryday #handmadewardrobe #sewing #fringedresspattern #chalkandnotchpatterns #makenine2018

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Techinically, this is my wearable muslin and I intend to make another one. I would lengthen the skirt a little bit more the next time. And use a slightly more drapey fabric, but other than that I don’t think I would make any changes.

I am glad I went to my scary place, because it turned out, it wasn’t even that scary.
And no, button holes still exist. But now I know I have got this!

I wrote this post more than once. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to say, but at the end it turned into an argument for why you might want to sew your own clothes. I don’t really do resolutions but I do have monthly and annual goals and when I plan ahead I mostly get round to most of them. This year sewing more of my own wearables was one of them.

I wanted to do it for more than one reason. First I want to wear more dresses and I don’t always like what I find in stores. I thought that if I made what I liked I would wear them more often. The irony is that since the beginning of the year I have bought three different dresses that I love and wear often.

I also wanted to get better fit. Because I have narrow hips and a smaller bust, I can get away with many things, but if it is a fitted garment I always feel that I can’t fill it out properly. Third, I wanted to be more mindful of what I wear in terms of sustainability. Let’s face it, fast fashion is evil. But it is also very affordable and as much as I would love to shop from brands that offer fair wages for their workers and use the most environmentally friendly processes, I can’t afford it.

I try to offset it by buying items that I know will last for a long time, that are timeless in style and won’t be dated by next Tuesday. Sewing seems like a good balance. So my fabric might still not be the most sustainable but it is still something.

One of the other reasons I also wanted to sew more is time. Knitting a cardigan takes weeks but sewing a dress takes half a day, maybe a whole day if it is a very complicated one. For me that is a total win, because I can enjoy a finished item quickly. The process is faster once I already have the pattern printed, all the pages pieced together and cut out.

There is a specific type of joy that can only be created when you make something from scratch. And I am very addicted to it. The decision process is enjoyable. From having to match the right fabric to a pattern. Pick out any details like buttons or zippers and which modifications you need to make to a pattern. Do you shorten or lengthen? Do you add embroidery or some other details? It puts order in a world that is sometimes too chaotic and random and it does provide you with some semblance of control in life that creates calm. Or at least it does for me.

And then there is also the improvement in skill level and learning something new. Let’s just say it is good for your mental health. When doing anything there is a sweet spot, where it is easy enough that you can do it, but hard enough that you are forced and challenged to grow. That is where I am with my sewing right now. I can do more complicated things, but I am still learning and there is a lot of room for improvement. That exhilarates me. I get frustrated when I can’t get a seam straight or install a zipper properly but I am confident enough that I can figure it out.

Sewing also forces you to face politics. Fashion trends are dictated by the powers that be and they have decided on sizes, colors and even the functionality of the clothes that we wear. For example, pockets!

I fell in love with the Lodo Dress pattern ever since it came out. It is perfect for summer me. I picked a bright chartreuse textured crepe. That is the thing with sewing you are not bound to the confines of trends. It is a color that you rarely see on store shelves. Which makes sense when you realize that the people that influence trends are mostly pale white people who look terrible in that shade of green. I on the other hand, a Middle Eastern woman who loves the sun and probably spends too much time in it than is good for my skin, can actually wear it. Jasika Nicole’s wrote a post about it.

And then there is sizing. It is a can of worms. And you can’t win. With brands trying to make their customers happy with their use of vanity sizing, I am two sizes smaller in store-brought clothes compared to sewing pattern sizes. And that is just talking about contemporary ones. Vintage pattern sizing is even tinier.

So I made a dress. In a color and style that works for me. I still want to make more. Definitely with BIG pockets and more natural fabrics creating the least amount of waste I possibly can. But until then . . .

. . .  I leave you with my new favorite dress.

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I am wearing a dress and a cardigan made by me. Lessons learned: I can rock chartreuse. I need to get better at pressing my seams. V-neck facings are not scary, which is great since it is my most flattering neckline. Always change the needle before you start. After the cost of supplies, pattern and time it would have been cheaper to buy a dress. On the other hand this dress was not made in a sweatshop and is not evil fast fashion. So win! #sewingpattern #lododress #hitofudecardigan

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