Michelle, ma belle... tres bien ensemble
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Michelle ma belle, sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble,

Tres bien ensemble

Volare.

2/11/2016

9 Comments

 
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We had a very brief excursion to Venice during our trip. It was too brief, actually. Still, Mike and I made our way around as large a portion of the city as we could. With all its canals, winding streets, and beautiful architecture, Venice is remarkable. However, it also felt like a giant tourist trap. Once you get off the ferry, you're captive. It's impossible to walk ten feet without encountering  a Murano glass gift shop and/or a gondolier. 
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We tried our best to propel ourselves around the city in search of gelato and coffee. We like to do this sort of thing when we travel. We pick a food and/or a drink that the place is known to do well and experience as much variety of that thing as we're able. In Brussels, it was chocolate and frites. Paris, macarons. Ireland, cider... you get the gist. It helps give us some direction with our wandering. Unfortunately, a lot of the top rated gelatarias were closed for winter holiday. Fortunately, we still found a few. We had a particularly amazing scoop of chocolate pistachio at SUSO. The pistachio was a little bit salty and the consistency of a nut butter. It was perfect mixed into the chocolate and possibly my favorite flavor I tried the entire trip. 
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In between brain freezes and coffee breaks we bounced between landmarks on our way to... FABRIC (of course). As a side note, if you're like us and prefer to explore new places on foot, National Geographic is an excellent resource for pre-fab walking tours. For Venice there were several options to choose from, but we mainly stuck with the Rialto area in order to maximize the time we had available. 
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It was crisp and cool while we walked around, but I stayed comfortable in another garment sewn from a wool sweater knit. This fabric is bulky and squishy. When I bought it, I imagined it would be perfect as a cozy sweater dress. That was my plan, actually. And, using vintage Vogue 8129, I sewed myself the ugliest, most shapeless dress imaginable. It was a disaster. The  only redeemable feature was the collar. The collar on this pattern is magnificent and huge. I have a giant dome (trust me on this), and it looks small in comparison to the size of this cowl. 
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Also, I really love this fabric, and I didn't want to feel like I'd wasted it. Rescue operations immediately commenced. I cut twelve inches from the length of the dress. I narrowed the side seams by inches. Then, I used the length I'd removed, folded it in half and turned it into a bottom band.  In the end, this is not the most flattering garment I've ever sewn, but It's still pretty great and very wearable. Also, it's delightfully warm and cozy.  My biggest complaint with this, as it stands, is that the seams are bulkier than I'd prefer. I do wonder if some sort of top-stiching finish like  THIS might help them to behave better. Working with new types of fabrics always involves a new set of obstacles and a learning curve for me. If you have any tips on sewing with bulky knits, I'm very grateful to hear them! 
Before I sign off, CHEERS to a new year of #vintagepledge! Are you signed up to participate? I have some very loose goals for 2016, but vintage is always on my list of things to do! 
9 Comments
Sue @ A Colourful Canvas link
2/11/2016 11:25:04 am

Oh, you look so cozy! Perfect attire for a ramble in Venezia!

I followed your link to NG...it came up with one downloadable walking tour for Venice. I'm wondering if you buy their hard copy travel guides for the cities you visit and then photocopy the walking tours or do you download the books and print out the walking tours you are interested in?

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Michelle link
2/11/2016 12:08:50 pm

I usually search for them by name/destination, because I tend to have a city in mind when I start looking. I download the maps/guide to my phone so that I can have them for reference while we're walking.

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zilredloh link
2/11/2016 11:34:44 am

Oh that fabric is such a find! I rarely see those kind of knits in our local fabric shops.

I don't think this sweater is unflattering on you. Sure its not a slinky knit, but this knit is perfect for these cold months and for travels. :D

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Michelle link
2/15/2016 12:02:26 pm

There was a giant pile of these fabrics in the remnants section at Vogue! I'm not sure if they're still there, but they had bolts of these wools in regular stock too!

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Pippa link
2/11/2016 11:40:21 am

That sweater looks soo lovely and squishy, I really want one. It probably helps that I'm freezing at the moment :p
The neck line looks wonderful and would be brilliant at keeping out and breeze.
Looks great on you

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Michelle link
2/15/2016 12:04:04 pm

I have been dreaming about summer weather sewing for a month... I'm sick of the cold. But, having squishy wool sweaters certainly makes things more bearable.

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Marie link
2/11/2016 12:16:03 pm

Oooh, Venice! How lovely...definitely on my bucket list :o) Also, loving how modern this 70s number looks! Delighted you've joined us again and I've pinned it for you :o)

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Michelle link
2/15/2016 12:05:42 pm

My favorite vintage patterns are the ones that transcend decades. And, I'm happy to be sewing vintage along with you again this year!

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Heather link
3/2/2016 09:45:27 am

I love the way you guys travel - in search of food? Yes please. I have really enjoyed seeing your Italy backgrounds. I've been to Venice twice and while I agree, it does seem like a tourist trap, it is so fun to walk through the maze that is the city. I really enjoyed it! That was pre-sewing days though, so unfortunately I didn't get any fabric souvenirs. Will you show us yours?
Such a great squishy, snuggly sweater! (And a great save!)

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