Wrap Blouse

Just a few quick photos of one of the two blouses I recently sewed for Gaby. About ten days ago I went fabric shopping and returned with five new pieces of fabric. I've been almost evangelical to sewing them up from all of the new patterns that I bought - I don't want them to fall into oblivion like many other pieces of fabric in my fabric stash.

 The material is cotton jersey, soft, stretchy and sweet. I was hesitating about two Burda T-shirt patterns and decided to cut out stencils and try them on the fabric. In the end I chose in favour of the long sleeve, mostly because it is the end of August and, you know, winter is coming :)

The pattern is Burda #116 from 02 / 2020, a raglan sleeve blouse with a wrap detail and gatherings at the waist and below the shoulders. It is casual enough to be worn daily, but with interesting details that make it something more than a simple long sleeve. 

 Because Gaby is not here to try the blouse, I decided to cheat a bit on the fit - a added an elastic thread into the wrap, to make sure it wouldn't gape on her. I do hope she will like it and wear it, I think it's a nice pattern.

Pattern: Burda # 116 02 / 2020

Size: 34 (downsized from 36 in reference to 38)

Fabric: cotton jersey

Time to make: 3 days

 

Knip Mode Cargo Pants

A pair of hiking pants I sewed for my husband. I finished them last month, but because of the heat this summer it was only yesterday that he put them on for the first time.

The pattern is from Knip Mode 06 / 2020, a Dutch pattern magazine. I bought it as a pdf pattern with Russian instructions from Burda.ru site. Dutch patterns are a bit different from Burda patterns - they are designed for taller and more massive body types. The height for women's patterns is 172 cm, bust C cup and for men's patterns - 183 cm.

I have several Knip Mode patterns, bought from Burda.ru, but this is the first I have actually printed and sewn. The overall fit impression - according to their sizing table, my husband is size 52, but the fit is actually quite loose on him. However, as he prefers ease in his clothes, if I make this pattern again, I would take in the pants at the waist and down the legs, but keep the ease at the hips.

The pattern envisages a cut under the knees, I suppose for plasticity? However, as they have used a short model for the pants in the magazine and the pants are obviously enormous on him on the photos, it is not quite clear where exactly should the cut fall, so I sewed it without adjustments to my husband's figure. However I do wonder if it should have been higher, immediately under the knees or as it is?

 

Pattern: Knip Mode 06 / 2020

Size: 52 

Fabric: cotton twill, 95% cotton 5% elastane

Time to make: one week

My modifications: 

1) I added pockets at the back. The pattern has false pocket flaps at the back, but I added real pockets with flaps and buttons, as my husband keeps there his documents when hiking.

2) The pattern doesn't have a waistband. I initially sewed it as per pattern, but didn't like the fit and the look, so I cut the continuous waistband and added a proper waistband with belt loops. 

3) The pockets close with operational buttons and not with snaps

Overall I am satisfied with these cargo pants and I am curious to try my women's Knip mode patterns too, though my figure is more suited for Japanese and not for Dutch patterns, so I'm afraid I'll have to make a lot of adjustments to get the fit right.

Bosnek 2021

Today, amid some forecasts for rain in the afternoon, we chose an easy hike on Vitosha, along one of our often frequented favourite trails - in the vicinity of the village of Bosnek. Following yesterday's heavy rains and under today's hot sun, the air was hot and humid, but after last week's cold exposure, we were carefully dressed with long trousers and hoodies in the backpacks and so we sweated profusely and laughed at our belated wariness. 

The hike was easy and pleasant, we had a picnic on the grass and enjoyed the quiet and solitude of the yellow grassy meadows.

Hike info:

Destination: Live Water Spring, Bosnek

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 9.5 km

Elevation gain: 190 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers, Knip Mode Cargo Pants 06 / 2020 (to be blogged soon)

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims

The Live water spring

 

 

Strashnoto Ezero 2021

Several times a year we make "grand hikes" - climbing difficult high peaks or traversing long routes that take 7-8 hours. The round route from the Central Mountain School to Yonchevo lake, then the Scary lake, hut Malyovitza and back to the Central Mountain School is only 15 km, but along a very technical terrain, with steep climbing, steep descending and glorious views, which usually takes us about 7 hours - quite a strenuous excersise.

We've been to Strashnoto ezero (Scary lake) in Rila twice in October, yesterday was our first time in August and it was definitely the most cold we've felt lately - mostly because we underestimated the weather forecast. It's been so so hot this summer, that a sunny day with some clouds and potential light rain didn't seem that bad. But when we arrived at the Central Mountain School, the clouds had gathered densely in the sky above the area and we barely saw the sun that day. 

:The first part to Yonchevo lake is fairly easy, with a few steep climbs, lots of blueberries and some raspberries

:Yonchevo lake. Here we had a short rest, taking in the views

:And up we went along the climbing trail to Strashnoto ezero. Here, above Yonchevo lake, we came upon a few raspberry bushes, heavy with the most delicious and ripe raspberries we've ever eaten. We gorged :)

Hike info:

Destination: Strashnoto ezero round route

Mountain: Rila

Total length: 15 km

Elevation gain: 750 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 7 hours

Average difficulty: 7.5 / 10

:The plateau after the steep climb is one of my most favourite places along the trail. We could already see the crown of peaks of the Popovokapski ridge

:The most technical part of the trail, requiring climbing up tilted stone plates. In wet weather it can get very tricky, luckily it hadn't started drizzling yet and we climbed it up in no time

:And here we are - the shelter of Strashnoto ezero in already in sight

:An interesting bird hopped on the stones of the smaller lake

:Strashnoto ezero (the Scary lake)

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

Husband: boxers

I: lingerie, Sabrina Slims I, Burda Raglan T-shirt 6202

:Here we had a longer rest and a snack. The temperatures dropped and my thin windshield jacket proved very insufficient to keep me warm. I wished I had packed my fleece jacket as well.

:Down the path to Malyovitza hut by the many Prekorechki lakes

:The Needles. We detoured a bit from the path climbing up this hill to check out the area under the Needles. I was sure there must be something - a lake, a river there, but no - it's a vast stony desert, kind of amazing in its austerity and bareness

:Soon after we past the Needles it began to drizzle and I put the camera away in the backpack. The steep path became slippery and the adventure went up a notch, especially when we decided to take a shortcut right downhill and across the Malyovitza river along slippery stones and fallen branches

:Peak Malyovitza in the distance