marguerite dress collection

 A collection of one-of-a-kind Marguerite dresses for the shop in a seaside palette.  Apologies for the limited quantity and sizes.  All are in sample sizes S and M, dimensions listed in item descriptions.  Follow me on Instagram (username "wikstenmade") to see snapshots of Marguerite outfits.  The dresses will be for sale starting tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, but you can preview them on the website now.

I've also listed some Wiksten fabric yardage in the shop.  I designed the prints for my S/S 2012 collection, and I still have some leftover fabric.  It was printed by Spoonflower, and I'm selling it at a discounted price so I can find a new home for some of my fabric inventory.

spring tova dress

I sewed myself a Spring Tova Dress last week, using this glorious fabric by Anna Maria Horner.  If you're wondering why the Tova looks so different, it's because I customized the pattern by making a few changes.  First, I left the collar off and instead finished the neckline with a bias tape facing.  My Tank Top pattern includes directions for finishing a neckline that way.  I also applied a very lightweight fusible interfacing to the placket to give it more structure.  Thirdly, I added length to the hem because it seems my super short dress wearing days are over.  Last of all, I lengthened and tapered the sleeves and hemmed them instead of gathering them into a cuff, so I could roll them up.  I think when it gets warmer I'll take the sleeves off and just do a bias facing for the armholes.  This would make a great summer dress too.  It's been awhile since I've made a Tova, but I'm so glad I did.  There's nothing like having cheery new clothes for Spring.

bailey doesn't bark handmade collection

 all photos from Bailey Doesn't Bark

 

I'm obsessed with this new mini series of handmade ceramics, launched by Re Jin Lee for Bailey Doesn't Bark.  Read more about it here.  I've been watching the process unfold through Instagram, and it's so exciting to see the products fully finished and ready to go.  I was pumped to be able to get one of the ring holders since that's something I've been needing, and I also got a tiny dish for teatime snacks.  RJ is the coolest person and beautiful to boot.  (Remember her as my hat model?  The model with the short hair.)  Her work is just lovely as well.

pattern sale

From now until March 24th, hard copies of Wiksten sewing patterns are on sale!  Buy a bundle of two patterns, Tank + Tova, and save $15.  Single copies are on sale as well.

new hat patterns in the shop

Introducing two new hat patterns I designed, now for sale in the Wiksten shop: top--the Jul Hat and bottom--the Ribbstickad Hat.  It's still so cold and snowy here in Iowa at the moment.  Winter's not over by a long shot, so I continue to knit a lot of hats.  I have to wear them so often that it's nice to have a variety.

The Jul Hat requires DK weight yarn, with a gauge of 5.5 stitches per inch.  There are so many good yarns you can use to make this hat.  I've knit it in three different yarns so far.  The red one I made for Christmas was knit with Blue Sky Alpacas Melange in Chili Pepper (the perfect red), and the grey one for Valentine's Day was made with Sublime Organic Merino DK (the best yarn, but sadly discontinued).  This new rust colored hat was made with Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino, and it's so nice and cuddly.  This is my favorite hat out of all that I've designed so far.

The Ribbstickad Hat is knit in chunky weight yarn (3.5 stitches per inch gauge), so it's a very quick project.  I've made this a bunch of times and am in the middle of making one for myself and one for my husband.  It's knit in Tundra, a yarn that comes in gorgeous colors, by the wonderful Fibre Company.

I'll be happy when it's warm again but so sad to say goodbye to hat knitting season.

valentine treat bags

Happy (late) Valentine's Day!  This year I embroidered a bunch of little muslin treat bags, filled with sea salt + caramel chocolate, hot chocolate sticks, and pretty lollipops from France to give to my sweetheart and some of my pals.  It was pretty fun since I was really missing being a kid and handing out valentines in class.  Wasn't that the best, back in the day?  I remember making a box in school to hold all the valentines from classmates.  There's no reason adults can't do such things.

new knits

New knits in the shop: the Channel Hat in black and white marled cashmere/merino, the Jul Hat in organic merino, the Marled Öljett Hat in brown/natural heathered wool, and the Ribbstickad Hat in gorgeous blue alpaca/merino/silk.  Knitting patterns for the Jul and Ribbstickad Hats coming soon...

new jewelry in the shop

Announcing new jewelry in the shop today!  Order by February 8 for Valentine's Day shipping.  I love these new Odette pieces, created just for Wiksten: the Double Arrowhead Necklace and the Hanging Arrow Charm Bracelet.  Each comes in a kraft jewelry box inside a colorful block-printed cotton pouch.

studio visit with textile designer helen dealtry

 Recently I had the pleasure of photographing and interviewing the gorgeous, talented Helen Dealtry for the Martha Stewart Living blog.  Read the full article here.  I'm always inspired by a peek into Helen's studio and process.  Remember when we first did a collaboration together?

on community

I've recently started doing some freelance blogging for Martha Stewart Living, and my first post is now up on the site.  It's about a public art installation in Iowa City that I participated in, and I couldn't be happier to write about something that has meaning to me.  I feel so grateful to the new friends here that have welcomed me into their community, which is a pretty creative, awesome one if you ask me.  I'm not going to lie, moving from Brooklyn and starting over in a new place wasn't easy for me.  The first year was tough, which is why I get a little teary-eyed even thinking about how kind the people I've met in my new town have been.  I finally feel like I'm starting to settle in and find my niche.  I'll probably be leaving in a few years (Who knows though really?), but I'm just going to enjoy it for now and not think about that!  Well, enough blubbering.  If you're curious as to why people are putting sweaters on trees, you can read the Martha post here.  (I wish I could fill my whole yard with these!)

thanksgiving weekend

Happy Thanksgiving!  To celebrate the weekend, Wiksten will be having a special shop update with new products, good deals, and free shipping.  MCMC candles, Wiksten hats and sewing patterns, Odette jewelry, and Fay Andrada jewelry will be available.  Starts Saturday morning.

snöflinga hat pattern

I have a new knitting pattern for sale on my website!  Snöflinga is the Swedish word for “snowflake”, which is the inspiration for the hat’s details—its bobbles and patterned crown shaping are evocative of falling snow.  I love knitting bobbles more than anything, and this slouchy beanie is so easy/fun to knit (and wear).

Something else I'm excited about is that I'm teaching a knitting class for the pattern at Home Ec Workshop in Iowa City over the next two weeks.  Mondays, November 5&12, 6-8PM.  $35, supplies not included.  The pattern is free with the class.  This is the first knitting class I've taught, and I think it will be super fun to hang out and knit hats.  You can view Home Ec's November class schedule and more specific details about my class here.

more ossas

photos by Jennifer Sarkilahti, modeling by Anne McClain

The gold Wiksten + Odette Ossa necklaces just sold out, but we have a new grey leather colorway in stock, which is great for fall.

dusen dusen black/natural marl pocket sweater

 

photos by Jennifer Sarkilahti, modeling by Anne McClain

Coming to the Wiksten shop around 1:30 CST today.  100% alpaca, handknit in Bolivia.  Exclusive colorway for Wiksten.  This sweater is seriously awesome.  It has pockets!

dusen dusen tan/natural marl cardigan

photos by Jennifer Sarkilahti, modeling by Anne McClain

Coming to the Wiksten shop around 1:30 CST today.  100% alpaca, handknit in Bolivia.  My dream cardigan come true, this sweater is a perfect warm and cozy neutral basic.

dusen dusen nutmeg/tan marl cardigan

photos by Jennifer Sarkilahti, modeling by Anne McClain

Coming to the Wiksten shop around 1:30 CST today.  100% alpaca, handknit in Bolivia.  I love these comfy sweaters so much.  This is an exclusive colorway for Wiksten, so grab one while you can.  Worn with a Wiksten dress sample of a new sewing pattern I'm working on.

hats

photos by Jennifer Sarkilahti

Handknit hats in many colors coming to the shop tomorrow!  It's getting cold outside, and I can't leave the house without mine.  The beautiful tweedy yarn I used for the hats was made in America, which I think is pretty cool.  

During my business trip to New York last week, Sarkilahti shot some photos for me, and Anne and RJ were kind enough to model.  Such pretty ladies and sweet friends.  This has been a true labor of love!

snöflinga hat

The Snöflinga Hat is back!  Coming to the Wiksten shop in a couple of days.  Modeled by the lovely Anne and paired with the Jenny Scarf by Helen Dealtry.