Pomona Pants & Pressed Flowers Shawl: Sewing and Knitting a Fall Outfit

Hey y’all! Welcome back to Young Folk Knits, where we dive into the world of knitting, sewing, and a little slice of life from Arkansas. Today, I want to share something super exciting – I finally finished a project that has been on my needles for two and a half years! Yep, you read that right. It’s been a long, long time coming, but the Pressed Flowers Shawl is officially off the needles and ready to be worn. Let’s dive into the details and the creative journey behind it.

The Pressed Flowers Shawl: A Two-and-a-Half-Year WIP

The star of today’s post is the Pressed Flowers Shawl, a beautiful mosaic knitting pattern by Amy Christoffers. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pressed-flowers-3. Mosaic knitting has always held a special place in my heart because it’s not only visually stunning but also super fun to knit. The floral motif used throughout this shawl is what drew me to the pattern in the first place. So, naturally, I was super excited to cast on. But life happened, as it often does, and what started in February 2022 didn’t see much progress…until now!

I originally purchased a yarn kit from an Etsy shop called Birch Grove. https://www.etsy.com/shop/BirchGroveByKristina. The yarn is a superwash DK base, which I thought would be close enough to the sport-weight yarn the pattern calls for. I’m a loose knitter, and I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t swatch for shawls. They don’t need to fit as precisely as garments, so I figured I’d be fine with a slightly larger or smaller shawl.

The Home Stretch: Running Out of Yarn and Making It Work

Fast forward to this week, I was determined to finish the shawl. I reached the border and realized I was dangerously close to running out of yarn. Anyone who’s been in this situation knows that pit-in-the-stomach feeling, right? Well, I made it to the bind-off edge and had to get creative. The pattern calls for a sewn bind-off, which is similar to a tubular bind-off, but more suited for simple knit fabrics rather than ribbing. It’s a stretchier finish but requires a good chunk of yarn.

Since I was so close to finishing, I raided my stash for any green yarn that could work as a substitute. I tried a few different options – from DK weights to fingering yarn held double – and eventually settled on some knitting for olive merino in bottle green that looked just right. It wasn’t superwash like the rest of the shawl, but I figured it would work for the bind-off.

Sewing, Blocking, and a Handmade Outfit

With the shawl off the needles, I was ready to block it. One thing I noticed during blocking was that the superwash yarn stretched more than the non-superwash yarn, but it wasn’t anything a little pinning couldn’t fix. In the end, it all came together beautifully. I’m absolutely thrilled with how the Pressed Flowers Shawl turned out – maybe one of my favorite projects ever!

But the fun didn’t stop there. One of my favorite things to do is match my handmade knits with sewn garments. I had this black and white gingham linen fabric in my stash that I thought would pair perfectly with the shawl. So, I decided to make a pair of Pomona pants by Anna Allen. https://annaallenclothing.com/products/pomona-pants-shorts.

This pattern is fantastic for beginners – super simple with a wide leg and a flattering fit. The only tricky part is that you need quite a bit of fabric since the pants are cut in one piece for each leg.

A Handmade Wardrobe

Creating a full outfit that’s handmade from head to toe feels so empowering. It’s like wearing a piece of art that truly represents who you are. The gingham pants and the Pressed Flowers Shawl make the perfect end-of-summer ensemble, but they’ll also transition beautifully into fall.

I’ve already started experimenting with different tops to wear with them, and I love how versatile the combo is!

One of my favorites is the Remy Raglan by Sew house Seven https://sewhouse7.com/products/the-remy-raglan-top-pdf-pattern.

It’s amazing how small color changes can completely shift the feel of an outfit. With the Pressed Flowers Shawl and Pomona pants, I know I’ve got several fun looks to carry me through the cooler months.

Video of the latest adventures!

Wrapping It Up: A Celebratory FO and New Sewing Adventures

I can’t express how satisfying it feels to finally finish a project that’s been sitting in WIP status for over two years. The Pressed Flowers Shawl turned out to be everything I’d hoped for and more. The fit of the Pomona pants was spot-on, and I’m already planning on making more in different fabrics.

This journey reminded me of the joy that comes from creating something with your own two hands – whether it’s knitting, sewing, or anything in between. There’s something so special about seeing a project come to life and then wearing it proudly.

I’m off to tackle my next project, but if you’re in the mood for some creative inspiration, I highly recommend checking out the Pressed Flowers pattern and giving the Pomona pants a try. Until next time, happy knitting (and sewing), y’all!