Rose + Regen Shawl Outfit
I’m on a roll with knitted projects, so today I’m sharing a fun outfit that includes a never-blogged knitted Regen shawl and cropped Rose Pants — both finished in 2018 — and my sweater knit Jade tee, recently blogged here.
This may seem somewhat counterintuitive, but I have found that my cropped Rose Pants work better in winter with boots than the longer full length version, because they keep the cuffs well above the snow and slush and mud. Anyone who has lived in a snowy area knows that feeling when snow freezes to the bottom of your pant cuffs and then melts on the back of your ankles after you come inside. ACK. You might be thinking: but doesn’t the cold air go right up the wide legs? and yes, so when it’s quite cold, I wear knee socks underneath to keep my legs warm.
This shawl is the Regen Shawl by Shannon Cook from the Dots issue of MAKING magazine, and the pattern is also now sold separately in Shannon’s Ravelry shop at that link. I used Swan’s Island Ecowash DK in “Geranium” for the yarn that I purchased at my LYS, Spun, in Ann Arbor. To date this is probably the most difficult knitting pattern I have ever attempted, as it combined lace, basketweave, garter tab cast-on and crescent shawl techniques, none of which I had attempted prior. Let’s just say it required every ounce of my mental acuity to complete, so I felt quite proud once it was completed.
This pic from a couple years ago gives a better idea of the texture close-up:
There’s something about this fantastic print (now out of print; designed by Anna Maria Horner on cotton sateen) that makes me feel totally bad ass when I wear these pants. It partly has to do with the color and the placement of the somewhat fallopian-esque motifs which create an homage to female reproductive power.
When I first posted these pants on Instagram on Valentine’s Day two years ago, I included the following caption:
“Made by Rae, candy heart edition:
❤️
So much love for these Rose pants (sewn by me).
So much love for this red Regen shawl (knitted by me)
So much love for this amazing fabric (designed by @annamariahorner).
So much love for this plastic heart bead bracelet (made by Clementine, one fruit 🍊 of my womb).
So much love for making garments that embody boldness.
So much love for my amazing, child-making body.
So much love for wearing whatever the hell I want.
So much love for myself.
❤️
And so much love to you, my dear friends. Remember to give some love to yourself today in addition to those you care about and for. May you also receive so much love, today and all days.
❤️”
That about sums it up, I think.
PS. You can find the Jade and Rose patterns in my shop, and a Rose sewalong can be found on the Rose Page.