This Spring's Hot Trends

This Spring season contains a wealth of new fashion trends, many of which you will find hidden away in your wardrobe. Here are 5 of the latest Spring 2013 fashion trends, and their knitted or crocheted partners.

BLACK AND WHITE CHECK

Source: ©Vladimir POTOP

Star Pattern:

Check Slouch by Triona Murphy 

Source: ©Knitscene, Accessories 2012

Another great pattern is Envy Checked Mittens by Sarah H Arnold!

BOMBER JACKET

Source: ©Vladimir POTOP

Star Pattern:

Bomber Jacket to Knit by Val Love

Source: ©Val Love

Another fantastic pattern is Bomber Baby by Patty Davis!

WHITE SHIRTS

Source: ©Vladimir POTOP

Star Pattern:

Bel Air by Anne Hanson

©knitspot

Another great pattern is Windsor by Marie Wallin!

FEMININE HANDBAGS

Source: ©Vladimir POTOP

Star Pattern:

Knitting Needle Knitting Bag by Pam Allen

Source: ©mma

Another great pattern is 98-54 bag with cable pattern in Eskimo by DROPS design!

ORIENTAL

Source: ©Vladimir POTOP

Star Pattern:

Seamless Kimono Sweater by Jacki Kelly

Source: ©fuzzysox

Another great pattern is the Kimono Wrap Cardigan by Hilary Smith Callis!

So those are just 5 of Spring 13's fashion trends, I hope you've found some inspiration for future knitting and crochet projects. Pop on over on Saturday for the article "Knits You Need in Your Wardrobe this Spring!"

Knitwear of the 50s

The 1950s has to be my all time favorite decade. I love it for it's films and music, but I love it most for it's fashion. Dior challenged the world with a 'new look', which focused on women. He got rid of the military-like clothes, and brought in full-calf length voluminous skirts, strapless boned tops with full skirts, fitted jackets and straight fitted skirts to the knee called pencil skirts.

Coco Chanel introduced the Chanel Suit, which played an important role in 1950s fashion. The boxy jackets and slim skirts gave the wearer a slim silhouette. One of the largest trends that emerged in the 50s was the circle skirt. Teens embraced the bright colours and prints, layering a stiff, crinoline petticoat underneath to make the skirt stick out.

The main staple of the 1950s though, was the twin set. It compromised of a short or long-sleeved sweater and a matching cardigan. The actress Lana Turner brought sweaters back into fashion when she was nicknamed 'sweater girl' after her role in the film 'They Won't Forget'.

This season Pringle (the fashion designers, not the crips!) have said it is inspired by the 1950s sweater girls; such as Grace Kelly, Lana Turner and Margaret Lockwood. So we can expect twinsets to come back into fashion - yay! And do you know what that means? More knitting projects!

This is the Twin Set - Cardigan pattern by Patons UK, which was originally released in the June 1952 issue of Stitchcraft. It was knitted in lace (!) weight yarn, on 3mm needles. Can you imagine how long it would take to knit that?! 

Scouring Ravelry I found some lovely 50's inspired twinsets, but with a contemporary twist, such as:

by meghanballog  Flickr

#15 Twinset by Mari Lynn Patrick

© Kollage Yarns

Spumoni Tank and Cardigan by Sandi Rosner

I can't wait to get started knitting Molly's cardigan, which is also 1950s inspired! If you haven't seen it already, I'm going to be making Peggy Sue by Linda Wilgus using Stylecraft Special DK in Emperor (1425), as Molly looks gorgeous in purple!

After looking at it for a little while, I am starting to worry that you won't be able to see the cables because of the yarn colour, but we shall cross the hurdle when we get to it! I can't wait to cast this project on, it'll be my first "adult garment". 

So, question time. What is your favourite fashion era/decade, and why? x