Red and white polka dot hair scarf: eBay
Red hoop earrings: Claire's
Handmade vintage reproduction cherry print sweater: Vintage & Cool Knitting
Bangle bracelets: Assorted sources
Vintage reproduction side button jeans: Freddies of Pinewood
White 1950s/60s tile purse: etsy seller Running Rabbit Studio
Red and white peep-toe wedges: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red
Photography by Antonio Cangiano
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Rarely being able to make even moderately long-term plans (a point I discussed here earlier this year), I don't typically check the weather forecast any further in advance then the day we're on, or perhaps the next, unless curiosity compels me to. Late last month however, that inner voice of wisdom (which it's always wise to listen to) told me to do just that and I'm very glad that I did, because the week that was waiting ahead of us was jam packed with temperatures in the 38C/100F range.
Such toasty days are rarely well suited to wearing sweaters, yet it was precisely that which I wanted to wear, so I knew that I had to head out and grab some snaps right then and there (summer was here by then and that could potentially mean several weeks of sky high temps). Tony and I headed down to the lovely grassy park in front of Skaha Beach here at the south end of town and took turns shooting each other - with a camera, of course! He wanted a new head shot for use online, and I needed to take pictures of this resplendently pretty cherry sweater.
Created for me as a gift by one of the absolute dearest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting online, Regiane Trainotti of the blog Vintage & Cool Knitting, this sweater arrived on my doorstep shortly before I went in for surgery this past April, and I've been eager to sport it front of the lens ever since.
Regiane and I met when I commented on a sweater she had created for Charlotte from Apple Menina, and became fast friends pretty much overnight, swapping many Facebook messages back and forth, as well as connecting via each other's blogs. She and I share much in common (from a passion for vintage to a penchant for crafting), though we live thousands upon thousands of miles away (Regiane hails from Brazil), which makes meeting face-to-face anytime soon quite unlikely. Thankfully though, there's the internet and postal system by which to stay in touch.
It was via the latter that this beautiful handmade sweater arrived last spring. Regiane had asked if I would like to receive and review one of her wonderful knit garments, and I couldn't say yes quickly enough.
We discussed style, sizing, details and material type (I'm allergic to lamb's wool, so a synthetic wool was a must), and I decided to go with a classic 1940s cherry partnered sweater that Regiane had already made some of before for herself (you can see a cardigan and shell set in the same pattern that she made for herself here) and other people. It's design is so "me", and calls to mind the many wonderful childhood memories of picking sun-kissed Okanagan cherries that I hold near and dear to my heart.
This vintage reproduction sweater could not be more expertly made. I really mean that. From the perfectly neat stitches to the sleeve construction to the way the whole thing fits, I fell in love with Regiane's terrific handiwork even more the moment I slipped this sweater on, and would happily wear anything she created. The quality, workmanship, and care with with it was made are abundantly clear, and I really felt like I'd been transported back to the 1940s as I stood out in the ever-increasingly-warmer late June sunshine that day.
Wanting to ensurer the was on emphasis on my fabulous new cherry print sweater, I kept the rest of my ensemble fairly low key: Freddie's side button jeans, a few bangles to match the colours of the sweater, a fun white vintage square tile purse, a simple polka dot hair scarf, and a pair of peep-toe wedges (which, amazingly, are holding on for another year - I've had them for a few summers now, and each year I think that one will be its last, but, though they do look a bit worn out, they're still going strong and I suspect they'll get me through until the end of this one).
I love the look of cropped/short waisted sweaters with high-waisted vintage or reproduction jeans and trousers - I find the combo really helps ad length to my relatively short torso and overall height (of 5'2"), so it's one I reach for often. If I wasn't in a pants mood however, I'd happily pair this charming sweater with something such as a red, black or denim pencil or a-line skirt. It would look darling under a jumper or pinafore dress as well, and of course with high waisted shorts, too.
Without a doubt, this is - as the title of today's post says - the most wonderfully cute handmade vintage reproduction sweater I've ever had. It's comfy, expertly constructed, completely adorable - and a cinch to wash (a trip later in the day to the dog park with Annie and numerous other pups there meant that it needed a good cleaning the moment I got home, and it came clean in a snap after a gentle hand washing). I would love it equally whether Regiane and I were friends or not, but the fact that we are makes it all the more dear to my heart.
If you've also fallen hard for this sweet-as-a-summer-cherry sweater yourself, too, Regiane is always happy to create pieces for customers who are interested in purchasing one of her beautiful knits. She's planning to open an online shop soon, and for the time being, can be contacted either via her blog or Facebook.
Just as the weatherman had predicted, the temperatures did indeed sore skyward from the next day onward, so I'm really happy we got a chance to grab these snaps when we did, and moreover that I finally had the opportunity to share Regiane's incredibly fun handmade knit garment with all of you. Though it might be a few more weeks until the weather is cool enough to fold it back into heavy rotation in my wardrobe again, all of that summer sunshine is needed to grow the cherries that the Okanagan is renowned for, and which match this endlessly cute sweater so well.
My deepest thanks go out to Regiane for creating this excellent piece and sending it my way. It's the first sweater anyone has knit specifically for me since I was a little girl, and I know that I will treasure it always as the beautiful gift and work of wearable vintage reproduction art that it is.
