Thank you to all the tester who are testing the Belfast Pullover. New sizes are scheduled for release by the end of August 2019.  

Belfast Pullover is an easy-to-wear pullover which achieves the look of cables without a cable needle. The body is worked in columns of textured cabled stitches and the bodice in Stockinette with a gently scooped neckline. It is worked flat from the bottom up and is both charted & written out with schematics.  Pullover is designed to be loose-fitting so please select a finished size that gives you about 4"/10cm of positive ease.

Skill level:  Intermediate

Yarn:  Worsted weight (yarn shown in sample is Good Karma Farm 60/40 Alpaca/Wool blend)

The test is being run on YarnPond.com.  If you're not familiar with YarnPond, you can sign up as a tester for free.  Click here for all the test/pattern details, or to apply.  

The deadline to finish your test garment is 7/31/19 (but I am flexible on this).  I hope you can join us!

#DonnaEstinDesigns
#Belfast Pullover
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​When I was Stockholm not long ago, I noticed women wearing shorts over tights.  It was the first time I had seen this combination and initially I thought, why not just wear pants?  But as I saw this outfit over and over again, it grew on me.  Shorts are cute.  They give a little burst of color in the middle of your body, and you can wear them over any color (or print) of tights you like.  It was a beautiful example of combining the look you want with the practicality you need. 
 
I thought about this recently when I watched the Pre-Fall 2019 fashion shows.  There are two trends that grabbed my attention and I saw enormous potential in combining something that looks stylish with the practical. 
 
Trend # 1 - Dresses over pants:
 
Skirts and dresses are being worn over pants and this is look is definitely taking off.  Why would you wear a dress or skirt over pants?  First, it gives you a longer, taller look.  Second, it’s edgy and weird and everyone wants to be weird these days.  Third, it’s a protest of tights and yoga pants.  For people tired of the bulging spandex everywhere you look, replacing the tights with pants is chic, more conservative and definitely fashionable.  If you select pants that are on the opposite spectrum of tights, and wear wide or flare legged pants, it creates an air of the roaring 20’s and Phrynie Fisher’s modern woman.  Be on the look for tuxedo-stripe pants to make the colors pop.  This trend is pushing into unisex better than any other.  Men and women can both wear tunic dresses over pants.   It allows men in the western world to pull in elements of the east and combine basic tunics with pants, in theory, wearing a dress but not really wearing a dress.  As men and women’s attire become more and more unisex, you’ll likely see this trend picked up quickly.  Watch for everyday brands such as Calvin Klein who are releasing this trend heavily for Fall 2019.
 
Trend # 2 -  1980’s style Mini Dresses:
 
Those famous super short dresses are becoming THE party dress.  The hem length for dresses has been getting shorter and shorter beginning in 2016 with Saint Laurent’s Fall show and reaching massive popularity across loads of designers at the Pre-Fall 2019 shows.  If you love this look but can’t pull it off, be a trendsetter and wear the mini dress over yoga pants or capris. 
 
Easton Tunic/Dress is designed to be worn over a long sleeve tee shirt and pants.  It works well with jeans and cords for a casual look and provides great coverage so it’s easy to wear without being self-conscious if your jeans are a little tighter than they used to be.  Designed in 2 lengths (tunic and dress), it is flattering with A-line shaping.  Without sleeves or neckline finishing, this is a good project to work when you want to take your brioche into a garment.
 
 
For more inspiration, please visit:

https://www.vogue.com/article/pre-fall-2019-fashion-trend-report
 
https://40plusstyle.com/fashion-trends-2019-the-best-looks-from-the-ss19-fashion-shows/
 
https://fashionista.com/2019/01/pre-fall-2019-trends