Silver Sample (6/12/19)

Hi Everyone 

I’m still deep into house decorating and all other creative projects have suffered ! However, I have a number of Silver bangles under construction. So, my Silver Sample for this week is happening. My design is very simple, a fixed (soldered) silver wrist ring with smaller textured silver tube beads. I’m thinking of four sliding beads, initially.

                        

I’ve used a 2mm wire and slightly larger silver tube beads. The beads are not huge but they take a surface texture well and slide on the wire without getting in the way.

I have problems with silver bangles and have looked for the perfect bangle most of my life. Often, a bangle will not fit over the knuckle part of my right hand. Hopefully, these bangles will work, they are a fine (wire) size but strong enough and I’m confident this time all will be well ! I’ll share my results next time. I’m already thinking of adding small cups with semi precious stones if this works out.

On other news, Advent 6 has produced a Mustard coloured yarn today - read bag each day for the whole Advent story. In the meantime, here is a look at the Mustard yarn. This will change the dynamic !

                    

Thanks for calling in today. Have a great weekend. I’ll be back on Monday with more Making stories.

More Knitting Stories

Hi Everyone 

If you called in yesterday, you will know about the dilemma I had regarding my Advent Knitting Project. I opened the third Blue mini yarn ball and eventually decided to just add it. My problem was how the third Blue would effect how the balance of colours could work. Howeve,  I’m happy with progress and all is well. I’d already accepted my socks would not be the same, so that fine ! 

Today, the little ball is an ‘oatmeal’ colour, I’m going to add it to the all Blue sock. No decision needed, I just knew immediately ! I’m very much enjoying this project. Each day, there is plenty of time to complete knitting the new ball and the socks are growing well. I’m hopeful the whole project will be completed by the the end. My slight concern is finishing too early ! If I do, I’m already thinking about how I can add to the basic sock ? 

                  

My second knitting story is all about a project which is repurposing a sweater. You can read more about this story here. I think, the project was always destined to be a Nuuk. I’m looking forward to wearing my new Nuuk. The colour is perfect for my wardrobe, I have lots of layering ideas already ! The Nuuk has been quite a quick knit, only a week in and I’m into the main body of the sweater. It’s just about Stocking Stitch for around another 25 cms, a little on the short sleeves and the neck band. I’m juggling the Advent Socks and my Nuuk each evening, so I’m feeling very smug about my progress.

Thanks for calling in today. I’ll be back tomorrow with another Making story.

Making News Update

Hi Everyone 

I have a little update on my current Making projects today. Surprise, surprise - Advent Day 4 of the sock project has given me another blue yarn ball ! I love blue (obviously) but I do remember lots of other colours in the original collection of yarn balls or did I ? 

I deliberately mixed everything up and have almost forgotten what yarns have been included. However, I guess that’s the whole point - random stuff ! Unfortunately, I’m not absolutely OK with too much blue in one ‘stripe’. The blue will cease to be a stripe and more of a block. I seem to have a minor crisis ! I need to think about this one.

My other news is equally troublesome. I’ve been testing out new knicker patterns and have made (almost completed) The Celeste Panties, a free pattern from ohhh lulu. There are some fabulous patterns on her website, I have a few favourites which I will buy. Take a look at the range here.

My fabric is a lovely, soft, fine, pale pink Lycra and I have used some beautiful stretch lace in a creamy pink colour. The fit is quite good and I like the cut. I’ll adapt the pattern slightly by adding  a few centimetres to the back piece. This will make the fit perfect. I have prepared the elastic for the low waist/hip and it’s two min. job to complete. Generally, I’m very pleased. However, here comes the issue. I’ve managed to not aligne the leg lace. Despite following the designers YouTube video (which reminds you to do this) I managed to attach one side lower than the other ! There’s not much in it but it’s there. Very annoying. I’ve considered taking it out and I may still do this. I’ve left things for a day or so to see if it matters that much. 

                      

It sort of does ! But .... this pair was my test pair and I may leave things as they are ? Hence my reluctance to sew on the waist elastic. I’m going to leave things another day before I do anything. It will take quite some time to unpick the zigzag stitches on the lace !

Let’s hope my day improves !

Thanks for calling in today.

Advent Update

Hi Everyone 

It’s Day 3 of Advent today and I’ve just opened my little bag. It’s a bit tricky today !  I have a decision to make about how to knit today’s mini ball. I had thought, I would just knit on, whatever turned up. However, it’s another of the blue colour and I’m not sure a large block of blue is what I want in the striped socks ? I think, it’s time to start sock 2 !

            

I had a few tests runs with the reverse rib idea and eventually decided on the pattern you see in my photo story. Initially, my ribs were similar in width but it’s the single stitch lines which give the effect I’m looking for. I’m happy with how things are progressing as far as the pattern goes.
The idea of having two socks on the needles is to have a choice of how the colours can be knitted up, I hadn’t thought I would need to start the second sock, so soon. I did think, I would wait until a second grey appeared to start the second cuff with a grey yarn. Such as life ! So, I’ll be starting my second sock today.

Thanks for calling in today.

Advent 2019

Hi Everyone 

It’s Advent again and I’m underway with this years project. I’ve used exactly the same approach as last year, a little box of numbered packets, filled with little balls of wool. This year, I’m knitting a pair of socks.

I started yesterday’s packet (Day 1) with the cuff of one sock, I had all kinds of ideas about creating my pair of (semi matching) socks but have abandoned all the ideas and will simply knit each sock as the yarn appears from each packet. I will knit both socks simultaneously, I’m hoping this will allow me to choose how to place my colours as they appear. I’d like to have a different colour stripe rather than a block of colour, so if I pull out the same colour as the day before, I can choose which sock to add the new ball. That’s the plan.

                 

I don’t t mind the socks not matching, as long as the colours are the same (which they are ). I’ve forgotten, exactly, how many colours and which colours I’ve used, this is a good thing and will give me a little surprise each day ! Day 1 colour is a lovely light grey colour. Day 2 is a very pretty blue. I need to knit a little more of the rib with my blue and then it’s a decision about the pattern or not (on the leg of the socks). I think, I’d like to create a reverse rib pattern on my socks. I’ve seen lots of this type of pattern lately and like the almost inside out look this gives. My plan is to knit up each ball every day which should give me my socks by the end of advent. 

I’ll give an update on the project in a few days and share the pattern I’ve created.

Thanks for calling in today.