Knitting News

Hi Everyone 

I spent a lovely couple of hours a few weeks ago at my local yarn shop, Fine Fettle Fibres, enjoying squishing and marvelling yarn at a Trunk Show from Old Maiden Aunt . The pop up shop had so many lovely yarns, I struggled to decide on something in particular (rather than everything) on display. I could have bought the whole lot. However, I have so much yarn in my stash I did need to exercise discipline. 

In the end, I managed to come away with a skein of beautiful baby alpaca/silk/cashmere 4 ply in the far daring colourway. The colour is lovely but the feel of the skein is something else, extraordinarily luxurious ! On the day, I also purchased a shawl pattern by my lovely friend, Stella Ackroyd. Stella had knitted up this design in a similar coloured yarn (from Old Maiden Aunt) and the sample kept drawing me in. 

                

Knitting the shawl will be a challenge for me. It’s an overall lace shawl and I always struggle with lace patterns. Hopefully, this project will help me to be disciplined in following a the pattern. I’m hoping I can cast on later today. I think, I need to knit my Gingersnap during the day. I’m planning on putting aside a short time each day or every other day (during the day) to knit my shawl. I tend to knit at night, watching TV and lace knitting (for me) needs to be something I concentrate on, following the pattern will need my full attention.

I’ve finished my current sweater knit, the tarasgeir sweater - you can check out the details here. I do need to block the sweater but it’s time to plan the next one. Very exciting ! I’m hoping to organise my next sweater, later today. I’ll let you know what I decide to do - on Monday. I’ll also get some finished tarasgeir photos when the sweater has been blocked but I do love the design, already.

Have a great weekend. I’ll be back on Monday with more Making stories.

Silver Sample

Hi Everyone 

This weeks Silver Sample is a pair of earrings. I’m calling the design Circulus.

                   

These earrings are very simple and easy to wear. I’ve used 1mm Sterling Silver wire for this pair, my design drawings came up with three different sizes and I’ve chosen to make the medium (M) version to start the prototype. I’m happy with the size. The shaping is a little more tricky than it may first appear, which took me by surprise! The length of the ‘legs’ (in proportion to the circle) is quite important to balance the earring. One leg is slightly shorter than the other. The back leg needs to be longer. I’ve chosen to flatten the legs (after lots of indecision) and I’m happy with the final design. I still need to polish the earrings but I like them. 

I struggled to get a photo of the earrings in action, they move around (slightly) and tend to be almost invisible in some ‘full on’ frontal views ! However, you get the idea and my photo, bottom left, gives an idea of the shape in the ear.

Thinking about the other size earrings, in my drawing plans, I’m not sure if the small size will work ? My plans have chosen the same leg length with a smaller hoop. I think, I need to rethink the length of the legs ? I did draw out the earring plans in actual size and they looked ok but having made the M size, I think I need to shorten the legs. I would like to try out a smaller earring, my everyday choice is always - small. I’ll share the results of more experiments, next week. I also have an idea for a necklace charm using the same idea, so that may appear too !

Thanks for calling in today.

 

Knitting News

Hi Everyone 

I’ve almost finished my latest sweater knit, tarasgeir by Flora Kennedy. The sweater looks great and it’s been quite an easy knit. I have changed quite a few parts of the pattern. I wanted a less fitted sleeve and have changed the top of the sleeve to give a dropped shape (at the shoulder). This change resulted in changes in the way I knitted the whole sleeve, so I’m hoping it’s going to look as I’d hoped. I have tried on the sweater at various stages but it’s never quite like the finished garment fit, until everything has been done. I’ve also altered the length, very slightly. The sweater pattern is cropped and I added a few centimetres as well as widened the bottom by adding more cast on stitches. The sweater is knitted bottom up.

                  

I need to sew up the sides of the sweater and sleeves, I’ve pinned them together for now. My aim was to have a sweater which would be good for layering over dresses and t-shirts, so I wanted a more boxy shape, hopefully, that’s what I have !

I’ve used Wensleydale Longwool to knit my sweater, it’s lovely to knit and I’m interested to see how it blocks out. My plan is to try on the sweater, use

Mattress Stitch to sew up the sides and block, I’ll let you know how things go.

Thanks for calling in today.

Sewing Options

Hi Everyone 

As I mentioned yesterday, I have another new sewing project in the planning. I have a number of options, in my mind.

                

I had, more or less, decided on the specific design. However, I have some doubts and keep wondering if my trusted LB Pullover would work better (bottom right image). The initial idea for my project is The Boxy T Shirt by Makers Atelier. I especially like a version which adds a ribbon trim (see my image, bottom left). I love the ribbon trim but also the raised front line of the T Shirt and the wide cutting of the cuff. However, I know, the LB Pullover is such a great fit for me and I’ve been wondering if it’s a safer choice ? I could also add the ribbon to the LB, so it’s a difficult one ! I’ll read about and ponder the details of the Makers Atelier and make my decision before the end of the day. 

My fabric is a pretty bright blue colour and quite a lightweight, drapey, woven fabric. It’s rather silk-like but probably a polyester or maybe a viscose ? I’m not sure when or where I bought the fabric ? I probably bought it around the time I received the Makers Atelier magazine (Spring/Summer 18) but I’ve no idea where it came from. 

The magazine goes into several versions of the TShirt pattern, giving a range of different looks. I would love any of them. My only issue is the fit. This project is such an easy, quick sewing project and I should stop procrastinating and just get on with it ! I have lots of fabric and can make several versions of both patterns. I think, I’m talking myself into the Makers Atelier choice. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

Just a note about the Makers Atelier Magazine, it’s a beautiful publication. Lots of interesting articles and each magazine contains a pattern. Check out Makers Atelier stuff here, everything they do is very stylish. The photography in the magazine is exquisite and such a joy to browse, especially inspirational.

Thanks for calling in today.

Sewing Stories

Hi Everyone 

I’m on my regular mission to organise and store my Making stuff and have come across a few little sewing projects which have been (almost) forgotten about. I had started an Ogden Cami top, by True Bias patterns, quite some time ago. I can’t quite remember the date but it can be counted in years rather than months. I’m not quite sure why the top has not been completed ? I’ve done most of the work. Technically, there’s only the hem and the straps to sew. I could probably have finished the job in an hour or so. 

I’ve spent some time closely inspecting the Cami and decided to work on the top edge of the garment and it’s much improved. The fabric is a silk polyester jersey-like material and quite tricky to sew. There’s lots of stretch but it’s also very slippy. The top line of cami it self interfaced (with the same fabric) and in parts, quite bulky. Yesterday, I trimmed and graded the layers and it’s much improved. Hopefully, I can find some time to complete my Cami  today. 

             

In addition to the Ogden Cami, I came across another project waiting to be started - this time it’s just a plan plus the pattern and materials ! Hopefully, as soon as the Ogden Cami has been finished, I’ll start the next project. It will be a blue T shirt using woven fabric and embellished with ribbon. Again, this is something that’s been waiting a very long time to make. I’ll share the details of this new project ‘to be’, tomorrow.

Thanks for calling in today.