Knitting News

Hi Everyone 

I have a very exciting new knitting project in my queue. 

                    

I’m knitting a second tarasgeir by Flora Kennedy. This time, I’m using the wonderful Uist Wool, in the Calma colourway. Close up, the yarn looks ‘brown’ but  from a distance is could be ‘black’. It’s a very rich shade with lots of tiny ‘silver’ single hairs, I love it.

My previous tarasgeir was hacked (by me) to give a dropped shoulder rather than the fitted version in the pattern. I will knit the true pattern, this time.

I do have another Uist wool project in my queue, the Lovage sweater by Flora Kennedy. This has been waiting for around eighteen months ! Check out the project here. I’ll be starting this project after a I’ve finished my current sweater, St Catherine cardigan by Kate Davies. Check out this project here. I’ve had a few issue so I’m not done yet ! So many sweater to knit !

Thanks for calling in today. Have a great weekend, I’ll be back next week with more Making stories.

Jewel Sample (20/2/20)

Hi Everyone 

I have a completed set of the prototype earrings from last time. This is the copper/enamel version which has been dipped in enamel paint.

                  

I’ve given the earrings a small Sterling Silver post with a Butterfly Back (not shown in my photo story) rather than the longer post. I’ll be making a second version with the longer posts. 

I’ve used a white, gloss enamel paint for this job and I’m reasonably pleased with how things have turned out. Drying the paint takes 24 hours and I wasn’t sure about how I could support the earrings while drying. However, I thought about my Third Hand Tool and it was perfect for the job. The finish of the enamel is pretty and I love the white colour. Not everyone will go for a mismatched set of earrings but it’s just the sort of thing for me ! I have some similar navy enamel paint so will choose a navy colour for my next experiment. Next time, I’ll make ‘o and x’ shapes with short posts, quite small components, I think ?

I do have some Sterling Silver components ready for this (mismatch) design and will think about using enamel paint on the design,  not a total immersion, probably a partial dip.

Thanks for calling in today.

Sewing Project (part 3)

Hi Everyone 

It’s almost the final part of the latest sewing project, the Fielder Dress by Merchant&Mills. You can read back a few days worth of blogs to get more on this project.

 I completed the cuffs yesterday and overlocked the hem, ready for turning up. I’m not sure about the length ? I need to try on my dress with a few different combinations as well as testing out shoes. Hopefully, I’ll do that later today. Also, I did suggest needing to add a stitch line to the sides seams, yesterday. I didn’t do this but am still thinking it could be a good idea. I feel, there could be a slight possibility of the overlocked seam stretching and showing on the right side. I did have slight issues with my overlocker coping with the thickness of the fabric. I’ll decide when I try on my dress.

            

Generally, there were no issues with the cuffs. I used the usual method of adding stretch elastic to an opening. I stitched the elastic into a ring, the pattern told me what length I needed. I divided both the fabric of the cuff and the elastic ring into quarters and placed a pin on each quarter mark. As the two pieces come together they meet at the pins points. I started machining the elastic in place, stretching the elastic between pins as I stitched. This stops any puckering. All is well and I’m happy with the results.

I’ll get some images of me wearing my dress when I check for the hem length. I’m already thinking about new ways of using my Fielder pattern. I have some lovely stretch jersey which will make a great tunic length Fielder.

Thanks for calling in today.

Sewing Project (part 2)

Hi Everyone 

I introduced the Fielder Dress project yesterday, read back for more details on the pattern and fabric. Yesterday, my job was to sew up the side and underarm seams (including a side seam pocket). I did manage this job. However, the very simple task took forever ! I think, it’s to do with trying to overlock several layers of fabric which includes previously overlocked seams (very bulky in places). The trimmed fabric (from the overlock process) wanted to get between the blade on the overlocker. I did consider a plan B, ie overlocking the sides (to give a neat finish) and then sewing up the seams in the conventional way. In the end, I did manage to complete the job on the overlock machine. I’m still wondering about adding a single line of stitching along the overlocked seam. For some reason, I’m convinced the overlocked seam isn’t as secure as I’d like ? I’ll take another look today and check it out. Other than, the machine issue, all is well. My next job will be adding the cuff. I had thought, I could have finished this yesterday - not to be !

                     

Hopefully, I’ll get the cuffs onto my dress today. This should be quite a quick job, famous last words ! The neckline uses the same elastic and the technique worked very smoothly, so I’m reasonably confident the cuffs will be similar. After the cuffs, it’s just the hem. 

I’ll share how the cuffs go, tomorrow.

Thanks for calling in today.

Sewing Project (part 1)

Hi Everyone 

I have a new sewing project to share today. I started the Merchant&Mills Fielder Dress over the weekend and am well into the process. This project is one of my Christmas presents and it’s been patiently waiting for me to get going. I cut out all the pieces, sleeves, front, back and pockets with elastic cuff and neckline, not too complicated ! The front has a couple of bust darts and the back has no fitting. The sleeves do have some lovely shaping over the top of the arm part, using quite a deep dart. This gives a very nice line to the top of the dress. The sleeves fit into the neckline with a raglan style design. Generally, the dress is elegant but very simple.

I’m using something called Double Gauze Revolver fabric in a Mustard colour, again from Merchant&Mills. The fabric is beautiful to work with and I love the colour. The fabric is woven and I did wonder how to cut my dress, regarding the fit ? In the end, I cut a size 10 top section and graded out to a 14 below the pockets. I knew there would be no give in the fabric so didn’t want the hip line to be very tight. As it turned out, the 12 would have been enough and I ended up taking in the bottom part of the dress. I basted all the bits together before overlocking the seams.  The initial fitting was perfect and I’m amazed at how good the fit was. I tend to err on the side of caution with sizing and often make a garment which is much too big, often disregarding all the finished garment measurements ! However, on this occasion, everything turned out well.

                 

I’ve got quite a bit of the project completed. The front, back and sleeves are all attached, I’ve added pockets to the sides seams and attached the neck rib. My next job is to sew the sleeve and side seams (including the pockets) to complete the main garment. 

Tomorrow, Ill share the detail of the neck band and sleeve cuffs - if I can find some time to work on my project today ?

Thanks for calling in today.