Fibre Friday

Hi Everyone 

Friday is here again ! and yet another week has flown by. This week seems to have been very busy with lots of unusual things happening. Nothing amazing but just ‘out of routine’.

 I’ve been knitting most evenings and had some little knitting sessions scattered throughout the week. However, I’ve not much to show for my efforts. I think, I’ve almost exclusively worked on my Winter Rose Socks by Helen Stewart. I love the pattern and it’s a dream to knit with my lovely Natural Born Dyers sock yarn in Seapinks. The yarn is a Hugh Twist BFL/ Nylon and beautifully soft. The colour is stunning. Lots of varied shades going on.

I’ve had lots of issues, th  main one is my very tight knitting gauge. I’m trying to loosen up and feel I have made some progress but there are still problems with the finished size of the sock. The foot part seems fine on each of the socks I’ve completed (three in total !) however, all the sock legs are much too tight. I can get the sock on - with a bit of a struggle but it’s not good. The pattern becomes distorted and spoils the overall look of the sock. My plan B was to go up a needles size on the leg and go down again for the foot but I don’t have the right size needle. I should have acquired it at the beginning of the week ! This would have been a simple solution.Plan C is to knit the larger size in the pattern. I like the fabric I’m producing with my needle size ie 2.25mm and think, I will be OK with the larger size because my gauge seems to bring everything down, at least one size. I’ve just started the leg lace pattern on the latest sock and will complete one more sock and see how it looks. I’ve not had the heart to rip out the first sock so it’s there inspiring me to keep going. When I get my second sock completed the way I want it, I’ll rip the original out and make another.

It’s my ‘way’ to rip things out if they are not exactly right, so I’m fine with all this. If I get a bit frustrated, I will switch to another project for a while. My only slight irritation is that I could have been well into the yolk of my Coinneach (read back last week for details) cardigan. I think, I may have done a couple of rows since last Friday. Maybe I need to do a few more later today.

Something to balance all this ‘gauge angst’ and giving me huge pleasure is using my new little progress keepers (see my photo story, bottom left). I made these a few weeks ago and have started to add them to all my knitting projects. Check out one of my previous posts here for more on the progress keepers/stitch markers back story. This one is a slice of layered chocolate and raspberry gateau with a strawberry cream swirl on the top.

                      

My other news for today is to share a couple of birthday treats from earlier in the week. I bought myself a couple of yarn treats while on a trip to Edinburgh.. A 4 ply Rennie yarn from Shetland in the Stonehenge colourway and a Hebridean/Mohair from Kathysknits in Blue. I did see a couple of lovely Burnt Orange colours from Kathyknits too but she didn’t have the 4 ply. I have some 4 ply undyed yarn here at home and am planning to dye some up to compliment the two new yarns. I have an idea to knit a cardigan using the two new yarns as part of the design. I’ve a few ideas based on some patterns I already have. I’ll be revealing my plans when I have something to share.

My other yarn acquisition is a lovely present - yarn for walking/boot Socks. This is yarn I’ve used before for thick socks and it’s lovely to knit. The pattern, I’m planning to use, is a simple cable design. It knits up very quickly and I know it will fit. No lace to mess up here !

                    

That’s it for this weeks Fibre news. Yet again, no spinning or crochet ! 

Thanks for calling in today. Have a great weekend. I’m hoping to be back next week with some photos story style posts. It’s Easter Holidays here so we will be out and about. Bye for now.

Tales from Edinburgh

Hi Everyone 

 I’m sharing a few memories from my great day out in Edinburgh. If you called in yesterday, you will know I planned a birthday treat with my family. Our day started with a couple of hours in the car, knitting. It’s a beautiful route from our home in Northumberland to Edinburgh and the weather was kind. Low sunshine in the sky and wonderful views along the coast. The Gorse was also beginning to blossom giving bright spots of vivid yellow all the way alongside the road.

Once in Edinburgh, we had coffee in the Scottish Parliament Building followed by browsing our way to Kathy’s Knits in the New Town. I managed to acquire a few balls of yarn (I’ll share the yarn tomorrow in my Fibre Friday slot). 

                    

Lunch happened in the Dovecoat Studios, a wonderful place to eat. I was hugely inspired by a Garry Fabian Miller exhibition. This exhibition showcases a new tapestry created in collaboration with Dovecot Tapestry Studio. This exhibition looks in detail at processes, from the perception and selection of colour in tapestry to recent changes in digital photographic printing that have had a major impact on Fabian Miller’s work. You can find more about the exhibition here. There was also a great little shop at the Studios, I managed to resist buying too much stuff. Only one little momento. However, lots of inspiration and new plans to get into weaving.

A little more browsing around the old streets of the Castle area, on our way to the National Gallery for Afternoon Tea. We even came across a traditional wedding with a couple of Pipers en route. After Tea, it was time to come home. A few more hours knitting later, I had a lovely meal cooked by the Boys with a big bag of wrapped presents to open. 

‘All in all’, a wonderful birthday. The only thing that got in the way is a severe head cold! However, it was still a lovely day.

Thanks for calling in. I’ll be back tomorrow.

Stitched Story Week 4:3

Hi Everyone 

Today, is my birthday and to celebrate I’m off to Edinburgh with my family. I’ve identified a great place to visit. The place is called Dovecoat Studios check out here. I have a new interest in all things ‘weaving’ so am really looking forward to the visit. One extra special  treat will be browsing in the Dovecoat Studio shop, notice the Merchant Mills products. I love everything Merchant Mills. 

Yet another special thing for the day is a new book - all about weaving. All very exciting.

            

In addition to all this excitement, I’m keen to drop into Kathy’s Knits, a great yarn shop in Edinburgh. I’m not sure exactly what I’m after but I’d like to find a little ‘memory purchase’. Perhaps, something for a shawl ? I’ll wait and see what I can find.

Hopefully, I can find a little time working on my stitched clock pin ? However, I’m not sure if that’s going to be possible. I’ll share snippets of my adventure tomorrow.

Thanks for calling in today.

Stitched Story Week 4:2

Hi Everyone

Following on from yesterday’s clock pin idea, I’ve started to make the clock part. Not much progress to share because I’ve been busy doing family things all day. However, I’ve made a start and will work away with the embroidery part later. I also had a lovely little package arrive via the post yesterday, the long awaited ‘butterfly buttons’. The buttons are lovely and just what I was expecting, just the right size and a great range of suitable colours. They will make a great addition to my Stitched Story bag. I’ve spotted at least two buttons which will be perfect. There is a danger of over doing the buttons, I will need some self discipline !

                 

I’m probably going to spend the next few days working on the clock broach, I find making these sort of things really rewarding and could spend the rest of my days dabbling in this sort of thing. No particular end to anything ! However, from a practical perspective, I know, I need a plan. 

Part of my plan, is to use a red velvet ribbon for the top closure of the bag. I’ve deconstructed the bag (a little) and have plans for adding a coloured fabric lining as well as a frill around the outside of the drawstring pockets. 

I’m hoping all the elements of my Story are now together, ready for the final construction.

Thanks for calling in today.

Stitched Story Week 4:1

Hi Everyone 

I’m almost there with my individual elements for the Stitched Story Project. More on each of the elements later in the week. 

My latest little creation is inspired by a fabric bow by Jessie Chorley. I’ve taken the clock bow idea and started to think about how I can incorporate this embellishment into my Stitched Story. 

So far, I’ve produced a bow (see images on left) and used simple running stitches to decorate the bow.

               

I want to develop a fabric embroidered clock and am wondering how I can link a part of my story to the clock. At the moment, I’m thinking about how many years have passed since developing the original Miss Mitchell Folk Art doll and trying to relate that date to a symbolic time on my clock. I’d like the clock part to be a small quilted item which can attach to the bow. The whole embellishment will then pin to the bag. Read back for more details about the Project as a whole.

I’m planning to use a stamp to develop the clock face, the stamped numbers can act as a guide for embroidery. That’s the plan. I particularly like the covered fabric buttons on the Jessie Chorley sample, so may try to develop something similar.

My intention is to produce all my patches and embellishments before I commit to including them in the finished piece. As mentioned, I think I’m almost there. I could go on making elements forever,  at some point, there needs to be a decision to stop. More on that later in the week.

Thanks for calling in today.