Monthly Archives: May 2024

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purple cardigan

31/05/2024 8:42 pm \ Leave a Comment \ Carolyn

I’ve knitted a new cardigan!

This is cardigan A from the book Japanese Knitting, by Michiyo, translated by Gayle Roehm. The yarn is Jansen by Mod Vera, colour 80421344, it’s a yarn made for Spotlight which is where I bought it of course. Not the most wonderful yarn in the world but I bought it anticipating the boredom of possible lockdowns during the early days of Covid. It was a bit mohair-y, by which I mean that it stuck to itself and had such a degree of fluffiness the needle had trouble getting between the stitches sometimes.

So yes, I said “new” above, but actually this is a project whose beginnings hark back to 4 long years ago… I bought the yarn in a hurry and then began quite slowly. I got the back and one front knitted then the cardigan lay undisturbed for a few years. Yes, I’m so ashamed! Anyway, progress was painfully sporadic before I picked it up again this month for May’s knitting project. I haven’t forgotten my pledge to complete a project a month! although it is going to be a more difficult task than I first thought. If I hadn’t already knitted a fair chunk of this over the last few years it’s doubtful I would have been able to finish it. As it was I was knitting like a maniac for the last week or so.

My new purple cardigan is thick and warm and I feel extremely cosy in it. It has no closure so I’m going to have to pin it closed if I don’t want it hanging open, but that’s ok. I like it open too. I realised I forgot to take a photo of the back but it’s other plain, just stocking stitch. All the interest is in those lovely, richly patterned sleeves.

I’m extremely happy to get this bulky project out of my knitting basket and into the wardrobe! This was a good ten balls worth of wool, which is a substantial reduction of the stash. It was a lot of work, but I’m so happy!!

I’m wearing it today with my Closet Core patterns Ginger jeans, and an old white tee that was an adaption of the Closet Core Nettie.

Aaaaand, apropos of nothing really, but I also have to confess that I’ve decided that I really do hate April’s project and am probably going to rework that one. Hmmm. How am I going to reduce the stash if I keep making such self-defeating decisions?!

Posted in: knitting \ Tagged: hand knit, hand knitting, Japanese Knitting book, Knitted, knitting

a weird new top

24/05/2024 12:57 pm \ 7 Comments \ Carolyn

Hello! I’ve made a new shirt/top; it’s a little weird but it’s an idea I’ve had in my head for a long time and have been quietly working on realising it. I’ve actually been making this shirt for over a month! it’s still not quite there but this iteration has helped me to firm up the idea even further, so it’s all good! This will most likely become a new sewing pattern for our Carolyn & Cassie oevre…

I used a white slubby cotton that has been in my stash for ages, awaiting a good project. I really love this stuff and have made lots of things using it in various colour ways over the years. It’s originally from Fabulous Fabrics and I’m pretty happy that they still have it available in lots of colours to this day.

I drew up the design myself and it still needs a little work but I’m fairly happy so far. My idea is to have a shirt with the traditional collar, collar stand and opening button placket to be offset over the shoulder. I really like how this part of it turned out! I made the sleeves not quite full length, and there is a short, bias bound slit opening and traditional cuff. This may or may not change as time goes on, I’m not 100% sold on this. I added two patch breast pockets to the front because it all looked a little bare without them, but the pocket situation is still a work in progress too. Reset assured there will be pockets in some form or another though! Most of my time has been in perfecting the collar and collar stand and I’m very happy with how this bit looks. Although I forgot to button it all the way up while taking my photos here it’s still very comfortable fully buttoned up. Hurrah!

I stitched on black buttons for a contrasting look; also from stash and originally from Spotlight probably. These don’t really match each other but they’re all black and two-holed, and the same size so you wouldn’t really notice the difference without knowing.

I made the hem gently curved and love how this looks.

Watch this space!

I’m wearing today for me-made May here with my beloved Closet Core Morgan jeans and raspberry silk jacket made years ago using V 2894…

You can also see this jacket worn in 6 different ways in this post here… and wow, I’ve just reminded myself how long it’s been since I did something like that! It was actually fun, maybe I should do one again!

Oh, and my daughter in law Kelly kindly sent me a few pictures of Arthur wearing his new cardigan, that I finished at the end of March. He looks so cute! In his words “it’s beautiful, like a rainbow”. Words to totally warm the cockles of his granny’s heart. What a sweetie!

Posted in: sewing \ Tagged: arthur, Carolyn & Cassie Pattern Co, daily outfit, hand knit, hand knitting, knitting, own design, shirt, sirdar denim cardigan

dusky pink linen shirt

18/05/2024 10:25 am \ 4 Comments \ Carolyn

Hello! I’ve been sewing again lately …

I just finished a button-up shirt using this beautiful dusky pink linen that I received from the Linen Shack. The linen is very fine and light, and was absolutely beautiful to work with. Aah, I just love sewing with linen. Also, I’m so into pink right now it’s not even funny! This dusky pink colour is lovely, a gentle and subtle pink with just a hint of lilac about it. Making me nostalgic for the cherry blossoms from a few weeks ago, sigh… ahh, take me back, please…

I didn’t have pink thread in my stash and instead of going for something like ivory or white as per my habit, I chose a pale green. Actually the contrast is very subtle and you really have to get up close to notice! The white buttons are also from stash… they are originally from Spotlight. I bought these in both white and black originally, and I always use them upside down because the back side is so much prettier; a lovely shiny smooth slightly rounded profile. The front side is matte, and has a raised serrated lip; and it’ not so visually appealing to me. I think I kind of bought them in shirt-button desperation once upon a time, back in the day, and then the discovery that the back side was actually really pretty was totally serendipitous!

I partially used a really old Burda pattern, from the 8/2009 magazine. This might sound a little confusing but bear with me; the pattern/s are numbered from 129-132, with each one being variations on the same basic block, and my version here is kind of a fourth variation!

Actually, I also cut out some breast pockets but haven’t added them yet… I even saved enough green thread so everything matches! I’m thinking of doing some embroidery on a pocket, but wanted to post these pictures how it looks now…

I’m wearing it in these pictures here with a self-designed skirt made from my parents’ curtain leftovers, and a hat made using Vogue 8844 and corduroy from old jeans…

Did you notice anything about the hatless picture above??

OK, now don’t be shocked… but I whimsically decided to put a purple wash through my hair this morning. I don’t know what I was thinking, maybe that I’d get a light lilac tinge to my hair or something like that since my own hair colour is still quite strong. .. I was quite surprised that the purple turned out a lot stronger than I imagined! Eeek! I’m kinda into it, but also a little … taken aback! At least it’s only going to last for a few weeks!