Tag Archives: Knitting

a weird new top

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

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!

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an ivory blouse and a pink neck warmer

30/04/2024 8:10 pm \ Leave a Comment \

Hello!  I’ve finished a few new things over the past few days…

First up, a new ivory blouse for myself.  This is the new Fibremood Georgie blouse, and it’s quite an interesting design and construction technique that I haven’t really come across before, namely a series of very deep pleats in the neckline and sleeves.  These are bound down with a narrow bias strip.  The raglan sleeves also have deep pleats going into those cuffs.

If I was going to be picky I think I would have chosen to cut the cuffed sleeves a little longer, and it’s also quite a short blouse overall.  However I do really like the finished blouse.

I found a short length of ivory muslin in my stash, which was lucky! because it was perfect for the floaty style of this blouse; and for the buttons I went with some fun bee buttons, also from the stash.  Aren’t they cute?!

I’m wearing them here with my Closet Core patterns Sasha trousers and my clogs made using a kit from Leather Needle Thread.  I really should make some new trousers; I don’t really have that many, and those that I do have are mostly quite old by now.

I also finished up my April knitting project, again in the knick of time!  I literally cast this off about half an hour ago and took these extremely quick and slightly dodgy pictures, but at least I got it done within the month!   I’ll take some better pictures when the weather is suitably colder and post them in here later.

It’s a very simple neck warmer, made using a very bobbly pink/apricot yarn from the very large stash I inherited from Mum when she did her cleanup.  I had plans for something a bit more interesting; however when I was in Japan I didn’t have the time to knit on the trains that I thought I would.  I came home having achieved basically no knitting at all, and had to whip up something in the small amount of time I’ve had since we returned.  I’m going to try to be more organised in May and produce something a bit more exciting.

Speaking of; tomorrow me-made May begins again!  I will be joining in once again, but only on instagram this year and maybe on my TikTok account, if I feel like it.  Haha, gone are the days we used to document it all on our blogs, or over on Flickr!  Feels like forever ago now.  I will likely do a roundup here at the end of the month.

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another little scrappy cardigan

23/03/2024 9:07 pm \ 6 Comments \

Hello!  I’m back wth my March knitting project; this one is of course a cardigan for my oldest grandson Arthur…

It’s the same Sirdar pattern that I used for Theo’s cardigan, one size up.  You might have noticed it’s the same colour pattern too… with seven double rows of each colour offset with each other.  When you start out with a plan like this, using scrap yarns, then it’s always going to be a bit of a gamble that the quantities of wool colours are going to actually be enough to see it through.  Fortunately I was very lucky again that it worked out!

Arthur has quite delicate colouring compared to his cousin; blond hair and blue eyes, pale skin, so I know these lighter, clear colours would be really nice on him.  I’ll come back and post a picture of him wearing it, come winter time. 🙂

In Arthur’s words “it’s beautiful, like a rainbow” sigh!  Higher praise is just not possible!

Now; when I posted Theo’s cardigan, remember I promised to post pictures improving how to join the sleeves to the body to continue in one piece without stretching out the underarm bit?

btw; I know this explanation is not going to make much sense unless you’re actually knitting a thing like this, but it’s mostly to remind myself if I ever need to do this again…

So, up until this point I’ve knitted the body ie. back and two fronts, in one piece and cast off the underarm stitches.  Each sleeve has been knitted flat exactly to the pattern to the underarm.  Then I take a needle and knit the right front and half a sleeve, then take a (long) fresh needle and knit the other half of the sleeve, the back, and half the other sleeve, then take another fresh shorter needle and knit the other half of the sleeve and the left front.  So; the three sections join up on the middle outer edge of each sleeve; and I commence knitting the cardigan from the armholes up, decreasing the raglan seams across the whole piece.  The only seams needing to be stitched at the end are the underarm and sleeve seams.

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little scrappy cardigan

29/02/2024 8:49 pm \ 5 Comments \

Phew!  My February knitting project was finished in the nick of time!  Honestly now, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to keep up with my resolution of one knitting project per month this year, my hands might not be able to cope… but I’m still going to give it my best shot!

This is a little cardigan destined for Theo; I bought this pattern online; the Sirda Denim Cardigan.  I made the second size and all yarns are scraps and leftovers from my still very large bag of scrap yarns.  The buttons are coconut shell buttons, also from stash.  I know, I know; sorry! the “stash” is becoming a tiresome mantra by now, but honestly I could keep working form my scraps and stash all year and may not still get through it!

I made this exactly to the pattern … except!  (there’s always an exception, hehe)  I knitted the body in one piece, as opposed to back, right front and left front; and then added in the sleeves and continued with the raglan seams in one piece; so essential it becomes a bottom-up, all-in-one knit.  The only seams are the sleeve seams and under the arms.  I felt rather clever about this. #undeservedSelfBackPat but have to admit that it made the underarms maybe a little looser than I would have liked, due to the natural stretching that occurs at this point when you join the body and two sleeves together to continue knitting above the underarms.  If I was going to do this again, which I most probably will, I will re-work the needle arrangement so as to alleviate the pressure on the underarm, and post some pictures. 🙂

I’m so pleased with how the colours and stripes worked out!!

Here are some fun links though; the yellow mustard is leftovers from my mustard cowl, here...

the navy blue is leftovers from my ghost horses jumper, here. It’s slightly frustrating that the navy blue looks so black in this photo, but I promise it does look more blue in real life!

all other yarns are inherited from my mother. A few were also featured in my January project for Gilbert, namely the mustard, and the deeper brown used in the borders of this cardigan.  Hehe, I know this all sounds rather pedantic to be documenting to this extent but it gives me joy to do so, so you know… 🙂

Oh! speaking of that, I finally have a picture of Gilbert wearing the baby jumper and beanie I made for his baby shower last year… how adorably cute is he?!!

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pumpkin spice… plus some lovely sea-foamy green things

28/10/2023 5:19 pm \ 5 Comments \

Hello!  I’ve finished making a few new things, both from deep deep stash.  I can’t stress enough how happy it makes me feel to be methodically using up ye olde stash!  I feel so virtuous.  Particularly since such a lot of it was not even bought by me in the first place, but foisted upon me – and I must say here that I truly do appreciate everything that has been given to me, many many pieces have proved to be very lovely and beautiful quality, and very useful too when it comes to testing patterns and new designs!  It is also true though that I am at a stage in my life when I want to whittle it down, for good.  I have dreams of a more minimalist future, and I’m determined to see it through.

Firstly; a new dress for me, using a pattern that has become a favourite; the Deer and Doe Myosotis dress pattern.  Such a pretty and feminine design; I think I might have to always have one hanging in my wardrobe.  My blue and white gingham Myosotis is currently being worn by Cassie as a maternity dress, and quite successfully too!  quite telling as to how comfortable it is.

The fabric is a quite nice, soft-pumpkin silk crepe, very lightweight and floaty, almost translucent.  I’m definitely going to be wearing this with a slip, I think.

I honestly cannot remember where I bought this fabric, or even if I did buy it; and if not, who gave it to me?  Honestly a complete mystery!   Which makes me think it was most likely part of a stash that I inherited at some point.  No matter!  I do really like it and I think the colour suits me very well.

Item 2!  a little knitted jacket and beanie set for Cassie’s new baby… the last time I went down to stay with my parents I bought this little pattern pamphlet from a yarn and quilting shop in Bridgetown; Naturally Yarns K679. I wanted to get something for the baby, and also to support a local business, but honestly felt very conflicted about buying a finished something when I SHOULD be using up my own supplies….   anyway I did achieve kind of both.

This set is the 6-9 month size.  All yarns are from the very large yarn stash that I’ve inherited over time – and no; I am NOT accepting new submissions!  I really think I could have a lifetime of knitting ahead of me, no purchase necessary…  It was pretty fun though, to try to make the scraps that I had into some sort of design idea, and I’m very pleased with the outcome!  I literally used up the entirety of ALL these yarns, with the exception of a small amount of the lime green yarn used for the beanie and collar.  It’s the most thrilling thing to successfully use up yarn, and use it up even semi-aesthetically.  I know, right?!!  SO proud!!

Finally, item 3; and this is sadly not from my own stash, but from Cassie’s.  I volunteered to make up one of the fabrics she had bought for her summer/autumn breast-feeding friendly wardrobe.  What else to make but one of our own Yallingup designs?!  We both believe in this design so thoroughly and it’s a little sad that it has not been as popular as we were hoping.  I wonder if it’s not clear that the regular, and the breast-feeding friendly version are actually separate designs, even though they look the same from the outside?

 

Anyway, we both love it! and Cassie has made up quite a few more of the breast-feeding friendly versions herself for her time with this new baby.  And this is one that I made for her.

The fabric is a Nano Iro Air Time design in colour way B.. it’s so beautiful it would make literally anything look absolutely amazing.  Hey, I still believe that our Yallingup is independently beautiful too though!  I could not fit the pattern pieces onto the small piece of fabric in the traditional way, so the front and back are top to toe, and the wrap piece is cut on the cross, with the tail ends of the tie cut and pieced from the scraps.

 

I had to cut the facing from a separate piece of plain white cotton, through lack of fabric.  She’s modelling it here, 8+ months pregnant, sure it’s a little short but it’s not too bad for a non-maternity design!  It’s going to be even better once she’s out of the pregnant stage, and into the breast-feeding stage which is what it’s designed for.

That’s it for now!  I still have a few, unphotographed and yet to be blogged things up my sleeve!  Until then…  🙂

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some blue things because why not

21/07/2023 9:09 pm \ 1 Comment \

First up; some navy blue suedette shorts!

I actually like wearing shorts in winter; it’s kinda the same as wearing a mini, in my opinion, and personally I think minis are absolutely great in winter.  So why not shorts in winter too?

Suedette is quite a wintery-feeling fabric too I think; this piece is actually leftover from when I made my Megan Nielsen Dove blouse, way back here.  I KNOW!  I surprise myself sometimes with my stashing capabilities.  Too silly for words.

I had just enough fabric to squeeze out the pieces for these shorts, which is awesome sauce.  The pattern is the FibreMood Dahlia shorts pattern, which is a beautifully feminine, roomy design, with a deep deep pleat at the top resulting in chic wide legs, also very deep and lovely cuffs.  These are my favourite part of the shorts actually.  It has pockets too, of course!  Oh, and lastly the waist was a little baggy on me, so I also added belt loops and made a short tie belt.  I really like how this looks on the shorts too!  You can probably see that I used a silver press stud for the shorts closure, it stands out ike a sore thumb in these pictures unfortunately; after I noticed this I went back and added another belt look over the press stud, hiding it.  Thus fixing the problem, yay.

I’m wearing them here with my ivory tee top, my handknitted hand warmers, and my black tights…

What else have I made… hmmm?  Well another maternity skirt for Cassie.  This is another Burda 7023, using navy blue cotton jersey.  I was asked in the comments where this can be bought, I’m afraid if it’s not in your local pattern store then I don’t know, sorry.  It’s kinda hard to get hold of older paper patterns nowadays, very sadly.  I think this particular pattern was from about three or four years ago.  I just gave it to her without taking a photo sorry; maybe I’ll get a photo and update here then  🙂   (later edit: Here ’tis!!)

And I finished another project, this beanie has been a veeeery long term one!  In 2018 we went to Canada and Alaska, blogged about here; and here; and I bought some yarn while there; including this ball of locally handspun and hand-dyed wool in Talkeetna, Alaska.  The label has Wild n’ Woolly on it, but they don’t seem to have an internet presence so I can’t link to them.  The colour is Berry Picking, and the design is my own, but pretty plain.  I started and unravelled it a few times, trying to get the perfect amount of head-hugging, which I think I got in the end.  It’s beautifully cosy!

I’m wearing  it here with my raspberry tee top, my raspberry Paprika Patterns Jade mini skirt, hand knit navy cardigan, navy corduroy jacket (originally made for Sam but he’s given it back to me) my yellow raincoat, black tights…

And that’s all for now!  Our new pattern is going to be ready very very soon, we’ve been working so hard on it, so please look forward to that coming soon!

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white top… ghost horses jumper… patchwork underthingies

30/06/2023 6:11 pm \ Leave a Comment \

Perth dress/blouse

Hello!  I have been so remiss in not posting this top, made months ago now… I wanted a new white shirt and if you’re feeling like a quick and easy shirt project then what better pattern to get out other than my own Perth pattern?!  #shamelessplug

The back pleat goes “out”; I really prefer pleats to go “in, the fact that this one does not was not intentional but a boo boo.  It’s, ok, I can live with it!  I used some white linen/cotton from my stash; leftover from my Charlie caftan that I made *checks blog stats* goodness me, about six years ago now!  And obviously made a few minor mods.

The length is about halfway between the top and the skirt cutting lines, and I lengthened the sleeves as much as I could to about three quarter length.  I really love this sleeve length on a shirt! and for visual interest I added buttoned cuffs.  I also added a little pointy-bottomed breast pocket, for almost the sole purpose of sporting a “circa 2023” label.

I also made the little black flecked white skirt.

Item 2; this (to my mind) absolutely beautiful jumper is also something I finished months ago, and have only just got around to wearing and photographing it for my blog here.

The pattern is Ghost Horses by Boyland knit works… I bought it through her blog site here but you can also get it through Ravelry…

The yarns are:

dark blue: Rowan felted tweed, col 170 Seafarer

variegated pink: Manos del Uruguay silk blend, col SB3317 Kilim

plain pink: Manos del Uruguay silk blend, col SB3236 Clafoutis

Le inside/backside

I bought the yarn from Morris and Sons in Melbourne, during our Harry Potter excursion over there, last March.  Actually, March 2022, hehe; so embarrassed to admit that.  I actually started knitting it straight away and got it to final ribbing stage within a few months.  Then took like forever to decide on the finishing bands.  I didn’t really like the slightly tight look of the finishing bands on the pattern envelope sample and tried multiple variations ie various k/P ribbing combos, stocking stitch, double yarn etc before finally settling on … well, these ones.  Mine is same needle size as body, single yarn, 2K 2P rib, very loosely finished.

And at least it finally is finished!

yea haw!  btw, I made my shirt, skirt and tights too…

Item 3:

I made a new underwear set… all from scraps and leftovers!  this kind of project is super fun for me, mostly because it is so crazy and silly.

The pattern is my favourite, the Cloth Habit Watson, and the fabric is all from projects in my previous post; the T-shirt for Arthur, itself an old T-shirt of Tim’s; and the red and navy stripe from the skirt I made for Cassie.  I had only small pieces, so it was fun to cut and join bits together to get enough for my set!  I know I know, silly and crazy.  But fun!

  

I’m belatedly a little annoyed that the white-fronted knickers are asymmetrically pieced so it looks a little lopsided, but at the time I was just happy to have enough to even cut a front! so I guess I can’t complain…

 

The strap elastic was also salvaged from an old, also me-made bra, the straps though were still in really good nick …  the knicker elastic I had in the stash already too.  In the last couple of years since we moved and I vowed to use entirely from the stash, I’m constantly amazed at HOW MUCH is in there…!

So that’s all for now.. until next time!

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handprinted socks and hand warmers

14/04/2022 7:01 pm \ 3 Comments \

I’ve knitted a new pair of socks and matching hand warmers for myself… aren’t they beautiful?

Yoshimi sent a handprinted sock blank to me for my birthday last year, and I got onto it straight away!  I’ve never seen or even heard of a sock blank before, and was quite interested to give it a go… the sock blank looked like this:

and was knitted, I presume by Yoshimi on her knitting machine, in two strands of sock wool held together.  And then painted.  I started at the bottom, unravelling carefully as I went and knitted my socks from the toe up, because I wanted the red/pink section to be the cuffs of the socks…

The pattern I used was my regular Patons pattern, that has been modified, and then I have also reverse engineered to be a toe-up pattern.  I think I will publish the latter one of these days.

You can’t tell just by looking, but the “foot” section of the socks got re-knitted about three times before I was completely satisfied.  The problem with knitting toe-up is that it is very difficult to gauge what the length of the foot is going to be, at the point where you have to start increasing for the heel, and I got it wrong a few times.  I figured I really wanted them to be perfect, so each time I realised it wasn’t going to be quite right, they got unravelled back to the start of the increases, yet again.

I also realised before too long that there was enough yarn in the blank that I thought? hoped? I was going to be able to get a pair of hand warmers out of them too… and there was!  I put the socks onto a length of waste yarn, without casting them off until I knew what was what… and started knitting the hand warmers from the other end, and finished in the red/pink section so they could have a red/pink cuff to match the socks nicely.   I also carefully measured how much I needed to cast off, so I could stop in just the right spot.  I’m proud to say there was a bare few 10cm leftover after I’d cast off!

I’m SO happy with how these turned out!  The hand-dyed yarn is such a pretty range of colours!  Thank you to my dear friend Yoshimi for such a lovely thoughtful gift!

 

 

 

 

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