Taking Stock at Christmas

Blogging has slipped by the wayside recently, as my life has been filled with work, study, friends and future plans - no bad things, but just no time for anything else!

Some knitting has been done though:

Buttoned-up Curtain Tiebacks.

Bergere de France Jaspee Childs Sweater - Sample done for my LYS.

Bergere de France Barisienne Childs Aran Sweater - sample done for my LYS.

And now, in this quiet period, some will be finished:

The Everyday Vest - for my dad

The Rocky Coast Cardigan - knitted out of my own drop-spindle spun wool handspun, I will finish it with bands in commercial yarn.

Stash blanket - more on this one when I complete it, as it has many travelling memories attached.

I still have a little obligation knitting to do, but tomorrow - Christmas Day - will treat myself by winding and casting on a pair of socks from my precious Mountain Colours sock yarn, in the colourway Northern Lights.

The mojo appears to be back...

Clearing, finishing and wearing.

Readers, I cleared out my knitting and crafting possessions last week, making piles for donation, selling and keeping and it seems to have worked, for I have finished a project - the Weavers Wool Shawl, out of my own alpaca handspun:

This isn't the greatest photo, but here it is:

This was only my second ever handspun project. I bought the alpaca pre-prepared a very long time ago and tried spinning it on my drop spindle last year, after doing a half day course in spindling.  I loved spinning the alpaca, but it has taken me a while to decide what to do with it. Now that I am on a strict use-it-or-lose-it policy with stash, it had to be something, and that something was the Weavers Wool Shawl.  I love it with that little extra that I love all my handspun projects.

In other finishing news, I completed Julia's Larissa cardigan, with mods due to a yarn shortage:

I made it sleeveless and did not ruffle the edging - making a plain wrap vest, but one that still suits the aesthetic of this ballet-inspired pattern.

The Rustling Leaves Beret I finished a while ago is getting tons of wear:

I wear it so much I really need to do a matching set of scarf, handwarmers and maybe even socks!  Too matchy-matchy? Well, it will probably look better than matching it with a pink scarf which is what I did in the photo (although I was out on a hike).

The clearing bug has also hit my wardrobe now, as the season turns, and I filled 3 large carrier bags yesterday. Now I can actually see my handknits, I am wearing/using 3 today: Frost Flowers (as a layer under a cardigan):

With the beret, and a handknitted satchel style handbag.

Masham Sheep Fair

So I attended the wonderful Masham Sheep Fair today in the Dales:

After coffee and cake, a walk around admiring the rare breeds, and a look at the shearing demonstration I treated myself to a lightweight Ashford spindle, some roving, and a cushion pattern:

I am in a bit of a knitting funk though, and have been struggling a bit to find a project I love at the moment. Everything is just a bit - bleh.  So I have been knitting then ripping and have very little to show for my efforts recently - I think I have (gasp) too much stuff and need a clear out and a plan! Today's the day, perhaps...

Sunday catchup

IIt's been a long time between blogs, so here is a little catchup of what I've been up to, crafting-wise.

I've been on holiday in Scotland:

where I found a few lovely yarn shops in pretty seaside towns. You'll see these over the next few months as I knit up my purchases.

I've finished a knitting project:

This is the Summer Shrug, from a recent summer edition of a knitting magazine. I used Rowan 4 ply cotton in deep starship - my gauge was totally different and I wanted to work it top down in the round, so really just used the pattern as inspiration and did my own thing. I used their lace pattern for the sleeves, but read it wrong so did my own take on it by accident! It's been great and I've worn it a lot.

I've nearly finished a crochet project:

This came as a kit free with a magazine, and will be a brooch.

I have finished 3 sewing projects:

This is one - underwear. These were bought as a kit from Liberty and were fun, if intricate to do. I machine stitched the seams on the treadle, then hand sewed the elastic and trimming on. My other sewing projects - not yet photographed - are two blinds for my kitchen, out of more Liberty fabric and spare ribbons, and a black a-line skirt requested by a friend, which her mum will embellish.

I've visited 2 exhibitions - one on traditional Gansey knitting currently running in Hull:

And today a quilting exhibition at the Yorkshire Showgrounds in Harrogate. I took beautiful photos there, but can't display them, sadly. I bought a few things there too, which may feature in future posts. 

Saturday Striped

Work-in-progress, on my commute.

Over the past weeks I have been mesmerised by the Saturday Stripes Shawl by Heather Walpole (free on Rav). A very easy knit, it's one that keeps you going as you change colours. The original  is done with worsted weight yarn, I used leftover sock yarn and did two full repeats of the stripe sequence. Here is the finished shawl, awaiting blocking:

And here is a close up of the colours:

McCalls M6175 and a bit of knitting too

I gave myself a deadline yesterday, due to my abject failure at actually finishing any sewing projects so far this year - as we were going out to see The Great Gatsby in the evening, I decided I would finish my practice trench coat in time to wear it.  And I did (although this involved some rather quick finishing with less attention to detail than was wise).  However, I was very happy with the result, slung over a patterned summer dress for a breezy esplanade walk at Redcar pre dinner and film:

This was entirely a "process" sew for me, as I have never made such a complex garment before (and in fact it is not that complex as has no buttons!)  It is McCalls M6175:

rated "easy", and actually it was ok, although there are a lot of steps, and I did find the collar tricky (although it was a first for me, so for those who have done one before it would probably be fine).  I did View D, which is the yellow coat on the cover, I cut a size 12, and used stash fabic from a charity shop for both the beige/brown poplin outer and the viscose patterned facings.  I did the facings in contrast fabric as I did not have quite enough of the brown poplin to complete them.  It is unlined, so a very lightweight jacket (particularly for the north of the UK), but works well in high summer, and would work on holidays to warmer climes.  The pattern is actually written for vinyl, but also allows for lighterweight fabrics.  It is fastened with only a sewn belt.

I did not cut as well as I would have liked, and will work to improve my cutting in future sewing projects, and made some rooky mistakes (attaching the collar the wrong way first time, scorching the viscose lining while pressing, twisting the belt as I sewed, not doing quite an invisible enough job on sewing the facings in etc), and I probably have about another hour or so of sewing to just tidy things up a bit. 

But - wearable, flattering (according to the husband, who is a good critic of my handmade things) and rather vintage-y - my practice trench coat might get some wear after all!  I also have some vintage upholstery material set aside for the "real McCoy" later in the year.

Next on the sewing list?  Well, I am behind on the challenge I set myself at the start of the year, but have a skirt to finish (or rework) and underwear to finish as well.  I would like to sew a navy dress to wear with the trench coat this summer, and a Chanel jacket out of some lovely wool fabric I have in stash.  I also have my eye on a summer top.... finishing the trench has been a much needed boost.

As for knitting - this week saw me finish the Rustling Leaves Beret from Coastal Knits, tucked away until autumn (I hope!), and continuing with a pair of summer socks:

and the Gatsy-esque cardigan (Berocco's Stella) off, and on.  More about these as I work towards finishing them.  I've also wound skeins and added two pattern repeats to my handspun Rocky Coast Cardigan, although need to tink a few rows back tonight as lost a stitch somewhere.

Leiden and other progress

This weekend found us in Holland, attending a friend's beach wedding (absolutely lovely, if rather chilly, on the North Sea coast at the Hague) and I did, of course, manage to fit in some yarn shopping as well.

Ribbels is situated in the centre of the pretty, bustly university town of Leiden, and features an exquisite wall of yarn which I found hard to drag my eyes and hands away from!  However I did manage to long enough to discover some Dutch hand dyed yarn - dyed in Holland, yarn from Slovenia.  I purchased a generous skein of laceweight in the colour "Mittenacht" (middle of the night), with thoughts of the star shawl I have heard about on the Knitmore Girls podcast.

There was clearly a history of wool trading in Leiden with street names like this:

(Wool Alley), and fantastic decoration (a little hard to see in this photo, but they are skeins of yarn!) on the old wool trading building:

And much inspiration generally in the pretty Dutch towns we visited (Gouda, Leiden and Den Haag):

And what projects did I have in tow?  One of my newly cast on ones, since blogging last - the Rustling Leaves Beret from Coastal Knits.  Nearly complete, its combination of soothing repetition with just enought to do to be interesting is perfect.  I have chosen a vintage-look dark green and plan to complete it in front of the TV tonight.

Other knitting?  Well, on my few days off before travelling to Holland, I worked some more on my Rocky Coast Cardigan - spinning up a little more yarn on my drop spindle - here is a small skein ready to be wound:

 and working another few inches of the body:

My self-imposed deadline on this project is this autumn (2013), and though it goes quickly when I work on it, my progress is in fits and starts.

I also cast on a Gatsby-inspired project - this is the beginnings of Stella, a Berrocco gold lace cardigan design, and I am using Deep Stash from the dawn of time - unmarked gold aran weight yarn which I think is Patons.  I am in two minds about it; the yarn is not nice to the touch and I was considering donating it; it might still end up at a charity shop, but the pattern is easy and rather addictive so I keep adding repeats.  Also, someone at the wedding was wearing a gold lace cardigan and I thought it looked rather nice, so that has inspired me to keep it in a project bag for occasional picking up and working on...

Although I have been relatively monogamous lately with my projects it is a nice feeling to have a few on the go!

Yesterday on my way to an event in Skipton, I stopped in the pretty town of Knaresborough, Yorkshire, where I found the lovely Knitting Pretty shop.  I sheltered from a rainstorm there for about 20 minutes, and came out with a Zauberballe, a copy of the latest Debbie Bliss mag (I couldn't resist the Great Gatsby feature), and a Knitpro circular in 2.75 mm - I don't have any particular need for this size right now, but it was the only one they had and I am slowly upgrading my Pony circulars to Addis, Knitpro (but not the interchangable ones which I hate), or, occasionally, Signatures - my favourites are actually Addis.  Perhaps its the German blood.  Anyway, here is a photo of my pickings:

And a close-up of the Zauberballe:

I also completed an item this afternoon - I am in the mood for completion, rather than commencing, actually so a few more UFOs might get dragged out after I post this blog!

This is a Razorshell Lace Scarf - I got the idea from a book (?Single Skein Projects I think - the one from yarn stores around America) and googled for instructions/inspiration on razorshell lace.  I ended up partially using a pattern bank and another blogger's post to create this out of a single skein of Crystal Palace Kid Merino I'd bought for another purpose:

Unblocked.  It will be a birthday gift for a friend.

Llamas!

Today we took a little drive over to Cumbria, and on the way stopped here:

Over coffee we watched Diamond and Lily enjoy a morning snack:

And when I enquired whether any fleece was for sale, I was given a bag for free!

As my drop spindle is in constant use spinning raw wool for my Rocky Coast Cardigan, I think I can feel another drop spindle purchase coming on...

Meanwhile, one of yesterday's finished sweaters now lies, pinned into submission, on my makeshift blocking table. Knitted in pure wool Jacob, it's shaping up well.

Tonight? I have two travel projects on the go which make for good tv knitting, but I might swatch instead. Not quite casting on, but almost like new project! My plans - a cardigan, a hat (left my Jo Sharp beret somewhere this week and lost it) and a shawl. All for me.

Completion

Owl - free kit with a knitting mag:

Sweaters - had been waiting for cuffs, collars and blocking:

A productive wet Saturday afternoon...

Averill

So having said I'd lost my knitting mojo, I find myself feeling much better about knitting today as I am wearing for the first time my new Averill vest (from Knitscene, Spring 2012)!

Here is the back detail:

I love how this has come out - I had been worried that the flashes of gold might be too much, but I think as long as I keep the rest of the outfit plain it will work.  Today (a Sunday) I am wearing it with a 3/4 length sleeve white tee and black skinny jeans from M&S, and suede knee length Aerosole boots which I picked up in DC.  You can't see my hair in the pick, but I have accessorised with a peacock feather hair clip to pick up the colours in the vest.

Feeling my knitting mojo returning, I picked up a knitting magazine earlier - time to cast on...again!!

In which I pick up my sewing again.

Hmmm - the last week or two has seen me slightly losing my knitting mojo.  I completed the Darlington Cowl, but am unconvinced; even having lengthened it somewhat it still is a bit short.

Here are a couple of shots of it being worn:

It's cute - and I love the colour of this King Cole merino blend yarn - but it's too short.  I might lengthen it more, or I might just rip it and knit a heavy shawl out of the yarn.  I have plenty more.  Decisions, decisions.  I am also wearing a handknit in the above photo - but my only contribution to this was finishing it, as it came (in pieces) in a bag of cotton yarn I picked up at a thrift store in DC.  This striped cotton pullover has a boat neck, kind of dropped or dolman sleeves, and is long line but quite fitted through the body.  It's perfect for spring, and actually I wear it a lot. 

I am still thinking about the Portnoo Poncho, so that is hibernating after my swatch.  I am finishing a thick wool sweater for my husband, but that is rather boring to knit... and due to my travelling life, I need lightweight, small, interesting but not too challening projects - socks and shawls of course.

So yesterday saw me returning to my sewing, and I cut out and started a practice run on ... sewing my own trench coat/mac!  I am using some drab brown/beige cotton I had in stash - I don't mind if it doesn't work out, and if it does it might just work in a vintage, ration-book WW2 kind of way over a tea dress (think Sam in Foyle's War).  I am using a McCalls pattern for vinyl and heavy-weight fabric trench coats.  I am doing a simple belted trench, unlined (although I might put a lining in) with front facings and a collar.  Many of these techniques are new to me, so this will be a learning experience - hence the practice piece!  Now I haven't really been applying myself to my sewing challenge, but I am enjoying it at present, so I might start catching up with my goals.  I have a plain A-line black skirt ready for some finishing (January), and have a vintage Vogue pattern lined up for trousers (February) and blouse (March).  I also have underwear cut and ready to sew for later in the year.  I'll get there, but perhaps not in a month to month way!  As usual, I am sewing on my vintage Jones CS treadle (straight stitch only, but what a lovely machine to use), and hand finishing where required.

Cast On Fever

It happens this way sometimes, when I finish a project (the Averill vest, see previous post). On Saturday afternoon I stopped by the newsagent for some printer paper and came across the magazine Yarnwise, which despite being on its 57th issue I don't remember ever seeing before. I immediately saw 2 projects in it I wanted to cast on - the Portnoo Poncho, for wrapping up when watching tv in the evenings, or reading in bed, and the Darlington Cowl.

Here is the Portnoo Poncho swatch - I am trying to use my many, many single skeins from my many yarn store visits in the USA but I am not sure the lighter shade works here:

I may try a little more of this, or I may replace the lighter shade with a tweedy grey... I don't usually swatch per se (very bad I know!) but I start projects and sometimes restart differently if I don't like how they're going.  It is swatching of a sort.

I frogged a project (the Vicky Howell shrug, which always annoyingly slipped off my shoulders) on Sunday to start the Darlington Cowl during this week;

I am ashamed to say I haven't got too much further than this during the week!  It is a good travel sized project, and now I am into the moss stitch (strangely had a lot of trouble with a very simple run of decrease and increase rows; might have been tiredness I guess) it is rather mindless and good for tv knitting.
I did a little spinning last weekend too, so another 2 skeins lie waiting to be knitted up into the Rocky Coast Cardigan.

The Averill Vest

Complete, as yet unblocked (the lace rib bottom edge and single crocheted neck and armhole edges require it). Love, love this super soft Aussie merino (Morrris Empire 8 ply, in the colourway Plumage). The pattern, from Knitscene Spring 2012 was reasonably clear and accurate.

So yesterday I had a few hours spare in Hull while the husband went to the football. As I often do there, I spent the time on trendy Newland Ave, full of vintage clothes shops, arty tea rooms and shabby chic furniture places - as well as whole pile of clothes and furniture thrift stores which pre-date the trendiness! Also on Newland Ave is Babes In The Wool, a classic LYS, which has something for everyone. For me, that was the latest copy of Knitting magazine and a couple of skeins of Louisa Harding baby cashmerino.