Tuesday 25 July 2017

Craft Along

It has been a very long time since I did a mid week post, life has just been in the way!  Anyway, now I have got to the summer break I thought I might make an effort.
So what am I up to?  I did a little audit for my Year of Projects post a couple of weeks ago here.  So that was all of my knitting projects.  Recently I have been making great progress on my cropped sweater for winter by Andi Satterlund.
I was not into cropped sweaters, but in my quest to start a handmade wardrobe, I have been converted to skirts.  And as a consequence of that cropped sweaters are more the thing rather than tunic style ones that were more my thing.  I am already planning my next one as I love this one and it has knit up so quickly.  Yarn is De rerum natura - Gilliatt.
The other project I have worked on and finished this week, is another skirt.  This is the Clemence pattern by Tilly and the Buttons. 
I have worked on other projects but these are the ones with the most progress.  
Reading wise, I am making my way through the Handmaids Tale by Margaret Attwood.  
Image result for the handmaid's tale (tv series) episodes
I am also watching the series, we are up to episode 9 - can't wait for the finale.  I hope over the next couple of weeks to finish this.
So there we go - I am off to the Touring car racing at the weekend and camping at the circuit, so as long as the weather is ok, I hope to knit lots of socks.
Linking with Nicole

Sunday 23 July 2017

A Year of Projects Update - week 4

We made it!  I have survived another year and reached the summer holidays.  I am hoping to fit in a fair bit of knitting time in the next few weeks.
For now I have some progress.
FO's
I have one and lots that are nearly...
These are some socks for my dad for Christmas.  The yarn is a sport weight by Lana Grassa, which is lovely and soft.

WIP's
I have made progress on Breathing Space but haven't taken a photo.  It is nearly at the solid bottom part and hopefully I should have that finished by the end of the week and have cast on the sleeves.
Of course, I would have had that finished if I hadn't been distracted by my cropped sweater for winter by Andi Satterlund.  I have the body finished and am now doing the sleeves.  It is a worsted yarn so is knitting up quickly.  The yarn is stash yarn - De rerum natura and is gorgeous.
I am nearly done with my July socks - these are knit in Life in the Long grass sock yarn in arcade. The pattern is My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth by Knitterarium.
I have also started another test knit, again for Ruth (Knitterarium), so I can't show you those but the yarn is here.
Finally, the last WIP I have made noticable progress on is the Bon Bon mitts by Joji Locatelli from the latest Pom Pom magazine.  These are knit in Malabrigo Arroyo and I have just started the thumb gusset.
I think that is all the progress this week.  I am making cakes today and hopefully getting to some sewing later.  I hope you all have a great week.

Sunday 9 July 2017

Week 2 - A Year of Projects - an audit

I thought this week I would do an audit of all the projects I have on my needles, to hopefully spur myself into action.

Whilst planning for the new list posted here, I cast on as many objects as possible.
So here we go.
Firstly, I cast on my July socks.  This is My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth socks by Knitterarium.  I test knit this pattern and love it and think it is perfect for summer socks.  I am knitting them in Life in the long grass sock yarn in the arcade colourway - I defy anyone to tell me that isn't summer in yarn form!  These are being knit with my new needles - Addi lace 2.25mm.
 Secondly, while I was waiting for July to come, I cast on a pair of socks for dad for Christmas.  This is a sport weight yarn that is knitting up nice and quickly, I am up to the heel now.
 Next having planned that I wanted to have a cropped sweater, I got overexcited, found a pattern and cast on.  This is A cropped sweater for winter by Andi Satterlund. This is a free pattern and I had yarn in stash, so I went for it.  The yarn is de rerum natura - gilliatt - the yarn is gorgeous and the colour is to die for - in fact I may get more and knit a chuck sweater....
 Fourthly, my breathing space (yes I have 2 sweaters on the go!) which is coming along nicely.  I think I am going to do about 3 more inches of stripe then finish with the blue.  These are knit out of Travel Knitter yarn and my own dyed and using my Hiya Hiya interchangeable needles.
 Another new cast on is my Bon Bon mitts by Joji Locatelli from the latest Pom Pom magazine.  I am knitting these from Malabrigo Arroyo - can't remember the colourway at the moment.
 This is a long term WIP that I am determined to finish up.  These are my triangle socks.  I have one finished sock and now 1 and a half strips.  In all honesty, I now have no real desire to finish these, but I am not a frogger if I can help it, and anyway it is just lots of little bits of yarn, and I am not likely to every wear them as the fit is strange, but... I do not give up and I will not let them beat me - I will finish these this summer!
 Pen-ultimately, this is a new cast on.  This is a scarf/wrap called Sevilla from the latest Pom Pom.  I fancied knitting it and had some yarn in stash. This will probably be a gift in the end, but hopefully, will be a good stashbuster.  This is a bit slow going as the rows are so long as it is knit lengthways.
I do have one other long term WIP that I didn't take a photo of as I couldn't find it!  It is the Donder and Blitzen hat that is too small, so I was going to knit it for Daniel, but to be honest, is likely to be too small for him at this rate.  It is in a bag behind my seat and will drag it out soon!

So there we go - there is the audit.  Hopefully I will have made inroads next week!
Hope you all have a great week.

Sunday 2 July 2017

Week 1 - the new list!


2017/2018

This year, I have decided, is the year of the handmade wardrobe.  I have spent several years dabbling, and really want to make inroads to a me-made wardrobe.

Sewing
Skirts:
  • Gathered skirt 
  • Delphine skirt
  • button through skirt
  • yoked skirt
Tops:
  • Tunic top
  • t-shirt style top
Knitting
Sweaters:
Accessories:
  • Bonbon mitts - progress
  • Socks - I am not going to specify a pattern as new ones come up and I always want to do them
  • Shortie socks - to use up stash
  • Knees up
Other items
Gifts:
  • Socks - dad, Luke and a second pair for mum to do
  • Scarf - Sevilla - in progress for a friend
  • Bath bombs - for pressies and myself
  • Christmas jumper for Thomas - follow tenderheart as for me but add colorwork from Anders
Craft fair/other crafts:
  • Embroidery - develop to make myself some bags
  • Dog coats - knit some more
  • Hot water bottle covers
So there it is - the new list.  I am so excited about this year.  You might be able to tell that I have had a bit of a problem with castonitis this week - next week I shall show you all the projects and progress I have made!  If you fancy joining us, please head over to the group on Ravelry here.