Sewing References

How to Resize a Pattern (generic)
Adjustments and Sizing (pattern alterations for specific areas)
Seams Hoppo Bumpo
handy Tips for New Sewers Hoppo Bumpo
Zips


Wrap Skirt
Tote bag
Twirly Skirt
Project Bags

Japanese Pattern Translation
label-free How To Japanese Craft Books

2010 Knitting a Year in Review

This year there was a lot of knitting done.

There is also a bit left to finish (WIPs for Christmas anyone?). I also managed to participte in workshops as part of the Inner City Group - knitwear fitting and design (Swatching!).

I have also started the NSW Knitter's Guild Achievement Certificate Level 1 (first part submitted).

Presenting the finished kniting of 2010.

From top left

1. Sacred Socks in Supertwist Merino by Knitabulous - Sacred Forest
   
2. Rainbow Clapotis in my own Handspun, spun for stripes (Fibre from Ewe Give Me The Knits)
   
3. You Call That Yellow Socks in Supertwist Merino by Knitabulous - Acid Test
4. Wast Side Shawl in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock - Lucky
5. Fruit Tingles Baby Sweater (February) in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock - Goody Goody
6. Mountain View Cardigan in Euroflax Sports Weight Linen - Purple
7. Annis Shawl in La Drogourie Alpaga (the yarn a gift from LynS)
8. Susie Hoodie in Cascade 220 = Purple Heathers
9. Stardust in The Knittery Silky Merino - Purple Night
10. Winter Sunshine Bolero in Supertwist Merino by Knitabulous - Acid Test
11. Green Socks for a Green Thumb in The Granny Square Special Edition Hand-Dyed
    
12. Jade DragonFly (Entomology) - in my own Handspun Optim (Dyed by Ms Gusset)
13. PSC in Arrears (August) in The Knittery Slim Sock Merino - Royal Velvet
14. Rose Petal Slouch in Needlefood Worsted - Purple
15. In Case of Emergency Break out the Socks in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi - Watercolor
    
16. Sophie Swift in Bendigo Luxury 4ply - Iris Mist
17. Swatches for the Workshop at the Knitters Guild in NSW
18. BrandyWine Shawl in Lush Silk Merino - Trophy
19. Clapotis in Coloured Jules Wool on the Web -Blue/Purple
20. Anni Ishbel in TwistyToes 2 ply by Yarn Lust - Crush
21. Clothilde in my own Handspun Angora Blend totally Eighties inspired (Ixchelbunny Fibre)
22. Linda K's Yummy Mummy Wristwarmers in Hand-dyed yarn from Tasmania
23. Tweed Baby Blanket in Bendigo Luxury 4-ply - Grey and Iris Mist
24. Hokey Pokey Socks in Needelfood Sock - Hokey Pokey
    

Craft For Christmas

Meet The Knitting Muse a Christmas present now residing over my knitting corner.

In addition to the knitting muse I got a Wild Flyer for my Spinning Wheel and another plying bobbin. I might have dropped a few hints.

I also got a gorgeous shawl pin (from O) that i haven't been able to photograph yet. Other presents were Epic Mickey for the Wii, Bookshop vouchers (Yay) and a string of amethysts (like a string of pearls) they are just gorgeous.

Knitting Completions The 2nd

My niece loves putting on my Ishbel shawl when she comes over. I had some Yarn Lust in Crush colourway that I ordered specially. I cast on Saturday afternoon and only did ABACDE in the sections so it was incredibly quick and I finished it Sunday. All that is left is to block and wrap!

Sophie was started late November and along with the February Baby Sweater will make a great welcome to the world present for a colleagues new bub.

Don't you love when you get a heap of work done?

Knitting Completions

I have been knitting but not on big projects. First Up I have been undertaking the Samples for the NSW Knitter's Guild's Achievement Certificates (Number 1). The pieces are blocking above. Now for presentation, labelling and packaging/posting.



I knit up a Baby Sweater on Two Needles (February Baby Sweater) a wonderful Elizabeth Zimmerman Pattern. I have called it Fruit Tingles because the Socks That Rock Lightweight yarn knits up exactly like fruit tingles. The sweater is for a colleague that had her baby about 6 weeks early. It took about 5 and a half days. So quick, so easy, so gorgeous.

2011 The Year for Knitting From Stash

I am making 2011 the year for knitting from stash as I have Garment Quantities of many yarns as well as more sock yarn than I can knit in a couple of years.

Alongside the Super Special Six Pattern Sock Club I will be trying to have a steady stream of cardigans and T's on the go as well as a few shawls. It might be ambitious but setting up a schedule will help me make some progress.

I will be cataloguing the garment quantities of yarn leading up to New Years in the interests of transparency. If I say I will do it I will likely do it (or most of it at least).

Progress Review Paul Kelly - How to Make Gravy

How to make Gravy by Paul Kelly




This book is a revelation.
Written lists, anecdotes, histories and stories give you such insight into Kelly's passions, his beliefs, his song-writing process.

Accompanied by Music (available on iTunes or CD's) the reading is enhanced by listening to versions of most of the songs hand picked by Kelly.

Be warned you will go looking for music and books referenced.



View all my reviews

Personal Sock Club with A Twist

A few weeks ago an idea that had been raised by LynS earlier this year began to form into something a little more structured.

The Super Special Six Pattern Sock Club (S62011) took form.

In a nutshell it's a personal sock club with a Twist. The Twist is a group of us all sign-up and we select six patterns for us all to knit at the same time over the course of 2011

• 6 patterns for the year
• We all knit the same pattern at the same time
• Using yarn put away for the year from our existing stash (wrapped)
  

Wild Card - each member gets a wild card that can be excercised to vary from the selected sock pattern at the time.

Dates

• Start 1 January Socks Due
• 28 February
• 30 April
• 30 June
• 31 August
• 31 October
• 31 December

I started to search through my Sock Yarn Stash (only the Purple) and manged to go from

This

To This

Knitting Update
Sophie Swift is nearly done (up to the ears)
Knitter's Guild Certificate - Knitting Done for all the samples ready for blocking and a little bit of sewing up
Shipwreck Shawl - Still doing the edging

Reading Update
Paul Kelly - How to Make Gravy
I am now up to the Third Night (So just over half way through).
This book is fantastic I am enjoying every page and the accompanying music.
The anecdotes and items are starting to build threads with previous songs and is starting to build. Honestly, you could easily read this by dipping in at any point and not miss anything.

Feast for the Senses

Presently I am Reading Paul Kelly's How to Make Gravy.

Regular Readers will know I love Singer-Songwriters, especially those that write from an Australian perspective. At the top of that list is Paul Kelly accompanied by Mick Thomas (Weddings, Paties, Anythings and solo/Sure Thing work), The Triffids David McComb, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan (Go-Betweens).

How To Make Gravy was emerged from a series of 4 concerts where Paul Kelly performs around 100 of his songs in alphabetical order (appearing at the Sydney Festival in 2011). As part of the performance he included anecdotes about the songs, around the songs or even as a result of the songs. The book captures these in a written format and can be accompanied by recordings of most (all bar 2) of the songs.

Being the tragic music fan that I am, of course, I am listening to the songs and then reading the chapter associated - some long, some short. I am enjoying it beyond expectations (and they were high). An unparalleled music biography that isn't a biography at all.

I am up to Change Your Mind.

If you appreciate Paul Kelly's music then this is a worthwhile adventure to undertake. Music and Words the perfect partners.

Ada Lovelace, finished (alas not mine)

Ada Lovelace, finished
Originally uploaded by run amok

I love these socks.
Rockin Sock Club Pattern for mid 2010
The name is worth it all and the pattern is just stunning.

It Grows!

The Wollmeise Lace collection grows 2 Aquarius, 1 Flaschenpost and a Feldmaus.
Stormy Tonight (Shipwreck is also growing). I used some Modifications found on Ravelry to neaten up the second leaf on the Madeira Lace. Ready to start the last section (yay)

Challenging Knitting

I am happy to report that I am back in love with my Stormy Tonight Shawl (Shipwreck pattern from Knitty).

The first two lace sections went so quickly it was such a fun knit. Then the Madeira Lace section went well up until the third and fourth time you move the stitch marker (to denote the beginning/end of round. I reknit this piece three times thought I had it and then spent Monday and Tuesday of this week tinking it again. (Lifelines rock!)

I am now back on track onto the second half of the Madeira Lace and past both the stitch marker moves 10 and a half more rows of that section to go (not including the stocking stitch).

The Mumbai Skies colourway from Knitabulous' Indian Summer yarn club is just perfect for this pattern and the aqua blue and the soft blue-grey are blending beutifully.

It's Raining Yarn

It seems I might have been spending some money on Yarn lately
Yesterday I picked up from the post office
Magnolia Society October Jewel Tones Club package
Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Merino Cashmere Nylon in Laurent Blue with Purple and Green

Wollmeise Grab Bags
100% Merino Kunterbunt
from Left WD Mistzelweig, WD Scarabaus, WD Bussi, WD Im Jahr der Ratt, WD Igor

Twin Gelb Orange

Not sure (red Orange on the left) and WD Campari Picolo on the right

WD Semisolid Lace Garn in Blue

A week or so ago this arrived from madelinetosh.
Tosh Dk in Nostalgia

On the knitting front progress has been slow this week. I have hit the dreaded Madeira section of the lace on Shipwreck and reknitted the same three rows about ten time. Finally past it so I am about to commence the Yarn K2tog row in the centre of the lace.

Stormy Tonight - Shipwreck Shawl

Pattern: Shipwreck Shawl

Yarn: Knitabulous Merino Lace in Mumbai Skies

I am up to the Madeira Pattern section

Socks and Yarn

I finally took a break from spinning long enough to finish the Sacred Forest socks.
They are for T (who always appreciates a new pair of socks).

Pattern: Easy 4 ply socks
Yarn: Knitabulous Supertwist Merino in Sacred Forest
(From Black Japan Yarn Club) 90% of the skein

The last of my Parity Purchases was picked up from the Post Office yesterday
Zauberball's and Kauni Effektgarn.

On the spinning front i am continuing the Treetops Fibre in Shanti

Monday Night...More Spinning and Some Yarn

So tonight i went Fibre Stash Diving and found this from Treetops Fibre. The colourway is called Shanti and I am trying to spin up what will eventually be stripes of Green and Purple. It's a little washed out (I am still working out the new camera).



The last of my 1/8 Wollmeise turned up on the Left Sabrina it's a little greener than the photo and on the right My Old Blue Jeans.

Spinning The Weekend Away

To satsify Miss Fee here is an action short of me plying some yarn today.

I managed to spin up two bobbins and am calling the colour Pink Zinc and Sunscreen (Merino/Soy) and then ply it onto a single Plying bobbin. I am having lots of fun with the new Wheel - Can you tell. I ended up with 553 Metres of Approx Fingering weight yarn. It is much more uneven than what I was spinning on the old wheel. But that will just take time getting to know here better.

Otherwise Occupied

I have spent today getting to know my new Spinning Wheel.

The Wheel is a Majacraft Rose. She is just lovely and I have been spinning the day away and watching TV - a mix of movies, documentaries and Sci-fi TV shows.

Arrivals

This week has seen some long awaited packages delivered

The first to arrive was the Straunch Ball Winder. To wind bigger balls. Solid and sturdy in Wood. I really love it.

Next up after a very long wait this Thursday the New Spinning Wheel arrived in a box a second box with a number of accessories (Bobbins and Flyers) came in a seperate box. The same delivery also bought two packages from Wollmeise. I had been waiting on orders from both the 1st of October and 8th of October. Unfortunately this all arrived as I was walking out the door. So they sat in the hallway until later.

I did open the Wollmeise one package from each of the 1st and the 8th (2 from the 1st and 1 from the 8th were still to come).

On the left Ballerina in Twin and on the Right Magnolie Dark in 100%

As Thursday night is Knitting group I didn't get a proper chance to assemble the wheel until tonight but did manage to unwrap it last night and peek in the boxes.

Tonight I got home from work and started to assemble the wheel. Some of the parts were a little tricky to get the angles and line up the holes for the screws but she came together quite quickly and I was spinning in no time. My first spin below Ewe Give Me The Knits Club Fibre.

Festival of Finishing Or how the Best Laid Plans go Awry

This weekend I have declared to be a Festival of Finishing

Finishing the Shawl I started in September that is to be a present for my mother.
Project: Trophy Shawl
Pattern: Brandywine Shawl
Yarn: Lush Yarns Silk Merino Fingering Weight.
Colourway: Trophy
Mods: none

Finishing the WIP - Summer Short Sleeve cardigan for me.
Project: Spring is Time for A Flutter
Pattern: Flutter Sleeve Cardigan
Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills 8 ply Cotton
Colourway: Light Teal
Mods: The Ribbing at the waist was a few rows shorter to match the back.
The back ribbing is directed in inches and the front in rows.

Progressing the WIP: Good Old Stocking Stitch Socks - the no thinking project.
Project: Sacred Socks
Pattern: Plain 4 ply Socks Mostly from memory now.
Yarn: Knitabulous Supertwist Merino
Colourway: Sacred Forest

Progressing and Finishing the Sewing Project - A Large Hobo Tote I have had hibrenating for months.

Starting A New project a Summer Tee
Project: Hempathy Vesper
Pattern: Vesper
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy
Colourway: Eucalyptus

Festival's of Singlemindedness are always guaranteed to be interupted and of course mine has been no exception.

Today we did a non-house shop. Mainly because O is going to a party tonight with a friend and needed a dress. We headed to Broadway a little off the regular track for us. The dress we found in a little under thirty minutes and shoes about five minutes later (some days luck is with you).
She found a present for the birthday at Tree of Life that is a treasure trove of trinkets.

We then headed up to Gleebooks where I spend an hour or so browsing for books, something I haven't done for ages with no sense of urgency. I used my birthday gift voucher to buy Paul Kelly's new book (How to Make Gravy an A-Z of his music) and Barry Cassidy's book about the recent election. I strolled over to the markets to meet T & O to see what treasures they have found. We bought some lunch and sat on the grass listening to the band playing and just enjoying some sun and respite from the wind.

After lunch we wandered over to Sapho books and trawled through the $2 table out the front managing to pick up another 7 books between us. There is something really wonderful about well stocked book stores with huge ranges that can enthrall you for hours.

We went back into Broadway where T realised he had left behind the jumper I had knitted him a return trip to Sapho where the jumper was found just where we left it and it was time to finally head for home. All in all a lovely Saturday afternoon in spite of the wind and no finishing to show for it.

Pre Sew-up Blocking

With the now confirmed demise of my camera I am dependent on the trusty iPhone Camera for photos until it is replaced. This has coincided with the completion of the main pieces of Spring is Time for a Flutter and waiting for the delivery of my new Spinning Wheel.

I went into a few days of procrastination. But the phone call yesterday confirming my spinning wheel is on it's way has inspired a flurry of action.

I have started blocking the pieces for Spring is Time for a Flutter.

I am onto the heel flap on Sacred Socks.

Basic Tango has been liberated from its hibernation spot and I have a new lease on knitting and spinning.

I did That!

Noticing your own improvements is not something any of us are generally good at.

This morning I have started the bands on the front of my Flutter Sleeve Cardigan and when I got to just past the waist I decided to start sewing it onto the Left Front Piece.

I have always had trouble with sewn on bands they always ended up bunching or not being even. The view of the seam from the back was never pretty.

This morning I have noticed it is sitting lovely and flat.
I have a pattern to the sewing in - not all of the stitches on the front but every third skipping a row. It looks quite neat and I realise this has happened over time, but this piece will look quite neat and tidy.

Alas no photos (my camera has moved on in the world and I must consider a replacement).
I am celebrating my improving knitting skills - especially the seaming and finishing.

Good Weekends

Good Weekends consist of

• Relaxing times
• excitement
• Good company
• good conversation
• good food
• a few drinks
• a few laughs
  
• and in my case some knitting.

This weekend was a really good weekend.
Friday night T, O and I watched Wall-e a great quality kids movie that actually was really entertaining for an adult. We had homemade pies for dinner that T had made earlier in the week.

Saturday started with chores (Some shopping at the local shopping centre) but we were home by midday well in time to get comfortable before my beloved Pies finally won the 2010 premiership. Yes I am delighted it's been 20 years since last they won. We were joined by one of T's friends who took an almost scientific interest but definitely enjoyed a great game. We followed this up with Cricket and Pizza for dinner (From Crust Pizza) and a beer or two.

Sunday we prepared for a belated birthday lunch with a great group of friends. Including O we had 8 people for lunch and T had made a gorgeous Roast Lamb with Rosemary, Thyme and Garlic and a volume of Roast Vegetables (Potato, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato) as well as Carrots, Corn and Peas. Some stunning Gravy and some beautiful dinner rolls. Accompanied by a few pre-lunch drinks and a few accompanying drinks. The meal was gorgeous and we spent a leisurely afternoon eating and drinking and talking mainly nonsense. It is a wonderful thing to spend time with friends you love and are just comfortable with. This was followed by some gorgeous Hummingbird Birthday cake prepared by one of the guests. A few of the guests lingered at least until Half time in the NRL. I dozed on the couch before heading to bed. I ate an entire leftover Roast Potato (yes just one) for dinner. It was a wonderful lunch.

Today (Monday) I hosted some knitters from our Thursday night for an afternoon again of food, drink good conversation and of course knitting. Cheese, Cake, Macaroons, Biscuits and Dip accompanied by a few glasses of Sparkling and a good pot of tea is a good time in most peoples books. We had a relaxing afternoon with no pressure, just a chance to spend some time with good friends and knit a few rows. Knitters are really amazing as they can just be and not need to be entertained, this is a state that long time friends take time to get to. There is always good laughter in this crowd and everyone has a fresh perspective.

I think I had a good weekend! Even a few calls from work failed to rain on the sunshine that was this weekend.

I may have missed mentioning I bought some Wollmeise Friday night from the update. A few cardigans worth in fact.

Below is a picture of today's table courtesy of MissFee

Strange Days Indeed

This week has been quite strange. Not because I turned a year older or because of any of the normal things.

It has been strange since the AFL Grand Final was drawn last week and is being replayed this weekend. Last weekend T (who is not the Collingwood supporter - I am) decorated the front of the house without me knowing about it. He will do the same this weekend (He did it 7 years ago when we lost the GF too). This is only the third time in the history of the AFL that a Grand Final has been drawn. At the end of the match the feeling was really just flatness, exhaustion yes, but none of the other feelings that comes with completion.

So instead of me knowing who won and having this Saturday free. We will again be settling down in front of a TV to watch a second Grand Final filled with an audience of punters as opposed to corporates and package holders. It should be a fine spectacle.

On the yarn front I did get two packages yesterday morning. One with some Wollmeise to share (but we still have some things to work out so no published photos yet). The second had 2 lots of Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy with which to make some Summer Tees. I am a huge fan of Hemp as a fabric and Fibre. T's casual shirts are highly populated with items from Braintree and they wash and soften so beautifully but retain such a strength. I am really looking forward to getting this on the needles.