a little gift

If you follow Sonia’s blog, you will know that she recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Sonia and I have been bloggy friends more or less since we both started blogging, and so when I heard her news I couldn’t resist knitting up a little something for her.

Here are the details:

Bootie pattern: Little shoes, by Ysolda

Hat pattern: Vintage Pixie Cap, by Shescrafty

Yarn: Natural Dye Studio Dazzle sock yarn, edged with Rowan Kidsilk Haze

I used vintage buttons, but as I didn’t have three the same, the booties have blue buttons and the cap has a pink one.

And on the back, just for a little extra pixie fun, I added a tassle:

Now back to the cardigan – one sleeve down, one to go…

Published on February 7, 2010. 11 Comments Tags: , .

trying…

… to get the button band exactly as I want it. It has been trying (just a few of the many attempts shown) but I think I’m finally there. Just got to make the thing now!

Thanks for all the comments on the previous post – I’ll write in more detail about the design process for this cardigan when I’ve finished it, and if you are interested I’ll write it up and share the pattern (although it might end up being a bit of a ‘insert your own measurement here’ type of thing).

Published on January 29, 2010. 10 Comments Tags: , .

not-quite-elizabeth-zimmerman’s-fair-isle-yoke cardigan

I started this cardigan on Boxing Day, as my post-Christmas treat to myself. It is inspired by Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sweater of the same name, but I am working it from the top down, not using EZ’s percentage system and I have also changed the Fair Isle pattern on the yoke. So it has sort of ended up being my Fair Isle yoke cardigan, hence the title of this post.

I am mostly using 2 ply Jumper Weight yarn from Jamieson and Smith, with the red being Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift. Both companies produce wonderful pure wool from the Shetland islands; some people express a preference for one manufacturer over the other but, to me, their yarn is equally lonely. I therefore tend to make my choice based on which one has the colours I want.

This cardigan includes both short row and vertical bust darts, as well as short row shaping at the back neck. It seems to be fitting ok so far. I’m knitting it in the round – it is destined to be my first attempt at steeking (aak!).

I wanted the cardigan to have quite a vintage feel. So I am making it short and fairly fitted, with about 3 inches of 1×1 ribbing at the bottom. I will knit the buttonband separately and sew it on afterwards.

I’m almost at the bottom now, and have just briefly paused my somewhat obsessive knitting to make a little gift for someone. I can’t wait to get back to it though!

Published on January 17, 2010. 30 Comments Tags: , , .

betty lou

I finished this cute little cardigan for baby Ruby just in time for Christmas. Here are the details:

Pattern: Betty Lou Lace Cardigan (Ravelry link), from Vintage Baby Knits

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug, in the colourway Whirly Fig

Needles: 2.75mm

Notes: This pattern was a pleasure to knit. The lace pattern is easy and quick, and the whole cardigan progressed satisfyingly quickly. The i-cord ties are very sweet, and the bobbles really make increase the cuteness factor. All in all, a pattern, and a book, that I highly recommend if you are in the baby-knitting market.

I don’t tend to go in much for photo-effects, but I think that this cardigan really should be seen like this:

Published on January 10, 2010. 17 Comments Tags: , , .

around the house

Sonia started a meme on her blog the other day that I thought was lovely. The idea is to wander around your house one day, taking photos. Nothing too staged, just how things look on that day.

She suggested the following categories:

  • In the kitchen
  • On the nightstand
  • In your work/craft space
  • Out the window
  • What the pets or children are up to
  • On your feet
  • Knitting or knitwear in action

It’s an ‘I’ll show you mine, you show me yours’ type of thing. So, without further ado, here are mine. They were taken a couple of days ago, but I’m back in London and at work now, so that was my last chance to wander gently around my house for a while!

Steve preparing a casserole in the kitchen (luckily he enjoys cooking much more than I do):

On my bedside table (the Nancy Bush book was a Christmas present):

In my craft room (well, the place where I have been knitting over the holidays, which is a close as I come to a craft room! The yarn bowl was a Christmas gift, and those are two new projects I started last week):

Out of the window:

What my dog is up to (her – and my – favourite place is  next to the Aga):

What’s on my feet (Pomatomus socks):

Knitting in action (actually, nearly all of these photos feature things I’ve knitted or sewn, which I must admit makes me rather happy!*):

So, go on, why not show us yours? Because we all like to see how other people live, right?!

*Maybe I need to get out more?

Published on January 4, 2010. 29 Comments