How to Customise your suit case

Take a charity shop doily and an old boring blue suit case.
10krs for this funky doily Uk £1

Then either with fabric glue or in my case(pun)
Some sewing cotton and a pin.

I hand stitched the edge, that was a little tricky but manageable.

And Ta dah!......
Funky case, bargain price!
Alice (In Wonderland) up date!
I have begun the sleeves and finished the square neck, so far so good. But I am extremely board of yellow.

For Your Little Girl...

Ever since I was young I wanted to someday have a daughter of my own. While I was pregnant I was of course desperately hoping my child would be healthy but also secretly hoping whatever was in there was female.

Well I got one of those things. A sweet baby girl. With loads of health problems.

Now my baby is three years old (and doing fine healthwise) and I have to say having a girl is so much fun. Especially knitting for one!

That's why I cant help but turn out little girl designs. She inspires me all of the time to create new feminine little things. Over the past week or so I have been feverishly knitting this new design.

"The Spring Garden Tee"

To me this design concept and color reminds me of "all things little girl."

Flowers, cupcakes, tea parties, etc.

It's finally done and I've sent it off to the Tech Editor. It will be available for purchase shortly.

Just like all of my other recent designs, it will be sized from 3 months-size 6.

This is a fun little project. It takes hardly any yarn, (the size 2 took less than 2 balls of Rowan Calmer) and it is knit in one piece from the top down.

I love the fluttery lacy cap sleeves. They are so reminiscent of springtime flowers.

I cant wait to try it on my daughter.

Knitted poncho

I actually made this around two years ago,

But the summers here in full forse
(Sunshine demands I unpack my summer dresses)
And when I pulled out my summer supply there it was,
teamed with memory's and demanding to be worn.

So today I did exactly that!
I wore it
Proudly!
And it is such a satisfying feeling, when people stare!
(In a nice way, checking out my poncho!)
It is a lovely poncho,
I know that I'm the only one in the world wearing it.

How do I know this?
I made it!
I designed it.
I stitched it together.
And choose the ribbon, all by my self;-)
My early birthday gift to my self.
Breakfast at Tiffany's "Holly go lightly"
Blythe two(neo)
My Cappuccino Chat aka Holly
Cute Blythe baby pink Converse (lookalikes) they are the size of my thumb nail.
E bay purchase.

Valencia Mittens

More mittens to show you - I'm calling these the Valencia mittens and they use 3 colors of Cascade 220.

It was a beautiful weekend so we decided to take a walk around Nob Hill and Ridgecrest in Albuquerque.

The catmint was in bloom.

Everything is starting to green up.

On the way to the park.

I'm not sure the name of this park in Ridgecrest but it is my favorite park in the city.

some weekend goodness

~a $2 rosemary plant from the supermarket~

~homemade yogurt~
~the violets in bloom~
~some hollyhock seeds started~

~some buttons found so I can finish the blouse~

~and a new pattern...

...all cut out and ready to start sewing~

Hope you had a good weekend!

Knitters sell off replica village

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/8017671.stm


Click on and have a look at what a little knitting group from Mersham started 20 odd years ago. The idea began so they could raise funds for the local village hall.

Amazing details and a very cute project, I love the red phone box.

The cottage image is taken from google images, I could in bed the you tube type news article. So it will probably only be up for a few days, so take two minutes make a cup'o'tea and take a look.

Knitted shawl production line

I always use a basket per project and I seem to have ran out, so the washing basket will suffice.
Shawl two on my patio.


It's easy I like the pattern and I think that it could have a lot of potential.

I have lots of odd balls of yarn and the triangle shape that it should in the end become I could in fact join some together to make bigger wraps instead of just a small shawl.

So in true my style of work, I have started three at once, today I'll post shawl number two.
Shawl two is made from
Charity shop yarn, 30krs each just under £3.00 each colour (Bargain) Flax?

I think that's 100% cotton or maybe flax is Linen? or just flax!.
I need to check my knitting research.

Chickens Are Coming!

Has everyone seen this adorable Knit Chickens pattern by Susan B. Anderson?

The first time I saw it pop up on Ravelry, I fell in love.

I knew that some funky brightly colored chickens needed to have a place in my daughters knitted toy collection.

So recently I started the first chicken. This will be the "Mama chicken".

(I have a whole family planned here.)

Here is a "strange-in progress-What the heck IS that thing-picture" for you.

I worked on it some more last night. I realized that the poor little chickens head was cockeyed

and off center from its chicken body so I had to rip out and redo.

Such a pain. But now it looks correct.

I was so intently knitting this chicken last night that when I looked up at the clock it was 2 AM!

Its crazy what chicken knitting will do to a person!

Garden knits

I tried yet another pattern! (And I may just have got it!)

To be fair it probably is the most simplest in the world but here goes Shawl
5mm needle
Acrylic green
Cast on 3 stitches knit 2 Yo knit till end
continue until shawl is the desired size.
Yo?
I used the magic "You tube" a 1st for me to master a technique and 1st hit a lovely lady showing you just what to do!

Fantastic ;-O

And I'm off, this could actually be the 1st pattern I complete, don't hold your breathe.

Below project Alice
My Alice in Wonderland dress, yes yellow not Disney blue. Inspired by the BBC re-make Alice actually has a yellow dress.

When I Googled early inspiration, she too has a yellow dress! It seems Disney made her image blue(god dam them!)
My progress so far;-)
Crochet
knit
Crochet that's the plan so far.

My space

My space

To be creative happens anywhere sometime in the strangest places.
You decide to knit new bark for a tree!
(Post knitted graffiti, Rainbow Bark)

But what ever the inspiration,
I like to take the time every now and then to look through the things that
I have made.

Check my techniques
My designs
(To sort of see where I'm going and where I have been)
The stitich I most favoured at the time.
Or in my Re-do 2 pick up where I left off!, Vogue Buttons a good example.

Also the memory's, the time, when and where. Most of my large projects have a travel story involved in some way or another.

My knitted memory's
My crocheted thoughts

Spoiled in my rented swedish home, I can sit with a Cuppa in my art space.
Surrounded by my stuff!

On return to the UK it will be standing room only in what used to be my front
room/living room,
(Shrine space, British people usually have to host/drink tea).

Instead of the regular ornaments and candle holders, I will now have balls or yarn on the shelves and lots of knitting needles and crochet hooks my easels and not forgetting my three mannequins!

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

In honor of the festivities, Bubbles is hard at work on her telephone book recycling program.



Jack is planning on doing his part to save the earth as soon as he finishes his nap.

Vogue (Alien) Buttons, Compleated

With all the little adjustments made, the two piece is complete.
Around a Uk 10/12 a model figure would be required with long legs!
So I wont be wearing it!;-0

I love all the colours, especially the Yellow green mixed
(chartreuse I have been told!)
This with the pink, very nice.
The Denim cotton Blue at the edge of the short skirt, really sets the hem off.

The top as several charms and beads hanging in random places, a cute little pink skull too also a glitter ribbon.

From the side view, the top looks as if she is pregnant with little aliens attached
The tentacles work, but they do look a little Sigourney Weaver.

The title Vogue Button's is because it actually has five vogue buttons on the back of the top.

I need to think of a famous person to wear this, I usually have one in mind!
But not today.......
Any suggestions?

Under arm holes!

Arm holes in the process of being filled;-)

Vogue Buttons
Currently in the process of being up-dated

I have high lighted the tentacles, stitched all the ends in.

Aptly named for the Vogue Buttons that fasten the back of the top to the waist band of the skirt, today I finished the arm holes.

Originally the ribbon tied under the arms, but once I put the gold side panels in I ended up with larger arm holes than anticipated.

Using a 5mm hook and a basic crochet stitch, I circled the chain as a filler for the gaps. My sleeves are finally complete.

rainy day fun

Today, a few more drawstring pouches in the making...the design stage actually, which just means the making of piles on my sewing table...

...piles of fabrics & vintage linens, hand crocheted edgings, knitted cotton squares, alphabet ribbon, buttons, and doilies ~ whatever I can scavenge from bins, drawers, and shelves in the sewing room is a possible element. Now, to narrow down the choices and come up with combinations--usually the most time consuming part for me, but also the most fun.

And, at least I can stand while doing this. Sitting is still uncomfortable on the back...I've considered elevating the sewing machine and standing to sew or attaching a little pouch to myself so I can walk around and knit :)

{I am happy to say my back is better--it turns out I have a herniated disc, but thanks to the chiropractor and the Pain Free book exercises, which I'm doing daily, I feel much better. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!! ~ Deb}

Train trip Crochet

This part I knitted on the train.

I joined my seams and stitched in the ends, sitting on my patio with a cup'o'tea.
Below Mabel Blythe, already wearing my little free-form construction she just couldn't wait to try it on!.
It has to be said, I never waste a train journey;-)

My daily trip into town on the tram followed by the train was just enough time to construct this little Blythe Skate Board style dress, I set out fresh with a small ball of funky stashed acrylic and two hooks a 5mm and a 3.5mm and went from there.

I used the 5mm for the dress, cast on 26 stitches. The 3.5 hook I used to construct a plain chain, so that the dress could be laced and fastened.;-)

Here's what it looked like here on Friday:



And here is the exact same view on Saturday:



I think it has snowed more this month than in rest of winter this year.

My mitten progress is pathetic - I really should have finished all the mittens a few weeks ago. Anyway, I just have the thumbs to knit on this pair in Cascade 220 - here I'm showing the mitten inside out because I like the way the floats are striped.

Jogless stripes redux, coming May 5, 2009

update, February 2011: The article previewed below is now serialized in TECHknitting blog, beginning here. 

* * *
TECHknitting hits print!

Among the wonderful articles and patterns in the upcoming Summer 2009 issue of INTERWEAVE KNITS, there will be an article by TECHknitter (that's me!) on the subject of Jogless stripes.


Parts of the information covered has been seen before, but in a different format and with different illustrations (click here). In the magazine, this information is re-presented with all-new illustrations. Not previously covered on TECHknitting blog and new to the magazine is instruction on jogless barber-pole (aka helix) stripes, with a neat trick for making this kind of stripes easier (much easier!) as well as a trick for making the elusive single-row jogless stripe. Pick up a copy and see for yourself--on sale May 5th, or by subscription (click here).

I'm excited about this debut, and hope you will like TECHknitting in this new medium (print!)
--TECHknitter

Sienna Cardigan

Wow. Its done. I can't believe I wasted 4 months thinking that this Sienna Cardigan was not going to turn out right. It looked so small before it was blocked and seamed. I was convinced that it was going to turn out toddler sized. But no! Isn't it wierd? It totally fits!

This project has really taught me that you just don't know until you finish something.

Blocking really does amazing things.

Look I can even button it up!

So. Wierd.

I am really pleased with how this sweater turned out, especially since I wasn't expecting anything from it. Really.. as I was washing it I was writing out a tragic blog post in my head.. this was going to be the project that failed.

But I truly love it!

Here are the modifications I made to the pattern.

The pattern originally called for a bulky weight yarn. I wanted a smaller fit so I knit it up with Zara Plus (from the stash) which is an aran weight. It turned out being around a 32-34" size instead of a 36".

I also made mine longer. I did an extra repeat or two of the cable pattern.

Also I did something stupid. Well. Its not really a stupid concept. I just carried it out stupidly.

This pattern originally is a straight up and down sweater, no shaping in the body. I've found that super straight fitted sweaters can ride up as you wear them and not lay right. Since this fact was concerning me. I added waist shaping. Well. Alot of waist shaping. I went a little overboard and shaped this sweater for a model with extremely curvy proportions.

So it fits me kind of strangely. Wierd puckering on the sides.

(I tried to hide it for the pictures.)

Wont do that again.