Catch Up Post

Yes, it has come to that again! I need to do a catch up if I want to have any hope of remembering to share what I have been up to.

Remember this? I dyed some more fleece to mix with it, in a dark blue. I played with my hand cards and made rolags for the first time (which really aren't so great to do worsted spinning from - learning curve!) But it was fun.

It looked pretty all plied up. I am attempting to swatch it to see what I might want to turn it into.

I also gained some more fleece. A lamb fleece from my Dad, which is a Merino X Poll Dorset or South Suffolk. Such a very small amount of wool - but I think it feels delightfully soft (Dad has other opinions, and tells me it isn't as soft as it could be). I only got about 180g or so after washing and picking all the prickles out - lambs are grubby little things.

Also some merino ewe fleece from a neighbour of Dads. So very kind of them. I haven't washed all of it, but what I have washed is lovely and soft also.

And the biggest - I finally finished my crochet Cap Sleeve Top that I started last year. I was procrastinating big time on this, as it was sitting there with just 1 round of crochet to go, and the ends to be woven in. Tut, tut! I am glad I have finished it though, as it is soooooooo lovely. I wore it to the Roxette concert and it wears well. I may need to put a little elastic on the shoulder straps at some point, as they are a little loose.

Cheers!

Blocking. Did I Do It Right?

I am not sure. I think I did. I didn't ruin my shawl, so maybe I did :)

When I finished the shawl back in November, I didn't have a chance to block it before needing it. I also didn't know how to. After stumbling across a thread on Ravelry about how blocking can make your lace items truly stunning (and my luck is that I can't find that thread again), I decided to give it a go.

Here it is just on the floor before.

And on me before.

I soaked it for 15 minutes, rolled in a towel and laid it out flat on a blanket on the lounge room floor (one of the few benefits of having not got rid of the ugly carpet just yet - I can stick pins in it!)
There is a pin in each of the edging loops, down the middle line, and across the top sort of evenly. I tried to get it symmetrical, and left it overnight to dry.

I am not sure it made a huge amount of difference, but it is slightly bigger - both width and depth. It also feels softer and well, at least it has had a wash :)

So if you can point me to any great pages on blocking feel free to leave a comment.

Cheers!

My First Crochet Item

with armholes and shaping and stuff! That is wearable :) And isn't a scarf or shawl.

I have been spying so many lovely knitted or crocheted items lately, from many of the totally talented Crafty Mamas in the forum, that I was completely inspired to have a go. Then the lovely Tracy started up a Yarn-Along, and I decided to jump in feet first, not expecting to even finish an item.

But I did, and it is gorgeous! I love it! DD on the other hand, isn't as impressed, as it is a bit big. Pfft! She is doing nothing but growing lately, and really, it was my first ever cardigan. I think she should cut me a bit of slack lol

I do know why it is slightly too big, and that is because the pattern calls for a size 6mm hook, and I only had a 7mm. I knew it was going to be slightly bigger, as I did do a gauge swatch thingy.

Anyways, the pattern is the Bebop Cardi. I found it on Ravelry - it is a free pattern and is rather easy for a beginner. It was also quick. I managed to have it finished in 4 days - about 10 hours tops. The yarn is BWM Luxury in cream - DD picked that out of the colours that were available. And I must say, it is an absolute pleasure to work with such beautiful wool!

I added some button loops as I was finishing the edges, and they are a bit hit and miss - but they seem to work ok. Two extra rows were added when I was working the bottom, so that it had a bit more length and I think that works well.

Mis-matched buttons, just because they were there and it is helping to reduce the stash :)

Also crocheted lately is this simple granny square blanket for my niece. She drags her bigger ones everywhere and trips over them. So this one is to drag around with less chance of tripping.

Cheers!

Eva's Shawl

After seeing the gorgeous shawl that Tracy made here, I was inspired to make one too. Despite the fact that I haven't managed to crochet much beyond a granny square and a few misshapen motifs.

The pattern is from here. It is just lovely.

I used 4 balls of 50g Moda Vera Faith from Spotlight as it was only $2 a ball, and I didn't want to use expensive stuff in case I got bored or really struggled with the pattern. I can't remember the composition of the wool, and I have put the tag in a safe spot. They only had 2 balls at my local store in the cream colour, so when I realised I was going to need more, I rang around to find some more. The only store that did was on the other side of the city, about a 40min drive one way..... Luckily for me, DH was headed up that way for work and was able to pick 2 more balls up - though I wish I had asked for 3, as I didn't have quite enough to finish the 2nd row of edging. It was also a different dye lot, but it isn't too different (one benefit of being new at something - you don't mind quite so much!) But it still looks pretty, and was quite warm.
I used a 4mm hook, as this was the biggest I had in my stash - I have since acquired some larger ones to make another shawl at some point.

I wanted it to wear for the wedding last month, and I got it finished the night before - so it hasn't been blocked, though I have no idea how to do that yet either :)

I used a big pin to hold it together (please excuse the very tired face - it had been a long day).

Cheers!

Boxy Bag & A Scarf

Ever since seeing a tutorial for a boxy bag, I have wanted to make one. Only problem was, I wanted no visible inside seams. So I started with this tutorial http://patchyapple.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/patchyapple-boxy-bag-tutorial/ to get the rough measurements, as I wasn't really up to working them out myself. I did the outside and inside in two pieces, so I have a seam at the bottom. This made it easier to sew the zip in, and also to do the lining.
I used fusible wadding/fleece to help strengthen the bag and help it to hold its shape. That proved to be a challenge in itself!! I sewed the zip on and unpicked the zip 3 times, as the fleece kept pushing my sewing off track, and my stitching would just drive off the side. Argh! Finally I sewed it on and it was perfect! Until I turned it over, and I had sewn the zip in upside down. So the inner fabric was going to be the outside. So I unpicked it AGAIN! 5th time lucky, I got it in perfectly. And the second half of the zip was a doddle after that lol
I put in a handle and a tab at the opposite end. I hand stitched the turning opening in the lining, as I am proud to say that I am finally getting better at it! :)
The fabric was a remnant from SL that is soooooo soft! It is like a heavier cotton, though not as heavy as a drill. It sews beautifully and I love the circles. The inside is also a remnant of cotton from SL.




Close up of the hand sewing :)



This scarf is finally finished! It was an UFO from a preious post, and I finished it a few weeks ago but have only just got around to taking photos. It is so warm and soft. I found the pattern here http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-june-scarf-slant-stitch.html.
I love the stitch design, though it does look better in a finer yarn and a single colour. But I followed a pattern from start until finish and it worked!




Cheers!