Crochet - Basic Beanie

Pattern: Basic Beanie
Yarn: King Cole Bamboo
Hook: 4.5mm
Size Made: Toddler

Mods: I only made 13 rounds. I then finished with a basic shell edging as follows:

*skip 2tr, ch1 (tr, ch1) five times into next tr, skip 2tr, sl into next tr* repeat all around.

Verdict: This is a really simple, really cute hat! I think I probably should have used a 4mm hook for this yarn, but since it's an autumn hat the slightly lacy effect is fine. I'll probably use this pattern again.

Knitting - A Wide Triangle

Yarn: My handspun, approximately sport weight, 283 yards.
Needle: 4.5mm

Back in early 2014 I spun some lovely fibre from Spin City (colourway Bombay)

It's got all sorts of lovely bits and bobs in it, firestar, angelina, and merino, in shades of pink and blue. It was the first time I had spun from a batt (rather than roving) and it was great fun to do. I spun about half of the batt onto one bobbin, and then the other half on another. I plied them together with a basic 2-ply, and to make sure it all got used I Andean-plied the last few yards.

When I have hand-spun yarn I'm always torn about making something from it. The yarn itself is a finished thing, but it's also full of potential to be something else, something even more beautiful. In the past I've made hats, mittens, and shawls. I'd love to be brave and make a sweater or something, but I'd have to spin a greater length of yarn than I usually do.

This is about 280 yards for the 100g. I made a lovely triangle shawl from 240 yards of handspun in the past, so I thought that might be nice in this yarn too. The previous version is a little on the small side, but part of that is that I worked it at a firmer gauge than I want to work this yarn.

I selected some lovely beads from my bead stash. They're clear beads, so they don't clash with the very multi-coloured yarn.

The pattern I've chosen to use is A Wide Triangle from Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby. It's a really simple garter-stitch pattern, with picots along the edge. It's worked sideways. which has the benefit that you can maximise your yarn usage. I weighed the yarn before I started and it came in at a lovely 108g.

As instructed I strung the beads onto the yarn before beginning, and I strung a few extras in case my shawl ends up needing more than the pattern as written. As these are small beads I strung them using a crochet hook.

I decided that about 8g of the yarn should be reserved for the center section of neither increasing nor decreasing. This leaves 100g for the rest of the shawl. I stopped increasing at around 58g remaining, and worked the 6 apex rows.


Sadly, when I got to about 60 rows remaining, I weighed the remaining yarn. There was 10g left, and I calculated I needed about 20g to finish. So with a little sadness, I pulled back to before the straight section and re-knit from about 63g remaining instead. Unfortunately, this was still not enough, so I had to rip back a second time.



I finally (with a little fudging) made it to the end, I had to add a couple of extra decreases so it's not 100% symmetrical, but then it's handspun so it wouldn't be anyway.

Verdict: This pattern is a joy to knit. It's so simple and it really shows off the handspun yarn nicely. This yarn has turned out sort of variegated, which is fun. It's a bit of a pain to pin out every single picot when blocking this scarf, but honestly it's well worth the extra time in blocking to get a nice sharp picot edge. If anything, I could have used even larger needles to get an even airier fabric.




I'm not sure if the decreases use more yarn than the increases, or if my spinning is a bit uneven, or perhaps a bit of both. I'd love to make this yet again, or possibly some of the other variations on this shawl. I previously made the Ruffled Fichu, which is basically the same design with a ruffled edge instead of the beaded picots, (pictured left). I used significantly more yarn on that one though; 850 yards in two different yarns. It's like a triangular blanket and I love it!

Festivals - Yarndale

Yarndale is a “creative festival celebrating all things woolly and wonderful” in Skipton, Yorkshire.
This is the third year that the festival has run, and it was a lot slicker than the first year (we didn’t go last year). Our only problem was that we parked away from the venue which made getting there with the pushchair a bit tricky.

With everything from knitted and crocheted bunting...



...to beautiful shawls made by stallholders...



...to the very animals that provide the fibre we spin, weave, knit, or crochet with...



...and so much more!



I had a great time meeting stallholders, squishing yarns and fibres, and doing a little shopping.

My favourite purchase of the day isn’t strictly yarn related, as it’s a new bag. I love bags. I love Star Trek. So this bag blew my mind. I love it so much. It’s from Side Car Knits.

I was also pleased to meet the lovely Louise of Spin City. She’s really friendly and has some amazing stuff. Even if you don’t spin, go check her shop out because she sells handspun too!

(Note: I am not affiliated with either of the brands linked in this blog, I just love them both!)

Knitting - Saffire Shrug

Safire (Ravelry Link)

A retro style shrug knitted top down with raglan sleeves.

Yarn: Sublime Yarns Cashmere Merino Silk DK (0196)
Needle: 4.5mm, 4mm for ribbing



Mods: I didn't knit the cuffs on the arms for as long as the pattern suggested, so the arms end at the bend of my arm.

Verdict: I think this might convert quite nicely to a full-length sweater, just by joining after the neck shaping and then working it a bit longer.
If I were to make it again, I’d increase the arms a bit more - they fit fine, but I might like them a bit looser, especially if I made them longer.

Knitting - Jayne Hat

Jayne Hat (Ravelry Link)

In preparation for York's inaugural comicon, I knitted the Jayne Cobb hat for my husband's costume. It's a basic earflap hat with specific colours to match the hat from the TV show Firefly.

Yarn: Sirdar Supersoft Aran (913, 861, 824)
Needles: 8mm



Mods: I changed the decreases for the crown slightly, and made the earflaps wider

Verdict: Pretty good, though I think I'd probably knit it a bit looser still, and maybe do more rounds before the crown shaping. I'd consider working top-down to get a better fit.

Knitting - Baby Hat

Basic Baby Hat by Heather Tucker

This is my go-to baby hat pattern when I want to make a quick hat for a new baby. For me it's probably about 4 hours to knit the smaller sizes, though a faster knitter could probably make one of these in just a couple of hours. I generally have a stash of appropriate double knit, and only a small amount is needed for each hat.

Yarn: King Cole Bamboo Cotton Solids (531) approx 15g
Needle: 4mm
Size made: Preemie



Mods: None
Verdict: As I said above, this is my go-to quick baby hat pattern. it fits nicely and the brim can be turned up or worn down depending on how big the baby's head is. I'll definitely make more of these.

Crochet - Glam Girl Shrug

Glam Girl Shrug from Ball Hank n' Skein

This is a simple little shrug, as written it is worked in one piece from side to side and then joined to make the armholes. 

It's a great project for working in front of the TV or when you don't have much concentration!

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock
Hook: 5.5mm (US size I)



Verdict: It's a nice little shoulder warmer. It worked well with the Noro yarn too, though I hope it will soften up a little on washing.

Mods: Because I was using Noro I started in the middle and worked to one sleeve, then picked up in the middle and worked to the other, this meant I could get the colour repeats to (sort of) match up.

Sewing - Oliver + S reversible bucket hat

Oliver + S offer their bucket hat pattern for free, so I printed it out and made it!

I found some fab dinosaur fat quarters in my local Hobbycraft and I knew I wanted to make something fun for my daughter.
This is a printable pattern, and some pieces have to be taped together as they're larger than A4. The instructions for this, and for cutting the fabric are all clear and simple.

I made the smallest size, which the pattern says should be 6-12mo, 18" circumference. I think it might run a little small, but it's possible that my printouts were a little smaller than they should have been. The pattern is written with very generous ½inch seam allowances, which are then trimmed; I'd prefer ¼inch seam allowances personally.

I also changed the method a little, as I am not a fan of hand sewing. Instead of hand sewing the second crown on, I machine sewed it inside out, and turned through a small gap which I then hand-sewed. I also had a few tension issues with my machine so I didn't do multiple rows of stitching around the brim.

Crochet - Sweet Eleanor Scarf

The Sweet Eleanor Scarf is a reasonably simple crochet scarf which can be made in a variety of weights of yarn. I chose to use Noro Silk Garden Sock, as I had a second skein to hand if I needed to make it bigger.

The pattern is pretty well written, and it's easy enough to work without the pattern once you get going.

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Sock
Hook: 5.5mm (US size I)



Verdict: I like it. It's a bit of a crazy shape, you have to be careful or it looks like a ruff! but it drapes nicely (using that big hook was important for that) and post-bath the Noro has softened up a great deal.

I originally cast on with a 4.5mm hook, but the fabric was like steel! It wouldn't have been wearable. I also made two extra repeats of the pattern which made it longer. I have about 5g of the first ball of Noro left (I used the other ball for a mini-shrug) and it's plenty big enough as a scarf. I'm not sure it would translate that well into a shawl because of the odd shape, I think it would become unwieldy.

All in all, it's a nice pattern!

Sewing - Simplicity 2414 - Shorts

More sewing! I found some really nice plaid fabric in my local Boyes and knew it was perfect for Simplicity 2414.

This pattern describes itself as "Misses Skirt & Pants; Misses' 1 Hour sewing pattern. Pants in a variety of lengths and tiered skirt in two lengths." I opted for view C, shorts.
Because I'd bought plaid, the pattern matching took ages. It took me a couple of hours just to cut out the pieces! However, once I got going the sewing was a bit quicker.

Closeup of the shorts, you can just see the pocket at the corner there, I'm so pleased with the pattern matching!

I'm afraid I don't have a modelled shot, the weather here hasn't been warm enough for these thin casual shorts yet. I'll update this post once I do get chance to wear them.

The finished shorts, just need the weather for them now!

I enjoyed making this pattern, it was actually easier to match the seams with the patterned fabric, and the lightweight cotton was a joy to work with.

Modifications
I didn't use cord for the waist ties, I made a tie from the fabric. It catches a little but it works well enough.

Things I'd change 
If I make these again, or if I make the other items on the pattern, I'm probably going to put some elastic in the waist instead of the ties, or possibly as well as the ties. As you can see from the picture they're pretty boxy. That works in this light fabric, but I wouldn't use a heavy linen or denim for this as it would be too stiff at the waist.
In hindsight I probably should have done french seams or similar. As I don't have an overlocker my seams inside are unfinished which might reduce the life expectancy of this garment.

I think this pattern would look great with contrast pockets, or with a contrast top to the pockets. The pockets blend in really well on my plaid though, which is nice!

Sewing - Simplicity 2369 - Wrap Dress

After a hiatus, I'm back. I can't believe it's been almost 2 years!

So, what prompted my return? A sewing pattern.
After having my baby last June, my body isn't the same shape or size it was. While I work on that, I've decided to make myself some clothes in order to still feel good.

This is pattern Simplicity 2369, which describes itself as "Misses knit dress in two lengths or tunic and pants". I'm making the shorter version of the dress with the buckle.

I bought some fabric some time ago which should be spot on for this project, it's the blue/brown at the bottom right of this picture.

The pattern was easy enough to cut out - I traced it onto some different paper rather than cutting the actual pattern for ease of re-use in future. I might have to invest in some better (and wider) tracing paper in future!

It took me about three hours to sew everything together.

 

Overall I'm pretty pleased with this. I made the 18 based on my full bust measurement of 40", but when I make it again (which I'm sure I will!) I will probably make the 16 and increase the bust somehow. I think it's the right size for my hips at this size though, so I might also have to grade between the 16 and 18 on the lower half. 

That's the beauty of making your own clothes though, you don't have to stick to standard sizes!