Stitch Bliss

Show off stranded socks

2011-11-16T11:23:00.005+10:00

I had marvellous intentions of knitting socks for everyone in time for Christmas, but alas, I have recently finished only my fourth pair for the year. I must have been knitting too many cardigans and jumpers.

I like these socks very much, they are made from the lovely yarn, colourway 1335 Vintage, and the pattern, show-off stranded socks is a free download from Anne Campbell's website. They have a really interesting heel and gusset construction, and a very cool overall pattern of slipped and passed over stitches.
The only trouble I had was that the stitch pattern is not quite so stretchy as stocking stitch, and I foolishly failed to allow for this in my choice of sizes. It is just terrible ;) that the only person in the house these actually fit is moi. They are rather stretched over the foot of my daughter, in her role as sock model, and she was complaining bitterly about this for the entire 35 seconds of the photo shoot. They look good though!

I have started some plain socks with self striping yarn. I might make them a bit small for other peopel too.

Ra-Ra Cape construction 2

2011-10-26T13:58:00.003+10:00

I did not construct this cape all in one sitting, the i-cord threading was driving me batty.
Here is my take on Diagram 2, attaching the top two ruffles to section 3.

Section 1 cannot be attached directly opposite to the join of section 4 and 5, as shown in the diagram, as the length of attachment for each of section 1 and 2 does not allow this. Instead, section 1 is attached slightly to the right of the centre of the edge of section 3, then the i-cord is threaded through section 1 alone for 5cm of the cast on edge and all of the short end. There is a long tail of i cord.

Section 2 (crochet) is shown as being attached abutting section 1. I chose to overlap section 1 and 2 slightly to prevent a gap during wear. Section 2 is then attached to section 3 for 10cm, and the i cord is threaded through section 2 alone for 15cm. I assume this is to allow an armhole, but unfortunately, my daughter did not like the very skinny appearance of section 2 alone over her shoulder, and does not use this armhole. If I were to make this cape again, I would not place the armhole here, but in the section 4 attachment, to make a more symmetrical appearance when the garment is worn as a short vest, rather than just over the shoulders.
Section 2 is attached to section 4 for the last 15cm of section 2 edge. The remaining part of section 2 has the i-cord threaded through without attachment, and there is a long tail of i cord, which is worn tied to the i-cord tail from section 3 and 5.

The flowers are added at this point.

The instructions for this pattern say that assembly requires patience. I agree, but the outcome looks rather pretty, and the recipient is suitably appreciative.

Jo Sharp Knit Issue 7 Ra-Ra Cape Construction part 1

2011-10-24T12:51:00.004+10:00

My daughter really fancied the Ra-Ra Cape from Knit Issue 7.

This pattern calls for 10 different balls of yarn in 5 separate pieces loosely joined by 3 i-cords. Reading through the pattern, I noted that several of these shades were only used for a relatively small amount of knitting. I decided to make a version of this pattern from mostly remnant yarn, to get an idea of the amounts needed.

Section 1 and 2
I used Alpaca Silk Georgette, Kelp, 1 ball for both sections. I used Sirdar baby bamboo, Willow to edge section 1.

Section 1 was straightforward, and a pretty lace pattern. The pattern calls for lightly ironing this piece before assembly. Instead I dampened the piece and gently stretched it to shape, pinning the section to my ironing board to dry overnight. I feel that this displays the lace pattern to advantage, without the risk of distorting the piece by ironing.

Section 2 is simple crochet. The crochet instructions in this pattern are written in USA style. I found this a bit annoying. The pattern book is published in Australia, and it is an error, in my opinion, to publish in this country, for distribution in this country, using non-Australian terms without noting this use in the pattern.

In spite of translating from USA to Australian/British crochet terms, I found that using the ASG for the crochet ruffle rather than the mohair indicated (or maybe not having a tension gauge to aspire to) left me with a crochet ruffle far less wide than the blocked knitted lace ruffle. I added a shell edging to increase the width.

RS: 1dc,*miss 1 stitch, 5tr into next stitch, miss 1 stitch, 1dc into next stitch: rep from*

Section 3
This is the only part of the garment for which a tension is given. Using the tension gauge, this piece is 60cm in length.
There is an error in this section. The first 6 rows are correct, except for the double asterisks at the end of row 6, which should be ignored.

Rows 7 - 12 Rep rows 1 to 6.
Rows 13 - 17 Rep rows 1 to 5.
Cast off in rib pattern.

I used Alpaca Silk Georgette in Kelp, and Aslan Trends Glaciar Del Cielo, in colour Green Tea for section 3

Section 5 and 6 were constructed as written, using the same Rare Comfort Kid mohair shade for both (Damask) (C and D), with the other yarns being Silkroad DK Tweed in Magnolia (this is yarn E in the pattern, and I used it as yarn E), substituting Aslan Trends Artesenal in Champagne for yarn F, and using the Green Tea cotton (I), the Baby Bamboo Willow yarn (J) and Jo Sharp Soho Summer Cotton in Crete (H) as the three cottons.

The i- cords were made from the Baby Bamboo, in Willow, and in the Magnolia shade of the Silk Road DK tweed. The crochet flowers (translated from American again) were made in the Green Tea cotton.

I then started the assembly. This was not straightforward, as the diagrams are not to scale.

As section 3 is 60cm long, and Section 5 is attached to it for 20 cm, followed by a 25 cm gap, then attached for an unspecified length, it is important to note that Section 5 is attached at least 3/4 of the way along the length of Section 3, not 1/2 way along as Diagram 1 would indicate. (I unpicked ;( )

I found that Section 4 was slightly gathered to Section 3 to achieve the 13cm unattached edge at the left.

I found all the i-cords rather too long in this garment. In retrospect, I could have made them a third shorter with no problems for wear by an average sized woman.

I will write about the next assembly steps in a further post.

Knit Issue 10 Jo Sharp Cotton T shirt

2011-10-05T10:07:00.003+10:00

The Desert Garden Aran jumper in Knit Issue 10 has been lurking at the back of my project list for a few months now. With warmer weather, I have faithlessly abandoned my blanket in progress, and my 1/3 completed wooly waistcoat, and frivolously started on this top 2 weeks ago - on a weekend away camping. (Yes, we did need our beanies at night, and they were beautfully warm)

The Desert Garden jumper was a perfect knit for car travel, easy stitches, washable, non-fuzzy cotton/microfibre yarn, and I was happily up to ball 4 on the sleeve/upper bodice section whilst still on the drive north west (passenger, naturally) when I ran into a problem. The ball I pulled out of my knitting bag was not the same shade. Horror! I had pulled the yarn straight from the shop shelf on Friday, not looking very closely, knowing that there was only one dye lot per yarn on the shelf. What could have happened? Alas, I had a mixed bag of colour Solstice 237, a white/cream shade, and Stark 668, which is, as the name suggests, Stark white. I had no other knitting project with me, what could I do but start a second top in Stark?

As I had more of the Stark with me than the Solstice, I progressed further with the second top during the weekend away, and have now finished it, much to the displeasure of daughter the second, who had dibs on the first one. As this is a quick knit, I might manage to get hers finished too before the very hot weather starts.

I am afraid that I cannot agree with the magazine that this is a t shirt. In my opinion, this garment is a boat neck jumper. It is designed with a loose tension, so that an undergarment in a contrasting colour is visible underneath. It would be rather cheeky worn without an underlayer.

This particular jumper is size B, for a 90 cm chest. The smaller size is for an 80 cm chest, slightly smaller than the dimensions of the recipient, and my daughter did not want a close fitting or negative ease garment, hence the larger size. I have lengthened the sleeves, and the body, slightly, to fit my daughter, but still used only 10 balls. The printed pattern called for 24 balls for this size, which was an errata corrected by the Jo Sharp team to 14 balls, but in my knitting, even with lengthening, I was 4 balls short of this.

The big beanie

2011-09-03T09:58:00.003+10:00

My mother was knitting the twisted rib beanie from Knit Issue 6, for my brother-in-law, but when she finished, it was too small. How annoying. When we looked back at the pattern to see what could be the problem, we found that the pattern stated that finished measurement was 40cm in circumference, and this was exactly the measurement my mum had ended with. Now beanies are worn stretched, and single rib, or even twisted rib are stretchy stitches, but as standard male hat sizes are from 56-63 cm, this is asking the beanie to stretch around 50%. This is a big ask, a bigger beanie was clearly required.
Increasing the size involved re writing the pattern for a cast on of 84 stitches, and a nice even set of decreases at the top. It was also re-written to allow circular knitting - I much prefer pulling through a single stitch at the end of a beanie to stitching up the back.

Here is the not quite-Knit 6 bigger beanie.

It did take more yarn than orginial pattern - 2 and 1/2 balls of Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra, in colour 722 cement.

The new pattern is available free in the shop with the purchase of the yarn required.

Fortunately, my mum ravelled her too small beanie, and knit it up again in the new pattern, so I get to keep this one. This also means that we know that the pattern takes only one x 100g skein of Alsan Trends Guanaco.

It is warming up here, but this beanie will be just the thing for a September school holiday camping trip. It gets cold at night when you travel inland.
It is actually lucky that there is half a ball left over, as now my husband wants a beanie for this camping trip, and I can make him a nice striped one.

Knit Issue 10 Reversible Wrap

2011-08-31T14:30:00.004+10:00

After my first winter cardigan was spirited away, I felt an absence in my wardrobe. I needed a new cardigan quickly. (Hmmm, the first one was a quick knit too, I must be feeling a bit impatient lately). Fortunately, there is another quick to knit cardigan in the same pattern book, the reversible wrap.

I knit it in Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, colour Asparagus, #426. It only took 7 balls, which I thought was pretty good for a big warm cardigan . I love this yarn, and the colour is gorgeous.

I quite like the cardigan worn in both directions, which surprized me, as the deservedly popular Origami top from Knit 7, which is much the same dimensions, really only appeals to me in the shawl collar direction, although the bolero direction does look fabulous on other people.

I like the shaping that the corrugated stitch pattern gives to the back of the jacket.

I did have some trouble sewing up the cardigan, as the SilkRoad DK kept breaking in the arm seams during wear. I have not had this trouble previously, and think it must be due to the high degree of stretch required of these seams near the armscye.
I oversewed with a matching DMC stranded embroidery cotton and have had no further problems. I am wearing this so often that I really think I need another one....

Not quite a 1- hour scarf, teaching a child to knit

2011-08-24T11:30:00.004+10:00

Teaching children to knit is not for the faint hearted. I have gone through the motions with many children, some of them even related to me, and people ask me quite often for tips on needle types and yarns that are suitable for this purpose.
My standard reply to these questions, is that when teaching children to knit,I like to start with shortish, bamboo needles at about 4.5-5.5mm diameter, and a medium weight (8ply, 10ply) yarn composed of mostly wool. My reasons for this are that little hands cope better with short, not-too-thick needles, bamboo needles are not slippy or sticky (or particularly damaging when poked into someone's arm or leg), and that wool yarn, if selected judiciously, tends to feel soft, comes in great colours, and is less likely to split and slip than cotton, or stick like acrylic, and is relatively inexpensive.
I follow this advice myself, and have started several accomplished knitters for whom I like to take credit. I also have a 14 year old daughter whom has so far only started 3 scarves, of differing types. You can't convert everyone into a knitter :(.
My latest convert is my son. He has been trying knitting on and off since he was 4 years old. He has several partially completed 8ply woolen scarves in his WIP pile. Some of them are rather old.
Only 4 years after his first attempts, he has completed his first project. He did not follow any of my standard advice. Instead he followed the advice I generally reserve for older beginners - pick something you want to wear, and knit that.

He fancied the Sirdar giant balls of yarn marketed as the one hour scarf. This yarn is not only 100% Nylon, but has a chenille effect, so it is a bit tricky to see the stitches. It requires 10mm needles, and both knit and purl stitches. Much more complex than the standard garter stitch rectangles he had fiddled about with previously.
I think it was the colour and texture that appealed to him - don't you think he is sounding like a knitter?
This scarf took about 6 weeks of sporadic beginner knitting.
He has cast on another project already.

Knit 10 Yoke Cardigan and the perfidy of a close relative

2011-08-22T10:00:00.005+10:00

The pattern description for this cardigan is rather tempting "Sassy and Soft, the cropped yoke cardigan will fly off the needles and be in your wardrobe in no time at all."
Whilst thinking about a top layer for my Stichers Guild 6 piece winter wardrobe, this sounded just the thing.
I knit it up using Aslan Trends Artesenal in colour 188 Champagne with Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair in colour 634 Damask. The combination of yarns was beautifully textured and a lovely soft neutral. The pattern knit up really quickly, on 10mm needles. I was very happy with it.

However, the very loose knitting means the cardigan is quite drapey, and the edges roll rather more than I had expected.
I found it a bit arty looking for my work wardrobe. I had to pin it carefully so that the fronts were even, and ended up wearing it mostly with weekend outfits for a more casual look.
This was not a problem for me, however, wearing it whilst visiting with my mother proved to be a mistake. First she complimented it.
Next she tried it on, fastening it in a deliberately asymmetrical way that instantly gave it her style.

She looks great in it.
Next she told me some stories about how I used to steal her clothes when I was 13 (that would be the last time I fit into them, so they might be true stories, only slightly exaggerated)
After that it went home with her.
I don't think I am getting it back. She may have mentioned something like "mothers' revenge" as she drove off.
All I want to know Mum, is where is my copy of Knit 10?

Alison's cardigan Show and Tell

2011-07-29T13:07:00.004+10:00

Alison has made this beautiful cardigan for her equally beautiful daughter. The yarn is Sublime extra fine merino, which is a 4ply, and feels as gorgeous as it looks. The colour is 166, Mellow.

Alison is planning more lace knitting for her daughter - next time in a summer cardigan with short sleeves. I hope she brings this one in for show-and-tell too.

Technique Class - Knitting in the round, August 6

2011-07-18T10:28:00.003+10:00

We have added a new class to the July/August line up, at customer request.

Technique Class
Knitting in the Round

· I- cord
· Double pointed needles
· Circular needles
· Joining in the round
· Adding new yarn in the round
· Avoiding ladders
· Moebius techniques
. How to change a flat pattern to knitting in the round

Saturday 6th of August 9.30am – 11am
$22, materials included for use in class

10% discount for circular and DP needles purchased by class participants on the day.

Purple socks

2011-06-10T09:42:00.003+10:00

The next pair of must finish socks are also in Sante Fe. This colourway is called grape jam. I think it is my favourite - or maybe it is just my favourite at the moment.

The socks are my own pattern again, the usual, but with an eyelet insertion down the front. I am very pleased with how this turned out - it is visible, but not bulky or uncomfortable to wear in boots or closed shoes. I will be using this one again.

I am preparing for a learn to knit class tomorrow. I like to start a few simple patterns so that the students can see what they can make for a first project - at least that is my excuse for starting 2 or 3 new projects whilst there is still a significant WIP pile!

Green socks

2011-06-03T10:52:00.005+10:00

I can hardly believe it. Only a week or so ago I claimed that I would be finishing some WIP socks, and I have actually done it! I have also managed to avoid starting any knitting project for nearly a month, which must be a record. Oo
ps, that is a lie, I made a flower brooch last week, but truly that was just finishing off an embellishment for something I had already started....
Enough confessions, here are pair #1 in the beautiful greens of Sante Fe

These are from my own everyday sock pattern, and I did try a little addition - can you see the reverse stocking stitch leaf at the back?

I can't either. Lets put this one down to experience and pretend that they are plain socks.

Knitted flower brooch. Free Pattern.

2011-05-30T14:42:00.003+10:00

Having just completed a cardigan that needs a pin for closure, I decided to try some embellishment knitting, having seen some of this in RTW. Hand made is better in my opinion. The pattern for the different shaped petals is at the end of the post.

First I knit 8 teardrop shaped petals, with the base petals more rounded than the upper, in Jo Sharp rare comfort kid mohair, using 5.0mm needles.

Next I used the long cast off tails of the petals to assist the petals to curve. I wove in the tail towards the top centre of the petal, then ran the thread in and out of the central column of stitches, using a wool needle.

Once I had made 4 base petals, I stitched them together at the centre.

The upper petals were made in the same manner, then joined individually over the base petals.

All the tails were threaded through to the back, and knotted in pairs around the fixed leg of a kilt pin. After this knotting, the tails were gathered together, formed into two bunches, and tied in a reef knot around the same leg of the pin.

After construction, small beads were stitched through the centre of the flower, using standard sewing thread and a beading needle.

Base Petals - teardrop shape: Make 4

1.Make a slip knot, leaving a tail of at least 15cm, Cast on 2 stitches,
2.Knit in to front and back of each stitch (4 stitches)
3.Purl row
4.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
5. Purl row
6.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
7. Purl row
8.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
9. Purl row
10. Knit row
11. Purl row
12. Knit row.
13. Purl row,
14. Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
15. Purl row
16.Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
17. Cast off 8 stitches in Purl. Leave a long tail (15cm)

Upper petals - make 4, these are more elongated than the base petals.

1.Make a slip knot, leaving a tail of at least 15cm, Cast on 2 stitches,
2. Knit row
3. Purl row
4.Knit in to front and back of each stitch (4 stitches)
5.Purl row
6.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
7. Purl row
8.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
9. Purl row
10.Knit in to front and back of first stitch, knit to second last stitch, knit into front and back of second last stitch, Knit 1
11. Purl row
12. Knit row
13. Purl row
14. Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
15. Purl row
16.Knit 1, Knit2 together, Knit to last 3 stitches, slip 1, Knit 1, pass slipped stitch over, knit1
17. Cast off 8 stitches in Purl. Leave a long tail (15cm)

Jen's Willow Cowl

2011-05-18T15:10:00.002+10:00

Look what Jen made from Sante Fe, more often encountered as a beautifully soft sock. The colourway is 1335, also known as "vintage" , and I just love it. I have to admit that I am a weak woman. When Jen showed me her almost completed and gorgeous cowl, she had hardly walked out of the shop with the yarn she needed before I had cast on a sock in the same yarn. I will probably need a cowl too ;).

We will not talk about the 3 pairs of work in progress socks that I currently have lurking about somewhere. I am blaming them on the sock knitting class we held in...ulp, March!. How did it turn into May already?

You can see more about Jen's cowl here if you are a Ravelry member.

The pattern is Willow Cowl by Amelia Lyon, which is a free pattern downloadable on Ravelry.

Crofter Scarf

2011-05-06T14:54:00.003+10:00

I am very fond of the wearability of the Sirdar Crofter range. I have just finished making 3 rib scarves for my children from the Chunky weight, and no one has even mentioned the dreaded "itchy" that lurks menacingly behind any project knitted for direct application to the skin.

Here is the first version, in colour 59, Rambler Rose. I actually made this scarf to co-ordinate with the Hat for Camp that Rocks.

This started a chain of family requests.
The next one is much shorter, and in the manly shade of number 61, Misty Moor.

Naturally, I then needed to make a third scarf, this time in the lovely greens and purples of colour number 50, Bracken.

These were really quick scarves that I was able to knit as a handbag project-a portable size, and the sort of knitting you can pick up or put down at any stage.
Now I am almost ready for something more complicated.

Moss stitch Infinity Scarf

2011-04-07T07:51:00.002+10:00

I am hooked on moebis scarves/cowls. This version, for my daughter, is knit in moss stitch, from two yarns held together, Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair (Char), and Silk Road DK Tweed (Peppercorn).

I love the texture of these two yarns together, they make a beautifully soft and snuggly fabric. The lighter Peppercorn yarn shows more in the purl stitches, giving the scarf textural interest, even though the colours are subdued.
You can wear the scarf long or doubled.

I will be knitting more of these.

Cotton bolero version 2

2011-02-28T16:44:00.003+10:00

You may remember that I tried to knit my niece a white cotton bolero for her Christmas present.

That one ended up far too large, and was gleefully claimed by my daughter.
Just after Christmas, the cousins visited each other at their Nana's place. My niece greatly admired the bolero, in complete ignorance that she was the original intended recipient. Obviously it was my duty to try again, this time for her birthday.
I made it two sizes smaller. I am pretty sure that it will fit this time. I have posted it off to Melbourne for the last of the warm weather.

It was even quicker the second time. I am waiting to see if the other nieces fancy it too.

Rib infinity scarf/cowl

2011-02-25T12:34:00.002+10:00

The infinity scarf I made for my sister was very successful, so I thought I would try making up a different one, in rib.

For this scarf, I used exactly 2 balls of 50g (95m approx) 8ply wool. However, as I wanted to emphasise the infinity twist of the pattern, I used a complimentary shade of yarn for the last 5 rows of the pattern.

They yarns I used are Heirloom Heatherwood 8ply wool shade 586 and Jo Sharp Classic Double Knit Wool shade 008, Aubergine/ I really like the texture of both these yarns. I may need to knit a version in the opposite colour proportions.

Acerola

2011-02-21T14:21:00.002+10:00

I have not posted any projects by Jennie lately. This is not because Jennie has stopped knitting, but because I have been a bad blogger. About a month ago, Jennie kindly took photographs of her daughter modelling the gorgeous toddler dress/top Acerola. This is a free pattern from by Tonya Wagner, published on the shizknit blog. Another customer made this little dress early last year for her grand-daughter, and the photo on my brag-wall inspired Jennie to make her version. I am a terrific enabler!

Jennie used Pima Clasico 100%cotton to make her version of Acerola. The colour is Dahlia.

Moss Stitch Infinity Scarf

2011-02-07T14:05:00.003+10:00

Whilst I was in Europe, I saw the beginning of the winter clothes in the shops, and super elongated cowls, or joined up scarves appeared often.
When thinking of my sister's February birthday, I almost always think of winter knitting. An Infinity scarf seemed just the trick for this year.

I made the scarf 140cm long, and 25 cm wide, and knit it sideways on circular needles. This was very good for summer knitting, as I did not need to drape the scarf in progress over my lap.The yarn is Aslan Trends Guanaco, a warm and soft Alpaca/Merino blend.

My daughter is kindly modelling this during a very hot day. It looks to be a particularly winterish warm scarf to me.

Sante Fe Monkey socks

2011-01-24T17:33:00.002+10:00

Whilst looking through my photos, I realized that I had never displayed my infamous Monkey socks on the blog. These were the very first socks I made from the luscious Sante Fe sock yarn, which is now one of our most popular yarns.

The pattern is a simple lace repeat, it is a deservedly popular free pattern, published in Knitty, 2006.

These socks have been on display in the shop all summer. My daughter modelled them for this photo shoot, and claims that they are her socks, as soon as the weather cools down. She has the same size feet as me, so I might have to fight her for them.

Cotton bolero - Sirdar

2011-01-07T19:11:00.002+10:00

One of my Christmas present projects was a bolero for my 10 year old niece.

I started the lace bolero from the Sirdar cotton children's pattern book, in size 11, which is reportedly for a 76cm chest.
The bolero turned out beautifully.

I was really happy with it, until I measured it.
It was far too big for someone with a 76 cm chest. My gauge was spot on. I was a little annoyed, until my 13 year old daughter admired it. Instant extra Christmas present!

It is only a little too big for her. Her chest measurement is 81cm. I really like this pattern, but it runs large.
Next I will be making a size 8 for my niece!

Mm, no takers??

2010-12-21T10:27:00.002+10:00

I don't think I phrased the giveaway conditions correctly. The people who commented here or on my sewing blog that they would like to try smocking, or would like a copy of issue 85, Australian Smocking and Embroidery magazine, are not followers of this blog, according to the list I can read. Maybe they are private, secret followers?
I have drawn out the names from comments at both blogs anyway, so Kylie, if you would like this magazine, please send your mailing address to mail@stitchbliss.com.

Counter change smocking - Lattice pattern on a t-shirt

2010-12-13T13:59:00.007+10:00

Smocking on knits is not traditional, but after reading an article by Nicole Smith in the November 2010 edition of Threads, I felt that the large grid she had used to apply Counter change or North American smocking to garments made from woven fabric, would be worth a try on the thin knits I had lurking in my stash. Counter change smocking is very simple, requires little equipment, and is very quick in comparison to English or Italian smocking. My rayon jersey smocked t- shirts do not need ironing, and I did not have to finish the edges. Casual smocking is terrific.

Here is my first attempt, using the Lozenge pattern on a green rayon jersey.

This is the next version, using the Lattice pattern, again on rayon jersey.

I posted these on my sewing blog, and a few readers suggested that a tutorial would be useful to them. This is the first installment, photographs of how to smock the Lattice pattern on a thin rayon jersey. The smocking, including marking, took approximately 2 hours. (I have been smocking for about 15 years, but the technique is suitable for a beginner, although it might take a bit longer)
I will post another tutorial on how to manage the smocked fabric to make the garments.

Counterchange smocking gathers the fabric without adding elasticity to the gathering. The Lattice pattern gathers the fabric horizontally and vertically. If you are short of fabric, you should smock a sample before committing to the entire garment, and make sure that you will have sufficient once the smocking is completed.The amount your smocked piece will "shrink" depends on the body of the fabric, and the depth of the pleats you make during smocking. Having ample fabric, I did not make a sample. I marked a grid approximately 3x the desired width of my finished smocked piece, and did not cut the fabric before smocking.
I was initally concerned that the smocking might add stiffness to the knit fabric, and smocked the Lozenge pattern (green t shirt), by hand using shirring elastic. However, with wear, I found that the knit fabric retained plenty of stretch, and felt that the use of elastic thread was unnecessary. I used ordinary sewing thread for the blue t-shirt, and in the photographs. I used a crewel needle for the smocking.
I used a one inch grid to mark my fabric. For 2 rows of Lattice smocking, as shown in the blue t-shirt, you need 5 rows of marking. The first row is approximately 3 inches below the edge of the fabric, which allows plenty of trimming room during construction of the garment. I aimed to keep the grid parallel to the selvage of the fabric. All marking and stitching are on the wrong side of the fabric.

Here is a chart for 2 rows of horizontal Lattice smocking as shown in the blue t shirt. Most charts for Lattice smocking are shown with vertical columns.

The black diagonal lines are where two points are brought together to form a pleat, and the red lines are where the thread lays slack over the fabric. The inch grid means that these slack stitches are long, and you may wish to take a small stitch half way along the line to minimize catching.

Your first stitch is a holding stitch through the dot marked one. A holding stitch is essentially a back stitch.

The next stitch is a small stitch through the dot marked 2. This stitch is pulled tight so that 1 and 2 are brought together, pleating the fabric.

This is sometimes referred to as "Single Stitch". Traditionally, another holding stitch would be made after the single stitch. For the very stretchy knit fabric, I chose to reinforce the holding ability. I took another stitch through these two points, bringing the needle through the loop as I pulled it tight to form a knot.

The third stitch is slack. A small stitch is taken through the point marked 3, without gathering or pleating. Again I chose to make this stitch very firm by taking a second back stitch, this time without a knot, as there is less strain on the slack stitches than on the pleating stitches. It is important that the fabric is not stretched as you make the slack stitch.

The fourth stitch is another single stitch, pleating from the dot marked 4, on the other side of the spine of the lattice row.

The next stitch is another slack stitch to point number 5.

This is repeated until all of row one is completed.

Row 2 is formed in the same manner. The unused dots in the third line of markings from the first row are used in the second row.
Start again at point 1 of the fourth line of markings.

Stitch through point 2 (in the third line of markings) and pleat to point 1

Make a slack stitch to point 3, then stitch through point 4 and pleat to point 3.

Continue until you reach the end of row 2.

The right side of the fabric shows the lattice pattern.

As I am pretty sure only people who really want to try smocking would read through all this dry stuff I am having a give-away. Issue 85 of Australian Smocking and Embroidery has a silk duponi wrap, made using lattice smocking.

If you would like a copy of this magazine, and are a follower of this blog in google reader, leave a comment stating that you would like to participate in the give away. I will draw names out of a hat next Monday, December 20, and post it to you as soon as I have your snail address.

Happy smocking.

Bibliography
1.Embellishment, by Nicole Smith, article in Threads November 2010
2.Wrapture, by Nancy McEvoy, article in Australian Smocking and Embroidery Magazine, Issue 85, Country Bumpkin Publications, 2009. pg 39-43.
3.The Art of Manipulating Fabric, by Colette Wolff, Iola, USA, Krasue Publications, 1996.
4. A-Z of Smocking, Country Bumpkin Publications, 2000.
5. Smocks and Smocking, by Beverley Marshall, Alphabooks, England, 1980.
Sources.

Cross cultral knitting for boys - a pitfall

2010-11-17T13:49:00.002+10:00

I am sure that most knitters have run up against the boy-clothing dilemma of intense conservatism combined with extreme pickiness.
Sharon wisely had the designated recipient look at the pattern books, and select his own yarn.
Having the common non-knitter difficulty in imagining a particular pattern made up in a different yarn, the boy chose Sirdar Crofter Chunky 0053, Hound Dog, to make the cabled hoodie, Design B, from Sirdar Book 362, Crofter Chunky. There is a very nice photograph of a boy wearing this hoodie, in this yarn in the pattern book.

Sharon is a very experienced knitter, and likes to knit in the round, so she started off this pattern from the bottom, knitting the back and the front at once. Unfortunately, she had not remembered that the pattern repeat for the fair isle effect has been worked out for the pattern as written - when knit across the front and the back at once, the fair isle effect was lost, so she had to rip it. Annoying.

Fortunately, making a size 61/66 chest jumper, using Chunky yarn, is quick. This did not take Sharon long to knit, even with the hood.

Unfortunately, the boy took one look at the finished hoodie, and said "There's pink in it!" (you will have to imagine the tone of deep disgust). He must have missed the very small amount of pinkish red visible in both the photograph, and the yarn in its ball. He insisted that the jumper be given to his (female) cousin instead.

However, after he reluctantly agreed to model it to check the fit, he asked for one just the same - in a different colour.

The next one had better be plain navy blue.
Maybe he should knit it himself.

Baby Bamboo 370 , Happy Little Stripes

2010-11-13T11:00:00.004+10:00

The next Christmas gift completed is a cardigan for a 6 year old niece. I have used the pattern Stripey caridgan B, from Sirdar 370, Little Stripes and Brights, making a size 6-7.

I used the same colours of Baby Bamboo as the last cardigan, as this present is for the older sister of the previous niece, and I think it is pretty to have a common theme in sibling clothing for occasional use.

The finished cardigan looks quite plain, but I am happy with this appearance. I think my niece will be able to wear this cardigan with a dress, or jeans, and this will give her more use from the garment.
In the pattern, there is a knitted flower attached to the cardigan. I have made this flower, but cannot take a photograph of it today, as the camera battery has inconveniently gone flat. I have made a pony tail ornament with the flower, and will make another few as brooches, so that the cardigan can be dressed up or down.

Sirdar Baby Bamboo Ruffly Bolero

2010-11-08T11:26:00.003+10:00

I want to write a few posts about my Christmas Present knitting. Every year, I try to have a few things knitted well in advance, but I always knit presents through November and December.
This year, I am hoping to knit a few summer cardigans for as many of my 8 nieces as time allows. Here is the first cab off the rank.

This cardigan is from Sirdar book 352, Seaside Babies.

I have knit a short sleeved version of the Ruffle trimmed bolero pictured on the front cover. I have deviated only slightly from the pattern, making a size 4-5 for a 5 year old niece, using stripes in the ruffle and sleeves of the short sleeved version, and choosing blues and greens (133 Willow, 138 Waterbaby and 143 Playful) in the Baby Bamboo DK.
This is a very quick knit, just right for whiling away the time whilst spectating at cricket practice. This is just as well, as there are 7 niece garments to go - and my mother wants a glamorous scarf to wear in the evening....

Knit 8 Side to side cardigan, version 2

2010-11-05T09:15:00.008+10:00

Today I have asked Hannah to write a guest post about the cardigan she has just finished. Hannah has been knitting for 2 years, and is working in the shop part time.

Pattern description:

The pattern I used is the side to side cardigan, from Knit 8. I made Version 2.
This pattern is for a short, sideways knitted cardigan with three cables. The cardigan ties with an eye cord that runs through one of the cables.

Why did you chose this pattern? Did the finished garment turn out as you expected?

I chose the cardigan pattern because it looked fun and quick to knit and had quite a few techniques that I hadn't used before. When I finished the cardigan it looked exactly like the picture in Knit 8, but with different colours and a longer i-cord, which were my changes.

Did you find any errors or tricky places in the pattern?

Right at the end of the pattern there was one minor error, the knits were called purls and the purls were called knits, but I found it before I knitted that section, thank goodness. :)

What yarns and needles did you use? Did you like the yarn texture and colour? Did the yarns work well for the pattern?:

For the cardigan I used Alpaca Silk Georgette 751 Pebble and Soho Summer DK Cotton 234 Currant. I used Currant instead of Soho Summer DK Cotton 216 Sapote, which is the yarn used in the pattern instructions, because I preferred the colour combination of purple and steel grey to the suggested brown and steel grey, which seemed a bit dull to me. The needles I used were 5.5mm and 10.0mm single pointed needles, a cable needle, a stitch holder and 5.5mm double pointed needles.

The two yarns together feel soft and make the pattern look slightly lacy, because they're knitted together on large needles. The two yarns worked really well for the cardigan, I love the combined colours and the yarns feel very soft. The cardigan is also a perfect weight for Queensland, it gives some warmth but isn't too hot, because of its lacy texture.

How long did it take you to knit the garment:

I knitted the cardigan on and off for about 2 months, not doing much knitting each time. The actual knitting was very quick though, and sewing up barely took any time at all. Probably the most time consuming part of the cardigan was knitting the i-cord.

Was it a difficult knit for you? Did you use any new techniques?:

This wasn't a very difficult cardigan to make, the instructions were quite easy to read and follow, even though there were a few techniques I hadn't really used much before, like the moss stitch and the whole experience of knitting "sideways." The instructions for the i-cord weren't as clear but I found very user-friendly instructions for it in Knitter's Handbook by Montse Stanley

Are you happy with the garment? Where and when are you planning to wear it?

I am very happy with the cardigan, it turned out almost exactly like I thought it would, and I think it is very flattering to wear. I plan to wear the cardigan in spring, autumn and maybe on warmer winter days. So far I've worn it with a dress during a breezy day at the beach and at work over a blouse, with a skirt. I am really satisfied with the cardigan, hopefully I'll be able to wear it a lot. I think it will dress up a jeans outfit, or look smart and casual over a more formal outfit.

Knit 4 sweater, Enid's version

2010-11-01T10:14:00.004+10:00

There are few things more useful in a winter wardrobe than a classic cream jumper. Enid had a old favourite that had been worn to death, and needed to replace it. She chose the gorgeously soft and fine Alpaca Silk Georgette yarn with which to make her jumper, then spent quite some time considering the many patterns available.
Her choice was one of the jumpers from Knit 4.

This pattern book has several jumper options, and several cardigan options for Alpaca Silk Georgette, Enid's is a combination of sweater version 1 and sweater version 2 - Enid has knitted a medium length for the body, and altered the neck to fall between the high and crew styles. She has also chosen to double over the rib neck, for a more robust and clean looking finish.

Enid generally liked the pattern, but felt that there was a nasty error in the shoulder section. She had to increase the length of the shoulders by approximately 10 cm further than the pattern described. Fortunately, she had no difficulty with the relatively small amount of reverse knitting that was needed.

The final jumper is a great success, and will undoubtedly be loved to death, just like the first classic cream jumper. Using a fine yarn for a jumper gives a good fit without excess bulk.

Jennie's Class Headband

2010-10-30T10:09:00.004+10:00

Whilst I am an inveterate out of season knitter, and have just finished something enormous, of 12 ply alpaca, with cables (it has to be mysterious, as it may end up as a pattern in a magazine, how exciting!), other people are much more sensible about warm weather knitting.
Here is Jennie's headband, her own pattern, made from the light, viscose-cotton blend of Aslan Trends Class.

Had I considered such a clever project, I would have thought that Class would be a little too slippery for a headband, but Jennie finds that the elasticity of stocking stitch is sufficient to hold the band in place, and the slight slipperiness means that the band does not grab at her hair.

The Anita wrap

2010-10-15T14:34:00.004+10:00

Some time ago, I wrote a pattern with my mother, so that she could knit a wrap inspired by one my sister had seen in an expensive boutique in the Dandenongs. The wrap turned out fabulously well, and because my sister will be getting the original wrap, I wanted one too. Unfortunately, I had to knit it myself (are you reading this Mum?).

With great luck, I have managed to make one that I like even better than my sister's - and she has to wait for hers until her birthday. I feel sibling superiority (are you reading this Anita?). It is a bit sad that I have not grown out of enjoying this feeling. :)

I have been able to wear the wrap a few times, even though I knit it in Spring, which is usually far too hot for luscious mohair and alpaca.

I knit the wrap from Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed and Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair. I am writing up the pattern for the shop - it looks simple, and ended up being easy to knit once I worked out the kinks, but picking the right tension and the right combination of yarns to get the texture I wanted took a lot of test knitting. I love this wrap. I think I will knit another one in a different yarn combination.

Jan's Regia socks

2010-09-20T15:53:00.005+10:00

Jan has been on a sock mission lately. She has knit several pairs, but I am having a hard time persuading her to bring them in for Show and Tell. I strongly suspect that they are snapped up by the recipients before she has a chance to let us admire them.

This pair is for her lucky granddaughter. The yarn is Regia sock wool by Kaffe Fassett, 4254 Mirage, which has beautiful subtle earthy colours. For some strange reason this photograph looks rather blue on my computer monitor, in real life imagine a more purple and brown tone.

Jan has used an older pattern for her socks, she thinks it is an Heirloom pattern, but has been using it for so long that the origin is a bit of a mystery. I love the knit1 purl 3 rib, it looks terrific and is snug yet stretchy.

Stitch Bliss, Gympie, Queensland, Australia. We love knitting, wool, yarn and stitching.

Green Beret

2010-09-15T12:24:00.002+10:00

Recently we held one of our Next Step Knitting classes at the shop. It was great fun, although unfortunately, I forgot to take photographs of the finished objects.
Except, of course for my finished object. I knit along with the class to demonstrate different techniques in the pattern.

This yet another version of my cable beret pattern. I have used Shade #710,Cardomon Silkroad Ultra for this one, I love this colour. I am now fancying a co-ordinating scarf for next winter.

Quick knitting

2010-09-13T19:57:00.002+10:00

My niece turned 4 last week. I had bought her a book, my stand by present, but I really wanted to make her something.

I hunted through the stash, and found 2 balls of powderpuff in a colour I am sure should be called "4-year old pink". I am not a huge fan of powderpuff, but it is soft, machine washable, and I had some, which made it quite attractive all of a sudden. I knit two strands together on 7mm needles, and this garter stitch scarf took less than two hours.
Sometimes making a gift takes less time than shopping.

Baby Blanket in Baby Bamboo

2010-09-10T14:43:00.003+10:00

When I came into the shop the other day, I saw this new display by Sharon.

(I told you she was keen on baby things right at the moment)

It is made from Sirdar Baby Bamboo shade 155, Limey. This shade is not on the website shop yet, but I will have it up soon.

The pattern is simple, but the stitch changes give it lovely texture and make the blanket interesting to knit.

The pattern book is Baby Bamboo Too, 346

Moorland Lass Pam

2010-09-08T11:32:00.003+10:00

I was all set to show you Sharon's baby bamboo blanket today, but Pam visited me this morning to show me her Moorland cardigan. She is feeling shy and asked for a headless shot, which is a real pity, as she is very happy with this project, and her lovely smile shows it! .

Pam bought this pattern and yarn a little while ago, planning to use it whilst she was travelling to West Australia. However, she knitted it up so quickly that she was able to wear the cardigan through almost the entire 3 week trip, but unfortunately had left herself nothing to knit. She told me that she and her friend had to knit one end each of her friend's project. (I think she was joking). Personally, I am always quite worried that I will run out of knitting whilst I am travelling, and take several balls of yarn "just in case". I think it is a bit like packing food for a picnic - far better to come home with left overs than to not have enough whilst you are out enjoying yourself. :)

The pattern is Moorland Lass, design F from Crofter 349. It is clever of Pam to have spotted this gem of a pattern in the book, as it is practically hidden - no big photo in the book, and not even pictured in the small photos on the back of the cover.
Pam chose colourway 60 - Loganberry, of the Sirdar DK Crofter for her cardigan.

Almost Instant wrap

2010-09-06T20:41:00.003+10:00

A friend of mine has just sewn a fabulous wrap, and on seeing a photo of it, I was inspired to write a knitting pattern (OK, I should really finish some of the WIPs, but this was soooo quick)

I used a novelty yarn - "1 hour scarf", which is sort of a stable chenille. It is unusual in that a stocking stitch does not roll at all at the edges. I am not sure if you can see in the photo that the wrap has quite a strong diagonal top edge.

This took an hour and a half to knit. I am writing it up for the shop!
I am also knitting another version in purple Del Sur.

My daughter "borrowed" this one to wear to dance class, and I haven't got it back yet.

Something nice for Saturday

2010-09-04T10:42:00.003+10:00

I really appreciate the comments people leave on the blog. It is lovely to know that our knitting projects are appreciated!

If you read the blog, I would like to give you a discount coupon to use at the website shop this month. Type in SEPT10, and 10% will be taken off the cost of the products you order.

This can't be applied to backorders or out of stock items.

2 steps back, 1 step forward

2010-09-03T16:29:00.002+10:00

When I write patterns, I do not tend to start with the maths.
I tend to start with the yarn.
This does not always work, and I thought this delay in approaching the matchs was the main reason I spend so much of my pattern development doing reverse knitting. I do plan to improve on this one day. Just not this week.
I started this last night.

I have done a lot of frogging today, and this time it was the yarn that did it to me - the maths was just fine. It was a bit disappointing,

but I like the next version better already.

Picky, Picky!

Hat for camp that rocks

2010-09-01T17:09:00.002+10:00

My daughter suffered a hat crisis on Monday night. No warm hat for school camp, except a “boring” beanie. She begged, she pleaded, and I gave in. Free pattern Snowboarder hat that rocks (blog link)to the rescue. Very, very cool pattern according to my daughter. Very, very fun and quick pattern according to me.

I used Sirdar Crofter Chunky yarn (#59, Rambler Rose), which is probably less bulky than the yarn called for in the pattern, but the hat looks fine anyway. Using this yarn, it might not fit a large man, which is the size given in the pattern , but it fits my daughter nicely. I love stretchy, forgiving cables.

I used DP needles, as I prefer them to circular needles, and used more strands of yarn for the plaits, but otherwise knitted this up exactly as written.
I got lots of Mum points for this one.

Baby boy jacket

2010-08-30T15:23:00.003+10:00

Sharon is expecting a new grandbaby. For some reason, she is suddenly extra keen to try the new baby knit patterns. I have several recent projects of hers to show you!
Look at this manly but gorgeous jacket.

Sharon has used some of the Aslan trends Glaciar del Cielo cotton (114 Reno)for this darling Sublime pattern, because she loved the colour and the soft hand. You need exactly the right blue sometimes....

Silkroad DK Tweed Man's Pullover

2010-08-25T15:47:00.002+10:00

I was very pleased when the December 09 Airline security paper was published, and bamboo knitting needles were removed from the prohibited list.
This meant I was able to knit at the airport, and whilst flying.
See what I made whilst travelling.

I had started out with a pattern from Jo Sharp Contemporary Knitting, but as this is a mid 90's pattern, it needed updating.
The only thing I ended up using from the pattern was the cable stitch pattern and the same yarn type.
My version has set in sleeves, is more fitted, and has a doubled neck band, with shaping at the back of the neck. Unfortunately, it took me 3 attempts before I was happy with the armscye and sleeve head. I should have done more preliminary maths instead of trying to wing it.

The yarn is Silkroad DK Tweed, Magnolia. It coped very well with multiple frogging sessions.

My husband says that he really likes this jumper. He might even keep wearing it now we are back home!

Enid's Wrap

2010-08-20T11:25:00.005+10:00

There has been a lot of knitting going on whilst I was away, so I am slipping in an extra post this week to show you this fabulous wrap by Enid.
In autumn, Enid saw a wrap at a lovely clothes boutique in the Dandenongs. Feeling a little faint at the price, she sensibly decided, that although a luxury garment is worth a lot of money, knitting a luxury garment from wonderful yarns would be a more budget friendly wardrobe investment.

We worked out a pattern together. The wrap is made from two rectangles in a very wide rib pattern, using Jo Sharp kid comfort mohair and Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed knitted together as one yarn.

The fringe is made from the mohair alone.

Although this is an easy knit, it is large, and took Enid about 3 weeks of solid knitting time. Enid is modelling the wrap (do you notice the Knit4 jumper underneath - there will be a post about that later), but it is actually intended for her daughter (lucky daughter), who is taller.

There are 11 balls of mohair and about 9 balls of Aran Tweed in the wrap.
The pattern will be available in the shop soon.
I am hoping for some more photos of the wrap for the pattern sheet, but this wrap will be posted off to Melbourne soon. I am sure it will get plenty of wear.

I'm Back

2010-08-16T14:25:00.002+10:00

I have just returned from an investigative trip including France, Spain and England, where I had a fabulous time checking out knitting shops. I also was able to look at 2 different factories involved in yarn production and have got my hands on some truly gorgeous fibres - whole ranges not currently distributed in Australia but even more excitingly some products from small independent mills and dyers. I am really looking forward to knitting up some of these and deciding which we might be able to stock in the shop.
I patted all sorts of delicious yarns - camel, yak, silk and cashmere blends, even some unwashable paper yarn (I am afraid I am too practical to stock paper yarn at this point, but who knows!)
Just to whet your appetite, I will show you how the market at Knit Nation in London looked when I first walked in. Unfortunately, you can hardly see the yarn for the shoppers, but there was a whole warehouse sized building full of different yarn stalls.I was in heaven!

There were fabulous classes and instructors here. I am currently working on some new classes to add to our list at Stitch Bliss to pass on some of the new ideas I have picked up. I will also have some terrific books coming in over the next few months.

Fitting knits

2010-07-10T06:23:00.005+10:00

Recently I recieved an email from a knitter who was asking about why her knits did not fit. This is also a frustration that Knit night discuss frequently!
There are a number of reasons this can happen - tension,reading the finished measurements carefully to select ease,etc but I truly feel that the biggest frustration people have with fitting a knit ill fitting after all their work, is selecting a pattern with features that do not suit their figure, (see my a-line Knit 4 cardigan that now belongs to my daughter)

I love this cardigan - but not on me!

Of course another issue is not knowing how to make modifications to adapt a pattern to their particular figure.
I was really excited to come across this series of articles at Knit Stash Repeat on Fit to Flatter. This is a fabulous resource.
I think knitted garments should always turn into favourite, flattering clothes.

Barb's amazing weaving

2010-06-23T11:05:00.002+10:00

Do you remember the squares Barb wove from the DK Crofter? They were very cool, and originally intended to be a blanket.
However, Barb liked them so much, that they turned into a shawl - more public viewings are possible with a garment. :)

Barb is thinking of giving classes in weaving at the shop. I am encouraging this idea, Barb is a very clever lady. Let me know if you are interested!

Felting experiment

2010-06-11T11:29:00.002+10:00

First,it was lovely to meet so many readers at the Gympie Quilt and Craft Spectacular. I was pleased to find that there was plenty of yarn, and plenty of not-just-quilting fibre crafters in attendance. We had a busy but fun time.

Today I will write about a project I finished a little while ago, after my fun with the French Press Slippers.
I fancied a felted hat. Patterns for these are few and far between, but the Cleckheaton Accessories book put out this year has a pattern I thought might do.

Here is the unfelted hat in Jo Sharp DK wool, aubergine.

Looking at the Cleckheaton book, I was not terribly impressed with the felting intstructions. The pictured hat is only lightly felted, with the stitches clearly visible in the photograph of the finished item. I was concerned that the hat would easily overfelt, and be too small. Fortunately for me, I do not have a top-loading washing machine, and my front loader is not terribly vigorous in its action. If I want to fully felt an item, I need to run through 3 or more cycles. I put the finished hat in my zippered felting bag, and ran it though one cycle.
Here is the finished hat - a perfect fit, and only lightly felted.

I fancy a more stiff brim, and a more fully felted hat, so am thinking of writing my own pattern. The aubergine wool is such a gorgeous colour.

Craft Spectacular June 5 and 6

2010-06-04T11:32:00.002+10:00

I will not be at the shop on Saturday. Instead I will be running a booth at the Rotary Craft Spectacular at the Gympie Pavilion. 9-5 Saturday and 9-3 on Sunday. Hopefully there will be some knitters, crocheters and weavers amongst the Quilters.

More Gympie Show results

2010-05-31T14:49:00.003+10:00

I found the camera, so here is a more happy post. Lynne is right, frogging mohair is not an easy job! I may need to just finish the shrug after all. It is thinking about its bad behaviour whilst resting in a too hard bag at the moment.

Here is another of Hannah's successful show projects.

She knit this in a week, as she decided at the last minute not to include her socks in the high school knitting section, and needed a substitute entry. The cardigan is made from Baby Bamboo, pretty much to the pattern, although she has substituted willow green for one of the pink border shades. I think the green really makes it pop.

The sad side of knitting

2010-05-26T16:49:00.003+10:00

I am feeling a bit sad about posting today, as I have mislaid my camera, which has some more photographs of winning entries, which were my original posting subject, so thought I would post about an unsuccessful project instead, to keep in the mood!

Some months ago (Okay, nearly a year ago) I started the mohair shrug, with butterfly lace pattern, from Jo Sharp's knit 5.

I had a lovely time knitting the butterfly lace pattern, my only regret being that the lace pattern is almost invisible due to the soft halo of the yarn. I didn't mind this too much, thinking I would use the same lace pattern later for a scarf, where the light shines through the lace whilst you are wearing it, or perhaps in a less fluffy yarn.

Due to some interruptions (ie, shiny new projects that jumped the queue) I let the unsewn sleeve number 1 sit for a while, but around December, I decided to sew it up, in order to resume the project with a feeling of virtue (I am not very fond of the sewing up part of knitting).
Unfortunately, I found the sleeve to be rather baggy.
I took it in a little ( more sewing :( ) and started sleeve number 2.
While I was earnestly knitting sleeve number 2, just a bit every day, as I try to with a sluggish sort of project, I thought again how much more likeable I would find the lace pattern as a scarf. However, ploughing on, I started the decreases. Then I took these photographs for a progress report (trying to generate self enthusiasm).

I really don't find the sleeve flattering.
I don't think I will wear the shrug if I persist.
I think I will have to undo this project.
Sometimes you have to cut your losses.

Fortunately, I am quite keen to embark on the wrap jacket from Knit6 - using Rare Comfort Kid Mohair and Silkroad Aran Tweed together. The thought of a lovely new project will console me whilst I reverse knit.

Show winners

2010-05-19T15:07:00.002+10:00

It is so exciting to have the category prize winners come into the shop with their prize vouchers.
I have been able to see some of the entries close up.
Here is Hannah's advent calender wall hanging - made from StitchBliss fabrics, threads and buttons. Hannah has drawn most of her own embroidery designs for the pockets.

She won first prize in the High School "any other entry" fancywork section, against some stiff competition - there is some fabulous work coming out of Home Economics and Textiles at our local schools. Congratulations Hannah!

The Gympie Show

2010-05-12T17:09:00.000+10:00

I can't wait to see the prize winning projects.

Sublime Baby Cardigan

2010-05-12T15:45:00.001+10:00

This darling cardigan "Little rose" on the cover oft the third little Sublime hand knit book really appeals to me.
I am sure someone will have a baby soon, so it is important for me to have a present ready :) (That is my excuse for knitting this, and I am sticking to it!)
I made the smallest size, 0-6 months, and it is quite tiny. I chose to make only one of the roses as embellishment, as I felt the 4 shown in the pattern would look too heavy on this very small size.
The yarn is Sublime baby cashmere merino silk dk, colour 126 rosy. It is as luscious to knit as it sounds.

Fibre arts

2010-05-05T15:27:00.004+10:00

I love knitting, so I tend to think of yarn as knitting material. However, I also love to see the other uses for the yummy materials from the shop.
This is what clever weaver Barb made as a "test" from one ball of Sirdar Crofter DK, shade 54, Fairisle. She was impressed by the yardage.

I am intrigued by the different effects Barb has achieved by using this self patterning yarn in weaving.
Barb is making a blanket, as her test worked out so well. I am keen to see how the other squares turn out. So far they are all different, but blend together nicely.
Self patterning yarn is extremely cool.

Jennie's Heirloom Vest

2010-04-30T15:05:00.002+10:00

Possibly our most prolific knitter, Jennie, has been knitting up her stash lately, and made a cabled vest for her daughter. She liked the vest so much, that she was inspired to make a vest for herself, but being Jennie, instead of finding someone else's pattern in an adult size, she wrote a completely new and individual pattern, using several new-to-her stitches, in order to get the vest she was after.

She has made an impressively smart outfit - the yarn is Heirloom Celtic, colour 949, an alpaca and wool blend, 8ply/category 3, knitted with 2 strands at once to give 16 ply/bulky weight.

Jennie is planning to write up the pattern to put on Ravelry. I think it will be popular.

Ballet Leg Warmers

2010-04-19T12:24:00.002+10:00

Making a ballet wrap meant that a request for the matching leg warmers was almost inevitable, as the wrap is really for dance class, not just fashion (although it has been worn with jeans and a t shirt down the street already).

I was not unhappy about this request as there was about 90% left of my fourth ball of #58 Sirdar Crofter DK from making the wrap.
I started out making the legwarmers from Sirdar book 349, but used double pointed needles and knit in the round, to avoid the sewing up at the end that I like to leave out when I can.
Once I had finished the rib cuff, I decided not to change to stocking stitch, as I felt this would make the legwarmers too floppy for my daughter. The high cotton and acrylic content of Crofter is terrific for wash and wear, but means the yarn has less elasticity and recovery than those with a higher percentage of wool content.
The legwarmers are quite successful made entirely in rib, showing the fair isle effect pattern well, and used not quite all of the two balls called for in the original pattern.
I finished these legwarmers with a stretchy cast off - picking up one stitch from the row below every 15th stitch or so, before slipping a stitch over to bind off in my usual manner.

Ballerina Wrap in Sirdar Crofter DK

2010-04-07T11:07:00.005+10:00

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter break. The weather was so gorgeous here that I spent much more time cycling than knitting (what a terrible admission for a yarn addict, just forget I said that), but I do have some finished objects to show you.
This is the Ballerina Wrap , Design D, from Sirdar Crofter DK pattern book 349. I have knit it in shade #58, Moorland, and it was very quick to make.

I made a few minor changes to the pattern. My daughter wants this wrap top primarily to wear to dance class, and felt that the pattern was a little too long to wear over a leotard, so I have made it 5cm shorter in the body. I also knit i-cord, rather than making a garter stitch tie, just because I really like i-cord. I crocheted 2 rows as a neck finish rather than picking up stitches and knitting an edge, as I really need more crochet practice, and am taking every opportunity to get some!
I found the yarn delightful to knit, soft and cosy, and am very pleased that this is a machine washable yarn (great for active wear knits). However, I did have a small yarn problem. There was one knot in 4 balls, not the end of the world, but unfortunately, the knot made a pattern break that was rather strange. I kept knitting, expecting the pattern repeat to come around so that I could (curses)reverse knit and match the two fronts, but it didn't seem to match the other knitting, even after 10cm. I eventually worked out that the post knot yarn was wound in the opposite direction, so the pattern repeat was upside down! Probably most other knitters will not be as slow as me to work this out. All I can say in my defence was that at this point I was knitting late in the evening after a glass of wine....

International model

2010-03-29T10:35:00.004+10:00

Personally, I feel that Sirdar Baby Bamboo is the perfect weight for Queensland knitting. However, I should not be Australiacentric about this yarn, Sharon has been knitting delightful jumpers and cardigans for her gorgeous grandson Tiaga, who lives in Japan, and fortunately for me, Tiaga's mum says he is allowed to model these on the blog.

Here is Tiaga in a nice manly cable cardigan from a now out of print pattern book that Sharon happened to have in her stash, in the colourway Tom Thumb. Apparently it keeps him beautifully warm, even in wintery Japan.
Maybe we will have some spring in Japan photos later (Sharon has been eyeing off all the new colours). Doesn't Tiaga do a great modeling job? I think he needs a spring jacket, not that I am enabling you or anything Sharon. :)

A-line cardigan, Jo Sharp Knit 4

2010-03-24T11:18:00.005+10:00

After my long post about working with Lumina, I thought I should leave the actual garment for another post.

I am very pleased with the finished garment.It is a beautiful colour, and a perfect weight for this time of year in Queensland.
This is the shorter version,# 1 from Knit 4, with the closure from version 2, albeit with 5 loops on each side instead of 3.

I did change the construction slightly. I made the main body of the cardigan in the round, to reduce seaming, and when I did seam, I used only the cotton strands, splitting these out from the yarn.
The pattern called for separate, short crochet chain loops. It seemed to me, that these short loops would increase the sewing required, and also increase the risk of the rayon strand in the yarn unravelling.
Instead I made one long chain for each side of the front, and couched the chain to the inner edge in between the loops.

Unfortunately, although I made this cardigan for myself, the A-line shape is not really flattering on me. I should have altered the shaping to be more fitted at the waist.

My daughter is quite pleased with my mistake, I don't think I am getting this cardigan back.

Working with Lumina

2010-03-22T14:33:00.006+10:00

I like to work with a variety of yarns. I am always interested to try different blends and fabulous new colours. I notice from reading knitting blogs and Ravelry that this is not a universal affection. Some people are very disparaging about any yarn that does not behave like wool. I don't think this is a reasonable requirement unless you are prepared to only work with wool.
Off my soap box now, but this common disparagement is why I am writing this post about Jo Sharp Lumina.

Lumina is an eyecatching, beautiful yarn, and it does not behave like wool. It requires some care to knit, but is truly lovely and unique. It has a strand of a tube knit structure, that appears to be mostly viscose twisted with two strands that appear to be cotton. The yarn is liberally threaded with gold coloured sequins. This beats threading hundreds or thousands of beads onto the yarn for a beaded effect IMO! The composition of the yarn is 62%viscose, 36%cotton and 2%polyester.

The twist of Lumina is quite loose. This means that a sharp, hard needle is likely to encourage the yarn to split. I would not choose metal needles for this yarn. I used bamboo needles with a slightly rounded tip, but casien or wooden needles would also work nicely.
The sequins in the yarn are not hindering to the knitting, as they are small and soft. I do not find them at all scratchy to wear when they end up on the inside of the garment.
The only extra care I needed to take with the knitting of my first garment from Lumina was to deal carefully with the viscose strand when joining a new ball. I found that the knit tube tended to unravel. I tied off the rayon strand with a reef knot whenever finishing or starting a new section of yarn, and the unravelling was tamed.

I did not stitch up the garment with the full yarn. Initially, I simply removed the sequins from the yarn by snipping open each sequin, as sewing with sequins would be just asking for catching and pulling. Despite this preparation, I had to remove some stitching, as knotting the rayon strand for sewing proved insufficient to stop the unravelling. Instead I fully untwisted the yarn, and sewed up the garment with the cotton strands, which was quick and effective.
The garment I knit was the A-line short sleeved cardigan from Knit 4. Photographs of the finished garment will be displayed soon.

The Fatal Attraction of Sock Yarn, and some sock blockers

2010-03-15T13:33:00.003+10:00

I tried (albeit in a half-hearted sort of way) to wait a little while before starting some socks from the Sante Fe , but when the sock blockers from a local craftsman arrived as well, I was gone. I felt it was my duty to try out the new things :). Its a hard job, but someone has to do it.

See how nicely the Monkey sock by Cookie A (free pattern from Knitty magazine) looks in the deliciously vibrant Tango Reds. I altered the rib band (operator error, um individual design feature) and used my usual reinforced heel, because I think I will wear these a lot.

Sante Fe Sock Yarn

2010-03-12T17:04:00.002+10:00

I have just recieved a delicious yarn parcel. My favorite sort of yarn - sock yarn!
This one is lusciously soft and you can see the beautiful kettle dyed colours. I only have 3 projects on the go, surely I could squeeze in a pair of socks?

Noro Kureyon stripey scarf

2010-03-10T16:37:00.004+10:00

Before Sharon went to Japan last year I had been admiring Noro items on Ravelry for a while, but also reading the love/hate posts about these yarns. Sharon kindly found me some Kureyon whilst she was in Japan, so I had some of my own to try out. I mixed it up with my using up remnant phase to make a scarf.
I love/hate Noro too.

I love the colours in this scarf. This is made from 2 balls of Kureyon, 48 stitches in double rib, alternating 2 rows with the left over Heirloom Heatherwood (green) and Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool(aubergine)from 2 sets of French Press Slippers.

Unfortunately I really dislike the texture of the Kureyon. It is very harsh. I think it would be unwearable with out the softening effect of the lovely soft Heatherwood and Jo Sharp DK. There were 2 knots in 2 x 50g balls of the Kureyon, and a lot of foreign matter - leafy bits, twiggy bits in the yarn.
However, I still really like the scarf. I am not sure whether or not I want to stock this yarn. I am putting the scarf on display in the shop, and will see what people have to say about it. I will block the end first to get rid of that casting off ripple.
I have 2 balls of Kureyon in a different colourway left. I think another scarf might be in the pipeline, but now I need some more remnants!

What do you do with your remnants?

2010-03-08T10:07:00.003+10:00

I don't like to throw out yarn. This means that, like most knitters, I have lots of small amounts piling up in my knitting stash. Every so often, I have the urge to use them up.

Some of my favourite things to make from remnants are children's clothes. These child's socks are made from Jigsaw Heirloom 66 and Patonyle sock yarn 1003 remnants from larger socks. The pattern is my own.
These socks fit youth size 1-3 (Australian) and will be worn out sliding down the hall. This is a much better use of the yarn than sitting in my knitting chest.
What are your favourite remnant projects?

Alpaca Kid Lustre Scarf

2010-03-05T09:15:00.003+10:00

I wanted a simple project that I could knit whilst a passenger in the car, and vaguely remembered seeing a ripply scarf that looked like a wide vertical rib pattern.

I started with 30 stitches cable cast on, using 4mm needles for this 8ply yarn, then alternated strips of stocking stitch and reverse stocking stitch (5 rows each) for a corrugated effect. Essentially you knit a row, purl a row, then for every 6th row, repeat the previous row.
This scarf took 3 and 1/2 x 50g balls of Alpaca Kid Lustre in Province, 853.

Crochet Blanket

2010-03-01T13:38:00.005+10:00

Last year, a lovely family from South Australia visited the shop. Leesa was buying her birthday present, supplies to work on her new crochet hobby whilst on holiday.
She picked out a gorgeous combination of yarns - Artesenal, baby bamboo, and glaciar del cielo.
Leesa has kindly sent me a photograph of her gorgeous crochet blanket. I am always thrilled to see how projects turn out, particularly when I am able to work with someone to find alternative yarns for a pattern (also known as playing with yarn, which is just about my favourite thing). I love how the colours and different patterned squares work together in Leesa's blanket.

I am sure this will be wonderful to snuggle under as the weather gets colder.

Araucania Socks

2010-02-26T09:37:00.003+10:00

I bought this yarn in October, whilst I was in NSW on a buying, or should I say, trying, trip. I wanted to have some personal experience with lots of yarns that are available, before I bought them for the shop.
This Araucania Ranco Multy yarn (colour 306) caught my eye because of its fabulous varied hues. I am always on the lookout for fun sock yarn. I am very impressed with the dying, the transition of shades, and the evenness of the yarn. However, I will not be buying this yarn for my shop.
I bought one skein to try, and there were 11 breaks, or thin spots leading to a break, in the yarn. I know this is not considered a fault by yarn manufacturers these days, but I find this too many breaks for my personal tolerance level.
In addition, I think I have been spoilt by Patonyle. This wool is quite wearable, but definitely more harsh next to the skin than the merino I am used to.
The pattern I have used is my own plain sock pattern. It is available free at the Stitch Bliss shop with any sock yarn purchase.

Twisted Drop Stitch Vest, Knit 7

2010-02-24T12:14:00.002+10:00

This short sleeved cardigan from Jo Sharp Knit 7 is one of the quickest garments I have ever knit, not excepting baby clothes.

It is knit with 2 strands of yarn, one 8ply Alpaca Kid Lustre and one 8ply Soho Summer Cotton, on 10mm needles. I have made the smallest size, for my daughter who wears an Australian size 8-10, and it is quite loose on her. I am thinking of making another one and trying to size down the pattern.

I used shade Province 853 in the Kid Lustre, and Fog 250 in the cotton. I used one ball less of both yarns than called for in the pattern. A few customers have knit this cardigan, and they also used at least one ball less of each yarn for the short sleeved "vest" version, but found they needed all the balls recommended for the long sleeved version.

Knit 6 Garter Stitch Jacket

2010-02-19T14:24:00.003+10:00

In my usual out of season knitting, I have just finished this jacket from Jo Sharp Knit 6. I do have some excuse, it is my sister's birthday present, and I have finally finished it only a fortnight after her birthday! It may be a little sandy, as I knit most of it at the beach, taking advantage of some cooling breezes, and the majority of the project was not sitting in my lap whenever I could avoid it. This is a very warm yarn!

The yarn is Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed, in shade 116 Ivy. The jacket is oversized, and boxy in design, which will look very good over a turtleneck and a scarf in a Melbourne winter, but looks a little too much on me, over a summer dress. I hope you can get an idea of how the jacket looks from my photo - try to imagine it at a football game :).

The length is in between version 1 and version 2, to finish at high hip (it is a little longer on me, as I am shorter than my sister.

I have used the neck from version 2, but the two high buttons from version 1, as I my sister likes this better.
I had some trouble with the armsyce, similar to the problem I had with the Knit 5 eyelet cardigan. I found the armhole very large again. In this case, although my tension was correct for garter stitch and stocking stitch as shown in the pattern, my sleeve was considerably smaller than the armscye. I am using this as my excuse for being 2 weeks late with the present. I had to add a gusset in the armscye by picking up stitches at the base to fill it in, and this was sufficiently annoying to make other projects much more attractive to pick up and knit.

I am pleased to have made this for my sister, but am ready for some more lightweight knitting. It is still cotton and silk weather here.

More slippers

2010-02-15T14:47:00.003+10:00

An almost successful project can either put you off completely, or fire you up to try again. With the quick knit French Press slippers, and some pretty green Heirloom Heatherwood 8ply, I was ready to try again, even though my yarn was supposedly the wrong weight for the pattern.
Fortunately for me, when I am knitting with multiple strands of yarn, on huge 10mm needles, there does not seem to be very much difference between 8ply and worsted weight yarn, particularly for something that is designed to shrink anyway.
My 8ply slippers in lovely feltable merino were a fabulous fit with no needle changes needed for tension fiddling.

I think my next pair will be in 8ply as well, and I might make the sides a little higher.

French Press Slippers Stage 1

2010-02-12T11:11:00.003+10:00

I was infected by the French Press Slipper virus before Christmas. It was very catching just then, with presents to make, and despite having dozens of patterns in the shop I purchased this one from Melynda Bernadi. (I have given the Ravelry link for the pattern)
Unfortunately, I did not have a definitely feltable worsted (10ply/category 4/aran weight) yarn on hand. I had to experiment.
My first experiment was with the fabulously red Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in colour Spain.
Here they are unfelted. Isn't the colour gorgeous? Using this yarn, and achieving gauge, my slippers unfelted were not as quite long as the pattern indicated, unless I stretched them a bit. I did not worry too much about this, as I was relying on the felting to fix any fitting tweaks.

Alas, silk and cashmere severely limit the feltability (is that a word?) of wool. These poor slippers spent a whole day in my mother in law's top loading washing machine (12 agitation cycles) before sort of half felting.

My daughter likes these slippers, but all that hot washing faded the vibrant red, and the slippers remained a little too big. I was glad I had not added a bit to achieve the pattern length. I really had to pull the strap across hard whilst sewing to make the slippers fit widthways. They are very soft and smooth to wear, but I don't think the Silkroad Aran Tweed was a good yarn choice for this project.
Stranded in Sydney with all the yarn shops closed for Christmas, next I tried the pattern out in 8ply pure wool. I will post about this experiment next.

Sirdar wrap cardigan in cotton

2009-12-14T14:31:00.004+10:00

Although I love Sirdar Baby Bamboo, I wanted to make the wrap cardigan from Baby Bamboo too in cotton for my niece. Several people have asked me how the patterns knit up in 8ply cotton, and I just couldn't tell them until now.

Here is the wrap cardigan in Aslan Trends Glaciar Del Cielo (2655 Orchid), with the stripes and tie ends in remnants of Class. I did modify the pattern, knitting the body in one piece, as I wrote about last time I made up this pattern, and adding a row of single crochet as a neck edging rather than sewing on a knitted trim. You can see that I have used i-cord rather than ribbon for the ties. I thought a nice solid cotton i cord would be less likely to be pulled out or eaten by my 15 month old niece than a slippery ribbon.
I am planning yet another version of this cardigan for my 5 year old niece. It is lucky this is such a quick knit.

Daisy cardigan

2009-12-09T12:57:00.002+10:00

I love the colour Carmen in Jo Sharp's Soho Summer DK cotton, and have been wanting to make something from it for ages.
I started to knit a sundress top for my niece, putting in some purl stitch daisies that I graphed to co-ordinate with a blue red and white Asian daisy print, but after I had knit the panel with the raised daisies, I thought it was too tall for a back bodice sundress on a 3 year old, so decided to turn it into a cargidan instead. Because I had started already, I had to write the pattern as I went along, but I am very happy with it now that the cardigan is finished, don't you love the buttons?

Now I just have to make a dress to match.

Wisp, a stole in Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair

2009-11-30T17:10:00.002+10:00

Here is a stole I finished quite a while ago. I gave it to my mother for her birthday, and she had not got around to bringing it into the shop for photographs until last week.
The free pattern is Wisp by Cheryl Niamath, from Knitty 2007.
I have used 2 balls of Jo Sharp Rare Comfort Kid Mohair in colour Cranberry.

Patterns

2009-11-20T11:47:00.000+10:00

My friend Sue wore this crochet wrap top into the shop the other day, and I was instantly inspired to make one.
It is a thrifted machine made top, we think it looks like an 8ply cotton.

I have been busy looking up crochet patterns in my Harmony stitch reference. I think I have worked it out in theory, however, Sue will have to teach me to crochet first. I can only knit.
Do not hold your breath waiting for this top to appear.
I seem to be on a pattern roll at the moment. I am currently working on a knitting pattern for a toddler cardigan. I could not find exactly the one I wanted to make for my niece this Christmas, so I am inventing it as I go along. I even got out the graph paper for an embossed flower. This one will be shown pretty soon- there is a deadline!

Jessica's Monday night scarf

2009-11-18T11:30:00.001+10:00

I really wanted to show you this scarf, this is the second item Jessica has knit, and I think it is fabulous. The scarf is a present for her sister, lucky sister! I hope I am not posting a spoiler, but Jessica's sister has not taken up knitting yet. Maybe I can convince her....

Jessica used 3 x50g balls of Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra in shade truffle for the scarf. The pattern is the Monday night scarf you have seen before, but I think it looks quite different in this luxurious bulky yarn. Jessica reduced the number of stitches in the scarf - I cannot remember exactly how many, possibly down to 20, as with 30 stitches cast on the scarf looked more like a stole.
Jessica came to our sock class on Saturday. I hope to show you some socks soon, as I forgot to take photographs during the class. At the moment I am finishing off some of the sample socks I had made as demonstrations for the class, all the partly made socks sitting around are a little overwhelming in my unfinished project pile.

More Spider Stitch Scarf

2009-11-11T16:15:00.001+10:00

We are seeing quite a few of these quick and gorgeous scarves coming into the shop. This one is by Sue, from one skein of Aslan Trends Artesenal in colour 36. The official name for this colour is "Celery" but Sue has renamed it "Avocado" as a more suitable vegetable/fruit for Queensland. I think it looks a bit like the shade of the flesh of a Reed avocado - What do you think? Sue plans to sew some beads in different natural timbers to the ends of this scarf, and promises to bring it in to show us once it is embellished. I am really enjoying all the variations our knitters develop from this simple pattern.

I am also waiting to see the final version of a stole/scarf made using this pattern in the bulky weight Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra. Jessica is making one for her sister to wear in the snow during a trip to the USA this Christmas. So now the Monday night knit group is also an international designer :).

Another Jo Sharp Ultra Beret Pattern

2009-11-09T17:18:00.001+10:00

A few months ago, I made a black beret from Jo Sharp's Silkroad Ultra. The Beret was doing display duty in the shop once my daughter felt it was too warm to wear it, and one of our visitors wanted to make it. I rashly promised to search out the pattern I had written in order to make the beret, but somehow, I had mislaid it.
I was not entirely unhappy with writing the pattern again, as I wanted to move the cables to a more prominent position on the beret, making them part of the 5 arm spiral.
Here is my new version in the luscious cream shade of the same yarn

I think I like this one even better.

However my daughter still prefers her original beret, she says it has more texture.
Sandra has already knitted up my pattern in order to send a beret to her daughter in cold, wintery Canada. I am now an international designer! :)

Class Top

2009-11-06T10:59:00.001+10:00

This top required some maths. The pattern is Top D from Sirdar Just Bamboo Book 334.

The pattern as written uses 5.5mm needles, and Just Bamboo yarn, giving a loose open texture at about a 10ply stitch count. As you can see, the very smart camisole top here has a quite close and firm texture, minimizing see through in such a cool-to-wear top. It is knit from Class yarn (8ply, viscose/cotton) shade Bahama Blue on 4mm needles, and fits very nicely.

Jennie knit a tension swatch on 4ply needles and we worked out that as her row height was a little less than standard for her stitch count, she could simply increase the dress size chosen (up by 3 sizes in this case) rather than recalculate the entire pattern. When doing this it is important to check that not just girth changes, but the height changes of the garment, particularly when increasing or decreasing by row number rather than garment height in cm. Fortunately for our calculation tolerance, there is very little shaping in this garment, and the armholes are measured in cm, not in rows, so Jenni could essentially follow the pattern and end up with a well fitting garment.

Sharon's Handwarmers

2009-10-30T14:41:00.006+10:00

Some of you may know that Sharon, who works here, has just been to Japan in order to await the arrival of her first grandbaby. At last she is back! (I really missed her).
Now I do not yet have photographs of her gorgeous grandson modelling her knitting, apparently he needs to grow a little first, and the weather needs to cool down in Japan, but I do have some photographs of some of her other gift knitting.

Sharon made several pairs of these handwarmers - her own pattern, using Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed yarn. These are made from shade Imagine, 145. She makes one pair from a 50g ball. Don't you love the cables?

Sirdar Denim Tweed DK Jumper

2009-10-28T14:50:00.000+10:00

I started this jumper because the pattern is terrible. That sounds strange, but a lovely Dutch lady came into the shop a few months ago, asking for help with a free pattern she had collected at Spotlight. She thought that maybe her English-as-a-second-language was the reason for her confusion with the instructions. She booked a lesson to work on this pattern and to learn how to do cables.
Her English was just fine. I did wish my Dutch was better (ie existant) though, as she whipped out some really interesting Dutch pattern books with cable charts for me to demonstrate to her.
The Spotlight pattern was simply full of mistakes. However, I am not good at picking up every mistake just by reading a pattern, I have to knit it. Once I had worked out the kinks, I loved the wave ruffle at the bottom of the jumper sleeves and body, and my daughter adored the subtle pink and purple self striping of the yarn.As I had not planned this garment in my winter knitting, I put the started ruffle and a bit of Sirdar Denim Tweed away for a while, but have just finished the jumper ready for next year.

We like the horseshoe cable up the front. I have changed the dimensions of the cable panel to fit the wave border.

The all over rib makes this a sung but comfortable fit.

I changed the picking up instructions for the neck, and the transition of the cable to the neck ribbing.

This jumper used 5 and 1/2 50g (170m)balls of Sirdar Denim Tweed DK, shade 651 Lavender.

Starting young

2009-10-27T12:08:00.002+10:00

Here is the youngest member of our Monday night stitch and knit group. Doesn't she look happy to be here?

Smocking, AS&E 84

2009-10-12T11:22:00.004+10:00

I do not usually smock from a pattern plate, as there are a lot of my own designs lurking in my head, that I would like to make into real garments one day, but this pretty design by Kathy Dykstra caught my eye in issue 84 of Australian Smocking and Embroidery, and I had started it before I could be sensible about my project list! I am not very good at being sensible about my project list.

I am making this size 2 dress in pink imperial batiste fabric (the dress in the magazine is in blue dotted Swiss voile), so changed the colour of the background smocking to green, but have used the same shades of pink for the flowers as published in the magazine.

At this point I am leaving the smocking to mature for a little while whilst I decide whether or not to trim the dress with entredeux and 4 strips of lace as shown in the magazine. I love the look of heirloom clothing, but I also like the garments I make to be worn at some point - so maybe I will choose a thinner lace to make the care of the garment more simple for the undoubtedly busy mother of a two year old.

Monday Knit Night Scarf

2009-10-07T12:31:00.003+10:00

This is possibly the most popular scarf pattern at StitchBliss. The original idea arose from a collaborative pattern design session one Monday night at sit and stitch, when Margaret wanted a "next level up" scarf to make after her gorgeous garter stitch stole. Margaret has shipped off her first scarf as a gift, and unfortunately I did not manage to take a photo in daylight of either her first or second version of this pattern, so I am showing you a later version, made by Hannah.

This scarf alternates a few rows of garter stitch with a row of spider stitch (a.k.a twisted drop stitch), and is a very quick knit. So far we have seen at least 10 versions in Aslan Trends Class, as well as a few other 8ply yarns. The scarf looks very different with varying tension in the spider stitch row, which makes it a terrific group project.

Hannah's version here was made as a birthday gift for a friend. She used around 3/4 of a 100g skein of Class in colour "tomato".

Jennie's Classy short jacket

2009-09-30T11:44:00.003+10:00

Jennie used Aslan Trends Class (8ply viscose/cotton) to make this gorgeous summer weight bolero jacket. She modified the pattern of the jacket body from a ball band pattern originally from some older cotton yarn in her stash.

The crochet collar is a trim she likes, from another old ball band pattern - there are some gems out there! I like it too.
I am planning to swap lessons with Jennie, she will teach me crochet, and I will teach her smocking. Watch this space.....

Knit 5, Eyelet Cardigan

2009-09-28T12:41:00.005+10:00

I have just finished the eyelet cardigan from Jo Sharp Knit 5. Whilst I am happy with the final result, I did not have plain sailing with this pattern due to fitting issues. I have described these in greater detail in my notes on Ravelry, but I admit to a lot of reverse knitting and work with the calculator at the armhole and upper sleeve. This is why I have been knitting this since April - sometimes knitting has to rest in the bag for a few weeks and think about its bad behaviour.

I particularly like the eyelet finish at the neck and waist. I think this gives just enough detail at the back to make the cardigan interesting. The closer fit of the single rib below the waist also appeals to me.
I made a few changes to the pattern aside from the fitting. I made full length sleeves, and used the eyelet stitch pattern within the rib buttoning band instead of making buttonholes. I like the effect of this buttoning band very much. It needed a lot more buttons, as the eyelet pattern holes are small.

My favourite part of knitting this cardigan was the luscious texture of the alpaca silk georgette yarn. I used colour 750, Briar. I think the texture of the cardigan will make it a staple of my wardrobe.

Heirloom Baby Shawl

2009-09-23T11:55:00.003+10:00

Jennie made this beautiful shawl whilst expecting her second baby. The pattern is from a now out of print Paton's pattern book, and Jennie has knit it in Heirloom 4ply baby wool, shade 460, cream, adapting the pattern to suit circular needles for the central portion.

I think it is a real heirloom, and in machine washable wool, which means it might last through the indignities offered to clothing by a new baby!
Jennie blocked this shawl by laying it out on a queen size bed, no blocking wires, and it turned out beautifully. Jennie's children wanted to be in the photo, so we don't have a really clear picture of the gorgeous border, but the children look sweet.

Hannah's hand warmers

2009-09-21T15:04:00.004+10:00

Hannah made these to use for early morning band practices at school (she plays the clarinet, saxophone and piano), and has worn them for this purpose all winter. She kindly agreed to bring them into the shop for a photo shoot, but has only just got around to it. She has just washed the hand warmers ready to put away for next year.

You may remember that Hannah only really started knitting this year. These fingerless gloves were her first project knitted in the round (double pointed needles) and her first project with a stitch pattern. This does not show up terribly well in the photo, but there is a wave stitch pattern that shows up very distinctly in real life.
The adjustments Hannah made to the pattern were to enlarge the hole for the thumb, and to make the hand portion slightly longer. Hannah thinks whoever wrote the pattern must have tiny hands.

The pattern is "Wave Hand Warmers" from "101 One Skein Wonders" edited by Judith Durant.
Hannah used one 50g ball of Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in colour 128 Heather for her hand warmers. The pattern called for a 100g skein of worsted weight yarn. We think this much yarn would leave you enough for another pair. Hannah finds the Silkroad yarn very comfortable to wear, and it has washed well, with no fuzziness.

Knit 5 Sleeveless rib top

2009-09-18T10:40:00.003+10:00

It is really warm here today, so I thought I would delay posting about Hannah's gauntlets (very warm and cosy, but a little winterish for today), and write about my purple spring weather top instead. It has been waiting in my wardrobe for 3 months after all!
This is from Jo Sharp Knit 5, and I really like it, despite the little problem I had falling into a trance during the middle single rib section and making it too long. Next time, and there will definitely be a next time, I will make the middle section a more flattering length. I am thinking of a green version.

The only changes I made this time were short row shaping across the bust, and garter stitch at the edges of the shoulder straps in order to prevent rolling in.
I knit this in Soho Summer DK Cotton, just like the pattern called for, in the gorgeous colour currant 234.

Smocked insert - BWOF 12-2008-130

2009-09-16T16:02:00.003+10:00

Smocking is sometimes viewed as only suitable for children's garments. Whilst I admire a smocked square yoke party dress on a 3 year old as much as the next embroidery fanatic, I also think that smocking can be gorgeous in more sophisticated clothes.
This dress by German design house Schumacher was featured in the December 2008 Burda magazine - photo credit Burda World of Fashion.

I used this dress as inspiration for a dress with a smocked bodice insert. The Schumacher dress has a gathered chiffon panel that looks fabulous if your bust is A cup or less, as the panel falls softly across the bodice in this size. For more substantial figures, the gathered panel gives a distinct pouter pidgeon outline in an unadultarated state - smocking to the rescue!

Smocking the panel, and making the outer panel shorter than the lining panel, controls the pleats, and provides an opportunity for embellishment. I still had a little trouble with excess puffiness, but adding a few beads to the top smocking row, and a few stab stitches within the panel has made the front bodice fit well, and I am pleased with the silhoutte of this dress.

I kept the smocking pattern simple - a row of cross over cable, then several rows of diamond trellis, shaping to 3 Vs above the bust.

Socks

2009-09-14T09:56:00.004+10:00

I think I have mentioned before how much I love knitting socks. They are such a convenient handbag project, and I can knit them whilst talking, or travelling or watching television.
Here are 2 of my latest pairs of my socks.
This pair is from Heirloom Jigsaw 4 ply.
I have made them with 2.25mm needles, using my own sock pattern, with a reinforced flap heel and reinforced toe. The self striping colourway is number 66, a most unimaginative name IMO.

Here is the much more imaginatively named Kaffe Fassett Regia sock yarn "Jungle Mirage"
( I used 2.25 mm needles for this pair too, and tried really, really hard to follow the pattern pamphlet that we can give away with the yarn purchase. I am very bad at sticking exactly to a pattern. This was my first time making a round ("German") heel, and I have to say, I am not an instant fan, it does not seem to fit my foot very well. Sharon, however, finds this a fabulous heel, so probably it is just my feet. I failed to follow the pattern when I came to the toe, my toes being less pointy than the pattern and requiring a less elongated decreasing section, and I finished the toes with kitchener stitch rather than a seam, so not too many changes.
The last sock I want to show you is by Elizabeth, who has been knitting socks for around 70 years.
She is unbelievably fast and accomplished, and will not pose for a photo with her sock for some strange reason.:). Elizabeth asked me to find her some very purple sock yarn, but thought she would try Heirloom Jigsaw number 78 whilst she was waiting. Unfortunately she does not care for this sock, finding the colour combination not to her taste, but as there is now a list of about 15 people who have offered enthusastically to take the socks off her hands when they are finished, I am sure her grand-daughter will like them very much as a Christmas present. All the eager sock recipient hopefuls will just have to knit their own.

Jo Sharp Ultra Beret

2009-09-02T12:02:00.004+10:00

My daughter needed a black beret for a recent dance performance, so I went looking for a pattern, but did not find one I liked, so I made up my own pattern for a simply cabled beret, using my favourite black yarn from the shop.

I am really pleased with how this turned out. I used Jo Sharp Ultra in 721 Nero. This is about a 12-14 ply, or category 5 yarn, so it knit really, really quickly - in one afternoon whilst also intermittently serving customers.

My daughter wore this with a black trench coat, for about 5 seconds at the start of a scene, so I don't have a photograph of it in action. Her favourite bit is the i-cord stalk at the top.

Jennie's Gloves

2009-08-19T10:33:00.004+10:00

Jennie is a recent knitting convert, having a background of truly amazing crochet projects. She also likes a challenge, and decided that one of her earliest forays into knitting should be gloves. Not mittens, not socks, which we suggested to introduce herself more gently to knitting in the round, but a multitude of tiny needles to make these.

She has done a fabulous job using a free vintage pattern for classic gloves but leaving out the stitch pattern and just using plain stocking stitch in order to display the colour changes in the Regia Kaffe Fassett colourway "Carribean Mirage" sock yarn to their best advantage.
. Jennie has quite small hands, and made both gloves from less than one 50g ball of the sock yarn, despite the pattern calling for 2 balls. She is now working on tiny mittens for her 2 year old. Now that she has made these gloves, she makes even a size 2 thumb knit in the round look easy.

Denim Chunky Cable Jumper

2009-08-18T14:11:00.003+10:00

Here is a jumper I made this winter that I forgot to post.

The pattern is Aran Sweater by Kate Gunn and Robyn MacDonald. I made the size 6-7, but unfortunately did not pay much attention to the finished measurements - the chest is over 80cm, with the other measurements in scale to this large size, so it fits my 11 year old daughter beautifully.
I used Sirdar Denim Chunky and my tension swatch was just fine. I do think the cotton content has made this jumper a little more stretchy than it would have been in the wool for which the pattern was designed. However, the wool/cotton blend is a much better weight for our climate.

Sirdar denim stole

2009-07-08T19:58:00.000+10:00

Margaret has returned to knitting after a break of several years, and wanted to start with a straight forward project. She has just finished this gorgeous stole which she knit mostly on our Monday stitch and knit nights and during a few car trips.

The yarn is Sirdar denim, a cotton/wool/acrylic blend in colour Plum duff, weight chunky/12 ply. It knit up beautfully in garter stitch for a snuggly warm comforting wrap, 50 stitches on size 8mm needles. I am sure Margaret's mother will be thrilled with this lovely gift.

Cozy Velour Romper, AS&E Issue 80

2009-07-03T14:13:00.004+10:00

I seem to like sewing and smocking out of season. It is very chilly at the moment (for Queensland!) and I am smocking light-as-air batiste. So to keep this blog in season, I am showing you a little something I smocked in summer. I had to send it to a baby in the UK when I finished it, to find someone to wear it. I am very grateful to know of an opposite season toddler for whom I can smock.

This is my very altered version of "Fairy Floss" from Australian Smocking and Embroidery Issue #80. I have used my own smocking design, and changed the pattern considerably. I have described how I changed the pattern in my review on PatternReview. I do like the idea of the pattern, but unfortunately it is not the best knit pattern that I have ever come across for a romper. However, I was still happy with the result. Smocking can really add to a utilitarian garment. I am on the look-out for some more cuddly velour.

Sirdar Denim Ultra Chunky Cardigan Coat

2009-06-02T17:57:00.002+10:00

Here is Hannah in her first major knitted project. Hannah has previously made a few scarves and some doll's clothes, but this coat includes her first ribbing, her first shaping, and her first real garment. Hannah is 14 years old, so I can see many more beautiful knitted clothes ahead.

The cardigan coat is knitted from Sirdar Ultra Denim, which is a wool/cotton/acrylic blend, just the right weight for a Queensland coat. It knits up quickly on size 10mm needles.
Hannah adapted a now out of print pattern (with some help from her mother) to make this cardigan. She took around 6 weeks to finish the cardigan, using 9 x 100g balls of yarn.

Artesenal - Twist Front Top

2009-05-29T11:13:00.002+10:00

Fabulous knitter Sharon has just finished the Twist Front Top by Adrienne Vittandini. This pattern is available free from the elan website. Sharon has made her twist top from Aslan Trends Artesenal - 40%cotton, 30%Alpaca 30% Polyamide.
The yarn worked really well for the pattern, showing the lace and cable pattern beautifully. Sharon needed to decrease her needle size to get the correct gauge from this yarn for the pattern.
Sharon had an unknitting experience with the unusual twist front construction, but otherwise is very happy with the pattern. She has written a review on Ravelry. She did find that the yarn coped well with the unknitting, with no fuzzing or splitting - nice to know just in case!

Kaffe Fasset Regia Sock Wool

2009-05-27T20:34:00.000+10:00

I love knitting socks, so quick, so useful, so warm! I received a very exciting package at the shop this week, beautiful, self patterning sock wool.

Only the three projects I already have on the needles prevented me from starting a pair straight away - although I admit to secreting 2 balls of wool out the back of the shop..... Unfortunately, this is a special arrangement of my distributor with Regia in Germany, and there will apparently be no re-orders available. Next year, there might be regular stock, if the yarn does well this winter. I think it will, I sold 4 pairs of socks worth before I had finished putting it on the shelves.

Knit 7 Origami Bolero Jacket

2009-05-22T15:59:00.001+10:00

Here is one of our regular customers, Enid, in her Origami Bolero Jacket from Jo Sharp's Knit 7.

Enid prefers the jacket in its bolero incantation, to wear with jeans, but says she has some more formal wide leg black pants that she thinks will make a great outfit with the fitted cardigan direction. I am hoping to see this outfit too. Enid particularly likes the asymmetrical back of the shrug section of the jacket. She found the jacket very quick to knit.

Enid has used the colourway from version 1, but made long sleeves as in version 2. She did need an extra ball of SSK bisque cotton for the longer sleeves. She has a few half balls left over, and is planning a stripey knitted hat to wear with the jacket.