Week Twenty Three - Update

School Term has just finished. This past week I made progress on existing projects and a lot of shopping.

I knit several inches on Emelie (the second version again in pashmina but this time the 'antique lace' colour.)

The rosewood (coloured) Knitpro needle is my new favourite. I love pretty knitting needles (and stitch markers) The connectors in this set are tinted copper and the cable is brown. I got the set online from The Wool Shack. (sidebar link)

I love the look of this new set. I was disappointed to snap my 5mm needle though. Not a manufacturing fault.. entirely the fault of me kneeling on the sofa to get something and not seeing the needle.

I also progressed the Lightweight Sweater in the Sundara yarn colourway of Rhythm of the Saints.

I knit more on Brigid in the Terra yarn (anenome colourway, which is really hard to photograph. Its a blend of pale blue and mint green). I completed the back and one sleeve (up to underarm) I've cast on a second sleeve and started the cable detail of the front. Since I'm not sure how much yarn I have I will be finishing both fronts, then reserving yarn for the ribbed button bands and knitting the sleeves as long as I can. Hopefully to 'bracelet' length.

Speaking of buttons I went to All Buttons in Newtown last weekend. I bought these vintage 1960s/1970s buttons. They are pearlised plastic and whilst a bit darker than the yarn, they are the perfect colour mix.

Here's a close up.

A trip to Newtown always ends up with me buying more buttons than my immediate need.
I was inspired by these hand carved buttons and thought them a perfect inspiration for the Ink Pashmina yarn.

I bought these buttons too as I had a Madelinetosh DK swatch at the ready. Perfect colour but not sure how they might make a project.

This swatch was a trial for a cable-twisted buttonband. (The buttonholes are hidden in the braid). I chose the yarn from the deepest corners of the stash to go with this silk top I made last year. The silk is from our trip to Beijing. I wore it lots in Summer, but since its sleeveless a cardigan would give me more wearing opportunities.

Here is the top.

The buttons I have (though I bought them anyway) are too decorative and would compete with the braid. But I do like the yarn with the blue detail in the fabric. I like the idea of a cable braid echoing the silk print too. So lots of competing ideas!
A buttonband braid is still a treatment that would work well for another project. Maybe the ink pashmina? Those buttons are bead-like and would fit well in a cable braid.

Coming up is week one of a three and a half week school holiday. yay!

I shopped big in the Tessuti fabric sale and have lost of fabric stash to sew up. Dresses and tops to show next week.

New yarn has entered the house, of course. I'll post when I have project ideas.

Week Twenty Three

School holidays have started. Hurray!
I will be updating my weekly craft progress on Tuesday.

Week Twenty Two

Lotus Tee is finished.

I have completed the additional embroidery (the vines underneath the flower motif) and woven in all the loose ends. I decided not to do the i-cord finishing to the edges as I thought it would be too heavy for my own preference for a "luxury"-tshirt. instead on the neckline I did three stockinette rounds and bound off with a larger needle. The cuffs and bottom hem are left to naturally curl.

My photographs don't show much of the embroidery detail, but the vine is backstitch and there are random 'french knots' for texture.


I also made up a skirt in this silk tweed from stash. My dress form suggests its longer than it is. It measures to my knee. I'm hoping it will be a good piece to wear with some of my knit cardigans.

I have mentioned this fabric before. Its started out as a dress concept, but on cutting I realised it wasn't going to work so well with the matching of the stripes, so i repurposed my pieces into a simple a-line skirt with a back zip. It Is cut from Vogue 8667, view A.

The a-line diagonal lines are hidden by the two front pleats. I love this fabric, although it was very dificult to work with. It frayed if I so much as looked at it. I overlocked everything and then assembled.

Its lined with cream silk.

The coming week is the last week of term. I'm going to be very busy, but hope to make progress on the pale 'anenome' Brigid cardigan I started last week. I've finished the back and most of one sleeve and am about to start one of the cabled fronts.

Week Twenty One

Lotus Tee
I am close to finishing Lotus Tee.

A little embroidery to enhance the colourwork motifs and an edging, Which I haven't decided yet.

Either the pattern requirement to i-cord around all the edges, or to leave the cuffs and bottom edge 'naturally curling' and just pickup and do a few reverse stockingette rows around the neckline.

Here's a picture of it assembled. Stitch holders are still in place on the live neckline stitches.

The cuff looks like this

...and the sleeve fitted nicely into the armhole.

Since this is so far advanced I cast on two new projects.


Emelie in Antique Lace
Another Emelie cardigan in  Madtosh Pashmina, colour "Antique Lace". I was inspired to make this when I was sorting out the wardrobe and found this simple silk shift dress. The silk was bought on a recent trip to Beijing and I made it at the end of last summer.

Here is the dress. (It's a little creased, which didn't seem quite so apparent before I photographed it)

The edges have a self made bias binding.

Brigid in Anenome
Then I cast on Brigid in The Fibre Company's Terra yarn in "Anenome".
It will be a quick knit on 5mm needles. (The pashmina knits for me on 3.5mm)

Here is the yarn and the book photograph.

...and here is one sleeve started.

I will lengthen the body but am undecided about the sleeves. I'll have to wait and see how much yarn I have.

New Yarn
Finally, yarn entered the stash. (Well actually a lot of yarn enters the stash all the time. But I'm particularly pleased about this acquisition).

I had to compromise on colour when knitting my Camilla Sweater a year ago. The blue I really wanted in this now discontinued yarn was unavailable. So I settled for a pale green instead. Which is still very beautiful. But a Sydney Knitter was selling some of her yarn on Ravelry and advertised this, the very colour I was looking for. In a (generous) sweater quantity.

I haven't decided what to knit with it.


The Week Ahead
I will be finishing Lotus Tee and working on my other work in progress.I have also made plans for another iPhone case cross stitch.

Week Twenty- Update

Only two photographs this wek. But they do represent a lot of knitting.

Lotus Tee
I have made great progress.
I finished two sleeves a little while ago, the back during the week and am now most of the way up the front.  I am just starting the front Lotus intarsia motif.

Next week I hope to show it seamed and ready for edging! I have to decide about that edging, whether to go with the designer's i-cord suggestion, or if I will do something different. Or maybe I could just leave it to its natural knitted curl? (It is a casual t shirt, desipite its luxurious yarn).

I love so many of Carol Sunday's designs. I've put the link into the sidebar to remind myself, I know I'll be looking for another sweater or cardigan pattern soon.

Emelie
I finished Emelie in the green malachite. It was a difficult and rushed photoshoot. The weather was awful and I wasn't feeling the best. When I'm in a more positive frame of mind about this cardigan (and all its past unravelling) I will rephotograph.

Plus-- it needs something other than jeans. I am looking for dress material!


iPhone Case
In the coming week, I have another iphone case to work on. I bought a black one for my husband (he wants a guitar motif) and I am inspired to try something a bit more colourful for myself.

Week Twenty

Running a bit late this week.
I will post tomorrow, I'm making exciting progress on Lotus Tee!