Week Seventy Nine

A week of focussed effort and I have an almost finished cardigan. I still have to seam the sleeves and sew on buttons, but all the knitting is done.

The buttons are simple pearly plastic. There are 13 of them. (Better planning at the start would have set up a better spacing). But despite them looking a little yellow in the harsh morning sunlight, they seem like a good match.

I then told myself I would work only on in-progress projects and reduce their number. There's too much clutter around at the moment. So my Rincleau sweater is back on the needles. The yarn is Sundara Aran Silky merino in the limited edition colour The Great Pacific. I think I can finish it in the next couple of weeks. 

Despite all my good intentions for staying with unfinished projects though, a trip to the button shop inspired me to cast on another fingering weight cardigan. I am so happy with the Starry cardigan, and I wore its template, (a purchased black cardigan) a lot on holiday. I'm telling myself I'm entirely justified to cast on another lightweight cardigan for the wardrobe.

So.... these glass rose buttons came home with me and are a perfect match for this Sundara Fingering Merino Cashmere in a pale blue variegated "Icicles".

Then, still dreaming about starting new projects,  I have wanted to make a big Albers Shawl. I love the colours of the original Ann Weaver design, but I wanted a version which brought in some warmer colours.

At the Chicago Art Institute, I was inspired by the wonderful painting by Mark Rothko, named Untitled (Purple White and Red) and later on our holiday I bought some Jade Sapphire 2ply cashmere.

I wasn't happy with the purple cashmere skein on offer, but this deep blue tends to violet at least. I am keeping my eyes open and might see if there are other skeins around. I think the 'Moonstone' is beautiful against the 'Robe Royale' red. And the 'Black Walnut' is a cool brown, perfect for the frame colour. 

Week Seventy Eight

I'm back from the most exhilarating travel through the US. From Nashville, Savannah, Chicago Washington and New York.

I cast on a simple top down cardigan just before I left. Its fingering weight Dream in Colour, Starry in the colour "Tokyo Creme". It has silver thread running through the wool.

I made lots of progress, finished the body and got a long way down the first sleeve. The button bands are done in seed stitch and button holes with a single YO. I'm thinking about simple pearl buttons. 

One the flight home I knit another Polly cardigan for my daughter. It's such an easy and transportable little project. I could easily have completed it from start to finish on the way there during the Sydney to LA flight, but the flight on the way over was a bit bumpy and I got distracted and made a mistake on the back. I miscounted my rows and knit the 'right side' on the reverse side of the bottom frill. So I unravelled it right down to the first few rows and started again on the way home. 

I had a completed cardigan with me so I didn't need to measure.

This is Madelinetosh Vintage (two skeins) in the colour Grapefruit.

I fumbled a three needle bindoff for the shoulders in the airport lounge without enough needles. This was so I could knit the front band without delay.

I did the rest of the seaming at home and the button comes from stash.

This coming week is dominated by the kids going back to school, and returning the household to order.

I have reviewed all the in progress projects, including a few more than a year old. The next few weeks are going to be focussed on finishing up before I get dir-stracted by new yarn.

I shopped whilst away. (Of course). Both at Wild Fiber and The Frayed Knot in Savannah.

This beautiful Copper Corgi yarn came from The Frayed Knot. The pink "Piglet" colour is for my daughter. The single russet and purple skein is for a future wrap.

And I shopped at Purl Soho in New York. But I will save that update for the new post as my new yarn skeins need to be put side by side with some skeins from stash.

Back in Mid July

I realised I forgot a little blog housekeeping
I am overseas for week 74 through 77 and will post with lots of craft news as soon as I am settled back home.

Week Seventy Three

A very quick sewing update.

I completed three of the four outstanding cotton dresses.

Each is from the Liberty Lifestyle Range. Either the Bloomsbury or Stiles collection.

I used contrasting (purchased) bias binding on the neckline, armholes and bottom hem.

This full length view isn't as clear as the other images but it shows the overall length of the dress. 

Its a simple dress with stitched down front pleats.

I have made good progress on the dark blue Sundara Aran Silky Merino "Rincleau" sweater. I will try to make a late post before we leave for holiday early next week.

Week Seventy Two

I finished Lightweight Pullover over the weekend. I love it. It is definitely my favourite sweater project to knit (and wear) soft and drapey, easy towear under a coat and in the right yarn surprisingly warm even by itself.

This is in Madelinetosh TML in the colour Blue Gingham.

I quickly assembled a sleeveless dress for taking on holiday.

One of my regular Vogue pattern. (I think this might be dress number five). Its V8319 but seems to be out of print.

Its a Ponti Knit from Tessuti Fabrics. Called Red Mazetto.

I topstitched every seam because I do get carried away sometimes.

I started making summer holiday dresses for my daughter.

The first one is a tie shoulder sun dress from the Japanese sewing book "Sewing Recipe for Girls"

I used the gorgeous Liberty Tana Lawn in a design from Spring 2011. This particular art design comes from the Hello Kitty team. I bought the fabric a year ago from Calico and Ivy. I used the 25mm bias binding gadget to make the shoulder ties. (Cut on straight grain)

 Then I switched to the (slightly) cheaper Liberty Lifestyle cotton range for a new sundress.

This is Oliver + S, Seashore Sundress. I have cut out, but not assembled.

I then cut into three other Liberty Lifestyle cottons for my go-to Burda 9885 pattern. (Online link for reference. I bought my pattern from Lincraft.) 

These will be simple sleeveless dresses. Finished with contrasting bias binding. 

Next week is a busy crafting week. I will be posting the finished dresses and also deciding what knitting projects I will be travelling with. 

We will be enjoying summer weather in the US after that. Far from cold, wintery Sydney. 

The blog will be taking a holiday too (no posting in weeks 74, 75 or 76. But the good news is there will be lots to report the first week of July. That will be Week 77.

Week Seventy One

I have been working on a sleeveless dress with a new (to me) pattern.

Butterick B5603. The fabric was bought in a Tessuti sale back in January (Week Fifty One)

Here's the pattern envelope. I cut out the yellow view A.

Here's the dress, still in progress.

Its quite a busy print, which is why I omitted the bands and bow decorations.

Its lined in cream silk. I still have to do the neckline finishing and some hand-stitching in the lining. But otherwise its close to being finished.

Another small craft project this weekend.

My daughter plays violin. Its the most popular instrument in her junior school and it seems that each child has a very similar looking violin case.

I bought some cotton canvas webbing and got my daughter painting.

Then I sewed the new straps on to the existing hooks.

And she has a personalised violin case. Less chance of someone else picking it up by mistake now.

Week Seventy - Update

A good friend had a birthday, I made her this book 'envelope' to accompany the gift of a lovely coffee-table sized fashion book.

The fabric is a screen printed cotton linen blend by Auntie Cookie on Etsy. Cable Knit in grey on white. The design represents knitted cables, which I thought was a nice reference to our shared interests in knitting and sewing.

As it was the fabric was very soft, so I fused a supporting Vilene batting layer to it to give it a firmer plushness. I lined the back in plain white linen.

The owl button was bought from "Buttons Buttons Buttons" in The Rocks, in Sydney. Its an enamelled, metal owl. I bought it shopping with my birthday friend several years ago.

Here is a better picture.

I used one of the very basic machine embroidery stitches to finish the front inside edge.

I have an Elna sewing machine. It is basic but for the most part has been very reliable. I don't even use many of its features, the last time I used this stitch might have been when I bought the machine, twenty five years ago! I was so excited by the novelty of "embroidery" then. Now machines are much more advanced.

The book fitted very well and the fabric envelope is deep enough to be very roomy.