Category Archives: projects

No rush or How to approach your knitting project wisely

Posted on by
4

After lots of projects for other people, I have really been focussing on my needs this week.

Not only did I try to sew something for myself (well, apparently I am not clever enough to understand the instructions of a supereasy pattern, but that is a totally different story) but I have also officially started a new project on ravelry. And as it is a rather big (and expensive) project for once, I really want to get it right rather than the usual impatient rush. And so far (on day 2 of this project) I am rather enjoying how it slowly unfolds.

I have downloaded the 3in1 pattern by atelier al-fa a while ago, then I did some yarn research and decided to go for the recommended Wollmeise as I had already often come across the name but never bought any of it. According to various online comments it sells out fast so you have to be on the computer when the shop gets updated. So in that case I felt a bit rushed and I am actually not sure if it really is that bad.

Anyway, at the time of my order there really was only a certain selection available  but I still wanted to finalise it. I chose the yarn for a certain colour combination for the sweater but also bought one or two other skeins just because they looked so beautiful (unfortunately I am unable to only buy what I need – so this step clearly does not file under “wisely”)

IMG_1696 IMG_1700

The colours are gorgeous, the texture is great, it is certainly worth the money. But then I do wonder if it makes sense to use such a nice yarn for a very casual looking design. Considering that I will then wear it in my everyday life as a mother it will soon get ruined as all my clothes. But it would also not make sense to save it for special occasions.

Back to the project approach.

I took the skeins out of the box on Thursday and started to wind them into balls, yesterday evening, I made my gauge swatches. Now, this was interesting. Even though I tried with size 4mm, 3.75 and 3.5, I was unable to get the exact gauge that I would need and the differences where actually significant. So this crucial step hasn’t entirely made me happy. With the size 4mm I am just slightly too loose, in fact the number of stitches was spot on, just not the rows, so I am hoping it will be fine once I start knitting in the round. I have decided that my knit stitches are slightly tighter than the purls…. because then it will be fine 🙂

On the other hand, I find the stitches slightly too loose and therefore not as even as the ones knitted with the smaller needle. Hmm. Might reconsider.

Whilst knitting the swatches and looking at all the beautiful colours I was suddenly unsure about my first idea so I have started to knit striped swatches to see how the colours would actually work together.

I will need two colours for the main section, two for the bottom and one for the middle (which could be the same as for one of the bottom ones, I guess.

IMG_1695IMG_1693Unfortunately, I didn’t get the colours completely right on the pictures, the dark purple is really dark and greyish. It is relatively neutral compared to all the other colours and is sort of a good contrast for all the other colours. I like all combinations apart from orange-pink. In this case they really don’t go together although I usually love the combination.

I have now lots of options and I think the design really asks for a colour combination which is not an obvious choice. But to kind of make if open for many occasions I should maybe go for a gentle combination in the main part and keep a loud one in the bottom section with a contrasting middle? Or maybe not?

So, without revealing my favourites at the moment, what do you think? Which colour combinations would look best? I am looking forward for suggestions…. and then I will reconsider everything (including needle size) and hopefully cast on soon 🙂

Happy World Book Day

Posted on by
4

IMG_1676hatToday is World Book Day, so this morning I walked to nursery with the Cat in the Hat on my side and lots of people commented and smiled at the giant hat…. but what they might not have known….. when The Cat in the Hat comes back he actually brings along Cat A hiding under the Cat’s hat…

IMG_1669Little Cat A has Cat B hiding under his hat (and so on) but there was not enough ambition nor time to knit 26 of these 🙂

So Happy World Book Day 🙂

 

 

Under pressure

Posted on by
Reply

I have about a zillion of little pieces of paper with strange letter and number combinations hiding in every corner of the house. If they were ever to be found by aliens they will think I am the leader of the science department down here. In fact they are only knitting notes which I want to get into proper shape and wording and eventually out there 😉

Anyway, I have taken the upcoming Women’s Day event on Friday as a sort of deadline for myself (can only work under pressure) to at least put together the pattern for the mobile phone case I want my knitting students to make and I thought, presenting my own (very simple) pattern as part of my knitting life during the Event would be a good idea.

IMG_1642schmalSo, I have made a few phone cosies, using different combinations of knit and purl stitches. They are all easy, some of them need a bit more attention than others if you are relatively new to knitting.

They are made from two separate sides rather than knit in the round to practise how to join them nicely at the bottom and the mattress stitch on the sides.

If you are interested you’ll find the free pattern on ravelry.

So that one is done, only a few (zillion) to go…. Or I just knit a nice bag to store all those bits of paper, might be quicker 🙂

 

no, it’s not the Easter bunny

Posted on by
2

IMG_1625Another custom made birthday order – this time for my niece, the “best” follower of this blog… No offence to all other but can any of you say that they have clicked on my site over 200 times, within an hour ? 🙂

So after a bit of research on here she wanted me to knit a soft toy for her 6th birthday – either a bunny or a guinea pig.

And after some browsing through ravelry patterns (not sure how much time and how many clicks there) she chose Henry’s rabbit by Sarah Elizabeth Kellner in white with some flowers on the side as seen in one of the featured examples.

After such a careful decision making the pressure was clearly on …

The original pattern only has two legs in front but I decided last minute to add two more.

original Henry pattern

original Henry pattern

 

I think that makes more sense for a child who will be playing with it rather than just enjoying the look of it.

four legged Henry

four legged Henry

And after another careful decision making, this time by me, I decided to refresh my crochet skills and to actually crochet the flowers rather than embroider them.

I found this tutorial (in German) and as I did not remember the crochet vocabulary at all, I had to follow the video tutorial which made things really easy.

So, now the finished bunny has a few flowers on its side and will hopefully meet the expectations.

IMG_1632

I think I will be using some of these flowers to decorate our window when I come back from my holiday in Austria (with loooots of yarn in my suitcase).