knitting

knitting

the knitting…

The eagle eyed of you who waded through my post on Tasmania may have spotted that I used the “k” word.  Yes, I went over to the dark side – I temporarily abandoned my first love, crochet, and did some knitting.

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But I didn’t abandon the hook and replace it with those pointy sticks – this is arm knitting!

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What the hell is arm knitting, I hear you say? Knitting on your arms, that’s what it is! You use your arms as needles! I cast on eight stitches, and happily arm knitted away until my yarn was gone. It took me around half an hour. And how did I know what to do? Good old youtube, of course!  I used the instructions in this video.

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Because the work isn’t turned, each side is different. I held a strand of slub wool from Dairing together with a strand of fabric yarn that I’d cut from stretch fabric (you can buy fabric yarn if you don’t fancy making it). Arm knitting is a great way to use novelty yarns or thick yarns that you really don’t want to muck around with too much. Give it a go – I’ll be trying it again possibly sooner rather than later!

by thornberry
knitting, other people's craft

knitted by Grandma

As you know, I don’t knit.  I can, but I don’t.  Why would I, when my Mum still knits such lovely items for her grand-daughters?

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This lovely cardi/jacket pattern is from Shepherd Moda Issue 6. Mum knitted it in Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Luxury, in the colours pink and koala (which Clare chose). I love the lacy edging and the textured body and sleeves.

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Stella loves to be a part of the action! This is a little large for Clare, but is still quite wearable and will be for the next few years. Thanks to Mum for her generosity and wonderful knitting skills!

by thornberry
crochet, knitting, miscellaneous

Crochet vs Knitting

When you hang out on Ravelry for a while, and when you crochet in public, you quickly learn that many people assume that if you are doing something with yarn you must be “knitting”.  Apparently there is a knitting vs crochet divide  – not that I’ve particularly noticed it here in Australia, maybe it’s a cultural thing specific to the USA, where most Ravellers are from.  Anyway, I recently came across these YouTube videos – just hilarious!

Wooly Bullies: The Underground Crochet Movement and its Place in the Yarn Craft World

Crochet Anonymous

Another giggle this week came from Frogdancer via this post.  Very entertaining!

by thornberry
knitting, other people's craft

Olearia for Clare

There is a reason why I don’t knit.  My Mum is so good at it, why would I need to?

Olearia cardigan - knitted by Grandma

The pattern is Olearia by Georgie Hallam, and Mum knitted it in 8ply cotton from Bendigo Woollen Mills.  Clare doesn’t like wool against her skin, so cotton is a better choice for us.  I think it’s gorgeous.  The pattern has variations in sleeve length and bodice length and is so nice that it had almost convinced me to pick up needles instead of a hook myself – but Mum came to the rescue!  There are over 90 of these on Ravelry already – it’s a popular pattern with good reason.  Thanks again Mum for doing such a lovely job!

by thornberry
craft, crochet, knitting, miscellaneous

Tree jumper

During the last term a number of the kids at Clare’s primary school learned to knit.  The library staff hit upon the idea of making a jumper for a tree as great way for interested students to learn a new skill and to create a collaborative art installation.  A number of parents helped out with teaching the kids, donating yarn and knitting needles, and donating strips of knitting to add to the tree’s jumper.  Of course, I contributed some crochet.

Tree jumper by you.

The tree is proudly wearing its jumper in the front yard, and the students love it.  Participants were awarded knitting certificates for learning the basic stitch.  They did so well!

by thornberry
children's clothing, kids clothing, knitting

Grandma knits

I think I’ve mentioned before that I don’t knit.  I don’t have to – Grandma does!  Her latest knit was for Stella – the toddler’s rib vest with placket neck opening and almost collar pattern by Soozs.

Stella's knitted vest - made by Mum from Soozs free pattern by you.

Mum knitted this in a tencel/acrylic blend from Spotlight – one of their Moda Vera yarns.  It’s super soft!

Knitted vest - free pattern by Soozs by you.

This vest is lovely and snug, easy to get on and off, and keeps skinny little Stella quite cosy.  She’s a bit averse to jackets at the moment, so the vest really hits the spot.  The green yarn works well with red but is also lovely with raspberry pink.

Knitted vest - free pattern by Soozs by you.

Thanks very much Mum/Grandma!  Now I’d better get Stella away from those cables (and out of bathers bottoms).

by thornberry
craft, knitting, sewing

Knitting needle roll

Despite being an obsessed crocheter myself, I am not completely averse to making things for knitters.  Such as this knitting needle roll.

Knitting needle roll - Chestnut Hill by you.

I promised I’d make one for my friend’s mother absolutely ages ago (well over a year ago, I suspect).  Finally it’s done.  However, I need to say no more often when others ask me to make something for them – there are so many things I want to make for myself, the girls and for gifts that those little jobs for other people really add up and become duty sewing rather than enjoyment sewing.  I don’t like that feeling – sewing should always be fun!  Anyway, I made this following this tutorial. The outer fabric is from Joel Dewberry’s Chestnut Hill line (a couple of seasons old).

Knitting needle roll - inside by you.

Looks wrinkly when it’s unrolled, doesn’t it!  The inside fabrics are a mix from my stash.  One of the best features of this design is the flap at the top to stop needles from falling out.  I hope that she likes it, now that it’s finally done!

by thornberry
craft, crochet, knitting, miscellaneous, sewing, sewing room, tutorials

On a roll

Of the crochet hook and knitting needle variety!  Once I started working with yarn, I quickly realised that I had no adequate storage for my hooks and needles.  A little googling later and I had found some excellent tutorials that helped me to make these:

A crochet hook roll:

 

A knitting needle roll:

 

And both together all rolled up!

I’m certain that I’ll find it handy to have the crochet hooks separate, as I have an inkling that I am much more likely to be doing crochet than knit.  Although you never know what fad inspiration will strike me next!

I keep trying to figure out where the time has come from to do all the crafting that I’ve been doing lately – I’m possibly neglecting my poor husband and child.  Although I think that it has mainly substituted for watching TV (I’m completely behind on about every program now, so can’t have been watching much) and of course, now that I’m not going to work I have some time while Miss Clare is at kinder.  I do get up earlier than the rest of the household as well.  Does it sound as though I am trying to justify anything?

One of the things that probably makes the biggest difference in finding time to sew and craft is having a dedicated sewing room.  The machines are always set up, everything is easy to find and on hand, I can open the cupboard doors and stare at the piles of nicely stacked fabric for inspiration.  I am even keeping the mending up to date.  The ironing board is permanently set up with iron, pressing cloths etc.  Knowing where everything is has made it all so much easier.

by thornberry