Yarn Overload!

This week I seem to be absolutely drowning in wool. Not that this is any kind of complaint, you understand!

A friend of mine was having a clearout of her yarn stash, and kindly passed on a few goodies that she thought I might like.

Yummy new sock yarns

These are two sock yarns. The purple one is by Opal, and the other is one of the Kaffe Fasset colourways for Regia. These yarns together would make a lovely pair of the Simply Knitting socks that I’m still working on. Alternatively, as I only really wear very short socks, I might even manage to get two pairs of anklets out of 150 grams of yarn. We’ll see – I’ve got plenty of time to think about it while I’m finishing my current sock!

I’ve also come into possession of a complete pack (10 balls) of RYC Cashcotton 4 ply, in a beautiful peachy colour. I don’t quite know what I’m going to do with it yet, although a lacy summer cardigan seems like quite a nice idea.

Macro wool...

Over on the Simply Knitting website they’re running a series of articles about taking photographs of your knitting in new and interesting ways. I thought I’d see what the “super macro” setting on my little camera could do, and this is the result. I like the obvious difference in texture between these two yarns. You can almost imagine how they’ll feel from looking at the picture.

The top ball is the peachy RYC Cashcotton – 35% cotton, 25% polyamide, 18% angora, 13% viscose and 9% cashmere. The lower one is Debbie Bliss Soho – 100% wool.

I’ve been updating my stash details on Ravelry to include these new goodies, and although I don’t have as much yarn tucked away as some people, I think I probably don’t need any more just now.

This is particularly disappointing, as I received an email from Colinette this morning, giving details of several new colourways. I’m also intrigued by their new Creative Project Packs, where you can buy a bag of one yarn type, but in little hanks of different colours. I can feel some interesting scarves and socks coming on…

That was quick!

Less than a week ago I ordered eight yards of Alexander Henry prints from Buy Fabrics Online. They turned up this morning – all the way from America in just five days, and I didn’t even have to pay any customs charges.

I placed an order with eQuilter on the same day – let’s see how long it takes for that one to arrive. I wasn’t expecting to receive either parcel for at least another week, so I’m pretty impressed so far!

Alexander Henry Fabrics

From top to bottom we have:

“Bewitched” in purple – intended for a skirt
“Carnaby Stripe” – also intended for a skirt
“Rose Tattoo” in tea – this one’s going to be a dress for me, probably in a 1950s style, if 4 yards of fabric is enough for that.

The fabric that I’m waiting for is also the Alexander Henry “Rose Tattoo”, but in a different colourway.

I’m still working on my August corset orders at the moment, and I have another two dresses to complete before I can start sewing with these lovely fabrics. I guess I’d better get a move on!

Simplicity 2927 – up a tree!

Climbing a tree...

This is an action shot of Simplicity 2927 – up a tree!

The leggings are from a pattern that I drafted myself – something that I want to do a lot more of in future. It’s taken me a long time to find a UK supplier of nice fine organic cotton jersey, so I’d like to make the most of it! The jersey only comes in cream or white, so I’d probably fill the washing machine with Dylon dyes, to bring in a bit of colour. (The fabric shown was bought from The Cloth House, a long time ago.)

I’m currently coveting pretty much everything that Near Sea Naturals have to offer, whilst simultaneously agonising about the environmental impact of flying organic fabrics all the way over from America. It seems a bit daft to buy low-impact fabric and immediately add 3,000 airmiles to it! Although, as Miss Alice rather eloquently put it, “it’s not like locally produced organic cotton’s falling out of the sky”.

I’m still in the process of using up some of my stashed fabrics to make pretty corsets, so you’ll be seeing a few of those turning up as the weeks progress. Realistically it’s going to take me until next year to be really ready for doing something with my own designs and drafting my own patterns for them, but I’ll be working on it.

Fruit Salad

Fruit Salad

I fell in love with this wool back in December. John Lewis were having a clearance sale, and I was tempted into buying a whole jumper’s worth.

The yarn is Debbie Bliss Soho, in colourway 16. I wouldn’t normally go for yellows and oranges, but the colours reminded me so much of those little Fruit Salad chews I used to get entangled in my braces as a child that I couldn’t resist!

At first I thought the wool was going to turn into a pullover with a deep v-neck. Then I spotted these buttons, hard and translucent like delicious boiled sweets, and knew that they’d be perfect for a chunky cardigan. I spent a good while trying to choose between the pink and the orange and, uncharacteristically for me, I left the pink ones behind.

Now I just need to find the time to break out the coloured pencils, and draw up a design for a Fruit Salad cardigan, with boiled sweet buttons. Irresistible!

Knitting Patterns in the shop…

This weekend I finally got around to sewing the zip into my green cardigan, and I spent several hours yesterday putting the finishing touches to the knitting pattern for it. It’s available in sizes from 30″ to 54″ chest, and you can make it from any chunky yarn that you fancy.

I’ve added the pattern to the shop, where you can buy and download it as a PDF file.
I’ve also added a free pattern for you, which is the Simplest Scarf in the World.

Last week I started work on a raglan shrug design, which I’m currently knitting up from my black Colinette Point 5, although even as I’m knitting it I’m thinking of ways to make it better. Once I’ve worked out all the kinks, I’ll write up that pattern for you as well.

If you do download any of my patterns, I’d love to see what you’ve made!

Please feel free to leave comments linking me to any photographs you’ve taken and are happy to share. You can also find me on Ravelry.

[EDIT] All currently available patterns can now be found in my Ravelry store!

Simplest Scarf in the WorldZip-Up Cardigan with Moss Stitch Edging

Chloe’s Cupcake Dress

Chloe's Cupcake Dress

This is Simplicity 4050, sadly now out of print. The only change I made to the pattern was to add a tie belt to the waistband.

The plain pink fabric is from my stash of Bishopston organic cottons, and the cupcakes are by Martha Negley for Rowan.

Chloe had seen the photograph of a dress I’d made for myself using these fabrics – Simplicity 4072 – and asked for one the same. Simplicity 4050 is the plus-sized version of that pattern, and to be honest I think it’s much more flattering. The neckline isn’t quite so low, and there’s no gathering at the front of the skirt. It also fastens with a zip at the back, making it a more streamlined dress.

The Simplicity 4072 turned out not to suit me after all, so I’m quite tempted to make myself a version of the Simplicity 4050 instead.

I’ve made clothes for Chloe before, and she always looks fabulous, so I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of her wearing this one!

I also made a matching Suffolk Puff corsage to go with it:

Cake Corsage

Sewing Plans for this Autumn…

One of the perks of working in a fabric shop is that you find out in advance when the pattern companies are just about to have a special offer, or discontinue lots of styles. Now is the time of year when all of the autumn/winter pattern books appear, which means special offers galore!

I have something of a weakness for buying patterns, so I’m trying to be very good and only buy them if I’m absolutely definitely positively going to make them in the near future. I have fabrics in mind (and in my stash!) already for the four patterns below, so I felt justified in picking them up.

My sewing plans for this Autumn...

Top left: McCalls 5591.
I bought this pattern as an alternative to McCalls 5431. The two patterns have many of the same elements – a full skirt, contrast band at the hem and large pockets. McCalls 5591 has the advantage of working with one-way prints on 44″ fabric, which 5431 can’t accommodate. I’m sure that I’ll use both patterns, and I’m hoping to find myself living in these skirts for the rest of the summer. I certainly have plenty of fabrics I can use to make them…

Top right: Vogue 2784 (now out of print)
This is a Donna Karan designer pattern for Vogue. The dress itself is very sheer, and the pattern includes a bias-cut slip to wear underneath it. I have the perfect fabric for this project – a sheer black georgette with little black roses, which was given to me by a friend several years ago. I think it might be interesting to make a few slips in different colours, to change the look and feel of the dress. I plan to wear this one to other people’s weddings.

Bottom left: McCalls 5717
Everyone at work fell in love with this coat pattern as soon as we saw it on the back of the new McCalls catalogue. Naomi’s already bought a length of bright pink tartan, and I plan to make this one in my Waverley flamingo fabric.  The collar and the ruffle at the bottom will be in black velvet, as will the buttons. Then I just need to add a sparkly flamingo brooch to the lapel, and I have a fabulous winter coat!

Bottom right: Vogue 8211 (now out of print)
No, it isn’t the same as McCalls 5717! This one’s going to be a more dressy coat, and I plan to make it from a heavyweight cotton curtaining. It’s cream, with gold bees embroidered on it. I’m not certain how many opportunities I’m going to have to wear a cream evening coat covered in bees, but I’ve had the fabric for a long time, and this is the first pattern I’ve seen that’s really been right for it.

Now I just have to carve out a tiny space in my hectic sewing schedule, and set aside the time to make something for myself!

Fits and Starts

I seem to have been working on this toile for absolutely ages.

It’s not that it’s a particularly difficult pattern (it’s one of Vogue’s Easy Options range), just that I’ve been a bit unwell again recently, and every time I tried to work on this toile I’d have to stop because I was feeling too poorly to sew without risk of mucking it up.

Thankfully it’s all come together now, and is ready and waiting to be tried on in a couple of weeks’ time.

Laura's toile

The pattern is Vogue 8470, and the finished version is going to be in black and red. The top layer will be a black georgette (plain or with tiny flocked spots, we haven’t decided yet), with a red satin lining showing through underneath.

In white like this though (at least before I added the sleeves!) it has a definite hint of the Marilyn Monroe about it. I think this is going to make a really lovely party dress.

So much so in fact, that I think this pattern is going to be a definite contender for my wedding dress.

Baa Baa Black Sheep…

Ever wondered what an entire kilo of Colinette Point 5 looks like?

Colinette Point 5 - black

Well, now you know!

Colinette Point 5 jumper 

It used to be the most enormous jumper, one that I knitted for Paul a few years ago. It’s hardly been worn, so I decided it was time to reclaim the wool and turn it into something else. I’ve promised to sew a fleece for Paul instead, so at least he won’t get cold!

His main complaints about this jumper were that it was:

  1. Too heavy. Well, it did weigh an entire kilo! The style is supposed to be a funnel neck, but the sleeves are so heavy that they pull out the neckline sideways.
  2. Too hot. I suppose you would be hot, wearing half a sheep…
  3. Too cold. Yes, really. Colinette recommend that you knit this wool using 12mm needles. That’s fine for the thicker parts of the yarn, but wherever you get a thinner strand you also get a looser knit. This makes the resulting fabric a bit draughty in places, and Paul complained that the wind got through!

I must admit that I prefer to knit most Colinette yarns using smaller needles than suggested. I’m going to try a swatch of this on 10mm needles, and see how it comes out.

I’ve been looking for the perfect shrug/bolero/cropped cardigan pattern which would work in either Point 5 or Rowan Big Wool (which I also prefer to knit on smaller needles than recommended), and I haven’t found it yet.

I think it’s time to sit down with Ann Budd and a piece of graph paper, and work something out.

Pink Tartan and Pink Leopard Print!

Earlier in the week I finished my latest corset – a pink tartan number made from a favourite pair of old trousers. I’d been hoarding the trousers for years and years, despite the fact that they were far too small. I’m glad I did, as I’m very pleased with this new lease of life for them!

Pink Tartan Corset

As you can see, I liked my new corset so much that I dragged Paul out in the rain to take pictures of it for me! Thanks also to my sister, who gave me this fabulous umbrella last Christmas. Isn’t it cute?

While I was in a pink mood (when am I ever not in a pink mood?), I picked up a new addition to the corset fabrics pile.

It’s pink satin leopard print!

Pink leopard print satin

I mean, honestly, how can you resist?

I’m taking corset orders for September, if anybody’s feeling particularly glamourous…?