Following knitted dreams

After the other day mentioning a little project I had my eye on, there has been a bit of unexpected progress.

I popped into Stitch, our lovely little knitting and dressmaking shop in Seaford for a zip (to try to spur myself on to make some new summer skirts I think I am going to really need soon) when I spotted some wool which looked so perfectly suited for the super chunky puff sleeve dream jumper.

It is called Wendy with wool superchunky and there was a lovely duck egg blue (shade 5203 - aqua). I didn't buy it straight away but the next day in a moment of weakness after a long morning of playgroup and park picnics and playing, I decided to pop in on my way home just for a little check. And came out with six balls! ha! (and went back the next day for two more)



I went into a bit of a knit frenzy for the rest of the afternoon, and most of the spare minutes since then - I really have a lot of housework to do, and in true need of an early night - but am really enjoying myself. And have already knitted half of the jumper - a front and a sleeve. It's so super super chunky it is knitting up in a blink.







































Hip hooray.

And today was royal wedding day and I baked a cake and wore flowers in my hair and socks with my flats and I felt a bit like it was 2010 again - With this and blogging a bit I feel a lot like a bit of my old self at the moment and it's really nice. I hope you enjoyed the royal day if that's your sort of thing. I really loved that veil.

 Yours chunkily, Emily

 

Super chunks

So I am aware that I have been out of the loop for a little while now, but I am finding time is returning to me and I am beginning to feel less 100% mum all the time and more like just 93% mum and 7% emily again, which is really why I am back on my emiliabird blog, and embracing all my old loves, like liberty fabrics and expensive wool - haha! (I know, I know, I am sure I have said this before - but this time I actually think I really mean it!)

I was recently pinning my evening away on pinterest and came across one image that stole my heart away - the most beauty fluffy extra super chunky jumper in the most perfect shade of blue. YES!

I have really no idea at all where it comes from but I really really needed to share it and really really need to recreate it!

I am currently in the middle of a chunky cropped jumper knitting project (can you see a theme developing?) which is a reknit of this grand wool from colinette  yarns from about 589439 years ago (when it looks like I might have had a knitting project per month?! No??)  I have condensed my wool stash into a rather lovely mid century style sewing box (the big type on legs) but things are a little bit crammed in there so I do need to knit some of it away into my wardrobe before purchasing any more...  then I found this and think maybe I should just take my old stored up wool to charity and buy some more new super chunky light blue wool? hmmmm

Have I mentioned that I am a minimalist now? I feel some conflict.

Oh my woolly head

This week has been a sleepy head one for me - but I think it had a lot to do with the grey (and sometimes red) sky overhead so I am hoping all this wind will blow some blue sky our way. But luckily now it's half term and what grand timing - I hope I can clear my woolly head a bit. It's the first time I am really benefiting from my 'term time only' job and I have to say I am very happy about it tonight. Sitting here with no train breakfast sandwiches to make, no bottles to prepare, no 'just in case' bags to pack. Ohm. Last week, I mentioned my little hat projects - three hats to knit for winter - for my friend Sarah, her daughter and myself. Sarah really wants matching cream cable hats with furry Pom Poms but my first choice of yarn (the Rico soft merino aran) I feared the colour really wasn't what she had invisaged and I realised from my swatch that I think Aran wasn't heavy enough for what she wanted either. No good. I was hoping to get some Wendy mode chunky but did you know it's been discontinued! Such a shame as it was a lovely merino-acrylic blend and there doesn't really seem to be anything else like it. I had a little scout around and even online and eventually settled on Hayfield bonus chunky - (extra value!) It is completely acrylic but it actually feels really nice. I usually avoid it as the crunch puts my teeth on edge - but here - no crunch, just quite soft and spongy and snug really.







So with wool (not wool) found, the next challenge was working out the pattern. Sarah had sent me a picture she wanted replicated so that was nice and easy to copy, but trying to work out how many stitches I needed for a hat, and to incorporate the pattern, was tricky - and will wait and see if I got it right. I did knit a cable hat before and it was too small, so I think I am carrying this trauma with me through this project. Baggy hats are not so good either though... I made a little swatch (pictured above unravelling due to manhandling by small child) which was super helpful - although I wasn't sure how much to stretch it before measuring it - hmm - so got a lot of different measurements from it. I worked out every combination of cable twists I could think of while still staying true to Sarah's vision, and came up with an array of different numbers. Anyway, without boring you too much I have settled on 80 stitches on 5.5mm needles (it was 76 stitches, but then I realised I'd made a horrible miscalculation - after 26 rows of k1p1 rib I decided to just increase 4 across the row and hope for the best!)



Despite all the hiccups though, now that I'm on (a) course, I am really really enjoying knitting for a bit and admit I'm finding it quite addictive. I've been so pre-occupied with crochet that I forgot that knitting is really my home sweet home. So stay tuned for this rollercoaster hat knitting ride - I'll be sure to update you!

woollen friends

So here I am - getting very fat, but at last on maternity leave! I have had a bit of a tiring few weeks of work, doing a few more hours than I was used to, and really struggling to keep on top of my life - but am pleased to be at home again now, and although Rose and I are not really doing any blog-worthy activities (our favourite pastimes at the moment are making 'just add an egg' cakes and 'shout singing' to Frozen!) we are enjoying this new pace of life and the new routine the autumn brings (I am sure she agrees!)

After Rose has gone to sleep though, I have really re-discovered my crochet hook and it is proving to be the perfect activity to relax with. I am mostly making woodland creatures. It's nice to make some things just for fun. And I like the faces and taking pictures of them for instagram and seeing the other gems posted there. I have been trying to write up the patterns too, but this is a little bit more brain work than I can really manage at the moment, but maybe a project for the future.
Here are some pictures of some foxes - Felix and Sylvia... little friends...



Happy woolly faces!

Little Red Cardigan

I am feeling very happy at the end of this long weekend as have finally finished this work in progress knitting project - my first cardigan in a really really long time! Little red gem. I got the wool for Christmas when Rose was six weeks old, and now she's two and a half! But I had a good incentive and am really pleased with the end result!



I used my trusty yoke cardigan pattern as tried and tested previously here, and here, and here. Debbie has also made one! I love this one so much, it's just such a great pattern, a good fit for me, and economical with wool and not very much sewing up at the end. Lots of good features.

For this one I used Adriafil Soffio Plus yarn, a nice fluffy one, colour shade 055 - red, nice and bright. I got the buttons as a gift and think they are a perfect finishing touch. This time I decided to elongate the body of my cardigan a bit by adding a few rows between increase rows. It worked out nicely. The original pattern can be found in this book if you like the look of it. There are lots of projects in there inspired by different decades, but I admit this is the only pattern I've tried. But a lot of good use it's got!

And I think my next big knit is actually going to be the same cardigan again. I got some more of the rowan colourspun wool I used to make this version and I think I am just going to remake it exactly the same! It is my absolute best cardigan- I could wear it everyday (instead I just wear it most days!) I think I will really enjoy making it, the wool is so luxurious and I love the colours, and hopefully can finish before the end of the year to complete my new year's resolution (and bolster my winter wardrobe)

Apart from knitting we have really been enjoying the better weather recently. Rose just loves to be by the sea and throwing stones and paddling. And I am enjoying this interest of hers too. I hope the sun is shining for you too.

arm knitting

A couple of weeks back I took the bus to Brighton and purchased myself some amazing super chunky wool from Tiger. I couldn't resist it - I've never seen any wool so massive and fluffy and soft (and a good price too)

I bought just a couple of balls thinking a warm winter woollen would be a good project for me. The wool suggested using 20mm needles which I managed to find, but I was not very pleased with this suggestion. I tried a scarf in stocking stitch and then tried another in garter stitch, but the fabrics produced were so tight and dense and stiff, it would have been a bit of a heavy scarf really.



Then a little inspiration hit me. I had seen a video a little while back from Wool and the Gang (I really like this) about Arm knitting (click here and see for yourself). Yes, this is exactly as it sounds - your arms are the needles! At first I was a little put off as found it quite tricky to tune my eyes into what was going on in the video as the casting on was slightly tricky (but not tricky once you've worked it out) But I watched a few times and soon worked it out and managed to cast on 8 stitches like this.



And I was so pleased I did get past the cast on row, because the actual knitting rows are so super super simple. Super super super simple. If you have never tried knitting before, or have tried but found it tricky, I really recommend setting yourself a little arm knitting project - it was so easy peasy, and grew so fast it was a really satisfying one evening pastime.


And the arm knitting was just the thing for my super soft and fluffy and chunky massive wool as the fabric is really loose and soft and not rigid and dense anymore, and because it was loose, my scarf was quite a good length too, much longer than my needle knitting versions.


My pattern was - cast on 8 stitches and arm knit until you run out of wool. (or until you nearly run out of wool so you have enough for your cast off row) Then weave in your ends and voila! You could perhaps use 6 stitches for a slightly thinner and longer scarf - I might yet unpick again and try that. The beauty of this is it's so super fast that you don't mind trying again.



So if you have bought some of Tiger's magnificent wool with no clue what to do - do this. And tell me about it if you do. Or tell me more about Wool and the Gang.

all the colours

When Rose was a baby i didn't do as much knitting for her as i imagined i would as a mother (in fact i knitted her nothing after she was born, and really only this little one while i was pregnant) I did however get a rather magnificent collection of hand knits for her from charity shops, and i am in denial a little bit because some of them were so great, but am beginning to accept that mostly they are all too small now. So i felt that it really was time to fulfill my knitter mummy duty and make her a new cardigan.



I had in mind this lovely diary scarf (an idea i really like) my friend Debbie made a little while back, although i didn't use the diary idea, i really like the design of it and thought something like this would be a perfect use for all my odd balls of wool. I found a basic raglan cardigan pattern (i like a raglan with stripes, i think it works so well) in my extensive library (handed down from nanny) and started with the back to set the pattern.  Although i wasn't doing a colour a day like Debbie did,  i really enjoyed the  process of deciding how much of each colour and how to order them.

I finished this project just in time for Rose's birthday and she was very pleased to wear it at last. I was just relieved it fitted her! And just in time for this cold spell too.



perfect scamp-wear!

Happy Christmas Sock

So, back in november i had a baby. and with christmas coming up i was very excited when i found i could knit whilst holding the sleepy bundle of joy. So I decided to make a pair of socks for lovely Richard. I had a month and i didn't have to go to work any more, so i thought that was a reasonable task. Easy right!

... but at this time i was not experienced in living with the baby so my expectations of achievable goals were not very accurate at all!

Unfortunately, as that little one started to wake up and grow and move about, knitting whilst holding the baby became a bit of an accident waiting to happen and so by christmas i had only managed to knit 1 sock (mostly while Rich pushed her in the pram in the treacherous wind and rain) I did wrap it up for him to open on christmas morning. He was confused.

But look... now that spring is here, the socks are finished!



I am so pleased about it. What a triumph! And Rich learnt the lesson of good things come to those who wait.

His quote is "they are very comfortable"

Little Rose Riding Hood

Very much time has passed since i knitted this little snug cardigan, and since then i haven't really made many things (there were a lot more maternity dresses, but they were all very similar in the end!) but I did make this little thing to fill that cardigan...

Her name is Rose and she is the reason I take a long time to do everything now! But she is the best.

xx

little red riding hood

A little while ago while i was trying to make some more space, i had a very ruthless clear out of my wool, only keeping the ones i thought i could definitely use and limiting myself to one basket full! It was a bit brutal - but it is nice that all the balls don't get so tangled up now.

One ball that survived the cut was a massive ball of red chunky wool from tea cosy projects of yesteryear. It made me think that red is a very good unisex colour when you have to clothe a baby but don't yet know if he's really a boy or not!

I did a little ravelry search for baby patterns in chunky wool and my favourite was this one - a little snug!

I enjoyed this one as the construction was really interesting - you might be able to tell from the picture - it was all knitted in garter stitch and more or less seamless. And the pattern was really informative with lots of good instructions. I learnt some good skills like provisional cast on (using a bit of crochet) and grafting.

I hope this will keep little baby as cosy as it keeps our tea! xx

Fairisle for me

Although i am knitting quite a lot for the baby at the moment (i can't help it - little things are so nice to make!) I did get some beautiful wool for my birthday last month.

I am using a pattern from the same range as my monochrome fairisle snowjumper from last year. Here is the original - shades of grey, black and white:

But i decided i would prefer to make a more colourful version and found this lovely wool - Drops Alpaca. There are a great number of colours to chose from, but i decided to pick from their mixed colour wools which have a slightly tweedy appearance.

You might think an alpaca is a bit of a wirey wooled creature, but this wool is the softest of any wool i've ever used.

I am not sure if i perhaps should have gone for a paler background colour, but i am pleased with the way this is going. Here is a sneak preview.

Back complete!

It's proving a little bit of a challenge as a lot of concentration is needed, but i am trying to stick with it as i know this will be a lovely new cardigan for the winter if i can finish in good time.

Yours alpacarama
Emilia x

little legs

Soon we will have a baby come to live with us! And i am really very much into nesting mode. We have managed to clear our spare room so we can make it more like a home for him in there. And I have started collecting some warm woollens as am very aware he will be with us in November and the start of the cold months.

Ebay has been a wonderful source for hand knit cardigans and jumpers and i've managed to collect some real gems. I decided my hand making energy will be best directed having a go at making some trousers for baby. I can already tell there are some good legs on that little one - he is exercising them well.

We don't know if he   will be a boy or a girl. But everything does seem to be quite blue... but i thought it will be easier to sew lots of bows onto blue things, but making girls clothes into boy clothes is more challenging! There is logic there somewhere.

Anyway, with this leggy mission in mind, i managed to find some good patterns for trousers and leggings.



This knitting pattern was one i found after a charity shop rummage. i stormed through the little leggings  in no time...



The wool i got in the sale and it is lovely and soft, but i am not sure about it for a cardigan/bonnet/mittens (i ran out for the last few rows and had to improvise - odd foot). I will definitely try to do another pair of these though in something a bit woolier that will lend itself better to creating the whole suit (my poor baby!)



I also was pleased to find this dressmaking pattern to be able to make some little things using my sewing skills. The baby looks a bit hot in all those clothes, but it seemed to be a perfect collection for the winter, including a little jacket and dungarees (i want to make those in corduroy!) for now i have had a go at the little trousers in this brushed cotton fabric. They are so soft!





They were supposed to be lined, but i thought this might just all be a bit much fabric in the end (now i look at it, perhaps this pattern is for out-wear) Because i just used a single thickness it did create the need for a bit of improvising with the turn ups and waist band, but i am pleased with how i managed.

Snug baby.

Wedded Knit

So.... my wedding cardigan did cause me a bit of a hassle (you might have been able to tell). But i am pleased to report a happy outcome! i managed to finish this knit in the knick of time, and here we are- the finished result:



Our wedding day was such a beautiful sunny one, but I did wear this all evening and it features a lot in our cake cutting pictures! (Look at our amazing cake!)



I think i will be holding on to this pattern to make myself another one day. It is such a sweet design.

xxx

Knit take 2

So - I have had a busy few weeks and so an update is very overdue!

I have been making all sorts of things to contribute to our wedding - which is just THREE weeks away now. That's not very long! My dress is not quite finished due to the need for some unexpected alterations (more on this another day) - but I am quite confident again (tomorrow Rich is out from dawn until dusk and so a good chance for me to concentrate!)

The one project which i have been most worrying about is my cardigan.

I introduced this project back in March, and was very pleased with myself - but as i got further into it i realised that i wasn't really happy with it. I got quite far and nearly finished the back, but i just started to feel that it was a bit too fussy, and not really what i wanted, and i was really having trouble imagining the finished item.



Here you can see my progress. But my doubt was too strong, and so after much turmoil I decided to start again (gulp!)

This time i was much clearer that with my dress the best complimentary item would be something sweet, but just something plain so the dress can be the shining star. I didn't really have the time to search too far and wide, but this might have helped me to not get too carried away and I was very very pleased to find this charming lovely pattern:


fetching and very feminine - destined to be one of your best loved knits!

Hurruh!

I am getting there now - but I have had my doubts over the last few weeks when i have assessed the scale of the task and my looming deadline, and taken into account my other tasks. But now i just have the final front piece to finish and feel like maybe it will be okay!


(lovely!)

I hope i will have some good news about this one very soon!
yours, knitter on a deadline,
Emilia  xxxx

Snow day - knit day

Last week on tuesday we had a lovely surprise


a snow day! (there doesn't look like a lot of snow in this picture, but the sun came out in the afternoon and the sky was blue)

I used my day wisely to catch up on missed episodes of Call the Midwife, and also managed to finish my rowan colourspun cardigan!

I am really happy to have a project done. It felt a little bit like they were piling up a bit!

And now some spring weather please?

Please?

cardi-sock

As you might be able to tell, i am in full wedding mode at the moment and very much enjoying all the opportunities for beautiful projects! Although our wedding will be in June, i really can't ever leave the house without a cardi, especially if i am going to be out into the evening! And so i thought it an essential task to knit myself a woollen for this occassion.

It has been quite a marathon to find a pattern for this project - i think i spent longer on this than even finding my dress pattern! To begin with i saw some beautiful bolero type cardigans,  but I had to think of the dress and what would go best. and also they didn't really look all so warm (this is the good thing about looking for a pattern in february - you are a good judge of what will be snug) so i thought the best thing for style and practicality would be a neat fitting waist length cardigan that i could button up for warmth if needed.

So that narrowed it down a little, but then i decided  I wanted something lacy because that is the prettiest. I knitted so many samples from my knitting stitch book, and scoured the internet for all patterns. I think i was being very fussy!!

Then i came across this pattern. For a sock (this one is called Lingerie and is by Maria Naslund, available on Ravelry) Such a pretty one!  This was the lace i was searching for! just not quite the right garment. Although i was worried i was making life very difficult for myself i decided to have a go at transplanting (right word?) the lace designs in the sock onto a cardigan pattern. It was quite tricky working out the number of stitches i needed but now i have got myself set up it is quite straightforward to use the charts in the sock pattern. I've had to do a couple of alterations to the pattern as the cardigan doesn't have the same shapings as the sock, but I am hopeful!

The wool i am using is quite a plain one. i had always thought i would want to really splurge and use a silk or cashmere, but when it came to it, i felt it would look sweeter to have something simple and a bit woolly and i got some lovely cream merino wool 4ply from blacksheep yarns (i recommend this supplier for some very good prices and some lovely wools)

Here is a glimpse at the beginnings. i don't want to give too much away, but also i am very pleased with how it is going and not very good at being secretive. Rich has seen this much too so i don't need to worry about him stumbling across this picture. As it grows though i know i should try to be a bit more mysterious.

yours laced up (finally!),
emilia. xxx

third time lucky

Last week there was a hint of the spring, but now the chill has struck us again i am pleased i am knitting a lovely and warm cardigan.

I decided to go for another knit up of the supersoft lace yoke cardigan, first created last january (here) in black angora, and then again in december (here) in cream and sparkly for Jess' wedding. Now i am using the beautiful Rowan Colourspun I received for christmas to make my third version. it is really grand to have found a pattern i love and trust to be a gem and i can't wait to be wearing it.

here we are - rowan colour spun in colourway 'semer water' 276 - lovely greys and blues and purples

I am getting there now. i hope that i can finish soon as i think it will be a good one in these cold times. it feels like it's going to be very snug - just what's needed.

yours,
emilia. xx