April 8, 2020 · 5:40 pm

Bluprint Classes

Garter Point Lace Edging

Late last year I subscribed to Bluprint (formerly Craftsy), it was a good deal and the subscription came with vouchers to buy 12 classes outright.

I have done some of the other classes and enjoyed them. The format suits me – I can watch when I want and work through the homework as I have time.

In this strange world we now find ourselves (below is an image of our local playground – roped off for the foreseeable future) I decided I had a bit of time and space to work on some of the classes.

I am currently working on Heirloom Lace Edgings, the teacher is Franklin Habit. He is a good teacher, he explains things well. The first photo shows my homework – I have knitted the centre (the thing to which I am going to attach my lace) and now I am working on the lace.

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April 4, 2020 · 4:47 pm

Project Bag

Sock Knitting Project Bag

I have made a new project bag for my sock knitting. I wanted it to fit my knitting (obviously) and an A5 notebook. I also like the zip closure rather than a drawstring.

The machine embroidery design is from Urban Threads.

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March 24, 2020 · 9:27 pm

Covid 19 Socks

The start of my plague socks

Like everyone else in the world, I am in lock-down. Not as harsh as other countries, at this stage it is mostly voluntary. Strongly advised to stay at home; and cafes, restaurants, gyms, any place where people congregate are closed. The borders are closed. People are still being selfish and incredibly irresponsible.

So time for a new knitting project. I am going to knit socks (using a lovely red Malabrigo -it’s called Cereza). I am going to put this on the leg

Corona Virus Cloth by Alli Barrett

As you can see, I have started the swatch.

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March 19, 2020 · 8:37 pm

Jane Austen Embroidery – Jennie Batchelor and Alison Larkin

Jane Austen Embroidery – Jennie Batchelor and Alison Arkin

This combines two of my favourite things – Jane Austen and Embroidery.

Jennie Batchelor writes about Jane Austen, textile history and The Lady’s Magazine. Alison Arkin designed the projects based on embroidery designs in The Lady’s Magazine.

It’s a beautiful book with lovely designs and illustrations. There are designs for all kinds of things; phone pouch, work bag, table cloth, cushion, clutch. My favourite is the design on an apron (I am not sure if I would ever make an apron, but I like the embroidery).

Work bag, Apron and Illustration

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March 10, 2020 · 6:09 pm

Temperature Cross Stitch

Temperature Cross Stitch Progress

Not much progress on this – how do people find time to get everything done?

I have been recording the temperature everyday, so I just need to marshal my forces and get on with it.

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February 27, 2020 · 8:31 pm

A New Hat

Yarn for a Roadside Beanie

I am going to make Miss A a hat – a roadside beanie. I bought the kit from Calico and Ivy.

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February 9, 2020 · 2:08 pm

Heart Socks Finished

Heart Socks

I finished the Heartgyle socks from Boost Your Knitting.

I am really pleased I had a go at knitting intarsia in the round – not a fan of the ‘seam’ you can see on the back (see below).

See the seam on the right?

My first heart was much better than my second heart. I think it was because I left all of the weaving in to the end on the first one, but did as I went with the second, which made my tension a bit crap.

I do like the different coloured cuff, heels and toes, so I will do that again. I am keen to try stranded colour work socks, but next up I am going to knit my own version of Helen Stewart’s Shell Cottage Socks (I will use the stitch pattern, but my own ‘recipe’).

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January 23, 2020 · 4:09 pm

Temperature Cross Stitch

Working on January

The temperature cross stitch has started – not up to date yet, but it is easy going. I think one of the maximums (maxima?) is the wrong shade of yellow, but I am not unpicking, so let’s hope this doesn’t (in a hundred years) become a significant historical document.

I think I need to put a key on – otherwise the actual temperature data will be lost. Thoughts?

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January 15, 2020 · 6:53 pm

Temperature Cross Stitch

I am going to do a Temperature cross stitch. I have been diligently recording the daily maxima and minima.

In the image above are the flosses I’m planning to use – cold at the top (anything below 0 – very unlikely in Perth) and hot at the bottom (above 44 – I hope that doesn’t happen or not very often).

Each day will be a 4 by 4 square with the upper left corner the minumum and the bottom right the maximum. Like this

I think I will have a black line between days and months, but I am not certain of that yet.

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January 9, 2020 · 4:09 pm

Heart Socks

Heart Socks

I am keen to improve my knitting skills and colour work always looks so lovely. These socks are from the Boost Your Knitting book. I was intrigued by the idea of intarsia in the round.

It came together quite well – I am disappointed about the reverse side. Despite my best efforts there is a noticeable ‘join’. It is on the inside of your leg (when you are wearing the socks).

The issue of the join is that you are making one stitch out of two, so it is always going to have more yarn than a normal stitch and it just stands out.

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