I am using yarn from Fiber Lily (Ebb colourway – I originally bought it to make a shawl, but given that I don’t wear shawls I decided to make socks instead).
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.
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.
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
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).
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’).
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?
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.