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the wrong shade of yellow, but I am not unpicking, so let’s hope this doesn’t (in a hundred years) become a significant historical document.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?
Filed under 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.
Filed under Cross Stitch
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.
Filed under Colour Work, Knitting, Sock Knitting
I seem to have my system working now – the ‘double decker’ hoop (so I can work two handed) from here, and the magnifying light (which I bought from an electronic hobby store).
This is coming together nicely – although I am very slow. It’s about the process though and not the final product.
Filed under Cross Stitch
These stars appealed to me – decorations, present toppers, etc.
I found two layers of water soluble stabiliser worked best (hooped perpendicular to each other).
I used the same thread as both my top thread and my bobbin thread.
I have slowed my machine down to 500 spm. I am not sure if that is necessary, but everything just seems to work a lot better. At this speed it does take 70 minutes, but there are no colour changes.
Filed under Embroidery, Machine Embroidery
These stars popped up on my Instagram feed and I was intrigued.
These are the instructions I am using – fabulous instructions. You do need to be reasonably precise with the folding otherwise the star looks a bit crap. Also, I bought thickish paper (120gsm), but I think it would be easier with normal paper (and if you can find something pretty so much the better).
My aim is to make several and use them as christmas decorations (maybe a garland).
Filed under Childrens Craft, Christmas Decorations
I have been spending all of my craft time on Mr Sewwitty’s birthday sock – this is the first one and I still have a bit to go before the toe (I made him try it on today).
Annoyingly, the yarn had a knot in it – I cut the knot and weaved in both ends as I went, but still annoying.
This is just a plain sock – although it has a twisted rib and eye of partridge heel, so not completely plain.
The yarn is a Waikiwi print, which I bought at Cross Way’s Wool and Fabric.
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting
Someone in my house has a big birthday this year, so I thought a pair of socks might be in order (despite the large feet).
I am using a Waikiwi Print in shade 459 (it’s the brown mix). I bought three balls (because of the big feet).
I have done a twisted rib and then it’s going to be a plain vanilla sock.
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting
I do love a knitting history/essay book and was very keen to get this one. After much stuffing around by amazon, I bought it from the book depository.
Over the course of a year, Esther Rutter – who grew up on a sheep farm in Suffolk, and learned to spin, weave and knit as a child – travels the length of the British Isles, to tell the story of wool’s long history here. She unearths fascinating histories of communities whose lives were shaped by wool, from the mill workers of the Border countries, to the English market towns built on profits of the wool trade, and the Highland communities cleared for sheep farming; and finds tradition and innovation intermingling in today’s knitwear industries. Along the way, she explores wool’s rich culture by knitting and crafting culturally significant garments from our history – among them gloves, a scarf, a baby blanket, socks and a fisherman’s jumper – reminding us of the value of craft and our intimate relationship with wool. This Golden Fleece is at once a meditation on the craft and history of knitting, and a fascinating exploration of wool’s influence on our landscape, history and culture.
This was a fabulous book – I enjoyed the combination of knitting (she knit a bikini!, history and travel). It is a bit like ‘Julie and Julia’ we follow Esther’s journey we she learns about knitting in various places and attempts to knit the ‘signature’ garment of that place.
Fruity knitting have an interview with Esther and here is a review at The Guardian. And her is a blog review.
Filed under Book Review
I have started knitting the Heartgyle socks from Boost Your Knitting – the intarsia heart is going well, but the getting it to work in the round is not going so well (see below)
You can see where I have been doing the yarn overs and the turn. The instructions do say
You will see that the turn between right side and wrong side creates a small ridge in the work but it is not hugely obvious.
And they have an image and it’s true on their sock it isn’t very obvious. I can see that my later turns are better – more discreet if you like, but now I need to decide if I rip it back and start again. I am leaning towards ripping back.
There are some great tutorials on how to do this on You Tube – here.
I think the method is good it’s just my execution.
Filed under Colour Work, Sock Knitting
