July 20, 2015 · 2:01 pm

A Sock! – Such a Sense of Achievement

A Finished Sock!

A Finished Sock!

I finished a sock (just the one). This is the first thing I have finished since the pin cushion in February (and given that it is only one sock and I have two feet how finished is it really?). However, I do feel quite pleased with myself for finishing something.

I have taken on too much this year – had a real need to justify my existence by filling all of my time with ‘worthy’ work. I just became tired and grumpy, so now my goal is to do more nothing – more pottering and just being.

As I was working on this sock, I was a bit concerned about how it was all coming together (and I am pretty sure I stuffed up picking up the heel stitches – at least on one side), but when it was finished and I tried it on it was pretty good. I’ve cast on the second sock …

2 Comments

Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting

June 23, 2015 · 1:05 pm

Canvas Work 4 – Sampler

Canvas Work Sampler

Canvas Work Sampler

I have finished the rectangle of the sampler – it still needs a border, but I am thrilled to have finished the inside!

This was worked on 14 count canvas – which meant 9 strands of embroidery thread (I used DMC floss)! I’m definitely moving onto a smaller count next time.

Each ’tile’ is a different type of stitch. In some cases the compensation at the edges drove me mad!

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Canvas Work

Tagged as ,

June 16, 2015 · 12:28 pm

Another Red Square

Sewwitty's Red Square

Sewwitty’s Red Square

I’ve started working on my squares again – it was an effort to remember what to do. Fortunately  I still had fabulous instructions from here.

While working on my squares, I have been watching the latest version of Poldark – I would definitely recommend it – but isn’t that man’s life terrible? Everything goes wrong time and time again. Anyone read the novels?

Leave a Comment

Filed under Crochet, Television

Tagged as , ,

June 9, 2015 · 11:09 am

A Small Victory

I’ve had a small victory! For the first time ever I have been able to correct a mistake in my knitting without starting again! I watched a video on You Tube – this one (It is Lucy Neatby explaining how to fix accidental yarn overs).

Leave a Comment

Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting

Tagged as

May 20, 2015 · 3:57 pm

Bargello

Bargello

Bargello

I’ve continued with my canvas work course this term. We had a Bargello lesson last week – above is my attempt. It is a very calming (not to mention easy) form of embroidery – I think my next piece will have Bargello in it.

I’m still working away on my sampler – two more sections to go.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Canvas Work

Tagged as ,

April 29, 2015 · 5:54 pm

Knitting Hermione Socks

Hermione Socks

Hermione Socks

I have been busy – too busy. I have taken on too much and I am feeling over-whelmed. I’m slowly extricating myself and finding more time for craft.

I have been working (slowly) on my Hermione sock – I think I have gone a bit astray (is it because the instructions are for two circulars and I’m using double points?). I don’t think it matters – this sock is all about the process, finding a bit of quiet in each day. I have taken notes, so I should be able to make the second sock look like the first.

The yarn is beautiful – hand dyed from here.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting

Tagged as ,

March 16, 2015 · 12:17 pm

Canvas Work 3

Canvas Work Sampler

Canvas Work Sampler

Close Up

Close Up

I have been working away on my canvas work sampler while watching Olive Kitteridge (which is great – I read the book  and loved it, so was keen to see the adaptation particularly because Frances McDormand was Olive).

I have to say this sampler is very slow going. It was a mistake to use embroidery cotton – 9 strands all of that stripping! I should have used wool or picked a smaller canvas 18 count instead of 14. However, it is meant to be a learning experience. The green shape above was a pain to stitch – all that compensation around the edges.

Next up I want to try something pictorial and a bit folk arty.

Something Like This

Something Like This

I’m finding the idea of Berlin wool work quite appealing as well – although it is just tent stitch (so probably not that exciting to stitch).

Like this …

Berlin_Wool_01

That way I could make something a bit more useful (maybe a cushion cover?).

However, I must finish my sampler first.

Leave a Comment

Filed under Canvas Work

Tagged as

February 23, 2015 · 2:22 pm

Canvas Work 2

Pentominoes_01

I have been enjoying my canvas work lessons. For a medium that seems constrained I am finding a lot of freedom and flexibility.

At the moment I’m working on a sampler (see image). I’ve based it on Pentominoes (nice area filling shapes), but as to colour and stitch I’m just making it up as I go along – what do I feel like doing next?

I have to say it does use a lot of thread – I popped to Spotlight today to buy another skein of each colour (I ran out of the blue colour in the image).

Leave a Comment

Filed under Canvas Work

February 16, 2015 · 1:28 pm

Canvas Work

Canvas_Work_01

Pin Cushion and a reference

Pin_Back

Back of my pin cushion

 

Canvas Work Pin Cushion

Front of my pin cushion

I have started a Canvas Work course here – this is a very lovely place I encourage you all to do something there.

Our first project was to create a pin cushion or needle book – as you can see, I chose the pin cushion.

We had amazing instructions and I managed to get most of it finished at home – the folding the square and stitching it up is magic. I’m finding it extremely addictive and quite therapeutic – there is a meditative quality to it.

My next project is a sampler. I have been busy checking out pinterest for a colour palette and thinking about layout and stitch types. Hence the purchase of the book in the above photos – I needed some kind of stitch dictionary (I did look for an online source, but I couldn’t really find what I was looking for).

 

2 Comments

Filed under Canvas Work

Tagged as ,

February 10, 2015 · 3:27 pm

Knitting Again!

Swatches and the start of new projects

Swatches and the start of new projects

I’ve been able to get some knitting done while watching television (this series).

I have swatched and started working on the February Fitted Pullover (again – you might remember I have tried this once before). The yarn is Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK in colour Tease.

I have also swatched and started knitting Hermione’s Everyday Socks. This is yarn I bought from the Melbourne Art Gallery markets (Hawthorn Cottage Yarns).

I suspect progress will be slow.

1 Comment

Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash

Tagged as , ,