Up Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary – Wendy Bernard

Up Down All-Around Stitch Dictionary - Wendy Bernard

Up Down All-Around Stitch Dictionary – Wendy Bernard

I ran my second half-marathon at the end of August (this one) and I decided I needed a bit of a reward. Hence this book! I had eyed it off a few times, but thought do I really need another stitch dictionary? But what is great about this one is the fact that there are instructions for each stitch pattern in the round, flat (from the bottom up) and flat (from the top down)!

Given that I mostly knit socks from the top down (and obviously in the round) this is brilliant!

It is split into eight sections:

  • Knits and Purls
  • Ribs
  • Textured, Slipped and Fancy
  • Yarnovers and Eyelets
  • Cables
  • Lace
  • Colourwork (I had to put the ‘u’ in colour)
  • Hems and Edgings

Each section also has a project – items like socks, mittens, lace stole, a jumper. I’m quite keen on the Checkerboard Mesh Pullover.

Checkerboard Mesh Pullover

Checkerboard Mesh Pullover

and the lace stole

Lace Stole

Lace Stole

As you can see from the above images, it is published in binder form, which means the book lies flat on any given page – I am not sure that was necessary it just means it takes up more space on my book shelf!

I think this is a great resource. Definitely worth buying if you like to design your own knits or even alter an existing pattern (there are instructions on how to switch stitch patterns) or maybe convert a flat pattern into the round, or knit something from the top down instead of up – the possibilities are endless.

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Two Socks

Two Socks Practice Tube

Two Socks Practice Tube

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person with three projects must be in want of a fourth!

I have always been intrigued by the idea of knitting two socks at once – no more second sock syndrome!

Kate Atherley has a course at Annie’s called Magic Socks: Knit 2 Socks in 1  and I decided to give it a go.

This course is great. Kate explains things very well – everything is very clear and simple. So far I am just knitting my practice tube, which I will use as a tension square before knitting the actual socks. I am finding I am quite slow as I am not able to hold both yarns at the same time, but I am sure with a bit of practice I will improve.

This technique does require quite a bit of focus. I can see how easy it would be to lose focus and end up knitting the two socks together! For this reason I think this technique will just be a novelty technique in my repertoire and I will just revert to knitting two socks using double pointed needles (I wasn’t that taken with the magic loop method either). However, it is always good to learn something new.

If you are contemplating this course, then I say just jump in and have a go. Kate’s a great teacher, very personable I wish I could attend one of her classes in person, but Canada is a long way from Australia!

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And so it Begins …

Granny Squares!

Granny Squares!

I have started my Granny Square blanket – four squares so far. I have to say I find these quite addictive and they really require no concentration – perfect for TV watching. The yarn is a Bendigo classic in 12 ply that I had in my stash. This yarn feels lovely I would definitely work with it again. I’ve worked out that I can make 8 squares per 200g ball (I made a square and weighed it!). Once I have made 8 squares (I have 4 so far), I will buy a different colour – I am trying to keep my stash accumulation down.

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A Work in Progress – Denim Wrap

Wrap_02

Sewwitty’s Blue Jean Wrap

So every  now and then I have been working on my Blue Jean Wrap – It has an easy to remember 12 stitch repeat lace pattern. I have found it to be the perfect pattern to work on late in the evening (when my brain has stopped working.

I am using an Aran Cotton from Jo Sharp, which has been surprisingly easy to use – I had all sorts of trouble when I used this yarn for a cardigan for Miss P.

 

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Granny Square

Granny Square

Granny Square

This whole crochet lark was so that I could make Granny Squares! I thought I should just try to make one and I found a great tutorial here. The three chains in each corner make the shape stay nice and square. It was really quite addictive – I will stop after just one more round. Now my plan is to make a load of these and make a blanket – one colour at a time. I already have two balls of this in my stash.

Cherry_Yarn

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A new craft

Learning to Crochet

Learning to Crochet

I have never attempted crochet before – but I have always thought that making granny squares would be relaxing and so when it became clear I needed to relax I decided to learn.

This book (Crochet Workshop by Erika Knight) is beautiful. I am working on the first (and simplest) project a dishcloth. I have learnt how to make a foundation chain (it is really just finger knitting) and how to double crochet (is double crochet called single crochet in the US?).

I like the fact that is seems impossible to drop a stitch! I am not entirely sure how to control the yarn – at the moment it feels very awkward, but I suspect I will get better with practice. I have been making the time to practice I think it is keeping me sane (even in the school holidays!) and while practising I have been watching an early BBC adaptation of Emma.

Jane Fairfax (in the foreground) and Emma and Mr Knightley

Jane Fairfax (in the foreground) and Emma and Mr Knightley

It is not as beautiful as modern adaptations, but it follows the plot of the novel very closely. Definitely worth watching if you are an Austen fan.

I am quite keen to try one of these (ripple blanket), but obviously not for a bed – sofa woobie (as my girls say) would be big enough!

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Iowa Star Foundation Pieced

Iowa Star Foundation Pieced

Iowa Star Foundation Pieced

I have finished another quilt block for my sampler quilt. This one was quite disappointing – points don’t really match as they should and some of the pieces didn’t flip and sew too well. I am completely over this quilt – just want to be at the end, so unless I have a burst of motivation at the end I am not re doing this one.

I have really struggled with getting the pieces the right size so that when you stitch and flip they’re the right size. Maybe I need to make some templates?

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Addition to the Stash

So when I should have been doing this …

Blue Jean Wrap

Blue Jean Wrap

I was buying this …

Misti Alpaca - Tilt a Whril

Misti Alpaca – Tilt a Whril

The blue jean wrap is coming together quite nicely – an easy to remember lace repeat, but it is always fun to buy new yarn.

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Sampler Quilt – Hour Glass Block Completed

Hour Glass Block

Hour Glass Block

This project has been languishing – it is fiddly and I no longer like the fabrics I have selected, but I am determined to get it finished. I have been working on it for so long (I started in January last year) and I still have a long way to go. It has got to the point where I am trying to do a little bit every day.

 

 

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A New Object

Blue Jean Wrap

Blue Jean Wrap

I have started knitting Blue Jean Wrap – I was looking for something simple to knit while watching television – or when my brain is too tired to do anything else. So far so good, it has an easy to remember lace sequence and once I managed to cast on the right number it has been plain sailing!

The yarn is an aran cotton from Jo Sharp – I bought it unlabelled, so can’t tell you the official colour, it was in my stash, so I feel quite smug about using something I already had.

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