I managed a lot of knitting this week because I was watching the second season of The Gilded Age – a beautiful soap opera.
The yarn for these socks is from West Yorkshire Spinners – one of their Christmas yarns.
There is a band of twisted stitches down the leg and across the foot (I wrote about it in my last post on these socks).
Filed under Sock Knitting
This book is a beautiful object – the dust cover is lovely. It was languishing in my pile for quite some time. It is well worth reading, part exploration of different types of fabric (Barkcloth, cotton, linen, silk, wool, polyester) and part grief memoir. Ms Finlay travels widely to research different fabrics and adds personal anecdotes about her family, in particular her mother her died unexpectedly and with whom she had planned on doing some of this travel.
Here’s the blurb …
A magnificent work of original research, unwinding history through cloth –how we make it, use it and what it means to us.
From our earliest ancestors to babies born today, fabric is a necessary part of our everyday lives, but it’s also an opportunity for creativity, symbolism, culture and connection. Travelling across the world and bringing history to life, bestselling author Victoria Finlay investigates how and why people have made and used cloth.
A century ago in Wales, women would sew their own funeral clothes over tea with friends. In Papua New Guinea, bark is stripped from trees and beaten into cloth. Harris Tweed has a particular smell, while Guatemalan weavers use dazzling colours. Uncovering the stories of the fabrics people wear and use from sacking to silk, Fabric combines science, history, tradition and art in a captivating exploration of how we live, work, craft and care.
It is beautifully written and there are photographs.
A review
Filed under Book Review
I finished the first of my Christmas socks. There is a band all the way along the leg and foot –
R1: P1, (Slip 1 knitwise, YO, PSSO, P1) 3 times
R2:P1(K2, P1) 3 times
The yarn is from West Yorkshire Spinners (colourway Nutcracker). Usual needles (2.25mm).
The heel flap uses the same stitch pattern as the band (except R2 is reversed K1 (P2, K1) 3 times
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
I had to move the hoop so I took the opportunity to take a progress photo. I am probably about two-thirds of the way through. I have been enjoying the process, thinking about the path of the stitches (making sure I don’t stitch myself into a corner).
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery
I was a bit more successful this year.
I am going to try to have modest goals next year
Filed under Cross Stitch, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Knitting, Machine Embroidery, miscellaneous, Patchwork, Quilting, Sewing, Sock Knitting
I finished my version of Alex’s blanket last night. There are a few errors, but I pushed on rather than ripping back.
Here’s the first mention of the blanket -I started in August, so I was reasonably quick with this one.
Next up, I am going to knit a swatch for my Nutcracker socks – and while I am waiting for Christmas Eve/Day I will work on my cashmere socks.
Filed under Knitting, Yarn Stash
I have been enjoying my advent calendar from KDD – the colours are spectacular. I am looking forward to seeing what patterns she has written to go with this yarn.
Filed under Colour Work, Knitting, Yarn Stash
I have been enjoying making free standing lace – my machine is coping really well with it. I am going to try earrings next.
I am using the brothread water soluble stabiliser and it’s good (I am using two layers)
Filed under Embroidery, Machine Embroidery
I thought I would make some Christmas decorations using free standing lace – I have made a couple of these before. This time I have bought some Christmas decoration hangers from Amazon and I will turn them into decorations and give as gifts (small tokens).
I am using two sheets of water soluble stabiliser (the one above is like paper, but I am also using the film version). Embroidery thread (Robinson Anton Candy Apple Red) on top and in the bobbin. I have slowed my machine down to 500 s/min so these take a long time, but they look good.
A short clip of the stitch out because I find it mesmerising.
Filed under Digitizing, Embroidery, Machine Embroidery, Sewing Machine
I work on this while watching television (I just finished the fourth season of All Creatures Great and Small – there is some lovely knit wear in it).
I have two more repeats to go before I finish of the top border – there are a few places we I have gone a bit weird, but I think that just adds to the charm.
The blanket is a kit from Crossways Wool and Fabrics.
Yesterday, I went through my yarn stash checking to make sure there weren’t any critters (there wasn’t), I did do a bit of an inventory and I have 51 skeins of sock yarn!
I buy sock yarn for all sorts of reasons; it’s pretty, you only need 1 skein to make a pair of socks (I don’t know how much yarn I would need for a jumper), souvenir yarn, feeling happy yarn, feeling sad yarn, etc, but I really must stop buying it (because I want to knit other things as well).
Filed under Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn Stash
