Archive for August, 2009

Fairisle/Scandinavian knitting

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Fairisle bear

 

Fairisle style knitting has always fascinated me but I found it clumsy to do and kept getting my yarns all tangled which caused my husband to laugh at me and the dog to either hang her head pretending she wasn’t there, or to leave the room completely, depending on how blue the air was.

Then in the local charity bookshop I found a book called Norwegian Knitting Designs by Annichen Sibbern Bohn from 1965. This was very helpfull in demistifying patterns and techniques for me.

More recently my mum sent me a link to a pattern for Scandinavian sweaters for bears. The pattern encouraged the making of your own design and I chose hearts. The first sweater was a bit loose at the arm decreases as I was using too thick a yarn for the markers. I then attempted this second sweater on smaller pins using a very fine yarn from Brora and I was much happier with the outcome even though I altered the neckline from the pattern advise.

I then made this bear in the Duke of Fife tartan and he seems to like his sweater just fine.

Share

FISH

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

the not pedigreethe pedigreefor the "adults"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This all came about because a certain little lady developed a liking for carp.

To save embarrassment and possible repercussions I shall maintain anonimity. As a result of the folding story my other half and I decided that we should do something slightly humerous.

                                                     The result was that I decided to make them their own carp and selected some of the brightly patterned fabrics in my stash that also suggested fish scales. The next door neighbour has catmint growing for the addiction of her mad cat so I went begging for some of her “supply”. I actually made them 2 fish each in different colours but my sister managed to take photos of them both playing with the same fish. As you can see I made them big enough that all four paws can be engaged in play at the same time.

Not to be left out I also made a half dozen carp for the grown ups and made them into a mobile. As all this upset ended in them getting married I added a weighty heart at the bottom to symbolize their love and commitment.

Share

Shawls

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Mohair eyelashAutumn ShawlIn the recent newslatter from Lion brand yarns there were some free patterns for shawls. This one appealed to me as it was lacy and solid. I set about knitting it in different yarns to see if this made any difference to the outcome.

The one at the bottom is James C. Brett’s marble chunky in those lovely autumn colours. The yarn is 100% acrylic making it light, warm and machine washable for easy care.

The shawl in the top picture was done in Patons High Society which is a mohair/wool mix with a polyester eyelash thread wrapped around it. This shawl is a little heavier than the acrylic one and also very warm. The eyelash thread is quite sparkly and would make this a nice option for an evening event or a wedding.

Share

New Cloth Doll

Monday, August 17th, 2009
New Cloth Doll
New Cloth Doll

It started with a new product mail from Sarah’s Textile Crafts. She had packs of curly wool in different colours in pre cut lengths.

On looking at them I remembered that I had wanted to make some cloth dolls but had been wondering what I could use for the hair. Suddenly I thought that this might be the answer.

When the wool arrived I immediately thought of the tammy I had knitted some weeks previously which still hadn’t found someone to wear it. This then linked to a tartan skirt and a knitted jacket just seemed to finish the ensemble.

The doll is made in 100% cotton. The tartan is 100% genuine Scottish wool tartan and the tammy and jacket are knitted in 100% lambswool yarn from the New Lanark Mill.

Share