Category: Crafts

Craft projects of mine

  • Cranford Mitts

    Cranford MittsCranford Mitts
    I saw Lyn’s Cranford Mitts last week and realised they were the perfect project to use up the Noro left over from my ribbed socks. The pattern is available for free (but just watch out because there’s a missing YO on row 8). I cast on last week and had most of the first mitt knitted on Saturday, but when I tried it on I could barely get it over my hand! My tiny hands! My legendary tight tension strikes again. (And that’s with going up to a 2.75mm needle.) So I frogged it all back and started over with 60 stitches instead of 50, which meant I had a whole extra pattern repeat. That works much better for me. I lengthened the pattern a fair bit, adding in extra repeats before and after the thumb. I finished the pair of them in just five days. When I tried them on last night, I noticed that the opening around my knuckles gaped a bit so I had the bright idea to sew the sides together between my 3rd and 4th fingers. That made them fit much closer to my hand and feel a lot warmer. (Well, as warm as lacy fingerless mitts can feel!) I think they look pretty cool though, and they match my Clapotis. Yay for crafty accessories! (Ravelry details are here.)

  • Brycie’s Outfit and Noro Ribbed Socks

    Brycie’s Outfit and Noro Ribbed Socks
    Brycie's OutfitA couple finished objects to report! First up is an outfit for Andrew and Kathleen‘s new son, Bryson Burton. The whole set is knitted from two balls of the new Morris Empire 4ply in “Plumage”. Details for the vest, hat, and socks are all up on Ravelry. The vest was the trickiest, in that I was adapting a Sirdar pattern for 8ply. I ended up just knitting a bigger size and hoping for the best. It worked pretty well! I delivered the set (still a bit damp from the final blocking) to the happy parents on Sunday, and hopefully they’ll be able to post a piccie of him in it soon.

    Ribbed Noro SocksI also finished the Noro socks I started when I taught the Morris and Sons sock workshop last month. The pattern is Wise Hilda’s Basic Ribbed Sock, which I knitted out of Noro Kureyon Sock on two 2.75mm circular needles. (Rav details) I’m really pleased that I got the colour gradients to match up so nicely. (I wasn’t actually really trying.) I finished these off yesterday morning before work and put them straight on my feet. Man, there is nothing better than wool socks in winter. I feel my sock mojo starting to come back…

  • Rusted Root

    Rusted RootRusted Root
    I should officially move this one into the FO pile! I started Rusted Root in March as a palate-cleanser during the rush to finish Na Craga. I tweaked the pattern a fair bit based on mods I saw on Ravelry (using tubular cast-on for the neckline, adding a few rows in the sleeves, putting in hip shaping, etc). I was unhappy with the waist though, and at knitting camp last weekend I decided to frog it back and try something different. The girls suggested a simple roll edging (rather than a rib). I think it really works! It makes the whole thing just a little more casual, which is appropriate given that it’s really just a cotton t-shirt. I’m still not sure it’s the most flattering style for a large-busted gal, but since when has that stopped me before? I used 3.5mm needles for the ribs and 4.0mm for the body. The yarn is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Buttercream, and I only used 4 skeins! More details over on Ravelry.

  • Knitters Guild News

    We had another very successful meeting at Customs House today. There were 30 knitters in attendance, and 3 of the newbies joined on the spot. Our growth is phenomenal, and I think it’s only going to increase over the winter. We’ll be getting some promotion in the winter newsletter for the City of Sydney Libraries because we’re going to be helping them with some “Learn to Knit” events in July. The only downside to our popularity is that I think we’ll be looking for a new venue sooner rather than later!

    Our new format for the meetings seems to be working out well. Everybody is very attentive for the business portion, and I’ve been managing to get through it all in 15-20 minutes. The real test will be next month, when we try our first workshop in the new space. (We’re doing “Welcome to the Knitternet” to introduce some of the less computer savvy members to the wealth of online knitting information.) As usual, I spent most of the meeting concentrating on keeping everything running smoothly, so it’s not quite as much fun as it used to be. That said, I guess having an organised person running the show means everybody else can relax a bit more. Everybody seems really appreciative of the work me, Rosemary, and Geraldine are putting into it. So the meetings are still rewarding, even if I don’t get much knitting done!

  • Tie Top Tank

    Another adorable free sewing pattern for spring: Tie Top Tank. Saved!

  • Demystifying Double Crochet

    Demystifying double crochet for beginners. Great tutorial with super clear photos. Knowing where to put that last stitch is always the problem I have with crochet. This helps a lot.

  • Free Sundress Pattern

    Free Sundress Pattern to sew. That looks great! Very pretty and simple to make. I’m going to download and save it for spring.

  • Woodgrain Socks

    Woodgrain Socks. I wonder if you could knit those.

  • Stuffed Bunny Pattern

    Stuffed Bunny Pattern. Oh, that is too cute. Another one to make for Indie!

  • Easter Show Photos

    Mary-Helen has posted her Easter Show recap, including loads of photos. Here’s Na Craga again, and here’s my Widdershins-clad leg. And oh look! There’s the Snook. She also got a few of the amazing cake decorating, which my sister will like.