Quilt finished!

I have finally finished (and given to the intended recipient) the quilt that I have been working on for 9.5 years. That's one major UFO off the list - hurrah!


I've started another ball of wool on the throw rug, just 3 to go now, no work has been done on the socks, however the sewing room is far more organised and tidy. One scroll has been finished and the next started. Still need a plan for the next knitting project too...

May? Already?

I hadn't realised how badly out of date this was... The vast amount of sewing got in the way.

So all 3 small frocks finished, 2 out of 3 dressing gowns finished, 1 large frock finished, an apron and a gollar also done.


Still on the sewing to do list - 1 dressing gown, 1 winter work skirt, 1 summer top, more frocks etc...

The socks have been moving along, as they are small and portable, up to turning the heel on the second sock. I don't really like the heel structure in this pattern and I think I'll go back to the old version for any new sock projects.

The cotton summer top didn't get finished for summer, the green throw rug has recently been dragged out again for warm knitting in front of the TV and a small amount has been added to the length of the purple scarf. Some of the ongoing projects must be finished before I start anything new - though I really would like to start another beret.

The making of stuff...

The small dressing gown is finished, 2 to go...
Two small frocks are up to the banding around the hem (though some handsewing to finish will be required).
At least 4 small and 2 large chemises need to be made - they will be on the to-do list for a bit.
Another small frock is cut out and needs to be finished.
And the large frock plans need to be sorted, as well as some shirts & trews.

One summer top for work is done, the knitting is progressing very slowly and some small portable projects need to be started so there is less excuse for sitting idle in front of the TV. There are so many things that are just plans in my head which need to end up on the needles or on the machine, not to mention the languishing unfinished bits & pieces.

So off to do some more...

A couple of berets later...

I did get distracted again. The Brambles Beret from Knitty Fall 2010 was just too cute to go by. A couple of balls of inherited stash later and hey presto! A cute beret for me. And another one on the needles in the leftover jacaranda Biggan yarn. It's nice to have a smaller, more portable project to lug about - and stash being used up instead of more purchased - even better!

The summer top is coming along. The front is finished and the armhole decreases on the back are done. Hopefully only a week or three more before it's done.

3 frocks cut out, 1 bodice and 1 skirt sewn - now both need handwork before stitching them together. Definitely need some gold brocade as contrast for the purple frock, the pink will have black velveteen - just need to find enough in the stash (there'll be enough in there somewhere). One dressing gown all done bar the hand sewing, another cut out.

In my procrastination about what I was going to make with the Desert Aran cotton, I failed to notice until last week that there is a lovely lace jumper in the Jo Sharp book using that yarn. I had it in my head that it used the lighter weight yarn, nooooo - but lo and behold - the answer to what to knit as a navy jumper!

So I have a stack of stuff to keep me going for a bit...

Round and round we go...

So the jeans were mended, the blah, blah secret plan finished and a new project started (and yes there are a whole bunch of wips that still need finishing... back onto the black cloud list for them...).

The new project is a top for me. In dark red cotton from stash, I'm hoping I have enough - it's a sleeveless top, I should just make it, though the back up plan is leaving out the ribbing around the armholes (though I might do this anyway and just crochet the edge) and using 1 strand for the ruffle (I'm working the top with 2 strands to get the feel & tension correct).

It's the Chaise top from Jo Sharp's Summer holiday book and I'm knitting it in the round to avoid seaming up to the armholes. There are only 2 disadvantages to that:
1. working the new thread in is a cow, especially as the cotton seems to have a number of knots in it
2. You start off with 228 stitches, and though it decreases a bit, it still takes quite a bit of time to make it around 1 round of stitches. I probably should have used the 80cm long circular needle rather than the 60cm one too.

It's coming along though, fingers crossed it gets finished in time for summer!

So knitting still to finish:
purple garter stitch scarf
green throw rug
cotton jumper
sew up mittens

Sewing still to finish:
Blue & white cotton top
Teal shirt
Quilt

Stuff not yet started:
another work skirt for me
SCA frocks

I'm sure that there is more on the list... I can't remember - I'll have to add it in later.

Spring knitting

Socks finished and given away - see photo for completed pair.

The book week costume was sorted on time, still need to make dancing skirts, did more of the blah blah secret plan knitting which is now way overdue. The rug has a few more rows completed and I think it's time to start on the next pair of socks. Really should get some mending done this week as well... Then need to get my head around SCA sewing.

And yet more sewing...

The small Ital ren is looking very cute, just need to finish the bodice(1 seam & bodice edge), cartridge pleat the skirt & hem.

The boy german outfit has a skirt which needs cartridge pleating and the top that needs sewing. But it's all cut out & ready to go, skirt is together even...

I have a new italian bodice pattern (thanks to Mz S) which I haven't moved much further on at this stage. The other bits are a higher priority at the moment. So will I get a new frock or am I going to run out of time?

The sewing plans...

All the sewing did get done in time, including a few extra bits. Now, of course, I have come home all inspired and want to do more. So in between housework & grocery shopping I catalogued the fabric stash. It definitely needs using! And that way I get more storage space (theoretically). So the current plan for the rest of April and early May is another small Ital ren frock in velveteen, with bits & bobs to match, one boy German slashed & puffed outfit and something for me (as yet undecided).

Then the knitting can take over again. Having said that, I did get one side front of the blah, blah secret knitting plan finished while waiting for the car to be fixed, and have finished one ball of wool in the purple garter stitch scarf. I have even done some work on one of my ancient cross stitch UFOs....

Still a stack of things on the to do list - though the mending is up to date now!

Progressing slowly

but need to speed up. The green Ital ren is mostly together, just need to cartridge pleat the skirt and attach it to the bodice, do the final handsewing on the bodice and hem it.

My German ren is as finished as it is going to get for now. Sleeves are for later...

Still need another small chemise cut & sewn, though that shouldn't take too long.

So not really any time for knitting lately...

Sewing update

One of the German Ren frocks has most of the dress decoration done - a bit of handsewing to go. Still need to sort out the sleeves though. Still haven't found where I was up to with the hat. Nothing done on other frock.
Green Ital Ren brocade not yet started... this is slightly worrying - maybe next weekend.
Chemise and other bits & pieces still not yet on agenda.
Not much knitting done either...
hmmm

Will finish at least the frock that is mostly decorated - arbitrary deadline next Sat night.

More sewing

The continuing sewing frenzy has seen the following completed:

a hemmed tablecloth
a new cushion cover (what - the cushion's only been in the sewing room for 22 months)
a dance gear bag

So, only 1 thing off the critical list...

Further sewing room organisation has happened - the noticeboard is on the wall and in use, a smallish plant pot was purchased (99c!) for all the scissors etc that get strewn across the table to hide neatly in, storage of sewing bits & pieces has progressed.

Small impulse fabric purchase today (remnants at IKEA, of all places) sparked the cushion cover. And there is enough left over to make either more cushion covers or something else...

Sewing and more sewing

Here's a piccie of the finished sundress:


And lots more sewing has been happening... There is now finished:
Italian Ren-based SCA frock out of red brocade (with small embellishment and pin-in-able sleeves)
chemise to go with frock
another sundress - polka dots
finishing a pair of SCA trews (that I found along the way, that I obviously didn't quite finish years ago)
some mending

Several new patterns have been cut out, one top for me is cut out ready to sew.

Have so many plans - SCA, home stuff, more clothes... now need time to make it happen.

The critical list is:
another SCA frock - Italian Ren - green brocade
finishing the last 2 frocks and the German Ren hat that got put away years ago. The main construction on the frocks is done - need to add the decoration. Need to figure out where the hat is up to.
a couple more chemises and caps
a pouch
a belt
Hemming a couple of table cloths
Finishing the top that is cut out
taking a pattern from my fave denim skirt that really is going to die soon and making a new one
finishing the quilt I started 8 years ago

On the knitting front, the back of the blah, blah secret plan is finished, have started on the front.

I have also done stage 1 of sewing room reorganisation (which means at least that the knitting needles are no longer in a pile on the floor). Stage 2 requires stash reduction or at least a more cunning plan for storage space use.

Leaf green socks

Here's a piccie:

Completed and given away!

The next knitting project has started - a blah blah secret plan at this point but travelling along nicely.

The sundress got finished and another frock started... a few more to come.

The next large knitting project got deicded upon - Classic Wavy Cable from Jo Sharp using some of the lovely desert aran cotton. Must finish the blah blah secret plan first.

More stash has been purchased. Ozeyarn were closing down and so everything was so very on special that it could not be resisted. Some cotton, sock wool and the Knit 3 & 4 Jo Sharp books...

Picking up where I left off...

So I didn't quite manage to sew up the mittens before stuffing the knitting back into the cupboard. I found them again when rediscovering where I was up to on a number of projects.

The green blankie: not happy with the pattern, frogged it back to the basketweave edge, continuing (slowly) in garter stitch when brain not capable of more complex projects.

The purple scarf: the only thing that remained on the go in the few brief moments or occasional evening's knitting in the last 4 months. Nearly finished one ball of wool, I like the subtle colour variation in this one.

The cotton charity jumper: sewed the shoulder seams in preparation for the pick-up around the neck. Need to have brain in gear for that one.

Mittens (various): need sewing up or finishing off in some way...

On the sewing front - finally finished the gold neck trim for the scarlet silk SCA tunic and made a sundress (just need to figure out a neck closure, currently leaning towards hook and eye or fake buttons & hem).

There are plenty of sewing plans afoot, but the next big knitting project hasn't leapt out at me yet.

A sundress or two

Well one is done and the next is ready to be cut out. The blue square cut neckline one is OK, but could have been better finished (my kingdom for an overlocker!). Even managed buttonholes that don't look toooooo manky. Actually I think the next time I make that particular dress I will just line the whole bodice, it seems a darn sight easier than fiddling about with facings - would make the skirt attachment neater as well. Oh and not use a slippery self-crinkled poly-cotton as the material - that would help a lot too!

The next dress is a sweet 6-panel A-line with short sleeves - to be made up in a white (100%) cotton with teeny coloured polka-dot print. The only fiddly bit will be the zipper - but thankfully I seem to be getting the hang of those... The one after that is the crossover top pattern that has already produced one nice sundress - I just need to scale it up.

The tealy/beige print material is going to be made into some sort of floaty summer top for me and there's bags to make with cute off-cuts, another tiered skirt etc etc...

It's just been too hot for knitting - finished sleeve 1, cast on sleeve 2 of little cotton jumper, and it's going to languish til the heat comes down.

I am also in the in-depth tidying mode - the one where everything gets sorted into it's proper place or gets chucked. The storage closet is almost done, the big job is then the sewing room - hopefully I will have the energy to keep going!

Pair'o'socks and sunbeams

I have managed the other sock & the pair are now done - hoorah! Knitting with such weeny needles in the round does hurt my fingers after a while, so any socks in future are going to be on bigger needles. I have bought some yummy fuzzy Caressa in the same colours as the PJ's I made for myself - they will be the next socks when I find a suitable pattern.

The basketweave scarf is also complete! And I've finished all of the knitting for the lacy cardigan. Need to sew it all together now.

Also complete is the 3rd pinwale cord skirt and the niece's flanny cot sheets. Most of the mending is up to date as well - including hemming of work pants & jeans...

The two pink scarves are coming along, no work's been done on the green blankie. I spent some time this morning planning the next lot of knitting in a very sketchy sort of way. I need to have a closer look at what I should do next in the garment arena.

Pyjamas and stuff

I have made 2 kiddie size flanny PJ pants in cute pink prints - they are already in use! Have cut out PJ pants for me using an actual pattern (as opposed to making it up as I went along based on last year's purchased variety - which is what I did for the kiddie sizes).

One 3 teir ruffled pinwale cord skirt has been constructed, with 2 more cut out & ready to be sewn. One pinafore has also been cut out, though I'm a bit worried it might be too small so I'm waiting to see the results before I get too enthusiastic about cutting more out. I may have to enlarge the pattern.

I managed to wrap my head around the requisite maths in order to start the front of the cushion cover - even graphed it out (which is a bit more technical than I usually get). The other knitting is plodding along... though there is decreasing both sides of the front of the lacy wrap from armholes up with different intervals between the rows of decreasing. I need to write it down and get it straight in my head before I start on that or it will end up in a mess.

More plans having been running about in my head, but haven't formulated anything specific yet.

Should have mentioned...

That the stripey scarf finally got fringed just before Xmas, Dec 23 I think. So that qualifies for a sunbeam :)



Also made the stripey library bag for school - hoorah! Turned out quite nicely I must say... even if the straps are waaay too long.

Photos to follow at some point...

Still on the 'must get done before school goes back' list - a paint apron. In purple gingham, probably with white bias binding. Wish me luck.

A sleeve, then collar

A quick update:
Blue mandorla - I finished off the first sleeve last night and cast on the second. Once that's done, need to work out exactly how I'm going to manage the collar...
Stripey scarf - it's getting longer, quite like the pattern & stripe combo...
White cardi - fits the recipient who then managed to get green texta on it - washable green texta at least. It worked very well with her pink dress over white leggings combo - very cute.

Have been doing a bit of sewing - a ballet slipper bag and a frock for miss, taking up trousers so I can actually wear them, plans for a few new bits & bobs...