Knitted Suit

Feeling the urge to machine knit I decided to make a very plain winter suit just to keep me warm! I used Jacob sheeps wool in two of the shades, dark grey for the long straight skirt and the mid grey for the sweater.

Again I used Wild Stitches for the sweater pattern.  The neckband is done in my usual way in the style of Nina Miklin's instructions.

Yes, it does keep me warm.

Jade green sweater

Here's a sweater I finished recently knitted in Pingouin Melody yarn which I've had for a long long time.  I don't even know whether the French Pingouin yarns exist nowadays.  I suppose I should find out just for interest as for a decade I had a Pingouin franchise knitting shop.

I drafted the pattern using Wild Stitches knitting software.  This is made by Wildginger who also supply Pattern Master Boutique which I use for sewing patterns.

Moebius Scarves

I'm told we've had the coldest winter in over 30 years here in UK so it comes as no surprise to me that I seem to have worn my Moebius crochet scarves a lot.

I crocheted two of these in  white kid mohair which is so fine, light, soft and warm.  I went on to dye them in a slow cooker using Lanaset acid dyes, one turquoise and the other purple.

They are quick and easy to make and here are the instructions I used.

http://home.comcast.net/~gandal195/MoebiusShawlPattern.htm

Decapo Jacket

I bought the knitting kit for Hanne Falkeberg's Decapo jacket.  Here's a picture of it from Hanne's website, www.knit.dk mine looks exactly like this and this is a better picture than I could ever take!  It is knitted in one piece with not much sewing up to do.  The edges are knitted as you go too and this makes for an excellent finish.  It is knitted in garter stitch, every row knit, so some people may find it boring, but I read as I knit it so any boredom factor didn't bother me and in any case I just wanted the end result.

Silk Box

Just over a year ago I treated myself to a Pfaff Creative 2.0.  I really like it.  I have a Janome 9000 which I do like very much, and also a Janome 300e embroidery only machine.  The Pfaff lets me do a much larger design than the 300e and I like the IDT (integrated dual feed) too.  I made this box almost as soon as I had the Pfaff just to sew a design.  I stitched onto some silk, possibly I should have used two layers of the stabiliser.  

I have visions of having all three machines embroidering at once and me running back and forth changing thread colours.... just imagine all the beeps coming from the machines saying I'm next change my thread!

I cut the box shapes out of greyboard. I bought the box templates some time ago from a patchwork show so I always draw round the templates rather than use them! There is a lot of glueing to do, the box is lined with a magenta coloured fabric, but I forgot to take a picture before I gave the box to my daughter for her necklaces.

Cynthia

Embellisher scarf

I've had a Janome Embellishing machine for quite a while.  I should use it more often. Here's a scarf I made.   I couldn't get real chiffon so I used some synthetic organza.  

I punched wool fibres, including some synthetic trilobal fibres which supply a bit of glitz.   I like glitz!   You punch into both sides of the organza and so the embellisher automatically puckers up the organza as you go.  Easy!   I added some beads to the felted part at either end.  The edges were done on my Janome overlock machine using the rolled hem settings.  I used machine embroidery threads on the serger in different colours. They add a nice touch and finish the edges nicely.

Cynthia

Skirt Neue Mode 23434

I made this skirt in a fabric which resembles wool crepe but it isn't wool!  However it drapes nicely for the style of the pattern.  I lined it too.  No problems at all with the pattern though I had to be careful with the bias shaped seams.  I bought the pattern from www.sewingpatterns.com as a download pattern.

Then I  found I had some yarn which was the same colour as the skirt so I found a pattern at www.garnstudio.com and made up the sweater which will be worn over a tank top.

Garnstudio is a great site for knitting patterns.  The patterns are free and you can order the yarn if you want to use the same yarn.

Cynthia

Blog - meaning to continue!

I stopped filling in my blog of the projects I made last year but I think I really do want to get going again.  I have a problem with the pictures which I always think I need to improve upon, so I'll try and do that.  I've several projects to detail so I'll begin shortly though they won't be in  order of making.

I recently, well before Christmas, started learning to do beadmaking and am thoroughly enjoying it so I have some beading projects to show as well as knitting and sewing and patchwork.