Buttons for the finish!

17.05.19 Last week...The pattern is Textures—A Poncho Pattern by Melanie Smith from Spin-Off Magazine, Winter 2017.  I finished knitting the project last month, blocked it, changed the ribbing at the sides by re-knitting them with a smaller needle, and then folded it and put it away.  Yesterday I looked through my button stash and found a tube of wooden buttons I purchased when Depth of Field, a yarn shop, was closing.  Also in that issue of Spin-Off is  I wrote an article (pages 90-91) about a group weaving project out of Anoka Fiber Works.

The handspun project yarn has been in my stash for some time and there was a ball of roving ready to spin when I was reorganizing my fiber room.  It is nice to use up a large amount of handspun yarn in a project.  The roving colorway name Dark Side of the Moon, Coopworth wool/silk noil blend, from Hidden Valley Woollen Mill.

 

I like the look of the rustic sliced wood buttons.

Sheep in the woods vest

Yesterday was a good day to sew.  I finally decided to cut into the twill fabric and make a vest.  I'd found a pattern on eBay that I'd used in the early '90s.  I still have the bolero I made and thought the pattern was still filed away.  It was a good find and one that will be used over and over.  Rather than cutting out the pieces, I bought some pattern yardage (lightweight interfacing) and drafted the two pieces from view 2 in the S/M size.  Plan A was to add a seam allowance on the back pieces, but I didn't like the thought of seaming the fabric.  I visited my closet of good intentions (thank you, putzycrafter, for that saying) and shopped my small linen stash.  I had lightweight brown (intended for a summer dress) and neutral (intended for another summer dress), but figured I could do better.  Off to Joann, ETC.  Sigh, I found the linen and didn't like the linen/rayon blends.  After a bit more searching, I thought denim or corduroy would be good options.  Most denim now has spandex and the corduroy was too light or too stiff.  Back to the linen section, and since it was on sale, a yard of natural color was the choice.

There be sheep in the woods!

 Home again, I washed the linen and hung it to dry in the basement.  In the meantime, itching to get to work, I went back to the closet of good intentions and pulled out a yard of printed linen purchased some years ago at Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul.  Treadle is a small shop that carries lovely fabrics, patterns, buttons (oh, the buttons!), so much more, and a knowledgeable staff.  Suffice it to say, it's worth the drive from here!  Anyway, when the twill met the printed linen it was a match made in heaven.  Taking the time to think about it and then consulting Mary I knew I had to go ahead and begin the project.

Cutting into the fabric was not easy.  Handweaving gives one a particular appreciation for fabric and because the twill has a diagonal design, I took my time placing lining up the second piece after cutting the first piece since I cut them out one at a time.  Speaking of cutting out the first piece...after pinning the pattern to the fabric I took a deep breath and made the first cut on the side, put down the scissors, took a deep breath, snapped a photo, and then proceeded to finish cutting.  Before sewing, the machine needed a new needle and threading was a bit of a challenge with dark thread and a bit more farsightedness.  Stay-stitching around the handwoven pieces with straight stitches stabilizes the fabric.  Dampening and ironing the prewashed linen smooths out any large wrinkles.  

Cut, breathe, cut, breathe...

The construction of the vest is quite simple--sew shoulder seams on right side pieces and lining, sew lining to the outside pieces leaving the side seams open, clip curves, turn inside out and press.  (Between each step I steam press, keeping the seams tidy.)  The reveal was exciting with only two more seams to sew.  The right sides of the back and front pieces got machine-stitched and then the lining seam allowances are whip-stitched by hand after pressing.  Whoa, I was so excited after giving the finished vest a good pressing and trying it on.  Now I'm excited to plan my next yardage using Harrisville Shetland for the warp and weft in a broken twill for an allover surface design.  

Finished!

I love the curve detail at the center back.

It's worth mentioning that the vest fits better on me than on the dress form.  I am so happy and cannot wait to weave more yardage for sewing projects!

Twill continued...

The wool twill is off the loom as of yesterday afternoon.  There were a couple of warp thread issues toward the end and I couldn't squeeze in those last couple of inches, but pulling it off the loom was a wonder!  This was a very rewarding experience and to have my first fabric turn out as I envisioned is nothing short of amazing!  It's been a journey of discovery to learn a new skill and take my love of making garments to another level of creativity.  Working with like-minded artisans is a gift.  We inspire, encourage, and support each other in the process of creating.  Slowing down and not rushing the process, and thinking about the materials we use and where they are sourced is part how we approach our work.

Fabric comes off the loom quickly!

Linda gave me some assistance.  I was so happy to see the straight edges and the amount of fabric coming off the loom!

I made this!

The next step is to zigzag the ends with the sewing machine, wash, and then brush the fabric.  I'm searching through my patterns to get some inspiration for a sewing project.  

FO Friday

Friday, January 30, I finished the Benon Headband today.  I love how it turned out.  Thank you, Hazel T.

Spaghetti

I finished the Spaghetti Scrap Scarf over the weekend.  It was a fun project with a little challenge to finish.  I tried a few ways of  connecting the I-cords in spots, but settled on the simple route--to secure the cords with felt rectangles and finish off the ends with felt.  I had visions of contrasting color thread, but when I opened the sewing machine and saw the black thread, it was a better choice.  I like the way this came out and want to do another one.  Each one of the cords is approximately 50-inches long.  I used worsted weight yarns and cast on six stitches for each cord.  The cords are not bad to deal with.  I thought they would be more like octopus arms and going all over the place, but the little scarf looks quite nice.  The next one will have longer cords.

Working three cords at once--I have plenty of double-point needles!

My first idea...

The second idea...

The final result

Surprisingly the octopus arms stay put!

I see variations on a theme in the future.

Hearts

I have the Valentine's Mitts finished and now that they are blocked the result is perfect.  The Marion Foale 3-Ply yarn has a nice hand and the color selection is wonderful.  The mitts are pinkish brown called Donkey, which I think is funny.  The color reminds me of the faded tissue from an antique valentine.  The mitts were easy to make, as the design was just knits, purls, and repeating the chart four times.  The thumb gusset has two plain rows between the increase rows.  They have a good fit--snug to the hand and thumb without being too tight.  This will be a class in January and February 2014.

I got a new pair of Sock Monkey pajamas this year.  Sock Monkeys playing with yarn and knitting.  How fun is that?

Speaking of all things woolly...Jim took me out for Black Sheep pizza in St. Paul on Friday afternoon.  The pies are coal fired and really good.  The crust is thin and crunchy.  Mine was the meatball, ricotta, and garlic.  I had to purchase a t-shirt, of course, and the waiter put the shirt in a small pizza box.  I love the doodled sheep logo.

Hot pizza pie on a cold day--yum!

Seeing double!

The current WIP is a double-knit hot pad.  The pattern called for cotton, but I have lots of Ella Rae wool in lovely colors.  Double knitting is knitting two sides at the same time.  My scarf was the first project worked in the technique.  The project is not large, however, when working double knitting it is good to remember that one is working two projects.  The talented designer of the pattern is Wendy from Running Jack Knits.

This photo shows the right side of the knitting (looking at the chart rows are knitted left to right).  Forty cast-on stitches are doubled to 80.  Each stitch on the chart is read as two stitches--knit on one side and purl on the other side.  I hold my yarns as I do for stranded/Fair Isle knitting, continental (pick) in my left hand and English (throw) in my right hand.  Yarns can be held in one hand, also.  Either way the yarn is held the knitter must be mindful of not twisting the yarns (except on the first stitch of each row).  

Shown is the opposite side.  The chart is read from right to left.  Once the pattern begins to show, reading the chart becomes easier.  

Looking closely at the fabric, the purl stitches show in between the knit stitches.

I have a class coming up very soon November 18 and 25, using this pattern.  I hope you will give double knitting a try.  This would be a nice hostess gift for the holidays.  Perhaps design a different motif...happy knitting!

Project Ariana

This is the latest sweater sample for the shop.  I bought the pattern from the Ewetopia booth at Shepherd's Harvest this year and it is a lovely top (Ariana Shell).  I want it to fit like a vest, so I'm working on the 38".  I have to block the lace and I want to see how long it is before picking up the stitches for the body.  I substituted Rowan Felted Tweed DK for the original yarn.  The lace was a breeze to knit even though the instructions are written, normally I prefer charts.

The lace yoke is a 16-row lace pattern.

Rowan Felted Tweed DK in charcoal is the perfect yarn choice for the project.