knitwise

De-stashing...

Most knitters  seem to suffer from the same compulsive disease  :  "yarn gathering".   I have seen some impressive displays on some blogs which left me speechless!  My stash is not that big, if I make comparisons,  feeling two large boxes  but it has started to bug me...  I took a long look at all this wool which was bought originally (I am sure...) with a project in mind and thought it was time I did something about it.  The decision was made to clear as much as possible before buying anymore!

There are two ways about it:  make something with it (after all I liked the yarn when I bought it) or get rid of it by selling or swapping.  My "Victoria" bag was the result of the first solution and it used about half of my Phildar Sport'Laine stock. Not bad for a first go at de-stashing.  Encouraged by this,  I kept on looking and thinking,  and ideas are finally coming from all directions...

There are cushions I want to make and different techniques I want to try, such as felting and embroidery.   More bags (I know,  I am going through a phase...) to keep for myself or give away as presents.  Maybe soft toys (I have got a book on knitted dolls which might come useful...) or blankets....   Inspiration is everywhere !!!

I took a dive into my stash, and I think I am going to have fun! 

Thank you!

Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my last post !  Some of you asked me if I would share the pattern of the bag, which has now been named "Victoria", and I am delighted to oblige.  The problem is : I am a bit retarded in the technical world and I don't seem to be able to make a link in my sidebar to the pattern... So for those of you interested, just give me a shout and I will e-mail it to you.  If someone, on the other hand can explain to me the best way to put the link to the document in my sidebar, I would be grateful.

The children will be on holiday next week, which means that if I want something done it will have to be THIS week !  I will try to finish the bag for my swap. I had a few problems with this one and I have decided to start all over again as I was not 100% satisfied with the way it was going.  On the other end, I thought I was doing well with my Icelandic shawl as I was reaching the 300 sts mark which should be the beginning of the border... until I realised that I am not even near the stated measurement! The wool I am using must be finer,  so it means I will probably end up with a million stitches on my needles before I can think Border... Sigh!

PS: I have managed to put a link on the right so help yourselves! It is primitive in Microsoft Word with no picture, I know... but it is the best I can do for the moment...

Knitted bag...

I have decided at the end that my knitted bag is maybe too "wintery"  for the swap (everyone else seems to be making spring/summer bags),  so the sewn one will be making the trip to my bag-pal after all and you will have to wait mid-June to see it...

So without further delay,  I am showing you the result of my recent labours.  I had some Phildar Sport'Laine in my stash, originally destined for a cardigan that turned nasty on me.  The idea to use some of it to make a bag came to me one evening and after a few days of thinking,  drawing and swatching, I finally acted. I stitched the sides and bottoms seams on the outside to give it its "boxy" look.  Jaeger Siena 4ply was used for the picot edge .  The ribbon is sewn on the wrong side of the lining and pulled through eyelets on the sides of the bag.  The beads had to be sewn labouriously one by one as they were too small to be knitted.

Click on the smaller pictures to see details of beads, closure and a glimpse of the lining fabric.  I apologize for the poor quality of the photography which is definitively not my department!

One year on...

One year ago this week,  I posted my first message on this blog...  and I haven't looked back since. 

I won't forget that it was Jacqueline who, all the way from Australia, gave me the "push" I needed to take the plunge.  She assured me I would have lots of fun, and she was right!  Thank you Jacqueline!

I had a lovely year in Blogland.  Thanks to all of you who take the time to read me regularly or from time to time.  I do appreciate all your comments and notes you post me.  I have made friends from all corners of the world and it never ceases to amaze me how generous and warm the craft-blogging community is.   Through your blogs I have found inspiration (tons of  it),  incredible talent,  help and support,  enthusiasm and motivation.  I also swapped yarns and books and took part in "get together" projects.

At the beginning,  this blog was essentially about knitting but it evolved to include sewing which I took up again after years of neglect.  Crafting fever is contagious...  and I don't think it's curable.

Thank you,  Merci,  Danke  for visiting!!!

Knitting and Sewing...

Thank you so much for all the Birthday messages, it warmed my heart!

I treated myself to the wonderful book Three Cornered and Long Shawls and, I must confess,  I have already started knitting one with an unpronounceable name.  We'll see how I am getting on before photos...

Yesterday, the postman brought me a parcel all the way from Singapore.  Two Japanese Craft books full of beautiful projects to make.  Thank you so much Erin!

The book on bags gave me exactly the shape of bag I was after for my swap.  I got my note book out and after a few sketches and a shopping trip,  I am now ready to start!  The knitted bag is finished and put away until the time comes to decide which one I will send or keep...

I told you May would be busy around here...

Green May

I  became in desperate need of a needle case as I waisted precious crafting time searching for the right needles at the bottom of my sewing box.  May Project Spectrum  was  my perfect excuse to do something about it!  These Pretty flower pins (thank you Caro!) can cheer me up all year round in their pot.

Tomorrow will be busy in our household as it is my birthday as well as the children's!  They were born prematurely and were the best birthday present I could ever wish for! Mind you,  for the last 11 years,  my own birthday celebrations had to be low key, drowned in a sea of fairy cakes,  jelly and ice cream.  But tomorrow we will all celebrate as grown-ups and have a special dinner at an old pub in a neighbouring village... but we'll come back home for the cakes!  (Chocolate for Christian,  Jam for Delphine, and... crumbs of both for me...)

Busy May...

May is one of my favourite months in the year.  Winter is truly behind us,  the sun is warmer, the birds are really noisy in the mornings and Summer is only round the corner...

I know since yesterday who my bag pal is for the Big Bag Swap (the one I will be making a bag for...).  But I don't know who will create a bag for me!  Somehow,  now that the cards are on the table,  I am getting nervous.  But I'll get over it,  I am sure.  The deadline is 31st June  so the pressure is not too bad.  I am onto the finishing details for the knitted bag (I am sticking to my original plan of making two bags and pick the best). I am very pleased so far with the way it is growing.  I have started from an idea in my head and improvise as I go along. I am not sure it is the right way to proceed when you create something,  but it is working... 

May Project Spectrum's colour is green and I already know what I'll be making.  Once again a fairly quick project which should be finished before the week is over.  May is going to be a very busy month!