Just one sleep until the official kick-off of the week-long craftalong for the charity of your choice.
Share progress, project ideas, pics, thoughts, causes and more on the ravelry forum, and hang out with these lovely folks:
Sep30
Monthly Archives: September 2010
Sep21
The Yarn Garden
The Yarn Garden: 30 Knits Using Plant-Based Fibers by J. Marsha Michler features swatches (love!) and descriptions of the composition, construction and properties of a wide range of plant-based fibres (hemp, linen, bamboo, cotton, nettle, tencel, soy, rayon, modal, seacell and banana silk), along with 30 patterns for garments and accessories using these yarns.
Although not all of the designs are to my taste (the sadly unflattering cover sweater a case in point), there are certainly gems–such as the linen skirt and crocheted hemp belt pictured above, an amazing soy fair isle sweater, and several cute vests and cardigans.
Whether you’d like to knit with plant-based fibres for ethical, non-allergenic, environmental or simply seasonal reasons, I’d recommend checking out this unassuming little book. Enjoy!
Sep16
On the bandwagon.
I never really thought I’d become a shawl person (How do you wear them? Are they too fancy for everyday?), but I’ve slowly been convinced by the scores of cute bandito-style kerchiefs that have popped up in the last few years. I bookmarked (scroll down to ‘related bookmarks’ on the right sidebar) several cute Andrea’s Shawls on ravelry, but fell head over heels with one in particular: Brie’s Crayola.
I cast on for my own using Lincraft Surprise yarn and Bendigo Woollen Mills cotton 8 ply in aqua/turquoise. The edging pattern is simple and addictive, and so far the self-striping colour changes are keeping me entertained. I may become a shawl knitter yet!
Sep14
Finished: blue spring cardi!
Pattern: Improvised.
Construction: Bottom-up seamless sweater with set-in sleeves.
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease; 50% cotton/ 50% acrylic worsted-weight. Most of the yarn used was reclaimed from my Ravelympics sweater. I used 5 and a bit skeins.
Lessons learnt: I finally learnt how to do the Continental purl properly. I was using some unnecessarily convoluted technique by adapting two different techniques, and it was really affecting my flat-knitting gauge compared to my in-the-round gauge. I eventually found a you tube video of the Continental purl stitch and practised until it clicked. Much quicker and simpler, and more like my regular tension. Very happy with this discovery.
This is the second sweater I’ve knit using the simultaneous set-in sleeve technique, and I’ve learnt a lot each time. I would eventually like to write a sweater pattern (my first!) using this technique. It’s a really effective and intuitive way to build a sweater, once you wrap your head around the different steps, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of explaining it in an accessible way.
I’m not too sure about what kind of design features I’d like to use, so if you have any suggestions I’d love to hear them! I’d be looking to make a seamless, bottom-up cardigan but other than that it’s a blank slate so far. Maybe some cables? Or more lace? What’s your favourite kind of sweater to knit?
Sep12
Three weeks to go!
It’s a little under three weeks until Compassionate Craft Week (1st – 8th October 2010). Are you planning on joining in? I’ve been trying to find the perfect project/s to occupy my needles or hooks throughout the week, but there are so many great patterns out there to choose from!
I know I want to donate to one of Mission Australia‘s services (which is where I work, so I’m biased) providing emergency relief to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. With that goal in mind, I’m thinking clothes, accessories, a blanket or toys could all be of use.
Check out the ravelry group for more project & charity ideas.
If you use Google calendar, you can make a note of the event here:
Sep1
Cupcake Day!
My contributions to our workplace Cupcake Day for the RSPCA: gingerbread cupcakes with creamy lemon icing, which were the breakaway star of this affair; just amazing. And red velvet cupcakes with dark chocolate ganache, which were popular but not to my taste (I had never tried red velvet cake before, and now I know I’m not the world’s biggest fan). Both recipes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.
Non-vegan vanilla cupcakes with chantilly cream and Smarties made by my co-conspirator and fellow vegetarian in the office (plus gorgeous fresh strawberries, bananas, apples and oranges). See the cutout kitty and puppy decorations?
Sexy Low-Fat Vanilla Raspberry Cupcakes made by the aforementioned coworker, using the recipe from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World (damn fine book, that). And fresh kiwi fruit, yum!
Thanks to everyone who helped make it a delicious and super-fun occasion, we also managed to raise over $100 for RSPCA WA. Win!
