Sunday, August 28, 2016

Knitwear catch up

A jumper for my daughter.  
This jumper crops up on Pinterest from time to time, sometimes a jumper sometimes a jacket.  I thought it the most beautiful lace I'd seen in a long time and had to try it.
The pattern comes in one size (small) so I did some adjustments to get extra width.
We decided to go with the scoop hemline and I knitted to the armhole of the back and the bottom of the scoop came to just below daughter's waist which would mean the front, which was straight across would be somewhat higher, so back to drawing board.  Finished the back at the end of LAST winter, took one look at it and threw it aside carefully placed it back in the knitting bag.  I thought the shape was completely unworkable.  A trip to stay with daughter prompted me to take another look,  I knitted front and sleeves on  the knitting machine, did some stitching and pinning and tried it on her.  We both decided it looked pretty good but would be better with a longer scooped front hem to match the back.  Back home to the machine and now it is smashing.  
If you want to play this is where I printed the pattern from:
http://liuxiaoben1.blog.163.com/blog/static/5752898220139299424961/

And this is what I knitted from the replaced front, all except the hem and sleeves.
Another pattern from the internet, Little Miss Myra's Sweater, designed by Lara Simonson of Knot Enuf Knitting.  The pattern comes in sizes 3 months to 10 years.  This is knitted in size 4 years but about 2 inches longer in length.

You may recall this blanket from last year called Kea which I gave my grandson at Christmas time.  
In one stripe there were 10 threads of velour and with use through this winter they have riggled out to huge loops.
I've brought it home and replaced them with wool.  I tied a weavers knot and in stages of about 50 cm pulled the new threads through.  Its looking pretty good now.
The colours were very attractive and I'm reluctant to throw them out.
This has happened to me before using velour, even in crochet; it riggles and moves.  I don't know how other folks weave successful velour scarves etc.  Maybe the sett has to be a lot closer than normal.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

Anawhata blankets Series #5

Anawhata Beach (photo from Trip Advisor)
Peaceful Anawhata Beach is located on Auckland's west coast, quiet because its less accessible with a 2 kilometre walk from the car park to the beach.  (Easy going down, not so much fun coming up again.)
This beach has a soft spot in my heart because 43 years ago my husband proposed to me there.

Warp threads dyed while chained.

Balls of fluffy mohair become skeins

and after the dye pot, three different greens.


Available at Pauanesia Store.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Masala Ruana

I thought I'd reduce some of my stash by weaving yardage and create product for an event happening March next year.  This 4.6metre warp used 10 different yarns;  there is wool, mohair, ribbon, a gold lurex ribbon which looks elegant and a mohair that had fringed glitter in it.  This wove into the cloth and wasn't too in your face but after fulling the glitter popped up and looked like a Christmas tree so
over morning coffee, or two, I picked as many bits of glitter out as I could.  No way could I get them all but it now looks pretty good.
We used to call this garment a ruana but think it might now fall into the cape category.