Knitted Jacket

I just started on this pattern from a pattern book called Linea Pura No2. by Lana Grossa.

I'm knitting my jacket from a nice cheerful teal green that I brought ages ago. Its an 8ply from Panda called 'Woolbale' that I'm not sure if they still make in that colour. The pattern uses cotton, but I had 10 balls of wool, so I thought I'd use that. Hopefully that will be enough! I scaled the pattern down too as it didn't have a small size, so hopefully that will also mean I use less wool and have just enough. Otherwise I'll probably end up with slightly shorter sleeves or narrower sleeves (as they are a loose fit).

Its a very simple pattern that gets its interest from the detailing at the collar and sleeves. The texture comes from using two pieces of wool held together on large size needles in contrast to the single thickness, small needle, main body of the jacket.

I'm already planning on how I'm going to wear this jacket. Obviously living in a tropical country will curtail its use outdoors somewhat, but i think with a singlet underneath it might be okay in air-conditioning!

Adventures With Grey & Vintage Patterns

Two tones of grey

Overall Structure of Cardigan/Shawl

The 'Sleeves' which button together with self-buttons

Over Christmas I had time to make a convertible cardigan/shawl that I've been planning for a while. It turned out quite interesting and the structure provides endless variation on how to wear it. But I find the fit a bit loose as a cardigan, it seems to work better as a shawl. I think it may have worked better in a stiffer cotton than the really soft one I used. I used two shades of grey, a light one for the body and a darker one for the trim. It was really difficult to find two shades of grey that matched tonally as well as being the same type of grey. It sounds kinda obsessive, but I like to ensure that I match warm greys with warm greys and keep them separate from cool greys. Its like blacks, green based blacks, purple based blacks and red based blacks should never be worn together. I also like to match intensity of colour together, but thats another story.

Vintage Hairpin Lace instructions

My efforts at making my first piece of Hairpin Lace

I was also fortunate to be given a whole bag of vintage crochet patterns by a family friend when I was back home. It represented a whole spectre of crafting goodness dating from the 1960s to the 1990s. So I sorted through the patterns and tips and came across instructions for making hairpin lace. This is something that I had always wanted to try but didnt quite know where to start. It looked easy enough according to the diagrams so I went out in search of the hairpin tool to make it. Which I managed to find. Then I sat down to try and realised the instructions didn't make sense as vintage ones are prone to do. I realised there were a lot of assumptions and assumed knowledge that the pattern writer was relying on. So I looked at the photos and just played around with the tool and my crochet hook and thread, testing things out. And for once, this serendipitous method worked. It actually turned out pretty decent after just half an hour at it. So I promptly made a 40cm long strip of lace and pinned it to my dress and wore it to work the next day. Hurrah for vintage patterns! (if not the instructions, at least the inspiration!) In the bag of treasures were also some adorable baby clothes, cute 1960's cardigans and tops and a very wearable crocheted winter jumper. All these will have their time soon...

1960s in technicolour...

The crochet jumper I'm thinking of making... probably in blue...

I'm definitely making this top from some light cotton...

Inspired by the post I made recently about the tshirt dress, I've got my own plans for some tshirt deconstruction. I've two grey tshirts (dark charcoal grey this time) that will be transformed into something (probably a dress). I was very inspired by the lines of this dress over at Burda style. I really like the top part of it with the 'V' neck and the fit.

Hurrah for grey! Hurrah for gray too! The colour of stormy skies, unsettled seas, peaceful doves and soft lovely wool. Hurrah in general for making stuff.

Magpies

Adult Magpie aka 'Mum'

Almost Adult Magpie aka 'Big Brother'

Juvenile Magpie aka 'Little Sister'

Juvenile Magpie aka 'Little Brother'

Big Brother again

A flock of magpies visits my parents house regularly to sing. The are very intelligent and curious birds and obviously very clever. They keep my parent's garden bug population down and keep other more destructive birds & mammals out of the garden.

Table Decorations

The finished table

Potato vine in pickling Jars

Iris Leaves in Jam jars

Its a tradition we have here in this particular house in the land down under the land down under, that I do the Christmas table. This can involved anything from flowers, to interesting balancing acts of pinecones or glass balls to a still life or installation art. This year I went all christmassy and put lots of sparkles and shiny things in red, white and green with lots of gold and silver. The white flowers are potato vine and the wide green leaves are iris leaves. All else is discovered/rescued from the back of cupboards, including the pickling and jam jars which provide an interesting contrast to the leaded crystal glasses and inherited silverware. Humble can be beautiful too.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Alexander the Christmas Beetle & I would like to wish everyone a very blessed & lovely Christmas filled with the peace, love & joy that comes from knowing the little one in the manger as saviour. May the year ahead be abundant with all good things and lots of making stuff.

Other Things I've been up to...

I'm on holiday in Australia for a few weeks seeing family and friends (but the making continues, albeit sporadically)

In a little shop in Daylesford called 'Purls Palace' I found these silk bundles from Morocco for just a few dollars. The grey one I'm planning on combining with some cotton for a bag or cardigan, while the cream ones I'm going to use to experiment with natural dyes. Purls Palace is a gem of a store with lots of interesting craft supplies, finished crafts and a selection of good books. I was planning on visiting a few places in Melbourne while we were there, but run out of time.

The Mr. and I recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and he brought me 5 presents, one for each year. One of them was this lovely box of bird stamps which I have been happily stamping on lots of things. The chaffinch and this cage above are my favourites.


We were in Melbourne for a few days and I did a little shopping. I'm still trying the no shopping thing, but discount designer dresses are too much for me to resist. I have managed to curb my shopping enormously this year though. My dress count is at 8 for the year, with 3 tshirts, 4 pairs of tights and 1 shirt totalling up my buying. I managed to make one dress and one skirt though and a bunch of crochet things, so not toooo bad (trying to justify myself!). (Did I mention that the dresses were silk?! Sooo lovely...)


Since I went on holiday I've been keeping a visual journal. Its been a long time since I drew everyday so I'm having fun. I've just been recording the interesting things we've seen as well as the ordinary and mundane everyday things. It will be a good reminder of this trip after I'm finished as well as being a good exercise to help me slow down!


Puffy scarf is made of New Zealand wool and alpaca that I brought on holiday in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia. I should be buying Australian wool, but this was too nice to resist. Its soft and just the nicest shade of green. The camera doesn't really capture the colour though, its more kermit green than grey green.


The 'Winner's Ribbon Brooches' are the result of a long tiring day, where I was wandering around a shopping center waiting to meet someone and happened upon a shop selling ribbon. This idea had been kicking around in my head for a while, just waiting for the right ribbon. These look good in groups or alone on bags or jackets and are quite unisex. The Mr. requested one for his backpack.

This ceramic birdy makes me almost as happy as real birds. Like the clouds, I wear this on a ribbon as a necklace. I made a lot of these and I will be making them into a mobile at a later date.

Detail of The Caterpillar

As things at work get stressful and I get tired, instead of taking a break and vegging out in front of the tv, I tend to make things at a furious pace. Getting home late one night I decided to make a necklace out of some wooden beads (getting their second use after becoming discoloured and sun damaged) and some old laddered stockings. The result I've nicknamed 'The Caterpillar' for its segmented body and many legs. Its somewhere between necklace and lion's mane when worn.

My First Doily

Too nice to simply put on a table, I wore the doily with an Alannah Hill silk flower to a wedding to make a simple fascinator

The Doily

Detail of the Doily

For my second tatted piece, I think this turned out quite well. Its a little uneven as my stitch tension leaves a lot to be desired and my picots are not all the same size, but I'm happy with it. I'm just glad I finally finished it as I've been working on this on and off since June.