Author: Ruth

YOP – year 8 – week 25
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 25

Ruth8 Comments

It’s been a week of good steady knitting progress. The Bentley Cardigan is finished and off the needles. It needs it’s ends finished and it still needs to be blocked and buttons added on and I’d love to say I’ll get that done this week but I’ve a few jobs that need doing this week so I’m going to see how much time I have to get it done. I love how this cardigan knit up, the pattern was so easy to follow and I’m a fan of the wider ribbing. I love the fit of this cardigan already and the 3/4 sleeves are just great!

Bentley 1

I started Sock #6 with the pattern for the Aussie Sunshine socks with the neon pink yarn I showed last week. This were by far the easiest project to pick up and down when I had limited time and were what I reached for when I got home late several evenings this week and wanted something easy and mindless to knit on. I’m still in two minds about this colour, I love the stitch definition of the pattern in this yarn but the colour I just shy away from and yes I know my hair was also this colour, but that feels like it was to a different me. I’m not going to give these socks away, perhaps they will be the pair to remind me a little of who I was not so long ago and that might not be a bad thing for the last pair of socks to be knitted this year. But I digress, the pattern is so quick and easy to memorise and they make for great TV knitting. I modified the pattern to knit them toe up and I’m using my preferred heel flap and gusset for toe up.

Aussie Sunshine

With the Bentley cardigan off the needles I turned my attention to the Cumulus Blouse. I had the body finished just to do the I-Cord bind off, so with that finished I picked up the stitches for the sleeve and I’m already half way through with the first one. I love everything about this project and hope when it comes to wearing it that I love it just as much! The Eden Cottage Yarn Eldwick Lace is so light and silky and soft, it really looks and is like a cumulus cloud. This I think I’m going to concentrate most on this week and see if perhaps I can get it finished in time for Christmas so that I can wear it over the holidays.

Cumulus Blouse

I didn’t get as far as cutting out my Hollyburn skirt and I’m afraid it doesn’t look too hopeful this week either. Which means I’m unlikely to have it made in time to wear for Christmas. I’m a little disappointed by this in one way but in another I need to retake some measurements as I’ve lost some weight with attending Slimming World this last couple of months and because I was loosing it I was reluctant to cut into the gorgeous grey linen material I have for this skirt. I’m planning on taking part in the make nine challenge for 2019 with some sewing projects so I think this shall be the first make of that.

I’ve updated my list now to reflect projects finishing and others started and it looks like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1– started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – FROGGED
  • Sock #4 – started November 4th – finished 6th December
  • Sock #5 – started November 17th – FROGGED
  • Sock #6 – started December 10th – 

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 24
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 24

Ruth15 Comments

Finally getting back to a YOP post. It’s been two weeks but with so much course work on for the two missing weeks I really hand’t done enough to blog about. A couple of modules have finished so I’m able to spend some more of my free time now knitting again, well when I can drag my head out of a book that is!

But there has been some progress on my knitting at least. I’ve still to get a start made on my Hollyburn skirt that I’m hoping to make as part of my Christmas outfit and time I am aware is getting short! Hopefully this week I’ll get to at least cutting it out!

The Bouquet socks that I began in November for the November Solid Sock Group challenge are now complete. I really loved this pattern and even though each row was a pattern row I found the whole process, from the yarn used to the pattern picked, to be relaxing and it was a project I couldn’t put down.

Sock 3 Bouquet Socks

After the first Bouquet sock was complete, I started the Triwizard Sock, a slip stitch colour pattern. As you can see I did complete the first sock. The colourwork did draw the sock in and although snug it did fit.

Triwizard sock 1

But here is that first sock now.

Triwizard sock 2

I frogged it, not because there was anything wrong with the pattern, but because I really dislike knitting colourwork socks and when it came to thinking about casting on the second, I just didn’t want to. So I frogged the sock and will reuse the yarn in a pattern and sock that I do want to knit and wear.

The theme for the December challenge for the Solid Sock Club is Neon. Neon definitely isn’t something I’m really into but I have this one skein in my stash. Why I bought it, I can’t say but I have it and I want to start using more of my gorgeous yarns in my stash next year. So I thought now was as good a time to start and a great opportunity to use this skein up. I’m thinking I’ll either cast on the Aussie Sunshine pattern by Claire Devine or the Couplet pattern by Bonnie Sennott of Blue Peninsula. I’m going to modify both patterns to knit them toe up as that’s my preferred method and I’m going to use as always, my preferred heel and toe. I like both patterns though, what about you?

Neon pink

The only other piece I’ve made progress on is my Bentley cardigan. I finished the first sleeve and while catching up on podcasts the last two evenings I’ve gotten the second sleeve knit and all that remains is the cuff, which will be done today. The button bands and neck bands are already complete so this will be cast off and blocked ready in time to wear as part of my Christmas outfit. Now to just get on with the skirt.

Bentley

Once the Bentley cardigan is off the needles though, I’m going straight back to working on my Cumulus Blouse, which I’d like off the needles for Christmas as well. I’ve the body complete so it only needs some sleeves and neckband.

So my list now looks like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1– started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – FROGGED
  • Sock #4 – started November 4th – finished 6th December
  • Sock #5 – started November 17th – FROGGED
  • Sock #6 – started

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 21
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 21

Ruth11 Comments

This week has been a whirlwind of course classes, meeting and parent teacher meetings. This has meant that knitting time, as that was the only crafting I got to do this week, was limited. I started the first sleeve on The Bentley cardigan one evening but got so tired after half an hour into picking it up that I just had to put it aside and head to bed. So I haven’t really made enough progress on it to show you anything. Yesterday when I was free, I had course work and assignments to prepare so when it did come to knitting time I really only felt like working on socks, so the Cumulus blouse hasn’t seen any work on it this week either.

So really all I’ve picked up and worked on has been socks. 

I did complete the first Bouquet Sock. I really enjoyed this pattern and although each row was a pattern row to some extent it really became very potato chippy. 

Bouquet_Sock_1_small2

I have been dipping back in and out to the Sock Knitters Anonymous group and I know I originally said I didn’t want to participate this month with the featured theme of Mosaic or slipped stitch colourwork, but I came across the Triwizard Tournament Socks and really felt like joining in with this months challenge. So a bit of a stash dive happened and I came up with three Schoppel Wolle Admiral 4ply colours and with my free time yesterday I cast on and began the sock. I did decide to modify them to knit them toe up and the pattern tells you to work the pattern on the sole of the sock, which I don’t normally do but for these I am, so it remains to be seen if this is a feature I like. This is the progress from yesterday. 

Sock_Triwizard_small2

I’ve been thinking about the third pair of socks I’ve cast on and left to one side in favour of both of these new socks and I’m just not excited enough about them. I think for now ,I’ll leave them but if I still don’t feel like knitting on them once both these pairs of socks are done I’m going to frog them and use the yarn for something I do want to knit on.

So my list now looks like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1– started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – 
  • Sock #4 – started November 4th – 
  • Sock #5 – started November 17th –

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 20
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 20

Ruth10 Comments

This weeks project time has seen lots of progress at the start of the week but as the week went on and it got busier and busier the knitting petered out. What has happened is Bentley has gotten it’s button bands complete. That I’m afraid is all the work that got done on it this week, but I do get to start the sleeves this week, so it is nearing it’s end.

Bentley cardigan

The Cumulus Blouse has seen the body of it finished. I’m ready to work the i-cord bind off now and pick up for the sleeves. It looks like this week the majority of my knitting is going to involve sleeves.

Cumulus

I began the Bouquet Socks last Sunday as I needed a picture for my cast on post and I enjoyed working on them so much I worked them to the point of the gusset increases. After setting them aside for the remainder of the day I then picked them up again on Monday evening for an hour, worked the gusset increases and finished the heel. I didn’t pick them up again until Friday evening and made a nice start on the leg while I caught up on some of the podcasts I’m behind on.

Bouquet Sock

As I mentioned last week, I was going to the Knitting and Stitching show that was on in Dublin over this weekend. We opted to go the first day, Thursday. It definitely wasn’t as crowded as previous years, nor were there the same amount of vendors. I definitely think Brexit is playing it’s part in what vendors come from the UK to the event. Never the less we had a good day and I still managed to pick up some material, mainly for some skirts and a pinafore I want to make. The three materials on the right are wool, the blue on the left a denim and the blue on the front a linen.

Material

I also picked up some small items like buttons and a chalk pen and these really cute gnome kits which just caught my eye and fancy for no other reason other than they looked cute!

Crafts

And all that remains now is the list;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – 
  • Sock #4 – started November 4th – 

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 19
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 19

Ruth15 Comments

It’s been an enjoyably busy mid-term this past week. We’ve buried our heads in some books, hung out with friends at various points through the week, had apts, classes and trips to the cinema. We’ve celebrated Samhain, filled the house with the warm and delicious smells of baking and just generally relaxed from the normal hustle and bustle that goes with our daily school routine. I’ve made progress on some projects (knitting) and not on others (sewing) but the projects are meant for fitting in round family life not family life around the projects.

One of the projects that did get some work was the Bentley cardigan. I ended up working on this late last Sunday and I’ll explain why in a bit, but last week I was nearing the length of the short length and I was unsure of which length I wanted. Once I reached the short body length I tried on the cardigan, allowed the 3 inches that would be added with the ribbing and I decided that I wasn’t going to be comfortable with that length so opted for the longer body length. It was only 2″ more in body length so it didn’t take me that long but it made a big difference in how comfortable I felt when I tried it on. 3″ of ribbing and the body was complete. The neckband was picked up and I’ve just started the left hand button band. On other garments I’ve normally worked the sleeves after the body was complete leaving any necklines and button bands until the end. It’s not a big change but right now it feels more like I’m nearing completion, even though I still have two sleeves to go, we will see what the thought process is when I reach the sleeves.

Bentley

Last Sunday, I continued to work on the Cumulus Blouse. I joined the piece to work in the round and then reached the part for splitting for the sleeves. For splitting for the sleeves, I normally stick my stitches on some yarn or string, whichever is close by at the time, but that wasn’t going to work for this Mohair blend. The stitches would stick to the yarn or string pulling and distorting them so I ordered some stitch holders and put it aside. This is how the Bentley got some extra love last weekend. I picked up the Cumulus again though yesterday and the newly arrived stitch holders, split for the sleeves and carried on with the body of Cumulus last night as I watched some movies with the children.

Cumulus

Round 11 began on Nov 1st in the Solid Socks group on Ravelry. This months colour is blue, so I rooted about in my stash and sent a picture of this Mondim yarn I’d picked up to see if it were acceptable, it was, so later today I’m going to start that pair of socks, I’m thinking I’ll do this Bouquet Socks pattern as I have the Toe-Up Socks for Everybody by Wendy Johnson. I did look to see if perhaps I could meet the Nov theme for the Sock Knitters Anonymous group also with this pair of socks but their monthly technique was mosaic and slipped-stitch colourwork, something that wouldn’t work with just the blue and the featured designer had no patterns that really grabbed my attention.

Mondim

I’ve been members of these groups for years and always had great intentions of joining in but designing always kept me busy that I just didn’t have any time to spare, and while I may not join in every month with both, it’s nice to think that I can now if the themes in both grab my attention.

I had thought I might have gotten some sewing done this week, but the days were filled with other happenings and when I sat in the evenings it was only my knitting I wanted to pick up. I’m going to the knitting and stitching show later this week that’s happening in Dublin so perhaps I’ll come back from that excited to get at my machine and get creating even in the evenings when I’m a little more tired than during the day.

And so the list now looks like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – 
  • Sock #4 – started November 4th – 

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 18
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 18

Ruth15 Comments

This week has been an enjoyable week project wise. During the week, the Bentley cardigan was my project of choice. I’ve made some nice progress on the body of the cardigan. Another inch or two will take me to the length for the shorter size. At that stage I’ll try it on and see if I’m happy to add the ribbing then or knit a little further to have the longer size.

Bentley 1

Yesterday I switched things up and worked on the Cumulus sweater late yesterday evening. I’m nearing the point of joining in the round and it’s only a few rows after that, that I move to splitting for the sleeves. This project is so soft and light and I’m really looking forward to being able to wear it.

Cumulus 1

Again the socks didn’t get worked on, not that I’m overly worried, I will work on them when the mood strikes.

This week is mid-term break for the children and I’ve plans to do some sewing. I’ve two tops that need finishing and then I can cut out and begin the Hollyburn skirt that I’m planning as part of my Christmas outfit and to accompany the Bentley cardigan.

I am also making a start on my Christmas puddings and cakes this week, so the house is going to be filled with wonderful smells.

So that leaves the list looking like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – 

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 17
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 17

Ruth4 Comments

I’ve worked most of this week on the Bentley cardigan. I’ve completed the yoke increases and have split for the sleeves. Now I’m just working on the body of the cardigan. To this point, it’s been a really enjoyable knit, the pattern on the front is interesting and pretty and I like the texture it’s adding. With the plain stockinette sleeves and back, I think it will make a lovely cardigan when complete.

Bentley

I also couldn’t help myself yesterday and cast on the Cumulus sweater. I’m working away on the yoke increases on this and I’m probably going to work on this today. Perhaps I will continue to work on the Cumulus on weekends and the Bentley during the week, we shall see.

Cumulus

I made no progress on the pair of socks, so no update there. I’ve not started or finished any sewing projects this week, I’m a couple of weeks into a new course to retrain and update my skills. It is run in the mornings and I’ve found over the last few weeks that I’m not left with much extra free time, any free time I’ve filled with either reading or knitting when the mood strikes. As some modules end in a couple of weeks I think perhaps then I’ll have time to return to my sewing.

The list is now looking like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – 

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 16
Knitting · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 16

Ruth9 Comments

This week has seen a flurry of activity earlier in the week. The sleeves on Lichen were finished on Wednesday night, it did take until yesterday to find time to weave in the ends but they are done now and the sweater is complete. I’ve not blocked it yet because at the start I knit the size smaller due to my gauge but with attending Slimming World this last month and a half, the sweater fits just right now. I think I’m going to just enjoy wearing it now as it is.

LichenLichen 1

On Thursday I looked through my sweater quantities of yarn in my stash. I looked at what sweaters I had wanted to make with them and considered whether they were still the garments that would work in my wardrobe but also there are things I now lean to having in my garments. For instance I prefer a body length of 14″, we already know how I feel about the necks of my cardigans and having them come up enough on my shoulders, this also applies to the necks of my sweaters. And while I know I can just make these pattern changes to any pattern I pick, I always feel bad about changing someone else’s design to have these X, Y or Z items.

So while I debated all this Thursday night I cast on a new pair of socks, Socks #3 with some Eden Cottage Yarns. I’m using the Woodland colour in the Tempo base, and I’m using my own basic sock pattern but adding in a little twisted stitch pattern to the outside edge of the foot. This same pattern will run up the edge of the front and back of the sock when I reach that point.

Sock 3

After much thought and deliberation on the garment front, I decided to remove the Sammal cardigan from my yop list, while I love it’s cable and texture look, it’s really too long and not fitted enough for the look I want and like I said I don’t want to make changes. I’ve replaced it with the Bentley cardigan by Olive Knits which has a much more delicate and feminine look. This cardigan is going to be part of my Christmas outfit. I’m using the yarn I was going to knit the Sammal with, it’s the Grass colourway on the Tempo base from Eden Cottage Yarns. It’s a very bright and vivid green but I think it will work with this charcoal grey linen which I plan to sew a Hollyburn skirt in to accompany it. I swatched yesterday for it and made a very small start on my Bentley, but it is the project I’m going to work on today, just as soon as I drop my son to get the train back to college.

BentleyIMG_5314

Lastly, while looking through the sweater quantities, I couldn’t resist caking up this Cromer Pier on the Eldwick lace base, again by Eden Cottage yarns and I’m going to cast on a Cumulus, this is the garment I’ve been wanting to begin from we started year 8. So I also swatched for this yesterday and I’m not sure when I’ll cast this on, but quite possibly this week. It looks like it’s a light grey blue but it’s got splashes of darker blue and gold through it, which should add a little interest to what is an otherwise stockinette garment. I’m really excited to cast this on!

Cumulus

My list has been updated and now looks like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September
  • Sock #3 – started October 11th – 

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 15
Knitting · Sewing · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 15

Ruth18 Comments

Since I last posted, two weeks ago, I’ve finished the body of my Lichen sweater and started on a sleeve. The sleeve is fairly mindless knitting, and I’m just enjoying the slow rhythm of this project now. My mind is starting to turn to what my next garment may be though.

Lichen

I have also completed the Sock #2 on my needles and now that they are complete I like them a lot more than I did. I again made these ankle length to fit inside my ankle boots when I wear them with skirts and the weather is turning chilly enough now that I need them. I haven’t cast on another pair of socks just yet, I can’t say why, I guess I’m just not feeling the need to. Perhaps this week.

Sock 2

I haven’t touched my sewing from my last class. I did learn how to put button holes in and sewing with Viscose is definitely different to any of the materials I’ve used so far, but I have enjoyed learning these new skills. Once my mornings free up a little more in a couple of weeks I’m hoping to return to sewing with a bang.

I’d really like to have a handmade outfit for Christmas, made of both sewing and knitting, and now as I’m nearing the end of the Lichen sweater, it’s the perfect time to begin the knitted item part of this outfit. Is this something that might interest you? Maybe we can make a Christmas outfit together, in a casual make-a-long kind of way.

My YOP list looks like this,

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th – finished 30th September

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.

YOP – year 8 – week 13
Knitting · Sewing · Year of Projects

YOP – year 8 – week 13

Ruth15 Comments

It’s been a couple of weeks from I updated and that was down to purely having very little to post about. Instead of working steadily and constantly on projects, I was instead reading and in the missing two weeks read my way through the All Souls Trilogy, along with finishing a book from a separate trilogy I’d started, and I’ve now begun the next book that is in my reading stack. While I’m still reading constantly I am squeezing in more knitting time and the knitting and year of projects work is what you are here to read about, so lets get to that.

On my Lichen jumper, I’m now nearing the end of the body, approx another inch, so that should be finished shortly. Then all that remains are the sleeves and if I took my head out of my books long enough this jumper would be finished in no time at all really.

Lichen 1

I’ve worked a small amount more on my #2 socks. I’m as far as the gusset increases on these. I can’t say I’m overly excited about the yarns in this sock set, so I may gift these to my daughter. We shall see if I prefer them any more when they are complete.

Socks 1

I haven’t made any further progress with the red top, what I have done is start another local sewing workshop, in which we are making a short sleeve, button down the back top. I’m using this Viscose material, which is the first time I’ve used this material and I’ll be putting in some buttonholes so another new skill to learn.

Top

 

That is all the YOP projects that I’ve been happily working on and the progress to date. So although the updates are not overly exciting, I’m still enjoying working monogamously on projects at a slow and steady pace, enjoying the process as much as the product.

My YOP list looks like this;

Year of Projects 2018-2019 List

Knitted Garments

Sewn Garments

Socks

6 pairs

  • My Dearest Loveliest Elizabeth – started July 16th – FROGGED
  • Sock #1 – started August 10th – finished 26th August
  • Sock #2 – started August 30th

You can follow along with my knitted YOP 8 projects HERE

You can find the YOP group and weekly posts HERE

Ruth.