nothing to show

This has really been one of those weeks where everything has conspired to stop me knitting or creating. My head is full of ideas but life just keeps getting in the way.

The worst culprit has been this computer. Other than completely crashing on me, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, which has led to day after day of repairing and replacing.

I am trying to work on some lovely designs for an online knitting magazine due out November 2006 called www.knitonthenet.com and these are all at different stages and unfortunately I can't show those until they've been published anyway. I'm also hoping a bag I designed for www.knitty.com should be in their December issue.

I will shortly have some more stuff to show I hope, so watch this space...

Ally Pally

had a great weekend down in London at Alexandra Palace at the Knitting and Stitching Show. Met some very talented and entertaining people. Took part in some extreme knitting - photos to follow shortly - when camera stuck back together again. Also managed to knit in the dark while being driven back from London for 4 hours - knitting Tempting from knitty.com for a KAL
using RYC Cashsoft Aran - lovely, lovely, lovely.

Retro sweater

This is taking a long time but I think it will be worth it. I'm using an old vogue knitting magazine from the late 1950's for this sweater with this wonderful 4-row slip stitch. I'm using Jo Sharp Classic DK wool. The stitch takes alot of yarn but creates this gorgeous texture. I have one sleeve to go, but with them being raglans they're taking forever. I don't about sss standing for second sock syndrome, I think it should be second sleeve syndrome.

Butterflies

These two photos are close ups of embroidery I did on a dress I recently completed. Its an original 1940's tea dress pattern from Vogue patterns. I used a cotton fabric and picked out some of the butterflies with red thread. I love it. I feel like a lady when I wear it. Will post a photo of the full dress soon.

Loop-d-loop - Lace leaf pullover

Have recently finished knitting this from the Loop-d-loop book by Teva Durham. Used Freedom wool by Twilleys which is a lovely yarn to work with. Will probably pill easily but hey..

had to do the grafting section a couple of times but found that seperating the top and bottom pieces into matching sections helped; also starting under one armhole so the messiest bits are hidden has helped. Used a 1950's button of my grandmother's for the neckline and am really pleased with the end results. Did not enjoy the grafting one bit.

Catch up

I must apologise. After setting the site up a couple of weeks ago I haven't had time to post so I'm going to do my best now to catch up.

This is a jacket I knitted exactly the same as the pattern, from Rowan Ribbon Twist Collection, called Willow. I also used the yarn specified. It fits lovely, is really snug and the pattern was spot on. Have already worn it to death, however, washing it isn't a lot of fun.

Oh, the one thing I did do, which you can just see on the photo is that I bound all the seams with ribbon to hide them.

just call me ruby logo

Have spent many hours working on the logo for the site. So here we are..... meet Ruby.

Handcraft Revolution

I love to make and unmake, to cut, to knit, to sew, to crochet, to embroider, to construct, deconstruct and reconstruct. Above all the aim is to make beautiful, original things. Things you want to touch, things you want to wear, to have, to own. And when they wear out or get too big or too small, uncool or the wrong colour, you can take them apart and remake them.

Everything we make with our hands has a history and is something to be proud of. I'm going to use this blog to show some of the things I make, hopefully make some like minded friends, and talk about the things I love.

For now

Ruby