Teens Love Craft night and much more

Don't the girlies look like they are really having fun. They have taken to it like a duck to water. On Thursday night to make things interesting we got the wool winder and a load of odd balls of yarn and got the girls to design their own multicoloured and multistranded yarn. Here is one of them



They each picked between 4 and 6 strands of yarn to make a chunky (bulky) weight yarn.
We have used the unshaped shrug

as our starting point with each of the girls knitting a rectangle to reach from midway down the upper arm, across their back, and to the same point on the other arm.
There are a mixture of garter stitch and stocking stitch garments being made. Before we commence the next step of ribbing, the girls will learn to purl and then rib.

They really concentrated for over three hours -



with one of the girls on her third ball of yarn since Thursday night.



Moving on, Phyllo is progressing slowly but steadily.



I do love how Rowan Calmer knits up, particularly in stocking stitch.

I bought this lovely 1940's stylie dress in a sale a few weeks ago



The fabric is really lovely



I love floral prints and this is a particularly lovely one. However I have a problem and can't decide what to do. I think the hem really spoils the dress.



What do you think? I think it should be a nice straight hem. I have to be honest I didn't even notice the hem when I bought the dress (guess who didn't bother to try it on) but would have bought it anyway.

I've pinned the 'hangy' bits up on this picture



and I think it looks better, and more appropriate for the style of the dress. However the skirt is created by a number of gores which just have a raw edge which has been overlocked and the 'hangy' pieces are cut on the bias, which is going to make it very difficult to create a perfectly straight hem. I'm worried about hemming by overlocking the raw edge as it might look horrid. Any suggestions?

And one other very annoying little thing which I come across again and again. Have a look at this photo and see where the belt sits around the waist, and see where the side belt loops are positioned



They're going to have to go. I don't know how many times I have had to remove belt loops in silly places. I'ld far rather they didn't bother with them in the first place.

And finally, back to knitting, I have been asked to create a design using this beautiful yarn from the Bowmont Project, called Bowmont Braf, and the colour is called Periwinkle, and guess what dress it goes with perfectly?



I've actually got 8 balls I think but a neat little fitted cardigan is suggesting itself to me at the moment.

But, for now

Ruby xx

quick, quick blog

Its not often my blogging is so thin on the ground. I can't believe its nearly a week since I blogged. Home is in chaos with drilling and hammering and grinding and dust and dirt everywhere. Yes, the builders are here, doing a very good job but making life quite difficult. I haven't managed to take any photos of on going projects yet but will try today - two windows are coming out today and plaster board and stuff being removed from round the windows - black dust to follow apparently - so I'm not making any promises.

I also wasted SIX whole hours yesterday searching for my husband's passport. SIX hours and where did I find it eventually - in my handbag. I'm relieved I found it but so annoyed at myself for wasting so much time.

The first meeting of TLC (teens love craft) went very well, with the two non knitters going away able to garter stitch. They also apparently took their knitting into school the next day and knitted at every opportunity. Fantastic. I'm so proud of them. Next meeting tomorrow evening.

I have started Phyllo yoked pullover from Knitting Nature with the Rowan Calmer that I had bought for Fifi.



There's not a lot to show yet as it is stocking stitch up to the yoke, but that was the plan as I really need something I didn't need to think about too hard. My beautiful Habu project for Stitch in Time is progressing nicely. The body should be finished in the next day or two and then some exciting finishing touches involving Habu stainless steel - can't say any more.

Also I am getting my SP11 parcel ready today. Lots of lovely goodies for her.

Hopefully, photos etc to follow later, if I can find somewhere to go.

for now
Ruby x

A little bit of TLC

Tomorrow evening I will be hosting the first meeting of TLC - Teens Love Craft!

My daughter and a few of her friends have all asked to be shown how to knit, sew, embroider, applique etc., so who am I to say no. My daughter can already knit and sew but her skills need to be improved. Her friends can sew (a bit) but not knit, so tomorrow night is our first learn to knit class. Wish me luck.

I think its great that they are all so keen to learn but find it sad that they have had to get someone else's mum to show them.

Have a big post to do tomorrow with lots of photos but I have to stay off the computer for now as 'we' (not me) are trying to register for Led Zeppelin tickets. I have offered to spend the day at Libertys if he gets a ticket and spend the £125 there instead. Very generous of me I think.

Until tomorrow,
for now

Ruby xx

Normal transmission resumed!

Whilst on my holidays I was working on the Textured Tunic with side buttons by Stephanie Japel ( in her fitted knits book)as shown below.



and I have almost completed it twice and have frogged twice and have come to the conclusion that it just doesn't suit me.



I love the colour and the yarn but there are certain factors that just aren't right for my body shape.



The textured panel sits right across my ample bosom and to be honest just makes me look chunky not shapely, despite the fit being perfect. Also the length is at just the wrong place for me. The tunic style of the garment takes the front under my tummy and then sort of goes in underneath exaggerating my tummy and then sits on the top of my thighs and won't lie flat. I've tried different lengths but its just not working. I must admit I don't like the large moss stitch insert on the sides of the garment for the buttons they just widen the hip and bottom area. So I've played and messed, and reknitted but to no avail. The textured panel needs to go, the length and fit needs to change and I don't like the curly stocking stitch on the neck. So what to do. I was sitting outside a cafe and saw the back of a very simply shaped sweater with a nice stitch detail and thought that would look very nice in my yarn. I took a photo on my daughter's mobile phone but unfortunately it is still locked since she lost it so I will draw some sketches for my next posting.

I also managed to complete my second sock



The pattern needs a little tweaking to fit me perfectly, the heel is too long and the foot a little wide, but they are so comfortable and I have been wearing them constantly around the house.

In addition I finished off a very special garment for the republication of 'A Stitch in Time'. I can only show a little bit of it but it is just beautiful. It used Blue Sky Silk and Alpaca yarn which is the most wonderful of yarns. I've just got to write up differences to the original pattern



The completed garment will be revealed at Stitch 'n Bitch UK in November.

Also for 'A Stitch in Time' I'm working on this one, using Habu "kusaki zome" naturally dyed silk.



Again, it will be revealed at the Stitch 'n Bitch show. Really enjoying doing this one. Its quite a challenge getting the garments to fit todays woman without changing the styling or fit of the original garments but fascinating.

And finally, I did also take Fifi with me to start but just didn't get there. I think that it will have to go on the back burner for now.

for now

Ruby xx