Focus the mind

I can't get myself to focus on one thing at the moment. I have a sketchbook of ideas but in my head they are all swilling round, merging, changing, morphing. I think its the weather. I sit looking out of my window at BIG sky, really BIG sky, but its been dark, cloudy, windy and wet for days and days. i love looking at the sky but not when its like this - and just like the weather, I'm unsettled. If its possible to have too many ideas, thats where I am. I need to channel just one thought and run with it. Have started writing lists today which is helping, as it always does, and tidying the house, which also always helps.

Before christmas, I put most of my stash in the loft to tidy my study/studio/dining room and its all still up there. I need to see it and touch it to help me make decisions, but... everywhere will be untidy again.

But I think I know where I'm going to start - will have to buy more yarn though, surprise, surprise. Will let you know more about it shortly.

for now
Ruby x

Last Post - for today!

This is just a little glimpse of my design for www.knitonthenet.com for their February issue. It uses Rowan Little Big Wool and is a great starter project for people wanting to move on from scarves. Its also a great present pattern as it can be knitted in a couple of evenings. Look out for it soon.

For now
Ruby x

Latest pattern on www.knitonthenet.com

This is the first of my recycled garment patterns which is available free on www.knitonthenet.com. Its very simple but can save so many sweaters from the bin. I love it and hope to have more ideas for you soon on both the likes of knitonthenet.com and my own website which I should be getting to work on very soon. More details about this soon...

Next sewing project

This is a Liberty print I got in a sale early last year, and have been humming and hahing about what to use it for ever since. However since designing the Angora Hearts cardigan for www.knitonthenet.com (See picture on blog) it all fell into place. This fabric actually inspired the colours for the hearts cardigan and likewise the cardigan has inspired the choice of project for the fabric.

I am going to make a 1950's dress with a fitted bodice with wide straps and a full skirt and wear it with the cardigan. I have found a vintage Vogue pattern from 1952 that I'm going to use. The cardigan is quite cropped so the dress will mean no gaps or belly showing problems. Will give you a progress report on this one soon.

A bit of a blur

This is a sirdar pattern using their Blur yarn, a mohair, acrylic mix. Love the zig zag pattern, love the colours, love the jacket, except its huge! Enormously oversized in fact. The pattern dimensions aren't very clear and the final size for this jacket, which is for a 38/40 inch chest is about 54 inches. The drop shoulder is at my elbow and the sleeve starts at my waist. So if you would like to knit this one definately knit a size smaller than you normally would. I was really disappointed when I first put it on. But I've since paired it with a big copper coloured belt and turned the sleeves up(still a bit annoying) and everyone who's seen it on thinks it looks great. So I'll keep wearing it for now. One thing it has washed really well.

And next - Sublime

This little waistcoat was a handy use up of 7 balls of Jo Sharp silkroad aran I didn't know what to do with. The yarn is fab and feels good on. The pattern is from the Sublime aran book. The pattern is easy, but a bit vague in places. Very pleased with finished garment though. Have already it worn several times, both casual and smart.

Tempting

I just love this sweater. I saved it for the family get together on boxing day and not only felt good but felt comfortable as well. The pattern is from Knitty.com at www://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTtempting.html but I used RYC cashsoft aran which is just gorgeous to knit with and to wear. The gold ribbon matches up with the skirt I wore with the sweater at christmas. Even though the RYC yarn has exactly the same meterage as the Debbie Bliss yarn used in the original I needed an extra ball so had to ring the yarn shop up in a bit of a panic but they had just the one ball left. What a relief.

Butterfly dress & a Happy New Year

Phew, its taken me much longer to get back to the computer than I expected - all the usual christmas stuff just got in the way - but it was worth it. I wish everyone best wishes for 2007, however the weather here isn't promising, the sky is black, the wind is wild and the rain is coming down in icy cold sheets... what a miserable start to 2007. Never mind, it means instead of going for a bracing walk by the sea I can start getting my blog updated.

First of all, and long over due, here's a better photo of my lovely butterfly dress. The pattern is a Vogue original 1940s tea dress that I've played with slightly. I got the fabric from a patchwork shop and it was a reject, in places the butterflies are fainter than in others but I rather like the effect. I got about 10 yards for about £10. I then embroidered over two of the butterflies on the bodice and three on the front skirt panel with a scarlet thread, mainly using chain and satin stitch.


I used scarlet bias binding on most of the seams, but particularly the hem so when you walk or cross your legs you get a little flash of red ribbon. I tweaked the fit to be just right and it fits like a dream.

Lots and Lots

I have a whole heap of finished project photos to upload. I gave myself two weeks to get everything outstanding done before going back to design work. Nearly made it. Got one sweater not finished but have designed and knitted up a new project for the next issue of www.knitonthenet.com instead, so can only be good. I will also finally have the long awaited photos of my butterfly dress - every time I photographed this dress something was wrong with the images. Finally they seem ok.

I've got some lovely yarn from Shilasdair for my christmas project and some gorgeous fabric for my 1950's dress to go with my angora hearts cardigan (See www.knitonthenet.com for free pattern). Again, photos to follow.

All in all, there's probably going to be about half a dozen posts in two days so bear with me...

Happy holidays everyone
for now
Ruby

New designs from knitonthenet.com

This is angora hearts cardigan featured on the front cover of knitonthenet.com. Its knitted in anny blatt angora super with a double knit weight shaw collar, welt and cuffs in a two colour rib. The cardigan is very easy to knit and suits most shapes. I'm quite a shapely lady and find it very flattering. It makes you feel like a 50's starlet. The pattern is available FREE on knitonthenet.com

knitonthenet.com is online

So excited! www.knitonthenet.com is online with four of my designs being featured. It looks great. I'm really pleased. All the patterns are free.

Go take a look at knitonthenet.com

Other exciting news-knitty.com

Possible exciting news aswell that my design for knitty.com should be in the Spring issue. I'm working on photos for this project too. Got to keep myself calm and wait for spring!!! It would be wonderful to see my work in knitty.

Anyway, for now
Ruby

Photo shoot

Spent yesterday on the photoshoot for my designs being featured in www.knitonthenet.com. launching on SATURDAY 18TH NOVEMBER. I can't show any of the images until then but will post as soon as possible. They look great. Its brilliant to see your work photographed by a professional.

The make up artist couldn't make it so had to do makeup and hair myself, but didnt try anything to clever so seemed to go ok. You can all judge for yourselves soon.

Anyway, hope you all log into www.knitonthenet.com on or after 18TH NOVEMBER to see for yourselves.

I really hope you like the patterns.

Its done!!!!

Despite knitting through the pain barrier, the sleeve of my main garment for knitonthenet is done. The garment is all sewn up and is absolutly gorgeous. Its knitted in grey alpaca and is so so soft and drapy. The wrap front of the jacket uses this fab cable stitch I found that looks like a chain link. Can't wait to show it, but will have to wait. Roll on NOVEMBER 18. Click on www.knitonthenet.com

Going to do a little cloche hat I think and some armwarmers and maybe a tank and a sweater - all by November 18th - don't think so - but just can't stop at the moment, the ideas just keep coming and I don't want to stop.

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.