Rob's socks are done

Finished socks!, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

And he likes them.

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Mardi Gras

Needles: 3mm circs

Pattern: toe up, 60 stitches, spirals made by slipping every 6th stitch every other round, flap heel, 1x1 rib.

Started: 9? April 2009

Finished: 5 May 2009

me in my dress

me in my dress, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

This is the finished result of my dress-making exercise. As you can see, the final dress is in a different fabric from my original. I decided the sheet I was using was far too thin, so turned it into the lining and used some bold flower fabric bought from Walthamstow market.

I'm very pleased with the result. It's the first time I've used boning and once I'd got over my fear, it was easy to use. I also used my machine's blind hem stitch for the first time. It's OK, though a bit of a fiddle. I'd use it again if I didn't have enough time for a hand-stitched hem or had yards and yards of hemming to do all at once.

Looking at this picture, I can see that the lining is showing a bit. I made it about 5mm shorter than the outer layer, but I think it needed more. Or some more careful adjustment of lengths. I was running out of time when I got to the hems and just wanted them finished. If I had had more time or patience, I would have tacked the hems, tried the dress on and got someone to help me with getting the length right, rather than judging it on my own with the dress on a hanger.

Overall, this project did what I wanted it to do - gave me some sewing practice, got me familiar with this pattern and how to make it fit and provided a finished dress I could wear to some friends' wedding. I now feel more confident that I can make the bridesmaids' dresses I offered to make and that they'll look good.

socks in progress

socks in progress, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I've been knitting again. I stopped for a while thanks to tennis elbow, but I'm back, thanks to a visit to the Colinette mill shop on the way to North Wales.

The rainbow coloured socks are the result of that trip - bright coloured socks for my beloved.

The purple socks have been around for a while. I bought the yarn last summer (also at the Colinette shop). I decided to make socks with contrast heels and toes (and probably cuffs) to make the most of the yarn.

The lilac twisted flower socks have been causing me pain. The combination of dpns and little tiny cables does my wrist and forearm no good at all. If I find some 2.75mm circs, I'd far rather finish on them.

Further notes on flickr.

a change of craft

All pinned on, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I haven't done any dressmaking for ages, but when HP asked me to be her bridesmaid in August, I jumped at the chance to make my own bridesmaid's dress. I'm using Vogue 7848 (as used by Jen). It's a simple style and similar to a dress I already have which suits me. I think it will suit the other bridesmaids too, and be simple to alter, if needed.

I'm trying it out with an old sheet and if this one goes well, I might wear it to a friend's wedding in April.

Of course, the trouble with old sheets is that some parts are significantly more worn than others. I cut the front centre panel out of the middle of the sheet since it's cut on the fold and I wasn't really thinking about it. This means that it is much paler and thinner than the panels surrounding it. If I weren't hoping to wear this dress, that wouldn't bother me too much. But I like it so far. I don't think there's enough fabric left over to cut another front panel, so I might just have to live with it.

Steve's socks

Steve's socks, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

I should have posted about these ages ago. They were a Christmas present for Steve (HP's fiance).

Pattern: Top down, 68 stitches, flap heel.

Needles: 2.5mm circs

Look at the little sheep! They're from the Looking Glass Knits Sheep Yoke cardigan.



This was my first serious attempt at stranded knitting. I'm pleased with it. The white portions were done as two colour stranded knitting and the black bits were added with duplicate stitch.



And most importantly, they fit and Steve likes them!

I made another hat

Rob!, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

Tee hee!

Pattern: Jayne Cobb's Family Hat by Carlynn Field

Needles: 6.5mm circs.

Yarn: Yellow: Biggan Design DK merino, Orange: Rowan Pure Wool DK, Pumpkin: Pure Wool by Stylecraft. All used double.

Started: 7 February 2009

Finished: 11 February 2009

It's a shame you can't see the fabulous pom pom the top of this hat! There are a few more pictures on Ravelry.

what the yarn became

what the yarn became, originally uploaded by the pig wot flies.

This was a very quick knit! I started it Tuesday night and finished yesterday.

Pattern: Cecile from Yarn Forward Issue 10.

Needles: 4mm and 4.5mm circs.

Yarn: Hand-dyed Aran from Liz.

Started: 27 January 2009

Finished: 28 January 2009

Notes: Knitted the 24" size as written, except for a tubular cast-on. The pattern as printed has errors. I didn't check the errata before starting, but noticed there was something wrong at the beginning of the patterned section. I was going to fudge it, but remembered to check and found the corrected cable chart. The pattern tells you to start with the smaller needles, but never tells you to change to the larger needles. The logical place to do this is after the ribbing, so that's what I did.

Love it!