Moore Patchwork & Quilting

More Knitting

I finished knitting the Blossom Bolero on the weekend.

Isn't it cute?  I actually made mine a bit longer than a bolero, so it's really a Blossom Cardigan.

The Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece knitted up beautifully and the pattern was easy to follow. The only seam to stitch was a little tiny bit under each arm.

Our knitted baby's items will be going to a Women's Shelter in Tasmania.  I feel really blessed that I could make these items for someone's little girl. 

Beanies and Scarves...

As it's almost the end of May, we have decided to stop knitting baby's things and start our June knitting.  For June, we've chosen an organisation that works with homeless people.  They require beanies and scarves and so I spent some time looking for beanie patterns on Ravelry.

I found this Stashy Hat pattern by Baby Cocktails.  It has a simple texture pattern which will add a bit of interest and I'm going to use the yarn leftover from my Harvest Moon cardigan.

It's been a while since I knit a beanie and I can tell you, knitting on a circular needle makes it very easy.  I'm pretty sure the last time I knit a beanie I had a seam to sew but not this time.

I started it last night and have already finished the band and have started the pattern.  I'm not sure that the pattern will actually show up very well with this yarn but at least it keeps me interested.

Until next time

Lyn

 

Knitting update

Thanks for your comments on Made With Love tags.  I have spun the random number generator and the winner is 1 - Meredith.  Congratulations.  Hope you enjoy your pattern.

Harvest Moon...

Well can you believe it?  I have finally finished the blue cardigan I was knitting!

I got a bit of a hurry up last week when I realised that if I didn't finish it shortly, paradise winter will be over and done with before I know it.

It's turned out to be a nice cardigan. I omitted the pockets on the front; made the sleeves shorter and added to the length.

The pattern is Harvest Moon by Heidi Kirrmaier and I used Berocco Blackstone Tweed colour 2646 that I purchased on line through Yarn Market.  The yarn is lovely to knit with and is soft to wear.  I purchased the pattern on Ravelry and it was really easy to follow except for the pockets but that's no reflection on the designer it's more a reflection on my lack of concentration in the evenings when I do most of my knitting.  (I like non-challenging knits that I can do without much thinking.)

I know the cardigan will be well worn.

Charity Knits...

A friend suggested we get together and do some knitting for charity.  We joined up with Knits4Charity group and this month we are knitting baby clothes.

I've started with this Baby Kina pattern that I also bought on Ravelry and am knitting with some yarn I had in my stash.  I have quite a few balls of this yarn  so will hopefully be able to make a couple of things.

It's an 8ply wool I bought on special a couple of years ago - silly thing to do - with no project in mind - it's sat in my cupboard ever since.  I knit a baby vest for charity last year with the wool and it turned out well.  I'm hoping this one will as well.

Knits4Charity is an online Yahoo Group and they have a list of charities each month that you can knit (or crochet) for.  There is a lot of variety so you can really knit whatever you want.  It's worth looking at if you like knitting (or crochet).

Until next time

Lyn

Harvest Moon

I've been doing a bit of knitting in the evenings lately and have started to make some progress on my Harvest Moon cardigan.

(the colour is actually a bit darker than this - this photo was outside in the paradise sunlight!)

For a while there, it seemed like I was getting no where fast.  The yoke is knit separately and then stitches picked up along the edge for the body of the cardigan.  There were quite a few stitches and it seemed to take forever to knit a row.  Once I passed the part where the sleeve stitches were separated, it seemed to move very quickly.

The cardigan has 2 pockets on the front and these are knitted in as you go.  I was going to start on that part last night but felt that it needed a bit of concentration which I didn't have at the time, so shelved that idea.  The yarn is really nice to knit with and I can imagine it being nice and cosy for winter.

Bits and bobs...

A few weeks ago I was in West End and discovered a little gift shop called Dragonfly gifts.  It is just a treasure trove of little 'things' and I couldn't resist this little thing.

It only measures approx 6.5" from the top of the 'create' sign to the bottom, and is approx 2.25" wide.  There's a little chain attached to the top to hang it with and I have it hanging off the noticeboard in my studio.

There was a whole collection of these little pieces in the shop as well as some larger pieces as well.  Just loved them.

My mixed media art has come to a bit of a standstill lately. I am still collecting all sorts of things to use and also doing some odd bits of painting but don't seem to be putting it all together.  I keep promising myself that the Christmas holidays will free up some 'real' time to do something.  I hope it's true.

Until next time

Lyn

Knitting again

For some reason, my enthusiasm for knitting dropped off a little bit for a while and I think it might have had something to do with this scarf I was knitting.

It's a very simple pattern and the yarn is a lovely Noro Silk Garden Sock but I think that is the problem - it's a sock yarn and the scarf seemed to take me forever to finish.

But finish it I did (Yeah) and I am pleased with the finished result.  The bias lace pattern shows up the colour changes in the yarn beautifully and I know that it will be well worn - next winter!

The pattern is called Noro Bias Lace Scarf by Susan Ashcroft and it was a free download on Ravelry. Instructions are given for both the sock yarn as well as ordinary Silk Garden which would be way quicker to knit. I had one ball of the sock yarn which is why I used it - which means that I have one less ball of yarn in my stash.

Harvest Moon...

Once the scarf was finished I found myself thinking about starting something new.  I was able to reach into my recently cleaned up stash and pull out the makings of a cardigan called Harvest Moon.

This winter I realised that I needed more cardigans - it's so cold here in the mornings in winter but it warms up pretty quickly and so cardigans are easy to put on and off.  For this one I'm using Berocco Blackstone Tweed in this lovely blue colour.  The yarn is a 10ply and has a nice texture.  The pattern is knit from the top down and starts with the yoke being knit separately and then stitches picked up around the bottom edge.  The cardigan looks very 'comfy' - hopefully mine will feel that way as well.

Until next time

Lyn

Knitting Update

I've reached a bit of a slow point in my knitting at the moment.  When I finished my little brownish cardigan, I purchased some more yarn to make myself a cardigan and while waiting for it to arrive I started a scarf in Noro Silk Garden sock yarn.

 

 

I had originally bought the yarn to crochet a scarf but it sat in my cupboard for about 12 months so I decided that a knitted scarf would be a better option.

The pattern is a diagonal lace pattern that I downloaded from Ravelry.  Once you get into the pattern it's one of those which is easy to remember making it very portable.

The downside is that it's only a sock weight yarn which means it's been very slow going. But, since taking this photo I have made some real progress and am now well over half way. 

The colour changes in the Noro yarn always add interest to a project and I know that the scarf will be well worn by me - but not until next year.  Scarf weather is definitely over here in paradise.

Knitting Stash...

I have a cupboard in the shed where I store my knitting stash and as part of my spring clean, I pulled it all out the other day and had a good look at it.  I was actually quite shocked at how much I have accumulated. 

 I took my lead from the Yarn Harlot and I matched the yarn with it's appropriate pattern and then put them into plastic bags.

I ended up with projects for - 3 pairs of socks; 1 x cardigan; 1 x cotton top; 1 x short sleeve cardigan; enough yarn to make a crochet afghan (that was the hexagon one that I have started); 6 x balls of different colour baby wool (can't remember why I bought that); 6 x balls of 8 ply (using this to knit squares for book club rug); and 8 x balls of 8 ply in different colours left over from other projects.

Worked out that I probably have enough knitting to keep me occupied for at least 12 months!

Would like to say that I won't buy any more yarn but 12 months is a long time and Kelly sends out such lovely newsletters every week!

Until next time

Lyn

A Little Red in the City

I bought this excellent new knitting book the other day - A Little Red in the City by Ysolda Teague.

I say 'excellent' because it's not just a book of patterns - it's a resource book. Ysolda gives her tips on how to make a sweater fit you properly.  She goes through things like how to choose yarn and knitting stitches; as well as making adjustments to suit your figure type.  There are lots of little drawings and her explanations are very clear.

In the second half of the book, there are 7 different designs, all of which are very beautiful but the best part is that they come in sizes ranging from 28" bust to 60" bust.  Furthermore, each design is shown in 2 different sizes - smaller and larger - so you get a good idea how it will look.

I really like Ysolda's designs and I know that I will make a couple of the ones in this book. But, I think it's value to me is in what she calls, 'tools for successful sweaters'.

Until next time

Lyn

Knitting (near) disaster

About three weeks ago, I cast off my Macro Lace Cardigan and eagerly tried it on.  But, my excitement turned to dismay when I realised that I didn't like it.  There's nothing wrong with the pattern or the yarn (Cascade 220) but I just didn't like the design itself.  It sits open in the front and I thought that it would probably drive me crazy after one wear.  I decided that I would unravel the whole thing and find something else to knit with the yarn.  But, my mother's advice echoed in my head - "Put it away for a while and have another look later before you make a decision."  So, I bundled it up in its knitting bag and literally tossed it in a corner of my studio.

For the next two weeks I kept glancing at it but didn't take it out of the bag.  I even went on to Ravelry and looked up patterns suitable for the yarn and still I didn't take it out of the bag.  Then, last weekend I thought there was no more procrastinating and took it out of the bag and tried it on again.

What a difference two weeks make - I actually liked it.  I blocked it and it looked even better.

The photo doesn't do it justice - it is very difficult to photograph on a hanger because of its construction.

It just overlaps at the front which means I can either wear it open or can use a shawl pin to hold it closed.  The sleeves are three quarter length which is just perfect for 'between seasons' wear.

I'm acutally wearing it now and it's really comfortable.

Leaves me wondering what the hell I was thinking about when I was going to unpick it.  Just proves what I already knew, mothers actually do know something! (I hope you are reading this boys.)

Until next time

Lyn

Road Trip

Yesterday Robin and I went a road trip.  He had to drive up to Kingaroy to look at a job so I went with him to keep him company.  I'm glad I did because we visited lots of little towns that I had never been to.

One of them was a little town called Moore.  Moore is my family name so I just had to stop and take a photo of the sign.

The town is more like a village with just a main street and a couple of shops but it's got a great name.

One thing I like about road trips is I get to do a lot of knitting. I took along my brownish cardigan and have now almost finished it. I'm just knitting the bands now so hopefully in the next couple of days, I will have a new cardigan to wear.

That of course means that I have to look for my next knitting project.  I spent a lot of time on Ravelry today trying to work out what to make next.  I love Ravelry and find that it's easy to spend/waste heaps of time looking at all the beautiful projects people have made.  I think I've narrowed it down to a cardigan or a short sleeve jumper.

In the meantime, I 'found' this ball of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn in my cupboard.  I think I bought it last year with the intention of crocheting myself a scarf.  It turned out to be one of those projects that didn't quite get off the ground.  Anyway, I'm trying to be frugal and use up what I have before buying any more yarn so I looked through Ravelry for a nice scarf pattern.

I found this one by Susan Ashcroft called Noro Bias Lace Scarf.  Last year I knit myself a bias scarf in Noro Taiyo and I wear it all the time.  It's a simple garter stitch pattern but the colour changes in the yarn make it really stunning.

This scarf is a lacy pattern but the again the colour changes in the yarn will (hopefully) make it stunning as well.

It should keep me busy anyway.

Tour Showdown....

Well it's come down to the time trial tonight.  Will Cadel Evans  be able to beat Andy Schleck?  It will be very exciting to see.

Until next time

Lyn

Still knitting

I've had a bit of a mixed bag with my knitting this week.  There's been some good and some frustrating (I was about to say 'bad' but it turned out okay in the end) moments.

The good thing - I finished the little Milo vest I was making for charity.  It's so cute.  I made it size 1 - so it's actually not as big as you might think from this photo.  It's knit from the top down so there was no seaming at all.  All I had to do was weave in some ends and then block it.

The pattern gives a couple of variations for the cable pattern down the front.  This means that you could make it a couple of times and each one would be a bit different.

This is such a versatile little top too - I made mine in wool but it would be nice in cotton and worn in summer as well.

While I was knitting it I said to Robin that it's a shame I don't have any grandchildren to knit it for but then I thought that there's a child somewhere who doesn't have a grandma to knit him/her a top.  I pray that they will be blessed by my little top.

The not so good ...

Remember the shrug I planned to start knitting?  Well, the other day I did just that.  I cast on 137 stitches and started on the lace pattern.  I had knit 8 rows and the stitch count was all wrong and my pattern was starting to look a bit 'wobbly'.  I couldn't work out where I went wrong but blamed it on Flossie (the cat) who was sitting on my lap at the time and kept interrupting me for a pat. I decided to unpick the lot and start again the next day.

Well, the next day I cast on 137 stitches again and this time took a lot more care in following the pattern.  All was going well until I had knit 8 rows.  The stitch count was all wrong - again; and my pattern was starting to look a bit 'wobbly' - again.  This time I didn't have Flossie to blame so I thought I would unpick one row and see if the row before it was okay.  I did that very carefully and the stitch count was okay.  I then knit the row again - still all wrong.  I was about to chuck it in but thought I would look more closely at what the lace pattern was supposed to look like and then bingo.  I realised that there was a typo in the pattern all along. (I had to apologise to Flossie who held it against me for days.)

I made the corrections and am now happily knitting my shrug again - without any 'wobbles'.

Until next time

Lyn

On the Needles

Last month I bought some lovely Cascade 220 yarn to knit a sleeveless jumper called Irish Coffee. The yarn used in the original pattern was different to Cascade 220 and was in fact a bit thicker.  So I did lots of adjustments to get the right tension and then started knitting. I was not happy with the way it was progressing - I frogged it and started again - but still not happy.  I then thought I would never be happy with it if I kept going so frogged it for the last time and looked for something else to make with the yarn.

I had this pattern for the Macro Lace Cardigan by Laura Chau in my cupboard and it seemed that the yarn was much more suited to it. 

It's an easy knit with minimal shaping so I'm hopeful that it won't take me too long to make.

In the meantime, I've become a little distracted by baby knitting.  (not for me or any one in my family)

A friend asked me if I would be interested in doing some charity knitting with her.  I thought it was a good idea especially seeing there are so many cute baby patterns out now which I'm keen to try.

 

 

I bought 10 balls of this aqua colour 8 ply last year in a sale.  I was with a friend who urged me to buy it.  It was pure madness because the colour just doesn't suit me at all.  As a result, it's been sitting idle in my cupboard for the last 12 months.

I thought that it would be perfect for charity knitting and have started with a Milo vest (by Georgie Hallam) which is very popular on Ravelry.  It reminded me of all the knitting I did for my boys when they were little and how quick they were to make.  Very satisfying!

Cold....

Yesterday it was so cold here that for a moment I felt a bit like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz (are we in Kansas?) and had to phone Robin and ask him "Where do we live again?" It felt like me we had been transported back to Canberra!

Until next time

Lyn