Catherine Cowl

These days, my sewing is grinding to a halt.  I don't have a dedicated sewing space, so I can't leave everything out and grab 30 minute chunks to work on a project.  So instead, I am knitting.  Even a novice knitter like me can make lovely little luxuries worth having.

Hey look!  I cut my hair!  I am going to let all the fried-up, dyed-up stuff grow out and see how I feel about grey.

Case in point, the Catherine Cowl, by Blue Sky Alpacas.  This took me forever to knit.  The needles were just 2.75mm!  It's a simple basket weave knitted in the round.  Nothing difficult about it in the least.  It's time consuming, though.  But, I could carry it around in my purse and work on it whenever, wherever.  Dentist, Ballet lessons, Swimming lessons, etc.

Here is how it looks on its own.

My only problem was Casting Off without making the edge too tight.  I did it the usual way and found I couldn't get it over my head!  Then I went online, and found methods for socks that were more stretchy.  Still couldn't get it over my head!  Do I have a big head, or what?  Finally, I did it my own way with a tapestry needle.  It doesn't look as good as I would like, but it is a small detail.

My unique, stretchy cast off method.

The nicer casting on.

I have to say that a basket weave is simple and effective.

Basket weave up-close.

I bought the materials for this at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace a few months back.  There was a sweet small business, Mrs Moon selling luxury yarns.  This baby alpaca yarn they were selling was far softer than any cashmere which I felt that day.

I have to admit that I am sorely tempted by their naturally metallic baby alpaca / raw silk blend.  It could make a luxurious, on trend scarf for this winter.

Metalico yarn at Mrs Moon.

Knitting is such a labour intensive activity that using top rate materials makes perfect sense to me. Especially if you value your own time!

I am a Winner!

I won HandMadeJane's pattern giveaway!  If you have found my blog, you probably already know Jane's blog.  If not, check it out! Jane sews lovely vintage inspired clothes and all the pictures are taken inside her Victorian house with deep skirting boards and stripped floor boards.  It's all just the way an American imagines an English mum's life should be.

Collette Anise

The Make Lounge sent me the pattern Saturday.  Don't they have a tempting website?!  I noticed they stock Anna Maria Horner quilting cottons.  Favourites of mine, and rather hard to find here in the UK.

I'd love to run out tomorrow and buy some candy coloured wool to make this up in, and sport around town looking like I am best friends with Kate Spade.  But, it's clearly not going to happen.  I am waaay backed up in personal sewing.  Family commitments come first.

So, I am thinking it would look charming in a seersucker fabric for Spring.  I won't let it sit around forever, that would be ungrateful.  And I am, in fact, delighted!

A Poet Talking about Her Stash

Pam Ayres, English Poet.
My husband thinks she has a strong accent and marvels that I, a mere American, can understand her.  I actually find her very clear.  I think for an American she is easier to understand than a Cockney or a Geordie or a Glaswegian.  These days, I like to think that I can understand everybody.  I will admit that some people still don't understand me over the phone, after living here for over a decade!  

Radio 4 Had Pam Ayres musing on Winter this week.  She had a funny three minute riff on her crafting stash.  I can't find a way to imbed the audio, but you can follow this link.

Listen from about 1:25 to 4:19.  Or listen longer if you are having fun;-)
Only five more days to listen.  Then the BBC takes it down.

Sewing Makes You Picky

My new pink sweater is very warm and cosy, but it has a wide funnel neck.  So, there I am with a sweater that can only be worn in the cold, but leaves my neck exposed.  I definitely need a scarf.  

I have the perfect scarf, a silk scarf.  But aren't silk twill squares a little naff?  A little old fashioned? A little fussy and formal?

Well, maybe if you wear it this way.

Or this way.

But to me, this looks casual and modern.  

I found this Givenchy scarf at my local TK Maxx (TJ Maxx in the USA).  There was a whole wall of scarves.  Plenty in silk, all of varying quality.  I noticed multiples of cheap-ish silk chiffon scarves with serged edges.  Medium priced silk twills with machine rolled hems.  There were some I even noticed from the school gates!  Hip and trendy scarves with stars or skulls, etc.

But it was this scarf that stood out for me.  It is heavy silk twill with a digital laser print and a hand-rolled hem.  All made in Italy for just £40.  A bargain, obviously!  Well, I thought it was value for money.  But it was a lot of money.  So I left it.  I couldn't forget about it, though.  So, I went back two weeks later.  It was still there!  Mine!

I live in a very fashion conscious area.  For two weeks, no one else thought it was a "bargain."  I am sure it is only because I sew that I can look at £40 silk scarf next to a £12 silk scarf and declare the £40 scarf a bargain.  I'm not right.  I'm not wrong.  Of course, it all subjective.  But my! Doesn't making your clothing change your perspective, when you do go into the shops?

Just to illustrate my point:

Here is the edge of an Echo scarf I bought about 20 years ago when I first started working.  I think I bought it at Macy's.  It was medium price.  Thin silk twill with a think machine hem.  Perfectly acceptable.

Here is my new indulgence.  Much thicker twill and look at the beefy hand rolled hem.  No one will ever notice, but it gives me such pleasure and satisfaction.

Debbie Bliss: Mock Rib Sweater

Mock Rib Sweater in Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Chunky

I finally knitted something that I enjoy wearing.  This big baggy sweater in Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed Chunky Pink yarn is soooo squishy and comfortable.  As a pear shaped gal, I know that big and baggy on top, falling at my hips is generally not a good idea.  But, who doesn't love a big, sloppy sweater sometimes?

This pattern was well written and easy to execute.  Nothing to scare off a beginner like myself.  And the combination of a big yarn and a mock rib meant that it knitted up double quick.  I knitted a small for the front and a medium for the back.  I just cast off a couple of extra stitches at the arm holes on the back and this worked fine.  Arm holes should really be cranked forward a little bit anyway, I think.  I knitted small sleeves.

I am not a Barbie Girl in a Barbie World, but hot pinks do suit my skin tone.  So I go with them.  I found this yarn on a stock clearance table at John Lewis at the beginning of the summer.  So my sweater cost £39 plus the cost of the pattern.  Not bad.  I was listening to Radio 4's Woman's Hour, when I heard a piece about wool sweaters.  Apparently chunky wool sweaters are coming back into fashion.  For a wool/acrylic mix knitted in the Far East, expect to pay about £70.  For an all wool sweater knitted in the UK expect to pay at least £270.  I had thought the wool was indulgent, but now I feel positively thrifty!

Picture of me wearing it, in the poor light of my upstairs landing.

I really fancy a Fairisle sweater, but I don't think I can afford the quality I would want.  I wonder if I could pull one off.  It's a big jump from knitting a simple chunky sweater to weaving all those different colours around.  Maybe if I start with a vest...