E17 Art Trail

It's nearly the start of the E17 Art Trail in Walthamstow. For the first time since I've lived here, I am taking part. I'm very excited about it, but also quite nervous. My good friend Helen Reed invited me to join her for 'A Life of Skein'. We're venue number 11 on the programme.

 Photo courtesy of The Wool Kitchen

Photo courtesy of The Wool Kitchen

We will be hosting it over two days. On Friday 5th June from 10am - 3pm, and Sunday 7th June from 11am - 5pm. our aim is to 'Bring you knitting, crochet and spinning for knit and chat in the garden.'

Helen will be showcasing her hand-dyed yarns, of which she has many! In all weights, from lace weight to super chunky (above), and in a myriad of colours, solid and variegated.

I'm using a 2 ply Exmoor Blue Faced Leicester for my Moss Stitch Beret, which I will release as a pattern for the Art Trail.

It's lovely wool to knit with, super soft and fluffy.

Photo by Wozza

The Moss Stitch Beret in 4 ply alpaca.

This version is in an aran weight silk and alpaca blend.

Photo by Mike D

This is a pattern I had almost forgotten about: Pom Pom Beret. I previously released it as a kit with Abstract yarn shop in Walthamstow village, run by Alessandra Rigillo.

I'm using one of Helen's 'urban hand-dyed' yarns for this one: Another Blue Faced Leicester in an aran weight, so it knits up nice and quickly. It is a super easy pattern, perfect for a beginner. It uses only the knit stitch (garter stitch), with some decreases to shape the top. It has to have pom poms - the bigger, the better.

If you want to see more of her hand dyes, take a peek here.

Photo by Mike D

I seem to be big on the hat knitting. Hmm. Here's my 'Beret for Everyday'. This was done in Excelana, which is - you guessed it - Exmoor Blue Faced Leicester! This pattern will be available at the Art Trail, too.

Let's hope lots of people turn up, or we'll be getting through a lot of tea and cakes ourselves! If you are in Walthamstow, please do come and join us and say, 'Hello'. We aren't bitchin' (like in the photo below), we're just knitting nerds. But then, if you read this blog, you'll know that about me.

We won't be dressed like this, either. There will be more wool. A lot more. I hope it's not too warm out.

Theodora.

New Year - New Resolutions

It's that time of year, you're full of good intentions and hope for the future, even if it is still dark until eight o'clock in the morning.

I am sitting in my kitchen listening to the rain and looking out on my soggy garden, hoping it doesn't flood. Still, I am in good spirits. I have a lot of plans for this year. They involve wool.

Lots of wool.

And some of these books.

I am so glad I started this blog in earnest last May, (thank you, nagging husband). Sad as it sounds, it has given me purpose. I've always been a flighty, never-stick-at-anything kind of gal, (except for knitting that is). Which is why I am so surprised that I have lasted this long.

I've really had to discipline myself, and knuckle down, but it has really focused my mind on what really needs to get done. Which is my designs. And all the work that goes into them. Not just the pattern checking which is the crucial bit, but the photography, and layout. This blog supports all that and is the platform for getting them out there.

I have published one hat pattern so far, A Beret for Everyday, (below), and have three more hats waiting in the wings. Two of them are crocheted, which is very exciting as I am fairly new to crochet. Along with three knitted brooches. I have garments on the needles too, but they are very far from finished.

I am also about to embark on some youtube tutorials, to support the techniques used in some of the designs. I am anticipating lots of frustration and swearing at inanimate objects. And maybe a bit of throwing of wool and needles. And I'll hate how my voice sounds. I always do. Heigh ho, don't be a negative Nelly, you haven't even started yet!

There will be much finishing of projects too! Yes, there will...

There will be more of this. Hopefully.
 
My hubby and I played a set at the Buffalo Bar on New Years Eve, their last night, as the building was being sold. We had such a blast, playing vinyl from our Prom Night club. It was a very nostalgic night for us, as we had run our club there for years, and had such a wonderful time doing it. We made so many good friends at Prom Night, and some of them came to share the last night with us, which made it very special.

I'd really like to do events around here, where I live, in Walthamstow. We'll see. It has become trickier now we have two kiddies.

But it is tremendous fun. 

Got to go and video my hands now. While listening to Flashdance...What a Feeling.

Theodora.

Free Pattern Friday - 1940s 'Oddments' Necklace

I thought I would save this pattern for Christmas, even though it is not terribly festive. It's a crocheted necklace, a quick and simple design, ideal for a beginner.

This necklace was inspired by a pattern originally published in a wartime Woman’s Weekly magazine. I actually saw it as a reprint in A Vintage View, Issue 4 (from 1940 - 1950). Only a snippet of the pattern was shown, so I filled in the gaps. I love the way even tiny amounts of wool were used up in the war against waste.

I have written up my revised pattern, which is available as a free PDF download here.

The original pattern suggests working three chains in four 'vivid' colours, so you end up with 12 chains.

I did a few versions in different weight yarns - one in d.k acrylic, one in 4 ply cotton, and one in 3 ply wool.  

The 3 ply wool one I did to match my Such A Debonair Little Jumper. I used the yarn from that (alpaca), some vintage aqua 3 ply, some 3 ply in a darker pink, and a dark brown from the Handweavers Studio. I worked three chains in each colour.

The two above are both made in d.k. acrylic, (excuse the phone pics). I used only 3 colours, as it turned out chunky enough for me. I would make them slightly longer next time.

Above is a nautical one, in 4 ply cotton, (sorry, it is a bit blurry, but you get the idea), with my Beret for Everyday. I would work more chains for this one if I did it again, but I quite like that it is delicate.

You can get this necklace pattern for free here.


I hope you have fun making it.