Panelled Effect Ladies Jumper

I talked about some special knitting in my last post, and here it is, in Fenella. The shade I chose after much debate is Atomic Red, a soft coral red, which I think will really suit my skin tone. I've not seen a shade like this in any yarn around at the moment, and I know a lot of research went into sourcing vintage shades for Fenella. I literally love them all, from the really dark brown of Myristica (which I've got my eye on for a skirt), to the palest pink of Constance Spry. I'm so glad there is a deep navy too, it's such a great alternative to black, which I vowed when I first started knitting vintage never to use. I have never knitted a jumper in it, but have done a few hats.
 

This shot was taken in natural light without flash, and the colour match is pretty close.

This one I took with the flash. The colour match here is slightly closer to the original. My pics still need a LOT of work, but getting the colours true is a start. Something I hadn't realised before is how different the colour of wool can look in different lights, and at different times of the day.

This is Panelled Effect Ladies Jumper from A Stitch In Time. It is the first time I am knitting in 3 ply for myself, and I am very excited about how it will turn out. One of the yarns I am using for Starring Stripes is a 3 ply, but amongst the four other yarns, all of which are 4 ply, it doesn't really count. I also knitted a baby jumper in Patons 3 ply for my son when he was a baby, in off white, which was cute.

It is shaping up really well. I am about six inches in. I'm working the first size, as in the book, which fitted beautifully, with a bit to spare. I was a lot slimmer then, though, so I am a bit concerned that it will be on the snug side. But, when I look at the picture of the original, it is a close-fitting jumper. Hoorah.

My plan is to lose weight between now and finishing it, which will be perfect. I've been 'planning' to lose this weight since the Spring, (actually since June 2012, after I had my daughter, but very half-heartedly). Except I'm going to the land of burgers, donuts and awesome ice cream for over a week. How exactly am I going to do it? I would rather sit and knit than go to the gym. Hey ho.

I'm hoping to get lots of it done, on the beach. I don't sunbathe, even though I don't really burn, being half Greek, but I'm not at all keen on the searing hot sun on my skin. That would be the other half: Irish.

I might try to blog while I'm away, my brother has loaned me a couple of lenses for the camera, although that doesn't mean my photography will improve!

Holiday projects

The summer hols are here now, and my boy has finished nursery. I surprised myself by feeling really sad about it. It made me realize how this is the end of a very sweet phase of his life, the easy-going nursery years. He had such a hard time settling in, and now it's over. Everything after this is more formalised, uniform, full school days. I won't miss the rushing back to collect him at noon though!

We had a good and bad first week of the holidays, a flood in our lean to, but also a great day at Rainham Marshes. They are hosting lovely events throughout the summer, including Mud Pie Mayhem, Mini Beast Hunt and Pond Detectives. We went last week and got very messy making mud pies, and we were the only ones there as some schools hadn't broken up yet. We then went on a mini beast hunt with nets and little plastic pots with the magnifying lid. My boy was very proud of himself when he caught a big grasshopper. It was such a hot day though, we had to set it free quite quickly or it would have cooked!

                                                           Image by Louise Moss RSPB

I'm also getting ready for our holiday to the States to see my husband's parents. I should be thinking about what clothes to take for the kids, and all the other paraphernalia that goes with travelling with children, but my real worry is what knitting and crochet to take, and do I risk putting it in my hand luggage? Will they make me post it back home, or to my address in the States? How long will it take to get there?! In reality, I probably won't get a chance to knit, with the children demanding attention. I suppose I could ask for a seat on my own somewhere and leave them to my husband. An upgrade even...I can dream.

I've been practising my crochet skills, with some lovely stitch samples.










I like the Catherine wheel above left, but also found a Long Wave stitch, above right at top, and Smooth Wave stitch which I hadn't come across before - above right, bottom. I like the boxy look of that one. These are all in Vol 1 of The Harmony Guide to Crochet Stitches.

This one I found in The Harmony Guide to Crochet Stitches Vol 7. It has no name, but I
really like the diamond shape, and prefer the pale grey between the pastel colours, rather than white. Cushion cover or blanket? I'm not quite ready to use them in a design for garments yet, even though I would love to have a crack at a dress for my little girl.

This is the one I have plumped for though, for a lap blanket.

It is a tutorial from Sandra Paul, at Cherry Heart. It is called Clamshell, and is a very pretty stitch pattern. I found the tutorial really helpful, the step by step instructions were fool-proof, and believe me if this fool can do it, anyone can.

I will also be taking some very special knitting.

More about that later...

In the meantime, I'm listening to one of the best tunes Benny Goodman ever recorded - Swingtime In The Rockies. It just sends me.

Free pattern Friday and Fenella

This pattern has to be one of my all time favorites, as single patterns go. My copy is in two pieces, but is still very clear to read, so I'm glad it's scanned now. It takes me ages to scan things, as I'm still learning how to use my new scanner.

It is called the 'Rainbow Jumper', by Lavenda, and it is an iconic wartime knitted. I saw a great version of it in Housewife 49, the drama with Victoria Wood playing Nella Last. I highly recommend the book too, Nella Last's War. Her sister-in-law, played by Lorraine Ashbourne, who is just wonderful in the role, is wearing it in an interesting colourway. I couldn't find an image, but the colours were mid brown, dark blue, light blue, light pink, and grey. I did notice that there was no fullness to the sleeves in that version though, which I think is crucial for a wartime knitted. It is a slip stitch pattern, not a Fair Isle, so just one colour is used on rows.

There is another version I saw recently knitted by Mim, at Crinoline Robot, which is just lovely. Take a look.

It is knitted in the elusive 3 ply wool, impossible to find now. Or is it?

                                                          image by Susan Crawford

Fenella is the new yarn by Susan Crawford, a 2 ply, which means it is made up of 2 strands of yarn, but it is a 3 ply weight and gives the same tension as the vintage 3 ply wools. Made up of 70% Exmoor Blueface and 30% Blueface Leicester, it is soft but not floppy, so will hold it's shape when a puff sleeve calls. I did a tension swatch with it, and it has a lovely halo. I am crocheting a 30s style hat with it at the moment and it is looking good so far.

Unsurprisingly I am VERY excited about this new wool, as there is no other 3 ply on the market. 4 ply just doesn't cut it for some of the vintage patterns. You might be able to get the required tension but it can look quite dense, and doesn't have the same drape. I've noticed this while knitting Starring Stripes, there is a significant difference between the 4 ply and the vintage 3 ply, which is much airier.

I can't wait to knit one of the Stitch In Time jumpers in Fenella, possibly Panelled Effect Lady's Jumper, but which colour? And I wonder if it would be a good substitute for the 2 ply wools required in so many vintage patterns? I'll just have to test it out!

I wonder how the Rainbow jumper would look in Roman Plaster, Forget-Me-Not, Marriner, Columbine and Constance Spry?

Anyway, enough jawing, here it is:

I hope you like it, and I'd love to see if anyone else has knitted it, or is going to give it a go. It's in my queue. But my queue is quite long.

Ants in my pants

I've been really restless recently with my knitting and crochet, I just can't seem to settle on one thing. I keep starting things then get distracted by something, a new pattern from a mag, or some wool that catches my eye, but usually by a child demanding that I be the mummy dinosaur. And the holidays haven't even started yet.

I've just finished my crochet course at City Lit, so I've been practicing the techniques I've learnt, which took up most of my evenings. I haven't picked up my knitting, (Starring Stripes) in weeks, which is most unusual for me. The last time I didn't knit almost every day was after I had my son. It was exactly one month later, and I had to force myself to do just one row. That's post-natal depression for you! I know now why sleep deprivation is used as a method of torture.

Here are a few samples from the course.

Just a few floral motifs and a leaf worked from a chart. No looking at written instructions for me! I now just have to practice all the different techniques I've learnt to keep them in my brain. I loved broomstick crochet, which is very delicate, and tapestry crochet.

I really want to give this a go, with different colours and diamonds in single shades.

It's been a great course. I am so much more confident now at attempting a whole garment, well, more confident. Amongst other things we were taught how to work filet crochet, which seems quite straightforward, but can look very effective. On this chic model below for instance.

I'm trying to work out how long the jumper would take to make, hoping it might be quicker than knitting. Probably not as I am much slower at crochet and am bound to get into a muddle with it at some point along the way. I quite fancy the skirt too, but I've set my heart on a knitted one, and have been searching for the 'perfect' pattern. I don't know whether I want a 30s tweedy affair, or a plain stocking stitch 'swing' skirt, knitted in the round. Hmm. My colour choice is quite limited too, as it will have to go with so many different coloured jumpers. Brown or grey, boring, but ever so practical!

We also had a birthday in June, my little girl turned two.

Here she is with her brother who is 'helping' her open her presents.

This is the last week of term, the summer holidays are almost upon us, and I'm looking forward to them. No mad rush to get breakfast down them, and run to nursery. Nice relaxing mornings, crocheting in the garden while they play. In reality I'll probably be tearing my hair out by Tuesday, with not a minute spare to knit. Hey ho. Trips to Rainham Marshes will be fun. I love it there.

Free Pattern Friday - Home Chat magazine

I recently won three Home Chat magazines from ebay. I haven't looked at ebay for years - I had to cut myself off as I was getting obsessed with vintage knitting patterns and magazines, and they were getting ridiculously expensive.

Living in London, there are few places you can find these beautiful magazines now, they have been snapped up long ago. So my only source is ebay.

This coronation edition looks very modern, I love the bright patriotic colours. The scarf and beret are made in triangles of double crochet.

I was most interested in the last one with the knitting booklet included, and was surprised that it was still there. They are very fragile, pages coming away from rusty staples, but I still took one to bed and read the New Short Serial by Leonie Mason, 'Dreams for Sale'.

It was a bit silly, but quite sweet. Of course, I don't know what fate awaits her as I only have the first installment.

This edition is from October 23rd 1937. On the cover it says 'accurate directions!', which I imagine means the pattern has been checked. I love her smiley face. This is called unimaginatively 'The Cover Jumper'.

I have also included the 'Daisy' design. I can't resist a puff sleeve.

They are both for a 36 inch bust, and use 3 ply wool. The cover jumper uses two colours in the same row. The 'Daisy' design has a lovely basketweave stitch.

I love it when the pattern tells you what colours were used. They are often colours you would never think of putting together. Navy and pink? Yellow and brown? A lady I know who is now in her eighties told me when she was young she had two 'maiden aunts' who were 'career girls' in the 1930s, and still remembers the beautiful clothes they wore, and how daring the colours were. I particularly asked her about knitwear. She remembers a combination of magenta and royal blue. Wow.

It's so rare to find single patterns in colour from then. As well as Home Chat, Good Needlework and Knitting often had colour covers, and gave suggestions for colourways. I wonder if people would follow their advice, as they do now? I know having looked at the patterns from A Stitch In Time so many times, the jumpers are burned into my brain, and I just can't imagine them any other colour.

What's on my Needles Pt 2 and a New Crochet Course

Just sewing up my Starring Stripes now, then I will pick up around the neckline and do the last of the ribbing to finish off. I ran out of the main colour, green, but picked it up at Loop on Saturday after work. I got there just 5 mins before they closed, which was probably fortuitous, as they were having a 10% off sale, so I didn't get the chance to be weak in a wool shop.

I just hope it fits, it measures between 17.5 and 18ins unstretched, so if I just steam it very lightly it should be OK.

Matching the stripes isn't too tricky, I'm using mattress stitch, which is what I use for side seams too. I just can't seem to get on with back stitch, it seems bulky and I like sewing on the right side of the work, so I can make sure I'm not messing up.

I will post more pics when it's finished. Hopefully not crappy ones taken with my phone. I do like my new tablecloth though, an oilcloth from good old Walthamstow Market.

In other news, I signed up to a five week crochet course with Claire Montgomerie, a knit and crochet designer, and editor of the best craft magazine around.

Inside Crochet is pretty much the only craft mag I buy now, as I rarely see anything that interests me in the knitting mags these days. I got a gift subscription to Mollie Makes, which also has some good projects, but there is ALWAYS something in Inside Crochet that I want to make. I think that is what re-kindled my interest in crochet. The projects are aimed at all levels, so as a beginner I was able to leap right in and make something really fun and quick! Wow, it really is SO much quicker than knitting. 

I've just had the first class, and it was great. We were told we can bring in any pattern we would like to make, so of course I have been trawling through my vintage patterns. Can't wait til next week.

When jumpers go bad

I am very cross with myself. I've just finished sewing up a jumper, the fancily named 'Suspender Blouse', and it is all wrong.

A fast easy knit, with an interesting yoke and sleeves in a simple lace stitch. Tension was fine, achieved using 4.5mm needles instead of 5mm as stated. My problems began because I thought it needed lengthening in the body, so I added one extra pattern repeat. Not so bad, but it now bulges above the waist. I also thought the armhole was going to be too snug, so I added another pattern repeat on the straps and lengthened the yoke. I then had to lengthen the sleeve cap, which seemed to work, but it's still just too big. Oh, and the neck is too tight, so I can't get it over my head when it is sewn up!

It took ages to sew up, and now I don't know whether it is worth ripping it all back and working it as the original, or just to stuff it in a drawer and forget about it. The problem is I still think the armhole will be too small for me, I hate it when the jumper feels like it's glued to your armpit. But it was 'the style of the time'. Maybe I need to get a bit more friendly with dress sheilds.

Looking at my wools, I'm thinking about another green now, a darker one with the off white yoke. I used Jaeger Matchmaker 4 ply.

What have I learnt from this? Allow a bit of negative ease.

I will leave you with an image of my wool, which I was so busy getting arranging when we moved in, that I forgot to put moth repellant in.

I found a moth larvae on a skein the other day, and eggs. I freaked out, chucked it in the freezer, but now I need to do the rest. It's my own fault. I just hope it's not too bad.

Current crochet projects

It's so nice to have a few projects you can dip in and out of, and I find crochet is the perfect craft for that.

At the moment I am working on a few things, the first of which I must have started almost 2 years ago, when I seriously knuckled down to crochet. Having learnt to knit first, I found it difficult to get my head around the different terminology, and just stayed clear of all the wonderful patterns out there.

It is, predictably, a granny square blanket.

I'm using acrylic yarn, something I've always avoided, having mainly knitted vintage jumpers that just aren't the same in acrylic. But when you want to use 20+ colours for a blanket that will need washing regularly, there is really no choice. And I have to say I'm a convert! Although the down side is that I end up buying too much because it is so much cheaper than wool. I bought most of the yarn for this blanket in one go, which meant walking home lugging a black bag. I was quite embarrassed, but not as much as I should have been. I still wouldn't use it for jumpers though, not even children's jumpers. I'm still a yarn snob.

I'm also just finishing a cushion cover from Kath Webber. It is featured in Mollie Makes, Issue 30.

The pattern uses Rowan's handknit cotton, and I happened to have a few odd balls, so they were put to good use. Also 2 balls of Freedom Sincere dk in a pale green and candy pink. I love how it turned out, and I was surprised at how easy the chevrons were to work. And it shows how to weave in all the ends as you go along. Great pattern.

I'm also working on some motifs from Nicki Trench's Cute & Easy Crochet with Flowers

I've seen lots of patterns from this book featured in magazines, but it's great to have them all in one book. Even though it is totally water damaged now as my daughter spilled water over it the same day I got it. Grr. I think this will be a throw or blanket, but I can see it making a great bag.

How many projects do you have on the go?

It Cannot Fail To Please (Me)

Another finished jumper from A Stitch In Time Vol 1, ahh. Not just finished, but sewn up. Such a good feeling. I have 3 finished, yet to be sewn up - The Rose Jumper, Quick Work In Thick Wool, and Golden Eagle 'Lady's Jumper'. I'm not even going to say what else from the books are still on the needles.

This post is a bit of a trip down memory lane for me, remembering some of the projects from A Stitch In Time.

I'm so pleased with the colour, not so with the photos. I played around with it in photoshop thingy, as it was too dark, and I just couldn't work how to do it properly, so it is a bit washed out, and the one below is still too dark and shadowy. These pics were taken hurriedly one evening while waiting for the cab to arrive to take me to a lovely dance class/club, Swing Cats Corner at The Orford Road Social Club. I was barking at my husband, expecting professional photos, in the 3 minutes before the cab arrived.

I used Jawool by Lang in Spring Onion, in the first size. It came out larger than the original in the book, partly because I think this sock wool is ever so slightly thicker than the Cygnet, but mostly as I blocked it quite wide, to emphasise the leaf pattern. Since I first saw it I knew I wanted to knit it in green - leaves should be green! Not that I don't love the magenta of the original. I have a cable knit in that shade, by Copleys from 1940, (dated by the knitter in pencil). Will have to dig out the photos.

I love this square neckline, so flattering to the old collar bones. I found some dress clips on eBay to wear with this, Such A Debonair Little Jumper, and Such Flattering Puff Sleeves, for a dressier look. I knitted shoulder pads for it too, I felt it needed a squarer look to the shoulders. I did triangular shoulder pads from the chapter Fit And Finish in A Stitch In Time Vol 2. I'm quite pleased with them, although I don't think I sewed them in the right position, as they can tend to flip back into the body of the jumper, not stay in the sleeve head. Grr.

The beret is one I designed after picking up some Drops Silk Alpaca (80% alpaca, 20% silk), at The Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally back in 2007. It is an aran weight, and discontinued now. I remember it so well as I bought the wool that I used to knit Embroidered With Tiny Flowers that day too. I have the date I started and finished knitting it, in three weeks, in January 2008. I can't believe I did it so quickly, as I still shudder at the memory of the embroidery - it took so many hours. I took it with me to the first photo shoot for the book in February that year, and Susan loved it, along with my Tea Gardens dress. Alas, none of the photos survive from that first shoot in a South London listed pub-turned-studio, with a photographer whose name I can't remember now, and a then unknown Fleur De Guerre. But the upside to it was that it launched Susan as a photographer in her own right, and the rest is history.

The beret has stretched a bit, but considering I chose to use garter stitch instead of a rib for the bottom, it's not done too badly. I love the weightiness of it - the combination of the aran and heavy silk (it feels like there is much more silk than just 20%, and the sheen is wonderful).

When I stick it on my head, always on one side, covering one ear, usually the right, I don't know why - it stays there. Whenever I put a beret on, I always hear Al Bowlly singing My Hats On The Side Of My Head, and I feel like a serene 1930s lady.
Until, that is, I have to go to Lidl.