Cardigan ... Finished at Last

I thought about calling this post "The Reluctant Model", as you can probably tell that my son was not over keen to have me take his photograph. Although he has said I can post them on my blog. (Mind you, I am usually not very keen on having my own photograph taken, so I do know how he feels.)

I prefer the photographs taken above, even though they don't show the cardigan very well. I knew if I started faffing about the cardigan I might lose my model completely, so here are some taken outside, which show the garment off better. 

I'm rather pleased with my improvised stripes on the sleeves, although in the end I had wool left over. So I didn't need to do them, but I think they have added something to the garment - the college preppy look.

The pattern I used was call "The Boyfriend Cardigan" by Erica Knight, bought from John Lewis. It is actually a woman's cardigan pattern, but I reversed the bands. It fits my son very well, as he is tall but very skinny. The grey Aran-weight wool is Drops Alaska and was bought online from Wool Warehouse. It seemed good value for 100% wool at £1.80 for a 50g ball, and by clicking about a bit I managed to find a discount code. (I bought 18 balls, but have 2 left over.) 

I was tempted into buying some sock wool, as spending over £30 put me into free postage. So expect some more family knitting here soon.  

I'm also rather pleased with how the toggles look, instead of buttons, bought from Fabricland.

I know this is not great, but it did capture the feel of most of the photos that I took but haven't used.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for January. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month

Ginx Woolly Linx Party January 2019

Hello, and Happy New Year!

I am so pleased to welcome you to the first Ginx Linx Party for 2019, and to celebrate that the party has reached its first birthday. I was a bit nervous a year ago when I started the party. Will anyone come and join, and will I be able to technically put it together each month? But much to my relief you have come from all over the world, and shared your wonderful projects. The party has grown a bit month by month, but also lots of you have come back regularly. 

I have picked a few more favourites than usual, just couldn't limit myself to just four.

Lilia of Lilia Craft Party in Venice has knitted this lovely London Scarf. Her own design, I think it is both cosy and glamorous.

Gema of Hebra de Lana has made Leopold, a polar bear who looks all set for cold weather in his Nordic sweater.

Jo from Three Stories High has made this sweater from a pattern called The Simplest Sweater, but added her own unique coffee-coloured band of Nordic decoration.

Sabine of Nephi Handmade has been running a penguin CAL. I recommend you click on the link to see all the penguins that have been made so far.

Maricarmen of Tramas de Colores has made these cute little Christmas gnomes. I would like to make some of these myself for next Christmas.

and finally Olga of Lacey Crochet has made this beautiful leaf-inspired doily from her own design. I am always a bit in awe of this type of crochet work, done with such fine thread.

So thank you to everyone who has joined in the party over the last year, and I look forward to seeing and being inspired by your projects in 2019.

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"A Christmas Pickle"

Has anyone else got themselves in a Christmas knitting pickle. Taken on too much, and not got it done in time. I've mentioned a few times that I'm knitting a garment, which is in fact a cardigan for my son. It's taken a bit of planning, as he doesn't like anything too flamboyant. I am not completely sure he will wear it. I know that handknitted cardigans are probably not the coolest thing, but he might, as he is not particularly into fashion. 

So I am in a pickle in two ways. Firstly, as you can see, it will not be done for Christmas. The back and two fronts are done, but I am still on the sleeves. Second problem is that I think I am not going to have enough wool. So I have decided to try and solve this problem in two ways. I'm knitting both arms at the same time, and the new plan is to have some stripes of other colours around the elbows. (Does anyone knit arms like this? I have heard that some people knit socks this way.) He is at university, and perhaps this will give him a preppy look. I think this might work out, but will keep you updated, and perhaps eventually I can get my son to model the finished garment. Not sure he will, as he is a shy young man.

And I just thought I would finish off with a few of the knitted ornament that are on my tree this year, made from my own patterns. Christmas Tree, Sand Dollar and Scallop Shell.  

These come out every year, but I may have to think of a few more ideas for next year, as the dog had a bit of a session on some of my other decorations. These are the broken ones on her bed. She had got some knitted ones off the tree, but they seem to have survived. So perhaps she is the "Christmas Pickle"!

Happy Christmas to you all!

Plums and Custard 2CV

I have just completed an order for a slightly different 2CV from my Etsy shop. The customer referred to the car as "plums and custard", and I hadn't heard this cream and maroon combination on the 2CV referred to in this way. I wonder if other 2CV colour combinations have nicknames.

She was really pleased with the finished car, which is knitted from my Henrietta 2CV pattern, with a bit of personalisation.  Here is link to the post with the original Henrietta, and me looking much younger than I do now.

So once again I have had a bit of distraction from my "big project", but I am back on it. (And all I can say is that I have finished the back, and one side of the front. But time is running out before Christmas! Help!)

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for December. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month

Ginx Woolly Linx Party December

I feel that my favourites this month might be summed up by the phrase "deceptively simple". Aren't they all beautiful, great colours, and beautiful designs.

The first is this lamp for St. Martin's Day. It made me feel nostalgic for the school where I used to work. Every year we would visit the nearby German School, and make lamps to celebrate St. Martin's Day. I love the coloured ribbons on this lamp, made by Howling at the Moon.

Next Raji's Craft Hobby has made this super crochet star ornament. She has a really good photo tutorial, so even a crochet novice like me could have a go.

Ha, at last some knitting. Isn't this baby jumper and booties just beautiful. I just love the pure whiteness, and the way it has been presented by Gema of Hebra de Lana from Spain.

And finally Fanny of Yarn Around the World has made this classic crochet basket. Love the bright yellow and the shape.

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My Work Basket

I just thought you might like to see the state of my work basket. I have been busy working on this teddy bear, and am just waiting for the toy joints to arrive and then I can put him together. I can't find anywhere locally to buy them, and mail order does seem the best option.

It has been fun returning to my own pattern. It always astonishes me that I wrote it. But then I remember the weeks of work writing and knitting, and altering and rewriting, and testing. 

I love this wool that I have used. You may have noticed it before on my blog, mainly for baby shoes. It was a jumper once, and just seems to go on and on. I may have enough left for another bear, or perhaps a different project. The colour is bit unusual for a bear, but I just like all the different shades in it.

Just a reminder that there is still a little bit of time to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for November. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month

Conkers

I've been slightly distracted from my clothing projects by an order for some conkers. If you don't know about conkers here is a link to a previous post, where I explain what they are. 

I don't think it has been a good year for conkers, and I have not seen many this year on my frequent walks with the dog. Probably something to do with the hot summer, or perhaps the disease that seems to affect a lot of the trees near me. Although it seems that it is the leaves that get damaged, and the trees survive on. But my husband tells me it has been a good year for acorns!

P.S. I just got a message from the lady I was making these for, saying there was huge huge horse chestnut tree outside of her home where she and her twin sister grew up. So one is for her and one for her twin. Isn't that cute.

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for November. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month