Purl and Seam

handmade in Lancashire

More cuties in cream – Made by Ma!

It’s bitterly cold still in our neck of the woods.  Button has been very brave venturning out in shorts for photos.  Thankfully Ma has been busy with her needles as they had grown out of pretty much all their knits.

First up is a little jacket that Button has had before.  She absolutely loves it, and this time Ma made it with long sleeves, so it’s even cosier.

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Pattern : Sirdar 2358

Yarn : 80/20 poly/wool from Abakhan at £6.17 for a 400g ball

Much as I’d love them to be clothed in Madelinentosh all the time…these two are R.O.U.G.H. on their clothes.  This yarn can just be thrown into the wash and comes out as good as new.

IMG_7845_edited-1IMG_7849_edited-1The Boy was not to be left out…

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Pattern : Sirdar Jolly Beachcomber  No 2334

Yarn : As above.  Thankfully as well as being resistant to small people, this yarn is also soft.  Boy is a whiner about wearing a sweater.  Unless it’s super soft it’s a no go.

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IMG_7873_edited-2Thanks, Ma.  These are just lovely.

Baa Ram (n)Ewe colour knitting skills

It seems that I’m not actually producing a great deal at the moment, and I’m really OK with that.  I have stuff on the go and hope to have something to share with you next week…if I can just get my act together to sew the darned hem!

But I am also working on developing (n)ewe skills…and that, my dears, takes time.

Sadly, the jokes are still very, very old indeed!

This week, Lara Croft and myself treated ourselves to a colour-work knitting workshop at Baa Ram Ewe in Headingley, Leeds, to celebrate making it through the Easter school break without murdering the little horrors.

image from baaramewe.co.uk

image from baaramewe.co.uk

We set off bright and early on Saturday morning with rare sunshine on the hills as we crossed over into Yorkshire.  Thankfully our visas were up to date ;-).

Baa Ram Ewe is a delightful yarn shop stocked to the ceiling with beautiful yarns such as Jamieson and Smith, Rowan and Debbie Bliss.

image from baaramewe.co.uk

image from baaramewe.co.uk

But their speciality is Yorkshire Yarns and their own Titus yarns had me twitching to make a purchase.

image from baaramewe.co.uk

image from baaramewe.co.uk

Thankfully we were whisked off to a nearby coffee bar to start the day.

image from salvos.co.uk

image from salvos.co.uk

Coffee in hand, Sara, our Rowan tutor for the day, lead us gently into the world of colour knitting.

Sara's samples

Sara’s samples

At this point I’ll admit to be more than a little nervous.  Lara Croft is a very calm and accomplished knitter.

Me…I don’t do calm.

But I’m going to let you into the three big secrets I learned during this course:

  1. Take it slow…what’s the rush.  Enjoy the process (and you know I’m not a process kinda gal, so this is B.I.G.).
  2. Pay attention…this is knitting to lose yourself in.  
  3. Don’t be scared…what’s the worst that can happen…it’s only sticks and string at the end of the day!

There it is…the secret key to colour-work knitting.  It turns out even us mere mortals can do it!

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BTW, I’m not being flippant.  I realised that it boils down to knitting and purling and picking up and putting down two colours of yarn.

It’s really not that hard as long as you aren’t afraid to just get stuck in and give it a go, work slowly and pay attention to the chart and your work.

This isn’t knitting for in front of the TV…unless you’re far more skilled at this than I am.  At which point I’ll tip my hat to you for being fabulous.

I left the day with the feeling that the lovely mittens pattern and yarn currently languishing in the loft can finally see the light of day and my needles.

I can do this!

And so, I think, can Ewe…

Disclaimer…no animals were harmed in the cracking of these jokes!

PS…I really would like to go back to Baa Ram Ewe and buy some of their lovely yarn.

PPS…The coffee at Salvos is delicious…as are their sandwiches

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Ella – FO 12/2012

The pattern is Ella from Kim Hargreaves.

I knitted it in Wollmeise laceweight.

I’ve got to get better at saving ball bands ‘cos I have not other idea than that!

All I know is that this is the perfect sweater for lounging around the house in.

Cosy but not bulky.

Great with leggings and flats.

A fabulous colour.

This sweater makes me happy.

 I may just make this sweater again…with just a normal cast on edge…and enough yarn for full length sleeves.

I had just enough yarn…but I’m also now in love with knitting laceweight.

What I’m working on now

With apologies for the fuzzy pictures…all were taken in artificial light and I don’t (yet) have an SLR camera.

First up is the blind for the hallway.

I really rather enjoy making Roman blinds.  These are an easy size to manage and even with the interlining and the trim, this is coming together rather quickly.  Hurrah. Especially as I have another one to make in the same fabric and trim for the window at the top of the stairs.

Next is the Lucy cardigan.Just a teeny bit more of the yoke and the band to do here.  It’s flying off the needles now I’m on the yoke.  And about time too as this has taken far to long.  My fault, not the pattern.  A bad attack of ennui that has now been shaken off.

And last but by no means least:The yarn is a lace-weight from Teeswater Wools in Clitheroe with two strands knit together.  It’s spun from rare breed sheep and is absolutely glorious. Whilst the photo above shows the cable pattern, Comfy Cables, free on Ravelry, it doesn’t show the colour.  This is more like it:Just lovely.  And a super easy pattern.

Hats off to Button

DSCF3136_0179I LOVE this little hat.  It’s made in very cheap acrylic yarn (Silcaress from Cygnet) as that’s all the local shop had in stock and I needed to get this on her head, and quick.

The pattern is the cover design from the Sirdar Little Sweet Peas book, with just one repeat of the lace,  and is a dream to make in no time at all:

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WooHoo!

I can’t believe that the sitting room curtains are finally finished.  I’m rather pleased, not only because they look quite spiffing…

0362but also because the weather here is back on form and it’s howling a gale and bucketing down with rain.  Plus ca change.

Now, I can see the errors, and I know that they need dressing, but still, they do finish the room and are well worth the effort and bloodied fingers. I’m going to set the pleats tomorrow and am playing hunt the tie-back, but to all intents and purposes they are finished.

Also finished is Mr Stitches Maille vest from knitonthenet.

031This is a super easy pattern, but did give me pause at the shoulders, which are shaped with short rows and then the seam is created with a three needle cast off.  Well, there’s another skill learned.  I do love it when these things creep up on you and you have to get to grips with something quick.

THEME BY ECLAIR DESIGNS