Flowers and finishing

On Tuesday, my friend gave me some yellow roses for having completed half my exams. I, similarly, had given her flowers a week before for her own halfway point. The flowers I gave (nearly two weeks ago now), are Sweet Williams. They were 2 for 1, so I took half (the bunches were huge) and have survived and thus are now mixed with the roses in two makeshift vases in my room. I'm not sure if I would have bought yellow roses and pink and red Sweet Williams together, but they do look lovely.





In less than a week, I will have finished my exams and thus all the work for my degree. The prospect is both terrifying and exciting.

In the spirit of finishing things, today I finished my 'Zany' tunic.



It's based upon a design by Robyn Chachula that was in Inside Crochet number 2. I started it in August 2009,  intending to make it as a tunic. I did most of the legwork then, but got distracted and bored and never finished it. My longest UFO - but as the yarn is Rowan Pure Wool DK - soft and luscious against the skin, I knew that it would be a waste never to make anything of it. Unfortunately, all the cut ends required to make the motifs meant that I couldn't unravel it. In April, as I was sorting out my project box to come back to uni, I pulled out the half finished tunic and looked at it, pulled it, and realised that if I unwound some of the motifs and rearranged them, then I could make a rectangular throw. I'm not really an afghan/blanket making person - but as this project was basically already done, I guessed that it wouldn't take me too long to rearrange the sleeve motifs into a rectangle. Except that I got distracted by Esmée 2 and the Ashfield Cardigan, and didn't actually get round to doing this until today.



It only took about two hours - one for reattaching the motifs, and another for sewing in all the ends that you can see in the first picture. It is now blocking on my bedroom floor - on the space between my bed and the chest of drawers. But I thought that I would post about it now, while I have the inclination and enthusiasm. Anyway, it's a project that I started after the summer of my first year of university, and have finished in the third and final year. Hooray for finishing!

Esmee Cardigan, Inside Crochet and Tiny Hats

I've been somewhat overwhelmed with work this term, and the idea of blogging about my crafting has become something of an alien concept. However, I think this is a crafting event that definitely needs documenting.

Photo from Inside Crochet, KALMedia on Yudu

That, the Esmée Cardigan on the cover of Inside Crochet magazine, is my cardigan. The cardigan that I designed, made, and wrote the pattern for, and the first design that I submitted for publication.

The Esmée cardigan began with Lila, at the beginning of 2009. I had attempted to make Annette Pétavy's Leaves sweater from the Crochet Me! book, but lack of swatching meant that I made it hideously too large. Annoyed, I went in search of other 4-ply crochet patterns, eventually, (well, probably not after very long as they're in the same book) Robyn Chachula's Comfy Cardi. However, I found the instructions for the arm a little difficult to understand, but found the stitch pattern to be quite beautiful. Really, I just wanted a lacy cardigan, with some shaping that took account of the fact that I have breasts and a waist. A quick drawing ended up with something very similar to what I ended up submitting with the Esmée cardigan (this is what I submitted with Esmée):

Some kind of lacy pattern, v-neck, waistband/differentiation/cinching. I worked out how many repeats of the 'lacy diamonds' pattern from the Comfy Cardy I would need for my measurements, and off I went. And produced this:

While the measurements were right, the placing of the armholes were not - the back was too large, making the v-neck all skewed, the shoulders falling down the arms. It just didn't quite work. But my Mum liked it, and asked me to make one similar for her.

The idea of making an identical Lila (or Mila - Lila for Mum, as I christened it) sounded rather boring, and so I went in search of an interesting stitch pattern that might at least vary the experience. I ended up choosing the 'Gilded fans' stitch pattern from the Crochet Vogue Stitchionary. And by the beginning of June, I had created this:

That didn't quite work either - but that's more through blunders rather than design fault. The back fits perfectly, as do the sleeves, but I placed the waist band much too low, drawing attention to the widest point and being utterly unflattering. I also knew that if I was to make the cardigan again, then I would have to choose a stitch pattern that worked well with the decreases required by the v-neck, as well as being slightly easier to work in the round (ish - backwards and forwards creating a fairly seamless look rather than strictly 'in the round') for the sleeves. Gilded fans was a bit of a nightmare.

So when Inside Crochet sent out a call for patterns, I knew that if I was going to send in a garment then it would have to be something that I was familiar with. And though Lila and Mila had both been imperfect, they had received compliments on the design (v-neck, lace, waistband) and so I decided to go for it. A happy night practising different stitch patterns, and trying to come up with a lace that was visually interesting (like the 'lacy diamonds' on Lila) without being overpowering (which the 'gilded fans' on Mila has a tendency to be). I ended up thinking about leaves, and my love of dc2tog (US terms) and the diamond stitch pattern of Esmée was created.

Proposal was submitted, accepted. Yarn came in early summer, stitching began in earnest in July as I tried to organise crochet around helping on a kid's camp and going to Brittany for dissertation research. Struggled with the whole idea of making something 'sample size' (size 10, I am not). Finally, when I had just finished it, found someone of 'sample size' build to try it on for me. Lovely, although I must mention that on her, it fell to the 'well-fitted' end of the spectrum (rather than flowy), which I think I was aiming for but if you want something flowing and for layering, then it may be worth making a size larger (or definitely swatching and checking before you make).

Chose buttons. Being back at the kids' camp and without much computer access, wrote pattern out by hand. Wished I'd made more notes. Cursed choosing to do a v-neck. Drew numerous stitch diagrams to try and work out how it all worked. Finished. Typed up at home. Made stitch diagrams on computer - much respect for people who draw all their stitch diagrams on the computer. Thought up various blurbs. Thought of name. Thought about name more. Decided on name - Esmée - memorable of Esmeralda or the green colour, French as much of it was stitched in France, feminine.

Sent off at the beginning of September. Waited. Waited. Waited.

And then saw this:

Photo from Inside Crochet, KALMedia on Yudu

Ah. Happy.

In the meantime, I have been crafting. Quite a lot of knitting - made four green hats, of which two are still existing (two frogged to make the other two). Practised lace knitting. Started knitting gloves.

Made nine (lost one) tiny hats for my friend to use as decorations for a Christmas dinner she ran, in this picture, the ones that I made are in the two rows on the right (the rest are from Innocent Smoothie bottles):

Four are crocheted (top right, both on 2nd row to bottom, and bottom left of the 2 columns), and the rest were knit. I used the knitted ones to practise some techniques - ribbing (top left), colourwork (2nd row) and Christmas pudding making (bottom right). The one that I lost was white and I had practised cables on.

My favourite is the yellow one:

It's done in Tunisian crochet, worked flat with two rows of decreases and then sewed together.

The top photo also shows the Granny Square blanket I've been making. It's currently 5x5 squares, intended to use up stash.

Crochet fashion and crochet patterns

Apparently, crochet is cool. At least, in the fickle world of fashion, it is getting a little more exposure than usual. Aside from my suspicion that a lot of clothes advertised as 'crochet' are not actually crocheted, and the concern about how if they are actually crocheted, how low the pay of the crocheters must be to produce a garment that sells for less than £30 as I am aware of the rudimentary mantra that 'crochet cannot be made by machine'. I am not going to go on such a rant, although be sure I will mention it to my friends if I notice them making crocheted clothes (after examining them to work out the stitch pattern), instead I am going to look at which patterns are available that conform to current shop-bought patterns, but have the satisfaction of being able to say 'I made it!'.

I haven't made any of these patterns myself, so cannot guarantee their quality during the creation process, I am only commenting on similarities with current fashions. All pattern links go to Ravelry.

Tanks are apparently big. See Topshop. Lots of openwork, as can be seen on Ananaskuvioinen toppi or Sawayaka Cotton Motif Vest or Doris Chan's Lapa or the Uzuri Summer Top.

The lightweight swing of Asos' Free People Crochet Cami and Topshop's Knitted Crochet Vest can be seen reflected in the Lacy Swing Top from Crochet Today!.

Many tops are incorporating a crochet edging, and so Berroco's Nell top, or Laura Nelkin's Summer Duet, or the Upcycled Tee from Crochet Today!, or the Floral Motif Yoke Top from Crochet Adorned seem appropriate.

Asos has various crocheted waistcoats. The American term is apparently 'vest' rather than 'waistcoat' and Ravelry is abounds with them, as well as the possibility of leaving off the sleeves of a cardigan pattern. The following are my favourite: Crocheted Openwork Vest, Robyn Chachula's Gladiolus Vest, and three patterns by DROPS.

Just a few buyable objects I've spotted that are reminiscent of a certain pattern (though that does not mean that there are other patterns that will not suffice as well!). This necklace featured in ELLE reminds me of this garter from Interweave Crochet. This headband from Topshop reminds me of the JuJu hairbands from Inside Crochet. This skirt by Oscar de la Renta reminds me of the amazing work done by Antonina.

I suppose I'll end this post with Interweave Crochet. The preview for the summer issue came out today, and there are several patterns within it that made me gasp. They may just be channelling my current love of lace and greeny-blue colours, but I love the Peaseblossom tunic, delicate Moth Wings shrug, the Mirth sweater and Puck tunic.

I'm also looking forward to going home next week, as the latest issue of Inside Crochet should have arrived. I think the Time for Tea set is adorable, and am interested about the stitch pattern of the Marabella capelet and Picnic wrap.

With all that crochet talk, I suppose it may be a surprise that I have been knitting this week. Truth be told, I just finished Mila - a version of Lila for my Mother, which took about 5 weeks of crocheting through revision and exams. I suddenly have free time to learn something and get to grips with a new skill so I am attempting lace knitting. But knitting makes me impatient, I long for the quick results of crochet, and so a long scarf pattern is becoming a small button-up cowl.

I will post about Mila soon, once I've given it to my Mum, and the days brighten up a little so decent photos can be taken! I'm intending to wear my small Seraphina shawl to a formal event tomorrow, so hopefully will get better photos of it than I did at Christmas!

Rapunzel again and the joy of having a finished object

Rapunzel has lain dormant in my cupboard since it was finished during the summer. It is now November. The problem was the sleeves. I tried to pull them up so that I would have something on my shoulders, which meant they were too tight, and fell down anyway. I thought the only way to fix it would be to rip the seams and make the shoulder part larger. Well, a few days ago, inspired by another Rapunzel FO, I decided it was time to pull my own Rapunzel out the cupboard and wear it to a lecture. Instead of trying to pull it into the shape Rapunzel is meant to be, with a U shape neck, I decided to wear it as a boat neck, with the sleeves falling off the shoulder. Perhaps it was months hanging up in the cupboard, but the sleeves fitted! Hooray! I realised that I didn't have to rip the seams at all, I could just add extra panels to make it fit the U neck that I wanted. So that's what I did, sewed up the seams on the arms which were quite loose, and then blocked it (wet blocked because I don't have a clue about blocking, so just dunked it in the sink and then pinned it to a towel). The sleeves were looser, it isn't a weird shape at the the top and it is so snug and cosy for winter, hurrah!

It's not quite Rapunzel as it is meant to be, but it works. And I've been working on two huge projects (Zany by Robyn Chachula and the unnamed cardigan of strange yokes) so has missed the satisfaction that comes with something actually being finished *happy sigh*

A Belated Rapunzel

I have put off writing this for quite a while. This is also a project that needs explaining as it doesn't quite look like it is supposed to. The pattern - Rapunzel by Aoibhe Ni Shuilleabhain has more of a u-neck, and I haven't yet decided whether or not I am going to add the buttons and ribbon next.

The pictures were taken the day after I finished stitching it all up, so the fit isn't quite there yet. It has stretched a little since then, the 'boaterish' neck has become more u-shaped and the sleeves no longer dig into my arms.

I made it in Sublime Kid Mohair, Smoke Blue, using a 6 and 3mm hook and made the medium size (possibly a mistake, I measured myself, and decided I was halfway between medium and large and plumped for the smaller option as I wanted a tighter fit).

I did back loops only, which was a mistake and possibly led to it coming up rather short (belly button length rather than the more comfortable hip length, and so had to add an extra 20ch round to the bottom to compensate and make it longer, luckily this doesn't seem to be too obvious. It did however stretch the neck into being too long (if I remember correctly) so I filled in with a row of dc (UK tc) in 6mm then the small 3mm pattern. I did it evenly all the way around, which led to the unfortunate loss in neck shape. As mentioned earlier, this has evened out a little with stretching. Probably my own fault for not following the stitch pattern properly. I'm still trying to decide whether to rip the collar part (an utter pain with mohair blend), or fill it in a bit more. I have however worn 'Rapunzel' a few times since the pictures were taken (on Lindisfarne, happy day) and it has been nicely warm enough for cool summer nights.

Did I mention Lindisfarne is radiantly beautiful? That arch is from the ruined medieval priory.



Lindisfarne Castle in the background. We walked there, but it was shut when we reached it :(

In other news, being the crocheter in the family, I have inherited a large number of needles from my grandmother. So many needles...

For a very small haul of crochet hooks! Most of them are plastic, which I am unsure about. But there are two 4.5mm, which is the size that was missing from my collection, as well as a tiny hook which I suspect might be a 2.75/2.5mm (it's smaller than the 3mm hook I own).

All these knitting needles have inspired me to try to knit. I've had several unsuccessful attempts over the years, but thanks to knitting tips by Judy and my Mum showing me you have to turn the fabric over when you purl so that you get stockinette, I think I have cracked it! Hooray! This may turn into less of a crochet blog, as I am already favouriting various knit garments on ravelry, although I'm not so keen on the slowness of the process.




I am currently making a hooded cowl in Noro Silk Garden on circular needles (much fun) - I am very much in love with the colorway of Silk Garden - each rib has ended up a different colour, which is a wonderful effect. Indeed, I wish that Noro made skeins in the blue, pink and purple colours separately, as they are so rich, glorious colours (did I mention before that I tend to fall in love with colours rather than patterns or texture? Seriously, if it wasn't for this Silk Garden then knitting may have been abandoned once again).

Yesterday we were clearing out the garden, ready for builders, and I managed to save three small bagfuls of petals from begonias and geraniums we were throwing away. Am trying to decide what to do with these delightful pinks and reds. At the moment, I think I will press them, and then decide what to do with them. Possibly use them on cards, possibly made some paper and incorporate them, possibly some kind of pot pourri...

Made this gorgeous Swedish chocolate cake (Kladdkaka) a few days ago. Very easy to make, if sticky and difficult to remove from the tin!

Summer Crochet

It is summer, I can hear the growl of a lawnmower, the tree outside my room has sprouted green leaves and lost insects keep bumping my window. Which brings me onto the question of what a crocheter is meant to make in the summer? Wool and woollen garments are essentially winterware, for cold days to keep you warm, and what I have been making: scarves, hats and gloves, are all silly accessories to wear in the sun. 

So what should I make? I've been looking at bags - I bought the Crochet Me! book a while ago because I liked the idea of the Felted Messenger Bag, but now looking at that long, repetitive single colour crocheting to make the back, I am not so convinced. Additionally, there is the logistical problem of the washing machines at uni not having the level of control required to do the felting. Basically, you can set it to wash for various different levels all having a descriptive name rather than temperature (Colours, Whites, Woollens etc.) and then the door is locked and you cannot stop it. Oh, and it's £1.40 a cycle. Not ideal for felting. 

I have been looking at Ellen Gormley's Traveller, but I'm not sure if I want a bag that is that style nor size - I have plenty (too many!) already.

Which leads me onto mesh style grocery bags such as the Knit-o-matic bags or Bernat market bag or Crochet Me's Cocoon Bag. But I already have a very functional shopping bag - it's from M&S and is made of a nylon(?)ish material that can be folded into a tiny bag and slipped into my handbag. I don't have to remember to lug around a huge bag with me, and so don't have that horrible guilt when the checkout person asks if I want a bag or not. Only problem is it says M&S on it, and my usual shop is Sainsbury's - it feels like a bit of a betrayal to carry round my Sainsbury's shopping in a M&S bag!

So I can't decide about bags. What else is there to make in the summer? Crocheting bikinis doesn't look overly appealing! I have been trying out different yarn types - soya and bamboo on Sea Shells scarf (yes, a scarf - but it is light and the thinner more cottony fibres make it feel a little more summery):

Sea Shells Scarf:

Pattern: Sea Shells Scarf by Alla Koval

Hook: 4mm (I think...)

Yarns: Main body: Sirdar, Just Soya in Hot Pepper - 1 skein

Edging: Twilley's of Stamford, Freedom  Gorgeous 4 ply in Green - didn't use much of this at all

Thoughts: The pattern was easy to follow, but I'm not convinced by my yarn or colour choice. This may be something that languishes at the bottom of my crochet box until am surprised by a birthday, or motivated enough to buy a yarn that goes with the Reddish-Purple of the main body better. The yarns were a little splitty and cottony, it works more as a showpiece than a functional scarf.

I've also been working through the Inside Crochet magazine. I mentioned Meadow Scarf last time:

Meadow Scarf:

   

Pattern: Meadow Scarf by Robyn Chachula

Hook: 5mm

Yarns: Wendy Mode DK in Teal and Vapour Blue - 1 skein each

Stylecraft Life DK in Mint - about half a skein

Thoughts: I love Mode DK, and I think Stylecraft Life DK is awesome as well (my local yarn store now stocks a whole menagerie of different colours in this affordable yarn that is great for amigurumi) but for this project I think I would have been better to go with something a little more fine and less woolly. Not necessarily the recommended yarn - I'm possibly a little bit of a rebellious new crocheter in that sense, but I do feel that if a project has been proved to be able to be made in a certain yarn, then I should be able to see if it can be made or even look better in a different yarn. The scarf has been given away as a birthday present, to a fairly happy friend (though the fact I made something for them seems to make most people happy) so I consider it to be a success.

 

I tried to conquer broomstick lace one Sunday morning, and consider myself somewhat successful - the trick was to keep the lace parts long by sliding them onto a ruler. I need to make myself a moustache for a murder mystery party tomorrow, and am considering using the same method, just not joining the lace together. Anyway, that resulted in the Broomstick lace Neckwarmer in good old Mode DK in Teal (yes, I have a lot left from the cardigan) and a 3.5mm hook:

I used leftover buttons from the cardigan to join it together, and I reckon it looks rather fine - if totally unseasonal!

I've been rather inspired by the Attic 24 blog -especially the use of colour and rainbows. I liked the circular pillows and mats so much that I decided to make my own mat based on the round cushion and bag (there is a tutorial somewhere on the site, but I can't find it). I realised that I didn't really have a rainbow of colours: just lots of green. Six shades which I used to make 8 rings, and is now serving as a mat for my fruit bowl. This also allowed me to practise with some new yarn: Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton DK. It was more robust than what I am used to, and a little bit more unwieldy, but was fairly easy to work without being stringy. I also used the Freedom Bamboo blend again, and am undecided about it - it does redefine what I think about yarn, being more like embroidery thread than wool, but it isn't awful.

I'm currently working on a few projects - each got put on hold because of yarn shortage. Chelsea Norquay's Pretender  beret in Rowan Tapestry was put on hold as the chain store that stocks yarn that I use had run out of the right shade. The internet order eventually arrived yesterday after a diversion to my parent's home. The first skein I used of this yarn was horrible - knotty and so unspun that it bound itself with other fibres. I then bought a different shade (thinking it was similar) and made something that I'll probably frog and it worked like a dream, and is such a lovely yarn. I hope these new skeins will work as well as that one.

I'm also making Megan Marshall's Acacia Scarf in Sirdar Crofter, which is meant to give a Fair Isle effect. As I am crocheting, and working in long lines, this isn't coming through successfully at all, but it is still an attractive blend of colours and makes an unusual looking scarf.

Finally, I started Amy O'Neill Houck's Babydoll Dress from Crochet Me in Rowan Pure Wool DK in the most fantastic deep purple. Partly because I wanted to see how the ribbing worked, partly because I wanted to make something from the Crochet Me book and partly because it was one of the few designs in the book where I had the correct yarn and hook on hand. I'm not sure if the dress will be very flattering to my figure, or whether I will finish because the yarn is rather expensive, but it's proving a worthy distraction.

And that's it for now! If anyone can recommend a bag pattern that doesn't require felting, isn't a handbag or a grocery bag then I would be very interested!

Cardigan...finished!

My crocheted cardigan is done, and goodness, it's taken quite a while (4 weeks) but it looks awesome - in my favourite colour, designed for me rather than a generic size in a shop, and well - I made it. That is a great sense of satisfaction. I plan to wear it tomorrow, to check that it's ok to wear, not just to make. I am going away so there will be a delay in pictures.

Whilst I am away, I am intending to tackle the Sea Shells Crochet Scarf and also the Meadow Scarf from Inside Crochet. I've already started the Sea Shells scarf in the Just Soya yarn I bought, as an attempt to find out what soya yarn is like (rather cotton-like and not at all like the acrylic/wool/merino yarn that I have been using!). I intend to do the picot edge in another new yarn I bought to try out - Twilley's Freedom Gorgeous 4 ply, which is a bamboo-nylon mix. I haven't used bamboo (or 4 ply!) before so this is all a learning experience. The yarn is a green colour, which I don't think fits too well with the dull red-pink of the Just Soya, but this is just a try-out to see if I like either yarn, rather than a big project.

I bought the Inside Crochet magazine yesterday, rather unexpectedly. I had walked into the WH Smith magazine section, commenting to my accompanying friend that I doubted they would have any crochet magazine. Instead they had both Crochet Today and Inside Crochet so I was both pleasantly surprised, and subjected to the arduous choice of which to buy. I really liked (and like) the Lacy Cropped Cardi on the cover of Crochet Today, but I own Crochet Me! which has the similar Comfy Cardi. I think I was also a little seduced by the bright pink of the cardi, I do tend to fall in love with colours rather than designs. In the end, Meadow Scarf, River Road Cardigan and Pretender Beret all looked like patterns that I might attempt, so Inside Crochet was the better choice. I also love the colours on the Ellie bolero, but sadly lack any suitable child to make it for. Now I just have to remember to read the magazine using my British crochet terms brain!