Last week was quite surreal. All good, just a lot to take in. So when it comes to reviewing what has been done, well not a lot. I am still DESPERATELY trying to finish Winnowing - well actually the border, which is so clever. It is taking me forever, and it is literally eating yarn. I am now rewarding myself if I do one repeat of charts B & C every night. Yes, it has come to this - does nayone do it like this for project they are struggling with?  I am thinking that I need to re-order some Rowan Kidsilk Aura, nooooo. Everyone who has seen the project in real is impressed, I am on the other hand fed up. 

Winnowing in progress on Saturday night

So I was glad to receive I receive this picture in my inbox today... 

Note, it is a German friend who sent it... 

Hope you all had a good Monday! 

In progress and a real IT achievement (for me)! (Updated!)

It is Wednesday, and therefore it is W.I.P. Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced. 

What to report ... I made some progress with my two placemats for Valentine's Day (yes that would be for yesterday... or 14th Feb 2013 as the case may be now). Actually I saw it coming and I did not over do it on the hearts, so we may be able to use them before next year. 

The left hand side fabric is from Summersville on Etsy,
and right hand side one some linen fabric bought on Amazon

A tutorial to come on how I printed the quote on the linen fabric. Who can guess what it says? 


I can report NO progress on the shirt patchwork ... so there is no point to talk about it. 



I also need to make something out of these fabulous scraps I received from Indianna Dreams. As none of us really had some scraps, we decided to swap some fabric pieces. I was SO excited about it. She chose so well for me - look at all the grey and yellow. Need to put on my thinking cap now... 

Scraps

Winnowing is on its way, I am at that stage when I misjudged how much yarn I needed, and I am waiting, anxiously I may add, for that package. 

Winnowing waiting to be finished

FINALLY! I do have a button you can grab on the right-hand side bar... It took me AGES to get there... for something that is quite easy in the end... But everyone seems to have a different way to do it. (Sorry for those who came on this post before the updated version, it did not work, it should be fixed now and you can actually have your button...)

Anyway here are the steps I followed (a mix of different helpful blogger suggestions):


1. Choose your picture (I used my banner one... made sense right). I edited the picture with Picnik. 


2. I resized it to 125x 150 (should not be bigger than 150 to make sure it fits on other bloggers side bars)


3. Upload the picture to an online photo gallery service. I tried through Picasa, but my picture never appeared in the end (if someone managed to resolve that problem, please let me know). So I used Photobucket in the end - it is free and very fast. You get the HTML of your picture on the right hand-side.


4.Got to layout in blogger, to the design bar, and add an HTML gadget to the place you want your button to show. 


5. You can add a title ('Grab my button')


6. Copy the HTML Code you can find here. 


7. Paste the above HTML Code into the HTML gadget


8. Replace YOUR WEB ADDRESS by your blog address


9. Replace BLOG TITLE by a blog title of your choice (mine says Inspirations for Handmade)


10. Replace the IMAGE HTML ADDRESS by the HTML Code you found on Photobucket


11. Save it, test it and let me know how you got on! 

{Artist Inspiration} - Tom Fruin and scraps

New York artist Tom Fruin used 1,000 reclaimed scraps of Plexiglas for his Kolonihavehus that takes its name and inspiration from Copenhagen’s ubiquitous kolonihavehus - a modest garden shed intended to provide state workers with refuge from the city’s cramped living conditions.

This really jumped at me - first of all for the use of geometrics - but also the colours and the fact that this is made of scraps. A lot of blogs are looking at how to use scraps ... although I still wonder how to define scraps (I suppose it depends how small or big your scrap project is, and how much patience one has).

For some patchwork inspiration do check Rachel's blog Stitched in Colour for the Scrap Attack project but check out also the Compost Quilt over at Completely Cauchy - one of my favourite quilts! (added later... I just realised there is a scrap attack Flickr Group for much more inspiration)

For some knitting inspiration, check out the scrappy lengthwise scarf by Zona Sherman. There are some beautiful versions of this project.

So what do you define as scrap, and what do you do with them?

Basically not a lot ...

It is W.I.P. Wednesday, and what do I have to report - basically not a lot... On the positive side, I am making progress with the Happiness project - started running again, my house is getting more organised, I am sort of keeping to the Weight Watchers plan - and we have started our Britain in our kitchen blog (our 2012 challenge of eating only British food at home). I have also attempted to do some felting - with a varying degree of success (same wool, same temperature, definitely not the same result).

I was hoping to make a pouch out of those but the texture is so different, I may have to rethink this. I saw a patchwork felted blanket on pinterest... I may get tempted (although this project involves having many more jumpers).

I have also received my new Echo, Lotta Jansdotter, fabric which I love - this is

the colour scheme of my parents' new kitchen, and I am thinking of making some table mats for them (any interesting pattern out there? or inspiration?).

I also really really want to make a sewing machine cover - I do have a pattern in mind, so now it is a case of sitting down and getting on with it. And the small spring buds in grey (the right hand-side fabric) would be perfect!

As far as the knitting is concerned Winnowing is still going - hmmm -, and this weekend I had the joy of having to unstitch 3 entire rows - brilliant. I did make it good

- started the last part of the chart pattern - and then stopped. I will go back to it! I have now seen more Winnowing finished and it is really a beautiful garment, worth the 500+ stitches I am going to end up with at the end of the chart pattern.

Hopefully over at Freshly Pieced people will have more to report and get me inspired!

New toy

There was a plan, a very good plan. Yesterday I finished the sleeve for my new toy and I was going to post about it today - sorted. It meant that I was going to show you some patchwork and not some knitting - to break a bit the routine. It was a brilliant plan. Left my computer to upload the pictures on Picnik (whilst watching Sherlock - such a good episode yesterday!). And this morning I should have been able to edit the pics a bit. But this morning, surprise, none of the pictures of the sleeve were uploaded except one. Thanks to my trusted Blackberry, I can at least show you pictures of my new toy that needed a sleeve for the cold nights.

Isn't it beautiful? This is my Christmas or birthday present, as all of these things happen at the same time for me, from M - which I thought was amazing. I did mention I wanted a yarn winder, I showed him a couple on internet, explained the difference this would make to my life - yes, I laid it on thick. He clearly took all of these things on board and I got my very own this Christmas. Finished the hours spent in front of the TV making yarn balls.

Since receiving my present, I had had a chat with one of my colleagues at work about men and how they (supposedly according to her) buy you things they want for Christmas or birthdays. Let me reassure you, M has NO intention to knit, he looks at me weird when I knit. Not in a bad way, just more in a 'how does that work' way.

So for the sleeve... well this is the only picture rescued from last night upload. Quite a lot of details, right?! However I can tell you it is based on the same patchwork made for the cushion in the hobby room (as shown in Friday's post).. So I guess more to post tomorrow!



Happy Monday guys!

Gingko

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a great break and feeling refreshed for 2012! The first post of 2012 is really a post about 2011. I finished Gingko - the big version - on time, as in 10 minutes before giving it to Mamy (not blocked yet, had to keep it another day). It was huge in the end, but so soft! I also love the colour - it is a mix of burnt orange, blue and white (knitted with 3 different yarns.

Bonne annee 2012! J'espere que tout le monde s'est bien repose et est pret a affronter 2012 avec une energie nouvelle (surtout que c'est les soldes bientot). Mon premier billet de 2011 est en fait pour vous parler de 2011 et de Gingko. J'ai fini le chale a temps - 10 minutes avant de le donner a Mamy (pas bloque, donc j'ai du le garder encore une journee avec moi - pour prendre des photos egalement!). Gingko est GRAND, Gingko est vraiment tres tres doux et Gingko est egalement tres colore (tricote avec de l'orange, du bleu et du blanc - rien que ca).

This is a beautiful pattern - but something that requires your entire attention (NO TV). The lace pattern is knitted on the right side AND the wrong side (just in case it was too easy otherwise). There are a lot of repeats, I found that it helped marking them (just in case something goes wrong). Not a lot of modifications in terms of knitting. I started the leaf pattern a bit earlier beacause I felt there was already quite a lot of stockinette fabric. I doubled the lace chart.

I used 7mm needles, and three different yarns - The orange strand comes from Dye for Yarn (Etsy), the blue (Trance) and white (Cream) are Rowan Kidsilk Haze - which makes it so soft! I must admit I cannot knit the Kidsilk Haze on its own but with the sock yarn it has worked like a charm and I may repeat the experience. By the way it was a nightmare to block - did not manage to do it well, but I had to give it to her at some point..

Gingko est un modele superbe, mais attention il requiert toute votre concentration (et donc pas de tele), c'est des jetes a l'endroit ET a l'envers et d'autres manoeuvres obscures que j'ai du aller consulter sur YouTube. Bref ce n'etait pas de la tarte, mais le resultat est vraiment gratifiant. J'ai mis un marqueur a chaque debut de repetitions du pattern du milieu et ca m'a (un peu) aide. Je n'ai pas vraiment pas fait de modifications - j'ai commence la chart plus tot que prevu par le modele (le jersey commencer a devenir trop grand) et j'ai tricote deux fois la leaf chart.

Je l'ai tricote avec des aiguilles 7mm, and 3 types de laine - la laine orange vient de Dye for Yarn (sur Etsy), les laines bleu (Trance) and blanche (Cream) sont des pelottes Rowan Kidsilk Haze. Je n'avais jamais reussi a tricoter avec du Kidsilk Haze dans le passe mais en le combinant avec de la laine pour chaussette c'etait parfait et je crois que je vais reutiliser cette methode. Aussi il me faut vous dire que j'ai vraiment eu du mal a bloquer ce chale, d'ailleurs je n'ai pas vraiment pas reussi a le faire, mais a un moment donne il faillait que je lui donne..

Bad picture but it gives you an idea of the final product. Mamy loves it - which I suppose is the only thing that matters really. She wanted something bigger than the other shawls I knitted for her - and if nothing else, her Gingko is big indeed!

Pas la meilleure des photos mais cela vous donne une idee de la taille finale de Gingko. mamy l'adore et en fait c'est tout ce qui compte. Elle voulait un chale plus grand, et Gingko c'est ca un tres tres grand chale!

Recommendations

I received a new Japanese crochet/knitting book in French (did you follow all of that) yesterday. I am seriously obsessed by Japanese craft books, and for once I could actually understand what they meant - sort of (as in it is not all in Japanese). This one is called 'Joli Fil de Lin'. I just had to have a go yesterday (yes I still need to finish Gingko), and make a little crochet snowflake coaster last night. It is so pretty. Although it is in French, the book is in fact divided between pictures and patterns (not written out though so you can follow easily even if you don't speak French).

Suite au billet de la Poule, je suis hier devenue l'heureuse proprietaire de 'Joli fil de lin' et je me suis mise au crochet tout de suite (parce que j'ai le Gingko de Mamy et plein d'autres projets a finir). Mais le modele etait vraiment trop 'cute' et toute resistance etait futile. Et finir un projet en une heure est vraiment gratifiant en fait.. Meme si le livre est en francais, ce qui aide (en comparaison au japonais par exemple), les patrons ne sont pas ecrits en entier - une fois qu'on a deciphere (tant bien que mal) les schemas ca va beaucoup mieux..

What other project am I likely to make .. Autres projets qui vous verrez peut etre finis.

A spring/summer scarf

A head scarf - could be woolen one for skiing?

A necklace and bracelet (especially the bracelet)

It is a hit and miss with this book. There are projects for the house and accessories that are beautiful (simple and geometric, what else!) but the garnments are a bit strange, and I am unlikely to make them if I am honest - although I may learn a few new stitches. It is worth buying if you are into Japanese patterns - there are a few quick (gratifying) projects as well, otherwise there are probably models already available on Ravelry.

Je suis contente de mon achat, on trouve un peu de tout. Tout ce qui est pour la deco et 'bijoux' c'est super par contre j'ai trouve les modeles pour les vetements.. en fait pas trop a mon gout. Mais bon quand il est question des gouts et des couleurs.. A vous de voir. Par contre je recommande chaudement 'Impostures sur papier glace' de Catherine Rambert qui raconte la vie d'une redactrice-en-chef fictive de Super Star. C'est vraiment tres marrant, tres bien ecrit, et ca decrit le monde des 'beautiful people' et de Voici, Gala et autres glossy magazines.

Si vous achetez l'un des livres ou faites l'un des projets en crochet, faites moi signe..

If you buy the book/already made projects fromt he book, let me know, I would love to see them.

Decisions, decisions, decisions

So you have seen them... Yes the Christmas adverts have arrived, and it is time to think about presents for my family. I try to knit/crochet a shawl for Mamy (my Grandma) every year. She is always cold, and she loves telling ALL her friends that I have made what she is wearing. So where do you go for inspiration.. yes, ravelry. Here is my selection so far (if you want to get the pattern, I queued them all on my ravelry profile). But what to choose?



I chose a mix of winter-y shawls and more spring-y. It is all colour neutral now, so I cannot get influenced by the colour - does it make it easier, not sure?

There are all very different and requiring varying degree of skills, and varying lenghts of stockinette. I really don't want to get bored otherwise, it will never happen...

And then there is the outsider: the SHRUG. I really do like it, but is it Mamy's style, not sure... I am wondering if she is not a Navdanya prayer shawl... Decisions, decisions, decisions...

So what is your favourite guys?? Have you already thought of Christmas presents - even started making them??

PS: Just ONE day to go before my holiday, I am SO excited!

Whose scarf is it going to be?

I finished Wayfarer and I loved knitting it. I did not even flinch when Jared told me to knit another 30 inches of the same two rows. I measured every inch of the scarf to make up the 76 inches recommended. And when I finally blocked it (across the whole landing), I wondered... Was it really for me? Isn't it a bit too masculine for me? No, no, no, two attempts and one solid week of knitting later, and all I could think is whether it is for me, seriously???

The colour is definitely me, I am liking more and more the yellow/brown blends (Rowan Silk Twist). But the garter stitch and lack of lacework... not sure it is for me.

Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful scarf, cozy, long, perfect for the autumn. That is in fact why I wanted to knit it. I also learnt a lot from the pattern (turbular cast on anyone? and turbular bind off!). I love the stitch over two rows and the edging (so clean). The pattern is SO clear, so well-written. Honestly it was a great project. I did not change a thing (needles size:5mm).


So I reckon this one should stay at home but should be my husband's. Anyway he keeps saying that I make scarves that are too short for him (it is totally true, I usually get bored and bind off). I can still borrow it some days... It does look good.

PS: Thanks to M for taking the pictures and be patient with the model...

Swirling Old Gold

Hello guys! Yes, Friday is here and that can only mean one thing, in 5 hours it will be the weekend!! Yeah!! My winter coats are now out, and I finally knitted my first EVER hat/beret. I knitted this specifically for the TOAST coat I am wearing on the pictures. I love that colour combination. Also M was allowed to touch THE camera... And I think he did a good job actually.

The hat is knitted in 'Old Gold' MeriSilk Aran. I bought the yarn AGES ago on Folksy (the UK equivalent of Etsy) from Babylonglegs (who now has her own website). In fact the yarn was never supposed to become a hat, it was meant to be a scarf - and to be specific Wayfarer from Jared Flood. I knitted along - probably 3/4 of the scarf - and realised that I would not have enough yarn, and more worryingly that there was nothing like it in terms of colours out there, AND there was none left (I contacted Babylonglegs). There was only one solution left, to frog the whole piece... and start something new.

As well as having quite a big stash of yarn (and fabric, and craft stuff in general), I also have a few patterns that I bought but never got round to do. Whimsical Little Knits is one of those patterns book I loved, bought, and left in my Ravelry library practically untouched. I wanted an easy and portable project (business travelling -friendly), and this was ideal. I finished in 4 days (I only knit at night time, and there is no public knitting involved), and took it with me to Liechtenstein..



Just a couple of technical details... I used 5mm DPNs and needles, and added a few rounds in the middle and at the end because I was worried it would not be slouchy enough - did not change the number of stitches. The start is the most difficult part, it is a bit akward for 10 rounds, but then all fine. Do use markers guys - really you cannot avoid it. My border is a 2x2 ribbing - again added some rounds here- and I finished by the surprisingly stretchy bind off method - it is amazing! Nothing major as amendments..

Here we are... What do you think guys?

FO and UFOs

Hiya guys!! Happy Wednesday. I am back in England! I am debating whether I should be unpacking my bag or leaving it as it is for my next trip (Sunday) to Zurich - save for the dirty washing, obviously... More hotel weirdness to come? I wonder... Anyway I am not here to talk about business travelling, but to talk about my projects - ok, my progress on my projects. FO: Finished Object (note the use of the singular); UFOs: Unfinished Object (yes, you've got it plural).

Started a year ago, making progress very sllllooowly (hence for winter)

I was doing really well, until I ran out of white fabric yarn. I need to create some more.

By the way, it is much harder than it looks.

Started in the spring, half way through, and going.
The result will be amazing, when I get there.

I finished the necklace I talked about here...
Love it, so easy to wear (note, I had to use some jewellery glue)

So what are you up to guys? What are you current projects? Are you inspired to take up a new craft for the winter...

Home inspiration 19

You know it, as you have seen in the previous post (sorry for the rant about builders, I just had enough of it) we are (nearly) at the decoration stage of the house. And the dilemma is here: painting or wallpaper? Argghhh... I can paint (well, my first experience was not really conclusive but it was not too bad) but putting up some wallpaper - well that is just scary.

And then I found THIS wallpaper:

Knitted room by Surface view

Well that is serious inspiration for next knitting projects (I am still knitting, I am really). It looks like the D&G winter collection on the wall for you to see everyday! The different designs are created by Chae Young Kim, A Korean-born, London-based artist. Check out the homepage of her website, it is very inspiring.

So of course this is right up my street, but M... well he is 1) a man, 2) a man, and 3) well a man. He only agreed to add some colours to the walls. Let's say - as far as the wallpaper is concerned - it will take some convincing. But I may get away with it in the 'hobby'/office room (aka the box room).

Skiing gear and Fimo

As I am sure you are all aware the UK is snowed under, and it is bloody cold around here. Cannot believe I am going to work still - then again, some of my colleagues cannot get here at all!

Was knitting happily a headband for the coming skiing season but it looks like I will be using it before. It was a very easy knit, based on the fact that I could knit a few rows in the morning before catching my train (and we are rushed in the morning usually). And you know what, I am using it now! My ears would be suffering otherwise.



I used the Blue Leaf headband pattern available on ravelry for free, my beloved mirasol sulka yarn ( I nearly have none left, argghhh) and 5mm needles.

As you can see, our current house is very tidy (or not) and we are clearly very minimalist...

Whilst in France, I came across a really good book about FIMO paste. I always looked at it, but just did not know what to do with it... But the book came up with a brilliant idea, to make your own buttons with FIMO. You can choose your colour, form and print on the buttons.

I tried different forms. the biggest one has been made with a stamp, then a square (gone round) and then the round button I used for the headband. This is really quick, 5 mns to do it (should have spent a bit more time to be fair), half an hour in the oven, wait for it to cool down and varnish. I am really impressed with the result, and will definitely used it again. I may need a bit of practice before doing all the fancy thing you can see on youtube, but it is really worth a try.

French Wedding FO - my something blue

Four sleeps until the first wedding ceremony (the legal one at the town hall, not to be confused with the Saturday one at the Church...), and I have finally finished the garter I talked about.

Here are some pictures of the work-in-progress. Admittedly they are not the best due to the constraints of my blackberry, but I think they give a good idea of what it looks like.

I used 2mm knitting needles and the Anchor Artiste BABY SOFT Crochet Cotton yarn, I tried with the metallic version and had loads of problems. In the end I did 17 repeats of the pattern - instead of the 22 suggested by the pattern, but it all depends on one's thighs (mine are definetely not small though) and the needles used. I added one more 'track' lace pattern in the middle so that I could achieve the bleu-blanc-rouge effect...

I forgot the ruban that was going to hide the elastic band, so had to improvise with what my Mum had at home. It works but it is not ideal. I had bought a silky ruban matching the colour of the yarn... It is waiting for me in England whilst I am in France - very useful!

Le citron gris

It looks great, and it was fun until the last repeat and the actual bind off. It is no surprise that I am the 2488th raveler (I am a bit slow really) who knitted the citron. It is a bit on the short side for me (I did not have it in me to add another repeat), but my Grandma is going to love it! Thanks to Meghan who has done a pink version of the citron!

Also ran our of gray yarn in the end, and added a blue edge to it.

It works out quite well I think, adds another dimension (although subtle, it was between a blue or pink edge..) to the shawl.

Worth doing but just once for me.