- urban flora -

Holloway, London:

 - my second floor windowsill -

Bloomsbury, London:

 - Gandhi -

 - Tavistock Square, London -

Looking so beautiful; despite a tragic history.

Spring Pigeon

Good Morning

Tweed

Check this out!

Great to see British Textile Mills still in operation & staffed by the local community.

Filmed & edited by Mr X Stitch.

I want a go with that machinery

Slash Neck Top {finished}

The finished result of my Slash Neck Top project ~

 I began knitting it from a pattern I had been handed down, in amongst a bunch of second hand knitting needles, a few years back.  It had been typed up (on a typewriter!) and had no photo or picture to show what the top looked like.  So I decided to find out.

 I used second hand wool I had from my generous stash...

 The pattern calls for 2 x 100g ball of DK; I didn't have a whole 200g in the same colour, so opted for this 100g ball of sky blue acrylic yarn and this not-quite-a-full-ball of 100g mid-blue.

 The only amendments I made to the original project was to down-size my knitting needles; as I always need to do this to achieve the correct tension square for projects.  Although no tension measurements were given in the pattern, I decided it would be wise.  I also kept track of how many rows it took to knit the 2" rib, so it would match perfectly for the front and back.

 I knitted the back half of the top solidly in the light blue yarn; for the front, I had to mix both the shades in to make them last.

  So for the front, the rib was knitted in the light blue and then I joined in the mid-blue for the bulk of the stitch pattern.

 When it came to the sleeves; the pattern calls for extra stitches to be cast on and these knit in moss stitch.  I used a stitch marker to keep track of where the pattern changes.

 For the front; I cast on these extra stitches in the light blue, as the mid blue was running out...

 The darker shade lasted for a few more rows; then I completed the rest of the top in the main light blue colour.  It actually worked out really well in relation to where the colour change sits on the top and also in terms of the effect it creates.  The change in colour picks out the wave effect created from the lace pattern.  Perfect.

And it's a perfect fit, too.

Tropical Orchid

All sewn up and just in time for spring ~

 Kid mohair & silk, candy stripes, delicate texture, intricate lace pattern...

It took a while but it was worth it.

I love the organic edge the stitch pattern created.

It's on Ravelry here

Sprung

~ Classics

Snakeskin will never go out of fashion

 Over sized cuffs, sheer fabric, gold threads, colours, snakeskin.  Perfect.  Happily found in a charity shop on my recent holiday to Australia.

 I'm in love with London/Paris base label Les Petites Brouillons by Manon Delaune.

I got this beautiful top from her when she had her stall on Brick Lane last year ~

I adore the little details and how she contructs her pieces... Combined with the amazing shapes she creates for her clothes and the fantastic colour choices she choses...

In her own words:

"Some pieces are inspired by men’s wear, which I tailor to fit a women’s figure. Customers can choose to wear items in both a feminine and androgynous style. Some other pieces are created by the recycle and reconstruct of clothes, in order to carefully create new modern designs that adapted to individual needs."

Check her out

Bobbles & Cables

Some of my favourite arm warmers, not much need for gloves now, but these old favourites may need some use still...

Acrylic & lurex yarn - sparkles, cables, bobbles & moss stitch.

The pattern came from Knitting Lingerie Style (Joan McGowan-Michael)

Postage

I love getting post

[Particularly from outside our English soil]

Hua-Run

 I tried some of this weird fruit in Carns (Australia) and I'm not sure why but I felt compelled to buy this...

 Organic Food. Green Food.  Thumbs up for chestnuts.

Hua-Run: Amazing little Chinese supermarket on Seven Sisters Road.  Wonderful foods.  Vegan friendly.  Great value tofu.  Too much to take in.  Lovely staff.  Approx 2min stroll from my front door.

Knitting for Fitness

My old friend knitting apparently teams up well with my new found friendship with running. 

 Oh - and my new 100+ miles-a-week cycle commute to work.

These 'fitness knitted gifts' are courtesy of The Making Spot

Check out how happy they're making the model...

Here are past ventures of mine to knit myself some cycling accessories...

 The top one is a chunky cable knit wool head band I made to stop my ears from freezing off one winter season commute a while back.

Below it is my wool/hemp headband for slightly less frost bite ridden weather

VEG{AN} is good for you

Take on on a recent visit to Indian Veg, Islington, London.  I highly reccomend it.

 So does Miss Philippines and Miss Asia 1995, too.

 You need to go even for the decor.  TRUST ME

A home cooked dinner from a dear friend. Beetroot curry. I wish the photo did it more justice as it was an even brighter pink.

SPOILT: Pancake - bananas were in the batter and as the topping. 

The benefits of veganism from friends:

&

VEGAN CARROT CAKE & ICE CREAM from THE LOVING HUT, Holloway, London.

Entrelac Bag

A bag I knitted a while ago now, to try out entrelac knitting.  The pattern came from Knitting Magazine and was originally for a make-up bag (I think); but I decided I was more in need of a new crafty handbag.

 I've been meaning to try out an entrelac jumper since; I love this stitch technique.

 I gave the bag a lining from some recycled scrap material I had; added an inside pocket, tabs with D-rings to attach a strap to and a recycled gold metal tooth YKK zip with a clashing pink tape.

The (slightly gross, I know) broach is made from recycled lace & an extremely child-like, oversized, plastic button.  Can't have it looking too sophistiacted now.