get scared

 

It's that time of year again...
Just in time for me to start my new read, picked up for £2 from an amazing second hand bookshop I found in Glossop.  You can't beat a good cheesy horror...

Pleat Treat

I've been brooding for a pleated midi for a small while now.

On the off chance, I thought I'd check out the charity shops of Richmond on my lunch break today.

I walked into the Cancer Research shop on the corner of Hill Street and there it was.

The skirt I'd been wanting all this time.

Brand new with tags.

In my size.

[What are the chances?!]

 I also had to have a quick gaze at the jewellery section.

I found this piece.

At first I picked it up as I thought it would be great to reuse all the chain for my creations.

Then I realised I actually quite like it just for myself.

That's my outfit sorted for the rest of May then...

vintage BUTTONS

1p each (...!)

I spent a total of 12p.

Got these from the vintage fair at Shoreditch Town Hall this Sat.

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.

Jiffy - Lace

I  was delighted to be introduced to this fantastic paper pattern book earlier today...

Jiffy lace uses a knitting needle and a crochet hook to create the stitch pattern (?!)

I'm in love with this collar and cuff combo ~

  Here's how JIFFY LACE is done:

STEP ONE:

STEP TWO:

STEP THREE:

STEP FOUR:

Fashionable Buttons

A mere scratch on the surface of my button collection (largely vintage/second hand).

I think I enjoy the cards the most. 

SLASH NECK TOP

A while ago, I came to own a whole bunch of knitting needles, a housemate's Gran was throwing out...

I'd never met her, so I thought it was pretty generous!

Folded in amongst the knitty sticks was this delightful typed pattern:

No photo, no diagram, no picture.

Just charming code punched out by a typewriter.

[I miss my typewriter]

I had to knit it.  So I did.

I'm sewing it up right now...

The end result will be ready soon!

I'm happy.

 

New [old] Cardi {AYOKA}

I finally got round to paying a visit to Ayoka; a charity shop run by the St Margarets House Settlement.  Before I knew it was one of their projects, I used to cycle past it on my commute to work and was always intrigued to pay it a visit.

The shop is small and requires a bit of a rummage in some corners... Organised but still a bittle of a jumble... Just they way charity shops should be.

I got this beaut of a cardi there:

 Check out the crocheted epaulettes

 What makes this cardi like none other I've seen are these fantastic crocheted patches (doilies!) on the side, spreading from front to back.

 The front and back sections have been knitted separately and stitches cast off/on to leave an open space for the crochet design to be sewn into; the picot edge allowed to float freely.

Along the arms is a criss-cross and bobble pattern; 

not too dissimilar to the cardigan I am knitting for myself at the moment:

St Margarets House run so many different projects; including the Gallery Cafe, literally next door to the charity shop.  I stopped in there for lunch & ended up staying for hours... All the food is either vegetarian or vegan and very reasonably priced; I had a homemade vegan burger and it was probably the best I've found in London yet!

Take a look at their website as they also hold craft/sewing events there too... I might try to get involved!

Clouds... My First Knitted Sweater

I have finally gotten round to knitting my first ever jumper:

It was great fun; really quick to knit as the stitch pattern is quite loose.

I used Debbie Bliss angel yarn which is a blend of kid mohair and silk and it feels so wonderful!

For the cuffs I knitted with an organic 100% wool dk yarn; all of which I treated myself to from Loop Knitting in Islington. 

The pattern is from this fantastic book I got given second hand.  Seriously worth checking out!

(If you click on the pic it'll take you to it's Amazon page).

There's some great patterns in there and I've already got my yarn lined up for the next one from it...

Knitting Fashion 69: Miser Mittens

A few years back, my Grandma handed me down all of her old knitting supplies; including what is now 'my stash' of needles in all lengths and sizes, some fantastic crochet and knitting patterns (torn out from 80's 'ladies fashion-esque' magazines and all a bit dog-eared for that authentic retro-knit-feel) and this book...

 It's a real jem; the first half of the book is dedicated to explaining every kind of technique and knitting querie you could think of. Seemingly, it was commissioned by the BBC. I think, years back, this was a short series of television shows, which later got published in paper form. (How great is that - knitting on the box and then into a book!?)

 

 I've always wanted to knit myself a pair of fingerless gloves.  'Knitting Fashion' had a nice, simple looking pattern in it, titled 'Miser Mittens' (all the patterns are numbered in the book - this one was 69 out of 150).  I decided it was time to put this classic beaut of knitting knowledge to use (not to mention find a use for that ball of Regia sock yarn I picked up in a sale eons ago...)

Resulting in these:

 I feel the photographs here really do not do them justice - I'm so pleased with the result.  They fit perfectly and this yarn is gorgeous, so soft to wear.  Will definitely use it again.

The pattern was great! So easy to follow, such a simple item to make once you see how it is done... (Think I know what the fam are getting for Christmas this year).

Knitting Fashion is definitely still very 'now' and goes to show that knitting is no longer just for Grannies -

it's for their grandchildren nowadays!

Cheers Grandma

A Little Knitting Treasure

A charming little box a dear friend of mine spied in a charity shop recently and was so kind as to purchase it for your's truely...

 It's 17" long and the lid is a tad on the snug side, but does slide out...

 You can forgive this slight quirk though, as it does display a lovely wool and needles print

 and then opens up to a handful of odds and sods of knitting sticks

 My favourite of which are these 'Poppy', 'Queen Bee' and anodized blue ones.

 Although not all of the needles are in pairs, I think they look perfect in this box.

What a brilliant find!