Machine Knit Skirt

Some photos of my first completed product I have made using my Brother KH-881 knitting machine:

I was able to produce a really lightweight fabric on the machine by using a fine yarn and high tension. Having only used one colour kept it simple (which was the idea, what with it being my first attempt and all). The combination makes a floaty but not-too-fussy skirt to wear:I wanted a minimal fuss skirt to produce as well as wear, so the two sheets of fabric I made I machine sewed at the sides then added an elasticated waist and matching lining to finish.
I'm loving it with my new patterned leggings I purchased last weekend from a fellow trader at the Backyard Market; there's a few different colour options and patterns to choose from and they're only a tenner!

Already got an abundance of ideas for my next skrit; I'm going to experiment a lot more with stitch patterns and colours next time and perhaps move onto a more sophisticated garment shape too.

My First Granny Square

Ta-da! My first ever crocheted granny square:I have wanted to make me one of these for sooo long and finally took the opportunity to this Sunday (to all those who came to my market stall this weekend may have noticed an expression of deep concentration on my face...)

I used a slightly larger-than-needed crochet hook to make life easier on myself and am so pleased with the result! My plan is to incorporated plastic & acrylic wool crocheted squares for a summer picnic blanket.

This is my absolutely lovely crochet book which I was working from. I inherited this copy of 'Good Housekeeping Crochet' from my mother, it was first published in 1981 and my copy (the 4th released) followed in 1984. It has great illustrations to help teach you all the various stitches and great colour photographs of different patterns, embellems and trims you can create with crochet.

I love the illustration on the front cover the best!

Here is the page I was working from: not too bad a comparison to the example in the book! Once it is pressed and I am confident to use a smaller hook it will be far more similar.
The stitch I was practicing here is called an Almond Stitch and it is one which has stood out at me from this book everytime I have leafed through the pages.

Also in the 'Good Housekeeping' range there is a needlepoint, embroidery, patchwork & applique and a knitting edition! No bets as to which one I'd love to track down, but I imagine that they are all little published gems.

Going Loopy Socks

I have just completed my first pair of sock from my new book 'Knitted Sock Sensations' (Louise Butt & Kirstie McLeod). There's lots of great patterns in there and I couldn't wait to make a pair of the 'Going Loopy Socks'
Unfortunately I ran out of yarn towards the end of the second sock... I did see it coming but couldn't help but keep on knitting anyways! People won't see the toes when I'm wearing shoes anyway... Right?

The cuff is created using loop stitch, which I found quite time consuming (possibly as it is the first time I have ever used it) but definitely worth the patience as the result is fantastic

Here you can see the basic sock method and how the heel and toe decreases knit up.

Buy the book here:

I'll keep posting up more sock sensations as I knit them; there's so many great patterns in there, I'm not too sure which ones I'm going to start next...

Alex Monroe

I have just discovered a new favourite jewellery designer - Alex Monroe.

He creates some beautiful pieces, including gorgeous bee necklaces, in association with Burt's Bees and donates money from the sales to the British Beekeepers. So I am obviously going to be a fan!

Check out his website here: http://www.alexmonroe.com/.

Or if his exquisite creations are a little out of your budget, but you are pandering for a beautiful bee accessory of your own, then you can purchase my handmade bee hair slides from my etsy store by clicking on them here:

They are handmade from recycled plastics and silver plated wire and I am donatin 20% of my profits to help save the honey bees.

Gold Safety Pin Necklace

Gold dimensional necklace made from safety pins - a stylish and functional bit of neck bling! Created by my friend and fellow textile designer Armita Shirazi.

Also worn with my recycled bike chain-maile necklace, more of which coming soon...

Winding-Up For The Weekend

I've had this lovely little 'Empisal Knitmaster' winder for a few months now and have been itching for an excuse to give it a go. The ideal opportunity presented itself just last night as that skein which has been sitting scrambled in a bag just needed to be knitted up for my next project (I'm sure there's one in everyone's yarn stash, right?)

This is such a cute and nifty little gadget; if it wasn't for the fact that my yarn had turned into the spaghetti monster then it makes transferring skeins/balls of wool into nice cones of yarns to use on your knitting machine (or just so you can used them in my case here!)

Commencing the winding mission:

It just clamps onto your table, the yarn is thread through the feeder and onto a conical bobbin, then you turn the handle and wind away! It wasn't quite so speedy for me as I had a huge tangle to unpick as I went along...

Pausing to take photographic evidence of my battle as I was getting wound up with the monster winding:

...About an hour later and....

Wound!

Lovely! Yarn perfection.

Anything with 'knitmaster' in it's name is always going to be a winner!

This lovely little wonder was very kindly given to me by a lady I met at a Knitting & Stitching show a while ago, along with her amazing Brother KH 881 knitting machine, a fantastic collection of knitting books and lots of other accessories! So again, I'd like to just say many thanks to Pam!

Home Grown Welcome Home

Another working day done, another lovely welcome home; this time I had to walk further than the front door and out of the back one to find my very own vegetable patch!

Green peppers, red peppers, icebergs, spring onions, courgettes and red lettuce!

This was kindly planted for me by a loved one and I am extremely grateful (we shall both be rewarded by the tasty veg it brings us).

Above is a close up of the red lettuce sprouts and behind them you can see the red and green peppers.

I successfully managed four fruitful tomato plants last summer, although I was a little late in the season when I started so I was tasting the fruits of my labour September - October. It was worth the wait though as nothing beats the taste of any home grown veg (you know I'm right about that!)

This shall be nurtured and maintained well and progress will be posted when it grows!