By Stephie, on Saturday 11th February, 2012 at 03:05 am
Trying to look on the positive side of things, at least having a sore and painful ankle has meant that I could get on with my list of unfinished projects. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. In other words, forget the running, put your feet up and get out the needles…
Finished!
Ready to wear
For my first effort at designing a jumper from scratch I think it’s turned out ok – at least it looks like a jumper! I think it’s going to be very cosy and warm to wear, which is a good thing considering the plummeting temperatures this week – and there’s still plenty of winter-time left to come.
So that’s one ticked off the list. Time to pick up another project then. How about this one? A cardigan/jacket for Kim’s daddy. It was a joint birthday cum Christmas present. Not too late then by my standards!
It’s in a Rowan British Sheep Breeds chunky yarn (100% wool); it’s straight forward and quick, and my first attempt at a cardigan – what’s not to like?! I should have this one ticked off by the end of the weekend too. Now that, I definitely like.
By Stephie, on Sunday 29th January, 2012 at 15:30 pm
I’m trying to block out how badly the marathon training’s gone this last week (more on that in the next post) by focussing on some other more positive things. Like this jumper for instance. It’s well on it’s way to being finished now, so hopefully Linda will get to wear her Lund before the winter’s out. I had my doubts, the way things were going. As you might remember I’ve never designed a jumper before, so it’s been a whole new learning process. I’ve enjoyed it immensely, but it does tax the brain! Well, mine anyway.
I’ve begun blocking out the pieces I’ve finished by steaming (not pressing) on both sides, which has worked well over the Fair Isle sections. The picture below shows my first ‘pinning out’, which I redid a couple of times to get it square (as it clearly isn’t below!). I’m pleased to say it does actually match the measurements of a jumper I was given for size, woohoo!
Pinned out
I found the best place I had for blocking out was a nice thick rug on the floor, where I could leave it for a couple of hours after steaming. I was a bit worried the cat might decide it would be a nice place for her to sit and get cosy, but I needn’t have bothered: she decided it was far more helpful to sit on the plans and patterns on the table than it was to get off her furry backside to annoy me.
Helpful? No.
Maybe it’s because it’s the start of the new year, maybe it’s because the weather’s cold and wet and I don’t want to go outside, or maybe it’s just guilt, but at the moment I have a real desire to finish off the 999 unfinished projects I feel like I’m drowning in. I’m really having to sit on my hands every time a new idea pops into my head (frequently), so this jumper will be a major bridge crossed when it gets ticked off the list in the next few days or so. Can’t wait!
How about you? Are you trying to finish anything up or does the new year mean the start of new things for you?
By Stephie, on Monday 2nd January, 2012 at 02:31 am
I was lucky enough to receive four books this Christmas and I’m excited by them all! They’re a very eclectic mix, to say the least, but hopefully you’ll find at least one of them a good read too
I’ve decided to try and read more of the books I have stacking up this coming year (they’re mostly novels in the stack) and share them with you. Call it a resolution if you like. Another one of those R words is to try not to be so late for just about everything I do. I hadn’t realised quite how bad I’d got…until a friend (B!) (who’s own lateness can always be counted on) commented that she’d see me half an hour later than I said I’d meet her. I was on time. For once. Anyway, I digress. I’ve made a few comments on all the books I received, but as I get more into them I’ll try and give you a fuller description/opinion (I’m not a book reviewer, but I know what I like!!!!!!!! Say the equivalent to me about an art work and I’ll shoot you, ha, ha!)
Anyhoo, what are you reading at the moment, anything you’d recommend? ‘Til next time, happy reading!
By Stephie, on Sunday 4th December, 2011 at 17:08 pm
Seeing stars
The back
Grey, miserable winter days aren’t conducive to good photography, but they’re pretty great for snuggling under a quilt and getting on with making a jumper a la Sarah Lund. The back is finished (needs blocking obviously) and the raglan wasn’t too painful to make up, it looks the part anyway – fingers crossed that the sleeves will fit in it when I get that far! I’ve made a good start on the front too and hope to have it finished in the next day or two.
Have you been watching series 2 of The Killing? It’s the only thing I watch regularly on tv, I find most things are complete rubbish. Although having said that, I do enjoy watching Young Dracula with Kim – ooh it’s compelling! Lots of twists and turns with a big dose of humour and darkness thrown in. Anyway, back to The Killing… there was a lot of speculation over what the latest jumper might look like (forget the plot…). It’s red and cosy in my opinion! And guess what, unlike the last one there’s even a ‘lookalike’ jumper pattern on the Radio Times website if you’re interested. Me, I’ve got a whole load of unfinished projects to wade through first!
It’s been busy week, but I’ve got more to share so I’ll be back soon.
By Stephie, on Thursday 17th November, 2011 at 16:38 pm
It’s happening. Needles are clicking, the brain is whirring and Linda’s Sarah Lund style sweater has begun. After about 4 hours knititng I have something worth showing you!
Seeing stars!
Love the way you can see the stars on the reverse too
Checking for shape
Trying to work out how to make this hasn’t been the easiest task for me since it involves rather too much counting!! I got fed up with adding up wrong all the time and decided to make it ‘by feel’ instead, something I’m much happier doing. I seemed to manage to get the height correct by measuring, but getting the width right was a bit of a joke. If I’d knitted the width by ‘stitches per inch’ (from my sample) it would be about 50 inches too wide – no word of a lie, ha, ha!!!!!!
I decided the best method for me would be to make a paper pattern and try and follow that. Probably not conventional for knitting, but I’m a sewer and making up clothing patterns has always been relatively straight forward for me (despite the measuring!) – and I’ve noticed that in general knitting pattern shapes are somewhat easier than sewing pattern shapes. Take the front and back for example, bar the neckline, a jumper seems to be pretty much the same both sides – trust me, a shirt definitely isn’t. So, anyway I decided to work to a paper template.
My unconventional knitting pattern!
The general shape is taken from one of Linda’s favourite well-fitting jumpers, but the Lund sweater is going to have raglan sleeves. So I’ve got to make that bit up. Yes, I’m shaking – but I’ve got a few more rows before I get there yet!
By Stephie, on Friday 11th November, 2011 at 02:26 am
Well that’s to say look what I got in the post, though it’s not actually for me.
Yummy!
I got a bit excited when I ripped off the brown paper packaging and discovered this mound of soft loveliness inside – all ripe and ready to be turned into something that resembles the Sarah Lund junper. You might notice the new Fairisle sample (the last one was dark on a light background), it looks great this way round – more defined I think. I can’t wait to get going, but first there’s the small (and scary) matter of designing the jumper itself (not the Fair Isle pattern – that bit was easy!!!)…
If you like the yarn (Artesano alpaca/wool in aran weight) you can buy it online at The Wool Bar, or if you live in West Sussex you could pop into the store, I’m told they’re extremely friendly and helpful
