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Knitty Gritty...

Sunday, December 21, 2014

We've been having some really random weather lately, winter is still hanging around but we've had a few promising glimpses of summer. The cool temperatures and with Christmas just days away, has had me thinking about knitting quite a bit, or rather, getting back into it. I've knitted a dishie or two, but I've been dreaming of warm wooly shrugs and cardigans lately.

I'm still yet to finish my Aiken - I got to the bottom of the body, and I'm not so sure about it. The arm holes are huge (they seem to go down to my waist!) and it feels a bit like it's on the larger side, both in width and length (even after removing rows and increasing the decreases around the waist). So, it's in my 'I can't see you' pile. Everyone has one of those right? I don't know how to frog back to a certain point, and undoing the entire thing would be heart breaking, so, I'm ignoring it. The best way to deal with a problem, yes?

This means I'm officially onto shiny-new-knitting-project planning - it's almost as good as finishing projects in my opinion. So, what's in my Ravelry queue at the moment?

1) I seem to be in a shrug mood at the moment, and as soon as I saw the Maeve pattern, I needed it. How gorgeous is it?? While I want to challenge myself in the knitting department, I also don't want it to be so hard that I end up putting it into the I-can't-see-you pile (which honestly, is not actually that hard to get into). I'm thinking Luxury wool in Denim Blue. It'll go with pretty much everything in my wardrobe.

2) The Quick Silver Lace Shrug. I've had some 8ply Wild Barley Luxury wool (now discontinued but very similar to Leaf, it's in the photo above) just waiting to be turned into this. Perfect for layering in this chilly weather.

3) The Owls Sweater. I've had this pattern in my favourites for a while now and I've seen a fair few people make it. I'm a bit worried about it being knit from the bottom, since I'll need to take quite a bit off to hit me at my waist (my preferred length) which means some scary knitting math (oh the horror!). I'm thinking Stellar yarn in Lapis Lazuli for this. I was considering Garnet, but realised I'd get much more use from another blue knit. What can I say? I really like wearing blue...

4) Boring, but essential I-can-watch-stuff-while-knitting-this dishie knitting. I've got a bunch of lovely coloured cotton yarn sitting in my shopping basket from Bendigo Woollen Mills (seriously, that place! I could buy it all). I currently just do the standard one with lace borders, but I'm keen to expand my repertoire and try out this one (which they technically call a face cloth).

I'm a veeeeery slow knitter, so I'm pretty sure this list will easily last me until at least this time next year.

Are you knitting at the moment? What's on your list? And are there any easy shrug patterns I should be keeping an eye out for?

xx
J

The Anemery Dress

Friday, December 5, 2014


You guys, it happened.... my blog got boring!

I really didn't mean for it to turn into one of those 'all about my patterns' blogs, because, I reeeeally like sewing other people's patterns. And it's been way too long, so, I'm sorry (I know, it's my blog, I can do what I like with it, blah blah. But still, let's be honest, even I was bored!!)

I actually finished this dress before we moved into our house at the beginning of the year. I wore it on my birthday for Me Made May and then I never actually got around to blogging about the pretty little thing that it is. So, here it is!

I've called it the Anemery dress for fairly obvious reasons - it's the Anna Bodice and the Emery skirt.



Now, is it just me or does Anemery remind you of that scene in Finding Nemo where they can't pronounce anemone? Every time I say Anemery I feel like I should be saying anemone. Monemone? Namenome?

Anyway, I digress.

The fabric is a beautiful Japanese lawn, that I should have underlined at the bodice, but didn't (I hope it holds up!) that is covered in a lovely paisley print - which, might I add, look like microscopic sea creatures...totally not planned.



A quick and easy dress to stitch up, just like my other Anna and Emery.

Have you made an Anemery? Are you tempted? I totally recommend it :)

And, here's to more 'not all about my patterns' posts. I hope...

xx
J

The Enid Sweater - New Pattern Release!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014
I've been working on this pattern for months and months and I'm so happy to be able to finally put it out into the world -







I'd had the idea for a while now, ever since I took part in my first Me Made May in 2013 where I'd get lots of questions about where all of my cropped cardigans and sweaters came from. Since they're pretty much all vintage items, I'm afraid I was rather unhelpful. So, it occurred to me that there may be a few people out there, who are handy with a sewing machine and who might just appreciate a quick make, reminiscent of those cute vintage sweaters.



Enid has been designed with those in mind who might want fitted vintage sweaters, but can't find them and have neither the time nor the inclination to knit one. 

Enid is practical and warm, designed to be made with soft, snuggly zero-stretch sweatshirt fabric. The cropped length means that you can wear it with all of your high-waisted dresses, skirts and pants. The two different necklines, an angled square or a lightly rounded V-neck, make it easy to switch it up depending on your mood.

Due to the bias cut bodice, Enid is a flattering sweater that hugs you in all the right places and has you covered, whether you're out walking the dog or about to head inside to read by the fire.



And in other news... I've added bigger sizes! I've been meaning to add bigger sizes to my patterns for a while now and decided that Enid was the perfect opportunity to do just that. So, I've added 2 new sizes to the upper end of the range and now cover sizes from an NZ6 to 24. I will also be going through my back catalogue to add those sizes to my older patterns soon.

Since Enid is a fitted sweater, if you prefer a looser fit, more appropriate for layering, I'd suggest going up a size.




I will be providing tutorials in the New Year for adding more room for fuller busts as well as a guide for attaching the neckline bindings, which are the trickier steps to making up Enid.

Other than that, Enid is a quick make, just in time for the cold weather blast (in both the Northern Hemisphere AND the Southern one. I swear summer has decided to go on holiday down here...).



Enid is now available in instant, downloadable pdf form, in my easy to print, use and put-together format (no more rearranging your living room!). 


I hope you enjoy :)

xx
J

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