Three Years in the Making…

Three years? Yep, you did hear that right! It’s a good job my tastes haven’t changed that much and that my Mum is on hand to ‘rescue’ my knitting projects whenever I get stuck (or pull something out, having not touched it for a year, and find I have absolutely no idea where I’m up to). Thank you Mum!

So, clearly I haven’t been knitting this constantly for the last three years (I’m slow, but not that slow!). I always love the idea of knitting projects, but I do find them slow, and if I’m honest, not often that flattering when they’re finished. They always look great on the models, but if you’re on the short and curvy end of the body spectrum like me, quite often they just end up making me feel dumpy 😦 Does anyone else find this?

This particular pattern is from a beautiful Debbie Bliss book, named ‘Out of Town‘ which I think is even older than my project… And I did choose sensibly, selecting a cardigan (which are generally more flattering than hand made jumpers on me), and one entitled ‘Slimline Jacket’ at that.

 

It’s knitted from a really pretty, duck-egg blue ‘cashmerino astrakhan’. The smallest size available was a 34″ bust, but as it’s a pretty straightforward stocking stitch pattern, (the astrakhan yarn does all the work), I sized it down to a 32″ pretty easily. Well, easily until I’d left in untouched for a year, and couldn’t work out where on earth I was up to. Again, thank you Mum!

The shaping too was pretty straightforward, so nothing caused me too much trouble with this. No idea why it took so long really 😉 I think because knitting is definitely a Winter hobby for me, and also my sewing kind of took over…

Anyway, now it’s finished I’m actually really pleased with it. I threw it on over my Megan Dress which I just happened to be wearing today, see here. Maybe not the best match. I think it will look nice with a crisp, white shirt or white, long-sleeved t-shirt underneath, something a little plainer. And I probably should have pressed it to stop the bottom curling up and to keep the collar down. My impatience took over sorry! I keep hearing about ‘blocking’, which I’ve never come across before I started following blogs. Even my Mum looked puzzled at this concept when I asked her about it. It’s something I clearly need to look into for next time. Let’s just hope that’s not in another three years…

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You wait all year for one scarf, and then two come together in one week…

Or almost!

Work’s been pretty hectic this week, so something simple was required for my weekly making-fix. I’ve always dismissed scarf yarns as verging just a little bit on the naff, although, to be fair, not all of them. (And I love snoods, something I’ll definitely be having a go at now I’ve reawakened my love of knitting). I’ve been seduced by the novelty of such yarns before, but been disappointed by the results.

However I spotted this particular one in a lovely wool shop in Lydney, (The Forest of Dean), where I was visiting my in-laws a couple of weekends ago. It’s a yarn (or ‘tubular ribbon’ if you want to get technical) called ‘Voila’ by Adriafil, which requires nothing more than a crochet hook and a basic chain stitch, which even I could manage (I can’t crochet, though would love to try). It took me roughly an hour to construct and voila...

I love both the colour and the twisted effect of this. It’s similar in style to one that cost me a small fortune from All Saints a few years ago. My daughter’s quite taken with it too, so maybe I’ll be whipping another one up sooner than I’d planned…

 

#MMMay14 Final Week Round up

Decided to dig out some ancient, MeMade knitting to ring the changes in the final week. It’s half term this week so more casual wear required. I do love the idea of knitting, but it’s kind of slow going unless you use chunky yarns, which really don’t do a thing for my frame. I seem to remember knitting the above whilst I was off on maternity leave awaiting my son’s arrival. As you can see from the above photo that’s now a flipping long time ago… Rowan magazine number 39 to be exact, Spring/Summer 2006. It’s a design called Lizzie in Rowan All Seasons Cotton and it’s still surprisingly wearable. I was marking at home all day so needed something comfy, but as you can see we did manage to nip out for cake at one point.

Next up was a cardigan I again knitted many moons ago, but this one does get aired pretty often as it goes with a pencil skirt really neatly for work. The deep ribbed waist is really flattering. Again, marking from home today, but I quite liked wearing it casually for a change. It’s a design called Whitney from Rowan’s ‘Classic Cafe’ book one. My mum found me the lovely buttons which I think raises it above the average 🙂

I don’t think this can be quite classed as a cheat seeing as I’ve already met my quota. This is more of a MumMadeMay item, as my mother knitted it for me. Again, I haven’t worn it for yonks, but glad MMMay has made me get it out again. Especially love the waist button detail, my mum is a fantastic and fanatic knitter 🙂

Other MeMade suff that I wore this week, but you’ve already seen –

Above left- Colette Sencha Blouse & Tilly Walnes’ Brigitte Scarf

Above right – Colette Sorbetto Top. Love how I’m attempting to look taller in this photo and my stomach sticking out in a kind of serves you right kind of way.

I have absolutely loved taking part in MMMay14, such a great idea! The disadvantages were few, namely taking the photos and the fluctuating weather. What I’ve learnt? I need to make me some casual wear, pronto! I need to take the plunge and get stuck into sewing knits (I have already ordered Tilly’s Coco Top pattern and am impatiently awaiting its arrival). I also need me some sleeves! What’s surprised me? How wearable most of my MeMades are if I just give it a just a little more thought, and bizarrely my left hand side is definitely my more photographic (who knew? I’ve never had so many photos of myself taken, I’m far more used to being behind the camera). Hope you’ve enjoyed yours too. Roll on MMMay15…