Xtreme-Knitting Blog!: January 2006 Archives

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OK I lied - more sewing!

January 21, 2006

I was planning to blog about some knitting, but I haven't really done much and it isn't very interesting (I've just finished a sleeve of my Kim Hargreaves kit that I got for Christmas). So here's some more sewing instead! I made this skirt a while ago, and had to hang it for 24 hours to set the bias before I hemmed it - well I still haven't hemmed it, but it's more like the right weather to wear it now, so I will asap.

Here it is!

Click to see more photos :)

I'm (reluctantly) going away with work for 2 weeks to France, as of tomorrow.....reluctantly because I have to stay for the weekend inbetween and I'll miss home. So I'll be away until then, but hopefully with some knitting to show from my free time over there when I get back!

Posted by jen at 04:50 PM | Comments (14)

Shorts for my favourite!

January 18, 2006

I finished Adam's shorts at the weekend, but have been busy and had lots of headaches, so only just getting around to showing them off now. I'm pretty pleased withthe way they turned out - I've used the pattern a few times now, to make trousers and shorts so I know what to do! It is a vogue pattern, but I don't think it's available any more, which is a shame because I don't think they do anything else like it.

Here's the shorts:

Click for more pictures, and big photos of the details I showed in the last post.

Back to knitting next time (guess I'll have to hurry up and actually do some!).

Posted by jen at 07:58 PM | Comments (7)

Things I am loving/not loving about the shorts

January 11, 2006

Things I am loving about the shorts I am making for Adam:

1. Sewing is super quick compared to knitting.

2. I am trying to do a really neat job and am loving the attention to detail.

3. The patch pockets I added to the back:

4. The top stitching:

5. The black velcro I sewed on the pockets to fasten them shut:

Things I am not loving:

1. I ran out of thread and can't get any more until the weekend.

Hooray for sewing, it's so much quicker than knitting, sometimes I wonder why it isn't my main hobby.....I doubt it ever will be though!

Posted by jen at 09:05 PM | Comments (6)

Sewing some shorts!

January 08, 2006

I got back from my week away on Friday, but the weekend is going far too quickly! I'm back in the office tomorrow and it feels like going back to school - rubbish!
I've been working on some shorts for Adam, they were supposed to be done for Christmas, but as you can see they are not:

Oh well! They are cut out and marked and all that jazz now, so I'll get sewing as soon as I can bring myself to tidy some space for the sewing machine.

Knitting resolutions (ie something to not accomplish and therefore feel guilty about):

I can't remember where I read/heard this, but someone said that a promise to yourself is the most binding kind. I think this is complete gibberish, I can talk myself out of doing anything! Nevertheless I thought I might as well try and promise to do some things, I won't be TOO disappointed if I utterly fail! It is supposed to be a fun hobby after all....

1. Finish all those abandoned projects.....these are Gemma, Icy, Soul, Bonbon, a felted bag, and 2 pairs of socks.

2. Frog and re-ball those things which I have no intention of ever finishing, even in my wildest dreams - this is my giotto top, I'll think of something else to do with that yarn, and the Russian Winter hat, which Adam pointed out I'd never wear in a GADZILLION years. He is right!

3. Update the stash page on my site, which is a lousy lie! Like I really have such a small amount of yarn sitting in the numerous bags in the bottom of my wardrobe.

4. Actually blog more and read more blogs! Make time!

5. Sew up my entire sewing stash, as it wouldn't take SO long....

6. Properly catalogue all the fabric and yarn so I remember everything I have and can feel appropriately guilty.

OK I'm done, imagine if I actually did all this, there wouldn't be time for the job, boyfriend, sleeping etc!

I'd better get back to the shorts :)

Posted by jen at 02:54 PM | Comments (0)

More yarn, christmas project knitting

January 02, 2006

Thanks for the comments on Dad's jumper - glad you guys liked the signature idea, it was actually Dad's idea and I thought it was a nice detail to add! If anyone thinks of doing the same thing, make sure to split the knitted sts when embroidering, or the embroidery sts can vanish between the knitted sts. It's also easier to make the embroidery the exact shape you want if you do it like that.

Adam and I just got back from a short break in Southampton, where we went for new year. My grandparents have a flat there and we have friends there too so we had a lovely new year with them, and a nice time in general. We also went shopping and I very naughtily bought myself more yarn.....I seriously don't need any, but I just couldn't help myself! Have a look anyway!

I got more Rowan Big Wool.....I made a top a short while ago with green and grey Big Wool and the colours, although they looked lovely together in the ball, just DID NOT work when knitted up. They completely flattened each other out. I don't know why I couldn't tell that from looking at them in the ball.....so annoying. Anyway, I frogged the thing and got some extra of each colour to make 2 separate projects (I didn't want to risk more stripes not working!). They're not the same dyelot, I'll just stripe them and hope no one notices!

Also some more Kidsilk Haze (which I CANNOT resist in the shop, so soft and sheeny and in lovely jewel colours, I love it!) and some felted tweed:

Hooray! It's certainly lovely to pet new yarn, so I didn't feel guilty for very long :)

Also, here's my new knitting project that I got for Christmas! It's this pattern here, from Kim Hargreaves website. I'm really enjoying it, the knit and purl sts change every row so it keeps me interested! I also love the silky ties that came with it. It's another impossible to photograph colour.....here's a photo showing the colour pretty accurately: