Xtreme-Knitting Blog!: July 2009 Archives

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Rowan 46!

July 31, 2009

I have been stalking the John Lewis haberdashery department, and finally this week they got the new Rowan - hurrah! It looked very promising on the internet, but I don't think you can get a proper idea until you see the magazine, because the images are so much bigger.

I have got all the Rowans from 28 onwards, with the exception of 44, where literally nothing appealed to me at all. However, since it was released I have seen some projects from it on Ravelry which made me reconsider, so maybe I will get it one of these days, to make the set complete if nothing else! My least favourite one is still 39 - by a MILE. The styling is horrific.

Anyway! Back to the issue in question.

There are 3 main sections (plus some bit for teenagers), the first is Folklore - lots of tweedy, fairisle goodness. To be honest although it is lovely to look at it, most of it is a bit much for me. But I do really love this vest, Portree:

It would be nice if there was a photo without the model thrown over a sofa though. Then we could see what it actually looks like! I might wait for someone on Ravelry to make one, to get a better idea!!

And these little mitts are cute - they kind of match the vest so I would like to make both!

The only thing I don't like is that like every Rowan design ever they are knit flat and seamed, which seems a bit unneccessary for mittens. I think the seam would maybe be annoying, but I bet I'm too lazy to work out how to do them in the round.

The next section is Shadowlands. Which is lots of grey and sludge coloured garments in Cocoon and Big Wool mostly.

I must remain strong and not knit anything in Big Wool! I always do it, because it's so fast and I'm such a slow knitter, but then you end up with such a bulky garment, and it makes you look huge and it won't fit under a coat!

I initially loved this crazy jumper, Cheadle:

But it really does pad out that slim model a lot. I'm not sure it would be very flattering, even if it is very cool.

Also I really like this one, Stockport:

But I also am not sure how flattering it would be. I think it might minimise my miniscule bust, and then end near my widest part, giving a big triangle effect. But I still like it anyway!

Finally, the third section is called Heritage and is all extremely ladylike.

My favourite garment here is Sissinghurst:

It would take me about 10 million hours in 4 ply, but I think it's lovely, I also might pick slightly different colours.

Finally! It is mad and I doubt I'd ever wear it, but I still absolutely love this argyle jumper, Claremont:

I'm not sure exactly what it is about it, but I really like it.

Well! Whether I'll actually make any of that remains to be seen, I still have to finish Mum's noro cardigan, and a whole heap of other neglected things! But I think it's a great magazine this time, with lots of lovely things to knit that are a bit different.

Posted by jen at 09:55 AM | Comments (0)

At least someone has been making something!

July 26, 2009

Oh hello chickens! Margot, why are you inside on this sunny day?

Let's have a look through the egg door! What's this under your fluffy bottom?!

An EGG!

A lovely little egg! Still warm!

Margot laid her first egg yesterday - it was outrageously eggciting! I was so proud of her! I think she was a bit confused though. I ran screeching to get Adam, and we both held the warm little egg. We were hoping she would do another one today, so we could both have one for our afternoon tea, but she didn't, so we shared this one - hard boiled for 6 minutes, shelled and then eaten, half each, with a little salt and pepper - yum!

Posted by jen at 09:14 PM | Comments (9)

Sewing - Vogue 1087

July 23, 2009

Following on from how much I enjoyed making all those dresses for the wedding, I decided that I would try and get into sewing a bit more after the wedding. It's weird, we both did so much for the wedding that we never had any free time, but now it's over, I seem to spend all my free time too tired to do anything, so it's like I don't have any more time now than before - it's a bit rubbish really. Consequently I have loads of very cool Vogue patterns bought on sale, but have only made one of them yet!

I really loved the look of Vogue 1087, a Donna Karan dress, my only reservation being that it might be too well fitting, so if I made it to fit my tiny bust I wouldn't be able to shoehorn my giant bum into it (my hips are 2 dress sizes larger than my bust!). But still, I thought it was a stunner, and there were a couple of good reviews on pattern reviews, so I decided to go for it.

It took a while, because it was quite fiddly, but here is the finished result:

I think it is a fabulous design, but an AWFUL pattern! It wasn't too hard to do really. It was a pain, because there were about a trillion markings required and lots of funny folding and pleating, but it wasn't too bad. What was bad was the fact it is abominably finished!

It isn't lined, which to be fair you can tell from the pattern description, but oh my word, the number of unfinished edges! Some of them aren't even turned under - I turned them under and stitched them in place. And there is one bit where you make a pleat/tuck/something, and baste it in place, but then never actually catch it in a seam! So you finish the instructions, and there is still one pleat held in place with crappy hand stitching. I sewed along the seam allowance and removed the basting, which worked ok. Also, the bodice piece just hangs in the air on the inside of the dress, not very well secured to anything else.

I can't imagine the dress wearing terribly well when it's not finished properly. It seems a bit of a con to be honest - very expensive pattern, but then finished not in a designer way at all. It's annoying when it's such a pretty dress, and I spent HOURS on it! Oh well, I suppose no one can see the inside....

I was worried to post all this, in case it was my ignorance that was the problem not the pattern, but I later found another review on a blog saying all the things I had thought - it is here. I just read that review again and I have to say also I agree that it gapes at the back neck. I tried to fix it but didn't manage very well!

So in conclusion: A very lovely dress but a shame about the finishing. I really enjoyed making it and am going to do some more sewing tonight!

Posted by jen at 12:29 PM | Comments (10)

KNITTING!

July 21, 2009

Oh my word! Some actual knitting on the knitting blog!

A while ago, Mum and I went to a really nice knitting shop near where they live in Birmingham, and I desperately wanted to buy some yarn, but couldn't really justify it given I have about ten thousand current projects. So, I got Mum to buy it instead, and promised to knit her a cardigan with the yarn. That way I get to play with lovely new yarn guilt free! At least, that's what I thought until months later I still haven't finished the sweater and now feel extra guilty because it is for my Mum!

Anyway, it is well underway (maybe half done), and I am really enjoying knitting with the yarn, Noro Kochoran. It's so pretty and feels lovely. Although there are some bizarro colours in there.

Mum wanted something similar to my Carolyn cardigan from Knitty, but with set in sleeves instead, and some other different measurements.

Here is the back:

And here are some pretty stripes:

I have made the back, one front, and half of the other front.

I just wish I could knit faster and finish the damn thing so I can start all the other things I have my eye on!

Posted by jen at 09:05 AM | Comments (2)

The chickens are here!

July 13, 2009

Nothing to do with crafts, but some very big news for us! 3 months ago we ordered an eglu and 2 chickens, and this weekend they arrived!

Here is their house:

We bought the whole package from Omlet, and this weekend a man came to set it all up and give us chicken tips! They offer 2 breeds of chicken, and we ordered one of each (so we can tell them apart!), this is the Gingernut Ranger, who Adam has named Georgina: