Cornflower

A small achievement

    I've made a jumper, and it fits!

    Although I've knitted one or two garments in the past, I tend to shy away from them as I so often see even very experienced knitters dissatisfied to some extent with their finished pullover or cardigan. However, I'd had this pattern and the specified yarn sitting neglected for some time so I finally got started, took as much care as I could at every stage, kept going until it was done, and I'm so pleased with the way it's turned out.

    It's the Floozy Too by Libby of Truly Myrtle, made in Yarn Floozy merino/silk/cashmere. The pattern is very clear, and the colour work section is much easier than it looks as it's worked with slipped stitches so you're using only one colour per round. 

    I knitted a gauge swatch or tension square first, used the measurements of a favourite jumper to choose which size to knit, measured the work and tried it on frequently as I went, and then blocked it carefully to size. That all paid off. As I was using hand-dyed yarn I alternated skeins every two rows after the yoke; I found Mostly Knitting's tutorial on picking up the underarm stitches when beginning the sleeve very helpful.

    This project has given me a lot of confidence, and I hope this post in turn will act as encouragement for anyone who would like to have a go but needs a gentle push!

Folded cuffs

    Instead of ribbing for the cuff of a sock, here's a two-colour folded hem.

    I cast on and put a marker in the first stitch, then knitting every stitch I worked 16 rounds of the contrast colour, 12 of the main, then I knit each live stitch together with its corresponding edge stitch (the marker comes into its own at this stage). Another time I might use a smaller needle for the first 12 rounds, the better to accommodate the fold.

    The wool is a sock set called 'Lobster Pot', bought from Vykky at West Green Loft Yarns some time ago.

In the pink

    Impossible Girl socks made in West Green Loft Yarns' pretty Peony colourway.

    Peonies from Pyrus Botanicals.

Keps and cooking

    I've made another of Wilma Malcolmson's great hats. After Katie's Kep comes the Gotland Skull Kep, knitted in seven shades of Jamieson's of Shetland Spindrift.

    Again, I made a swatch to ensure my gauge was correct and the hat would fit (this one is for Mr. C. so needed to be bigger than mine), and the needles the pattern specifies were just right.

                                                 ~~~~~

    Still on the subject of Shetland, a few months ago I bought Misa Hay's beautiful cookbook A Year in my Shetland Garden. 

    On the strength of the recipes I've tried - some of which have already become well established in our repertoire - I can recommend the book very warmly. It is featured in the April issue of Country Living magazine, and Misa is offering a £5 discount on the book with the code COUNTRYLIVING5. To whet your appetite, try her Rhubarb and Almond Cake!

Truleigh super

    These are the Truleigh Socks, designed by Louise at The Knitting Shed.

    I used their 'Winter Storm' sock set (the base is A&P Classic Sock) and I am very pleased with the result - the wool is lovely to work with and makes a nice dense fabric.

    For sufficient stretch, I'd suggest going up two needle sizes for the colourwork on the leg.

Spring socks

    These are the Vår Socks - 'vår' meaning 'spring' in Danish - by Laerke of Fibertales.

    I used a skein of The Knitting Shed's Ainsworth & Prin 100% Corriedale wool naturally dyed with silver birch; it's much more of a buttery yellow than the pictures here suggest, soft and beautifully woolly.

Katie's Kep

    The swatching paid off - my hat fits beautifully!

    This is Katie's Kep, designed by Wilma Malcolmson (for Shetland Wool Week 2020), knitted in Uradale Yarns jumper weight organic wool.

Swish swatch

    Setting out to knit a Fair Isle hat I thought I'd better do the right thing and check my tension first.

    I watched Ella Gordon's comprehensive tutorial and followed her instructions; based on what the swatch told me about my gauge, hopefully the hat will now fit as it should.

    But isn't the swatch a pretty thing in its own right? The idea of playing with colour and making a few more for the fun of it certainly appeals!

Tsutsu Bear

    I'm not sure what prompted me to knit a bear - I've never made toys before - but this pattern is so detailed and so clear, I'm glad I had a go.

    Tsutsu's cabled jumper is one of three styles given in the pattern, together with a hat with variations too, so he could have an extensive wardrobe if you were so inclined.

    The Little Bear books by Martin Waddell and Barbara Firth were favourites when my children were small; they seemed like the perfect backdrop for Tsutsu's photoshoot.

Comfort & Joy

    I didn't manage to finish these in time for Christmas, but they'll do for general winter wear anyway; they are the Comfort & Joy socks by Olivia of This Handmade Life.

    I used the specified wool - Camarose Yaku - and have plenty left for another similar project.

    The heel shaping (known as  a strong heel, apparently) was a new technique for me and I'll be interested to see how it fits compared to my usual flap-and-gusset kind. 

    The hand-embroidered project bag is from Sherry Iris.

    (Edited to add: you can find Olivia's patterns on Etsy, too.)

Cosy and warm

    This is the Pochie hot water bottle cover by Kate Davies (currently part of her Allover Club).

    Pochie, Kate tells us, is a Scots word meaning snug, warm or cosy, and this smart, pure wool cover - it's made with Kate's own yarn lines, Ooskit and Schiehallion - will definitely do the trick on a cold night.

    I made a couple of Pochies as Christmas presents and they were well received.

    As we welcome in a new year, I hope you are cosy and warm and in good company.

    Wishing you all the best!

Along the garden path

    Along the Garden Path sock pattern by This Handmade Life; Luxury Plump cashmere sock yarn from The Wool Barn.

    (I thought I'd written about Beverley Nichols' Down the Garden Path here but all I can find is this little post from another of his books.)

Patterns

    

    Take a look at:

     Purl Soho's Library Blanket,

     Katie's Kep, this year's Shetland Wool Week hat,

     Nicki Franklin's Antique Quilt Needle Case,

    Ann Wood's sweet needle book.

Patterns

    Nicki at The Stitchery has just released this free embroidery pattern, A Little Spring Cheer, 

and Olivia of This Handmade Life has published a pretty new sock pattern: Along the Garden Path.

    Perfect spirit-lifting projects, don't you think?

Sealed with a kiss

    Who doesn't need a knitted envelope?