Very Nearly Completely Finished!

I can’t believe it’s finished! After 5 years! I really let it sit in the cupboard for a very long time, now made a concerted effort to finish.  

I followed Hazel Tindale’s method and picked one stitch per row along the front steeks, for the bands, but didn’t reduce the numbers in the first row. I’m a tight corrugated rib knitter anyway. 
I ignored Meg Swanson’s good advice and did the whole rib band in one hit. Meg suggested I do the fronts and neck in one go, then add the waist as I wanted it twice as long. It would have been neater. But... I thought I’d give it a try in one go, so I did the waist, broke off yarn, started again and did a second row. Then turned with a double increase and ribbed up the front, double increase to go around the neck and the same for the other front… Then turned to do the waist for the third time, and on to go all the way around again. Lastly broke off yarn and did another waist. That is, for each row of front and neck banding I did 2 rows of waist. 
I had to pick up a couple of stitches to cover it. 
You can see in the pictures that I ought to have taken Meg’s advice! It’s a bit wonky as I said, but I’m very happy with it anyway and doubt I’ll notice it after a bit. 
The ribbon was in my stash, from at least 20 years ago. Vintage ribbon that is so perfect I couldn’t believe it. And with only a few centimeters spare! 
So, the original pattern was to be a jumper, but it was a bit small so I steeked it to become a cardigan, thus making it both bigger and oddly proportioned. 
I haven’t tried it on yet but it looks ok.

 

Op Shop Denim Overalls & Jacket

Jackson reminds me of my Mum

Overalls In Situ

Too cute and a sweetie as well. Here's the link to the other post and the source of the overalls kit.

Jackson in Grandpa's garden, aged 14 months.

Little Jackson's 'The Stitchery' Overalls

I bought the printed overall fabric from The Stitchery when Sadie was little, but left it too late. I did make the Duck pair for her.

I added the bit and the bird, so the straps go longer.

The printed fabric has a lining of the same (red) fabric, but I thought an old checked cotton would look nice. Just plugging through, using my vintage fabrics. The buttons are old too, cut from something or other. 

Iggy's Slippers

Shula gave me a copy of this old pattern, and I've made loads since. They take no time at all and you can have heaps of fun. Heaps! One of my bosses at work is a sweetie and he and his wife have a new little baby boy, so I had another excuse to get the felt out. A good train project. So cute and boopy! And very quick.

Sadie's Tiny Owl's

Made using vintage Op-Shop wool and scraps of stash splendour.

Mt darling grand-daughter loved my tiny owl knits Robin-Wristee's (orhere at Ravelry) that I had to make her some. They are so little and boopy it brings a tear to my eye! (The top pic is a closer colour to true).

I cast on 38 stitches, worked 6cm then did a 2x2 rib for 2.25cm. I decreased 3 stitches (total) either side and in the middle of a row before the ribbing. Easy! Excepting that I almost finished the second one but hadn't mirror-imaged it. Der.

 tiny owl knits are so cute!

The bird I just scribbled onto some graph paper but I'd rather not give you a pattern (sorry) since it's Tiny Owl's design really and I've just squished it.

Tiny Owl's Again

Nearly finished! I wrote about the wool etc., over at Ravelry. You can find a link there to the pattern.

Bobby's Betty

Have a look over HERE at Ravelry. You can see what others have made too.

Finished Again

It's been ages since I blogged. I think I say that every time now... Here is the vest, finally finished. It was too small so I added length to after the armholes and V, then cast on down the side and did a bit of sideways ribbing.

It's not a great fit now but looks good under a jacket. I'd do it differently next time. The extra shoulder length means I could take out the side expansion and I couldn't wear it without a T-shirt because the armholes are too low. For goodness' sake! AGAIN! I always manage to stuff up my knitting!

I like it, the Vogue Vest, but might try simply making the V start earlier, rather than lengthening the shoulders.

It's charcoal wool, which looks fluffy in the pics but is actually a nice shade.

Here is the eventually unneccessary sideways ribbing. I like the look but because it's now a little too big, it bunches up weirdly.

e RM2 knitted into the back is obscure but that's fine, it's my secret (ours).

I used the orange on the perle stitch, otherwise it would be too bright.

I have to say that Morris & Sons Empire 4ply is very soft to wear and after the fluff washes out (in a few washes), it's lovely. You can wear it against your skin except in this case you'll see my bra strap.

My New Jacket That Wasn't Meant To Be At All Like The Old Jacket, But Is.

Not quite finished. I've had to change the back pleat because it sat badly over my lusciously ample bottom. I'll show you the back when it's done. Every panel is interfaced. The front and collar pieces are with horse-hair for solidity.
It's a proper, solid, warm jacket. Way more curvy on than on the hanger. The pattern is a mixture with a bit of fudging as well. I'm over raglan jackets for now though. Two is enough.



Breast pocket




Pad stitching on under collar.




This lining could not be more perfect. It's silk and all. From Vic Market in Melbourne.




I quilted the sleeve lining, using an iron-on vellum. The reason being that I decided to interface all of the pieces, but had already made up the sleeve pockets. So this seemed a good solution. I had an amazing German, leather coat which had quilted lining in the sleeves so...




The cuffs are quite long. Don't tell me you're not impressed with the bound buttonholes! And self-covered buttons to boot! It was going to be very busy if I wasn't careful. Loads of pockets and buttons. It had to be and I admit to Nerd-dom when it comes to fussing with detail. I used Buttonmania to do the buttons, in the darling favourite Nicholas Building in Swanson Street Melbourne.



Look at that shot lining! It's Gorgeous!

There's more to show. An inside ticket-slash-secret pocket... also secret sleeve pockets with LUVVERLY linings... and the back almost resplendant with band and pleat. Gotta figure out how to sew the lining down to the pleat area, but I'm hoping it will reveal itself when I get there (and posting this is stopping me).
The fabric was a steal from the now defunct Job Warehouse in Bourke Street. R.I.P. you old buggers! Thanks for the memories!

Mistakes, Always Mistakes

I do love this vest, but although I checked my little tension swatch, I never again checked it, so the vest is not as wide as it ought to be and way shorter than I should have ever imagined would be ok. And the thing is... I knew! I just ignored myself, as usual. Idiot!

So, I slid the needle through a row near the ribbing, cut it off and started knitting the other way, to lengthen it. It'll be fine. Under the arms I'll add a little wedge, for extra ease. THEN, I'll write it all down and have a template for What To Do Next Time!

The Latest Project

I draw incessantly. Designs, this way, that way. Eventually, if the idea sticks, I get around to making the thing.... not always. In fact I have more time to draw than time to do, sadly.

However, I have always wanted to do proper tailoring. My Grandma and her Dah were tailors. I have been talking to them a bit and wishing they were here. I always wish they were here though. And I miss my Mum. This Shingles thing is making me weepy!

I went to dressmaking school but chose to make a cape instead of learning pad stitching (1974 you see). Why they let me I don't know. But good old Youtube and the city library huh! I'm figuring it out.

I bought the fabric for a bargain at Job Warehouse in Melbourne. It's gorgeous English wool and I've been sitting on it for some time, waiting and thinking..... The pattern is cobbled together from a couple of things. Fortunatley I have enough left to make a kilt and fix any stuff-ups.

Wish me luck!

Note: I try to draw my designs on a model that resembles my own figure. I rarely get it right... I can't tell what I look like. No idea.

Leif's Groovy Shirt

Made from vintage (but never used) fabrics and a 1960's pattern. Mr 2 years old. I made a pair of shorts in other vntage fabric but forgot to photograph them. I'd made some for my son (Leif's Dad) when he was a wee lad as well. If you keep the fabric long enough..... The label is one I used just for the children's clothes. Had a few left.

Got The Colours Now For Goodnesses Sake!

This colour choice has been a saga. I have smoky grey, pink, apricot and two yellows spare, all bought thinking they might fit in. Ha ha ha! Plus I have a number of excellent books on Fair Isle and the history of knitting. It's lovely but little bit sad history. From a good living to be made to nothing. Queen Elizabeth I refused a patent for a stocking knitting machine and delayed the demise of the hand-knitting industry for 200 years. Bloody Industrial Revolution! The Revolution has a lot to answer for. And no, I won't listen to how it helped.

I love this from 'The Old Hand-Knitters of the Dales' (Yorkshire Dales), about how these knitters would re-knit a jumper just for a change and how delightful it was to behold:

A dalesman's daughters, whom we know, think nothing of frequently unravelling complicated Fair Isle patterned jumpers and knitting the wool up again in differnet styles. But 'things were made to wear then' and we think of Mr. William Gill as he sat on the edge of the sofa saying, 'What a change! What a change!'

Crap Photo's Of My New Jacket

Finished at last!! It's very comfortable and suitably snug. Perfect fit. With much coming and going and unpicking and recutting and hunting etc. I have finally finished. There are a few things I'd do differently... I'm a bit out of touch and my bum is rather large (which no amount of pattern cutting will alter).

Detail, worked by my Mum ever so long ago. From an unfinished thingy.

Looking up inside the cuff.

Vintage buttons.

Secret pockets at cuffs, in side seams.

Back, obviously. I ironed vellum onto the lining and made the quilted fabric. It looks so luscious and yum. You can make out where the cuff pockets are in this pic.

Inside. Nice lining huh?

Bad photo of the front. Two different Prince of Wales check fabrics. Wool, and wool-silk.