WIP Wednesday - Chapman Socks

First of all I want to say a huge sorry for the posting schedule going a little off piste this past week. I didn't realise I hadn't scheduled a post to go up on Sunday, and after a tiring week at work, I am only now just getting around to getting some things written. So on with that! 

One of the things I cast on recently was a pair of Chapman socks by Rachel Atkinson from the John Arbon Textiles Annual, issue one. The Annual itself is a lovely little book with a couple of patterns as well as a few fun little activities and I am excitedly waiting for my copy of issue two. 

The socks are cabled with a little wiggly two by two cable, which gives a lovely effect, as well as being really easy to knit. I am making the Extra-Small size (there are five different sizes) which uses 56 stitches, and whilst the pattern calls for a 2.25mm needle I have used 2.5mm DPNs. 

I've now knit one complete sock and am now starting on the second. But there was one false start with the first... I accidentally cast on two extra stitches and didn't really work out why the pattern wasn't working until I had done the entire leg and was about to do the heel. After pulling it completely out and starting again it was very quick to knit up, and really quite enjoyable as the pattern is easy to memorise without too much thinking. 

The yarn used is actually from a little weekend break away I had back last year when I went with my parents to Edinburgh. We had an amazing time, but I managed to pop into the Ginger Twist Studio shop and pick up a holiday skein of yarn. I chose a skein of her sock base, Sheepish Sock in a colourway that really spoke to my heart: Factory Girls. It is the most amazing green (the photo above doesn't do it justice) whilst also being lovely to knit with. I can highly recommend. 

Now excuse me whilst I go knit on this sock! ;) 

WIP Wednesday - Arbor Vitae

Yes yes! Another update on this should-have-been-finished-long-ago work in progress. I have finally managed to complete the body of my Arbor Vitae jumper, and I am pretty excited about it. I was finding the body hard going, with almost endless stocking stitch with a 4-ply yarn. I found that I couldn't just sit and knit on it unless I had something else to distract me as well. 

That being said I did manage to get a fair bit done on it when I realised I could walk and knit at the same time, and I spent a fair few walks in the sunshine knitting as I wandered along. 

I decided to cut the waist shaping short, by doing one less increase repeat. That meant that the number of decrease and increase repeats were the same, but also I found that by the end of the penultimate increase the body was the length specified in the pattern before the ribbing started. So I thought there wasn't much to loose and started the ribbing. 

I tried it on after I had cast off and it was a perfectly fine length, it comes down a fair bit further than my Fern and Feather, and had a nice amount of ease to it. (Not 11" ;P) I then added the neckline and that was practically done in a night too. The neckline also isn't quite to pattern. I knitted the neckline until it was a length I liked, trying it on as I went. That meant that it is actually half the size that the pattern suggests. But I'm not too keen on things being tight around my neck. 

So that only leaves the sleeves and sleeve caps to go. I'm thinking of trying to make them two at a time, which would be exciting to try. So I am almost back to where I was when I ripped back this whole jumper. It has been hard going, and I'm a little unsure now of knitting another 4-ply jumper. But maybe this is just because it is the second time round same pattern, same yarn. I'll see how I feel about another one in the future. 

WIP Wednesday - Periodic Table Blanket

I feel it is high time that I gave you all an update on this massive project of mine, which has been going on for what feels like forever (I believe it is about ten years...) I seem to go through waves of really getting into the project, and knitting several squares for it, and then not touching it for another several months.

Recently I reached a new milestone for it! I finally completed groups 3 through 12, the biggest number of same coloured squares. For some reason, in past Lottie's infinite wisdom, I used the most eye wateringly offensive shade of neon orange. I really don't know why, I must have been going through something! XD Anyway, with those squares now out of the way I can turn my attention to the remaining groups on the table. Groups 13 through 16 including helium will be in the same colour. But I don't have a colour picked out for them just yet. I am thinking of looking through my stash and seeing what I already have. I know full well that I won't have enough for all the squares I need, but at least I can get that one ball out of my stash before I get a load more to complete that section of the project.

Now with groups 13 through 16 considered and planned out, the only squares left are the Actinides, these I do actually have the yarn for, and are a delightful hot pink - Again. past Lottie, what were you thinking? - Unfortunately that yarn is sitting at my mother's house, and as I write this we are in the middle of a lockdown amidst a global pandemic. There is no chance I'm getting that yarn any time soon.

That all being said the end for this huge project does seem to be in sight. I think if I kept my mind to it then I could start to work my way through the next set of groups, and hopefully it won't be another ten years to finish this project!

To take the photo for this post, I laid all the squares out on my living room floor, and they took up more space than I actually had. There was also a lot of tension changes, which will be fun to deal with when we come to  trying to join all the squares together.

Finished Object - My Secret Crop

This project was very much started on a whim, but actually perked up my knitting mojo, and I ran with it. It was the first project in a few weeks that I actually really enjoyed knitting on. I follow Jessie Maed Designs on instagram, and she was having a mystery knit along (MKAL) for a new crop top design. She had thought the design up, and hadn't had anyone test it, so was offering it free and making adjustments to the pattern as the MKAL went along with the problems that people were finding. It looked really fun, so after the first couple of days I joined in too.

The project was perfect for that one skein of Malabrigo Rios that I had in my stash that I really didn't know what to do with. I used up pretty much the whole skein and didn't have much left over at all. I knit the small size. As was the nature of the MKAL I didn't know what the final outcome would look like, but I went with it and I am really happy with the finished object.

I will admit the weather isn't really the best here in England at the moment, it may be sunny but I'm not too sure if it really is warm enough to be wearing this lovely crop top outdoors just yet. Anyway, here she is in all her glory. The My Secret Crop, in Malabrigo Rios in the Sunset colourway. A lovely warm crop, which was amazingly quick to knit up.

Finished Object - Antler Toque

Knitting on the Arbor Vitae has taken a back seat recently, while my mojo has been a little lacking from having to rip the thing out. Most of my WIPs were not doing anything for me, so I thought I would cast something new on. Deciding what to make was also a little hard, but I have recently discovered a brilliant new app that allows you to make lists and it will choose something at random from that list, so I've loaded up my queue in it and the Antler Toque by Tin Can Knits is what it came out with.

I used a skein from stash to make the hat. It was a yarn from a Knitcrate a little while ago and is Audine Wools Sigh DK, in the Ladybug colourway. The yarn is an 85% Merino Wool and 15% Cashmere, and is incredibly soft. I used one skein to make a hat a little while ago which ended up too big for me so I gave it to my Mam. This one I was determined to make fit for myself. Which meant a couple of false starts.

I started the hat on one of my knit nights, using the recommended needle size. No I didn't gauge swatch... yes, I have learned from the Arbor Vitae, I'm sorry! I knit a fair amount of the ribbing in the child size, using a 4mm needle, before realising that it was still too big. So I ripped it out and went down to a 3mm needle and cast on again. This time the child size was too small, so I was able to up a size and knit the small adult. This made me feel a little better about my smaller than average head.

I have so much trouble being able to knit a pattern that I feel actually fits me in the way I want to, but I guess the joy of knitting is that I can continue to use trial and error to actually find something I will enjoy wearing. I finished the ribbing and moved onto the main body of the hat, which was rather fun to knit, but I did not go up a needle size. I would like to say that was deliberate, but it was because I was sat in bed and I couldn't be bothered to go downstairs and find the right sized needle. Lazy I know, and I might be paying for it now, hopefully a good blocking will sort it all out.

I worked out how to work cables without a cable needle for this project, which I feel is a lifesaver. It allows you to wizz through so quickly. I think there are a good few tutorials for it online. I've never really looked, working on the Arbor Vitae has given me an insight into how cables actually work, so I found working out for myself how it is done rather easy. But do let me know if you want me to write a blog post about it.

Overall the hat fits well. It is tight on my head just how I like it to be, and I finally think I have found the right knitting needle for my hat patterns in future. Even if it is just for the ribbing. I think I will try again, but move up a needle size when I continue with the rest of the hat. The hat itself doesn't come too far down my head, stopping just above my ears, I think I would prefer it to come down a little further and I do feel like it might pop off the top of my head at any moment. I am going to subject the hat to a good blocking to try and smooth out the cables and I am hoping that this too helps the hat to sit on my head in the way that I want it to.

The final touch I added was a pompom. I treated myself to a modern pompom maker. Instead of two rough cut pieces of cardboard, and was able to make a matching pompom for my hat in a fraction of the time. I made in in such a way that I could just tie it on, allowing it to be taken off for blocking. It was quick and easy to do, so there way well be a good few pompoms in the future.

This make you can find on my Ravelry project page here, where the yarn and the pattern are linked. Overall I am pretty excited that I am starting to find the right needle sizes for making hats that actually fit me, so I'm hoping for some more hats soon.

Finished Object - Leftovers Shorty Sock

Another Leftovers shorty sock! This one knitted to exactly the same recipe as the last one, to make a delightfully miss-matched pair. Recently I have started taking my knitting to work and getting a couple of rounds done on my tea or lunch breaks. It's been nice, and quite pleasing to see a fair amount of progress on things as well. I've only been taking in little projects, and leftovers socks are perfect for the job.

This leftovers sock I've been knitting with the leftovers from a pair of socks that I knit for my sister-in-law for Christmas just gone (Ravelry page for those here) in an Opal sock yarn. I'm not sure what colourway it was, but the sock was mentioned back in one of my blog posts about all the Christmas knits I made. I knit them on my set of 2.5mm DPNs, and with 60 stitches, just like the previous sock I made.

I decided to make this sock in the same way and using the same techniques as the previous one, so they could be paired up. So there is about an inch of 2x2 ribbing for the cuff, followed by a german short row heel. The toe of the sock is finished normally, alternating one decrease row with one plain knit row. I added two plain rows just after the heel, mostly so the sock was the same as the last one, but also because I feel it worked well. I think it adds just a tiny bit more room for my quite long toes without the rest of the sock becoming too long. I think that may be a little thing that I add to most of my socks from now on, especially the ones that I have knit with this kind of toe.

So with this leftovers sock complete that is another pair to add to my ever growing sock draw. Maybe one day I'll have nothing but hand knit socks!

Finished Object - A Leftover Shorty Sock

After Ripping out my Arbor Vitae Jumper, I felt like I needed something new to work on. I wasn't really feeling like I wanted to make much of what I already had on the needles and was itching for something else. The thought of a family weekend away looming, got me thinking about train knitting and knitting that could be done when chatting to other people and being social. So I decided on a sock. In the back of my mind I was still feeling the need to work through what I had, so I decided it was time for another leftovers sock.

The leftovers sock is something I have been doing with the leftover yarn when I have been knitting other pairs of socks, be them for myself or other people. I will make one shorty from the yarn, the remainder of that ball will be wound up and put with my other scraps. I find it's a nice way to have a reminder of all the socks that I have knit before, especially if they have been for a gift.

So in my draw of bits of projects and things, I found the leftovers of the pair of socks I knitted for my Dad (Ravelry Page, Blog Post). I then had a look at what needles I had free and my set of Knitpro 2.5mm DPNs were empty, so that was the plan made. They were packed up into a bag and taken with me when I set off on my journey to see my family.

I cast them on in a coffee shop whilst waiting for my train, with 60 stitches, and I started on the cuff. I worked them top down and knit an inch of 2x2 ribbing. I had forgotten to bring a ruler or tape measure with me, so I knitted the length of the top portion of my thumb, I measured the length of the ribbing when I got home. It's nice to know I have an inch long thumb section - makes for easy quick measuring!

I knitted a plain knit round after the ribbing before starting on the heel. It was a german short row heel, the easiest I find to remember. I knitted the foot until it was about an inch and half below the top of my big toe then I started the toe of the sock. Quite a few of the shorty socks I've made before have a habit of slipping down my foot during the day, which is probably down to them being a little too short. So after I finished the toe decreases, I added two straight knit rounds, and then grafted it together.

Overall I am pretty pleased with the outcome, it was made really quite quick, (less than a week!) and the fit is really good, better than previous attempts. Maybe I should play around a little bit more with my leftovers socks. I'm feeling the creativity right now, so I may have to go cast on another!

A Lesson in Gauge - The Arbor Vitae Jumper

My Best Friend Trying the Jumper on.

The progress I've been making on my Arbor Vitae Jumper has been stopped and the jumper almost completely ripped back, and on purpose too. The jumper had a complete body, and I had started on the first of the sleeves, having done the short row sleeve cap and just started to work in the round for the main part of the sleeve. When I got to that point I decided to try on the jumper to see how the sleeve was doing. I had tried the jumper on before when I had completed the body and the neckband, but back then I didn't think much about the bottom ribbing of the jumper being a little loose - Admittedly when I tried it on the first time I was on the train and at risk of looking more then a little odd, so didn't keep the jumper on that long!

This time I really noticed the loose-ness of the jumper, and it got me thinking about how I wanted the jumper to sit, and how often was I going to wear it if it didn't have the characteristics that I wanted. It was then that I decided that it was too big for me, and it might be an idea to start over again. Now I didn't know that much about gauge and swatching. I did swatch for this project, and I knew that my gauge was larger, but my inexperience with it all lead me to believe that it would only be an inch or so larger than it was meant to be. I also didn't really know what to do with the gauge information once I had got it.

Luckily when doing some research I managed to come across a few websites explaining gauge swatching in more depth then I had really looked for before. The For Dummies website (here) was more of a help then anything I had found before. It gives a brilliant run down of what you need to do, followed by a little bit of maths to work out the size of the knitting using the gauge and the stitch count. This came in really handy, and had my little geek brain all excited to be doing a little bit of maths to help out my knitting.

My best friend tried on my jumper when I was working out a little bit of the maths before I started frogging. She is a few sizes bigger than me and it fitted her almost perfectly. Shame it wasn't for her!
I worked out in the end that the jumper was about eleven inches too big, just a little too large for my liking. The second gauge swatch I did with a 2.5mm needle, which was the smaller needle size used for the ribbing and such in the pattern. My gauge was a little closer, but unfortunately not as close as it needed to be. We were looking at a gauge of 7 stitches per inch pattern gauge and 5.5 stitches per inch my gauge. With the maths all worked out, if I knit the smallest size, the outcome would only be a little bit bigger than it should be (actually an inch bigger, not eleven!) so I went with that, worrying that any smaller of a needle and then I might end up with a fabric which has a feel I don't like as much.

The Arbor Vitae, three months in progress, and only an hour to frog completely. I wasn't as sad as I thought I would have been ripping it out. I know that the yarn is a nice yarn that has a meaning to me, and the pattern is one that I feel I will enjoy wearing. So I am quite pleased to be able to have a second chance at getting it right, one of the things that I love about knitting.

So as the phoenix rises from the ashes, I have cast on and started the Arbor Vitae again, this time on a smaller needle and in a smaller size. But also with a much better understanding of gauge and how it affects the knit, and what to do about it when it isn't what you want. I feel so much better for finally understanding gauge, and I think I do feel a little bit differently about swatching now. I think I will enjoy it a lot more.

WIP Wednesday - Arbor Vitae

This picture is a little washed out.

Over the Christmas period I made quite a few presents for my close family, so I decided that it was time for a project for myself. I had swatched for the Arbor Vitae and it had been on my to make list, so it felt about right.

The pattern is by Joji Locatelli from the Pompom magazine issue 27. The yarn I've decided to use was three skeins I picked up when I was on a weekend adventure with my other half. We had a lovely weekend in Bath (where we had our first date many years ago, which ended in a rather unpleasant happening...) where I dragged Sam into A Yarn Story and picked myself up three skeins of Arranmore Donegal Heritage in the Rauri colourway, a 4-ply in a lovely dark red colour with little neps of different colours.

These were my holiday skeins and reserved for something nice for me. This jumper seemed perfect for it. I just have to hope that it will be enough.

Unfortunately with the Pompom magazine they tend to give the yardage for a given project in the number of skeins of the particular yarn they made it in. It's somewhat confusing, but can be worked out. I just wish it was a little bit easier.

The jumper was an odd construction, at least one I am not used to. I know I haven't knitted many jumpers, and the ones I have are either yolked or raglan but this one has the back knit separately from the front until the under arms, and the front knit in two before being joined. I'll admit I did enjoy the odd construction. It gave me something to concentrate on, and learning new things is always interesting and somewhat fun.

Trying it on, on the train.

The front and back yolk of the jumper went by pretty quickly, as I find nearly all of the jumpers I've knitted do. It gave me a lot more practice at cabling, and I'm really inclined to do more as I have really enjoyed the process. Maybe it's time for a cabled hat. I got most of the body done on my christmas holiday around the place, with plenty of long train journeys to get a good chunk done. I used the jog-less join technique for alternating my skeins. There is a brilliant tutorial on YouTube by Grace of Babbles Travelling Yarns, she explains is brilliantly and was where I first heard of the technique. I used it on the body of the jumper where the yarn changes, and is a great way to avoid sudden tone changes and to fade colours.

I finally finished the body of my jumper as well as the neckband on the train home after my Christmas and new year celebrations, so I am on to sleeve island for the foreseeable future. I'm okay with that, sleeves I find are just like really long socks, and they aren't that complicated. I found all the stocking stitch on the body hard going however, it felt like it would never end. I'm rather glad it did though. As I'm starting the sleeves I really do hope that I have enough yarn for this jumper, it's getting a little too close for my comfort. I was never a fan of yarn chicken, at least I do have a gauge swatch to undo if things get really desperate!

Christmas Knits

Christmas is over for another year, and however you are celebrating at this time of year I hope you had a lovely time.

I like many other makers, made a lot of my Christmas gifts this year. I made sure I didn't give myself a million and one different things to make this year, as I know there is a fine line before I end up getting overwhelmed and loose my mojo all together. I did however manage to get one present started and finished in the summer, so I was well on my way. I thought I would give a run down of the things I've made for gifts this year, even the questionable ones!

Sam's F1 Socks
These were one of the last presents I made, they were mostly made when I came to finish them off, but they spent a lot of time with a thousand ends to sew in and missing their heels. I did have a small sense of humour failure after spending almost two days weaving in ends, which has put me off a tiny bit from finishing my own pair of F1 socks, which really have taken a back seat for now.

I thought this design up after being inspired by a pair of socks that Rachel from the Crafty Historian podcast made, detailing the women throughout the Game of Thrones series. Mine however needed me to think about how to display each podium and race of the F1 season. I'm very pleased with how I managed to do it, and might even right the pattern up for future use - if I can find a way to get rid of quite so many ends! ;)

The pair of socks were mainly made up of Coop Knits Socks Yeah! in a few different colours representing the different teams. Mercedes in Chryso, Ferrari in Carnelian, Red Bull in Benitolite, Toro Rosso in Larimar, and suprising us all McLaren in Citrine. The heels, toes and cuffs break the mould being West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4-ply in a plain black colour. I made this pair cuff down with afterthought heels, cut in using a cardboard cut out of Sam's foot. The socks weren't a great fit sadly, but they were fortunately too big instead of too small. Maybe the next pair need to be on a smaller needle.

Needless to say, regardless of the fit Sam loved them and kept on telling anyone who would listen about them.

Pop Socks
This present was one of the very first I made this year, started late May and finished in July. They are a simple vanilla sock, made with my usual sock recipie, using 64 stitches.
There isn't really much exciting to say about this pair, they have German Short Row heels and are made from Austermann Step sock yarn, colour way 328.

This pair I gave to my Dad for Christmas, but I am not sure how well they fit. I didn't have a cardboard cut out of his foot so I made them to fit Sam's feet which are a similar size. I hope they are alright.

Becca Socks
The next in a longish line of socks I made this year were a pair for my sister-in-law, this was another 64 stitch vanilla sock. This one with a shorter cuff length, but still with a German Short Row heel.

The yarn I used for this one was Opal sock yarn although I don't actually know what colour way. It is interesting working with a few of the other work horse sock yarns, seeing as I have worked with West Yorkshire Spinners almost exclusively apart from the odd luxury skein of sock yarn here and there. I'm going to see how these two pairs turn out and maybe I'll work a little bit more with them in the future.

Chris Socks
Now this is where the socks become a little more interesting. I did a little more thinking for this pair, as my brother does have rather large feet but fortunately I did have a cardboard cut out of his foot to help me. I decided I would use a 2.5mm needle and 64 stitches, which is my larger go to sock recipe but to make sure they would stretch even further I decided to make the sock a 2x2 rib.

So setting out with a suitable hardy West Yorkshire Spinners signature 4-ply in the pheasant colour way. I made these with a longer then normal leg, as I know that is what my brother likes. I had to be somewhat careful that they weren't going to be too long and I end up struggling to fit them around his calf. The sole of the sock was in plain socking stitch, but I continues the rib down the top of the foot.

I think out of all the socks I've made this year, these are definitely the ones I'm most pleased with , both in style and in fit. I also believe they were received rather well.

Emma Socks
The last pair of gift socks for this year, and lets be perfectly honest, they weren't the best, but the person who got them was grateful. I've made a pair of socks for my best friend Emma before and I thought that this time I'd treat her to another pair. She had recently given me some cotton yarn, which I thought would be good for the job. Having already given me some to make a pair for her Mum. Unfortunately I didn't learn from the first pair...

So I cast on the normal 64 stitches on a 2.5mm needle, and decided that I'd skip my least favourite part of the sock and make a shortie pair. I hate knitting the leg on socks. The pair went smoothly, top down with a German Short Row heel. But my, they were far wider then I was expecting. The same thing happened with the other cotton pair, so it shouldn't be a surprise.

Like I say, they were quick, easy, and well received, if not baggy and only useful for slippers. Maybe I should learn to make cotton socks properly.

Alison Hat
First of the hats, one for my other sister-in-law. She got socks from me last year as well as my brother, so I decided to make them hats this year. Alison's hat was one I started fairly early, and was something that had been in my queue for a little while, so it was nice to make.

It did spark off a little urge to make many more hats, which I haven't quite satisfied yet. I used the leftovers from the un-dyed skein in my Fern and Feather jumper, a DK skein of Grande Merino from Countess Ablaze and a 3.75mm circular needle. The project didn't last long and was a lovely palette cleanser between other projects at the time.

The pattern, Irma Hat by Aneta Gasiorowska, was nice to work through and used simple methods to create a lovely pattern. It really was a joy to knit, and lovely to see it enjoyed when gifted.

Colin Hat
This hat was  I think the present that brought me the most joy in making. A somewhat ridiculous panda hat for my brother, I was tempted to make a matching one for his son, but seeing as the sizing started at 8 years old, his 5 month old would have a long time before it would fit. So I only made one

It was the first time I used my book on knitting animal hats in earnest. I've used it once before to get the basic hat pattern to make a walrus hat a little while ago for a friend of mine. I've found the book intuitive to use, and I was quite pleased with the hat once I was done. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the finished hat, but when I do I will add it in here.
I used a simple acrylic chunky yarn as I wanted it to be easy maintenance. There was a fleece lining to the hat as well, which kept it snuggly and warm and ready for the winter.

Leo's Jumper
For my baby nephew I decided to make a christmas jumper. He's small enough that knitting a jumper for him isn't a huge undertaking. I wanted the jumper to have a Christmas-y feel, so decided on a red jumper with some colour work. I decided to use the Flax pattern by Tin Can Knits. It's one I've used before to make a jumper for Leo when he was born. I made the 1 to 2 year old size, which given my gauge has come out slightly large, but he'll grow into it.

I took to Pinterest to find some charts and get a little inspiration to hack the Flax pattern. I found a snowflake chart and a polar bear chart, that I thought were lovely. I'm a sucker for a polar bear, I used the Flax pattern for the bare bones of the jumper, leaving out the garter stitch panels on the sleeves. I planned out the number of stitches on the body and the charts I had found to try and work out the best way to fit the pattern into the jumper.

I used the first part of the jumper before the sleeve separation as a gauge swatch and whilst the width of the jumper was going to be fine, the body would be a little long. The length of the body I wasn't really worried about, he is a long baby. For my first major colour work project I am glad that it was a baby jumper. I am also quite pleased with how it turned out. The jumper did turn out a little bit on the large size, but I am looking forward to seeing my little nephew in his new jumper.

Wallace and Gromit
This present was one which warmed my heart when I gifted it. The person who received it was made up, and it felt so good. I made a little amigurumi crochet Wallace and Gromit, which were far from perfect. The pattern and yarn came from a kit that was given to me, with the person I made them for in mind. The pattern was quick, like most crochet, and was easy to follow. I wasn't too keen on all the sewing up though.

I have to admit the individual pieces got made up quite quickly and then spent a good few weeks in a box waiting to be joined together. I finally got myself together and joined all the pieces up and my least favourite bit, sewing on the faces. The faces left a little bit to be desired, but we got the general effect. Terrifying. The faces weren't the only far from perfect bit. Wallace's jumper was a little too short, showing a little part of his midriff, not to mention the problems with Gromit.

Gromit started off so well, but things got a little wrong when I ran out of yarn for Gromit's legs. Gromit sadly ended up with rather short front legs. I then had no yarn left for his back legs. I used the leftover yarn from Wallace's head, as it was the closest colour I had left, so he now has slightly off colour, and slightly longer back legs. Despite all things that were wrong with both Wallace and Gromit, they were absolutely loved. It does go to show that no matter how many flaws we see in our own work, the people we love, who love us, will always see the best.

Bag and Bunting
The last present I made was a sewing project, and one I finished fairly early. I had the task of turning three pieces of material into a present. I had three very similar pieces of fabric, they had a sheep design on them, but in three different colours. The person they were for loved the material and I had got my hands on three oddments of them to make something. I settled for one piece of bunting and a bag. I wanted a small quilted bag, and managed to find a free online pattern and tutorial for one.

The pieces were an awkward size and I had a fun time trying to jigsaw puzzle the pieces on what fabric I had left after making the bunting. I managed though, and I am pretty pleased with the outcome. The pattern was from The Fabric Mutt and includes a brilliant walk through tutorial, which really does hold your hand from start to finish. I'm happy to say that this present was loved by the person I give it too, but unfortunately I haven't got many good photos of it. I have also managed to get no photos of the bunting either.

That is where all the hand made gifts ended for this year. I felt quite pleased that I managed to get quite a few presents done, and they were really well received which made me all the more want to make gifts again next year.  

Episode 19: Summer Holidays

Welcome to the Lemmon Juicer Podcast, I hope you have a lovely time watching.

Instagram: @lemmonjuicer
Ravelry: sockbug97
Ravelry Group: Lemmon Juicer Podcast
Blog: www.lemmonjuicer.blogspot.co.uk

Extended Shownotes you will find on the Blog or in the Ravelry Group.

Finished Objects:
Bronwyn Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/bronwyn-shawl - A lovely crochet shawl that I am pretty sure I will get a lot of wear out of. It is made with DK yarn in four different colours, Green - Countess Ablaze, Grande Merino, Footloose, Light Blue - Malabrigo, Arroyo, Cian, Yellow - Babbles Yarns, Delicious DK, Solid Gold, Dark Blue - Fyberspates, Vivacious DK, Deep Aqua.

Colin's Triceratops: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/triceratops-head---taxidermy-dinosaur - a commossion from my brother for an excellent piece of livingroom furnature! ;) This is made from Cygnet Seriously Chunky in the Fawn colour way for the pale colour and Meadow Green for the main colour.

Gift Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/c-socks - A pair of gift socks from Christmas, these are 64sts on 2.5mm needle, in a 2x2 rib pattern. They are made from West Yorkshire Spinners, Signature 4-ply in the Pheasant colourway.

Margot the 2nd - Tilly and the Buttons pattern from the book Love at First Stitch, a wonderful book for getting started sewing your own clothes.

Spinning: Shetland and Icelandic blend, spun into a simple two ply that has come out as a light sport to fingering weight yarn.

WIPs:
F1 Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/sams-f1-socks - I have two pairs of F1 socks on the go, with a range of different yarns from CoopKnits in their Socks Yeah! base. The colours I have used I've listed on a previous post, so go back and have a look if you want to find out more.

Deck The Halls Stitch-a-long by Caterpillar Cross Stitch - a lovely stitch-a-long which is not too late to join in if you want to! I'm loving it!


In The Shed:
Handmade Notebook
Kiwico Eurika Crate - Pinball machine

Podcasts Mentioned:
Babbles Travelling Yarns
The Project Bag
Crafty Historian

Real Talk:
These are some links to the people leading the conversations around racism and inclusion in the
knitting community, take a look at their stories and discover some new people - please respect
their spaces:
@su.krita - https://www.instagram.com/su.krita/?hl=en
@thecolormustard - https://www.instagram.com/thecolormustard/?hl=en
@ocean_bythesea - https://www.instagram.com/ocean_bythesea/?hl=en
@booksandcables - https://www.instagram.com/booksandcables/?hl=en
@ggmadeit - https://www.instagram.com/ggmadeit/?hl=en

Layla F Saad's workbook: https://www.meandwhitesupremacybook.com/
Unfinished Object: https://www.unfinishedobject.com/
Vox Article: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/25/18234950/knitting-racism-instagram-stories

Music:
"Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Episode 18: Wipseseseses

Welcome to the Lemmon Juicer Podcast, get the kettle on and we'll get stuck in.

Instagram: @lemmonjuicer
Ravelry: sockbug97
Ravelry Group: Lemmon Juicer Podcast
Blog: www.lemmonjuicer.blogspot.co.uk

Extended Shownotes you will find on the Blog or in the Ravelry Group.

Finished Objects:
Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/b-socks
- Just a plain vanilla sock, with a german short row heel. Made out of Opal sock yarn, on a 2.5mm needle with 64 stitches.

Irma Hat: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/irma-hat
- Another gift knit, this is the Irma hat by Aneta Gasiorowska, knit up in Countess Ablaze, undyed Grande Merino. This was a lovely quick knit, maybe I'll do another!

WIPs:
Bronwyn Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/bronwyn-shawl
- This lovely crochet shawl is the Bronwyn Shawl by Toni Lipsey, it is going quite nicely and I am loving the outcome so far! The yarn I have used is, Countess Ablaze, Grande Merino in the Footloose colourway, Malabrigo, Arroyo in the Cian colourway, Babbles Yarns, Delicious DK in the Solid Gold colourway and Fyberspates, Vivacious DK in the Deep Aqua colourway.

F1 Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/sams-f1-socks
- These I am really enjoying, and is a pattern made up by myself, and there is one pair for me and one pair for Sam, made out of pretty much the same colours:
Grey: West Yorkshire Spinners, Bo Peep - Tin Can
Black: West Yorkshire Spinners, Signature 4 ply - Black
Ferrari - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Carnelian
Red Bull - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Benitolite
Mercedes - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Chryso
Torro Rosso - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Larimar

Colin's Triceratops: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/triceratops-head---taxidermy-dinosaur
- This delightful dinosaur was a request that I was happy to fulfill. The yarn is Cygnet Seriously Chunky in the Fawn colourway and the Meadow Green colourway.

Gift Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/c-socks
- Another pair of gift socks in readiness for christmas. This pair I am not knitting to a pattern again, but I am thinking of doing them as a 2x2 rib all the way down. They are 64 stitches and on a 2.5mm needle as always! The yarn is West Yorkshire Spinners, Signature 4 Ply in what I think is the Pheasant colourway.

Margot the 2nd - Tilly and the Buttons pattern

Spinning: Shetland and Icelandic blend

In The Shed:
Handmade Notebook

Real Talk:
These are some links to the people leading the conversations around racism and inclusion in the
knitting community, take a look at their stories and discover some new people - please respect
their spaces:
@su.krita - https://www.instagram.com/su.krita/?hl=en
@thecolormustard - https://www.instagram.com/thecolormustard/?hl=en
@ocean_bythesea - https://www.instagram.com/ocean_bythesea/?hl=en
@booksandcables - https://www.instagram.com/booksandcables/?hl=en
@ggmadeit - https://www.instagram.com/ggmadeit/?hl=en

Layla F Saad's workbook: https://www.meandwhitesupremacybook.com/
Unfinished Object: https://www.unfinishedobject.com/
Vox Article: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/25/18234950/knitting-racism-instagram-stories

Music:
"Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Lemmon Juicer Podcast Ep 17: All the Socks

Welcome to the Lemmon Juicer Podcast, I hope you're comfy!

Instagram: @lemmonjuicer
Ravelry: sockbug97
Ravelry Group: Lemmon Juicer Podcast
Blog: www.lemmonjuicer.blogspot.co.uk

Extended Shownotes you will find on the Blog or in the Ravelry Group.

Finished Objects:
Pop Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/pop-socks
- A vanilla sock knit with 2.5mm DPNs and 64 stitches. Made out of Austermann Step yarn in the Nordcap (046) ? Colourway I think. These were knit for a gift, so will be put away ready for Christmas!

Triangle Knit Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/knit-triangle-shawl
- An asymmetrical shawl made from Bernat Pop! yarn cakes, in the radical botanical colour way. This isn't the chunky bernat pop, but is incredibly snuggly.

Spinning: Green Merino Silk Braid
- A merino silk braid that I got from the Wool on the Exe shop, which was a joy to spin and I have another skein which I have spun, so we will see what that grows up to be!


WIPs:
Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/b-socks
- Another pair of gift socks -I know organised and everything! These are again knit on 2.5mm DPNs and with 64 stitches, and is just a basic vanilla sock with a german short row heel. The yarn is Opal, but I'm really not sure what colourway it is at all (sorry! :s) 

Bronwyn Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/bronwyn-shawl
- Oh I needed another crochet project! This one was perfect, the shawl is by Toni Lipsey and is a lovely asymmetrical triangle shawl. The yarns are:
Green - Countess Ablaze, Grande Merino, Footloose
Light blue - Malabrigo, Arroyo, Cian
Yellow - Babbles Yarns, Delicious DK, Solid Gold
Dark blue - Fyberspates, Vivacious DK, Deep Aqua

F1 Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/f1-socks
These I am soooo enjoying, maybe a little too much. The yarns used are:
Grey - West Yorkshire Spinners, Bo Peep - Tin Can
Ferrari - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Carnelian
Red Bull - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Benitolite
Mercedes - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Chryso
Torro Rosso - CoopKnits, Socks Yeah! - Larimar

Colin's Triceratops: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/triceratops-head---taxidermy-dinosaur
- This deightful dinosaur was a request that I was happy to fulfill. The yarn was Cygnet Seriously Chunky in the Fawn colourway and the Meadow Green colourway.

Margot the 2nd - Tilly and the Buttons pattern

In The Shed:
Sadly nothing...

Real Talk:
These are some links to the people leading the conversations around racism and inclusion in the
knitting community, take a look at their stories and discover some new people - please respect
their spaces:
@su.krita - https://www.instagram.com/su.krita/?hl=en
@thecolormustard - https://www.instagram.com/thecolormustard/?hl=en
@ocean_bythesea - https://www.instagram.com/ocean_bythesea/?hl=en
@booksandcables - https://www.instagram.com/booksandcables/?hl=en
@ggmadeit - https://www.instagram.com/ggmadeit/?hl=en

Layla F Saad's workbook: https://www.meandwhitesupremacybook.com/
Unfinished Object: https://www.unfinishedobject.com/
Vox Article: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/25/18234950/knitting-racism-instagram-stories

Music:
"Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Lemmon Juicer Podcast Ep 16: All the finished things

Welcome to the Lemmon Juicer Podcast, settle down with a mug of something and we'll get started.

Instagram: @lemmonjuicer
Ravelry: sockbug97
Ravelry Group: Lemmon Juicer Podcast
Blog: www.lemmonjuicer.blogspot.co.uk

Extended Shownotes you will find on the Blog or in the Ravelry Group.

Finished Objects:
Galewood Gauntlets:https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/galewood
- Made from John Arbon Devonia 4-ply in the bleeding heart colourway, using the pattern by Honor Adams. I definitely enjoyed these more after I had blocked them, very much fell back in love with them.

Fraternal Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/lottie-socks
- A pair of socks knitted for myself on a 2mm needle using Bergere de France Goomy 50 - Imprim Jaun, and West Yorkshire Spinners Bo Peep 4-ply in the teddy bear colour way. A fun pair of fraternal socks just to give it a go.

Lyne Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/lyne-socks
-The pattern is by Dawn Henderson and is a beautifully thought through shorty sock, I've made it with Gamercrafting Yak sock in the lagoon mist colourway, which an incredibly beautiful purple and soooo soft.

Trophy Ram's Head:https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/faux-ram-trophy-head
- From a kit bought from Sincerely Louise, which was incredibly fun. Going to be entered into the Village flower and produce show, so we will see what we win!

Mum H socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/mum-h-socks
- I pair of socks knitted for my best friends mum for her birthday on Schachenmayr Catania cotton yarn, they are now being posted off the their new home, and I really hope they fit their new owner!

Stevie Top: https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/stevie
- A Lovely pattern by Tilly and the Buttons, it is now a favourite and I do like the style of the top. This top I have made from some cotton fabric found in my local fabric shop. It is so me and I made it for my birthday top, something that I feel might become a tradition in the future!

Baby Quilt: Fat Quarters for the front pieces from various fabric shops, backing fabric
from Hobbycraft.
- A quilt that I decided to make whilst looking through the scrap bin in a fabric shop near my best friends house, they had some seriously cute things and I was sold! I picked up a couple more little pieces at one of my local fabric shops and got started.

Spinning: John Arbon Corriedale
- A lovely bag of undyed corriedale for me to try came along with my John Arbon Mill membership, which I really enjoyed spinning and looking forward to spinning the rest!

WIPs:
Pop Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/pop-socks
- A pair of vanilla socks made in Austermann Step yarn. This was a yarn that I bought with the intention of making a gift pair of socks, we will see where they end up!

Triangle Knit Shawl: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/knit-triangle-shawl
- An imaginatively named shawl from a Bernat Pop! ball band. I loved the colours of the yarn and bought it with the idea that maybe I should try and knit more shawls and I could start with this one on the ball band.

In The Shed:
Noste Pinne - Made from windfall wood and utilising my whittling skills, which haven't really been used for a while, and I kinda miss it.
Letter Opener - I would say the words above again, but I don't need to, look up! ;)

Real Talk:
These are some links to the people leading the conversations around racism and inclusion in the
knitting community, take a look at their stories and discover some new people:
@su.krita - https://www.instagram.com/su.krita/?hl=en
@thecolormustard - https://www.instagram.com/thecolormustard/?hl=en
@ocean_bythesea - https://www.instagram.com/ocean_bythesea/?hl=en
@booksandcables - https://www.instagram.com/booksandcables/?hl=en
@ggmadeit - https://www.instagram.com/ggmadeit/?hl=en

Layla F Saad's workbook: https://www.meandwhitesupremacybook.com/
Unfinished Object: https://www.unfinishedobject.com/
Vox Article: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/25/18234950/knitting-racism-instagram-stories

Music:
"Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Me-Made-May 2019 - Hermione's Everyday Socks

My last actual pair of socks for Me-Made-May I wore on day 14, and they were a lovely pair of Hermione's Everyday Socks, a free pattern that you can find on Ravelry. These were a pair of patterned socks that I had my eye on for a long time, and I managed to get just the right yarn for the project.

The yarn I got was Malabrigo Sock in the Ivy colourway. The sock yarn is 100% Merino and very soft. This is the first time making socks out of merino, so I will have to see how it holds up and maybe not wear them when I am likely to be hard wearing on my socks.

The socks didn't take me too long to make. The pattern was easy to remember and once I was going I was off. The only modification as such that I made was to adjust my needle size. I didn't gauge swatch but I knew that if I was to use the patterns required number of stitches then I would need to go down to a 2mm needle instead of the recommended needle size for the pattern. I also used DPNs instead of two circulars mainly because I think I prefer that method, and because I only really have one sock size circular, and that is my one super long one!

The socks I came out with at the end are lovely, they are comfy and I am in love with the colour. I would definitely make it again.

I believe I wore these socks a few times throughout Me-Made-May and they stood up pretty well. One day I did wear them to work, and the heels did become a little felted at the back. Which was a bit sad, but I will see if there is anything I can do about it, the felting isn't that bad really. I think I won't wear merino socks to work again though.

Me-Made-May 2019 - The Last Pair of Leftovers

Day 13 was for the last pair of leftovers socks I own. Both socks from this pair are made from the same brand of yarn - Drops Delight I think, and both pairs of socks were made around a similar time.
The red sock was made first, and was leftover from a pair of socks that I made Mr M for christmas. He loves those socks and I am very glad. The second one was a leftover from a pair that I made for my Mam. Although the socks were a little bit on the tight side, I still think she wears them... hopefully.

Looking back at the photos I got when I was knitting both the socks I thing they were made on a 2mm circular needle. Which means that they will by 64 stitches all together. The red sock, was made cuff down and I think with a heel flap and gusset heel construction. It fits okay, but is a little on the small side in terms of length and does like to slide down my foot. Which can be rather annoying as it is a shortie sock and the cuff doesn't do anything to help. But I like to wear it because I made it and I can be a little strong willed like that!

The purple sock I believe I tried a new type of sock construction. I did this sock toe up, but also on a 2mm circular needle. For this one I needed to learn how to do a turkish cast on, which was interesting, seeing as all the tutorials I could find all used two circular needles, instead of one long one. At the time I tried to start this sock I was away from home and only had one needle, which was rather frustrating.

I managed the cast on, and then created a video explaining how I did it, which is on my youtube channel if you are ever curious (it is one of the first videos I did so you might have to scroll back a little to find it).

This sock was also the first time I think I had ever done a different type of heel then the heel flap and gusset that I had learnt to do first. I think it was a german short row heel, or it might have been a wrap and turn. The two I find are ever so similar, so I'm not sure what I used.

I then seem to have done a little more knitting on the leg of the sock before starting on the cuff. Which was unusual seeing as I normally go straight from the cuff into the heel. I don't know if I was trying to give a little more height as I would have in a heel flap, but it seems likely. Without actually having written down how I did this sock, which was a very bad idea, I did manage to create a sock that fits quite nicely. It cups my heel more and is a lot more comfortable then it's pair. Maybe I should try and recreate it sometime.

Lemmon Juicer Podcast Ep 15: The One With All the Sewing

Welcome to the Lemmon Juicer Podcast, put the kettle on and get stuck in.

Instagram: @lemmonjuicer
Ravelry: sockbug97
Ravelry Group: Lemmon Juicer Podcast
Blog: www.lemmonjuicer.blogspot.co.uk

Extended Shownotes you will find on the Blog or in the Ravelry Group.

Finished Objects:
Madison Scarf: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/madison-scarf  - Made out of Malabrigo Rios in the Purpuras colourway, and knit on a circular needle at quite a loose gauge. It was a fun a intuitive knit and was finished pretty quickly.

Spinning: Green Batts - Batts I picked up from a yarn shop, no idea what sort of fibre content they have, just know that they are wool and they are green! Spun into a simple 2-ply with my wheel.

Stevie Top: https://shop.tillyandthebuttons.com/products/stevie - A lovely pattern, and as I has discovered easy to wear! Made out of a blue cotton with a button and loop fastening on the back. Fabric and button were from Hobbycraft.

Delphine Skirt: From Tilly and the Buttons book Love at First Stitch - This I made to try out some new skills and techniques, not sure what it will go with in my wardrobe yet though. Fabric from a bargain bucket in a fabric shop near my LYS.

Hoddie: A self drafted hoodie pattern from YEARS ago, finally finished it. - Made from a pigs flying fleece from many many moons ago, I finally put some cuffs on it and it is now rather wearable.

WIPs:
Baby Cross Stitch:https://www.sewandso.co.uk/product/train-birth-record-cross-stitch-kit/1001851 - Whilst I did not show this today, it is very much still a WIP, although some progress is being made. Next time I'm pretty sure it will be done.

Galewood Gauntlets:https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/galewood - Finally got cracking on making the second one and fortunately the mojo is returning. Made with Devonia (John Arbon) 4-ply in the Bleeding Heart colourway.

Lyne Socks: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/lyne-socks - Slow progress but I do have a HO, one sock done and the cuff of the other also completed. Loving the pattern and even more so the yarn: Gamercrafting Yak sock, in the Lagoon Mist colourway.

Socks for me: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Sockbug97/lottie-socks - A pair of sock I'm making without a pattern for myself. On a 2mm circular needle with 64 stitches. It is a fraternal pair, one is already finished and the next one is getting on. Yarn is West Yorkshire Spinners, Bo Peep in the Teddy Bear colourway the other is Bergere De France Goomy 50 in the Imprim Jaun colourway.

In The Shed:
Niddy Noddy: Making a niddy noddy out of windfall wood.

Real Talk:
These are some links to the people leading the conversations around racism and inclusion in the
knitting community, take a look at their stories and discover some new people:
@su.krita - https://www.instagram.com/su.krita/?hl=en
@thecolormustard - https://www.instagram.com/thecolormustard/?hl=en
@ocean_bythesea - https://www.instagram.com/ocean_bythesea/?hl=en
@booksandcables - https://www.instagram.com/booksandcables/?hl=en
@ggmadeit - https://www.instagram.com/ggmadeit/?hl=en

Layla F Saad's workbook: https://www.meandwhitesupremacybook.com/
Unfinished Object: https://www.unfinishedobject.com/
Vox Article: https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2/25/18234950/knitting-racism-instagram-stories

Music:
"Inspired" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Me-Made-May 2019 - Another Pair of Leftovers

Day 10 I wore another pair of leftovers socks (I think I have three pairs, so prepare yourself for one more after these!) these leftovers were from my first ever pair of socks, and a pair that I made for my friend Emma.

The first shortie sock made from the yarn from my first pair of socks I believe I made on a 2mm circular needle. I can't remember if this was the first time I had used the needle or not, but the sock wasn't without it problems. I had vastly misjudged when I needed to start the toe in the sock, and I was quite glad that I tried it on before grafting the toe.

It was indeed too short and I had to rip back the toe to put on a few more rows and starting the toe again. This may have made it wearable, but it is still too short. It likes to slip off my ankle, but oh well. It was a learning point, and we moved on.

I think that I made this sock with a 60 stitch count, which also makes it a little too tight on my foot. It was around when I made this when I realised that going down a needle size and not going up in stitch count meant that whilst the sock fit more tightly, it was a little on the uncomfortably small size. But we learned for next time.

The second sock is a leftover sock from when I knitted my best friend a pair of socks. This shortie was made a lot lot later then it's pair here, and was made on 2.5mm DPNs. This sock kept me company when I was working up in the office on the last month or so of my placement before I got my job. I became known for always having my knitting with me and taking it out everytime I had a break. I also took it on a course I was sent on as well, and everyone seemed to be interested in what I was knitting.

The stitch count on this sock was 60 stitches as well, but the needle size is larger. This size does seem to fit my foot nicer than the other sock. Both of the socks are made with one inch of 1x1 ribbing on the cuff before going straight into the heel. The heel I used was a heel flap and gusset type. Which at the time was the only one I felt confident in doing. I had tried a wrap and turn heel for the socks I made for my best friend, but I didn't really feel it went the way I wanted.

These socks are now in regular rotation and I enjoy them a fair bit. Here is the instagram story post from day 10:

Me-Made-May 2019 - Winging It Jumper

Day 9 for Me-Made-May is a cozy, stay at home jumper. This is the first adult sized garment I had ever knit. It started from when I had just finished a baby jumper and I thought "How hard can it be to make one adult sized". It turns out, pretty hard. I managed it, and it was the plainest and squarest jumper there ever was.

The jumper is made out of super chunky, acrylic yarn. I had one huge ball that my friend gave me, but she had got it from Aldi, and I couldn't find any more when I realised I wouldn't have enough for the whole jumper so had to find something else that would do.

I started off swatching to find the right needle size for the type of fabric that I wanted. I'm not a very good swatch maker, I just don't really know how to do them properly, and I always feel like I'm using up yarn that could be useful somewhere else. Which is probably why I have never cast off a swatch. Which may have been my downfall.

I cast on in the end, writing down everything as I went, although I am still yet to actually write up what I did! I went for a top down jumper in the round. Which is how the baby jumper was constructed, and the only way I knew how. Needless to say it has quite a wide neckline, I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it is what it is.

I knit down the plain body, I added one little stripe before I switched to the other colour in a hopeless attempt to make it look like the colour change was intended. I finished off the body with a rib. I then started on the sleeves, these I was quite pleased with in terms of matching the body of the jumper. I wasn't so pleased with the cuffs though.

I had made the sleeves longer then the body, but probably not long enough, sadly only something I realised much much later. One of the things I was proud of when knitting my sleeves was picking up stitches in the armpit before knitting the rest of the sleeve and avoiding holes.

The jumper sadly just got worn for the finished object photos and never again. For part of Me-Made-May I am trying to finish off or fix garments I have but I don't seem to wear. This was one of them. I decided that one of the reasons I don't wear the jumper is because of the cuffs.

I had no experience of jumpers, and I didn't even know that sleeves had shaping in them - such a rookie. The cuffs were the same size as the rest of the sleeves and just kind of flopped around my wrists, I didn't like. So I ripped the sleeve ribbing out. I knit 2 together for every knit stitch in the first row of ribbing and then I knit the same amount of ribbing as I had done originally. This made it so much better. I felt that I was able to wear it around the house then.

Only after wearing it for Me-Made-May, I then found out the things I don't love about it. But they are livable with. I'll be wearing it again sometime, and maybe thinking of how I can improve it. I will now leave you with the instagram story, hopefully this jumper will get more wear in time. Perhaps I will grow to love it - Happy making!

Me-Made-May 2019 - My first socks

Day 7 was another pair of socks. This pair the first ever pair I made, and I was ridiculously proud when I finished them.

I knitted this pair about a year and a half ago, I picked up the first ball of sock yarn I could see on the shelf in a craft shop that was in the town I had temporarily moved to at the time, and a few days later went back for the right sized DPNs. The pattern was a basic sock pattern that was on Love Knitting, although has now been taken down, and I set about trying to knit the first sock.

My first hurdle was the cast on, and then all the jargon used to describe the different parts of the sock and what to do! I did refer to the internet, and the delightful "For Dummies" website which has a lot of brilliant tutorials on a lot of different things. I really had to look things up and do a fair amount of reading to finally understand what I was doing. I also believe it was the first time I had come across a SSK.

I remember finishing the first sock on a weekend away in Cornwall. It was October time and I had spent the day watching the first public runs of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car at Newquay Airport, and was cozy-ing down for the night under a blanket. I was so proud I put it on straight away and demanded that my boyfriend take photos!

The second sock followed shortly afterwards, I had no problems with second sock syndrome, and before long I had my very first pair of socks. I also wrote a blog post here about them. They were far from perfect, they weren't the right gauge to fit my feet and all kinds of things, but I still love them, and I still wear them!

I made them quite a while ago that I don't actually have any photos of them to hand, so you will have to do with the instagram story! I hope you are having a wonderful day!