Knitting > the Craftorialist

Opal sweater: my first Twist submission

2nd June, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Opal sweater front view

I've made my first submission to the Twist Collective online knitting pattern magazine. I have no idea if it will be accepted, but I'm excited to find out. If it is, it should appear in their winter 2013 issue. If it's not, I'll make it available here and on Ravelry, so I'll keep you posted. An easy fitting raglan sleeve sweater knitted in the round from the hem up and subtly shaped at the waist, it has crocheted hem panels and band collar. I wanted a warm, but not too heavy sweater that would be both striking and easy to wear over other layers. I like to combine media; but I know some knitters don't crochet. So I swatched a knit alternative, which I think came out looking similar enough. I used Dream in Colour Smooshy in Peacock Shadow (100% superwash merino)  and Zwerger Garn Opal in Neon (75% superwash wool and 25% polyamide), both fingering weight. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crochet, Knitting, the Craftorialist's patterns, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , ,

A Beanie Affair 2013

19th May, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Cap1

Not long after I moved to the small country town I live in, someone warned me not to scratch my nose in a meeting, or I'd end up on a board of management. Wise words! I idly suggested to a friend in the CWA (that's the formidable Country Women's Association, referred to by one young friend as 'the kwah people' ) that I might enter some hats into their Beanie Affair this year, and before I knew it, I had entry forms, bank details and swing tags in my letter box, and a short deadline to work to. So I had to get knitting.   First up was a good way to save some time: a cap I'd had sitting unfinished for some time in my collection of UFOs. It came from a free pattern I'd made up a few years ago, only to find it was too small on my head to cover the ears nicely. I had a remnant of some lovely dark blue wool and alpaca yarn, that I used to give it a band, and a pink crochet … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 1 Ball Projects, Accessories, Crochet, Free patterns, Knitting Tagged With: , , , , ,

Linda Shawlette – FREE pattern!

13th May, 2013 by 2 Comments
Linda shawl front

  For a friend's birthday, I decided to knit a small shawl - or shawlette - for keeping her shoulders warm in the cold of the country winter. I chose my yarn carefully from Zigo Zago: Classy from Dream in Colour in Cranberry Melt and Crying Dove. It's 70% merino wool, 20% cashmere and 10% nylon, and feels beautifully soft and warm. In my head was a semi circle that had been stretched at the ends, making it more long and narrow. The best way to achieve this was to increase at both ends on every row. The finished shawl used up nearly all of both colours, so it was an efficient use of the yarn, too.   And then I decided to make the pattern available for free! So here it is: Linda Shawlette pattern.   … [Read more...]

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Knitting shawls for charity – one ball project

2nd February, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Eisha shawl detail

This is the second shawl that I've made for charity in the past month. The first went in to a raffle to raise funds for the education of the children of a not very well off Balinese family; friends of ours are supporting them through college, basically because they have known the family for years and it's a Good Thing to do. This one is going for sale in a souk-style morning tea grand bazaar to raise funds for women in Gaza. You can go if you're in Sydney and female. It's on Wednesday 6 February 2013. I used a lovely, fine pure wool 4 ply yarn from Bendigo Woollen Mills. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out; it's the first time I've tried putting my own lace shawl pattern together. And until it's blocked, lace knitting doesn't look great. Not only that, but I was using circular needles, so I couldn't even spread it out to have a look until it was finished. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 1 Ball Projects, Accessories, Knitting Tagged With: , , , , ,

Super fine

13th May, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Lace sleeve

I seem to be developing a disturbing preference for working with extremely fine yarns. Disturbing, because these projects can take an awfully long time to finish. So many more stitches. But working with very fine (lace-weight) yarn feels great, and the results can be so divine. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Inspirations, Knitting, Textiles Tagged With: , , ,

Leah’s socks

4th March, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Leah's socks

Some time ago, I was chatting online with Jessica, who lives in Ireland, about her daughter Leah's first few weeks in school. The conversation went something like this: me: How is Leah enjoying school? Jessica: Grand, but she doesn't like the muddy conditions. I haven't the heart to tell her it will be like that until April. me: You might want to break it to Leah that she's Irish. Jessica: She doesn't like potatoes either. me: What about whiskey? Jessica: She likes it :-) We went on to discuss a photo of Leah wearing a spacesuit. Jessica: It's the only acceptable form of trousers (in her mind). Her usual mode is girly girly, wearing skirt and tights. She is in this pic, but she put the spacesuit over them. me: What about leggings? You can wear a skirt over those. Jessica: Leggings? Nope—I suggested them yesterday, but she said no because she doesn't want to have to … [Read more...]

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Mystery item – 1 ball project

26th November, 2010 by 3 Comments
Valleys

I can't really talk about what this is yet ... Because it's a present. But it's the beginning of something bigger. A series of stash buster items that only take one ball to make. I've got a list of things to try that's getting longer all the time, but if you can think of any 1 ball project you'd especially like to see, in knitting or crochet, let me know in the comments. … [Read more...]

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Beautiful new store: Baraka HQ

11th November, 2010 by 1 Comment
Baraka HQ

Last month I attended the opening of a new store in Sydney's Inner West, Baraka HQ. (It's at 136-138 Georges River Rd, Croydon Park NSW, if you're ever in the area.) Run by two of the loveliest people you're ever likely to meet, Baraka HQ is the culmination of a life's dream for co-owners Kath Fry and Eisha Saleh. I first met the pair at a fashion parade where they were showing their latest range at the time. I was there to gather information for an article I was planning to write about them. The venue was a gigantic hall in Lidcombe, the occasion was a Mother's Day event for the local Lebanese women's association. A women-only event, they had a DJ playing fabulous Arabic music, food, dancing and there was some serious revelry going on, let me tell you. Anything you've heard about how hard Muslim women can party, when they're all together with no men watching, is all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accessories, Fashion design, Inspirations, Knitting Tagged With: , , , ,

Haven for Sydney knitters

29th September, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Knitted dollies

If I've been a bit quiet, it's because I caught the mother of all colds and have been down for the count. But I've bounced back now, so: There's a new-ish cafe in Sydney's Newtown, A Coffee & a Yarn, where you can eat, drink and knit to your heart's content. It's light and airy, aimed at Sydney's crafting community (or those who prefer their cafe food to be genuinely good) and located at 413 King Street. Owner, Ellie, has beautiful yarns and yummy food and drink on offer, plus big tables to spread your work out on. People bring whatever they're working on and sit, chat and knit or crochet; it's very congenial. Classes in various knitting or crochet techniques are offered from time to time, too. And no, they haven't paid me for this review : ) I just like the place. The first issue of their newsletter had one item that particularly tickled me: Log On To The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crochet, Knitting Tagged With: , , , ,

Quick unpick

31st August, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Yarn winder

When unpicking a crocheted or knitted project, a yarn winder comes in very handy. Not just because it's quick and neat, but because you finish with a ball from which you can pull the yarn from the centre. This is much easier than unwinding from the outside, because the ball doesn't roll around and go all over the place while you're working. The only drawback can be that pulling the yarn from the centre adds a very slight extra twist to the yarn, but this rarely matters. 99.99% of my projects aren't sensitive to such a thing. Unpicking usually requires a yarn needle, or something similar, for prising out the woven-in ends and pulling out any seams. Then pull away, winding as you go; either straight onto a yarn winder, or you can use a yarn swift to make a skein first. This is useful if you intend to do something like dye the yarn before you wind it into balls and use it. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crochet, Knitting Tagged With: , , , ,
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