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May 30, 2006
Safari
It seems like such ages since I’ve been without any imminent deadlines. I’ve put other less pressing commitments on hold for a couple of days: it’s a very light feeling.
For the sheer joy of the thing, I started my third pair of Jaywalkers (prev. here and here). These in Opal zebra. Jodi thinks her tiger stripes are tacky, but I disagree: I say animal prints are fabulous as an accent for a ‘zipped up’, prim and proper, ladylike style. Miss Moneypenny in a leopard trench. Also rather wonderful is that the ball of yarn does not seem to be shrinking – I may even get two pairs!
This ‘light feeling’ has also led to a dalliance with sewing. I bought this print at Liberty. Expensive, but I had some gift tokens. I’ve cut out all the pieces for a very simple summer dress (no zipper; no buttonholes) but am showing avoidance behaviour towards the actual sewing. I have a turbulent relationship with my sewing machine, and feel that there is enough drama and frustration in life without inviting more in. I had better not procrastinate too much. The pieces, neatly draped over the back of a chair, already have a light film of dust. The curtains, waiting patiently for lining and hems, have been neatly draped over the other chair for weeks. Months, probably.
This dress, and a bag in the style of this one Blossom made, are supposed to be breaking me in to tackle this pattern, via Erin’s must-read site.
Finally. Like so many childless, cat-owning couples, Mr Raitte and I spend a good deal of time photographing the apple of our eye, the thuggish Junior. Lucky for you, our little Absence of Light is almost impossible to capture, as you will know if you have ever tried to photograph black knitting. Or a black dog. But this one came out: next time I'll try and make it in focus too. Say hello Jnr.
Posted by Amelia at 06:36 PM | Comments (32)
Administrative note
I have received several 'undeliverable' messages in response to download links through Paypal. If you have recently purchased a pattern from me and have NOT received an email notifying you of the download, please contact me.
yours
anna
x
Posted by Amelia at 06:17 PM | Comments (1)
May 29, 2006
Bridie notice
The pattern for Bridie is unavailable to buy until autumn 2007.
Posted by Amelia at 10:03 PM | Comments (6)
May 23, 2006
Cherry pattern
Or buy it with your yarn at Get Knitted.
Sizes to fit bust 32 [34: 36: 38: 40] inches
Finished size 33 [35: 37: 39: 41] inches
A neat, sweet summer cardigan with short, slightly full sleeves, defined at the waist with a drawstring tie. Ribbed cuffs and hem. Textured with an all-over ‘little birds’ cable pattern. Button and press-stud fastening. Wear with a full, 50s-style skirt, capri pants, or style like Katherine Hepburn with Oxford bags.
Knit in Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton - 50gm (100m [109 yards]) 6 [6: 7: 7: 8] balls
Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows in cable pattern to 10 cm (4 inches) using 4 mm needles.
£3.50 - on payment you will be sent a link to download the pattern as an electronic (pdf) file.
Posted by Amelia at 11:21 PM | Comments (35)
May 11, 2006
Tease
Cherry.
Neat, chic, sassy. She has that thing they call 'va-va-voom'.
More pictures and pattern coming soon.
However I, from the evidence, could use a little makeover. I was thinking of a short red flapper cut... if I can muster the nerve.
Posted by Amelia at 07:33 AM | Comments (49)
May 07, 2006
Now with illustrations
These are the pictures that should have gone along with the last post.
'Farv' cardi, with my Pippa cardi for scale. Dad and me.
Daisy cardigan, looking a bit like a Warshcloth. I'm leaving three selvedge stitches at each edge, so that I can seam it... but of course the garter slipped stitch has a greater row tension than stocking stitch. I hope I can just ease the stitches down into the seam; gather the seam a little so that it matches the tension of the main stitch. I'm not decided on the closure. I bought some large, thread covered 'coat hooks' at Liberty on Thursday, but today in my button box found some sweet plastic daisy buttons with yellow centres.
Finally:
I love how slipping stitches makes the striping in variegated yarn judder and break.
Posted by Amelia at 10:20 PM | Comments (16)
May 03, 2006
Spring sowing
Spring is galloping from mid- to late- and it's nearly time to unpack the summer dresses and sow the seeds for summer. What are your plans for summer knitting?
The 'Farv' cardi for Dad will extend through May I should think, I've got the back and one sleeve done. Luckily this is a timeless style, as is Dad.
I've just finished a sweet, neat, snappy summer cardigan, which will be available here and also from Get Knitted, which I'm looking forward to showing you. If you have a foolproof method for making cabled cord (where you twist and twist until the yarn folds back on itself), and how to make it evenly twisty, please tell!
Also underway is a frilly white cardi, for gambolling in summer meadows, out of Rowan Wool Cotton in a slipped garter stitch which looks a little like crochet, if you didn't know better. I want it to fasten in the centre, but not with buttons and buttonholes. I like when two edges butt up against each other, like the Sgt Pepper jacket. Have you used hooks and eyes successfully on knit fabric? Visions of casually scooping up my precious cardigan, to find that the hook has caught through a stitch... Or a ribbon facing on both edges, with tiny buttons on one side, and loops of satin cord on the other?
The yarn is still in the skein but next is a sultry silk evening top, emerald green. I imagine it being worn to cocktail parties in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
I expect those three will last me through May, along with a couple of new sock designs I need to get to. After that... I don't know. Tell me - what do you want to wear?
Posted by Amelia at 09:45 PM | Comments (25)
By now
You will have seen that the new Magknits is up, and there is my small contribution, Argyle. Thank you Kerrie for another great issue, and for giving me the nudge I needed to work this one up as a pattern. I don't know about anyone else, but I find it's the really simple ones I wear most often.
The red was horrible to photograph, and I had only a small window of opportunity. If there's much call, I could try and persuade Mr Raitte (now returned) to take some more.
Posted by Amelia at 09:10 PM | Comments (15)