update on my knitting journey: casting off is still hell and i'd rather someone else do it for me or the hems magically finish themselves in all garments (is this why i prefer cuff down socks SO MUCH over toe up??? no stretchy cast off trials??), but! i have learned maybe? and decided not to cast off now, at midnight, while exhausted and annoyed at the idea of casting off. because i already struggle with knitting too tightly and i do NOT need an immovably stiff tight sweater hem, ever 🙃
Join David Tennant and his extra shiny awards for the EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 18th February at 7pm GMT on BBC One and iPlayer and on BritBox in North America!
A national treasure indeed, the most dapper man, let him host everything! 🤩
#EEBAFTAs #DavidTennant
Marni's long-sleeve multicolored striped crewneck sweater is crafted from a brushed mohair-blend. It comes in a relaxed fit with ribbed cuffs and hem.
Pattern: Robinson Cardigan by Florence Miller (Handmade by Florence)
Yarn: Drops Flora and Kid-Silk Mohair, held together.
Inspired by: a cardigan worn by Yoo In-Na on Bo Ra! Deborah / True to Love, Episode 3.
Good things:
It's done!
It was supposed to have more positive ease but whatever, I like it
The ribbons are very fluffy, more than I expected but I've decided to consider them a dramatic statement. Since they are so long I'll be able to make various kinds of bows with them :)
In hindsight:
Just do double-knit edges instead of i-cord.
I should have tried it on with the jeans I planned to wear it with before I started the ribbing, so I could so I could check the length.
I wanted the neck to be sloped in 2 different directions like in the original cardigan, but I messed up with the decreases. In the future, I could try to add a button to try and recreate the little angle, but we'll see.
As I said, it was meant to have more positive ease. I planned to knit a size up to achieve that and then I... didn't? Why??
The future
I have so much black yarn left, I only used 1.5 balls out of 5. I have no idea what to do with it as I don't want to make a sweater/cardigan/hat/scarf. I was thinking a pair of gloves but that won't use much yarn.
I want to take a break from garment making. With my pace it's clear that I need something like 6 months to complete a sweater-like piece and I have to make some winter accessories by September, since I'll be moving to a very cold country.
So onto accessories!
My next project will be completing the Stoïque sock I'm working on (almost done with the heel) and then I'll start a hat with some v expensive yarn I bought in February. Then I'll tackle my first gloves and by that time, it should be September.
I ended the night with 11 full rows of ribbing. Yes with 326 stitches, 4x4 ribbing
I think it's the texture of this yarn. It very much reminds me of another yarn and project, the Advent Shawl 2022 where I got distracted on day 11 or 12 of it...
The best way I can describe this feeling is.. it feels cottony. Even though the fiber composition is 75% wool, 25% nylon or polyamide, I forgor
But also this specific yarn I'm using now SMELLS wooly. Which I love, too
And the colour is fun
So it's a triple hit for my senses
Also I guess using the trick of "bunch 80 cm onto 25 cm needles" helps me not think about how many stitches there are, lmfao
But no, the next Sock Yarn Sweaters will all have an extra thread, and I'll even experiment with the threads I'll add. Like 1 strand of mohair in body, 2 in sleeves. Or an extra white/black strand of sock yarn in body, sock+mohair in sleeves. Add only 1 extra strand everywhere, but knit the body and Tunisian crochet the sleeves... So many fun options!!!
Latest cast on: pattern 2403- the Fleur sweater from sandnes garn!
It combines crocheted floral granny type squares with knitted rib!
The left is their tynn line held double and has better gauge but is more stiff than the right which is a single strand. Both made with a 5mm hook. Not sure what I should do...
Thick ivory mohair sweater with ribbed pattern, ready to wear, size L-XL
PRODUCT DETAILS
RIBBED TURTLE NECK MOHAIR SWEATER.
Style: 100 % hand-knitted mohair sweater.
Material: 70% premium class longhair mohair yarn.
Color: Ivory.
Design: Ribbed.
Neckline type: Turtleneck.
Cleaning: Hand wash only.
Ready to wear.
Body length, measured from the shoulder top to the bottom end: 28.4″ / 77 cm;
Chest width, measured at the back, between the underarms: 24.8″…
At this point, I have gathered a pattern outline for this e-book.
As of right now, I have five items drafted (not final or written mind you) and plans for one more that'll serve as an easy starter project for complete knitting newbies to learn about stitch gauge (really important for furby items), how to cast on, join in the round, knit, and cast off in a shorter period of time while still having an end product for your furb.
NOTES ON LEARNING TO KNIT
This will not be a 'learning to knit from scratch book' it is intended as a pattern book that is accessible to all levels of knitter and all budgets. I do intend on having a starting chapter that will walk through supplies, pattern layout, and resources for readers.
That being said, this pattern collection could be a good way to learn knitting as the items are smaller but with standard yarn. and the patterns going in order of difficulty should be helpful.
I am one for making it work so I also want to provide guides for yarn substitutions, altering pieces that are too big, and editing patterns to make completely new pieces.
ON TO THE PATTERNS
the first pattern is not drafted so this is patterns 2-6 ( more may come soon or these may be different in their final written form)
2. CHONK SWEATER
i have a few of these made in my handspun so they're p chonky, making it a quick knit even for beginners. there will be notes on measuring your furb and getting your stitch count based on your gauge.
3. CHONK shawl/ collar/ cape
This is also really simple and quick ( its slightly more difficult due to it being knit flat and needing to do some seeming. This is also in some chunky handspun and needs to be sampled again (this one is a tad small). I will give notes on changing the length to make this a collar, a cape, or a shawl to fit your furbs needs.
4. Worsted weight dress
This iconic witchy sweater dress is where the difficulty increases a tad, but the result is having more room to customize the garment. it is in a worsted weight so smaller yarn but not tiny. it does involve increasing and decreasing in ribbing which isn't hard but can have a learning curve. this pattern will include instructions on making the folded collar and accessorizing the garment.
5. Frilly Shawl/ cape/ collar
This pattern is a sister pattern to the 3rd pattern, it's the same garment type but is a bit more involved. it uses fingering weight and optional mohair for a fuzzy look. this starts flat and is joined in the round to do ribbing, and then stitches on the end are picked up and increased to create a frill/ floof thing.
6. Clown collar
this final pattern uses the same yarns, and techniques as the last pattern but in a different way. this pattern uses some seaming techniques and requires a folded hem (knit or sewn together). this can have as few as one frill and as many as you desire.
The mohair isn't held double so yarn subs will be a bit harder but not impossible. I'm trying to keep all of these yarns to ones that can be picked up at a big box craft store or an lys for accessibility but Mohair maybe the one outlier, but if the halo from the silk mohair isn't necessary for you then a fingering weight (4-ply ) should be okay.
Anyway thats the outline that i have so far, let me know what you think!
Marina covered the January 2013 issue of Ireland's Kiss Magazine! The colorful editorial was shot by Naomi Gaffey and styled by her sister Naomi Gaffey who made sure to include a handful of Irish and other British labels!
Hair and makeup by Billy Orf, respectively.
For the cover photo, she looked stellar in the Fall/Winter 2012 star print stretch silk cocktail dress with long bat sleeves (€410.00 - sold out) by up-and-coming Irish designer NATALIEBCOLEMAN.
Look n. 2 shows Marina wearing a Reiss ivory knit sweater featuring ribbed sleeves and a round neck (€155.00 - sold out). I couldn’t find her exact one but I've pictured a similar one for you above!
Another emerging Irish designer featured in the editorial is Emma Manley and her brand Manley Studio. This rose-gold metallic leather skirt with micro-scalloped hem (€385.00 - sold out) was created for her Spring/Summer 2013 collection!
Chunky necklaces were the rave back in 2012 (along with peplums and neon colors). But I wouldn't mind wearing this ZARA chain necklace with diamanté leopard head (€19.95 - sold out) even today!
Marina's very girly look was completed with these whimsy Office tiger pointed-toe pumps with multicolored gems at the front (€89.00 - sold out).
Both Marina's Stolen Moment pink velvet skater dress (€85.00 - sold out) and studded leather biker jacket (€293.00 - sold out) are from the MINKPINK x Urban Outfitters collection.
In some other photos, she added the Topshop "Geek" print blue tee (€27.00 - sold out)...
...and her Fam Irvoll round blue acetate sunglasses, which she absolutely loved back then!
She also wears Accessorize "I 🩷 U" comic bubble necklace (€9.00 - sold out) and black suede platform pumps by Office (€80.00 - sold out).
Then, Marina brought the party in this ASOS cross-back party dress in multi sequin featuring a sleeveless cut and round neck ($55.95 - sold out).
Marina's jewelry here included this River Island "Pow!" comic enamel necklace, and a set of rings from New Look.
My favorite look from this editorial comprises an American Apparel black tank crop top (€24.00 - sold out), and a Topshop black pencil skirt (€61.00 - sold out), entirely covered in rhinestones!
"This is how to be a heartbreaker" 💔
Marina dons the Joanne Hynes Spring/Summer 2013 "My Black Heart" leather and crystal statement necklace. (€220.00 - sold out).
I'm head over heels for these Office black patent platform pumps with plexi heel (€91.00 - sold out).
This look is completely vintage! Her colorful houndstooth mohair sweater is vintage 1980s Rafaella (embellished with an Accessorize M letter brooch) while her black leather skirt is a vintage find from Folkster.
This issue has you ready for warmer days with no-sleeve and short sleeve looks. The most playful is the Popsicle by Mari Lynn Patrick who calls it a quick knit although it is a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. It has asymmetrical shoulders and ribbing through the body. It is done up in Anzula Vera which is a sport-weight yarn made of silk and linen, and that lovely rosy color is called Blush.
My favorite because of its vintage look is the eyelet patterns Campanula by Deborah Newton, a fitted polo collared pullover done in a taupe. 3 out of 4 for difficulty, it is done up in Skacel ALB Lino, also a sport-weight yarn and made of a blend of wool and linen.
A section of paired sweaters--one simple one dolled-up--gives us the strapped v-neck called The Artist by Melissa Leapman that is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty. It uses Blue Sky Fibers Skinny, a worsted weight cotton yarn and appears opposite a plain v-neck also by Leapman. Similarly, the ruffled sleeves on a charcoal grey, crewneck pullover accompany a plain crewneck. The ruffled version is called The Muse, and is 2 out of 4 for difficulty. It is made in Berroco Luca yarn, a worsted weight cashmere and cotton blend, and both are by Norah Gaughan.
Vista is the cream-colored tunic is by Lavinia Voiculescu in Cascade Hampton which is a DK-weight yarn in a blend of cotton and linen. Although the eyelet pattern makes it look complicated, the shape is very simple and the difficulty is only 2 out of 4.
Lastly, on the cover is The Dancer by Donna Estin which is made up of a boucle yarn, hence all the appealing texture, The yarn is called Curiosity by African Expressions which is blended wool, polyamide and mohair which is also a DK weight yarn and the pretty blue color is #9112. The sweater is a 2 out of 4 for difficulty.
In addition to interviews, and columns on new books, new yarns, new products, Meg Swansen shares some knitting tips from her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman.
You can find it at your local yarn store or online here: https://www.vogueknitting.com/