Asanoha Purse

 

I’ve always loved this particular Japanese print, and when I saw this version in stefaniexu’s  Etsy shop I decided I needed to get some. I found some lovely purse frames at the Knitting and Stitch show and thought it would be worth having a go (of course, it was the day before an exam) . I used this tutorial on U-Handbag.

I think the purse could have been less wide and next time I would use heavy weight interfacing rather than fusible fleece, as the corners were difficult to push into the frame. Otherwise, I love the fabric combination and it’s a great size for coins, safety pins etc.  The teapot charm (actually a button) is from The Button Company (as is the frame).

 

All in all, a satisfying, quick project. The purse frame was so much easier to use than expected – I think I prefer it to battling with zips!

Pincushion

I bought a bag of Japanese fabric scraps last year, and recently made this little pincushion from Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

 It’s a wonderful way of using up teeny tiny scraps which seem too small for anything useful. I love the colour combination here, lots of cheery pink and purple. And those animals really pop with the contrast. The reel in the background is from Beyond Fabrics  on Columbia Road.

I’m also cutting lots of my long-squirrelled-away fabrics for another quilt. This will be a long term project (probably a few months) but I am enjoying the cutting in preparation.

Ipad Case

I managed to make a case for my Ipad 2 at last – I will be travelling abroad next week and wanted something sturdy and convincingly protective. I found this excellent tutorial on One Shabby Chick and after some initial fabric choice struggles set to work in the wee hours. It took a good 3 hours or so from start to finish.

The fabric is Echino Camera in Turquoise which I bought last year  from the excellent Eternal Maker, with the lining in Anna Maria Horner Loulouthi framed in Citron. In the background you can see the reverse of my Little Folks lap quilt.

I had to undo the lining and trim the excess wadding as it was quite thick and a bit of a snug fit for my Ipad (admittedly with Smart Cover and back protective cover on). But after doing this it fits in beautifully. I used two layers of batting for the outside (the second layer didn’t go right to the edges) to make the quilting more apparent which probably meant I should have left out the wadding on the lining.

Atelier completed

I started this project with great enthusiasm in March when I was on my way to Bangladesh. I knew I’d have several long journeys in which I could work on it, and couldn’t wait to get started with the beautiful Skein Merino/Silk Sport.

It was quite a slow slog in the end, my gauge was off to start with which I realised when I came to pick up the body, so I changed from 3.75 to 4mm needles. This helped the knitting to move along faster too. The pattern is written beautifully and was very easy to follow.

The yarn blocked out slightly bigger which helped with the initial smaller gauge, but due to that and my fairly small shoulders it does tend to slip off a bit.  I am hoping to knit another one, possibly in Rowan Pure Cashmere DK (which I managed to get at a bargain price from the excellent Attica Yarns.

Etsy Picks

Have you taken the Etsy Taste Test ? It did come up with a few things that I really liked, and is fun!

Here are a few things mine came up with (click on photo for link):

Home Sweet Home Calendar by Michelle Smith

 

Earrings by Jewelryvixen

Bunting by Twostringjane

Notecards by thewheatfield

Perfume oils by ForStrangeWomen

Necklace by Glitzglitter

Cosmetic bag by Jujubaju

 

Suede necklace by HaKNiK

Textured Shawl Recipe

This is one I’ve been meaning to make for ages. The combination of the stocking stitch and pattern stitch is very elegant. I used Louisa Harding Thistle, which is a suri merino blend, and very soft and squishy. It also doesn’t seem to shed much, though I deliberately chose a darker colour just in case.

I did one extra repeat of the stocking stitch and pattern, resulting in a larger shawl – there were a huge number of stitches in the end so I cast off a few rows early (It was snowing and I wanted to wear it!).  I used 4 skeins in total.

 

I’ve also nearly finished my Baudelaire, which is turning out very pretty. The dinner bell ruffle is fascinating to knit, as it just looks like it’s not working, then all of a sudden you have a row of beautiful ruffles! The only issue is, no one at home is convinced by the ruffles at the back, so I’m not sure if I should frog the back and do it again without ruffles. And if I do, I might run out of yarn which would be a pain as I bought it from Webs (and got hit by customs! Grr).  I wonder if Loop have it – I noticed someone on Ravelry has planned the project with yarn from Loop.

Knitting and Stitch Show

Thanks to a lot of plotting and planning, I managed to arrange a full day off work to go to Alexandra Palace for the Knitting and Stitch show. Last year I had reached saturation point in terms of yarn and fabric, so gave it a miss, but since then have been sewing and knitting much more, so it felt worthwhile.

The stalls were much the same as previous years with a few newcomers and noteable absences (Knitwitches were sadly not there this time) – the Mrs Moon stall was fantastic, stocking the new Spud and Chloe yarns in an impressive range of colours and in all weights. They also had Fyberspates and Blue Sky Alpaca yarns, but sadly had sold out of Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace in Water by the time I got back to them in the afternoon. Loop also had a gorgeous and huge stall, with some beautiful new yarns including Juno Alice silk lace which is amazingly soft and pretty. Koigu and Habu were also good, although the Habu stall is always tiresomely crowded. I still haven’t found a use for the silk mohair kusa I bought last time so although tempted managed to hold out. In fact, I didn’t buy any yarn at all in the end, probably because I can get everything I want online or at Loop (and also I have a massive list of projects already!).

Fabric is another matter though. The Eternal Maker stall was well stocked with lovely quilting and Japanese fabrics, conveniently ready cut into half yards and fat quarters, as well as on the bolt. They also had the Anna Maria Horner voiles which are rapidly becoming scarce, so I bought some more of that. Their online shop is also amazing! Next I bought some Liberty silk twill from Fabrics galore and a piece of mustard jersey from M Rosenberg for only £4.

I stopped to admire the beautiful work of Iona Laycock, who creates stunning artwork using pearlescent paint and fabric. She gave me some useful tips, and I will try (time permitting) to get back to doing some painting/textile art work.  I bought a couple of her cards, but  if she’s there next year might get a bigger piece. There was also stunning quilting work, including an exquisite quilt by Lucie Summers.

Lastly, I got some lovely Washi tape from the Selvedge/Cabbages and Roses stall. No real clue what to do with it yet though! I’m sure I will think of something though.

Lilac Baby Dress

This dress, from Anna Maria Horner’s Handmade Beginnings book, amazingly only took one day to cut out and make. It would have taken even less time if I hadn’t messed up and cut out a smaller pattern piece for the skirt thus running out of fabric and having to patch together pieces the right size for the back!

The fabric is Little Folks, the line I used for this quilt (which is basically finished, I will photograph soon!). It’s ideal for making baby clothes, as its so light and silky, but at the same time machine washable. I thought about lining the skirt too but I’m happy with the unlined original version too. It would be cute with a tulle lining too.

I learned how to do French seams which I had been needlessly worried about – I think I had been mixing them up with Hong Kong seams (where bias tape is used to cover the raw edges) and also attaching elastic to the waist using zigzag stitch.

Sunday on Columbia Road

A free Sunday means a stroll down either Brick Lane or Columbia Road. Yesterday, I chose Columbia Road. It’s not especially buggy-friendly, so I left S with his dad and wandered down. It’s amazing how so much bustle and colour can be hidden away until just before you turn the corner into the road itself.

My lovely new shoes!

As I hadn’t been there for a while, I took my time and explored all my favourites. Far Global is a treasure trove of antique pieces from India, including these beautiful turquoise cabinets. They are expensive, but would add amazing character to a room and be a loved heirloom to hand on to the next generation. In fact, I made an enquiry on one and am waiting for an email – I’m thinking it would be perfect for all the craft bits and bobs. It’s a bit smaller in scale to these ones, and has glass doors.

Ryantown, the wonderful Rob Ryan shop didn’t disappoint with lots of beautiful new cut outs and quirky designs. This design almost made me teary:

It’s of a child being comforted by his mother. Somehow (maybe now I’m a mother myself) I found it very poignant.

Next stop was the new (to me anyway) Jessie Chorley shop. She used to have one upstairs, but I think the new shop will get much more footfall and introduce her nostalgic, delicate style to many more people.

That’s me pulling a face in the mirror

As usual the flowers were the biggest draw for most people. People were walking away with armfuls of sunflowers, gladioli, roses and peonies. I love peonies, so brought a bunch home too. I also stopped in at Beyond Fabrics which stocks a great range of fabrics from well known designers e.g. Moda, Alexander Henry, as well as lots of beautiful vintage ribbon reels, and ready made items such as aprons and tea towels. I spotted a blanket by the talented Tree Fall there too.

So if you haven’t been there yet, put Columbia Road down on your To Do list for London, it’s medicine for the jaded urban soul..

Knit Nation

I managed to get to Knit Nation after our break in Anglesey (photos to come). I was thinking about it but having had to forgo the Thursday Marketplace Preview, it seemed a bit excessive to buy another ticket, knowing I’d end up buying more yarn. However, I was swayed by the photos of the Wollmeise stand. It wasn’t so much a stand as an amazing, jewel bright Aladdin’s cave of luxurious yarn. As I won’t be going to Germany any time soon, and the yarn is virtually impossible to get online, I decided it was worth a trip. And I managed to get out of taking little S (who doesn’t take well to long shopping trips of any kind!) so it was a nice easy trip on the tube.

I ended up with 2 skeins of Petit Poison NO. 5, and one in Tambopata, all 100% Merino Superwash. I also had a chat with Ysolda, and bought Whimsical Little Knits 2, as there are lots of little stashbusting projects in there. Her new book looks great – she had all the sweaters out on a rail so you could try them on, and there are a couple of patterns which I definitely want to try out. It was also useful, in that I got to look at some yarn that I’ve had my eye on online, and decided I didn’t want them so much after all. And that can only be a good thing, right? My last purchase was some beautiful soft Vinnis Bamboo yarn. I already have some in Olive green, but haven’t ended up knitting it so far as it isn’t a colour I really love. I bought Turquoise this time, which is gorgeous and bright.

Beautiful Loop sign! Love that Julie Arkell model

I didn’t get to do any classes this time, but I will definitely think about it next time, as the feedback was great. Maybe a lace knitting class,, or Sweater Fitness because it would be a really useful skill. The next fixture on the knitting calendar is the I Knit Weekender, which also looks amazing.