Saturday, April 18, 2009

Back to work!

So, I finished my first adult garment last week - I was so very excited!! :D

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Back to School U-Neck Vest from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel (Rav Link)
Materials: Cascade 220 Heathers in colour 2452
Used: 2.56 skeins (515m)
Size: 41

I really enjoyed this, although I was very apprehensive about making it to begin with, as I didn't think the neckline would suit me - I'm one for the plunging neckline :) And I was worried about all the mindless ribbing, but that actually didn't turn out too bad. I did the ribbing for a little bit longer than written, and I continued the waffle stitch a bit more after doing the bust increases, and after dividing for the front and back and doing the decreases for the under arms, I only did one row of working even instead of seven, as suggested by Cripsynoodle's blog post. I also did a 3 needle bind of on the shoulders, and only one three row purl ridge on the arm holes and the neck line as it would have been too much otherwise.

I learned how to do a pretty invisible increase on the bust as well, which I'm proud of - the M1R and M1L from knitting help. And EZ's Sewn bind off!! I will be using this bind off for everything now, because it is really easy to do, and it's so stretchy. Hooray for learning new tricks! So yay.

I wore it to work last week, and I received lots of complements about it, which made me happy. And it's always nice to wear knitted object to work - especially when you work in a yarn shop :)

Looking back through my other projects in my notebook, I finished my Downtown Clutch(Rav Link) back in March, just in time to take it to my job interview (I didn't plan that at all ;).

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This project is where I learned how to do a 3 needle bind off (awesome!) and I converted the pattern into a circular knit, instead of two separate pieces to be joined up. I also lined it (dodgily)

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My next plans are to make a February Lady Sweater in Bendigo's new Luxury 10 ply - they've brought out a really nice dark orange/red colour that I think would look fantastic. I also bought Ysolda's Ishbel last night, and I am a bit unsure what to make it with. I'd like to make it fairly big, so I think dyeing some knittery slim sock will be in order. I also want to make a Ribbled Lace Bolero in some sort of red Malabrigo worsted weight.

The boyfriend beanie is still in time out, as I am not loving it, but it needs to be finished. And I am currently working on a Clapotis, which is going VERY well - it's in this beautiful rainbow coloured fingering weight yarn I got in a swap, 200g worth of it, so it should turn out something nice and light, but very colourful.

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Okay, that's enough for one post. :)

Friday, April 17, 2009

Jahncke's Patent DNP holder :)

On Saturday, my darling boyfriend gave me the other half of my birthday present (my first part was this)

From Tam - an antique dpn holder

From Tam - an antique dpn holder

From Tam - an antique dpn holder

From Tam - an antique dpn holder

It's an antique double pointed needle holder that we saw down at an antique shop in Coolangatta back in February. Isn't it pretty? We were researching on Monday night when it might have been made, and I think it might be around the 1880's? We googled the "Jahncke's Patent" that is on the end of the needle holder, and found this on a NZ auction website, this ebay listing, and this shop over in the UK that have items with the same colouring and the "Jahncke's Patent" engraving.

It's very exciting, and I'd love to know more about it.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Movies to watch

things i want to see:
500 days of summer
amelia
public enemy
Rachel Getting Married
The Reader
Milk
the duchess