Friday, 28 January 2011
Look what I made!
I've been trying my hand at quilting recently, and wanted to practise before starting my actual quilt.... so I made a baby tag blanket... It took a long time to get my sewing machine set up properly, and a LOT of unpicking, but finally I managed this:
Friday, 19 November 2010
The testing begins and the blanket is being washed
Well, I now have some initial testers for my baby kaftan, who are knitting it up as we speak - they will give me first feedback on the typing of the pattern, how easy it is to knit up and on the sizing. It is in newborn only at the moment.
Once they have commented, I will size it up for the other baby sizes- probably up to 18 months. Then I will get it all tested again, to make sure I haven't done anything stupid.... THEN it will be ready for beautifying the pattern itself, before finally publishing. Phew, it'll be a while then. In the meantime here are some photos.
The blanket is finished - I made several changes as I went along, and will need to alter the pattern to reflect this. It is in the sink, having a bath at the moment. I will block it and then back it, to protect little fingers from the floats at the back of the colour work. Fingers crossed it'll all work. I've never really done colour work before, so this is a first.
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Wow. A week already.
Can't believe it has been a week since I started this blog. Sorry for not having posted more. I got poorly, and couldn't face knitting. I'm better now, at least as far as knitting is concerned :)
I've now finished the baby kaftan in newborn size, and have written up most of the pattern. I have a few tweaks to make, and then I shall post it on ravelry asking for test knitters.... fingers crossed all goes well with that stage!
I've now finished the baby kaftan in newborn size, and have written up most of the pattern. I have a few tweaks to make, and then I shall post it on ravelry asking for test knitters.... fingers crossed all goes well with that stage!
Friday, 15 October 2010
Welcome to thewenchettaknits
Welcome to my new blog!
I'm not very good at maintaining blogs, having started a few in the past, and let them go mouldy.
I've currently got a couple of different projects on the needles, including a newborn baby kaftan, a baby blanket and some interesting ideas for jumpers and cardigans.... who knows when those ideas will become concrete, or should I say fabric. I see the ideas in my head, and knit them up as I go, writing down what I do. I make notes at the end of what I like, and what I don't like about the design, and try to alter it. The next time I knit it, I try to be really objective - is that a clear instruction? Yes, I may understand it, but I have done it before. Will someone new understand it? If in doubt, I rope in my darling mother to look over my instructions.
My two sisters test the wear-ability of the designs on their babies and toddlers. I have a 5 year old niece, a 3 year old nephew, a two year old niece and a bump niece/nephew-to-be! I try to use yarns that will machine wash for babies and children, as I know that real life and hand knits do not always see eye to eye. Previously trying to make gorgeous cashmerino items for a baby have resulted in some interestingly shaped garments....
This is the first ever design that I made up from scratch. It is a tiny dolly cardigan that I made for my niece's doll, Milly. Milly's cardigan is knitted in one piece, and is seamless, a la Elizabeth Zimmermann. I used her raglan shoulder shaping to help me. It was knitted in the round and then I steeked it. I had chosen the wrong yarn for that as it was a not very grabby acrylic. Normally, I am not a big fan of acrylic, but my sister had bought the yarn, and my niece wanted a cardigan to match her own. So I ended up with a much lumpier button band than I wanted, but I thought I should show you my first beginnings, so at least you can see the progress.
I'm not very good at maintaining blogs, having started a few in the past, and let them go mouldy.
I've currently got a couple of different projects on the needles, including a newborn baby kaftan, a baby blanket and some interesting ideas for jumpers and cardigans.... who knows when those ideas will become concrete, or should I say fabric. I see the ideas in my head, and knit them up as I go, writing down what I do. I make notes at the end of what I like, and what I don't like about the design, and try to alter it. The next time I knit it, I try to be really objective - is that a clear instruction? Yes, I may understand it, but I have done it before. Will someone new understand it? If in doubt, I rope in my darling mother to look over my instructions.
My two sisters test the wear-ability of the designs on their babies and toddlers. I have a 5 year old niece, a 3 year old nephew, a two year old niece and a bump niece/nephew-to-be! I try to use yarns that will machine wash for babies and children, as I know that real life and hand knits do not always see eye to eye. Previously trying to make gorgeous cashmerino items for a baby have resulted in some interestingly shaped garments....
This is the first ever design that I made up from scratch. It is a tiny dolly cardigan that I made for my niece's doll, Milly. Milly's cardigan is knitted in one piece, and is seamless, a la Elizabeth Zimmermann. I used her raglan shoulder shaping to help me. It was knitted in the round and then I steeked it. I had chosen the wrong yarn for that as it was a not very grabby acrylic. Normally, I am not a big fan of acrylic, but my sister had bought the yarn, and my niece wanted a cardigan to match her own. So I ended up with a much lumpier button band than I wanted, but I thought I should show you my first beginnings, so at least you can see the progress.
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