Echino Handbag - I love it!

I've been working on this bag for the past few weeks. I bought this Echino fabric a couple of years ago at a craft show from Kelani Fabrics. I bought two meters, intending to make a skirt, but then was too scared to cut into it. I love Echino fabrics designed by Etsuko Furuya, I have a little tote bag that I have been using every day, and I realised that I would get a a lot more use out of a bag than a skirt. Especially since I haven't really sewn any clothes that I have liked enough to wear! So at the craft show this year, I bought the Panel Bag pattern by Nicole Mallalieu Design. The pattern was a little pricey, but absolutely fantastic. It comes with a little booklet that takes you step by step, with lots of pictures, and different options so you can customise the bag. I used an Amy Butler fabric I had in my small fabric stash as the lining, so have two beautiful fabrics that I adore. The bag did take a long time to cut out all the pattern pieces from the paper pattern, then the fabric and interfacing. I chose to interface the whole bag to make it a bit more sturdy. The actual sewing was quite straight forward, with a little bit of hand sewing, and a couple of tricky parts when I was sewing through quite a few layers. I ended up using a denim needle in my machine, which helped a lot. There is also a lot of top-stitching, so I had to make sure that was straight and even. There is a zipper pocket on one side, the instructions were great here, so it was fairly simple to insert. On the other side of the lining I put in the three pockets, so I should have a place for everything! I used the bag this morning for the first time and it is perfect. Nice and big to shove everything in, but light-weight. The reason I haven't been using my handbags recently is beacuse they are all feel quite heavy bythe end of the day, and my back starts to ache, but that didn't happen today. We are going to Japan in 10 days, I canb't wait to take my new bag, and maybe buy some more Echino!

Stacks of blocks

I've been making more circles for my crochet blanket.



I'm making them in random colour order, but trying to keep the colour usage fairly even.



I've started to join them into squares, they are each bordered in white.



The colours make me happy!

WIP Wednesday Aidez

This is the back of Aidez. I am really only working on it on weekends, I'm training for the City2Surf, a 14km run. So most days after work, I go for a run, cook dinner, eat, and by then am a little tired to focus on knitting a big project. In the evenings I'm working on crochet squares for a blanket. I am enjoying knitting Aidez when I do it though, the cables are fun and it's growing fast!

On the weekend I went to my Mum's local craft store. It had a great selection of books and patterns. As I still haven't decided on a fair isle jumper, I was looking for a pattern for that, and I found a great one in Cleckheaton 950. Unfortunately, I can't find a photo of it online, but I'll take one later. It's quite Christmassy, which is exactly what I was looking for!

Even though I feel like I haven't been knitting much recently, tomorrow I get to do it at work! I work at a school, and the students are working on knitting squares for Wrap with Love, a charity that makes blankets out of donated squares. I'm going to check it out, and maybe help some students to cast on. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids knit!

Aidez

This is a progress report on my year of projects!

I've been working on Aidez this weekend. It's lots of fun with some new cables that I haven't done before. I'm about 1/3 of the way through the back. I was having so much fun knitting it this afternoon that I forgot to take a photo before it got dark!

I'm using Cascade Eco, which I ordered from WEBS. I love the smell, it's like sheep! It feels so nice as well.

So this is a photo of my swatch. It's not even an exciting swatch with cables, it's just stocking stitch. I promise I've done more than this!

WIP Wednesday: Baudelaire

Yes, I've started on my 2nd sock! I'm much happier with the toe this time, the pattern uses a figure 8 cast on, and I used this tutorial from A Gathering of Wool. It shows how to do this cast on using Magic Loop, which is how I knit my socks. This tutorial was really helpful in getting my stitches looking nice and neat. This is my first time knitting toe up socks, and the first time using the figure 8 cast on. I do like toe up, as you can check the length of the leg of the sock. I'm always worried that I'll run out of yarn, so tend to do them a bit shorter than I'd like.

I've been working on this sock on my lunch break at work, I can get a few rows in each day so hopefully I can get some momentum going and actually finish a pair of socks!

To see other WIPs, check out Tami's Amis Blog

A Year of Projects

I read about this on Crafts From the Cwtch and it seemed like just the thing to get me organised for the next year.

Basically it is just working out my knitting (and crocheting) goals for the year, posting a list, and then every Sunday posting about my progress. I'm using my Rav queue and my UFO pile as a starter for my list.

• Aidez, a cabled cardigan (I've JUST cast on this)
• Moonlight Sonata Scarf
• Some mittens or gloves for myself, maybe Bella's Mittens or Wine and Roses Mitts. These are completely different, so I could do both!
• A slouch hat for myself, I like a few: Slouchy Copy Cat Hat, From Norway with Love, 
• A Fair Isle sweater, maybe Autumn Rose Pullover, Bonbon, 
• Owls sweater
• Beer Gloves
• Finish at least 2 pairs of socks ( I have about 5 unfinished socks hanging around!)
• Finish Shalom, or use the yarn (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran) for something else

As I only read about this last night, I'm sure I'll be updating this list over the next week. 

My Creative Space

I've started crocheting a new blanket Flowers in the Snow. It's so pretty! I'm using an acrylic yarn - Creative Basics Polly 8ply yarn. It just had the nicest colours, and will gorgeous edged in the white.

I'm using the tutorial and instructions on Solvieg's blog (link above), which are really clear. She uses lots of pictures to illustrate each step.

I've also started swatching for Aidez, and will be working on that over the weekend

Check out other creative places here