🧶 May Update 🧶

This last month, I’ve been busy continuing with my WIP - the Designer Knitting Fall 18 Fair Isle scarf, I’ve made some nice progress with this, and I’m really pleased with how easy this technique has been. This is the first time that I’ve attempted a fair isle knit with more than two colours, and while I’m still extremely nervous for when the time comes that I have to steek it (eeeeek!) it’s all turning out rather well so far. Apart from a few severe tangles leading to some knots and a couple of breakages, luckily only on my extra section for steeking, I’ve found knitting with the Rowan Felted Tweed DK to be really easy. I love the colours of this scarf, they’re bright and beautiful, but the Felted Tweed isn’t in your face, it’s muted and has some tone to it, making it perfect for a project like this.

I’ve also had a go at something a little bit different this month, we bought a bookcase for the lounge, and I knew that it needed something a little bit special to go on top, there’s got to be something handmade and yarny everywhere right?! I found a small weaving loom that I had bought a couple of years ago in Edinburgh, I think it’s really aimed at children, but it’s the perfect size to practice on. I didn’t really have a colour theme in mind, just bright and bold! I used some Cygnet Utopia DK and some Robin Paintbox DK, along with a mix of single colour DK acrylic yarn that I had, unfortunately all the labels have been long lost from these. I also made some tassels to tie onto each end of the weaving, mainly to cover up the warp yarn, as it’s been many years
since I have woven anything, I couldn’t remember what to do when I had finished!

I’ve also completed a couple of sewing projects this month as well, I didn’t think that I had finished much but looking back I guess I’ve been pretty busy! I’ve made a boho/ sling style bag for my holiday, I saw Kimmy wearing one in an episode of ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ and since then I have been desperate to make one similar. I’ve tried to find a picture to go from but I can’t seem to find one, so it’s a bit like I dreamed the bag but I know that I definitely didn’t! I went into Abakhan in Manchester, straight to the craft cotton section, and this fabric was right on top, perfect for a bag! I bought a 16” dress zip, and I used this to draw the line to base my pattern from. I used my everyday handbag to get an idea for the dimensions that I was looking for, and just went for it! I’ve made quite a few bags in the past, and in terms of sewing, they’re definitely an easy project to make up as you go along! The bag has a zip fastening, two inner pockets, and a wooden ring so that the straps length can be easily adjusted. I love this bag so much, it’s not heavy at all, and it will be perfect for summer.

I also made a dress this month too, I wasn’t lying about being busy! It’s from a Burda Plus magazine, which is a German edition, I can’t seem to find it in English, so that was fun translating the pattern! I used dress fabric from Abakhan in Liverpool for this one, The fabric is a lightweight dark grey with a vintage style floral pattern, and I love it. The dress shape is very loose fitting, with a belt to cinch in the waist and add some shape. Unfortunately, I haven’t got a photo of the finished item yet, I want to make a slip dress to go underneath, which I haven’t started yet!

Overall, May has been a varied month for me, using different crafts to create all my projects and I’ve loved it! I love knitting so much, but there’s definitely something about sewing that really speaks to me, when you can make an entire outfit in a couple of days!