From Speculation to Inspiration to Sweater

or In Which I actually Use Some of The Yarn I Bought - Part 1 

One of the many things I dabble in is designing knitting patterns. Most often I do so because I conceived of a desire for a garment and couldn't find an existing pattern that was exactly what I wanted. So I try to make my own.

In this case, I first bought yarn I didn't have a plan for (as I do), then found a historical pattern that caught my fancy, then used that as inspiration to put a use to the yarn.

The five balls of K + C Willow inflated to two balls of each color when I realized I wanted to make a sweater from them. The colors suggested stripes to me, but that sounded boring on it's own, so I started dreaming up ways I could make make diagonal lines or something else overly complicated. The yarn sat for a long time, since none of those ideas really panned out (shocker).

Then I had a good browse of The Antique Pattern Library.  If you haven't visited that site before, go check it out, this post can wait. Seriously, it is a huge resource for historical, public domain patterns and instructions for just about every craft imaginable. I have found lots of great patterns there, including this one from Minerva Yarns Style Book Vol 30 (1933):

Now, I don't love everything about this pattern, but it sure does present a good starting place for finally realizing my striped sweater. I really liked the idea of alternating stripes of knit and crochet, though I did alter the stripe size and placement quite a bit. I kept the long slim sleeves and v neck, but I added a bit more poof to the tops of the sleeves. Because K + C Willow is a much different yarn that what was used here, I had to alter the stich patterns and counts a lot. Since I also wanted to size it for me, that meant making a gauge swatch and basically designing a sweater from the bottom up using this as inspiration. 

So to do that, I start with a sketch and begin filling in measurements. I wrote up a post going over the basics of measuring and customizing fit here. I was having trouble figuring out how to shape the armholes and shoulders with the crochet sections, as I am far less familiar with crochet in general. Then, my hubby asked if the shoulders were harder than the body, why couldn't I start there and get the difficult stuff out of the way? Solutions sometimes come from the least likely places, and this was a great one! I'd never done a top down sweater before, but with  few tips from my go to vintage books, it was definitely the easier way for this one.

And so I present the finished bistitchual sweater! As a bonus, it used up most of the Willow yarn, so I don't have to scramble to find something else to do with the leftovers!

Vintage Craft Book Feature: Faces and Figures in Embroidery (1979)

 Another of my many needlework hobbies is the collection of vintage craft books. Found in dusty corners of second hand shops, in pride of place in used book stores, these old tomes often contain beautiful nuggets of crafting wisdom, and a heaping helping of vintage charm. Reviving the techniques, tips and retro projects is just one more way for us to bring back the wonders of the handmade.

Faces and Figures in Embroidery 1979

This book is one of my favorite finds, and a big reason for that is the awesome picture on the cover. It reminds me of some old videogame like Pitfall! 

In all seriousness, this book is really awesome as an inspiration for embroidery design. While it does have some instructional bits for actually stitching, it is much more of a design book. 

It has some great historical examples of different ways of creating faces and bodies in stitches.

And it's also got some really great contemporary examples. Many are very textured and three dimensional like this, but a variety of other styles are also showcased.

There are a lot of line drawings to work from, and examples of how they could be stitched. Throughout are guides on how to place design elements, how to utilize texture and color, and many more tips and tricks.

All in all, this book really gets you looking at embroidery with different eyes! (No, I'm not sorry at all about that lame pun!)

Mom's Hug Shrug

 It's Free Pattern Friday! This time it's a crochet pattern, designed by yours truly! This one is truly simple, as I am a beginner at crochet, but it's as warm and comforting as a mother's hug!

I used K&C Element yarn (which is discontinued), but any worsted weight will be fine. I used a size H crochet hook, and size 6 circular (or dpn) knitting needles. I used 4 balls of yarn or about 400 yds

So, starting with the crochet hook, chain enough stitches to be about 20" long. Exact count doesn't matter, so long as it's an even number. Hdc in each chain across for the first row. This piece will be worked back and forth as a big rectangle.

For the second row: (hdc twice in the same st, then skip one st) - repeat across

Third row: (skip one st, then hdc twice in the same st) - repeat across

Repeat these two rows until you have a long rectangle.  Measure it on yourself by holding it across your back between your hands, and keep going until it reaches just short of from wrist to wrist.

Once it's the length you want, sew the long sides together to make the sleeves, leaving a gap in the middle for your torso. (I left the yarn connected and used slip stitch to make the seams, but you could also cut the yarn and use a yarn needle if you wanted.)

Now, using the knitting needle, pick up about 36 sts from the wrist edge. Exact number doesn't matter as long as its an even number and evenly spaced around. Join in the round and work k2p2 ribbing for about 10 rows. Cast off all sts, and repeat to make the cuff on the other side.

Weave in any ends and enjoy your snuggly shrug!

So, I might have a problem...

I shop at thrift stores a lot. Really, a lot. Clothes, books, décor items, cookware, raw materials for my shop; most of the goods I buy come from second hand shops. This is partly because I am cheap and refuse to pay full price for new when perfectly serviceable things are available used.  Mostly, however, I shop at thrift stores because they can offer some hidden gems found nowhere else.

Sometimes these gems are beautiful and unique vintage clothing, or quality kitchenware for a bargain, and sometimes it's yarn. Beautiful, irresistible, yarn. Yarn that I don't yet have a project for, yarn that is almost certainly discontinued and hard to find more of. Yarn that I inevitably buy. I may have a yarn problem.

So when you find awesome yarn on clearance and can't decide which color you like you get two balls of each, right? And then you jump through a bunch of mental hoops trying to come up with a project that uses four colors evenly, right? That's normal, isn't it?

At least for this batch I limited myself to one ball of each color. But the tin of buttons and beads probably erases any anti-hoarder cred that may have gotten me.

Imagine my disappointment when I realized those two big squishy hanks only almost matched. Clearly it didn't stop me from getting them and a bunch of mismatched mohair as well. Someday I'll make a Frankenstein Sweater out of all my single skeins of mohair.

Speaking of mohair, how am I supposed to turn down a ball big enough to make a whole sweater on its own? Surely this is the one instance where I can buy one discontinued ball on clearance and not need to scour ebay for another when it runs out before I've finished whatever I knit with it.

Yes, I have a definite weakness for pretty yarn, and pretty purple yarn in particular. I wish pictures could convey how soft and squishy that big hank is. 

Before and After: Mermaid Tunic

 Here's a glimpse behind the curtain, at the previous lives of the pieces that became my Erte inspired tunic:

I loved the petal like hem of the purple shirt, but I really wasn't a fan of the sleeves or neckline. Also I tend to like long waisted garments and wished I could lower that beautiful hem several inches. The turquoise top isn't a style I usually go for, but in this case it sang to me of possibilities. Together they make a fanciful side laced tunic that makes me think of something a mermaid might wear as she masquerades in the human world for an evening.

 

Super Cute and Easy Pincushion

 This cute little pincushion works up quick, using materials you probably have around the house, and is cute and useful as well. These make a perfect little gift for anyone who sews, or just to keep for yourself :)

What you'll need:

- Some sort of ruler or tape measure

- Scissors

- Pencil or pen

- Paper towel tube and a small piece of thin flat cardboard (like from a cereal box)

- Needle and thread

- One or two small pieces of fabric (pictured is a scrap of cotton print and salvaged old hand towel)

- Small handful of stuffing (you could also use shredded fabric or yarn)

- Washers to use as weights (these are optional, but make the pincushion a little more stable)

Step 1: Prepping the cardboard

Cut the paper towel tube to the height you want your pincushion to be. I used 1 1/2"

Use the paper towel tube to trace two circles onto the flat cardboard

Trace the outside of the tube for one circle, and the inside of the tube for the other. Cut out both circles.

Step 2: Covering the tube

Choose what part of the fabric you want to use and lay the tube on it. Make a mark on both the tube and the fabric.

Carefully roll the tube along the fabric one full turn. Use the mark in the tube to make a second mark on the fabric.

Measure and mark the fabric 1/2" longer than the two marks you just made and 1/2" wider than the length of your tube (so for a 1 1/2" tube the fabric will be 2" wide.) Cut out this rectangle and sew the short ends together with 1/4" seam allowance.

Slide the fabric around your tube. With a long piece of thread, take the needle up through the top edge of the fabric from the inside.

Then take the needle down through the bottom edge. Continue alternating between the edges in a zig-zag, working your way around the tube.

Once you've laced all around, the fabric should be held snugly to the tube and the two edges folded in.

Step 3: Making the cushion top

Lay your cardboard circles on the second fabric. Trace a circle 1/4" bigger than the bigger circle, and one 1/2" bigger than the smaller circle.

Cut out both fabric circles.

Sew a running stitch around the edge of the larger fabric circle.

Pull the thread to cinch up the circle a little. Stuff in the stuffing and place the smaller cardboard circle on top.

Cinch the thread until the edges of the cardboard are covered. Stich a few times across the cardboard circle to hold it all snugly in place.

Set the cardboard circle just inside the top edge of your tube. Sew around the top edge of the tube, securing the cushion in place.

Step 4: Making the bottom

Similarly to the tube, lace the remaining fabric circle around the bigger cardboard circle so all the edges fold over.

If you want to add a little weight to the bottom of your pincushion for stability, slide a couple metal washers under the lacing stitches.

Set the covered circle onto the bottom end of the tube and sew around just like for the cushion top. Make sure all the fabric edges get tucked in.

Step 5: That's it, stick a pin in it and enjoy!

Vintage Craft Book Feature: More Knitting in Vogue (1983)

Another of my many needlework hobbies is the collection of vintage craft books. Found in dusty corners of second hand shops, in pride of place in used book stores, these old tomes often contain beautiful nuggets of crafting wisdom, and a heaping helping of vintage charm. Reviving the techniques, tips and retro projects is just one more way for us to bring back the wonders of the handmade.

More Knitting in Vogue 1983

The sequel to the fabulous Knitting in Vogue from 1981, this book has even more cool vintage patterns adapted for 1980's crafters. 

It even has patterns for men' sweaters, though most of them are very boring compared to the offerings for the ladies.

As is the previous book, each pattern is accompanied by a picture from the original.

Many of these older images are way more fun than their newer counterparts.

This leaf patterned cardigan is one of my favorites from the book. It's such a cool design that it even looks nice over the graph paper blouse.

On the more technical side, there's actually a really nice instructional segment at the end of the book. There are tips and diagrams for how to make buttonholes and sew seams and other finishing techniques. And also this super handy guide for what all those little symbols on yarn labels mean. All in all it's a great book and well worth the place on the shelf!