Knitting Mama: Sister Coat

And finally (for now) here's the Sister Coat.



This is the most gorgeous and stylish coat in the world. It's got knitted interfacing, fabric piping, covered buttons, set-in sleeves, turned-up hem, pockets and gawd-alone-knows what else.

Can you just imagine the work this took?



Wow Mama, hats off to ye!
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Schopple Wolle Sample

So.


The love affair with Schoppel Wolle continues.


This is a sample I started with colourway 1507. Isn't it lovely? Look at the way the colours flicker from those limestone tones into green and gold lichen and on into the blues. So organic...so beautiful...so Burren (an outrageously wonderful place of natural beauty in the West of Ireland. Just sayin'.)





The final section moved into dark blues and on into deep reds. Tis a journey so 'tis.

Honest, it's just delicious.



You can see that I tried the sample in diagonal lace stitches and they worked out really really well. The last section was wide ribs and cables, which worked out ok too but the cables didn't stand out too well with the colours.


And if you're wondering how this all turned out in the end, here it is
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Another Yarn Room Twist. See how the colours are the same as above but so different.


Sigh.


I love garter stitch knitting.

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Knitting Mama: Lil' Nic Dress

In addition to handknitting, my Knitting Mama was a whizz at the knitting machine.

Here's the Lil' Nic Dress, made for me when I was about 3 years old. There's a yellow I cord belt that goes with it too, but it didn't make it into the photos.

I clearly remember loving the way the skirt pooffed out and especially loving the little buttons. And it's still cute.




Isn't it just darling, Darling?

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Knitting Mama

I've said quite a lot about the Knitting Dad hereabouts so I think it's time to show you some Knitting Mama. When I was a child my mother knit (and sewed) most of our wardrobes and she's still busy.

This fearless knitter has been behind all of my projects, lending support and cheering from the sidelines. I'm sure she picked up more than her share of my dropped stitches and she definitely passed on the love of knitting and the infinite possibilities of yarn.

For this Mama and for so much more, I thank you.

To begin the parade of Mama Knits, I introduce the Brother Sweater. Knit for one brother and worn by everybody else that followed. It's more than a little bit felted now, but all the warmer for that.








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A new dance craze

Here's another Yarn Room Twist.

(Sorry, no pattern yet. When it's available, I'll linky.)

It was a bit of a gamble really 'cos I had no idea would it be suitable or how the colours would work out.

At first I didn't like it. No. Not at all. No-sir-ee.

It took a while for the colour changes and garter stitch to take shape, but I kept knitting and now I love it. I knit until the yarn was gone and then grafted the ends together with a twist.




This is lovely yarn, but since it’s 100% merino, not at all woolly. An unusual fabric really, very light and beautiful colours.

This was a birthday gift for my brother last week and (another gamble), I wasn't at all sure if he would like it. Thankfully he really does so I'm glad I gave it away - as I was sooooo tempted to keep it.




No problem at all. I'm making another one for myself.

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Secret Project

Some time ago I tortured teased you about a new pattern coming soon.

Well. S'like this.

It is. And it isn't.

It did get finished. But it isn't coming soon.

It just didn't work out as well as I had hoped. It's not terrible, but it's not great either. I'm not anywhere near a proper designer by any means, but I did want it to a) fit and b) be easy to knit and c) look good.

I think I nailed c) as far as the colour choices go, but a) not so much. And it was a bit overcomplicated to hit b).

So it's back to the drawing board. I've an idea of what needs to be changed, so I'm not despairing. But I'm not Wonder Woman either, so it will just take a little more time.

Of course if I'd kept my mouth shut then I wouldn't have to say anything about it. Lesson learned.

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That's Handy

Just as an aside, you may like to see this little project, a recent gift for my Mum.

The girls drew around their hands on some lovely red flannel and then we I stitched around the shapes. That little thing in the middle is a heart, but they're not happy with it. It probably just needs a little bling. Sequins anyone?

I got the idea from an embroidery workshop I attended at Pick Up Your Needles in Tinahely Co Wicklow. (Next event here). A very easy project, the girls had fun and of course it's a winner with family members.

It's supposed to be a seat cover. Of course it's not actually finished. Did you get me mixed up with somebody else by any chance?

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