Totoro Baby Gift Set

My friend Jess introduced me to Totoro a few years ago. She's a big fan AND she's a knitter. Let me tell you I really enjoyed putting this together for her and her future baby!

First up, a little cardi:
Pattern: Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly van Niekerk, free on Ravelry here
I sized it up a bit
Yarn: merino cotton DK by Drops

I was planning to do a very ambitious Totoro border in stranded knitting but it didn't quite work out (several hours to do a few rows on a swatch... no thanks!). So duplicate stitch it was.

Here is the chart for Totoro:

Next we have a simple drawstring bag that can be used as a laundry bag to put the cardi in the washing machine or as a project bag. I used some scrap fabric for the leaves, Bondaweb then narrow zigzag all around.

And finally, let me tell you about those stitch markers...
I have always been arts and craftsy (with more or less natural talent...) so I had some polymer clay in my stash already. Fancy stitch markers and clay charms are big at the moment so I thought I'd have a go... How hard can it be? (ha ha, insert crying emoji face)
After several hours feeling like i have sausages instead of fingers, I have a decent set of stitch markers.
I used a video tutorial from TheLittleMew to help me out (youtube video here)

Lucky (me) - Really

Pattern : Lucky (me) by Solenn Couix-Loarer (Ravelry link here)

Yarn: Drops Lima  (wool-alpaca mix) shade 701 Petrol (the colour is so difficult to photograph properly...)    x10 balls

I LOOOOVE thit pattern. The fit is amazing (waist shaping and slightly wider hips: dream come true for a pear shape body!).

Mods: a bit shorter, more fitted sleeves, K2P2 ribbing on the neckband (I did try the rolled edge but I didn't like the result so BO in pattern on the wrong side for a neat finish)

A few extra pics

 

Mardi Gras Costume - Arlequin

This is what happens when your students tell you you can't wear your Pierrot costume again...

Based very loosely on Simplicity 9800 (that I used for the previously mentioned Pierrot costume... ) but I could have drawn around pajama pants and have better results. Anyway, Big hit with the kids! I might have to wear black for a few days though... :p

Drawstring Bag

This is a really nice way to personalise a baby present. Monogram, cute bear, washing line... possibilities are endless and bonus points for using up cotton scraps or FQs! I used some bondaweb to fix the M to the green fabric, then zigzagged all the way around (slowwwly...). The bag itself is pretty easy to make. There are a lot of tutorials on youtube or blogs.

I'm really pleased that I have overcome my worries about picking up the sewing machine after so long. I've only done project bags so far but I could could thread the machine (and serger! woop!) without the manual, so that's a good start :p

More Winter Than Primavera

Pattern: Primavera by Sarah Cooke (Ravelry link)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Fingering, Castor Grey, 200g
Needles: 3mm (ribbing) and 3.5mm
Mods: jumped between sizes for fit, no pockets and slightly shorter sleeves.

I will definitely do this pattern again (maybe a different lace motif on the sleeves?). Fit from the bust down is spot on but I could get a better fit on the yoke. It was my first garment with fingering weight, I thought it would take forever and be soooo boring but it was great to catch up on podcasts and binge-watch Netflix. I was also quite anxious to handwash it (I didn't swatch... shhh, don't tell the knitting police!) but it was fine. I hope the wool wears well...
I can't wait to wear it to work!

Detail pics:

Back to Cables - Taking a Break

Pattern: Taking a Break by Debbie Bliss, free, Ravelry link here
Modifications: sleeveless, deeper V, wider ribbing at the hem (I grafted half on afterwards, I almost cried!) and slightly changed the central cable.

I thought I would love this as I have a similar one I wear regularly, but I don't... I need to do some serious analysis. I don't have time for this "it's not quite right but I don't know why"! So I took a biiiig bit of cardboard, drew the outside of this top and then drew the outline of the other top over it, so I could compare them: bingo!

I'll probably frog it and make another one/something similar. The biggest difficulty with these cable tops for me is waist shaping. I have over 20cm difference between my hip bone line and my waist (even more with my "hips" measurement - Mediterranean hips they say? :p) so I end up with waaayyy too much ease in the middle. I tried a band of ribbing K1P1 here but it's obviously not enough. Nevermind. I've learnt and important lesson. I'm going to keep that piece of cardboard and draw the outlines of other jumpers and cardigans, see if I can get a range of measurements to work from. Watch that space, I might be onto something...

When you know it's not going to go well - Black Ice

Pattern: Black Ice 173-5 by Drops, free, Ravelry link here

Aran acrylic-wool blend.

Where to start with this? hmmm, probably with all the vloggers that have been tempting me :p

I love to see those beautiful fair isle jumpers and accessories but deep down I know they are not for me. No. Not for the girl who thinks white and grey is multicolored. And add insult to injury, the neckline doesn't work for me either. 

But I convinced myself to give fair isle another go (after a pathetic attempt a few year ago...). So free pattern and yarn from the stash it is. Yep. I hate it. I might wear it as an extra layer when I do some winter gardening... maybe...

On a positive note: I definitely improved my fair isle technique.