Another 6.5 stitches cardigan

Another 6.5 stitches cardi
Originally uploaded by redmag

I finally finished my second one of these. While the first one I knitted stills fits in the arms, it is starting to look more like a crop top than a cardigan in the body region and needed to be retired.

This time I've used a bright red cotton so that it wont be too 'heavy' over the coming summer months. I had originally planned to use wooden toggles for buttons again but I found these big white plastic buttons at Lincraft and thought they'd look cute.

Again impatience and poor planning means that I haven’t added the fabric panel - but given its going to worn over the summer months the fabric really isn’t needed.

I can't explain how much I love this pattern - its easy and a great shape. The simpleness of the design means that the choice of wool and button can influence the final look quite significantly.

Our first harvest

Our first harvest
Originally uploaded by redmag

Zucchini's from our garden - with 100s more on their way!
I have no idea what to do with them?

These ones were used in a creamy summer veggie pasta (cream, zucchini, peas, parms), and a feta mint yellow zest and zucchini pizza.

I'm hoping to pickle some over christmas break - if anyone knows of any good quick recipes/tricks I'd be very happy to hear them.

Ollie - the elephant

Ollie - the elephant
Originally uploaded by redmag

This sleepy little fellow is made from recycled curtains. I'm not sure if I'll sell elepahants in my shop because there are already loads of cool ones out there on etsy....but this guy just sort of happen organically. The fabric seemed to want to be an elephant, and while very basic I really like his shape, particularly his trunk - pointing to the heavens for luck.

Keeping with the physicist thing - this little fellow is named after Mark Oliphant an Australian physicist.

WIP - Linen clock cushion

WIP - Linen clock cushion
Originally uploaded by redmag

This was intended to be a proto-type new product for my shop (see profile for link) but its turning out to be a little too time-comsuming - maybe thats the half way through blues talking.

It is starting to look like its all coming together so I'll keep going. It's (hopefully) going to be a clock cushion, I'm going to set the hands to the time of birth of someone's baby, and ebroider the date and the baby's name on the clock face ( or maybe in the side panel of the cushion - not sure yet)

Anyway - I'm loving working with linen - will need to think of more projects!!

A jumper made with love

A jumper made with love
Originally uploaded by redmag

I went to a book sale at the local church over the weekend and picked up a few bargains, one of which was a 1974 Goldern Hands Crafts book called "Gifts to Make". Strangley a large number of the crafts were quite tasteful and could actually be described as "Back in vogue."

This is my favourite a colourful stripey jumper for your sausage dog.

Our dog is German Shorthaired pointer and quite a bit larger than a sausage dog. Sadly he also has an aversion to wearing doggy coats and perfers to lounge in side on the couch when the weather is too hot or too cold so trying to knit a larger version might be a complete waste of time, which is a shame.

I do however have a calico sausage dog from MUJI that I was given a few years ago. Given its very plain looking I thought I might give the jumper a go for the toy dog.

6.5 stitches cardigan - all done!

6.5 stitches cardigan - all done!
Originally uploaded by redmag

I finally finished it . It's meant to have a fabric piece that sits behind the front knitted flap, however I hadn't managed to find the right piece of fabric by the time I finished knitting. Being extremely impatient, I decided that warmer weather we'd been experiencing justified omitting that panel, and sewed it up sans beautiful fabric.

The vital stats - This is the 3 month size. I used 3.75mm needles and two balls (100g) of TLC CaraMia, which is a medium worsted wool. It's an Acrylic (50%), Nylon (19%), Rayon (18%) Angora (13%) blended wool, which makes it feel soft but not delicate. It's recommended that you use 5mm needles with this wool, but I was worried the jumper would end up being too big and opted for a smalled set.

The pattern itself was wonderful - simple and clear. The cardigan looks fantastic on and is easy to put on and take off - which I love. We've already had many compliments on our walks over the past couple of days, including inquiries as to whether it was a pumpkin patch purchase. It's always so nice to be able to reply..."Well actually I made it myself. "

I'm going to try and get some more wool and start making a second one in the larger 6 month size straight away! Partly because he is growing like a weed and will need a bigger one very soon, but mainly because it was so enjoyable to make - and I really should do one with the beautiful fabric panel.

Eadie, Ethel and Elenore - Schrodinger's kitties and shop talk.

Eadie, Ethel and Elenore
Originally uploaded by redmag

It's been a productive day of sewing - three new floral SChodinger's Cats for my shop - Eadie, Ethel and Elenore.

Eadie - the kitten made from the floral fabric I bought over the weekend - is actually much prettier in real life than she seems in this photo. The colours havent come out right in this photo so I'm going to try and take some more photos tomorrow in daylight and see if I can do her some justice before adding her to my store. Her face has the sweetest as a small pink triangle turned up in the middle of her face in the right place to form a nose - completely unplanned which was a happy conincidence. I'll be adding those three tomorrow.

I also posted a message on my shop announcing the arrival of a new range of toys I'm planning to release on Monday 17 September. I'm very excited about having new designs to show everyone, but I did forget that I had people coming to stay with us over the weekend so tomorrow and Thursday are going to be a busy sewing days. Nothing like a deadline to make me get myself into gear...I find i just drift along without pressure, self imposed or otherwise.

Anyway, time to cook dinner - it's brocolli, chilli anchovy pasta tonight.
Hope you had/have a great productive day.