it didn’t take me that long to mull it over

did i pick well?

thanks to rasputnik for turning a negative into a positive. i found a not-quite-so-perfect-but-similar-enough-to-be-a-contender vogue pattern and i was trying to decide between them. the vogue was in my size (yay for 40s proportions!) while this one isn’t. he asked which i’d learn most from. seeing as i’d have to grade it up the hollywood is the clear winner when you look at it like that.

why so perfect? princess line, pleats, flattering neckline, slight puff to the sleeves but not too much volume, sleeve cuffs, and i really like the side buttons. i’m sure the cute picture showing it made up in a similar print to mine doesn’t hurt at all – i don’t have to make a huge leap of imagination to be fairly certain it will work, i’m not keen to take unnecessary risks with this one.

i realise these are mostly details that could be adapted/tweaked from a similar pattern, and i even briefly considered drafting my own version, but i have a slightly more realistic assessment of my skillz at this point.

for ref, burdastyle on grading up

i didn’t win my perfect pattern (outbid) which leaves me with a dilemma. it’s available elsewhere but it’s pretty expensive, once i figure in shipping and potential import charges it comes into the verrry expensive category (i.e. more than £25). that’s a ridiculous price for a pattern, isn’t it? it couldn’t possibly be that perfect, could it?

i suppose i could trace it then sell it on…

i’ve finally written up the pattern for boo’s dress: here. i’ve taken some close up pics of the frill detail, and general views, but i can’t include them in the page without it screwing up the layout have linked to the gallery, but that takes a while to update the tags so if you can’t see them find them on my flickr: here.

doll pattern now available here and in a permanent link from the sidebar (disclaimer: proofread, but not tested!).

i made more of an effort to document my process this time, although i wonder whether the amount of detail is more confusing than enlightening. i wouldn’t advise looking too closely at the pictures as an aid to interpreting the pattern or you may notice a few discrepancies. e.g. where the legs don’t match because my gauge changed so dramatically that matching them row for row would have left one significantly longer than the other. or when i say i worked in spirals for the solid parts, when actually i did in some places and not in others and you can see the difference between the row-worked and spiral-worked parts easily

i would have included detail shots of her shoes but we’ve managed to lose one on the other side of the country already hence the number of shots of her in her undies (that and the fact i don’t have a pattern for the dress anyway).

oh and she has been rechristened, permanently this time i think, as boo.

courtesy of The Knitting Princess and the Pea. dead simple but lovely, i really like this. something for me after the christmas rush is over, perhaps?

Lil’ Devil Baby Hat, as i clearly don’t have enough to do for christmas already… will be sans horns though.

yay pattern is up, and it uses as little yarn as i was hoping. and i took the plunge and went for cascade 220 superwash from ebay. the shipping was very reasonable, i loved the bright clear colours and i figured that washability really is worth paying for in kids’ clothes. so these (got yarn for both jumper and cardi) will end up as a minor indulgence, rather than cheapo, but i always doubted it would really work out like that.

i’ve doubled up on the yoke colours, will be pink on both, with green or blue for the body (main colour at left of swatches). fair dos, couldn’t beat that watermelon colourway. the red one’s lovely too, but madam’s only new jumper so far this winter is red, and she looks lovely in blue.

fab

Nautilus Hat
seaman’s cap
marsan watchcap
top-down hat generator

Sock Knitting Tips
glitter sock thread
and a whole forums at knittersreview and angelyarns

toe-up sock pattern
knitty sock tutorial
knittersreview sock tutorial
german twisted cast-on and on video

guess what i’m planning after i finish xmas stuff…

Wovenflame: Proud Peacock cos yeah, i really need another laceweight shawl.

seriously. i will.

from helloyarn

pluss essential tutorial

and more help

jo sharp .:. The Wool Shack Knitting Store of Australia
yeah right like i need another crochet shawl…

move along now nothing to see here
it’s supposed to be a surprise

CP – Pattern

cutie for madam? looks like a very interesting technique for a woven-look rug too.

bowls, baskets and boxes all from crochetme.

buffet scarf
inspired lace scarf

just cos i’m really digging the lace thing, and hoping to spin some fine yarns (overambitious? moi? ). looking for smallish, guage-independent patterns to show off anything i do manage to produce.

not lace but cables these look lovely, just a shame there aren’t any real closeups. $6.50 for all 4 patterns isn’t going to break the bank, but i’m a little sore after shelling out for a very basic shrug pattern. these look way complicated though

bows and arrows stole a bit holey but i like the way it sits and could be scaled down with a finer yarn.

i can’t seem to find exactly what i’m after in crochet, just in knit, maybe it’s just the nature of the difference between them. i want something very thin and lightweight but without massive holes that let the wind in. will keep looking.

i’ve been looking for a lacy shawl pattern, since i succumbed to the lure of etsy and bought some beautiful green/blue/yellow lace/fingering weight handspun. the wonderfully comprehensive walk through tutorial might well make this one the winner.

flip-top fingerless gloves pattern
my daughter has a pair of these that i’ve always envied, now i can make my own. i like the padded slippers too.

desperately seeking funky crochet patterns…

crochet me has more patterns than is obvious at first sight, click on back issues.

crochet pattern central woah! possible overload, but hey i found exactly what i was looking for (toddler hoodie) straight off. mmm love these mary janes too. i feel a trip to the charity shop for jumpers to frog coming on.

not strictly a pattern linnk but yay crochet forums: crochetville. my absolute favourite web medium.

niiiice shrug, might be a good use for the handspun yarns i’v ebeen drooling over. also $4 fulled messenger bag pattern might be worth a shot (am utterly failing to finish my half-done bag cos i’m not entirely sure where i’m going with it and don’t want to run out of yarn). just a shame there’s no hints about yardage before you shell out for the pattern… aha is mentioned on crochetville: debbie bliss silk alpaca 140 yards

fab lacy cardi, schematics so more adaptable than an actual pattern (bought the above and it turns out it’s xs-m only, might have been good to mention that grr with general advice will be able to adapt though). not sure what makes it a shrug, i thought that was the ones that look like you got bored half way through

will work on a string bag next as the co-op i was supposed to be in has melted away and i have so much yarn knocking about it would be criminal to pay for one. having ventured into freeform for my last bag (just for something to store yarn in so i could free up my nice stripey bag for toting current projects about) i’ve realised the value of working to a pattern…