Jessy Lou's Halloween Cobweb Jumper

This is another top designed by jessylou. It was actually a lot harder to make than I anticipated and took forever! Basically I knitted the neckband, wrist, armbands and waistband, and then joined the plaited strips onto them with crochet.

I decided it would be a lot easier to make if it were on a mannequin, and finally (after hours of work) decided to bite the bullet and let Jess finish it off. It looks awesome in these pictures though! (Courtesy of Tim Richardson)

Tulips

Just thought I'd give a quick update on what I've been making as its been a while! I got out of the creative zone and into the work zone for a bit, but I'm back now and this is coming along nicely. It's the bodice part of a dress I'm making for my NCFE course, and will be exhibited at the Connaught Centre in Hove on the 27th and 28th June.

This last week I've been sewing like a little pixie attempting to get my shirt dress design finished (the one described in an earlier post). It's pretty much there, I've made the calico version but there are a few changes I need to make before starting on the final piece.

Tomorrow I'll be back on the knitting as I'm taking a little solo break to St Ives to get the creative juices flowing properly again. So expect more pictures soon!

*Edit* See completed dress picture here

Catwalk Debut

Ok, I can't really call it my catwalk debut as it isn't my design, but anyway here's a couple of pics of the jumper I knitted for JessyLou's collection at the Brighton Frocks Theatrical Catwalk Show last weekend. As I mentioned in a previous post I just did the knitting part, so I can't take the credit for the rest!

Unfortunately I couldn't stay long as I was working elsewhere in the building (coincidence or what?) So I snuck in for 20mins armed with a camera and got these pics. Its a shame I couldn't have stayed because the whole event looked fab, I'd have loved to have sat in there and eyed up all the outfits!

Chunky Lace

I've been at a loss this week as to what exactly I want to make.. I picked up this wool which I'd previously been knitting into a shawl, but it was a bit too thick and seemed a waste of good yarn. This is the beginnings of a biker waistcoat pattern by Twinkle , a business set up by knitwear designer Wenlan Chia in 2000, consisting mainly of gorgeous chunky knit jumpers and cardigans, knitted in the round. She has since launched a range of jewellery, along with home furnishings, pattern books and yarn (yum..) I bought Twinkle's Big City Knits which is amazing and I think I want to make everything in it.

Also this week I've not been able to put down my guitar which is a first in years, I even played at an open mic night on Sunday which was a tad scary!

Watch this space!

Ideas....

Ok so I got up today with the intention of making something new and getting some coursework done, which has sort of happened, but I seem to be more content writing about said things I want to get done rather than actually doing them. Here's some pics of what's in my head right now.. The fabric I want to use, a sketch of what I was thinking of making and a photograph of what I think it might transform into.. and some random drawings of other things in my sketchbook that one day I might get around to making.

*Edit* See completed dress picture here

Free Knitted Teddy Bear Pattern!!

I've been inundated with requests from some fellow knitting peeps on Ravelry for the pattern for this knitted teddy bear. I originally found it on a website called Cabbage Patch Treasures but it seems to have been taken down, so I'm going to post it up again.

I did originally print off a copy but never saved the scans to my computer, which is a shame as the pattern is ancient and has some really cute photos in it.

My copy unfortunately faded and I had to throw it away, but I managed to copy it out first. If there are any mistakes I'm really sorry - I haven't had a chance to knit another one from this yet to check if it's ok!

The original pattern is in garter stitch but I made mine in stocking stitch as it seemed a bit tighter and you couldn't see the stuffing. Here goes...

Free Knitted Teddy Bear Pattern

Head Cast on 16st and k 2 rows. Cont. in stst inc. 1 st each end of next and every following 3rd row until there are 24 sts. Work 17 rows straight.

Next Row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts. K2tog. Work 2 rows straight.
Next Row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts. K2tog. Work 2 rows straight.
Next Row: K2tog, k to last 2 sts. K2tog. Work 2 rows straight.
Repeat last 3 rows once, then work the last of these 3 rows again.
Next Row: Inc in 1st st, k to 1 st from end, inc in last st. Work 2 rows straight.
Next Row: Inc in 1st st, k to 1 st from end. Inc in last st. Work 9 rows straight.
Next Row: k17, turn, sl remaining 7 sts onto a thread.
Next Row: k10, sl remaining 7 sts onto a thread.
Next Row: Sl 1, k9, then pick up and k8 along left side of centre section and k the 7 sts from thread.
Next Row: k these 25 sts, then pick up and k8 sts along other side of centre section and k the 7 sts from other thread. Work 8 rows on these 40 sts.
Next Row: k2tog, k16, k2tog, k2tog, k16, k2tog
Next Row: k16, k2tog, k2tog, k16
Next Row: k15, k2tog, k2tog, k15
Next Row: k2tog, k12, k2tog, k2tog, k12, k2tog
Next Row: k12, k2tog, k2tog, k12
Next Row: k11, k2tog, k2tog, k11
Next Row: k2tog, k8, k2tog, k2tog, k8, k2tog
Next Row: k8, k2tog, k2tog, k8
Next Row: k7, k2tog, k2tog, k7

Cast off.

Body (make 2)

Cast on 4 sts. Working in garter st, inc 1 st at each end of every alternate row until there are 26 sts. Work 5 rows straight, then inc 1 st each side of next row. Rep last 6 rows once.

Work 10 rows straight. Now dec 1 st each end next row and every following 6th row until 24 sts remain, after which dec 1 st each end of next 5 alternate rows. Work 1 row, then cast off.

Arms (make 2)

Cast on 22sts. Work 33 rows.
Next Row: k2tog, k7, k2tog, k2tog, k7, k2tog
Next Row: k2tog, k5, k2tog, k2tog, k5, k2tog
Next Row: k2tog, k3, k2tog, k2tog, k3, k2tog

k 1 row, cast off.

Legs (make 2)

Cast on 24 sts and k 40 rows.
Next Row: *k1, k2tog* rep from * to end. k 1 row.
Next Row: k11, turn, slipping rem. 5 sts onto thread.
Next Row: k6, turn, slip rem. 5 sts onto another thread.
Next Row: *sl1, k5, turn* rep 9 times
Next Row: sl1, k5, pick up and k 6 sts along left side and k5 sts from thread.
Next Row: k17, pick up and k 6 sts from centre, k5 from thread.
Work 6 rows.
Next Row: k2tog, k10, k2tog, k2tog, k10, k2tog
Next Row: k2tog, k8, k2tog, k2tog, k8, k2tog.
k 1 row. Cast off.

Ears (make 2)

Cast on 8 sts, k 1 row, work 5 rows AT THE SAME TIME inc 1 st both ends each row.
Work 4 rows.
Next Row: k2tog, rep along, cast off.

To make up

Fold head piece in half, sew up seams and stuff. Sew up side seams of arms and legs and sew body pieces together. Stuff and attach limbs and head to body. Add ears, embroider a face and say hello to your new friend!

Nice things...

Where do I start??

Brighton Frocks

Just thought I'd post up what I've been up to in Cyprus - it seems ridiculous making such a chunky woolly jumper in such heat, I've been sat outside in my spangly new bikini knitting like a mad thing to give this to JessyLou at the weekend. It's a jumper she's designed and employed me to make for her collection at the Brighton Frocks Theatrical Catwalk show, she's going to sew pom pom's and a ruffle onto it, I'll post up her illustration later.

Full Flared Floral Frock

I had this lovely fabric from my pattern cutting tutor and thought I'd attempt the party dress again but with much more flare. I also lengthened the original design and made the middle panel slightly wider - this was actually a mistake because I thought the fabric could do with more ease, but it turned out that it was just right if I rouched it.

*Edit* See here for a better pic!

Sunshine.. A strapless dress, and a matching bikini

Its been ages since I wrote anything on here - I was about to embark on my aran cardigan, which I assumed would be a massive project yet in fact took only 3 months! I don't have a picture handy right now yet I still feel compelled to write this, so I'll carry on and add it later.

Recently it's been hotting up and I've had an overwhelming urge to create all things floaty and floral. The dressmaking and pattern cutting courses I've been doing since September have got me totally hooked and now I'm in there I can't get out!

A few weeks ago I found this pic online and thought I'd try and make something similar...



So I ended up with this :-)



I'm pretty chuffed with it, it's the first thing I've made without a pattern, and it fits just perfect! I just need to sort out the net petticoat underneath so it flares out a bit more.

So then I got carried away with the scraps left over and made an itsy bitsy bikini ready for my trip to Cyprus - its done quite well! Here it is catching a few rays on my Mum's balcony:

Probably the best fitting bikini I've ever had! Though the fabric isn't really stretchy enough for swimming. I'm scared to attempt anything with jersey fabric at the moment so I think that'll be something to get to grips with when I get home.