THE KNIT FILES: Repeated Cables

One thing I don't do very often is knit the same thing more than once. I'm not sure why, perhaps a little boredom (although most knitting projects have some aspect that keep them interesting, like cabling or colour-work), but I think the real issue is that I'm always too eager to start something new. When I'm halfway through knitting one thing, I'm always thinking about what I'm going to cast on next, and possible ideas for other things I want to knit. However, recently I knit up the same hat a few times, and learnt quite a lot from the process.

SOCKS!

As a somewhat seasonal knitter, socks are something that I've been working my way up to this winter - I mean, what could be more practical to wear with ankle boots or with pyjamas? I've always been intimidated by a few things - the use of double pointed needles, the shaping for the heel and toes, and the fact that sock yarn is usually very delicate has put me off for so long. However, a quiet few days over Christmas and New Year have been just what I needed to dedicate a bit of time into working it out, so I thought I'd collect a few of my early thoughts on sock knitting here...

Knits for Winter

Perhaps the title of this post is a little ambiguous - I mean, what are knits for if not for winter? I'm typically a seasonal knitter, and all thoughts of knitting disappear from my mind when the temperatures soar, returning only when there's a distinct chill in the air. So, when my thoughts do turn to knitting, I let my list of patterns grow, and one of my favourite things to do is to leaf through a few of my knitting books to gather inspiration. I thought I'd compile a post of a few of my favourite patterns and books - I doubt I'll get the chance to knit up everything I want to, but when I find some swoon worthy knitting patterns, it seems a shame not to share them!

KNIT: Fairisle Stripe

Hats are definitely my knitting comfort zone. I like the fact that they knit up super quickly, are pretty easy shaping wise, yet there's still enough details to keep me interested. They also require very little wool, so there's also that (however, if I saved up all the wool I used in hats, I think I'd easily have enough for a jumper!). One thing I keep challenging myself with (in both knitting and sewing) is to try new things however, so I find if I am knitting a hat, I do try to stretch myself in some form or another. In this case, it was knitting in the round (you can see this hat in progress on that post), and I have to say that I'm a definite convert. So, here's how this little hat went, and my final thoughts on knitting in the round!

Thoughts on Knitting in the Round

When you get comfortable with doing something, it is often the case that you stay with the way you know how to do it. That's certainly the case when it comes to knitting - I've discovered what I like knitting (hats!), and the way I like to do it (knitting row by row in the conventional manner). However, lately I've discovered so many knitting patterns that I want to try that are knitted in the round, that I decided I would have to give it a practise run. So, here's a few thoughts I'm having about knitting in the round...

The Knitted Turban Beanie: Take 2

As odd as it sounds, I always feel a little... uncomfortable writing about knitting during the summer months. It's strange, because I certainly don't stop knitting during the summer months - if anything I do a little more, finding it easier to dedicating a lazy afternoon to sitting outside with some wool and a podcast. And if some of my favourite sources of inspiration - Wool and the Gang, my favourite knitting blogs - don't stop during the summer months, and I still enjoy reading their brilliant content, then I don't see why I'm stopping myself from writing about knitting. It's always winter someplace in the world, right?

Hence why it's been a while since I've discussed the turban beanie here. It's still something I'm working on, because I'm a slave to that pinterest inspiration, and I'm imagining practically living in it next winter. If you need a little recap (I know I do!) you can have a look-see at my first try at knitting this up.

Blocking: What is it and Should I be Doing it?

Whilst I've been knitting and crocheting for far longer than I've been sewing, I'll freely admit that I'm a little more gung-ho when it comes to abandoning or ignoring traditional techniques when it comes to picking up my knitting needles. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that when I started knitting and crocheting, I didn't really read many blogs at all, let alone craft blogs. If I knew the stitches, I'd simply whizz along until the end of a project, sew it up, and call it a day. Therefore, the idea of blocking a piece of knitting is an entirely new one to me, but seeing as how at the moment I am all about improving my approach to making things, I've been looking into it, and the advantages of doing it.

The Knitted Turban Beanie: Take 1

Sometimes, I don't get started on a project as soon as I get inspiration, and the idea can be left hanging around for quite a while. If it's one that I keep returning to however, I know that I have to try it out, just for the sake of curiosity. This is one such project. It started off with this pin, which I think I found a good few months ago. The one thing that caught my eye about this turban beanie was the clever construction, as most I've seen just use an extra knitted "knot" to tie at the front. This one intrigued me for a long time, until things came to a head lately and I decided to figure it out. Whilst I'm not completely happy with this first attempt, I've learnt a lot from it, and am itching to give it another go...

Knitting Pattern: Arachne Cabled Fingerless Gloves

Okay, confession time - in my three to four years of knitting, I've only ever knit cables once. It was in my early days of knitting, and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it (I still wear my finished cable beanie), at the time I didn't like the fact that I didn't really fully understand the mechanics behind it. I suppose I'm finickity like that. But I've recently had the desire to become reacquainted with cables for some reason, and I've been loving it. The chunkiness means that they work up really quickly, and once you know the pattern, you get into a rhythm.

Projects in Planning #1

The weather has dramatically changed, and all thoughts of whipping up a matching top and shorts set have been firmly replaced with an urgent need for knitwear and warmth. There are a few items I'd like to make in the coming months, and so let me introduce a new feature over here on Awake + Make where I talk about ideas and plans for upcoming projects. Because sometimes it's not all about the end result.

Free Knitting Pattern: Gingham iPhone Cosy

I love the look of colourful knitting, but let's face it - stranded knitting can be one hell of a knotty mess at times. So when I found this method of knitting gingham (or checks) without the need for any stranded knitting at all, I rejoiced. It is actually very simple to do, and I love the end result. It could be used for many things, but I decided to make a phone cosy (very noughties of me, I know).

Bicycle Knitting Chart and Jumper Inspiration

At the moment I have a burning desire to knit a jumper. Yep, I understand that this is the kind of time that normal people start to consider their summer wardrobe, and whether they need any clothes for their holidays. But, there are two things you need to know about me:

1. I am not normal.
2. I am a jumper fiend. 

I have never knit a jumper before, and I have a feeling that it's the kind of project that could take a while to complete. So, perhaps this is actually the best time to start knitting a jumper in order that it is ready for the winter. 

I love a good old motif jumper, and a motif I really want to use is a bicycle one. I don't know how I had this thought - perhaps I was thinking that the Tour de France is coming up soon? It's a big event in our household. After a lazy afternoon spent on Pinterest, I quickly decided that a bicycle jumper was what my heart desired, and I quickly set about making baby steps towards making my first ever jumper. *Gulp!*

I used my knitting chart technique to make this chart, and this one actually didn't require any redrafting. Which was surprising, as I was worried that a bicycle might be a complex shape to translate into a knitting chart. I'm actually very pleased with how bike-like this chart looks! 

On second thoughts, I think it probably was the Tour de France that inspired this chart, as I can't stop thinking about making a jumper which has some kind of nod to the Parisienne. Perhaps some French flag elbow patches? Or a red white and blue colour scheme? Hmmm... This requires some thought. 

These are some of the photos that I think are going to inspire this project. Some of these beauties are worthy of a place in Gyles Brandreth's wardrobe, non? I might try to stay away from that area. 

Sources, clockwise from far left: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Here's hoping I soon get the courage/wool to start knitting the bike jumper of my dreams. I'll (hopefully) be posting the end result here (maybe with a pattern), but don't hold your breath!

Any tips anybody's got for knitting jumpers? What would be your dream jumper? 

Vintage Crochet and Knitting Patterns: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I've been having a bit of a sort out lately, what with it being a typical time for a "spring clean". It always takes me so long, because I always just end up reading books and looking at thing I haven't seen in a while. One of the many things I "sorted out" was my collection of crochet and knitting patterns, making me eager to start many new projects! Here are a few of my favourite vintage patterns, some of them lovely, some of them cringe worthy, and others just hilarious. Enjoy!

My obsession with peter pan collars flows over into my crochet pattern haul. Who knows, maybe I was Oliver Cromwell in a past life? No, I can't be, I love Christmas too much. These are just a few of my collar patterns (I have many, many more!). I've actually never made a collar, so seeing these beauties again has given me the push to pick up my hooks again, and get chaining. I've chosen to make the "rose motif" collar, so I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I have a bit of a love for nautical style (hello, Breton stripes), so it's only natural that I love these jumpers. French flag elbow patches? *Swoon*. Unfortunately, the two jumpers on the left are knit up in 4-ply, and I ain't got time fo' dat! Sorry. The ribbed anchor jumper however, is knit in DK, so it might be put on my to-knit list (which is ridiculously long).

This idea is so simple, I don't know why I haven't though of it before. Crochet a lacy motif, and attach it to a plain bag and voila! So chic! I love the 60s styling in this little booklet, it's making me want to cut my hair into a bob.

An orange dress, with purple crochet side panels. Nice. Don't forget the matching headband too! I love me some 70s style clothing, but it's easy to see why people see the 70s as the decade that style forgot. This is just one of many, many bad patterns. Bad bad. But funny-bad, all the same.

A crochet toilet seat cover? I can't even... I have no words for this. It's only after you stop laughing that you realise that it's made in a lovely burnt orange and brown colour scheme too. Nice.

Do you like old knitting and crochet patterns, or do you prefer more orthodox modern patterns?

How to: Design Your Own Knitting Charts

I daydream in jumpers. While other people might daydream about what to eat for tea, or what colour to paint their nails next, I find myself thinking "Wouldn't a jumper with some kind of flying pig motif on it look brilliant?" Of course, finding such a specific jumper is nigh on impossible, never mind finding a knitting pattern for one. So, to strive towards my novelty jumper dreams, I like to design my own knitting motif charts.

FYI, I didn't make or design this jumper, but it is simply too fabulous to not include in a post about knitting motifs. 

Making your own knitting charts is a great way to personalise already existing patterns, and can be used to take your own original patterns to the next level. It isn't that hard of a process either, although I would recommend past experience of knitting from a chart, just so you understand how to follow a chart.

You'll need some pens, pencils, scrap paper, graph paper and some needles and wool of your choice.

First up, I like to just doodle my ideas on paper, just to see how I would use each chart and whether it would work in reality. As you can tell from the quality of my doodles, you hardly have to be Rembrandt to do this. This just makes you think about how the motif will work, whether you need it to be large or small, and whether you will actually use it or not.

That cat jumper has been on my mind for too long now, one day I will get around to making it.

Next, I like to sketch out my design in more detail. This is going to be a pretty simple motif, only needing two colours, but eventually you can start introducing more colours and detail into your designs. At this point, you may change your mind about your design - I swapped to a jumping bunny motif.

Thinking about how large you want your motif to be, draw it out on graph paper. It's best to do this in pencil, but I have done mine in red pen to show you my workings.

Using a contrasting coloured pen, go over the lines of your design, but this time only working in squares i.e. following the lines on your graph paper. I can almost guarantee that this first motif will require some tweaking to make it absolutely perfect, but all designs have to start somewhere.

This is what my completed design looked like. Of course, the only way you will know what it looks like when it is knitted up is to, er, knit it up. I use stocking stitch to knit my designs up, as that is the stitch that will be used in the actual garment.

This is when you can see some areas that you might want to change. I thought that the snout of my rabbit was too pointy, and that the body was also too long. I just redrafted my design onto graph paper until I got a chart that really worked out well.

This is how my final chart worked out, and I'm pretty happy with the result. Now all I need to do is knit myself a jumper covered with rabbits. There's a "woolly jumper" joke in there somewhere...

Not really into novelty motifs? You could also use graph paper to design colourful patterns for fairisle, using the same technique - just colour in the graph paper squares to create a colourful pattern of your choice.

Messy back - *eek*!

I hope you go forth with your new found knitting motif knowledge and design all kinds of crazy charts. How about a chart of a Roy Lichtenstein artwork? Or a Benedict Cumberbatch jumper? You can make any chart that your imagination comes up with (no matter how weird).

Let me know if you try this, or have any questions about the technique!

This blog entry is my submission to the Deramores Blog Awards 2014. Deramores is the UK’s number one online retailer of knitting and crochet supplies.

A Trip To The Colinette Mill

If you're a fan of everything knitting, then you've probably heard of Colinette Yarns - a luxury wool and yarn brand well known for their soft, cosy wool, modern textures and colours that make you swoon. What I didn't know was that the headquarters for Colinette are not too far from where I live, and that they have a shop bursting with their yarns on site. I knew that I had to go and see where all the woolly action takes place.

After a drive through some of the prettiest Welsh countryside I've seen in a long time (even in the pouring rain), I arrived at the Colinette Mill. It looks pretty unassuming from the outside, but trust me, inside is yarn heaven.

Can I have it all, please?

Inside is the largest selection of wool I might have ever seen - if you're looking for a specialist yarn, you're bound to come across something here. From cottons to mohairs, double knitting to the super chunkiest wool ever, everything you might ever need is all under one roof (including patterns and equipment). There is also a whole room dedicated to sale items - 100g of wool for £5, which for the quality of the wool is quite a bargain.

If possible, it's even fluffier than it looks

I've never tried felting, but the extensive collection of wool tops in the store definitely made me want to try. I've never seen wool tops in such a variety of colours - and variegated too. Although, if I'm honest, I'd be perfectly happy just buying some Merino Wool Tops just to get it out and stroke it every now and again. So soft!

Scattered throughout the shop were items that had been made from the kits that Colinette also sell. I particularly love these cushions - they are simply embroidery onto canvas, but using Colinette's gorgeous variegated yarns. These would be perfect to add a touch of pizzazz to a plain room.

I need a jumper in this wool, like, pronto.

I think I'll definitely be back the next time I need to buy some wool before a big project, but it's also just the trip I needed for some knitting inspiration. Even though it's Spring (well, barely), I feel like knitting a ludicrous amount of jumpers. Maybe I'll get one finished in time for next Winter?

On the way home, I stopped off at a garden centre for a quick tea break. It's no day out without a cake stop, right? This utterly uh-may-zing rocky road had Snickers in the middle. Snickers. It was so yummy, I might have to try something similar myself.

Where is your favourite place to buy wool?

Crafting For Comfort

After feeling positively 'meh' the last couple of days, I resigned myself to bed with a hot water bottle and some catch-up TV. Everybody has their own routine when they're not feeling 100%, and this is mine. I am also, however, the kind of person who finds it hard to just watch TV. Whether it's a sudoku, a word puzzle or just doodling, I like to have something to do with my hands whilst watching TV. And that is how I found myself knitting quite possibly the chunkiest, snuggliest hat ever on the first day of Spring.

Knitting and crochet is one of my favourite things to do whilst watching TV, as long as I'm not working on too complicated a pattern. I have to admit that I usually abandon my wool this time of the year, and start working on something for the warmer weather, however when it comes to comfort, nothing beats a soft, chunky yarn in happy variegated colours.

I used two yarns for this project - a standard cream Aran with natural coloured flecks, and a chunky wool in variegated pastels (I don't know the name or brand, sorry). I combined them both to work with a super chunky combo, which is mega soft and cosy. Because I wanted a project to watch TV with, I didn't use a pattern for this, simply casting on 50 odd stitches and then going with the flow. I didn't use any fiddly intarsia or any fancy stitching either, just a bit of ribbing before plain stocking stitch, which meant I could keep up with what was happening on Jonathan Creek.

The great thing about this project was that it seemed to work up very quickly - the size of the yarn and the variegated colours probably helped with this. It also meant that when I was feeling better, I had a brand new oversized beanie to my name. Yaay!

Having a project to concentrate on definitely helped me recover quicker, and distracted me from feeling ill. Which got me thinking - is there a link between crafting and well being?

There is a charity group local to me, which helps people with a varying range of health problems through art. The Project Group encourages people with mental health issues to be creative, and gives them the tools and inspiration they need to get started. As well as being creative, members gather a variety of different skills that can help them gain confidence within themselves, and completing a project gives members a sense of achievement.

It only takes a quick Google search to see that there are many people writing their own blogs to document their mental health issues, and many of these have a link to art or craft. Craft For Health has an especially inspiring section, where readers talk about their own mental health issues, and how their art work is therapeutic for them.

Crafting groups are a great way of getting to know like minded people, and is therefore a good way of building up a network of people around you. Sometimes, it is quite easy to feel isolated if you suffer from an illness of some kind, and having positive, helpful faces around you can help you get through tougher periods and not feel so alone.

Mental Health still feels like a taboo topic, and yet it is something that is likely to affect most of us, in different ways, at some point in our lives. It is so inspiring to see people finding ways of fighting their mental health issues, and talking so openly about their experiences.

Do you have any remedies for sick days (mental or physical)?

What to do with problem yarn...

For every genuine, brilliant thrifty buy I find, I am equally likely to fall victim to a bad bargainous buy. You know, the kind of thing that seemed like a perfect, cheap buy at the time, but actually turned out to be a complete waste of money? Yep, it happens to all of us, you get blinded by what seems like good value for money, without remembering that sometimes there is a reason why things are cheap, or have ended up in second hand shops. This was one of those buys...

I came across oodles of these balls of yarn in a second hand shop (seriously, tons of the stuff). I can't remember how much it cost me for the whole lot (although it was probably very, very cheap). Why? Because I have had this wool for YEARS. And I've never used it once. It's not to do with the colour, which is a lovely cobalt come navy blue, and I don't think anyone incapable of liking such a colour. It's more to do with the strange texture - one minute it's an extra thin cotton, probably best suited to lace making, then WHAM - it's super chunky, but only for all of a couple of stitches. A very specific type of yarn, I think you'll agree. It's a vintage wool, which is called "Bubbles", and would probably be fine if you had a pattern to use with it, or even some vague idea of what you wanted to do with it. However, I don't have either of these, and so this yarn is sat sadly within my wool stash. 

I have tried and failed for many years now to find a use for this wool. Maybe it would be suitable for a scarf? But then again, I don't think I want a scarf with such a strange and uneven texture. And also, if I was to knit with such an unpleasing yarn to knit with, I think I'd want something more than a scarf for my efforts, no? 

So, I guess the moral of the story is to never buy a load of wool if you can't immediately think of exactly how to use it. Especially if it is a very specific type of wool, either in texture or colour. Have I learnt from this lesson? Maybe, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened to me again. When I see copious amounts of cheap wool, there's no stopping me. Once a bargain hunter, always a bargain hunter. 

Have you ever bought a lot of wool, only to find you have no use for it? Do you have any ideas on what I could use this wool for, or is it finally time to say goodbye to Bubbles for good?

Free Knitting Pattern: Turban Headband

First up, I hope you're all well and haven't been too affected by the storm. The electricity has been flickering, and we had no water this morning, but apart from that we haven't been hit too badly here.

This weather has me reaching for my warmest clothes, and all my warm winter woollies - hats especially, as the cold winds are particularly bitter. I fancied switching it up though, after months of wearing knitted beanies, and decided to make a knitted headband. The best thing about a knitted headband, is that there is an option to wear your hair up or down, and still keep your ears nice and toasty.

 

This was one of those projects, that whilst really simple to make, seemed to take forever to finish. It is a very plain pattern, with no intarsia or cabling, and in hindsight I would probably add either one or the other, just to make it a little more interesting to knit. I think I was also affected by the fact that it has been a long time since I knitted with 4-ply wool, and at first it seemed like I was knitting using candyfloss and cocktail sticks. I'd forgotten how lovely thin wool is when knitted up though - so soft and tactile, that the knitting time was definitely worth it.

 

You will Need:

• 100g 4-ply wool of your choice
• 3mm knitting needles
• A sewing needle

Abbreviations:

• K - Knit
• P - Purl
• St(s) - Stitch(es)

Knit side is the right side, although you could choose to use the other side if you wanted.

 

Cast on 30 sts.

Row 1: K across (30)
Row 2: P across (30)

Repeat working in stocking stitch, until your knitting fits comfortably around your head. The best way to test this is to hold your knitting around your head, and see if it fits as you would like it to. You could measure around the circumference of your head, but I wanted mine to fit around to the base of my head. Make sure not to make it too tight or too long, or your headband won't be comfortable.

 

Cast off in your preferred technique.

 

If you find that the sides of your knitting are curling in (mine were), gently run over your knitting with an iron. You want it to be quite warm, but not overly hot, or your knitting will become felted (unless that's the look you want - experiment!).

 

To sew up, fold your long rectangle in half, right sides facing, so that the cast on edge and the cast off edge meet, and a loop is formed. Using a big sewing needle and some of your wool, sew a running stitch through both of these edges, and pull tight to form your turban's gather. Tie off your wool, and turn the right side out.

 

The running stitch gather



This photo makes me cringe, big time

 You could easily adapt this idea, and make your headband in a thicker wool. I'd actually recommend a thin wool though, even though it takes a long time to knit up, the fine knit finish is worth it.

 

I actually quite like the simplicity of the finished design, but you could add other elements to it by using specialised wool, or working in stripes perhaps. Add a byzantine touch and wear a fancy brooch in the middle of your turban. Choose a colour that complements the colour of your hair - I think it would look great in jewel tones, emerald and ruby shades, as well as more natural colours.

 

Let me know if you try this (especially if you tweak it slightly - I'd love to see photos!), and if you have any questions about the tutorial, please post a comment and I'll try my best to help you.