The problem with deciding to make an epic project, is that all the little bits that I normally don't enjoy doing - such as sewing pieces together - are multiplied in magnitude and thus tedium.
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A lot has happened since I last posted. Craft-wise, this is my proudest achievement, and most representative of my biggest life event.
I first became aware of the idea of a modern 'wedding shawl' after joining Ravelry. Having never been a fan of the whole wedding to-do myself, the idea struck me as a way to make all of the (often outdated) traditions of a wedding a lot more meaningful for me. My family and I spent hours debating the flower choices and selecting the wine, but what excited me the most was the thought of knitting something that I could cherish as a keepsake, and maybe even pass on to someone some day. Pattern: Tiong Bahru, Asa Tricosa Ravlink: Whiter Shade of Pale Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Lace, Natural This is my sewing machine: She's new to me, having just bought her from a graduating fashion student. London is probably very good for used sewing machines: lots of fashion students moving away, upgrading, downgrading, or perhaps wanting nothing to do with sewing for a good long while.
Anyway, I'm still just learning how to use her, and trying to work up confidence, so that I can make actual things that look fairly nice. Most of my ideas have to do with gifts for my family. They'll have a sewing-filled Christmas this year! I want to name my machine, but haven't come up with anything I like yet. My first thought was to play on the "Brother" brand by calling the machine "Brother Rabbit" which could be shortened to "rabbit." But, thankfully, I realized that referring to "my rabbit" might lead to some unfortunate misunderstandings. So, no name just yet. The first thing I ever learned to do with yarn was crochet. My great-grandmother taught my cousin and me to make crochet chains, but somehow we never go to the next stage in crochet, when you work into a stitch. As a student at university, keen to figure out what I had never learned, I found a book on crochet and taught myself to single chain. I was never the most avid of crocheters, but it seemed that every winter, when the rain would start* I would catch the crochet-bug again. I mostly made coasters or placemats - I liked the round shapes. Once I decided to be bold and made a doggy jumper out of granny squares, but I never got around to attaching all of the squares and the poor pup never got the jacket. So, the crochet started the yarn love, but I set it down when I went to Edinburgh. The next time I was to pick up any yarn, it was for knitting, and that held my interest for quite some time. Crochet has a very different look to it from knitting. I think knitting really suits clothing, especially jumpers and cardigans. I have seen many, many brilliant patterns for crocheted jackets, tops, skirts, and socks, but knitted stockinette stitch is always going to be the "classic" look. It somehow manages to stay in the background, so that garment shaping and colorwork can be highlighted. Crochet is the more bold of the two. The fabric it produces can be quite thick and dense, so it is inherently suited for different uses. But crocheting is brilliant for making shapes, circles, openwork - it does all of these things beautifully. So, being able to crochet means I can open up my style even more. And now that I've started crocheting again, it seems I still like those round shapes.
* Oh California - aren't you cute, with your rainy "season" instead of "all-the-time." This is probably a bit cheeky, but I've taken a photo of this week's knitting project, and I ain't gonna say what it is - yet. You're very welcome to have a guess at what it will be. I'll give you a hint: it's not for wearing.
All shall be revealed soon! A friend recently suggested that I give the WI a try. Especially in London, the WI is increasingly associated with a more youthful membership; young mothers and business women who are interested in the core values of the organization, but wish to modernize its activities. I'm looking to attend a meeting next week. It was my boyfriend who pointed out to me that, whether intentionally or not, I appear to be preparing for membership based on my recent hobbies: And of course: Essentially, it's perfect for me.
Loop, in Islington, is a wool shop of legendary status. In addition to carrying all sorts of goodies that most UK knitters may only see online (especially Wollmeise, which is somewhat like the Tickle-Me Elmo of yarn), it also possesses a certain woolen aura that is infatuating. So, I knew that I had to see it for myself when I moved to London.
I didn't buy anything but I did walk out with so many ideas and a drive to sit down and make something. Like the art gallery to the painter, so is Loop to the knitter. It was wonderful to see, with my own eyes, knitted samples of patterns I've admired on Ravelry, and browse a library of books and patterns. If only every library had a knitting section like that at Loop! I know that I am a rather selfish knitter. Whenever asked who I'm knitting for, the most common answer is "myself." My explanation - and a rather reasonable one, I think - is that I wouldn't want to knit for someone, only to have them not like the gift, and then feel obligated to display excitement and interest in it, and worry about how many times they have to wear it, if they can just give it away, if they have to return the favor.... Perhaps these fears are unfounded. But there is a lot of social etiquette around gifts, especially those hand-made. Personally, I love when things are homemade, and appreciate the extra effort and thought that goes into these gifts. Very few have been total duds, and even these I find a way to make use for. But, who wants to spend all of their time knitting (and it is a terribly time-consuming activity, as much as I love it) only for the finished object to be a disappointment? This was a really crappy attitude to take. I'm slowly coming around to the idea of knitting for others more often. To start, I've been introduced to the world of charity knitting. There are loads of options: The UK Handknitting Association website has a collection of charitable causes to take on. Loving Hands organizes group charity knits and drop-off points for donated knits. The number of causes that knitters and crocheters can support is tremendous, and leaves a lot of room for creativity. Children's charities love stuffed toys of any shape or size, scarves and socks are ideal for interesting repeating motifs, and if you want to make something I'm guessing you've never tried before, there are the famous knitted boobs. I wildly admire those generous folks who are the opposite of me, i.e. they mostly knit for charity. And there are plenty of those type of do-gooders about. My new knitting ground has taken on the project of knitting jumpers for newborns in Swaziland, who are often sent home from hospital wrapped in newspaper. One of our group members, a midwife for the NHS, visits a hospital there occasionally on sabbatical and donates her skills. We hope to donate our knitting skills as well, with as many jumpers as we can manage before November. Hopefully her luggage can stand it! The pattern is dead easy, and has benefited lots of newborns thanks to knitters from all over the world. I normally knit in rather muted colors, but the pattern requests dark, bright colors, and I am happy to oblige. I've already finished one in a royal purple, the above jumper is over halfway completed, and I've got plenty of time until November to make some more. I'll let you know what the final total is.
This is the blog of Imogene, a twenty-something in a big city, who likes those so-called "traditional" hobbies of knitting, baking, cookery, gardening, and the like. My biggest goal is to not be the type of blog that is just soft-focus photos* of what I've made. I'm proud of the things I've created and I want to show them off, but I also want to connect with people with similar interests, and share knowledge, ideas, and anecdotes.
I hope you enjoy whatever this blog becomes. Please leave a comment, I'd love to chat about what you've well-crafted. * Okay, I admit, there will definitely be some soft-focus photos. What's more lovely than sunshine on some nice, fuzzy wool? |
Mo Made This!
Knitting, crochet, sewing, baking, reading, and other domestic pursuits. Archives
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