It’s official!
I got an email this afternoon from Marceline @ Glasgow Craft Mafia to let me know that I’ve been added to the website as one of three of the new members. My page is looking a wee bit empty just now as my blurb hasn’t been added yet, but you can have a look HERE!
Paper Dolls
So I’ve finally built up my knitting confidence to tackle my first jumper. I came across Kate Davies Pattern on Ravelry a few months ago and went about collecting all the materials I’d need to get it started.
I’ve decided to follow the colour scheme and modifications applied to the pattern that Ravelry user Pops did her version of the jumper in. Here is what her’s looks like:
As if knitting my first jumper wasn’t hard enough, I’ve decided to set myself the target of finishing it for International Women’s Day on 8th March.
I’ll also be helping out with a knitting workshop for Maryhill and Central and West Integration Network’s event to celebrate International Women’s Day, being held on Thursday 11th March, 11am – 3pm. I’ll post more details on this soon.
Yap & Yarn
Back in October I started my first full-time job working in a homeless project for young women aged 18-25 years. Just before Christmas, my boss put me in charge of our art room which was in dire need of a makeover. The bulk of the materials consisted of pipe cleaners and stick-on googly eyes.
I decided to start a programme which would run in four weeks blocks to allow the women to try different activities and make sure they had input into what was running. At the same time, this would allow us to slowly stock up the art room and give the women ideas about what to make with what was in there.
This Wednesday sees the first day of the programme and we’re starting with knitting. Here are the two posters I made to put up in the project:
My first processing sketch
Philip and I are learning Processing on a Saturday night.
background (255);
noStroke ();
fill (110,42,92);
rectMode(CENTER);
rect (50,50,64,64);
fill (110,90,96);
ellipse (50,50,64,64);
fill (106,14,173);
ellipse (50,50,48,48);
fill (127,0,0);
ellipse (50,50,32,32);
fill (255,200,200);
ellipse (50,50,16,16);
Amigurumi: Take 2
It was my aunt Sandra’s birthday last week and I wracked my brain trying to think of what to make her. She used to have a huge fear of frogs and I remember her having little frog ornaments in her room as a way of de-sensitising herself. To make her present, I decided to have another go at amigurumi when I came across a frog pattern on Etsy. Here’s how it turned out: 
Happy Birthday, Sandra!
2-ply, 4-ply, why ply?
The few weeks before Christmas were pretty hectic as I was finishing off a lot of the presents I made for my family and friends. As a result, I’ve decided to treat myself to a new jumper. The only catch is that I have to knit it first.
I’m going to try the Paper Dolls pattern, which I mentioned in a previous post: Getting ready for Christmas. I made a note of the various wools and needles I need to start the pattern and headed into Glasgow city centre this morning, hoping that the John Lewis wool sale was what I’d expected. I waded through buckets of discounted wool only to end up completely confused. I couldn’t tell if the cashmere wool DK I had in my hand would be suitable for a pattern knit in 4-ply wool, or whether I could substitute shadow tweed for a Scottish tweed.
After spending 45 minutes in the wool section I left with one of the four types of wool I was looking for, some needles and my favourite Patons Shadow Tweed. I felt like I couldn’t knit again. I had a look online for some more information and came across this great wool guide by The Purl Bee. I’d advise anyone who is having similar problems to have a look at it.
w.i.p
I’d been hunting for 40mm x 5.50mm circular knitting needles everywhere, but the standard circumfrence appears to e 80mm. Anyway, I found some online and they arrived today. I finally get to try out the Patons Shadow Tweed wool I bought from John Lewis a few weeks ago. The wool is so soft that it felts as it passes through my fingers.
I can’t tell you what I’m making yet as it is a Christmas present, but I can show you a photo.
Getting ready for Christmas.
This year is my first Christmas that I’m not working in six years and I’m strangely excited about Christmas.
A month or so ago, I decided that I wanted to make all of the presents that I’ll be giving this year. I am dying to blog about what I’ve been making for Christmas and what I’ve still got left on my list to do, but I also like to keep it a surprise. So, I won’t be blogging about any of it until Christmas is over in case anyone reads this who I’m making a present for.
I’ve been knitting a lot recently and have become pretty confident with it. I’ve been eyeing-up a lot of patterns on Ravelry and have already decided on what I’ll be making once Christmas is over. The first one is the ‘Paper Dolls’ jumper pattern by Kate Davies. I cannot wait!
handmade presents
So, tomorrow is my Mum’s bithday and I decided to make her present. She’s a bit crazy about scarves, so I decided to have a go at making my first ever nuno felted scarf. I learned how to do this at the felting workshop I went along to run by Heartfelt by Liz but that was a few months ago now.
I did my research and bought some merino wool online. Unfortunetely, when it arrived instead of being shades of purple and blue it turned out to be a swampy green colour. I didn’t have time to return it so I did my best with what I had.
It took me around four hours to get the scarf finished, I forgot what a lengthy process it was! I’m still not too happy about the seaweed-like colour but I’m pretty chuffed that I managed to finish the scarf without it falling to pieces. Once I get some better colours I’ll have a go at making another.
I also knit these little hearts from a pattern by Mochimochi to decorate the gift bag:
Happy Birthday, Mum!
half-way post.
It’s been a busy month what with starting a new job, finishing the banner making workshops, starting a new project with Vegan by Nature and finding out that my membership application for Glasgow Craft Mafia has been accepted.
I have a lot to write about but not a lot of time to write it in. I’m aiming to have you updated by the end of the day, but in the meantime here are some photos.
I’ve been working on the Fiesta tea set pattern created by Annie Modesitt. I’d tried this pattern out earlier this year for Rachel and I’s first stall at Maker Faire but I really struggled with it. I decided to give it another go as it is a great way to learn many different styles of knitting on a small scale before moving on to a larger project.
I’ll post more pictures when I’m finished.
Sherbet Head 