Bella Mia

Look how great my Bella Mia turned out! I am totally thrilled with it - and my wee girl is quite taken with the pockets.

The little old buttons are just perfect aren't they? And, the tutorial suggested for sewing on the pockets was superb - mattress stitching gives a very slick finish. I'm definitely doing that again.

This was a really enjoyable knit. The design is a classic and has really lovely details. The pattern covers a 19" to 28" chest - that's about 12 months to 10 years - and includes instructions for fingering weight (like mine) or worsted weight (heavier). I can see myself knitting it again, and again... I especially love this lightweight version, it's going to be so useful, and so much prettier than a sweatshirt!

Of course, my yarn made the whole experience super supremely pleasurable! If you haven't tried Fyberspates, do. It is gorgeous yarn. You could dive into the colours - well, I could. I'm in love with this semi-solid but their solids are pretty jolly lovely too. Remember my Wispi? That's Fyberspates too - brilliant gold lace weight (I'm going to get cracking on that now, I'd like to wear some of this yarn myself).

My Bella Mia is on my Ravelry page here, the pattern can be found here and yarn (Sheila's Sock in Damson) here. Happy knitting!

Hello Yellow! Skirt

I'm sorry to go on and and on about the weather, but you know, this is England... Anyway, it's still been gloomy and in desperation, I issued a challenge to the sun by making an electric yellow skirt. A skirt that can't help but make you feel good.

I'm loving this 70's throw-back look. Big, bold, unashamed blocks of colour, round pockets, big belt loops, red top-stitching and a long A-line cut.

Like my tea party skirt, the fabric is from Ray Stitch. The yellow is a Klona woven cotton, in the Corn Yellow colourway and I'm pleased that it's made right here in the UK. The funky red, white and blue patterned trim is also cotton, it's called Red Grid and is from the Pinelope range by Anna Griffin. 

I've used the same pattern as for my tea party skirt, Simplicity 2152. If it's not recognisable as such, it's no wonder. I adapted it pretty significantly. I used the same yoke because I was so pleased with the fit of my other skirt, but cut out the front and back without the panels. To do that I lay the front panel pieces side by side, overlapping them at the top so they were the same width as the yoke piece and gently tapering them away from each other towards the bottom. I cut round them as if they were one piece. I did the same with the back and made both longer.

I'm super proud of the pockets. They're patch pockets, although sewn into the side seams, and they're lined with the red print and top stitched. I drew the general shape I wanted onto baking paper and then cut it out in the yellow and the print. Then I sewed the right sides of the fabric together along the curved edges, sandwiching the piping between them on the longer curve. I found a great tutorial for flat piping here. Once turned right sides out and gently pressed, the round, lined pocket was ready to sew onto the skirt front. When the front and back were sewed together, the sides of the pocket are secured in place. The second pocket is a mirror image of the first.

The zip is a cheery red that peeps out at the back and I've lined the yoke with the red pattern. I found a great idea for the zip here. Instead of lining it up at the top of the yoke, I overlapped it a bit, zipped it right up, and so avoided getting a wiggly stitching line around the fastening part. I then zipped it down, folded the top of the zip down and now it's neatly encased in the yoke.

The tie just makes it I think - it was Zoë's idea! I showed her the skirt semi-completed and wondered out loud what it seemed to need ... something else ... "A belt" she said. And it was, though perhaps not the belt she had in mind. I attached belt loops to the yoke before I added the lining so there's no visible stitching inside and made the tie from lengths of the red print cut on the cross. It has a sliding tie knot to move it up and down so I don't have to undo it to take my skirt on and off.

And, you won't believe it! Today it was warm and the sun shone :) The only thing left to do is paint my toe nails ...

Knitting Down Under

Remember, a couple of weeks ago, I was all in a tizz about what to knit next? Well, it's funny how things work out. I've had a complete turnaround and am now casting on like there's no tomorrow! By sheer coincidence, the three things on my needles (not including my long-suffering Wispy Cardi) were all designed down-under. Two by New Zealand designers and one by an Australian. And, I'm loving them all.

Bella Mia by Sarah Ronchetti (image used with permission)

The first is very nearly finished. It is the newly released Bella Mia by Sarah Ronchetti. That's her sweet daughter in the photo above. I've been enjoying Sarah's blog and her new designs for a while now and when she asked her readers to suggest names for this pattern I was thrilled when she used a variety of a name I'd suggested! I was even more thrilled when she gifted me the pattern as a thank you! Did you know you can do that on Ravelry? I didn't, isn't it a cool idea?!
  

The pattern comes as an e-book, with instructions to knit it in two weights; fingering (4ply) and worsted. My wee Tess needs a light-weight sweater, so I've decided to go with the fingering version. Alas, I didn't have anything in my stash that would work, so I had to buy some totally divine Fyberspates Sheila's Sock in the Damson colourway. Oh my goodness, I am so in love with this yarn! It is 100% Merino, high twisted, hand-painted yarn, and look at that colour! It has knitted up beautifully and I have totally loved every stitch.

Bella Mia has five buttons, three on the shoulder and one on each of the pockets, and these vintage beauties from my button hoard will be perfect. I am rather wishing this sweater was for me! The pattern has been a pleasure to follow. I've not made any changes. It is seamless, knitted from the top and the details on the shoulder, side "seams" and down the raglan increases are just lovely. Just a sleeve and pockets to go.... 

Everyday Cardigan by Mel Clark (image used with permission - copyright Helen Bankers)

The next thing I cast on was the Everyday Cardigan by Mel Clark. Isn't it fab?! You can wear it open or closed. I am knitting it with my cousin Rach and my sister Suse, as a tiny family kal. They are both in New Zealand so we have to chat about our progress by email. Rach has raced away with hers and left Suse and I in the dust. She is using the yarn recommended by the pattern, 220 yarn by Cascade Yarns, in a beautiful celery colourway. Yum. Suse thought she had yarn, but it was too heavy, so is getting some more.... Come on Suse! You can catch up, I have only done this much .....

Hmmmm.... not much! The cardigan is seamless and knit from the bottom. Rach is onto ribbing for a sleeve already! It sounds fun, twisted purl stitches...

The Everyday Cardigan has a gauge of 22 stitches over 4" and I've found some Rowan Purelife British Sheepbreeds in my stash. It's the undyed wool of Jacob sheep and I'm loving the tweedy effect. I think it will be a great casual cardy and I found some wonderful handmade, hand painted, clay buttons when we were away the other weekend. One of these should look fantastic on the front. I'm a loose knitter so I'm using 3.75mm needles to get gauge and crossing my fingers I've got enough yarn. I got this on sale, I'm not even sure I can get any more.....

And, the reason I haven't made more progress on my cardigan is because I cast on that lovely navy and pink yoke above. It's terribly addictive to knit and this was an evening's work. It's going to be a Milo, that famous pattern by Georgie Hallam. Today, there are 4177 Milo's on Ravelry! I have been meaning to knit one for ages and decided to do it when I heard it was Milo May - basically, make a Milo during May. Initially, I was dubious that I'd get it done by the end of the month, but after my progress last night, I'm more optimistic. Especially if I can't put it down!

This pattern is a great stash buster and that makes me happy. I've used some ancient NZ navy Red Heart wool (can you even get it anymore?) together with a lonely ball of coral/pink Caressa, which seems to be discontinued. The garter stripes are looking awesome - it's only little, another 21" chest for Tess, and will be super pretty I think. My other girls agree and have already put in requests for their own Milos too :) I'm planning on doing an owl cable down the front, there are about six cables in the pattern to choose from, and finish it off with some little button eyes.

So that's what's on my needles. I am really enjoying having a couple of projects on the go, starting new ones as others get close to being finished. Some big, some small. I just NEED a couple more project bags to cope with all these wip's ... I'm thinking another couple of box bags... Have you made yours yet?