The finish line

Last autumn I started a new project at sewing/pattern course. On Tuesday we're having a "fashion show"with our group to show what we have done, not just this year, but over the time that we've been going to this course. I only started about 2 years ago, and have finished this dress and now I've been working on this coat (which felt like a never ending job), which is almost there, but not quite..

I've been trying to use as much recycled materials as possible. I've only bought new fabric for the lining and new buttons, because I didn't have enough similar buttons. Now I need to sew on the buttons, but need clear under buttons. So tonight, 2 days prior the fashion show I rummaged through my jars for 7 clear buttons which would be about the same size and shape, but was not able to find more than 2 that would be suitable. That was a good excuse to stop for the day. I'm quite excited, though, because I'm so close to finishing it. When I started making the pattern for the coat, I hoped to have the finished garment by the end of spring, but seeing how much there was to do I decided that my goal needs to be postponed for 6 months. If I'd have it ready for next Christmas, I'd be more than happy. But now it seems my first goal is in fact quite possible! Yay!

Something simple

After a sweater (still unfinished) and two beanies with cables I needed something brainless to knit. Simple stripes in simple socks. Yes, we've seen them, but let's admit, Mr. Noro knows his colour palette. No counting (other than changing the colour every 3 rows) required. A perfect conversation knit, that is. You know, what I mean? Even an engaging conversation wouldn't slow down the knitting.

And on top of that, this project inspired an 8-year-old boy start learning to knit. So, having a conversation with the mother I kept on knitting my sock and teaching her son how to knit on his short and colourful kids' needles. And, of course, keeping an eye on his little project, trying to help him avoid losing too many stitches. I think he did surprisingly well. And so did I - I'd left one of my needles home.. talk about brainless!

First one's finished. Then comes the most difficult part. Matching the colours for the other one.

Colour therapy

Lacy Baktus (Ravelry link) in lime green Drops Alpaca got cast on last night. It'll go off to Colombia when finished. I'm knitting it in double yarn.

In addition to knitting tonight I made something for baby O. I'll post more pictures when I get my previous sewings photographed, too.

Orange

That's the colour of the season.

On needles: 10days sweater (Ravelry link) by Suvi Simola

It might take a bit more than just 10 days to finish it..

Green

Green revolution is taking place outside.

I took on a new challenge, also in green:

Pomatomus by Cookie A.

Time will tell if I'll finish them by the time the green leaves turn yellow.

One more scarf and some lace

This scarf is a true traveller's scarf. It's travelled from Finland to Spain and back, then to Estonia and Latvia. I run out of yarn, but luckily found one more skein at home.. but it wasn't enough. There were just a few rows left and I had to use two short bits that had been cut off earlier. Even that wasn't enough. I didn't want to unravel half of the scarf just to make it a tiny bit shorter, so I sent an e-mail to the yarn shop Lumoava lanka. I was a bit worried, because I had found the yarn in a sale basket some months back in winter. They replied with good news: they had 18 grams left! So today I went to pick the yarn up and was finally able to finish my project. 

Thanks, Lumoava Lanka for your excellent service!!

 

Very basic triangle scarf

Yarn: SWTC - Karaoke (50% soysilk®, 50% wool)

New project: Lace shawl/scarf. First time knitting lace and the start was a pain. I had to unravel an redo the first rows (with 363 stiches) 4 times until I got the hang of it. Now struggling with nupps... But I won't give up.

It had to happen

First sock is done, the other one in progress.
Two weeks ago I would have not believed if you'd told me I'd knit socks out of thin yarn. Never say never. It's been fun knitting socks after so many years! And this yarn (Punta yarn meri sock) has such a nice feel to it that it's a pleasure to knit.

 And there's more to come on the sock front..

It was about to happen sooner or later - and in my case: sooner.
Noro yarns.
I couldn't resist any longer. Gotta love the colours!

No time to blog more.. Got some knitting to do!

What's next?

New yarn equals new projects evolving in my head. I'm thinking socks.

I haven't finished my previous projects but I think that I'm bit of a mood knitter who needs to have many ongoing projects to choose from. Big needles, small needles, double pointed needles, stripes, multicolor...

There's a christmas present still in progress.. maybe it'll be finished by next Christmas..
There's a cardigan for myself...
There's a baby sweater to Ethiopia...
There's...
...so many others. Maybe I'll get something finished, too.

Patterns

I started a pattern course in the autumn. I've never had any lessons in sewing after primary and secondary school. Ok, only evening classes for one year, but it was more about just having something done rather than learning anything new. 

This time I'm really learning a lot! We have a fantastic teacher who really knows what she's talking about. Last week I missed the course because of work and am really looking forward to go there again this week.

We started with drawing a base pattern with everyone's individual measurements. Boy, did that require a lot of measuring! And a lot of concentration to understand why each line was drawn where. It was not easy - and I've really been using and looking at a fare share of patterns in my life!

Then we made a test garment for fitting. Even before doing any adjustments it fitted better than any garment I've worn before. 

Trying to decide on what sort of garment to do was hard. But when I made my mind up on which fabric to use, the model was easily decided. Here's the first sketch.. which has already changed a bit..

Practicing on small scale:

Then in actual size (but no more practicing..):

And finally tonight I washed the fabric, which I received as a gift from Tanzania a few years back. It's printed cotton.

To be continued...

Coffee and Drops update

A while ago I started knitting Drops yarn. The purple project is nearly finished, I just need to buy new needles to finish it up. Meanwhile something else in progress... Will show the finished work later..

I've also made a bigger wallet out of a smaller recycled coffee bag.

The old coin purse is still in use for coins. It fits nicely inside the new one.

After buying some oranges I noticed that the prize tag had gotten stuck on my wallet. It doesn't come off.. But in a way it goes with the recycled look.

Valmisteluja -- Preparations

Siitä onkin jo aikaa, kun viimeksi ompelin jotain mainitsemisen arvoista. Sain tällä kertaa käsiini isomman palan kuin tyynyliinan tai lakanan: vanhan teltan!

Se oli repeillyt ja moneen kertaan paikattu ja vielä revennyt niin, että se jouti viettämään eläkepäiviä. Kuljetin telttavanhuksen mökin pihamaalle, jossa katselin ja kiertelin sitä miettien, miten siitä tulisi kassi. Leikkasin parhaat palat talteen mummun vanhoilla keritsimillä.

It's been a while... I've been sewing bits and pieces during summer, but now I got myself a bigger piece of fabric to repurpose: an old tent! 

Torn and worn, dusty and dirty it was. I took it to our holiday house in the countryside, laid it on the grass and pondered what to do with it. I knew it would become a bag, or maybe several, but which parts would best suit for the purpose.

I took out grandma's old shears - seemed the best tool for the old and tough fabric - and cut out the best parts.

Nyt teltanpalat on pesty. Pitää vielä saada pään sisällä oleva malli valmiiksi ja löytää aikaa toteutukselle. Pysykää kuulolla!

Now I've washed it and it's ready for the makeover. I just need to draw the model in my head ready and find some spare time to finalize my plans. 
Stay tuned!

Keskeneräinen -- Unfinished Business

Kaapistani löytyy useita keskeneräisiä käsitöitä - useimmat neuleita tai virkkaustöitä. Tämän keskeneräisyys harmittaa eniten. Muistaakseni kyseessä on Muhun villapaita. Aloitin paidan neulomisen ehkä n. 15 vuotta sitten. Mutta sitten tuli stoppi ja siihen jäi. 

En usko, että saan tätä koskaan valmiiksi villapaidaksi, koska sininen lanka on melkein lopussa ja tuskin löytyy enää samaa sävyä. Tämä on pyöröneuletta, liian lyhyt hameeksi. Mitä tästä voisi tehdä? Nyt olisi hyvät neuvot tarpeen!

I have several unfinished projects tucked away in my sewing room. Most of them knitting or crocheting projects. This is the one that bugs me the most. I started knitting this Estonian style sweater about 15 years ago, but stopped for some reason and that's the way it has stayed ever since. 

I don't think I'll ever finish it, mostly because I've used up almost all of the blue yarn and don't think I'd find more of the exact same shade. It's too short for a skirt. What can I do with it? I would't want to see all that hard work go to waste. Please, help me!