it's a bit like a bra

Little Miss Three is so pleased with her new shrug... "it's a bit like a bra" she exclaimed excitedly

The pattern was designed by Rebecca Webster who is a fellow Woolaholic. It is her first design, and she has done a gorgeous job. Congratulations Bec!



Would you be surprised to hear that I didn't strictly follow the pattern? Of course not... you know me better than that by now!

My yarn choice was of course recycled wool. The pattern called for aran weight merino. I used one strand of DK wool in a dark pink, and knit it together with assortments from my scrap yarn basket. None of it was as fancy as merino, but it was all 100% wool.

I worked the main part of the shrug according to the pattern, omitting the picot edging and the ties. I then crocheted a picot edging all the way around the shrug, and also the sleeves... and crocheted the tie.

To be honest, the fit isn't fabulous on my daughter. I plan to make another one and next time I will work with about 10 stitches less across the back. As is, it seems to be loose in the body, but snug in the sleeves. If you look photograph of the garment on it's own, you can see that there should be a reasonable space between the left and right fronts. Does that make sense? But when my daughter is wearing the shrug, it pulls in tighter at the ties, which seems to make the neck then go a bit gapey. It might be due to my yarn choice since I wasn't using that recommended. And I'm a naughty knitter who doesn't check her gauge. Which is probably why I don't knit garments very often.

Overall... I love it. Little Miss Three loves it. I will definitely make another one.

And did I mention QUICK? Finished in an afternoon. Perfect project for me, since there is no time to get bored!

crochet flower bag

I recently received a donation of knitting books from my mum. She declared that she no longer had any use for them, which I found kind of sad. I just can't imagine ever reaching a point in my life where I say... no more knitting for me.

The box of books is really a box of memories for me. Full of those patterns I gazed upon as a child learning to knit. Memories of clothing I actually wore. Clothing I longed to make.

Most of them aren't even pattern books really. They are pull-out sections from womens magazines... from the early 70s. So much of the magazine was devoted to home crafts in those days.

I love looking through those pages. Not so much looking for a pattern to use, but more for inspiration and ideas.

Anyway, I recently came across an afghan made of beautiful flower motifs. I decided to use the motif as the centrepiece for this cotton bag. It's just a basic shopping bag... a bit fancier than the usual string variety, but just as stretchy! I made it for a swap I am participating in.

Of course I have used reclaimed cotton... is there any other kind?



My swap partner has a little girl, and I know how much little girls love handbags. So tonight I will sit down with some leftover cotton and see what I can whip up for her. Then tomorrow I can head to the post office... well before the swap deadline! yay