Friday Randomly Sharing

Happy Friday everyone! Welcome to FRS where I share what has caught my eye recently - but where you could also share what was interest to you - so please make full use of the comment box!

So here is what I put on my notebook this week ... 

- Une Poule a petits pas has released her new pattern - Jean Paul - a V-neck jumper, oversized as is her style. I really like the depth of the V-neck, and it could be so cozy in the right yarn - and she uses 8mm needles, whoohoo! Her patterns are usually quite easy to follow (but in French). Maybe not for now, but I may come back to it in a couple of months. 

- Kat of Slugs on the Refrigerator has a new cardigan pattern out. Kat is Master Crochet - and this cardigan includes a Cabled Crochet section. Apparently, you can crochet cables, did you know? I certainly did not... and therefore I had to try her tutorial and make my own section. And here is the result. 

It works! And it did not even take me that long to work out! And it reminded me how much I liked to crochet, so I am hoping to get back into it soon. If you have some crochet notions, it is an interesting tutorial to follow - totally widened my perspective on what you can achieve with the hook. 

- I wanted desperately to try a fair isle project this year. It has not yet happened, and I thought that the Sundottir KAL organised by Fernfiber would be my prompt - but I just have too many WIPs at the moment to justify a new one. However if you are interested go and check Fernfiber and grab your pattern discount. 

- I love dreamcatchers - just the name is amazing - and I love this version. It is so beautiful! It is on my decoration list for the boys' room. If anyone makes one before I do, do let me know! 

- Tilly has a great post about tools you need to mark seam allowances. I am sure these would save me loads of time!

- Love this article by Magdalena: I Gave Up Processed Food For A Month, Here's What Happened

- I am very excited because plaid is back apparently (see here and here) - and I have some plaid fabric in my stash that I actually like - cannot wait to get it out and make something!

Previously discarded {knitting}

The are several reasons why I'd rather read blogs than magazines - besides the price of course! But one that stands out is the fact that bloggers are able to widen my horizon and capture where the problem might be with a pattern and how it could work. This is what happened with Nord. Of course, I am a Brooklyn Tweed aficionado and it was hard for me to even think that I could change a pattern, but Nord was not working for me - and I had even discarded it in my review of BT Winter Vol.14. 

Of course I was attracted by the cable work. And I cannot tell you exactly why, but it did not appeal to me whatsoever... Until I saw this version...

The oversized version by une poule a petits pas. Of course it was obvious, the v-neck sits better, the shape and the length are better. This is a jumper I want to own!

EDIT: if you are interested in knitting this version, here are the main changes:

- It is knitted in Cascade Eco Alpaga in Ecru (5 skeins)

- Knitted one size bigger than your usual size

- The armholes were changed as well: knitted straight, and the stitches are picked up and sleeves knitted in the round (so much easier!).

And this is why, although in theory I am not supposed to buy more yarn if I have not finished a project, there is yarn on its way... And I cannot wait to cast on. I just hope my version will be as wearable. I stopped at making a cream version as well, but the colour will not be that far from that... Such a copycat. As long as I get a jumper that I will wear! who cares! 

Pull Isa {Knitting}

If you follow me on facebook, you know that Pull Isa has been finished but that I had not had a chance to take pictures of it yet. It is too hot to wear at the moment, despite the mesh knitted fabric, but I will definitely wear it when it gets cooler. Which means ... drum roll please ... my first knitted top that is actually wearable. My first jumper (you can see it here on Ravelry) was definitely not wearable (I could pull my whole body through the neckline and that is not a good look). 

Pattern: Pull Isabel (French pattern here; my English translation  here, here and here)

Yarn: Spud & Chloe Sweater, in Chipmunk (4 skeins in the end)

Needles: 5 mm circular, and 5 mm DPNs for the sleeves. 

Modifications: it was a loose fitted jumper, and I made it into a tight fitted one. 

I kept the construction (more on modifications below)

Result: I cannot believe how good it looks, and how well it fits. The mesh knitted fabric is very forgiving of course, but my maths has actually paid off. I will follow that construction again for other summer knitted Tshirt/jumper. And I adore the neckline! 

Modifications:

I should mention that I spent time to knit a gauge for the required fit. And it is definitely worth doing it.

- CO 136 stitches
- the stockinette band on the side are 4 stitches wide. 
- the cable is 6 stitches wide.
So you get: at the front 7 repeats of the confetti stitch on each side of cable band, and at the back 15 repeats of the confetti stitch. You have to add the bands on the sides. 

The ribbing (all ribbing) is a repeat of *knit through the back loop, purl*

Body of the knit

- Ribbing for 15 rows
- set up row: start of row marker; k2; place marker (pm); k30; pm; k6; pm; k30; pm; k4; pm; k62; pm; k2
- You then start with the confetti stitch pattern
- the cable is knitted on 7 rows (knit on 6 rows, and twist on 7th row) 
- I knitted 87 rows before starting the sleeves increased as the pattern intended

For the rest of the knit I adapted the pattern to my number of stitches, whilst keeping the number of stitches to bind off for the neckline the same. 

I made the neckline side knitted parts longer (so it is 20 cm in total from the sleeves to the shoulders)

I added some side bands on the sleeves, and made the sleeves longer. 

Here are very boring pictures of Pull Isa. It will be styled one of this Saturdays, but I wanted to show you how it fits in this post. 

I would recommend using that yarn, it does not stretch as much as I thought it would in the end - which is why having the right number of stitches from the start and spending time on the maths is important - especially if you are going for a tighter version of the jumper. It is not a fitted knit, but it does follow your curves... 

You can find the pattern for the shorts on this post.

Linking up to Tami's today!

Pull Isa - the end {Knitting}

It is nearly a finish - the knitting part is finished. It is currently blocking and I will need to weave the ends before I can actually show it to you properly. It does fit now, but it is a bit too tight for comfort for me. I am blocking the confetti stitch will help here. It should do. 

I translated the pattern in 3 parts. You can find the translation of the body part here, and the back and front of the neckline here. 

So part III:

Neckline:

With your circular needle 5 mm, pick up stitches around the neckline as follows: 60 stitches for the front and 44 stitches for the back (104 for the whole neckline)

Mark the beginning of the row and knit 8 rows rib 1x1, bind off tightly.

Sleeves:

Around the armhole,use your circular needles 5 mm, pick up 54 stitches. Mark the beginning of the row, Working 6 cm of confetti stitch and 7 rows of ribbing 1x1, bind off loosely this time.

Finishes:

Be careful with the blocking, the confetti stitch stretches a lot, it is advised to block it flat and weave all the ends. 

I made a lot of modifications in the end. I did not use the raglan sleeves though, I did not think I would finish it. I am very pleased with the result - much more than what I expected. The blocking is definitely going to help as well. I will post about my modifications when I have better pictures to show you!

So day 2 and yes it is another finish! I am doing much better than I expected!

Linking up to Tamis and Ginny's (no reading though, focusing on these finishes) - it is a sort of WIP still.

Pull Isa - English Version Part II {Knitting}

Here is the second part of the translation - you can find the first part here. It took me a while to understand what I was supposed to do. So here is the translation of the French version - again this does not include my own changes or the interpretation of the pattern that I made - this will come later. 

The knit will now be separated into 2. You will knit the front first, leaving the stitches for the back on a stitch holder.

Worked on straight needles, so pay attention to even rows that are worked in reverse.

Front knit

You will need to understand the confetti stitch to make sure that the mesh pattern remains, as well as the middle twist. The front knit is now on 96 stitches.

Knit 2 rows ensuring the confetti stitch and the twist continue, and knitting 3 stitches at the beginning and end of row (small jersey stripes).

We will now create the neckline, as well as both sides of the neckline by knitting the sides separately:

k41 (following the confetti stitch), bind off the next 14 stitches, k41 (following the confetti stitch)

Knit the right side of the neckline, decreasing every other row: 2 stitches twice and 1 stitch twice.

You have 35 stitches on the needle. Continue to knit the side straight until it is 16cm from the end of the armhole increases.

Knit 2 rows in stockinette.

Put stitches on a stitch holder.

Knit the other side of the neck facing and also put 35 shoulder stitches on a stitch holder.

Upper back:

4 stitches at the beginning and at the end of the row are knitted in stockinette. 

You need to knit for 12 cm from the end of the armhole increases - respecting the confetti stitch.

You will now knit the back neckline. Next row:

k35 following the confetti stitch pattern, bind off the following 20 stitches, k35 following the confetti stitch pattern. 

Make a decrease every other row decreasing first of 2 stitches and of 1 stitch.

Knit one side of the neck back, continuing with the remaining stitches and following the confetti stitch pattern - up to 16 cm from the end of the armhole increases. 

Work 2 rows in stockinette.

Assemble one shoulder using the grafting method.

Knit the other side of the back neckline and grafting the shoulder as with the other side.

Part III will be the sleeves. 

Confetti stitch {Knitting}

Still working on the Pull Isa - I checked and the measurements should be ok - well I fit into it, it is fitted, but that is what I wanted, and blocking may help as well. 

Check out my new mug

I have a project (yes another one) on the go that involves pride and prejudice, and I thought it might an opportunity to actually read the book - and get better acquainted with Mr Darcy - and provide the best excuse to watch Colin Firth in a wet shirt - link here... 

I thought you might be interested in the confetti stitch - the perfect stitch for summer tops. 

Multiple of 4+2

Row 1: K1 *YO, K1, YO, SL 1, K2tog, PSSO* K1

Rows 2 and 4: Purl all stitches

Row 3: K1 *SL 1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K1, YO* K1

Repeat these four rows for the pattern. Easy right!

My laundry basket project is here. 

Joining the others over at Tami's and Ginny's. 

Isa {Knitting}

This has been a WIP for a long time. I started knitting the jumper when I was pregnant - and added a few stitches to take my growing belly into account. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago, and Mr MiH laughed at it - it was double my size. 

Back to the drawing board - I am making a less loose version than La Poule. After a lot of (probably bad) maths, I think I have the right number of stitches on my circular needles, and the ribbing is nearly finished - and then comes the confetti stitch! 

bookmark pattern here

 I am using exactly the same yarn as La Poule, it is the perfect sweater jumper yarn!

I am also wondering what to make with the leftover of Steel after Steel Snow...I am thinking making this necklace, a chunky version?

I am reading again! I got a few books back from France... so far the comic book is much more interesting... the book is proving a bit too romantic for a thriller.. 

Joining other WIPs at Tami's and Ginny'. You can find my quilting WIP here.