Quick Knits and Why I Love Them

6.5mm (size 10.5 US) needles rock! This knitted up sooo quickly and gave me a nice diversion from the intense concentration of cabley jumper, which I am now keen to get in to again.

Hmm, knitting scarves again reminds me that I haven't made myself a flamey scarf yet. So many projects...

And in more knitting news...

I finally succeeded in getting a boye needle master set on ebay. Yay for anodisey aluminium. I really got them because my beloved Denise set start at size 5 US and these start at size 2, so no more going out and buying small needles to finish off neckbands. Smaller needles are needed for vinatage and lacey things too, sometimes. Plus, anodisey! I don't like metal needles as a rule, but if it means I have the size I need when I need it, I'll be happy. Plus, anodisey! (By the way, check out the awesome skull afghan on this page. Woah)
And what I'm making with the Vintage Hues wool? Why a mini clapotis of course!

Vintage Hues

So I was in Spotlight see, and I sees this.

Um, I know it's cleckheaton again! Go figure!

Anyways, I says to myself I says, "just the thing to be fake busy with so I can avoid knitting on my cabley jumper which I will finish, but it will take some time because it's not TV knitting friendly and you know, I watches a lot of TV."

Can you guess what I'm knitting? Here's a big clue:

Now a knit blog!

Muwahahahaha! While you have been unable to sew and post, this blog has been boarded by pirates and is now a knit blog! Except I don't have any cats so I can't be a true knitblogger.

As you may be aware, I'm making 'Calista's Alexander McQueen knock-off sweater'. This is my progress so far. (I'm not putting the flowers on by the way). Needs a ruddy good blocking. I have done the ribbing on the second bodice piece, and there's still a long slog to go, so plenty of time to think about blocking.

On a bit of a knitting jag, must be the cooler weather. Although it has been very warm the last few days, I know it's just foxing and I will be unable to leave the house in a frock for months soon.

Cracklin' Rosie

Done! Rosie, using Dogwood Donna from spring Knitscene magazine with my own modifications. I used Cleckheaton 12 ply (I know. Cleckheaton. But I was desperate to knit and it was the only light grey in the approximate gauge. It is not too scratchy to wear, for which I am thankful.)
The rose is duplicate stitched from a chart in Vogue Knitting International's most recent winter issue.
I didn't do the ribbed neckline on this version, I thought I'd try single crochet edging, and I liked it! That saved the hassle of picking up stitches and having a higher and potentially-horribly-scratchy-on-my-neck-ribbed-crew-neck.
Yay, much quicker too, so I can wear it out tonight!
(Oh and I have woven in all the ends. Those are the woody stems of my chilean jasmine coming out of my left armpit.)

shpotty

How much do I like simple patterns? A whole lot, so for your delictation I present an easy pattern:


And how cute is she? Black and white coin spot cotton from Spotlight, with some of the cute elastic ruffle trim from the Vietnamese shop on Smith St (how I love you, supplier of trims). Super easy and mighty cute.

There is no zip, and I left out the back tie, as I will wear her with a wide belt, or my underbust corset (which is what I made her for - mine is plain black though)
or a pinafore.

Flippy

I had a longing for a skirt with some back interest. I found a pattern.

I bought some satin-backed crepe, but not enough. I have a stash. It all came together (that satin-backed crepe will have to live life as something else).

It's not easy to convey back interest in a photo, especially when you are taking it yourself with the camera balanced on an ironing board...

Dresscode: Denim

...and yet still I manage to dress to the nines.
Empire line dress with sash, from vintage McCall's pattern, in stretch black denim. This was a muslin for a grey stretch wool version, but does the story need re-telling? I'm imagining it as a super dressy frock to wear to a wedding or formal occasion in chocolate stretch silk perhaps?

Not copying you, not at all...

It's smaller leopard print for a start. And it has a sash. It's not the same!

Oh well, maybe it is. I like the sash, it gives it a certain sofisty-kashun.

2B pencil

A bit difficult to tell, but this is a different pencil/straight skirt in a wool/poly/elastane blend in a dark charcoal-y colour. Drapes very nicely indeed. I put in an invisible zipper using this tutorial. Not absolutely perfect, but the main issssew was not being able to press the zipper teeth and tape properly flat, they kept popping up again making it a bit time consuming.

Good old new look 6843. View B, no slit this time.

The green wiggle

Seem sort of familiar? Hmmm?

But they're not the same! I kept the sweetheart neckline! I think I prefer your V neck though. She is very comfortable what with the stretch and all.

I really should come up with some more dynamic poses.

Catherine Deneuve, ca 1967

I wish! I'm happy with the buttons and she is much more glam when worn with fishnets and high boots, as I did this evening.

Made using this McCalls pattern. Size 8 worked well, it's still big enough to wear over a frock as a coat.