For the love of peplum

'Cove' has been knitted at super speed, not intentionally but it just happened, a lot to do with it is that it's knitted in Rowan Creative Linen, yarn which I'm slightly in love with and always seem to knit with it very quick. 'Cove’ is designed by Grace Melville and it's from Rowan magazine 55 

 Original 'Cove'

I made quite few changes to the jumper from original pattern. First being the yarn, I have used Rowan Creative Linen (which I had in my stash) instead Rowan Softknit Cotton and Summerspun, as suggested in the pattern. 

Creative linen is 50% linen and 50% cotton, it’s wonderfully raw , has a great drape but it lacks bounce, due to that I decided to make the jumper a size smaller than the size I would usually make.

The next change were the sleeves; I prefer three quarter length or cup, and the sleeves in the pattern were just a bit too in between.  I didn't make any great calculations or difficult adjustments, just cast on with 3.75mm needles number of stitches that were at the widest point of the sleeve (in my case 61). I knitted 2 x 2 rib for 13 rows using only single colour. Then I continued in sequence until sleeve measured 26 cm and finished shaping of armhole as in the pattern.

The body of the jumper (from armhole shaping to peplum) is longer as well, again no particular shaping, apart from the one stated in pattern after which I  just knitted straight until 24 cm or two repeats of stripe sequence.

 My version

 The pattern suggested knitting the peplum separately and sewing it on, I  joined back and front pieces together and picked up 182 stitches with circular needles all along the cast on row, then increased on every other stitch (273 stitches). Too be honest I should have increased on every stitch, as I would have liked for the peplum to flare out lot more, but I wouldn't have had enough yarn and as I was using yarn from stash, to buy more would have defeated the point of downsizing my mountain of yarn . The peplum is finished off using lace cast off, for a nice stretchy edge. 

I’m extremely happy with how ‘Cove’ came out, even though the colours are not really my first choice, I always go for greens, reds, pinks , but it’s nice to have  change with a bit of lilac.

Anna x

A bit of everything...

It has been a week of Country Living Fair. I never attended one of their fairs 

before and what a surprise! Just amazing! It was held in BDC in Highbury and

Islington, a very beautiful centre, very clean and well maintained.

Every stall was better than the other, you had kitch, vintage, crafty, French to

English kitchen all very, very country Darling…….. Totally worth a visit.

I was there with The Creative Sanctuary team and their lovely stall, selling kits by all their tutors (including me of course).

The best part for me was my crochet class; I thought 31 ladies and 1 gentleman to crochet a flower in 60 min! I never thought a class of this size in such a short amount of time and it was the most fantastic experience!  I had a microphone (felt a bit like Madonna, just a shame didn’t get any semi - naked dancers) I was also being filmed. I was so nervous that at first my hands couldn’t stop shaking but as soon as I got into the swing of things everything went swimmingly, my class went away with lovely little crocheted flowers and I even got applause at the end.

A pattern for one of my favourite corsages that I ever designed is in this month’s SimplyHomemade magazine (issue 41). I absolutely adore to accessorise and have created many items to add certain oomph to my outfits. You can wear the most boring dress but add a corsage or collar in a bright colour and the whole look is instantly lifted. This corsage is one of my best loved ones, as its big, bright and instant statement maker. The flower is crocheted in the lovey Rowan Kidsilk Haze (photo in Candy Girl sh.606) and leaf knitted (photo in Jelly sh.597). 

‘Angelite’ is finished!! It took me a while but I did it! The design is by Martin Storey from Truesilk Collection and is knitted using Rowan Truesilk. The yarn is brand new addition to Rowan’s yarn family and is 100% Mulberry Silk. It was just amazing to work with; quite slippery so wooden needles are a must. It was also prone to slight snags, which to be honest did not bother me at all as they were so slight and did not spoil the look of the garment.  

 I have knitted the jumper 5cm shorter than the pattern stated as I wanted it to sit better on my waist. Being a larger lady I must make the most of what featured I have and enhancing my waist just makes me look and feel better.

 I usually knit or crochet cropped or very long cardigans, shrugs, and shawls as those are what I look best in. I tend to stay away from jumpers as they never suited me, but I have to say that ‘Angelite’ is a very pleasant surprise and I’m very happy how she has turned out.  In light of my newly discovered love for jumpers next of my list is ‘Cove’ by Grace Melville from Rowan mag 55, I’ll change the yarn from recommended to Rowan Creative Linen and make the peplum more gathered. 

Anna x

Happy ( not quite yet) Valentines....

I'm sure you all have noticed that Valentines day is almost here.....and if you haven't, have you been living under a rock?? Everywhere you go everything screams Valentines!! All the cynics out there keep saying that it is a silly holiday invented by card making companies, ehhh so what?, we have a day for everything these days why not for love?

For the past 10 years February has been a very difficult month for me for personal reasons and I would avoid it at all costs if I could, and this year is no different. So in an attempt to cheer up my self and others around me I have designed this lovely ring/brooch.
It is very simply to crochet, you can make it as big as you want. You can make plenty of them and cover yourself in them, or you can give it to someone who's feeling a bit down....spread the love a bit :)

All you will need is some Rowan Kidsilk Haze or Debbie Bliss Angel. You will hold the yarn DOUBLE through out, I usually take a strand from the outside of the ball and one from the inside, you will need to rummage a bit to find it, but to be honest any scraps of DK yarn will do.
I have chosen three colours but you can make each heart in one colour, after all it will be your heart you must make it as individual as you like
3.5mm (US E/4)
14 x medium 5mm beeds (again, any would do)
Ring base if you would like to make it into a ring or brooch back if you want to wear your heart as a brooch.

Abbreviations
ss - slip stitch
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
ch-sp - chain space
htr (US hdc) - half treble (US - half double crochet)

Large heart
With 3,5mm (US E/4) and yarn held DOUBLE chain 13.
Round 1. 3 htr into 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr into next 4 ch, miss next 2 ch, 1 htr into next 4 ch, 3 htr into next chain, work each chain on opposite side of foundation chains, 1 htr into each of next 4 ch [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 4 ch, ss to begining of round.
Round 2. ch 2 (counts as 1 htr),1 htr into base of 2 ch, 2 htr into next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 3 htr, miss next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 3 htr, 2 htr into next 3 htr, 1 htr into next 5 htr, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 5 htr, ss to to beginning of round.
Fasten off

Medium heart
With 3,5mm (US E/4) and yarn held DOUBLE chain 11.
Round 1. 3 htr into 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr into next 3 ch, miss next 2 ch, 1 htr into next 3 ch, 3 htr into next ch, work each chain on opposite side of foundation chains, 1 htr into each of next 3 ch [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 3 chain, ss to begining of round.
Round 2. ch 2 (counts as 1 htr),1 htr into base of 2 ch, 2 htr into next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 2 htr, miss next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 2 htr, 2 htr into next 3 htr, 1 htr into next 4 htr, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 4 htr, ss to to beginning of round.
Fasten off

Small heart
With 3,5mm (US E/4) and yarn held DOUBLE chain 7.
Round 1. 3 htr into 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr into next st, miss next 2 chains, 1 htr into next st, 3 htr into next chain, work each chain on opposite side of foundation chains, 1 htr into next chain, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next chain, ss to begining of round.
Round 2. ch 2 (counts as 1 htr),1 htr into base of 2 ch, 2 htr into next 2 htr, 1 htr into next htr, miss next 2 htr, 1 htr into next htr, 2 htr into next 3 htr, 1 htr into next 2 htr, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next space, 1 htr into next 2 htr, ss to to beginning of round.
Fasten off

Join hearts together by placing them on top of each other and sew in place. Attach beads to the smallest heart by sewing them in place.

You can make the hearts bigger by chaining more chains and crocheting additional half trebles, the number of chains should go up by two, so from the biggest one, the next one up would be 15 chain, 17, 19, 21 and so on. If you are making more chains you will have to add rows as well.

Enjoy

Anna x

Spring is here......

Well not really but Rowan's new Spring/ Summer collection is, which is as good as! 

It's been pretty manic last few days and only now I have a chance to fully absorb the new collection. I had the pleasure to preview it a good few weeks ago and I have been anticipating getting the chance to finally look through the new designs and touch all the yummy new yarns. 

The magazine #55 is packed full of great designs and articles. As always divided into three sections: clarity, legacy and essential. 

Clarity - is full of delicate and very feminine designs. Taken inspiration from contemporary lace and Irish crochet making. Followed by fantastic article about history of Irish crochet lace. 

Legacy - colourful collection with plenty of texture. Inspiration taken from old Islamic and Moorish tile art.

Essential - very playful, bursting with colour and full of stripes. I love Cove, knitted in softknit cotton and summerspun. 

 Also, fantastic article about Knitting and Crochet Guild and exclusive online only collection by Kaffe Fassett in the lush Summer Tweed, Estonia is just stunning! 

The one brochure from the new collection that stood out for me the most is Martin Storey’s truesilk collection, it's got my name allllllll over it! The whole brochure is just beautiful, the model, the photography, styling and most importantly the designs! I've already chosen 5 that will just have to be knitted; I’m starting with Angelite in lovely, rich pink colour called bliss.

Truesilk is absolutely scrummy. Made with 100% mulberry silk, it has a lovely sheen and very good drape. Quite pricey but good quality silk is never going to be cheap.

Second on my list is pure linen and this is a lovely little number. It has a very interesting gathered back.

I'm going to knit it in a smaller size then I usually would, purely because I want it to be more fitted. I love the design and shape, but more fitted tops look better on me.
Pure linen possesses lovely raw quality, gorgeous slight sheen, quite tough to touch but after washing it really takes shape.

The truth be told I really shouldn't think about new projects as I still have 2 on my needles that need to be finished, but the wonderful thing about starting new year is just that starting a new, and what better way to cheer up gloomy January than planning a brand new year of making!?

Apart from running around like mad trying to sort out new season, new workshops and project I've been also working with the lovely people from 'Simply Homemade' magazine on some very exciting stuff! I can't reveal much more then that at the moment but hopefully you will be able to see soon :)

Anna x

'Autumn' mini collection.....

My 'Autumn' mini collection is here!! It consists of three designs; fingerless gloves 'Elm', shawl 'Laurel' and bag 'Cassia'. I've lovingly designed each item to represent autumn.

Autumn has always been my favorite season not only because it is my birth season and the air is fresh and crisp, but also by the stunning colours that nature produces. I wanted to capture the changing of the season in my design.  Each piece pays homage to autumn with leafy designs and colours that capture the seasons hue.

The collection took a lot longer to make and put together then I originally anticipated, purely because my partner Dave and I do everything. I design, knit the pieces and write the patterns while Dave puts it all together to look fab. Photographs are a joined effort I choose the settings and model (if you can call it that lol) and Dave takes the photos. Both of us are not professional photographers but we do what we can with the camera we've got. And of course we both have full time jobs so everything takes a lot longer.

 'Laurel' shawl

I'm soooo pleased with how it all come out, I really love every single design, especially 'Laurel' shawl with her simple body and burst of colour and lace at the bottom. 'Elm' gloves are just adorable with their leafy lace all over, they are super warm yet delicate. And of course 'Cassia' was a lot of fun to design and make, I love working with colour and always adored drawing charts. The inspirations for the bag came from cotton flower, not very autumny, but the colours are just perfect to represent autumn.

'Cassia' bag

'Elm' gloves

 Hope you enjoy knitting the pieces from my collection and love them as much as I do.

Anna x