Hesadevil's Knitting Blog

Houndstooth Runner

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Mon, 02 Apr 2018 15:14:00 +0000

I finally got round to hemming the houndstooth weaving.

It was designed with the Edwardian bookcase in mind, and I was very pleased that, after hemming, it was the perfect length.

I didn't take the risk of machine hemming; the machine has been out of action for far too long. I hand-stitched two parallel rows of small stitches at each end, cut off the fringes, and wet blocked the fabric, before finishing with a double wonderweb hem.

Silk Gloves and socks for Winter Olympics

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:24:00 +0000

I've already knitted silk fingerless gloves for three people, it was about time I had a pair of my own.

I decided to enter these

into Ravelry's Mitten Moguls event at Ravellinics 2018.

The first glove (pictured above, was finished very quickly. Unfortunately, I was laid low with a nasty virus and was worried I wouldn't finish the second by the end of the Winter Olympics. I rushed through the second glove, made loads of mistakes, and ended up with a less-than perfect pair.

I've completed one of MWNN's socks and have no intention of rushing through the fairly comlicated pattern again, for the second one for the Sunday deadline of the WIPevent.

You ain't nothing but a hounds-tooth

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 17:58:00 +0000

Weaving Course - Session 4, 8th Feb. 2018

It was important that I had finished the weaving of the houndstooth runner and taken it off the loom.

I managed that on the 7th of Feb. It will need hemming so that it can sit on top of the oak, Edwardian bookcase.

I could now use Session 4 of the weaving course to learn how to use the back of my 24" Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom as a warping board.

This warping board was new to my Tutor, Amy, and it was quite a learning curve for both of us to work out how to space the pegs.

The idea is to create enough lengths of yarn to warp 36" (with a little extra for 'wasteage' i.e. fringe ends). For a 10 dent heddle (10 strands per inch), I would need to wind around the pegs 180 times.

To make counting easier, I had to tie off the left hand peg's crossover point in bundles or ten, as I worked.

Tutor, Amy, tying off the warp for removal

When 180 winds had been completed (or in my case, when the yarn ran out - I lost count a couple of times so have no idea how many I'd done in total), the yarn is tied at various points to stop it tangling. Then the whole lot is removed from the pegs and turned into a sort of twisted rope to keep it all together.

Now I have the warp ready for the beginning of Course 2. I will attempt a cushion cover for 18"x18" pad.

Posh Yarn, Robyn

The dark blue warp yarn is 4ply Posh Yarn. For the weft, I will be using a variegated 2ply yarn in 100% mulberry silk.

Weaving 18" wide will be quite a challenge. The hounds-tooth is the widest I've woven, and it's only half that width.

Irish Fingerless Gloves

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 17:40:00 +0000

Silk fingerless gloves for another Irishman.

I knitted these in response to a request from my Sis-in-Law .

She liked the ones I made for MWNN.

They're knitted in 100% silk (Posh Robyn 4ply) in a jewel-coloured emerald called "When the Birds of Eden Sang".

Weaving Course,

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 16:20:00 +0000

run by Amy of Liliane Design Studio

Session 1 - 18th January 2018

I learned a lot about different looms,

began to understand how multiple shafts work,

had a go at stripes, and discovered, at first hand, the downside of taking the weft up the side when changing colours (those right-hand threads need cutting and weaving in, rather than carrying all 4 colours up the side),

and was impressed by the evidence of many years of experience in the exhibits

and samples around the room.

After the session, I popped into the guild meeting to collect my membership card. There I met this fabulous bear

and took a picture of Hilary's lovely, woven, plaid shawl. Note the V-shape at the top of the shawl as well as the bottom

Silk for MWNN

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 18:14:00 +0000

My final pair of Christmas silk gloves was for MWNN. He suffers from cold hands and I know that silk will both warm and sooth.

Robynn Sock

by Posh Yarn

Fingering / 4 ply

100% Silk

402 meters / 100 grams

Colour: East Of The Universe And North Of A Snowbound Star

Silk Fingerless Gloves

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 17:31:00 +0000

Knitted in Posh Yarn

Just in time for Christmas

Purple Silk

Natasha Sock

by Posh Yarn

Fingering / 4 ply

50% Camel, 50% Silk

402 meters / 100 grams

Colour: Some Thrills I can't Define

Cuff:

Esther DK

by Posh Yarn

DK / 8 ply

75% Merino, 20% Silk, 5% Stellina

Colour: The Crazy Kind of Love, The Kind You Can’t Explain

Pink silk

Robynn Sock

by Posh Yarn

Fingering / 4 ply

100% Silk

402 meters / 100 grams

Colour: You Belong Among The Wildflowers

Cuff:

Esther DK

by Posh Yarn

DK / 8 ply

75% Merino, 20% Silk, 5% Stellina

Colour: The Crazy Kind of Love, The Kind You Can’t Explain

I have just enough yarn for a purple cuff/pink silk (Malabrigio) pair

Well, that's a nice surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 22:36:00 +0000

The Festiwool Bag-Along on Ravelry

I entered this Evening Bag version of Petite Patricia.

I never expected to win anything, so th message in my Ravelry inbox was a lovely surprise.

New Venture - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 11:49:00 +0000

I have opened an Etsy Shop, Posh Knits by Patricia. I am still learning my way around, particularly the legal and financial settings.

I have no items listed yet, each listing costs 20p for 4 months (or until sold) . That doesn't sound a lot but I have about 10 items for sale and haven't sorted out all the images, descriptions, prices, or shipping costs yet.

I am making custom knitted items available but working out just how much time would be needed to make certain items is defeating me at the moment.

I have one order for a sparkly bag for as a Christmas gift, and need to concentrate on that before launching a fully-stocked shop.

I'm still not sure that this will ever 'go live' as the market for hand-crafted bags is a bit saturated.

Remembrance poppies

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 22:29:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who knitted poppies - for the display and for sale.

Thanks to JP Asher for this report in The Comet 24, on Monday..

Some of the Hitchin Stitchin' members who contributed poppies to the Armistice Day display at Festiwool (L-R) Philippa Gregory, Patricia Harris, Pam Coxon, Alicia Hammond and Hillary Ide. Picture: Mia Beskeen

The display at Festiwool, held this year at The Priory School, comprised 99 poppies, each representing one of the 99 Hitchin troopers killed in 1917.

The Hitchin Stitchin' Remembrance Day display of 99 red poppies at Festiwool. Picture: Mia Beskeen

The exhibit was particularly apt, as the festival for lovers of textile art, sewing, knitting and crochet, was held on Armistice Day.

Patricia Harris, one of the Hitchin Stitchin’ team behind the display, told the Comet: “We have a museum that hasn’t been open for four years, so people haven’t had a chance to pay their respects – and 1917 is the year of Passchendaele.We decided to make poppies for them, and because this was on Armistice Day, we made it into a display.”

Festiwool chief Philippa Gregory said the new venue at the school had been a great success, with 850 people in – and that she hoped it would be even bigger next year.

New Venture

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 12:42:00 +0000

Having completed eight little bags, tweaked the pattern and had a test knitter from Posh Yarns group on Ravelry, I am ready to release it into the wild.

Helen, of Woolly Chic, will offer the pattern for sale from her stall at Festiwool 2017, with a choice of yarns and handles.

In the meantime, you can view the info on Ravelry

My thanks to Catherine, who completed the test knit in less than four days, using Drops Cotton Light and Drops Paris.

The pattern is written as a seamless knit, including an inner lining.

Despite this, Catherine found it a very quick project, and very well written.

I will be selling some completed bags, in a variety of luxury yarns, at Festiwool 2017. Custom-knit versions will be available for order.

This has been an exciting project for me. I have enjoyed it very much. I can almost knit a bag in my sleep.

Evening Bag II

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 10:21:00 +0000

I couldn't resist this stunning Posh Yarn, so decided a second evening bag was to be made.

I had a sample from New Lanark Mills, when they were launching their wool and silk range. The highlights in the ochre colour were made for partnership with the Posh Caroline's Moonlight's An Old Friend of Mine's sparkle.

Woolly Chic Sample

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 10:11:00 +0000

Another bag - this one made for a Woolly Chic collaboraton. When I finalise the details of the pattern, it will be available for sale. The yarn used here is Katia Fair Trade Cotton, available from Woolly chic.

Flower Bag number 7

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:28:00 +0000

I'm getting close to my target of ten bags.

This one is in cotton and cashmere/merino with a very Posh flower.

Posh Knits

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 08:39:00 +0000

New bag finished on Friday. This one's a Posh evening bag.

Bottom construction is slightly different to my pattern. I think I prefer it.

Flower basket number 6

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 19:04:00 +0000

Flower finished. Went with yellow rather than a natural colour yarn.

I made this one from yarn given to me years ago, and a pair of handles that were free with Let's Knit Magazine.

It needs a flower to cover the front clasp, in probably a natural coloured yarn. The leaf button matches the cotton/silk Rowan DK Yarn (discontinued)

The bag handles have a straight base, which makes the bottom of the bag a bit skewed. A good blocking will sort this out.

I think I will keep this one to use as a summer bag for specs, keys, and wallet.

Flower Bag number 5

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:25:00 +0000

Having worked out the construction of the bag, I'm now tinkering with the finishing touches.

Bag rear

This bag has amber-coloured handles, so I wanted to create a flower that would include the colours from the amber and the bag itself. I have some Posh Yarn (Pamela, 4ply with sparkle) which made a lovely curled flower cup for the covering on the rear clasp.

I stitched the 'stamens' in the same pearl grey cotton yarn used for the main colour.

Bag front

For the front, I wanted a larger flower. I designed a two-piece bloom in the same Posh Pamela yarn, and finished it off with a shell button, the same colour as the pearl grey yarn.

Picking up stitches for the handle straps was difficult and did not work well. I embroidered an abstract design in the cotton yarn used for the base, to create a more even line on the front.

Matching Flower Basket Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 16:40:00 +0000

I completed these two bags in time for a visit from The Nephew and his two little girls. Each contains a French Knitting Kit by Woolly Chic, so that the girls could make her own flower button for the front.

Each bag was made in cotton, from Drops. The bottom was knitted in Paris (aran weight)

Both have very small bamboo handles. I knitted the insides differently so that the girls could recognise her own bag. One is pink and lilac, the other is all lilac.

Rose Flower Basket Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 16:26:00 +0000

I based this on the Poppy bag pattern, but began by constructing the bottom first. I used Woolly Chic DK Welsh wool for the bottom, then picked up the stitches around the outside and continued in the round with Drops Cotton Light DK.

Woolly Chic yarn formed the lining as far as the bottom. It was then finished in the same Drops Cotton Light colour as the outside.

To finish, I attached the magnetic closures through both layers of the bag. The metal front clasp was visible, so I covered with three knitted rosebuds.

The rear metal was covered with a leaf.

The pattern is very much finished and ready for test knitting.

Poppy Bag

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 15:33:00 +0000

I put the finishing touches to the bag today.

I'd already worked out that I couldn't construct a bottom, while keeping it seamless. I joined the open ends of the lining and outer layer, by knitting through the stitches.

I also decided not to construct a closure flap, so attached magnetic popper on the inside. I covered the back of the closure with the poppy I'd made at Hitchin Lavender workshop. The other popper was secured between the lining and the outside layer.

The lining yarn is a cotton/silk mix by Debbie bliss.

I used the yarn again to define the top of the basketweave pattern.

Bottom, in raspberry for a lavender purple bag

I've learned a lot, mainly about what not to do when making up a pattern. The next version will start with the bottom and work upwards. I'm planning a series of seamless 'flower basket' bags.

Crochet

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 07:39:00 +0000

or knitting - with cake.

I attended the end of term party, organised by Woolly Chic, at Molly's Tea Room, last night.

It's a lovely venue, with proper tea, served in china cups, from pots kept warm by knitted cosies.

There was a good turnout, mainly by members of Molly's Crochet group.

There was a raffle, with prizes from Helen's store of knitting and crochet kits.

Most people worked on projects, while chatting and drinking tea.

There may have been cake consumed, despite which, I managed to finish the body and lining of my bag. No fear of staining the fabric, there wasn't a trace of the 70% chocolate on my fingers.

It was a most relaxing evening, despite the humidity. There was even a sneak-peek at an article in the Crochet Magazine, featuring Helen's work for the yarn-storm Art Installation.

Not Knitting, but Weaving

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:59:00 +0000

Footstool Cover

Yarn

This effect creates a yarn that resembles brown leather.
Thus combining the lightness of cotton with the appearance of leather. The leather effect is very stable over repetitive washes. Craft: knitting, crochet
Brand: UniqueYarnsCo
Yarn weight: Worsted
Blend: 100% cotton
Yardage: 55 g (1.9 oz) / 98.2 m (107.3 yds)

Yarn

Unique Yarns

Weight

Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi)

How much?

3 skeins

Colorway

Leather

Color family

Brown

Purchased at

unique yarns

Using 8 dent heddle and warping 18”
Weaving a 20” x 18” piece to re-cover an old footstool, whose fabric was rotting. Using cotton ribbon yarn for the first time. It was difficult to warp and even more difficut to weave, as the ribbon won’t stay flat. 10” in and it’s looking ok now. It’s giving an open weave so I shall knit an under-cover in worsted wool. This should prevent the cream canvas footstool top from grinning through.

Cotton ribbon was not a good choice. I eventually lost the tension on some warp threads, with no easy way to restore it. Hemming was easy, but once the fabric was off the loom, it began to slacken. It’s in danger of unraveling. I’m not sure it will be worth the effort to make this piece into the footstool cover. The ‘ladder’ caused by the loose warp is very visible, as is the change of dye batches at the side.

After soaking and wet blocking, I decided to hem the raw edges, using wonderweb and bias binding.

I fixed it to the footstool, using upholstery tacks, and slip stitched to the canvas underneath for a neat finish. It’s OK for a first attempt.

The Great Knitting Tea Party

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 18:33:00 +0000

There was a very good turnout for The Great Tea Party

Some people travelled quite a distance to join Hitchin Stitchin', Festiwool, and Woolly Chic, for a morning of knitting and tea, under the trees in St Mary's Churchyard.

The Art Installation was looking good, with more Festiwool tree huggers in evidence.

Biggleswade Accademy pupils had finished their mass pom-pom wall hanging. Quite what that had to do with the More Tea Vicar theme, I'm not quite sure. I'm sure it made sense to them when they imagined it. It's got more of a party, than vicar's tea party, vibe going

Tea cups

and donuts by Hitchin Girls' pupils, brightened the dull sky

and it was lovely to see the 'tree party' mended and in pride of place, beneath the magnificent Bean Tree.

BOB Radio FM interviewed a member of Hitchin Stitchin' for her reaction on the vandalism that had taken place the day after first pieces of the Installation had been installed.

Learn to knit a flower

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 20:55:00 +0000

On Sunday, 9th July, I attended a workshop at Hitchin Lavender.

A really lovely venue, with refreshments and a sprig of knitted lavender to take home.

I was tempted to try the lavender pattern, but, with only two hours of workshop, opted for a simple poppy.

A poppy had been planned to go on my newly knitted bag, so it was good to work towards a definite goal.

I had all the pieces knitted at the end of two hours, thanks to Susie. The assembly had to wait until today.

I'm fairly pleased with the result. As with many of my projects, my lack of decent sewing skills let me down.

I haven't decided if I should thread the stem through the basket weave, to sit between the front of the bag and it's lining, or sew it to the front.

Given the aforesaid sewing skills, perhaps threading through and securing inside may be best?

Then I just have to finish knitting the inner lining and base of the bag.

New pattern

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Harris) — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 17:04:00 +0000

I'm working a seamless knitted bag with a lining; making it up as I go along. The handle was a free gift from Let's Knit Magazine, about 7 years ago. I had some discontinued yarn given to me and decided to make use of both yarn and handles.

The outside is Drops Safran (sport-weight) held double, on 5mm circs.

The lining is Debbie Bliss Cathay (aran-weight), on 5mm circs, picking up stitches fron the top of the change-of-colour row.

Handles are held in place by 12 rows of single rib, worked on straight needles with half the stitches from the circs. The cast-off edge is then grafted onto the stitches placed on holders when beginning the rib, plus stitches along the side gusset created by the use of straight needles. This bit is going to be very tricky to write out in pattern form, though it's easy enough to work.

I'm planning to add a flower to the front, (from Hitchin Lavender Craft Day on Sunday) and some sort of closing mechanism (if possible)

I'd like to make another bag using a different yarn (also a gift, and discontinued), but am appalled at how much the handles cost. They're wooden and would add £8 to the cost of making each bag.