Hello lovely folks
and very happy Mothering Sunday to you :-)
and very happy Mothering Sunday to you :-)
In this post i show you a couple of my knitty creations, catch up with the latest news on those vintage hexies, check on the garden and last but not least, pop into the studio to see what been up to this week with crochet hook..... you may like to join in.
I adore colour so it it's not surprising that I drool over the work of Kaffe Fassett and more recently, Cath Kidston.
The two following items have been influenced by Kaffe. The basic batwing pattern comes from a magazine in the eighties and I've made up the design as I've gone along with no previous planning. It is knitted up from hand dyed, hand spun yarn and commercial yarn. It's never been washed or blocked...
So without further ado.....
Ta dah!
I love it!
...and the next to show you is my shawl that I made at the end of last year. I acquired a lot of tapestry yarn... I do really mean a lot! I was in heaven with all that variegated colour. The basic pattern is from one of Kaffe's books where you cast on 3 stitches and increase one stitch at both ends of every row. I had about 450 (approx) on my circular needle at the end. It's so big that the fringe touches the floor...I may remove the fringe and add a crochet border...now that I can crochet.
Ta dah!
Some garden updates...
it's from Wink's pattern in issue 14 of Simply Crochet magazine. It's certainly not perfect but as it's my first I'm not worried in the least as I will be hooking some more for sure. It's a fab pattern to follow and it's completely my fault that I didn't get it right as I didn't count stitches... do I hang my head in shame.... No way, as I had such fun hooking it! And anyway, if you only see perfect ones and you are a beginner like me, it could put you off trying and then you'd miss out on lovely hooky joy...... and what a shame 't'would be.
Well I think that is it for now, I was going to hurry off to make dinner but Lovely Husband has it all organised... Thank you :-)
Cheery bye!
Tracey xx
The two following items have been influenced by Kaffe. The basic batwing pattern comes from a magazine in the eighties and I've made up the design as I've gone along with no previous planning. It is knitted up from hand dyed, hand spun yarn and commercial yarn. It's never been washed or blocked...
So without further ado.....
Ta dah!
...and the next to show you is my shawl that I made at the end of last year. I acquired a lot of tapestry yarn... I do really mean a lot! I was in heaven with all that variegated colour. The basic pattern is from one of Kaffe's books where you cast on 3 stitches and increase one stitch at both ends of every row. I had about 450 (approx) on my circular needle at the end. It's so big that the fringe touches the floor...I may remove the fringe and add a crochet border...now that I can crochet.
Ta dah!
Some garden updates...
And the news from my studio is that some of my home made bunting is cheerfully decorating my creative space. I made the bunting a few years ago for my 50th. I generally use it outside in the summertime but as I did have an addiction to making bunting at one time, I have plenty for both. On the odd occasion at church I get nicknamed Tracey Bunting!...(It's because I can be a little crazy, perhaps eccentric at times).
I've been fiddle faddling around with my vintage hexie finds trying to choose a background fabric that will fit in with my decor, show the hexies up well and fit in with the vintage feel.....
...still deliberating...
I need to do some research before I decide. I've more or less decided to applique them to a background fabric but I'm still unsure if they should become a quilt top or several smaller items. Perhaps I could do both... well see :-)
Other creative news...
I'm joining the mand-a-long that the two lovely ladies... Chrissie Crafts and Lazy Daisy Jones.... have instigated, along with the help of Wink. It's my first ever crochet-a-long and I'm rather excited. I've made my first mandala.... I guess I could show it....it's been pressed but not blocked. I used the yarn that Deci gifted me last week.
Well I think that is it for now, I was going to hurry off to make dinner but Lovely Husband has it all organised... Thank you :-)
Cheery bye!
Tracey xx
Wow, what a full and interesting post Tracey - what beautiful work you do, and your mandala is lovely with such sweet colours - I had a couple of queries re the patterns I followed but kinda worked them out - just! All the best to you, and thanks for your message on mine. Joy x
ReplyDeleteHi Joy, it's always so lovely to hear from you. Thank you.
DeleteTracey xx
What beautiful projects. I particularly like the shawl, it was stunning, the colours were amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you :-)
ReplyDeleteTracey x
Gosh, what a bumper filled post! I love the batwing jumper. I had an awful lot of those in the 80s, although, it's funny how it all comes around again as my last few makes have been batwing! the shawl is amazing too. I took down my garden bunting at the weekend as it was looking a bit sorry for itself, so it's on the list to make some more for the warmer months. Lets hope we get some! ha ha!
ReplyDeleteHave a super week!
Vanessa x
Hi Vanessa, I did cram rather a lot in didn't I!? Making bunting it's amazingly time consuming, I find, probably 'cause I bind the edges. Some fresh bunting will certainly make your garden happy and will feel sunshiney even on a grey day :-)
DeleteWishing you a lovely week too
Tracey xxxx
Tracey this post is full of great projects, it is amazing that a mish-mash of so many different yarns as used in the batwing jumper turned into such a beautiful display of colour.
ReplyDeleteYou have put your tapestry yarn to such good use, the shawl is vibrant and has a beautiful drape too. I would imagine this project took a long time to complete, well done for finishing it.
Your spring garden is lovely, my garden is in the middle of a make-over at the moment, a blank canvas too with no plants at all yet except a very awful weedy lawn. This is our work in progress for the coming months. It is a very small garden and I quite fancy having an edible patio with fruit and tomatoes in hanging baskets.
The bunting is so cheerful and it makes your home homely, so uniquely you.
Well done with your first attempt at the Cal, I've never done a crochet-a-long either and I look forward to your progress with yours.
Until next time
Crochet With Linda Dawn xx
Thank you for your lovely comments Linda. We inherited or garden from an elderly woman who lived here previous to us so most of it is down to her. We are gradually putting our own stamp on it (as they say). The plans you have for your own garden sound lovely.
DeleteI'm not quite sure what is expected of a Cal...but I thought it would a great way to get to know people a little better... haha....I just went and jumped in without thinking about it really!
Bye for now, Tracey xx
A lovely colourful post! Your mandala is lovely, I am still deciding whether I should start one as I already have way too many projects on the go.
ReplyDeleteMarianne x
Hi Marianne,
ReplyDeleteThank you for you lovely comments. Re making a mandala....Perhaps just make a small one....? I think I shall use cotton when I make my next one....I'm looking forward to it.
Have a great week :-)
Tracey xx
Your knitting is gorgeous! I love the interplay of colors. I also am kind of in love with your studio right now. What a cheerful, creative space!! Of course I am loving the vintage hexies. I can imagine them appliqued on a background and made into a quilt. It would be stunning. I saw a quilt in a book a few weeks ago that had vintage dresden's appliqued onto a background of raspberry pink and it was beautiful. ~Angela~
ReplyDeleteThanks Angela :-)
DeleteI think I'm going to look for a blue background as that cheers the vintage fabrics rather than making them look dowdy. Our cottage sitting room is a bit on the dark side so I have to be careful with colours in there because they can easily look very old but not in a nice vintage way. I do like the sound of the quilt you saw in the book.
Tracey xx
Hi have you been to kaffe's exhibition at the American museum thing to get our KnN group to do a trip there, wondered how big it was, a way for us to go
ReplyDeleteHugs x
Hi Sue, I am aware that it's on, but no, I haven't had a chance to go see it... would love to though but I'm unable to get there. This link...
Deletehttp://americanmuseum.org/2013/09/the-colourful-world-of-kaffe-fassett-22-march-to-2-november-2014/
...says there are over 100 pieces. It's on for a good length of time so maybe I will have a chance to see it after all later in the year.
Tracey xx
Wow looks amazing. A feast for the eyes x
ReplyDeleteThank you :-)
DeleteX t
Oh wow, you really do love your colour! That first sweater is amazing, so unusual and unique. Enjoy the deliberating with your hexies, that will be fun. x
ReplyDeleteThanks Gillian :-)
ReplyDeleteXxx t
All so yummy and colourful!! Thanks for sharing... I love the way your studio opens onto the garden -- what a lovely space!
ReplyDeleteThank you :-) I feel very blessed to have my lovely studio. There is another door on a different wall and it looks out on to the lawn and flower beds which are currently full of flowering spring bulbs... It's so delightful. I was thinking today as I was finishing putting my studio to rights (I had an unwelcome visitor who left lots of puddles...), that it would be nice to do a blog post just about my studio...I will think on it :-)
DeleteTracey xx