This is not a knitting blog...

 ..and yet... here you see more knittery.

Between revamping beret patterns, I've used the knitting machine as think-music.  Without a map ( I never take notes) I tried to remake the red jumper (sweater) that I accidentally destroyed a few weeks ago. The original was an improvised version of Teresa Dair's Vaganza, from her book "I Knitted My Way".

 

There were a few minor...errr... quirks... in the sleeve and tail departments.

Which means that the optional split or knot detail is limited to knots....

 ...which is actually quite fine and comfy.

The longer tail works well when worn in the "shrug" variation... (it's a tad Matador, don't you think?).

 

 ...and the back, with its sometimes-neckline-sometimes-back-detail works just fine.

Quirks and all, I've been living in it.  Melbourne has turned COLD!

 

Winter Warmers

It's winter ...and I'm loving the layering opportunities that winter provides.  Too much is never enough, I say.

 

Sock yarn from Spotlight for $4 a (big) ball inspired a bit of machine knittery.  

 

 

There was then a mad dash back to Spotlight when there wasn't enough yarn purchased to make the sleeves....

 

Enter black merino, also on sale for $4 a (small) ball. 

 

Those natty suits that the character Bel swanned about in in The Hour inspired a deconstructed version of the little belted cardi. 

 

 

...forgetting, of course, that I am not a statuesque, hourglass-figured beauty in impossibly high heels. 

 

 My belted cardi is better-suited to comfy-womfy studio wear than to glamourous swanning about.

 

In this yarn, I like the reverse side of the stockingette stitch better, so I seamed it from the knit side and it's now reversible... and very deconstructed. 

 

And it can be beltless.. pinless.... whatever it wants to be.

It's basically 4 rectangles with a little bit of simple shaping (casting off a stitch per row) on the shoulder seams of the front and back pieces.

The pattern was made up on the fly at the machine and (you'd think I'd learn) no notes were taken about stitch or row count, or tension... or anything.  The sleeves are a tad long, but add to the comfy-womfy factor.  The rest of the fit is fine. 

I'll never be able to repeat it.

Ho hum.

In other wintery news, I've spent the last week revamping my beret and kids beret patterns as downloadable pdfs. 

Each pattern has 3 head sizes, with 3 crown depths for each size.  That's actually 9 beret patterns per pattern. 



 You can see the original blog posts (with much younger me and much wee-er wee girl) here and here. 

Hope you're keeping cosy if you're in these wintery parts.... or enjoying summer elsewhere!

The landing, the follow-up and the looking forward...

 

I've unpacked the bags. including the treasures from my little shopping spree at Bolt Fabrics in Portland.

 

I've woven in the ends on the finished aircraft-craft (I took a crochet hook on board, rather than the potentially confiscatible deadly-sharp-instrument knitting needles).  This is a Boteh Scarf - an old favourite - made in Bamboozle (bamboo/wool blend) yarn.

 



Since my body clock never fully adjusted to American time, I haven't had much of a problem with jet-lag on my return, but I must say that I'm not yet running on full power (definitely feeling more Reliant Robin than Porsche this week). 

 

There have been early nights (like... 9pm!!) and there has been machine knitting.   

 

 A fabric shaving accident (removing pilling) on my favourite red jumper (sweater) means that I'm in the market for a new red jumper.  (I have since felted the original, to be recycled into something fabulous at a later date).

Unfortunately I kept no records of how I constructed the first version, and I've run out of one of the shades of red yarn... halfway through knitting the replacement.  I'll be interested to see how this one finishes up.... So far, it's still a work-in-progress.  (It may yet be turned into felted wool fabric... to be turned into something fabulous at a later date....)

 

 Unlike the smallest of the YOU SEW GIRL crew, who sat down at the sewing machine the very minute we walked in after 30-zillion hours of airports and air-travel, I haven't sewn anything new since we returned from America.

 

I've been following up emails, writing proposals for future work and thinking about classes and workshops.  The editing process has also begun on the new book.

 

Life and work go on.

 

I've also decided to add a couple of new zipper methods to the repertoire in the Zippers For Bags workshop. Even if you've done the workshop before, you can do it again, with a few more techniques to choose from (and I have a few more notes to write for classroom handouts).

 

We're revamping a few old designs as pdf patterns and cooking up a few new ideas to add to the You Sew Girl range.

 

I'm a bit excited that there are now US-based stockists of YOU SEW GIRL patterns.  Over the next week, we'll be updating links and letting you know where you can find them.  Watch this space!

 

 

News from abroad, now that I'm home.

Before I launch into the holiday snaps, the big news from abroad is that to celebrate the launch of You Sew Girl Patterns into the US market, and the recent availability of my book YOU SEW GIRL in the US, the divine Ms Oona Balloona is hosting a giveaway of my book on her blog.  If you live in the US or Canada, go visit her blog NOW!

Ok, back to my USA trip...

We survived the journey home, and are currently enjoying every moment not spent in an aircraft or airport.  

The wee girl declares she's never going any further than a couple of hours on a plane EVER AGAIN, although during the 26 hour journey to the USA and the 30+ hour trip home, her determination to keep the sunny side out made me very proud.  She was a little trouper.

I had all manner of internet and computer issues while we were away (which continue here now I'm home) and I can't access the photos on other gadgets yet, but here are a few snippets.

We spent an extra week in Portland, enjoying time with family and seeing a few sights.  I didn't get to see an awful lot of the city itself, but I liked the bits I saw.
We had one perfect-weather day in Portland, and an ill-timed attempt at visiting the zoo (zoo was closed).  We visited the nearby library... (great idea).

We ventured out into the gorgeous green wilderness of Oregon...


 ..and encountered a wilderness of coffee flavours. (Peanut butter.... really...?)


 There was wild-and-woolly weather, driftwood and beaches...

...clam chowder and sand dollars (these shells)..

and ...oh my goodness, the wee girl wearing jeans (albeit with a handmade knitted top).

There was a great day spent with the gals of the American Sewing Guild in Portland, and I forgot to take photos. If anyone who was there can share some images with me, I'd love to see them.

It's taking a while to land, unpack and sort through all the follow-up and catch-up that needs to be done.  And there is sleep to be had.  I'll be back soon with more... and hopefully a bit about crafty goings-on.

Still in Portland....

By complete chance, (well, actually it was the decision-maker on the idea) my first Quilt Market in the USA happened to be in Portland, where my eldest sister has lived for 18 years.  We've combined business with family time, and a bit of a relaxing break after the madness of the trade show.

The wee girl has had time to get to know her cousins and we've had time to do everyday things like go swimming and...ahem... fabric shopping.

We spent a lovely afternoon yesterday with the gorgeous Lola Nova and her crafty girl, visiting Modern Domestics and Bolt, and chatting over dinner.  

I came away with warm and fuzzy feelings about the crafting community and like-minds' and a goodly stash of new fabric.  My wee girl came away with felt, needles and embroidery floss, and began crafting a cat on the train home.

...which she finished today... complete with a wardrobe of costumes.  Instead of coming into town to explore the city with me today, she wanted to stay home and sew.  No idea where she gets that from.

My exploration of the city involved mostly sitting in Starbucks with a friend from home.  

I nearly caught a train home from the city and then a phone call to my sister confirmed that it would be better if I spent another hour in town if I wanted to be picked up from the station.  I wandered around town, Powell's Books and in the rain for which Portland is so famous.

It's a cool and kooky place, where everyone appears to be incredibly polite.  And nobody uses umbrellas, despite incessant downpour.

I like it.

First Post from Quilt Market

Apologies for the social media and email silence from this end.  Things have been a little busy, to say the least.... but the good news is that I did indeed make it to Quilt Market in Portland, Oregon. 

All manner of technological glitches, a hefty dose of jet-lag and a hectic work schedule have hitherto prevented me from sharing the experience with the online community. 

In short, I had a lovely time, met great people, talked a lot about exciting possibilities and picked up some new US-based stockists for my sewing patterns. 

There were 3 trips to the local department store the day before set-up and a spot of last-minute, late-night hook-making, when I discovered that the Ikea hooks that were pre-ordered would not fit the top edge of the booth.

Of course, I had lovely travel companions and Quilt Market neighbours...

My samples in Riley Blake fabric attracted a load of attention, and 3 of them are staying in the Riley Blake warehouse, with a few of the patterns.

The Hobo (above), the Laptop (below)....

and the Sling (below again)

The super-popular A-line Skirt pattern will be available through Pink Chalk Fabrics as soon as the Pink Chalk team recover from Market and upload the details.

I was so happy to met Kathy and the girls from Pink Chalk - every one of them is super-lovely.  They've been selling my pdf patterns for a long time but we'd never met before.

As we sort through the invoices and organise the new stockist listing, I'll keep you updated on where to find my patterns in the USA.  My Facebook and Twitter feeds will be the more immediate source of updates, but my post-market resolution is to bring more attention back to my blog, so I won't forget the non-Facebookers-and-tweeters.

I'm off to pour myself another glass of wine and put my feet up. I'm staying with my sister and her family who happen to live in Portland, and I feel that I should perhaps make an effort to interact and make conversation, now that the market madness is over.

In with the New and a Clearance Sale with the Old...

I'm tired and mono-syllabic.  Briefly, this is the latest...

 

I've been making Flat Caps in winter wool fabric.

 

 

(Flat Cap pattern available here.)

 

I also made a few Zip-Away Shopping Bags.

 



Today passed in a flurry of organisation and hardware-packaging.  Pre-stocktake, I thought it would be a good idea to clear away anything that isn't going to be an ongoing product line for wholesale or workshops. 

 

 

WE'RE HAVING A SALE

In-store only, for 1 week

Details of how to find us and our opening hours are HERE.

Discontinued hardware is 40% off marked price. 

That includes flex frames and these gorgeous large round purse feet.

 

I've added lots of odds and ends to the bargain basket - up to 50% off there.

 

I'm also discounting a few items that we have lots of, including some of the wire-formed and flat o-rings, like these 38mm rings. 25% off.

 

I'm throwing in a few special bargains - in limited quantities - like 5-packs of magnetic snaps...

 

..and grommets.

 

There are also discontinued patterns for $5 and current patterns with soon-to-be-updated covers at 20% off.

 

And to make it totally worth the trip in to see us, I'm discounting woven interfacings by 10%.

 

So... Shall we see you in Northcote...?