Ambitus neckwarmer

This post was from February 9, 2008, and didn't get posted either, so here we go!

This week I finished up my Ambitus neckwarmer and wore it for the first time yesterday, a -27C north wind kinda day. I was nice and warm!



I used Apple Laine's Apple Pie yarn double-stranded for this pattern with 3.75mm and 4.5mm needles. The colourway is called "Arizona". I purchased the yarn from Darlene at Northern Sunshine Designs.

Right now, I'm working on socks for myself out of the Apple Pie yarn in "Sea Breeze". After these are finished, I'm going to make a sweater for myself out of the "Sea Breeze" colourway. I'm designing it in my head right now. I'm thinking top down raglan with 3x2 ribbing. I'll post details as I get them figured out.

Happy Spring / Tire Tread Hearts

This post is from February 7, 2008, and for some reason it didn't get posted, so I thought I would post it now! Better late than never, I guess.

I looked out of my studio window this morning(Feb. 7) and this is what I saw in the parking lot! I managed to get the photo just before someone drove over it.

Odds n' Ends Socks Finale and Meet up with Rosemarie

Wow! It's been awhile. I did finish the Odds n' Ends Socks and have enjoyed wearing them this winter.








Here I am wearing them on the Harbour Walk in Nanaimo, BC. I spent the weekend of March 7 - 10, 2008, at the Spring Meeting for the Board of the Assembly of BC Arts Councils. Such a nice city and we had great weather for the weekend too.







On Monday, it was a bit rainy, but I got to meet up with Rosemarie and check out the local LYS, Mad About Ewe (ravelry link). Rosemarie and I hadn't met in person before but have been online friends through the Laceknitters list for a few years now. It was so much fun to finally meet in person! I hope we get to do it again soon.






While we were at the yarn store, I picked out a seashell button to put on my Malabrigo Hat.





The button didn't look quite right all by itself so I put it in the centre of a little knitted flower. Much better!


Talk to you soon,
Cyndi in BC

Playing with Puzzles

I just wanted to try out this puzzle embedding script, so I've used a photo of my cat, Molly. I thought it might be fun to post knitting photos in a puzzle format from time to time.

Odds n' Ends Socks

Here's a photo of my current WIP, socks for myself made from the odds and ends of sock yarn that I've collected over the last couple of years. The yarn is a mixture of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn, Opal sock yarn, and Confetti sock yarn. The pattern is one that I concocted over the last few years to fit my ever swelling ankles and calves.

I'm doing both socks at once on 2mm Brittany Birch dpn's. I started with a star toe, the body of the foot is done on 72 stitches for 7 inches. I did stocking stitch on the bottom of the foot and a 2x2 garter rib stitch on the top of the foot. Then I did a garter stitch short row heel on 40 stitches.

When I finished the heel, I started doing 2x2 garter rib on all of the 72 stitches. I did this for 2 inches then did an increase row making the pattern a 3k x 2p garter rib (90 sts.) At 5 inches, I increased again for a 3x3 garter rib and that's where I'm at now.

I plan to continue in the 3x3 garter rib until the socks reach 8 or 9 inches, then I'm going to use 1x1 ribbing until the socks are long enough to reach my knees (or until I run out of yarn).

Knitting for Rugs or Mats

Now that I have recorded the Preface and Introductory Chapter, I will skip through the book, highlighting the knitting patterns and other interesting tidbits. The book does cover crochet, tatting, netting, point lace, braiding and embroidery, as well as knitting but, as I am not proficient in these other needlework arts, I will just work with the knitting.

"KNITTING, FOR RUGS OR MATS OF ANY SIZE. p.11

The wool which is to form the raised work is cut in even lengths; to cover a mesh with a groove, to admit the scissors, is the best way. The needles and material for the foundation must be proportioned to the article intended to be made. For a hearth or carriage-rug, the needles should be 8 or even a larger size. The material---fine, soft twine, or the coarsest woollen yarn---almost as coarse as moss yarn.

For an urn rug, the needles must be from 12 to 15, and the material the coarsest sewing cotton, very fine twine, or coarse strong, woollen yarn.

Set on the number of stitches you wish. Knit a row.

For the row at which you insert the wool.---Knit a stitch; take the wool to be worked in, in the left hand; put it round the foundation material, (which is held in the fingers of the right hand) close to the right-hand needle; put the ends even together, and draw it under the right hand needle, to the front. Knit a stitch, pass the wool back again, under the right-hand needle---then take another piece of the wool, and proceed as described above; repeat to the end of the row, then knit a plain row, and repeat the instructions given above for inserting the wool. For a hearth rug, the wool to be inserted should be a least four times double."

Now that I've gotten that little set of instructions proof-read, I will try to interpret them in wool. I will work on this over the next few days and post some photos as I go.

Introductory Chapter - Part Two

Today, I will complete the Introductory Chapter:

There are many occasions in life when ladies desire to mark their esteem for a friend by some gift or token; and they are often puzzled in the choice of what to give or to work. Hence it is that no question is more frequently asked than, "What will be a suitable present for so-and so?" or, "What will be the most valuable things I can make for a Fancy Fair?"

In making gifts to individuals, the leading idea is, to assure them of our regard. That the gift is our own production, greatly adds to its value in the estimation of the recipient; and, indeed, there are many circumstances in which, when desiring to show gratitude for kindness, a lady may very properly offer a specimen of her own work, when a purchased gift would be either unsuitable or out of her power. For the same reason,---that it proves the receiver to have been an object of our thought and care,---any article evidently intended for that person only, is more welcome than such as might have been worked for anybody. The following list of articles, suitable for the respective purposes, will be found suggestive:---

PRESENTS FOR GENTLEMEN.

BRACES.-- Embroidered on velvet, or worked on canvas, from a Berlin pattern.
CIGAR CASES.--Crochet. Velvet, and cloth appliqué, velvet, or cloth braided. Embroidered or worked in beads.
SLIPPERS.--Braided on cloth, morocco, or velvet; appliqué cloth and velvet; Berlin work.
SHAVING BOOKS, especially useful.--Braided. Worked in beads on canvas. Crochet, coloured beads, and white cotton. (washable)
SMOKING CAPS.---Velvet braided richly; cloth, velvet and cloth appliqué. Netted and darned on crochet.
FRONTS FOR BRIDLES.---Crest embroidered with seed beads.
WAISTCOATS.---Braided on cloth or velvet. Embroidered.
PENWIPERS.---Worked in beads, and fringed. Appliqué velvet and cloth. Gold thread.
BOOKMARKERS.
PURSES.
SERMON CASES.
COMFORTERS. DRIVING MITTENS. SCARFS.

BRIDAL PRESENTS.

CHAIRS.---Embroidered in appliqué. Berlin work ditto. Braided ditto.
SOFA CUSHIONS.---Braided or embroidered.
SCREENS.---Raised cut Berlin work. Berlin work with beads.
HAND SCREENS.---Netted and darned. Appliqué. Crochet.
ANTIMACASSARS.
TABLE COVERS.---Cloth, with bead or Berlin borders. Cloth braided.
SET OF DISH MATS.---Worked in beads, with initials in the centre; border round; and grounded in clear white beads.
FANCY MATS.---For urns, lamps, &c.
OTTOMANS.---Braided. Appliqué, or embroidered.
FOOTSTOOLS.---Berlin or bead work. Braided.
WHATNOTS.---Braided. Berlin work.
DOYLEYS.---The set---bread, cheese, and table doyleys---worked in troderie and chain stitch.
WATCHPOCKETS.
NETTED CURTAINS.

FOR A BRIDE.

POINT-LACE COLLARS, CHEMISETTES, HANDKERCHIEFS, &c.
EMBROIDERED DITTO.
HANDKERCHIEF Case or Box.---On satin, embroidered or braided in delicate colours.
GLOVE BOX.---Worked in beads. Initials in centre; grounded with white beads.
SLIPPERS.---Braided or embroidered.
WORKBASKETS.---Netted and darned, or darned on filet, or crochet.
CARRIAGE BAGS.---Braided. Worked in Berlin work or beads.
PURSES.---Netted and darned, or crochet; delicate colours, as pink and silver.
PORTE-MONNAIE, or NOTE CASE.---Crest or monogram in centre, grounded in beads.
EMBROIDERED APRONS.---Worked in broderie-en-lacet. Braided, or embroidered.
TOILET CUSHIONS.---Crochet or netting.
RETICULES.---Darned netting; or embroidery.

CHRISTENINGS.

INFANTS' CAPS.---Point lace, crochet, or embroidery.
FROCKS.---Ditto.
QUILTS.---Crochet. Bead borders with motto, and drop fringe. Crest in the centre.
PINCUSHIONS.---Crochet, or embroidered satin.
BLANKETS.---Knitted with white wool, in double knitting,---a real "blessing to mothers."


These are a few of the leading and most useful presents. They are equally appropriate as offerings to a Fancy Fair.

In the choice of materials, much difficulty is often found, especially by those ladies who reside in the country. It is therefore necessary to allude to the cottons of Messrs. Walter Evans & Co., of Derby, manufacturers of the celebrated Boar's-Head Crochet Cotton, as those used exclusively in the following designs.

The fabrics of this firm have enjoyed a well-merited reputation for many years; we have used them ourselves for every design, because we have invariably found that they combined in an eminent degree the requisites of colour, evenness, and strength, so necessary for Fancy Work. Many have been manufactured expressly for the various styles of work which have become fashionable from time to time; and amongst these we may notice the Royal Embroidery Cotton, the Tatting Cotton, and the Patent Glacé (or Glazed) Thread, a new and exquisite material for every sort of plain work; the use of other cottons is liable to cause some confusion in working out their designs, owing to different makers employing various methods of numbering; for example, No. 10, Evan's Boar's-Head Cotton, is suitable for Beads No. 2; whilst No. 10 of other makers may prove either too fine or coarse for the purpose; and for the same reason other cottons might not work out the designs of the original dimensions.

So much for materials. A few words to those who desire to make their labours a source of profit.

Not a week passes without some dozens of inquiries as to where work can disposed of; and we are obliged to say, that no Institution for this purpose exists in London. Some is disposed of at the Bazaars,---more is confided to the stand-keepers, for sale on commission,---and occasionally shops purchase a little, or give out work to those whom they may find competent. But the fact is, amateur needlework is like amateur painting, or drawing, or singing,---it is not of that quality which commands a price, however much flattering friends may extol it as charming and exquisite! It requires care, patience, and perseverance, as well as instruction, to be a good work-woman. Being such, however, there is little doubt that employment could be found,---not so remunerative, perhaps, as to constitute a livelihood, but such as will afford an agreeable addition to a limited income.

Finally, whatever elucidations may be needed of any work or design in these pages, can always be obtained in those of the current numbers of the "Family Friend," addressed to the Editor of the Needlework Department, care of Messrs. Ward & Lock, 158, Fleet Street, London; and every material can be procured of Mrs. Pullan, 126, Albany Street, Regent's Park.