Blog — Page 13 of 15 — Picking Up Stitches

What a lot of projects on the go!

September 20, 2017 by Annie Leave a Comment

FAirisle leaf cardigan pattern picture and starte work

Projects on the go – another started!

I may have lots of projects on the go, but I love leafing through knitting magazines and books. My wish list of all the garments that I’d like to knit myself is a mile long. I’d need to win the Lottery and have at least two lifetimes to complete everything on my list.

Sometimes, though, it has to be done. The yarn is ordered, there’s a day or two of anticipation, then that wonderful moment when the parcel arrives and you open it to see a fresh stash of yarn just waiting to worked into something magical.

So it was the other day, when I ordered this Rico Alpaca Blend Chunky from Loveknitting.com. It arrived just two days later in a sweet gauze bag, together with a boiled sweet (which I couldn’t help but eat before I photographed the yarn!). What a lovely touch!

The yarn’s for a boxy jacket by Pat Menchini called Style Icon, which I’d had my eye on for autumn’s chilly days. I couldn’t help it but cast on straightaway and was soon well on my way with the right front.

The pattern is in one of my favourite monthly knitting publications – Knitting Magazine – which always has interesting and patterns for the experienced knitter. (You can find more of my favourite magazines, designers and more here.)

It got me thinking though. Every year when the temperature begins to drop, I rush to start a cosy jumper or two… Trouble is, I quite often start a number at the same time, and find that they’re not finished before the weather heats up again. I decided to dig out all my ongoing projects with the aim of finishing them before Christmas. Here we go…

Glacier jumper

This is going to be so warm and snuggly. It’s made using Rowan Brushed Fleece, which knits up really quickly. It’s by one of my favourite designers, Martin Storey (who I’ve known since I was at college).

It has big cables that look like links and knits up quickly, so this should be a doddle to finish as I’ve already completed the sleeves, the back and some of the front.

It’s taken from Rowan Magazine 58. I’ve already got the yarn for the lovely scarf on the front on order too. It’s is going to be a birthday present for a friend. It’s another Martin Storey design called Windy Scarf in Pure Wool Worsted.

Ness jumper

A beautiful autumn pattern from Marie Wallin, who always has lovely colour choices in her fairisle designs.

This is worked in Rowan Tweed, Frost and Colourspun, which seem to have been discontinued, so I’m glad I started the jumper when I did. It reminds me of moorland covered in heather…

I’ve finished the back – here’s a close up of the fairisle pattern at the top.

In fact, I’m well on the way to finishing this one, with the front worked as far as the armholes and both sleeves up to the fairisle too. It’ll be a on the blocking mat before you know it!

The Ness jumper is taken from Rowan Magazine Number 56. I’ve just finished Ordie (a Martin Storey design in Rowan Tweed) from the same publication and you can see the finished jumper on my Instagram page here.

Alderney cardigan

This cardigan, again designed by Martin Storey is from Rowan Magazine Number 58. It’s made in Alpaca Colour, another Rowan yarn that seems to have been culled when the company was taken over, sadly. It’s really soft, and gently shaded, as you can see from this rib piece that I’ve already worked.

The pattern is, I think, going to be devilishly difficult to work without complete concentration, so maybe this will still be on the needles next year!

Faux Fox Scarf

Now for something completely different… Sincerely Louise’s Faux Fox Stole caught my eye on her stall at last year’s Knitting & Stitching Show. I’d already seen here Faux Taxidermy heads on display at a local cafe, so I just had to buy the book.

It’s a very simple knit that I find I can do with my eyes shut – I have been known to take it to the cinema with me and to knit while the film’s on!

Quilt Cardigan

Finally, barely on my needles, is Quilt. This striking cardigan design from Martin Storey is taken from his fantastic collection Pioneer. I’ve already knitted this in black, grey and cream for my partner David’s birthday a few years ago. At the end there were so many ends to darn in that this version went back in the knitting bag for a bit till I could face the darning again! I’ve made two other garments from this book: Wilderness jumper in Rowan Creative Focus Worsted for me and Frontiersman in Big Wool for David. I’ve definitely got my money’s worth from this publication.

I think that’s all, so I’ll let you know how many are done and dusted in a few months’ time. And do let me know how many projects you have on the go at once…

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Blackberries from hedgerow to crochet hook

September 1, 2017 by Annie Leave a Comment

Blackberries abound

It’s time for blackberries! Every afternoon, I walk my dog for about an hour. For people who don’t know the capital city, you’d probably be surprised how many green spaces there are, expecially in the leafy North London area where I live.

From the vast grassy expanses of Alexandra Palace park (which used to be a racecourse, don’t you know!), to the ancient woodland of Queens Wood and Highgate Wood, up to the acres and acres of Hampstead Heath, there is greenery everywhere.

And over the past few months, there have also been blackberries in abundance.

Ripe blackberries on a bush in the hedgerow

Harvest time for blackberries

So, one day, I took a container with me and began to pick the beautiful ripe fruit. The difficulty was knowing when to stop!

Blackberries in a tupperware container

Since then I’ve collected a number of batches of blackberries and the fridge is full of frozen fruit, and portions of blackberry compote. It’s delicious with Greek yoghurt and honey for breakfast.

Overhead shot of blue bowl of yogurt, compote and honey with jar of blackberry compote

I’ve also made jars of yummy blackberry jam, which go down well as an afternoon treat.

Jar of blackberry jam with bread and jam on a plate

Blackberries – an inspiration

It got me thinking though – I had a dark blue ball of merino DK in my yarn stash, plus a dusky green – could I conjour up some crocheted blackberries?

The answer was definitely! I made a lovely little drawstring bag to keep all my crochet essentials in (scissors, round markers, tape measure, large-eyed blunt needles, pins and hooks)…

Blackberries bag in progress with jar of jam on table by a plant and window

Here it is in progress. I started by crocheting a circular base, then worked up the sides in treble stitches, with some treble clusters to make the berries. A row of double crochet in the blue had 2-chain spaces all the way around to thread the cord through. The cord itself was simply a long chain, which I worked back along with slip stitches. The cord is threaded through the holes in the double crochet before a tiny blackberry ball is attached to each end to keep the cord in place.

Crocheted blackberries drawstring bag on embroidered mat with crochet essentials

I just need to complete it with a cotton lining with a blackberry print when I find some, but it looks so sweet now that I just had to share it with you.

So what would you have to have in your crochet kit? I’d love to know…

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Teaching a granny square class

August 11, 2017 by Annie Leave a Comment

Time for teaching

I love teaching beginners to knit and to crochet. I’m always so grateful that my wonderful grandma taught me those skills back when I was just 5 or 6. She set me up for a lifelong love of working with yarn and creating all sorts of items for myself and for friends and family.

So it’s been wonderful since I started up Picking Up Stitches to share my knowledge with those new to knitting and crochet.

A few weeks ago, I was asked by Annie, the founder of the brilliant shop The Village Haberdashery in West Hampstead, if I’d teach some crocheted granny square classes there. I jumped at the chance, as the large, bright, airy shop is so homely and welcoming and a treasure trove of materials – a perfect place to teach.

Here’s Kym from the shop – she took part in the class

Inside The Village Haberdashery with lady at the counter

Just look at some of the things on offer here. I must confess that I’m always tempted to buy something whenever I visit. Even though I don’t do much sewing, the fabric display always makes me think I should be getting out my sewing machine!

Colourful fabric on shelves at The Village Haberdashery

Teaching the first class

I’ve just finished teaching the first of these classes – a two-hour evening class to teach a basic granny square, though people stayed on at the end – they just couldn’t stop crocheting!

The six crochet newbies were met by this gorgeous round table, all set up with crochet hooks scissors and yarn.

Table set up with crochet hooks, yarn and in front of a display of wool

The ages ranged from teenage upwards, with everyone eager to learn. The concentration was intense, but it was fun too.
Crochet class in progress at The Village Haberdashery

I’m glad to say that everyone completed a square by the end of the class, and some went on crocheting when they got home and posted their results on Instagram. There are more classes there in the months to come. And there are also my own Crouch End classes as well – see the timetable here. So glad to share the crochet love…

after teaching crochet squares, hooks and leaflets on a wooden table

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