June 2006 – Knitting Box

Time for Something New

First of all, thanks so much for all the wonderful comments on Jemima! After Jemima, I was sort of project-less. (Yes, we shall not mention that scarf that resemble leaves from the backyard, that same scarf that has been sitting on my “Current Projects” list for months now, that very same scarf that is still not much further than the last time I posted about it back in February. I am still fond of that scarf, but for now I don’t feel like picking it up.) So I have started something new.

This is the beginning of the Garter-cuff Mittens from Weekend Knitting, using ‘Clinker’ yarn from Kmart. Depending on the lighting at the time, the colour can look dark purple or dark navy blue. I like it better when it’s dark purple. It’s been so cold here in Sydney (by Sydney standards of course), that everytime I go outside I wish I had mittens on. Of course I could just buy a pair, but wouldn’t it be more fun having a pair that I knit myself??

And that’s not all, there’s more!

I’ve also started on a new cardigan for Annette. The pattern is from Sirdar’s Snuggly Book of Baby & Toddler Knits.

I’m using Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton from stash, in this yellowy buttery colour. So since the pattern was named so creatively as “Design F” in the book, I decided to just call it “Buttercup”. Not to be confused with that wonderful shrug by Kim Hargreaves of course.

Sorry for the crappy picture below, which shows the yarn. I’m only up to about 5 rows of the moss-stitch ‘skirting’ bit, which goes for miles and miles, as it is later gathered near the waist.

And then there’s more…

A friend’s daughter, who is also Annette’s good play friend, is having a birthday next week. I’m making her this bunny rabbit softie from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Hmm I hope I can finish it on time…

29 June 2006

Jemima

As promised, some knitting content! I’m still in the mood for small projects, and I’ve managed to finish quite a few too! Here, let me introduce you to someone.

Hello! My name is Jemima. Australian readers might know me from such children shows as Playschool. I have my own page here.

My knitter had been kind enough to make me my own little wardrobe. Here I am wearing my favourite overalls and t-shirt.

Sometimes I like to get dressy.

And sometimes when it’s cold I like to wear my scarf. Look! It has fringes and it’s fastened with a vintage button.

My little owner is also quite taken with me.

And the gory details…

Measurement: Jemima is 29cm (11.4 inches) tall, from head to toe.
Pattern: Based on Jemima Doll pattern from the ABC Kids Book of Knitted Toys (bought from a thrift shop), with heavy modifications by me (see below).
Yarn: For main body, t-shirt, shoes, and scarf, I used Sullivan’s Baby Touch 4-ply (70% synthetic polymer / 30% acrylic) in cream (body), pink (t-shirt and shoes), and orange (scarf), 1 ball each. For overalls, I used some denim-coloured acrylic yarn (I don’t remember the brand, but it was bought at Big W when I was just learning to knit — it’s a bit scratchy but Jemima doesn’t mind). For the dress, I used a ball of Lincraft’s Cutie Pie yarn (70% synthetic polymer / 30% acrylic) in light purple. This yarn is very, very soft, I could hardly believe it. But the information on the ball band is next to useless — gauge is waaay off, and no yardage mentioned. For her hair, I used some scrap black woolen yarn. This project had been great for using those odd balls that were lying around!
Needles: 3.25mm / US3 DPNs.

Modifications:

The original pattern’s instruction was to knit the body in flat pieces. So, the head, body, and legs have front and back pieces which were then to be seamed up, leaving a hole for stuffing, stuff the thing, then seam up the hole. I felt that this is just too much seaming for me, and unnecessarily too, when it can be knitted in the round quite easily. So I basically just took the measurements (number of stitches for legs, body, etc) from the pattern, but converted the pattern into knitting in the round with DPNs from the toes up. This way I could stuff the body as I go.
Overalls were knitted in flat pieces as per pattern.
The book also includes a pattern for Jemima’s dress, but in flat pieces also. I converted this to knitting in the round from the top down, similar to the Picovoli dress that I made for Annette, except that there’s an opening at the back for easy wearing by Jemima.
Garter stitch scarf is my own addition. It has a button hole and a vintage button for fastening.
The dress bottom edging is also my own addition. I tried to make it like an edging that I saw in one of Jean Greenhowe dolls (Annette received one from our neighbour last Christmas). I really like this edging. Basically I did it just like this:
Row 1 (WS): Knit all stitches.
Row 2 (RS): Knit all stitches.
Row 3: P1, then (yo, p2tog) across row.
Row 4: Knit all stitches.
Row 5: Knit all stitches.

Very happy with this project! The great thing is that if I want to, I can keep on making more additions into Jemima’s wardrobe. 🙂

19 June 2006

Red Friday

Another entry for the colour week. I missed black/grey wednesday and blue thursday, but here is red for friday.

Those are Annette’s red boots, sitting on my bed. What, doesn’t everybody take photos of boots on their bed?? 🙂

Knitting contents will resume next week. Have a great weekend everyone!

16 June 2006

Brown

Still playing around with photos for colour week. Tuesday’s theme is brown. I’ve got…

… brown shoes. These are the shoes that I wear day to day. They’re very comfortable.

And how can I resist adding this one…

… in celebration of Australia’s 3-1 win in their first match of the FIFA World Cup, after trailing 0-1 for most of the game. Three goals in the last 10 minutes, how cool is that!! What a nail-biting match. Congratulations, Socceroos!

I got that vintage button from a bag of buttons that I bought at Big W. And no, I didn’t know it has that button inside when I bought it.

13 June 2006

White Monday

Stephanie at little birds is starting another round of colour week. Today, Monday, is white. So I give you…

It’s supposed to be one photograph only each day, but I just can’t resist adding that second one. The yarn is a ball of off-white Zara yarn, bought at an incredible 50% sale from The Wool Shack (thanks to Belinda who brought it to my attention!). I bought substantially more than just one ball, another cardigan’s worth in fact. The second photo is of a white lacy fabric that I bought from Big W. I think it’s so pretty.

12 June 2006