'Pool' from Indigo by Kim Hargreaves

Time for a major catch up on projects or maybe I should say a catch up on re-incarnations.  As a Rowan consultant I've always had a stash of yarn for a project every season and I am never short of a project to do but about 6 months ago I began to realise that I wasn't enjoying my knitting and other sewing projects, I was actually feeling pressurized about doing 'stuff'.  I was also picking up 'Marie Kondo' vibes and recommending it to friends who were de-junking their lives: although I wasn't planning on buying the book for myself as I do not need to clear out and organise. But it was making me think about my projects and surroundings and I came to the conclusion that I was doing too much and needed to focus on one thing at a time, complete it - complete being the operative word - and then move onto the next project.  So, I cleared the decks and focused on making 'Pool'.

As I said, this is a re-incarnation.

'Angie' from 'Honey'

In 2014 I knitted 'Angie' from the book 'Honey' by Kim Hargreaves, I made it in Soft Knit Cotton Sunset Red 582.  It knitted-up well and I enjoyed making the project but when I wore it, it did not suit me and I didn't feel happy in it.  I am a 'hippy' girl and the peplum shaping did not work on me, so I decided that I would unravel it and plan another project, I don't have a problem ripping back projects it upsets me more when they don't work out and I'm not using them. And good yarn is too expensive to waste.
So, I had a good long look at projects as I did not want to make the same mistake again and I came across the 'Pool' cardigan from Kim's book Indigo.

'Pool' from 'Indigo'

What I particularly liked about this project was that I had a look at Ravelry to see 'real women' in it and they all looked good; I always try to check out projects on Ravelry.  The project had been knitted in Rowan's Denim and as I was going to use another double knitting yarn I knew the tension would be alright.  I really enjoyed knitting this although I made an alteration in the shaping instead of doing the boxy shape I chose to introduce some shaping at the waist for a more fitted outcome.  So, voila, this is the result and certainly at the beginning of a Yorkshire Summer and during the Spring I had a lot of wear and compliments from this cardi.

I chose some engraved Silver heart buttons from Black Sheep Wools which were quite expensive to go on it but I really struggled to find something suitable, when I saw these they really worked with the cardi - I think they reflect the 'V' in the chevron of the design.  Size wise it felt a bit 'neat' when knitted but I was limited as to how much yarn I had, however, when worn it started to loosen off and it is now the perfect size for me.

So that's one project from this Spring/Summer and there is more to follow...

2nd 'Quilt in a day' @ Black Sheep Wools

Last Thursday I taught my second 'Quilt in a Day' @ Black Sheep Wools, this is one of my favourite workshop venues and I've spoken about it here .  Not only is it a cracking workspace for quilting workshops but it has a great retail area with the added bonus of a sale at the moment.
7 ladies attended the workshop and most of them were novice quilters, we worked hard and my lasting impression of the class was Cabbages, Deer and Flowers, read on and I'll tell you why.....

As a textile designer I tend to respect fabric and the design work that has gone into producing that piece of fabric, consequently when the ladies turn up with their 'stash' of fabric I think about what we can do with it and how we can use the design 'elements'.  One lady had chosen one of my favourite fabrics that is based on Cabbages, I have a fat quarter of this that I keep in my stash and every now and then I take it out have a look at it and it makes me happy, its the first time its ever been used at one of my workshops.  Another lady chose one of Kaffe's flower patterns and another lady chose Tula Pink's 'Deer' fabric, all of these fabrics were begging to be 'fussy cut' and although it took longer to cut the patches it was very worthwhile.

Tula Pink's Deer fabric

 The ladies very hard at work

Starting to piece together the quilts 

And attaching the wadding....

So finally, these were the finished quilts....

With the Deer

With the Flowers

 Love this colour combination, and I think its looking a bit 'Klimt'

Some great retro fabrics here

And it's those Cabbages

Gorgeous colours combos on both of these ...

Finally, I had to do a bit of retail therapy so I purchased some lovely buttons - you'll see these soon - and some Tula Pink fabric.  I plan to make another top like this and really wanted to use one of Tula's designs so I chose this, it's avpretty bold print for me but it was in the sale so I thought I would give it a go.  Half term is coming up so I guess I will be sewing ;)