I’m in my happy place

Posted on May 2, 2017 by The Little Room of Rachell

When my friend Gill messages me to find out where I am in London, sometimes I’ll just reply: “I’m in my happy place.” Then she knows where to come and find me immediately. I really enjoy a good mooch around the haberdashery department of John Lewis, Oxford Street, London. I’m often not the only one spending time waiting for a friend, or just having a really really good look around. I think the staff are used to it as well, they’re very laid-back.

It’s not a huge area, but is full of really, really good quality wool (there’s not a huge amount of acrylic yarn going on here.) I have to admit my spending is mostly confined to a few balls of this and that. I’ve never had a major splurge; probably because I’m always going out and about from there and don’t want to carry a big bag of wool around with me. Plus I haven’t won the lottery yet…

This time I really fell in love with Martin Storey’s Folk Cowl. I actually started gathering some of the Rowan tweed DK I’d need but realised at £7:95 per ball it was going to be a really expensive little make. Drat! I think I’d neeed to find an alternative brand, though the Rowan colours are absolutely perfect.

Do you think I can try that thing radio DJs do when it’s something like National Pie Week and they throw out masses of hints about wanting to try some? In result they get sent freebies to the radio station… Yes? Anyone want me to test knit this Folk Cowl pattern with these Rowan colours? Do you want my address? I’m really happy to do it for you, that’s the kind of lady I am.

I’m planning to blog every day in May, this is day two and I’m only slightly regretting my decision!

In progress

Posted on February 22, 2014 by The Little Room of Rachell

This second pair of mitts are still waiting to be sewn up, the first are being worn and appreciated during the chilly school run apparently. I’ve had a request by one of my little nieces asking me for “white pink with purple bits, like Mummy’s but…oh no I mean light pink with purple bits.” (Awwww, so sweet.) As I’m told they’re superb at losing gloves I’m heading in the direction of a good quality acrylic, not Rowan tweed like these!

The cabled yoke cardigan has been renamed ‘that stupid cardi’ I’m sorry to say. The time it took it took to figure out the cabled strip has rather soured the project. Well….I guess I have to be honest and admit that’s not absolutely it. Don’t start dipping rags in oil and sharpening your pitchforks but I’m not so sure about the actual look of it. Knitted clothes look so smooth and elegant, crocheted clothes particularly in chunky dcs like this just look coarse somehow. Know where I’m coming from? It needs to be edged, sleeves crocheted and button-band added so I might be more impressed after it’s finished. Maybe.It could be the yarn, I wonder if a different colour and quality of yarn would help too. I chose to use my Stylecraft meadow as I thought it would look lovely, and it’s washable so is practical for children’s clothing.

Oh and also I’m worried that the neckline is tiny. Overall I worry that it’s a bit small. I really, really should try a tension swatch before new projects.

I’m going to be knitting this feather and fan scarf until I die I fear. Last year I decided I’m going to live to be a hundred; so I’ve got a lot of time to carry on, but might die just after completion and so not get the benefit!

It’s probably far more practical to use a non-fluffy brand for lace knitting. It’s not tricky to undo or knit, but another would show the lacy holes and repeats making it easier to see mistakes and just act as a guide. I’ve tried using pony stitch markers but those little plastic rings are going to scratch my birch needles, they’re getting in the way a bit too. I’ll maybe have a try at placing yarn markers. I accept this scarf is going to be a long-term project and don’t mind really, not now I’m adding lifelines!

I must get on and darn some more of the ends of those granny squares. It’s actually not so bad once you get going, it just starting that’s the issue.

Also I’m knitting up something for a yarn review and that is another story…

What are you up to this weekend? Hopefully not splashing about in flood waters like these poor ponies were, gradually more green patches are appearing though as the water slowly drains away.

14:37 Mitts now sewn up & ready to wear. This post was a good motivator!

The knitty gritty and reading

Posted on February 4, 2014 by The Little Room of Rachell

I experienced a strong sense of déjà vu as I finished off the thumb of the second fingerless mitt of the second pair. It only takes an evening to knit one mitt and is so economical on wool. I’ve still got 34g of a 50g ball of Rowan Tweed left! That’s 4 mitts out of 2 50g balls, with more than half of one left over. I know – it occurs to me too that I could retype that much more simply!

I’m going to have another go at mattress stitch and make sure I line up each stitch really carefully. The tweeter of Inside Crochet and I had a good ole chat about it. Apparently Claire Montgomerie, the magazine’s editor, is obsessed with MS. I can see why – it’s so fiddly but produces a really good seam.
I’ve got a few relatives with little hands so I have a recipient lined up to offer this pair to at the weekend. But it would be easy enough to use a larger size pair of needles, or scale the pattern up by a couple of stitches if you haven’t got small hands!

A knitting group friend wants to accomplish her goal of learning to knit fair isle this year. I knew I had various patterns tucked away in my magazine hoard in The Little Room so had a good few minutes flicking though copies. It’s so worth holding on to patterns because you never know when you’re going to need inspiration. Hmmmm I am running out of space for magazine holders though! I’ll have to move over to all didgey copies soon. I found a selection of patterns for her but also distracted myself with the Knit Now mag (issue 25) pattern above. The colours are not me, not at all, but I fancy some lace knitting. I did say I wouldn’t make anymore scarves, but hey over the course of a year you end up wearing them all really, don’t you? It fits in with my plan to use up more of my modest stash too. I’ve got a few balls of my favourite purple DK yarn Tosca Light so I’m going to use 4.5 mm needles and see how it goes. The pattern is for 3.75mm needles and 4 ply but suggests trying all different weights of yarn.

Somebody went to Cuba for a week and on the first day I had a knock at the door early in the morning. It was an Amazon delivery of a Kindle Paperwhite and accessories, no doubt meant to distract me from remembering to nag about too many cigars, rum and sun from fishing! I’ve got a few Kindle books already as I’ve tried them on the ipad app. I’m addicted to scouring the Kindle Daily Deals and have bought stunningly good books for 99p or less (49p has been the cheapest so far.)

At the moment I’m reading House of Silence by Linda Gillard (98p/$1.61!) It’s hard to put it down.

“A country house mystery… A family drama… A Gothic romantic comedy…
REBECCA meets COLD COMFORT FARM in Linda Gillard’s complex new novel, HOUSE OF SILENCE.” Amazon.co.uk

It has sewing (patchwork) too. What’s not to like?

I must get on with casting on the scarf as I’m going to another knit group and want to get to grips with the pattern before I go. I’d like to blog about my knit group crawl, trying out all the local groups, along with various friends, but it’s potentially social suicide. How could I resist telling you about some of the characters and (bit weird) happenings without maybe shooting myself in the foot? I’ll have to write a novel one day….

What are you reading? Can you recommend any good Kindle reads?

Conquering mattress stitch

Posted on January 31, 2014 by The Little Room of Rachell

Terrible light so rubbish photos I’m afraid….

I’m determined to conquer mattress stitch. I’ve heard it’s one of the trickiest sewing-up methods but I’m persevering. It’s also not straightforward when the Rowan Tweed breaks off because of the weaker, thinner parts of the strand. Argh!

The Knitting Answer book (see link on the sidebar) diagram has made sense of the method. There are a few different ways to use mattress stitch, depending on what you’re sewing up, and I’ve chosen this one. It seems like a good choice as the seam isn’t too thick or uncomfortable when you’re wearing the mitt.

I found I really got into a rhythm and ended up enjoying the sewing up. I’ve always liked hand sewing but the little voice in your head that says you’re going to find a new thing hard (especially when other people say how hard it is) needs to be silenced at times. Or stamped on. Then covered with a good layer of something.

I’ve sewn up both mitts now. Hurrah! The light’s gone now so no more (awful) photos. I will be wearing the mitts, they’re fine, but if you do own a copy of Cute and Easy Knitting and want to knit them I’d suggest trying a tension swatch. I know, I’ve never done one in my life either but they did come out fairly small. I have little hands but I reckon the mitts might be a little snug for others.

Can’t wait to have a sip of G&T and a glass of wine Saturday, after doing Dry January. I reckon I’m going to be a very cheap date!

Which method(s) of sewing up do you use for knitting?

Getting knitty, again

Posted on January 9, 2014 by The Little Room of Rachell

The last week or so I’ve been whipping around my twelve huge Granny Squares in a bid to finish them and use up my leftovers of Stylecraft special DK. I’m rather bored with the same palate after a longtime using those colours and want to start afresh, which is exciting. The ironic thing is I can already see that I’m going to need to buy more to complete the blanket! My goal is to complete a square a day, they’re all at different stages and each needs to be twenty rounds. Sorry…I’m actually boring myself typing this detail! It’s more amusing to listen to the neighbour trying to coax his new (Christmas) dog out into the garden. The same dog that woke me up at 04:30 this morning barking to be let into the garden. Oh sheesh, dogs!

So last night to give my aching left thumb a crochet rest I started a new fast make from my new Christmas book, Cute and Easy Knitting (far superior to a barking present IMHO.)

This is as far as I got last night. It’s looking glove shaped which must be a good thing.

I’m using Rowan tweed which is a new yarn, though I’ve seen it many times I’ve never crocheted or knitted it. Although wool is touted as best for all sorts of reasons, which is undoubtably true in many cases, what is rarely mentioned is that, besides being expensive, it can be damned scratchy. Rowan tweed looks gorgeous, it’s the real deal in that it feels like it’s really been spun rather than composed of plastic. As you knit it goes from thin to thick which makes it an interestingly tactile experience, but I have to say that I wouldn’t want to wear it. Unless as a hat or gloves. I feel the same about Noro, but to a more extreme degree – yes it’s lovely colours but I don’t want to touch it. Do you relate?

Are you trying anything new?

A very crafty Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2013 by The Little Room of Rachell

Between Christmas and New Year I inevitably find I drift around in a bit of a haze. Driving merrily along to go through a village on my way to sale shopping I came across this…

I just forgot we’ve had ~~a little~~ a lot of rain this week. After taking these photos of what are usually fields I turned my car around and went another way as the road was blocked with flood water. If it does carry on as predicted the water on either side of the roads will not be contained within the fields and water meadows. I’m not thinking about how much water surrounds us.

I have obviously been a very good girl this year…

Aren’t these the best kind of presents? So much to be busy with into the New Year, so much inspiration. I was also lucky to be given a Hobbycraft voucher and bought the fabric in their sale. A metre for £5 was too good to miss especially as the material feels pretty good quality. In fact I’m thinking I might get ahead and sew some gift bags for Christmas 2014! After finding bargain packs of 10 cards, 3 for £1, I’m having a forward thinking day. (I know, I know, I’m making you cringe right?!)

What was your favourite present? Have you been given crafty Christmas gifts too? I’d love to see what you’ve been given if you want to post a picture somewhere and put a link in the comments below.

Time to curl up and catch up with more Christmas tv and film now. Lebkuchen, chocolate and glass of port anyone? Don’t judge me.