Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping Santa brought you some wool or something nice to enjoy.
This is a little Santa which I knit when my children were young and he sits under the Christmas Tree every year.
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| Merry Christmas |
Hello, my name is Andrea from Northern Ireland. I am an enthusiastic machine knitter but am interested in all things woollen. I am an active member of the NI Machine Knitters Guild which has renewed my interest in machine knitting. I own a standard Brother 940 electronic knitting machine and a Brother Chunky. I also hand knit and love looking at new wools and patterns.
Sunday, 25 December 2011
1st Day of Christmas:Merry Christmas to Everyone
Hi
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping Santa brought you some wool or something nice to enjoy.
This is a little Santa which I knit when my children were young and he sits under the Christmas Tree every year.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping Santa brought you some wool or something nice to enjoy.
This is a little Santa which I knit when my children were young and he sits under the Christmas Tree every year.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
About my loom
First of all I have not blogged for a while. I just could not get time between work and family. Anyway, I had an enquiry about my loom. It is an Ashford Knitter's Loom - which basically means it folds in half and can therefore be easily stored away when in use or not in use as the case may be. It is a 12" Regid Heddle Loom.
I bought it while on holiday in England as I could not find a stockist in Northern Ireland. I got it from Norfolk Yarns at http://www.norfolkyarn.co.uk/. The lady had a loom set up in the shop and ran through with me how to thread it up and start to weave which was really helpful.
I have found the loom easy to thread up and weave on, as I am a complete novice. So far, I have just made scarves. The heddle supplied is for fancy wool - I have used double knit, chunky and a fancy yarn. On hindsight, I should have got a wider loom so I would not be restricted by width - although I suppose I could join 2 lengths together if I want a wider material.
I am still experimenting with the loom but am enjoying the learning curve.
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| Folded Loom |
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| Opened up with heddle inserted. |
I have found the loom easy to thread up and weave on, as I am a complete novice. So far, I have just made scarves. The heddle supplied is for fancy wool - I have used double knit, chunky and a fancy yarn. On hindsight, I should have got a wider loom so I would not be restricted by width - although I suppose I could join 2 lengths together if I want a wider material.
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| Woven scarf with Curly Wurly Wool |
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Record Aids
I don't know about you, but when I knit an item, I am usually so keen to get onto my next one that I never record what I have done. I write tensions and notes on different bits of paper or envelopes and then find these weeks later and cannot remember to what yarn or garment they refer to, and usually end up in the bin. So...........................................I made myself 2 record sheets.
The one below is to record the Tension of a yarn and my intension is to keep one sheet in a folder to record the yarn and then to cut one of the boxes off and staple it to the yarn band with a small sample of the wool. Then I will have a record if I ever want to use this wool again. I know each cone and colour of wool does knit at a different tension but it would give me a starting point.
The one below is to record the Tension of a yarn and my intension is to keep one sheet in a folder to record the yarn and then to cut one of the boxes off and staple it to the yarn band with a small sample of the wool. Then I will have a record if I ever want to use this wool again. I know each cone and colour of wool does knit at a different tension but it would give me a starting point.
The second aid is to record a garment. I can fill this in and put it in a folder so I can refer to it if I wish to make another garment of the same type. I amy also consider putting the sheet in a polypocket with the tension square/sample of the wool.
You can make a similar sheet or if you send me you email, I will gladly send you a copy.
Monday, 3 October 2011
Boucle Jumper
Hi, I have not had time to blog as have been weaving and knitting. Yes, I eventually got up to the roofspace to my chunky machine and knit a jumper. This is one I have been planning since last year.
It is made from King Cole Misty DK and is a boucle wool, so you use the wrong side when making up the jumper. The pattern is from Machine Knitting Monthly October 2010. The neck is hand knit on size 5mm needles.
I am pleased with it but the wool was a nightmare to knit. The wool would go into a thin strand and seemed to stick to itself and somehow when casting off, the stitches would drop.
It is the first jumper I have sewn up on my Hague and it is a dream - I love it.
It is made from King Cole Misty DK and is a boucle wool, so you use the wrong side when making up the jumper. The pattern is from Machine Knitting Monthly October 2010. The neck is hand knit on size 5mm needles.
I am pleased with it but the wool was a nightmare to knit. The wool would go into a thin strand and seemed to stick to itself and somehow when casting off, the stitches would drop.
It is the first jumper I have sewn up on my Hague and it is a dream - I love it.
Sunday, 4 September 2011
Ruffle Scarf
I have finished my ruffle scarf. I purchased this wool while on holiday in Cambridge. It is Rizos Katia and is one of the new type of yarn with a little space at the top to insert your needles. It is quite a slippy yarn, so I was advised to knit it on circular needles and then it has less chance of slipping off. The yarn is manufactured in Spain and made from 98% acrylic and 2% polyester. It comes in 100g balls.
Using 5.5 mm needles, I cast on 15 stitches and this size of scarf took approximately 2 balls of yarn. There were some beautiful colours in it and the next time I would make it slightly thinner, maybe 10 stitches. It knits up quickly and would make a lovely Christmas present.
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| Ruffle Scarf |
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| Close up of the ruffles |
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Ashford Weaving Loom
Here is a picture of my Knitting Loom. The name is not accurate as you do not knit on it. It is called a knitting loom because it folds in half and can be transported easily in a bag, similar to knitting. So far, I have made a small sampler, a bookmark and my latest full scale project is a fine scarf for myself.
The scarf is made from 3ply wool which I bought for machine knitting but have not as yet used. I thought it would be good for using up odd bits of yarn as you can add different textured yarns.
I am still getting to grips with it, but it is quite fun.
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| Knitter's Loom |
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| Fine Woven Cloth |
I am still getting to grips with it, but it is quite fun.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Back to Blogging
Hi - I am have been very bad at ignoring my blog. I have been away on holiday and then got tied up with family. As a result, no time to blog or knit. Well, when I say knit - I have about 4 projects on the go but very litle finished items. Also, I bought myself a small loom when on holiday which was getting my attention for a while. The only item I have finished was a magazine holder which I got from a well loved blogger susy raynner http://susanspatterns.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/workbag/. I still have to sew some bias binding down the seams but as yet have not had a chance ot go out and buy some. Here is a picture.
Hopefully, I will be blogging more regularly now. Oh, also bought some new wool while on holiday and visited Metropolitan Knitting where I was able to stock up on a few items. Will show you these later.
Hopefully, I will be blogging more regularly now. Oh, also bought some new wool while on holiday and visited Metropolitan Knitting where I was able to stock up on a few items. Will show you these later.
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