View Post

Back to Fair Isle

Now that Christmas is over I can post pictures of the gifts I made, without giving away the surprise to the recipients. First off is the ‘Abies Dickey’.  My dad wears dickies to keep his neck and chest warm when he is working outside in the winter.  Thankfully he is one of the few males I can knit for, that …

View Post

Towels on the Embroidery Machine

I’ve spent the past month, re-finishing my sewing/guest room.  While I love the now bare pine floors, shelves-all-around etc., I sorely missed my workspace (not to mention the creation time.)  The room refinishing is only 90% complete, but that’s complete enough to work in, and I really needed to take a break and enjoy it.  My oldest friend also just …

View Post

Fabric Edging on Hand Knits

A useful technique is using a sewing machine to line the edges of hand knits with fabric bias tape.  This is a good way to keep knit edges from curling up, and to strengthen and stabilize an edge that has to support button holes or other load-bearing features.  It can also be very decorative if you find a complementing fabric. …

View Post

Pouch Night

Tonight’s accomplishment is 4 more pen pouches off my “production line”. And by the way, if you need gift ideas for a man, my husband makes the most masculine, elegant pens (www.aureliuswood.ca).  See for yourself. I embroidered his business name in silver metallic thread (using a Janome memorycraft 350E.)  I then pinned my hand-drafted bag pattern onto the fabric so …

View Post

Swatching for Back to School

Knitpicks Biggo, we meet again. My step-daughter loves this sweater‘s sheepy-cozy awesomeness, so I have agreed to make her her own.  I have tried to incorporate a few elements that she likes in sweaters: stripes hood turquoise and purple squishiness It is very fortunate that we like the same colours, as this will make the project that much more enjoyable …

View Post

Coral Sweater Complete!

Of course I didn’t finish the sweater in time for the Algonquin canoe trips it was intended for – but it’s done now! DESIGN INTENT The intent of the thick wool/cotton superwash yarn was to provide a breathable but warm, washable sweater, that could be worn for days and days of sweating and abuse in backcountry camping and still be …