Shrinking and Growing

28 February 2016


You see those small balls of yarn.  I would love to tell you they are from my stash, the leftovers from projects but they're not.  They are from a project (shared here) that I thought was nearly finished, just a few finishing touches to go.  I tried it on and it didn't fit, the yoke was too tight in places a common problem for me.  It fitted perfectly at the neck and slightly lower but just above where the sleeves join was too tight.  I thought I had allowed for this in the pattern but obviously not enough.  Any fitted knitted clothing that I have bought over the years quickly develops holes in this area, just near the armpits.  I have unravelled it back to where I hope I need to, hence my small balls of yarn.  I will need to wash this yarn before knitting with it again as it has become a little wavy.


Thankfully my socks have been growing, not shrinking, the first sock is off the needles.  I am mighty pleased with my grafting at the toe.  The first few socks I ever made with this technique look awful and lumpy and I kept ending up with odd numbers of stitches at the end, too many distractions I expect.  I shut myself away in a quiet room to do this one, that may be the answer.  So here we come sock number two, already on the needles.  I don't suffer with second sock syndrome, and with this pattern I challenge anyone not to want to cast on another, I love it.



Talking of patterns I love, I can't always remember how patterns find their way into my Ravelry favourites especially when they have few projects, I can't have seen this in progress on a blog.  Anyway some of those skeins I bought last month are taking shape into a new project.  This is my first sweater, ever.  I haven't worn sweaters for years they didn't work for me when I was breastfeeding, cardigans worked much better so I have got out of the habit.  I only own one.  Joining the pattern under the arms took a few goes to get right, I am not complaining the pattern is free and it was good to work it out for myself.  I am loving how this pattern knits up it is complicated enough to interesting but not so that I can't do it whilst talking or watching something.


I have managed to find a way to plan a day at home into our rhythm and we have been enjoying some crafting time together. Cameron has decided they are crafternoons.  We have been making peg people, sewing a felt horse, painting a Russian doll set and making a tiny doll who has been named Rosie.



Rosie has been up to all sorts it would seem from the photos that have appeared on my camera!


The children seem to enjoy this time, we all sit together round the table working on our own different projects.  It has been a good time for me to get on with my mending pile which for once is now empty!

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Sweater Pattern here
Sock Pattern here
Peg Doll People here
Rosie Doll here

Joining Jennifer head on over to see what others are making and creating this Winter.

36 comments:

  1. Crafternoons- I think we all would be better if we would incorporate that in our days. Lovely to see that your family has a nice rhythm, I miss that. But as they say I am going with the flow and though our flow is different and new I'm ready for it. Beautiful jewel tones you choose for your knits.

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    1. I think it is so important to find your own flow, mine keeps changing all the time!

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  2. i think you are so brave to even attempt knitting socks! I tried last year and it just turned into a huge horrible mess has. I am working on crocheting socks though, I have the same problem in getting them to fit though, it's hard getting that delicate balance where it fits snugly around the ankle but is wide enough to go over the heel of your foot lol. I WILL succeed one day ;) xx

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    1. This is my ninth or tenth pair (I think). The hardest part at the beginning was joining in the round after casting on, once that is mastered you treat each needle as if you were knitting in the flat. My knitting is quite tight and so I find that if I knit something that I know is bigger than I need then it will work out good. You are right you will succeed if you keep trying ;)

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  3. I love the pattern on the socks, I tend to keep it simple and knit plain socks, especially as I use self patterning yarn but I've got a few plain skeins in my stash so I may try a pattern with those, it will show up better.

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    1. I agree that self patterning yarn is better with a simple pattern. I love those yarns but I was really drawn to this pattern when I saw it so I found the perfect plainer yarn to knit it with ;)

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  4. Every time you show those socks, I just totally love them - the color, pattern, and texture is just beautiful. How frustrating about your cardigan - it will be super lovely though when it if completed! I just had to frog a "simple" hat two times before I got it right (I think) on the third time. The joy is in the process, right? ;)

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    1. It is about the process definitely. I am designing this cardigan myself so although it is frustrating I am learning so much whilst doing it and I know that I won't wear it if it is not absolutely right.

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  5. I love that you spend such quality time with your children making things and chatting about life.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Thank you, that is a huge part of the enjoyment for me :)

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  6. I love the idea of crafternoons as a regular thing. We like to work on arts and crafts often too. I love those dolls, the beard on the male one is just wonderful!

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    1. I wasn't sure if it would work but often we lose track of time and tea is really late!

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  7. Oh those socks are gorgeous - I shall be straight over to Ravelry to add them to my favourites too! Where do you get your 'raw' peg people from please? I know my girls would get a kick out of making their own little play people but I've not found blank ones for them yet.

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    1. They are lovely aren't they, enjoy knitting them! I have bought the blank peg people from two places in the past. I always buy them in huge quantities which feels like a lot to spend in one go but I have sold a few on to friends who only want a couple and I find the children love them so much that they make several at once. The blanks make good presents too in their own little bag. Anyway enough wittering I have bought them from here and here

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  8. Oh no about needing to unravel. How frustrating!

    I am loving your little dolls. Craftanoons sound great. I have been doing similar. Trying to factor at least one day in the house with the focus on making and baking. :)

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    1. It sounds like your afternoons are good too :).

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  9. I love the idea of crafternoons - and craft projects are a great way of teaching without the children realising. When I went to Ravelry to look at the sweater pattern, there was a slight hiatus - it has been so long since I last visited, I couldn't remember my password! (although I have been on Ravelry for years, I have never really got into it - a friend said that she had "unfriended" me as my page was so boring ...... I said that was fine, I would "unfriend" me too!!)

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    1. I don't have any friends on their either, I don't quite get that..........

      I hope you managed to work out your password!

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  10. so sorry you had to undo the sweater for a better fit. but you know when it is adjusted perfectly you will wear it often and LOVE it!! your socks are luscious. I love them so :)

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    1. You are right Karen which is why I needed to do it but sometimes I just need a bit of time to find the courage to actually do it!

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  11. Your socks are lovely. Cables and a beautiful colour. Love the peg dolls and crafternoon is a perfect name. Hope the unravelling pays off.

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    1. So do I, I know I wouldn't have worn it if I hadn't done it.

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  12. Oh, matreshka (Russian doll) looks adorable! I am sorry about your sweater and i am glad you are not giving up on it, I am sure it will be worth the effort!

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    1. It will be worth the effort. You have really inspired me to have a go at designing for myself I love how you describe your process it has given me such food for thought and inspiration!

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  13. Argh, frustrating to have to tear out knitting after you've worked so hard. But the socks are gorgeous!! Love them. And fun little people. Looks like your fingers are quite busy this winter.

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    1. They sure are! I am really looking forward to getting my socks finished so that I can wear them ;)

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  14. Frogging back is hard to do!! Sung to a Carpenters tune I think :-). Seriously though all that work but when it doesn't fit it is the most sensible thing to do, after all you want a garment you will actually wear!!

    Love all the other crafts they are gorgeous x

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    1. You are right I wouldn't wear it, your mention of that song made me smile!

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  15. Oh, such a shame you had to pull out all that work but well done you for trying to sort it. Looks like your crafternoons are highly successful. I now want to make peg people!

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    1. They are a little addictive, but such fun we have quite a collection now!

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  16. A crafternoon sounds like a wonderful idea, mine seem to be spent brandishing flash cards! xx

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    1. Now that doesn't sound quite as much fun I have to say!

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  17. I love how you plan crafting into your routine, it is such an important skill for life to be able to imagine and create. I am very happy to read that you enjoy my sock pattern, thanks for the link. I loved it, too. Grafting is something I can only do nicely with my full concentration. After many years of doing it, I still need to see the instructions....

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    1. Thank you for sharing your lovely pattern. I am really enjoying knitting it, I know this won't be the only pair. I am glad to know is not just me that has to concentrate really hard to graft stitches ;)

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  18. What a beautiful colour yarn for both your sweater and socks. I love the pattern for your socks too, I am in awe of anyone that knit socks. Love the crafternoons such a great idea.

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