Blog

sewing

Red cotton Archer shirt

christinahopgood

My latest sewing project is one I’m very happy with – my red cotton Archer shirt.  This is a pattern by Grainline Studio and is available as a paper pattern or a PDF. I have the PDF version, which has been marinating on my hard drive for some time now!

IMG_0448

This is the first time I’ve made an Archer and I’m really happy with how simple it is.  There are no darts or panels to provide bust or waist shaping, which gives it a relaxed fit.  There’s a small pleat in the back for ease and a double yoke.  IMG_0449

I didn’t bother to do a top button because I never do it up anyway, and it’s always so hard to get my machine to sew in that bulky party!IMG_0450

I wasn’t too happy with my plackets, but they pressed out ok.  I suspected that the pattern or instructions were slightly off there – it doesn’t really tell you how to place the cuff over the plackets.  As a result it’s a bit bulky there where I fudged it a little.IMG_0451

I didn’t have much of this fabric so I did the inner yoke in a flannelette fabric that was kicking around my stash and before that my mum’s stash.  I think I have dolly clothes made from that!  As you can see here, I used a bias binding to finish the hem.  I find it really hard to do a double-folded hem on a curve so this helped a lot to reduce bulk and curve nicely.IMG_0500

And I’ve pretty much been living in this shirt in the 2 weeks since I made it!IMG_0504

The only thing I wish I’d done better was my button placement.  Because I left out the top button, it got a bit off and the lowest button is a bit too low.  As a result I don’t do up that bottom button often.  It doesn’t make a huge difference though and I love the shirt!

Uncategorized

A Knitter’s Night Before Christmas

christinahopgood

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and sat in my chair,
I was frantically knitting a scarf of mohair. 
I’d planned to knit everyone’s presents this year,
Despite the concerns raised by my husband dear.

As a faithful never not knitting subscriber,
I had spent many hours considering fibre,
Angora, alpaca, merino, mohair,
Cashmeres and cottons, and camel so rare.

At least this year I was making small pieces.
A hat for my nephew, some scarves for my nieces.
Last year I made a huge Christmas sweater!
This year I swore i’d just write him a letter. 

Then guilt overcame me, I started to doubt:
At Christmas nobody should feel left out!
This year there won’t be a missing link!
If I’m seen to show favourites, what will people think?

Still left to do – at least one more sock,
And piles of things still yet to block.
There’s rows of blocked items still soaking wet!
They won’t be ready tomorrow, I bet.

The Knitmore girls say to start in May,
Or else your Christmas will end in dismay.
I began in October, all ease and no worry,
And by mid-November I started to hurry.

The husband was nestled all snug in his bed,
While I ignored hand cramps and tired eyes instead. 
If I just close my eyes for a minute or two,
Then I’ll feel fresh to start the next project anew…

I bound off one hat, dumped it into the sink,
And cast on another before I could blink.
My knitting was reaching a feverish pitch,
As I blazed through inches of stockinette stitch.

Cables? No problem. Lace? A delight.
The end of the colour-work hat was in sight
My eyes were glinting a devilish gleam,
And in ten seconds flat I had sewed up a seam.

I was finishing projects as fast as could be!
And they magically wrapped themselves under the tree!
But I’m not complaining, I thought to myself.
I’m just being helped by a jolly old elf.

“A jumper! A beanie! A mitten and cowl!
A shawlette! Some wristers! A hat with an owl!
Now write them a card in a hurried scrawl!
Now weave away! Block away! Wrap away all!”

The production line blurred with the speed of my knitting,
As on my chair I was comfortably sitting.
My hands were relaxing, my knitting went slack.
The scene started fading to absolute black.

I sprang from my sleep, and looked round in dismay:
Christmas was over, it was now Boxing Day!
It had all been a dream and I’d knit not a row!
The tree had no presents all wrapped up below.

Not a thing could be done, it had all been too late,
The best I could do was own up to my fate. 
So then I exclaimed, and all ‘round me could hear,
“Maybe you’ll get your gifts in the New Year!”

By Christina Hopgood, 2015.


socks

Anatomically correct socks!

christinahopgood
Just a warning: I am bad at foot photography.
But I finished some more socks!
Pattern: My own, loosely based on the anatomically correct socks.
Incorporates: Fish Lips Kiss Heel
Yarn: Regia
My Ravelry Notes Here

That’s right, these socks are made specially to fit my left and right feet.  I have to be careful when I put my socks on!
As you can see, they are toe-up socks with increases mainly on the outer edge. I made these because I have a long big toe, whereas the normal square- or round-toe sock patterns leave some room above my little toes.
I really couldn’t be happier with these.  The yarn feels sturdy and is comfortable, and the fit is incredible!  As with my last pair of socks, I used the Fish Lips Kiss Heel, which is $1 on Ravelry and is amazing.
See I told you I was bad at foot photography.  
I’m thinking of making a pattern for these socks in three sizes, what do you think?