Category: craft

craft, craft catchup, sewing, vlog, youtube

New venture – Christina’s Craft Catchup on youtube!

christinahopgood

I’ve been a bit silent on the blog for a while… but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been making things!
So… I’ve made some vlogs!  I call them “Christina’s Craft Catchup” because I’m catching you up on all the crafts I’ve been doing!  Mostly knitting and sewing honestly, but some other things will be included too.  My channel is called Christina’s Craft. 
I’m planning to record vlogs every Friday, but it’s been a bit less frequent than that so far – just because of work and being away etc. Hopefully I can get into a better routine!

Craft Catchup no. 1


In this vlog I talked about my new “Shilshole” hoodie; a bunch of underpants (for me AND Charles); and my plans to make a shirt, a dress, and knit a cardigan:

Craft Catchup no. 2
In this vlog, I talked about my new Marion cardigan; Lady Skater Dress; and blouse; and discussed my plans to make a fair isle jumper, another dress, and bath bombs.

Craft Catchup no. 3

This one was a bit shorter as I’d started back at work and had less time to craft.  I talked about my new fair isle jumper of my own design, my bath bombs, and some vintage knitting patterns I’m going to try.

I find it quite hard to watch these because I’ve never listened to my voice before!  It’s the worst!  So it’s quite embarrassing to film and edit.  But we’ll see how it goes the first few times and if it’s good, I’ll continue!

Constructive criticism welcome!

craft, wool

Completed – Lace chevron scarf

christinahopgood
I finished a project!  My New Year’s Resolution is coming true!
This is a yarn I bought from the Braidwood Alpaca Shop, and it’s a 4ply 100% alpaca wool.
The pattern was free with the yarn!  But it’s a very simple 4 row repeat, using a multiple of 6 stitches plus 2.  I used 44 stitches for mine:

Row 1: K1, *YO, K2, K2tog, K2*, repeat until 1 stitch left, K1.
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: K1, *K2, K2tog, K2, YO*, repeat until 1 stitch left, K1.
Row 4: Purl.

As you can see, rows 1 and 3 are basically the same except moved along 1 stitch.
I did this mostly while we were away in Adelaide recently, and finished it off today.  It seemed to take me a long time, but that may have been because it was kind of tedious.  I also am really looking forward to starting something new, but I still have to finish off something else first!!

The “chevron” is a little hard to see actually, but the K2togs make little chevrons if you look at it the right way.

It’s just as long as my xylophone!  About 185cm.

After I steamed it, it flattened out and looked fantastic.  I love it!  Alpaca wool is so soft and beautiful, it drapes a bit nicer than sheep’s wool in my opinion. 

Now let’s wait for the weather to cool down so I can actually wear it!

Ravelry project notes here!
craft, knit, WIP

Work-In-Progress Weekend – Milena

christinahopgood
I know a few other bloggers have WIP – Wednesdays, but I am SO BUSY on Wednesdays that it’s never going to happen.  So I hope to keep you updated with my projects on the weekend instead!

Today I’m sharing my Milena cardigan so far.

Notes on Ravelry
Original pattern

I’ve done one button band (left), and the entire bodice.  Next is the other button band, the neck band, and then the sleeves!  This cardigan has taken a LONG TIME, partly because it’s knit on small needles, and partly because every so often I get sick of it and leave it for a week.  I’m feeling fairly positive about it now though!

 My only boo boo I can see… My button band doesn’t quite go to the bottom of the cardigan!  I hope some aggressive blocking can fix the problem.

 Lace pattern.  It will look a bit better worn, I think, because it will be more stretched out.

 Worn with just a pin in the top.  Enjoy my armpit.  It DOES fit all the way round me (tight though), but I couldn’t manage to pin the whole thing by myself.  I’ll do the buttons soon and then I’ll be able to wear it as a vest!

 I’ve modified the pattern quite a bit, as it wasn’t the best pattern.  This photo shows how I lowered the neckline at the back, because in the pattern it just went straight across!  I think I could even have lowered it a bit more.

I also made the whole thing longer at the top by 12 rows.  This is because I thought the armholes were way too tight!  It’s fine now 🙂 Thanks for looking!

craft, knit, owl

Completed – O W L S jumper!

christinahopgood
Another knitting pattern completed!  I am ON FIRE!

Pattern: o w l s by Kate Davies
Wool: Bendigo Woolen Mills Classic 12ply in Cranberry. I used about 2 balls for the smallest size.
Needles: 6.5 and 6mm circular needles.  Cabling needle (I just used a small DPN).
My project page on Ravelry.

This was a super quick bottom-up knit.  I used 12 ply yarn and 6.5mm needles for most of it, which knits up very rapidly.  Plus most of this jumper is in stocking stitch, on a circular needle, so I could do it in my sleep!

The back and sides have the nice waist shaping.  The arms are knit separately and then joined onto the main needle at the armpits, and then the owls happen.

The owls are done with a nifty cabling pattern.  This is my first time cabling and I think I nailed it!  I’m trying to think of another kind of animal you could do with cabling.

Then I had to sew on their little eyes!  It took me ages to decide what to use.  I literally spent half an hour in the button section at Lincraft! I even considered using googly eyes, lul.
Another new technique was short rows at the back yoke.  This just adds a little more fabric at one section of the round. It worked out fitting pretty well!

 THESE OWLS SO CUTE GUH

Chrissy is pleased with herself.  Now what to knit next?  I thought I’d try knitting this one into a cardigan!  What do you think?

bendigo woolen mills, craft, jumper, knit, wool, yarn

Nympheas Jumper – COMPLETED!

christinahopgood
I’ve finally finished my Nympheas jumper!

Pattern: Nympheas by Susannah Hill
Started: March 5th 2013
Finished: June 13th 2013
Yarn: Bendigo Woolen Mills “Classic” 5ply, in Seaquest
Link to my project page on Ravelry, with further notes.

 This jumper is pieced – front, back, arms, and then the neckline is picked up and knitted.  The front and back are worked exactly the same except for the neckline.  Arms are symmetrical.  It was a pretty easy pattern to follow once I worked out the lace pattern.

I made a long-sleeved version of this jumper, instead of the cap sleeves in the pattern.  To do this, I just cast on 34 stitches instead of 58, and gradually increased up my arm.  I was worried they were going to be a little long but they turned out just fine.
The little picot edgings are lovely!

 The neckline was a bit of a worry.  Because you don’t decrease, there’s a danger it can flop out.  To solve the problem (mine did flop a bit), I threaded some yarn around the edge on the inside and pulled it slightly tighter.  Now my neckline isn’t stretchy but it doesn’t flop or sag.

There’s a tiny bit of extra bulge near my underarms at the front – don’t know why, and it doesn’t really bother me.  It goes away if I pull it down a bit.

I really need to learn how to join nicely!  I did it in such a rush because I just wanted to wear it!

This jumper is so beautifully fitted!

I’ve literally been wearing this every day since I finished it about ten days ago.  I love it so much!  It goes with so many clothes in my wardrobe and I’m so proud of myself.  This jumper took a long time to make – much longer than my other cardigan – but it’s so worth it.  The wool keeps me nice and warm.  I just love this jumper!!

A nice thing happened the first day I wore this.  I went to the wool shop to get some needles for my next project, and the shop lady complimented me, asked my username on ravelry, and wanted to know the pattern to make it herself!  She like it so much, I was really thrilled 🙂 The knitting community is lovely!
My Ravelry profile
Thanks for looking!