Wednesday 30 November 2011

WOYWW 130

Well, here we are again, another Wednesday! For anyone who doesn’t know what this is all about, click on the WOYWW link in my sidebar, which will take you to our lovely Julia’s blog. She organises (??) us all each week and we share our workdesks with the world – mess and all – no shame!! So what’s on your workdesk this Wednesday?

First of all, a huge thank you for all the lovely comments I received this last week – if my recovery could be speeded up by the tide of goodwill I’d be 100% fighting fit by now! I’m still not 100% – I’ve got about half my voice back  after being totally voiceless for a week, I’m coughing, and feeling thoroughly wiped out after this ghastly infection, not helped, of course, by the M.E. Still, I’m on the mend, if slowly!

As a result, I’ve had another week of non-production in my ARTHaven. I did manage to get in there yesterday and have a good tidy up (it needed it) and managed to sort the credit card statement, but didn’t do anything Fun in there.

When I’ve felt up to it this week, I’ve been creative in another way. Last winter I bought a glorious rainbow jumper from Ebay – very cheap, brand new, pure wool and very warm, but it had no ribbing on the bottom or on the sleeves so it kept rolling up all the time which was a pain. The sleeves were also much too long. (Have I really got such short arms, or are the rest of you built like gorillas??) Anyway, last winter I tried to sort it out, and gave up when I was unable to find any ends to unravel from. I made 3 attempts at adding some ribbing to the bottom and each time ripped it out because it wasn’t right. In the end I dumped it in disgust.

I decided to have another go at it this week, with resounding success! Unpicking knitting from the beginning rather than the end is a pain because you have to pull the yarn through a loop at the end of every row, but I managed it, shortening the sleeves by several inches and using the yarn to knit some nice ribbing. For the bottom, I used 4 strands of my original wool that was much too thin for this jumper, mixing 2 reds, and it’s come out just great. Here’s the jumper with the completed ribbing:

and here’s a close up of the ribbing I’ve done.

While I was at it, I decided to have a go at another garment whose sleeves were far too long. This is a hand-dyed cotton crochet top that I bought more years ago than I can remember, and all that time I’ve worn it with the sleeves rolled up. I love this top! It’s a gorgeous murky dark colour.  It reminds me a bit of what you can do with distress inks! (Chipped Sapphire, Dusty Concord, Forest Moss…) Again, undoing crochet from the wrong end is horrible – far worse than knitting actually, so in the end I cut the ends of the sleeves off, and picked up the bottom loops of the next complete row with a row of chain stitch, and then added the finishing couple of rows to make the sleeves how they’d been before.

Here’s a close up of the edging I did on the sleeves.

Unravelling the cut off sleeve ends, I’ve got a nice bit of yarn. I thought I might make a few flower embellishments to go on the neck of this top. Anything left over can be incorporated into my next project (see below).

Both garments are now how I want them, and ready to wear! I’m really pleased with myself that I’ve finally got round to doing this.

I asked my hubby recently whether he’d give me Kim Thittichai’s “Hot Textiles” book for Christmas when he asked me what I wanted.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Textiles-Inspiration-Techniques-Tools/dp/0713490403/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322605541&sr=1-1

This week, I found a link on someone’s blog (sorry, can’t remember who you are!!) to an amazing book on freeform crochet by Renate Kirkpatrick, and asked him if he’d give me this instead, and he said no, he’d give me both books! What a star. Here’s a link to that book :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeform-Crochet-Beyond-Milner-Paperback/dp/186351385X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322603071&sr=1-1

She’s got an awesome blog too:

http://rensfibreart.wordpress.com/

Years ago I bought a cheap jumper from a catalogue which isn’t really long enough, isn’t warm enough (the sleeves are the right length though!) but which has such gorgeous colours that I can’t bear to throw it away, despite it’s being more or less vandalised by kitty claws over the years! I had it in mind to knit a new one following the same design, but making it longer, and out of wool, and then I saw this freeform crochet, and decided that’s what I’m going to make it from instead. I’ve started sorting a few yarns so I can begin making the motifs. I’ve wound a few small balls from some machine cones to make the whole thing more manageable, and I’ve got some black wool on a cone coming from Ebay in a day or two – I’ve used up all my black now.

(This was photographed under ordinary artificial light, not Purelite, and the blues are actually more turquoise than this.) I think this will make up beautifully. Juicy colours, aren’t they.

This week, God willing, I shall be well enough to get back in my ARTHaven and get the wretched Christmas stuff out of the way. I’ve got so many plans for next year and want to start thinking along those lines, developing my mixed media skills and doing some more 3-D work if possible. Why do I always have to get ill when there’s so much to do??

Have a really great week, everyone, and thanks again for all the lovely comments! I’ve felt carried along by a huge tide of love and goodwill. (((((Hugs))))) to you all!

29 comments:

  1. Hope you feel better this week! I love the 'rainbow' knit - you are so clever to find it and alter it!x

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  2. You have been busy recycling your knitwear, and all done very well.
    Knitting is making a big come back, its funny how the old crafts Come around again , just by putting a modern twist on them.
    Mind you it costs a lot more to buy the wool than it did a few years ago

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  3. Awww , so sorry to hear you are still battling that awful flu! Hope you'll be feeling loads better soon.

    LOVE your knitting and crochet projects. I haven't done any knitting for a long time sadly. Shame though because I do kind of miss it a little. Might just change that soon though. As for crochet? Well i can just about do a "granny square" and thats about it I'm afraid. I love the colours in your project though, it'lovely.

    Take care and get well soon

    Jackie x

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  4. Wow hunni just love those jumpers the 2nd one looks very much like tie die.Gorgeous so glad you had another go as so worth it.Im sure you will get plenty of wear from them.Hope your feeling better had very acute phase of Me at weekend slept through the lot ,joints are still playing me up and feeling of sleepiness whats new.Hope yours soon clears up.thats trouble immunie systems get so low we catch anything and then it attacks the onset of ME.But thats life i learn to cope in my own sweet way.Hoping you will be creating soon sending big ((hugs ))
    Have fab wednesday and creative festive week ahead!
    hugs judex 9

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  5. What a great desk, glad to hear you are on the mend you made a good job of the ribbing these are super garments and the second one does look like distress ink. Have a great Wednesday. Laura

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  6. Hi Shoshi....I managed to track one of "THOSE" down for you !:)


    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crafts-Jewellery-Making-Storage-Carousel-Organiser-/270863202674

    Hope you manage to get one!

    Take care

    Jackie x

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  7. Wow you have done a great job on those jumpers - I am only just learning to crochet but am not very successful yet (probably because I have thrown myself in the deep end and am trying to make complicated flowers rather than something simple!) Thanks for commenting on my blog. Sunshine Girl – No 4

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  8. wow, you are so clever, I would never have thought of altering a garment that way!
    happy WOYWW! Debxx #92

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  9. Wow your sweaters look professionally done. What a great job. Love the colors of all the yarns too. It took my over 3 wks to get back to normal. no appetite, no ambition, etc But I'm pretty much back to normal.!.! Best wishes and Enjoy WOYWW

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  10. Happy to hear you're winning the flu battle, but sorry it's taking longer than it should! Love the knitting projects, great work on the two tops. You're very brave unpicking it all, I panic like crazy if I drop a single stitch!! Hope you're feeling back to normal soon.

    Hugs
    Brenda 78

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  11. Hope you feel better soon. I am in awe of your knitting skills, you can't tell at all how those garments have been altered.

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  12. You honestly wouldn't know that you'd altered the sleeves - awesome job!! I love the wools you've got ready for your next projects. I'm going to have a look at your links, the books sound interesting. Hope your recovery continues...
    Hugs, LLJ #39 xx

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  13. Glad to hear you are gradually picking up. You are clever doing your alterations like that I am afraid I just roll sleeves up ( sometimes several times as I am only 5' 2") I wouldn't know where to start. Hope you feel well enough to do some crafting soon x

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  14. There are some gorgeous yarns around aren't there. Well done for getting the alterations sorted. I too have trouble with long sleeves. I usually cut a thread and undo one row where I want the new length to be, pick up the stitches and knit a ribbing down. I love the colours of the crocheted top, and I have added the crochet book to my Amazon wish-list.
    I am glad to hear you are on the mend. I hope you manage to shake it off completely by Christmas. I didn't do WOYWW today as I was on a sewing group outing to Granada all day.Take care.
    Kate xx

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  15. Sorry to hear you've been poorly - it's a drag being ill so early in the season so hope you feel better soon. Love all the gorgeous colours in those yarns and knitwear. Take care, Cindy #70

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  16. Oh my word! You are just too smart. I'd end up just giving those lovely sweaters away - never would have dawned on me you could DO something about it! Even then I wouldn't be able to, but YOU! No wonder Dhubs is getting you two books. He must know what a treasure he has (plus you are so industrious which always saves money in the end right?) Glad you're feeling better.

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  17. Hi there and thanks for the peek into your creative zone. It looks like there is loads going on (even if it is not papercraft) so thanks for sharing. Hope you have a brilliant week and have plenty of creative time!
    Neil #23

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  18. OMG! You are so clever to fix the sleeves on those sweaters and they both look like they are made that way! Thanks for sharing and hope you have a great week! Vickie #67

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  19. WOW! What skill! And when you're feeling hot and muzzy too. Really, what a great result for both jumpers...I would have chosen both too...lovely colours and style. I'm a sleeves up gal, so long sleeves really annoy me...but guerilla sleeves would cause me to meet scissors and it would end very badly!!
    Keep improving...

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  20. Oh my goodness, Shoshi - is there ANYTHING you can't do??? What a very clever and creative person!

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  21. Fabulous results and it means those lovely jumpers aren't wasted. Pleased you are feeling a tad better so carry on like that please.
    Will you please email me as I cannot find any of your messages to get your addy and I wanted to write. I must have deleted a lot of messages inadvertently.
    Love Jo x

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  22. Ohooo I wish I could knit (well, I have knitted but...dolls jumpers and my daughters jumpers, when the y wer (very) little! Love the colours!
    Happy WOYWW!! (Late as usual!
    ((Lyn))

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  23. I did knit---once. It looks like it would be very relaxing! Cool that you can make these creations your own!

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  24. First up - wow, how skilled are you with your unpicking and re-doing? Amazing. I can knit, I can't crochet for toffee though, but to buy a garment and re do it? Whoa!

    Thanks for the prod on my blog about using a cutting machine. Not before time too - I actually own a Silhouette SD, so I felt pretty stoopid about not having gone straight to it in the first place! LOL So as I've said, THANKS! You've just saved me hours and hours of work....

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  25. How clever of you to alter your woolies like this. As someone with very short arms who has knitted and crocheted for years, I would never have thought to try this. Thanks for the inspiration and I hope you feel better soon.

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  26. Hi the re Shoshi thanks so much for popping over and so glad that you are starting to feel more like yourself.. just adore your jumper and the crochet shortening idea - how clever is that so agree with the crochet as I crochet and know what it it like - God bless and happy WOYWW! Shaz in oz x

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  27. For a sick Gal you sure have been busy!!! Both projects turned out lovely. I can see why you love the crochet one is really special!! but love the both!
    Thanks for the peek into your play area. It was fun looking around.
    And thanks for the kind words on my bolg too!!
    Get well Girl!!!

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  28. I am most impressed with your tenacity and ingenuity at altering those jumpers so beautifully. that takes so much hard work and thought. Well done. Thank you for your visit earlier this week, and sorry it has take me so long to get round. Hope your new baby arrives safe and sound and does exactly what you want it to do.

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  29. I've been having a look at all your wonderful cards and now I see you are a knitter too - is there no end to your talents! Belated WOYWW from me xx

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