makebelievegirl

Project Evaluation

2011-10-28T16:09:00.000+11:00

This project has really challenged me... it has helped me discover that working within set boundaries can lead to outcomes not thought possible. At the beginning of the project, whilst I had a vision of what I'd like to end up with (folk art theme), I couldn't see how it would fit together - a v-neck t-shirt, some woven cloth and weaving warp yarn. It could have been a mess.

Instead, I researched and discovered some interesting things about Sortino, where my Nonna and Zias came from. I didn't know that a historic necropolis was just outside of the town or the amazing wildlife that surrounded the hilly area. I'm sure I saw it all as a child, but it has a different meaning for me now.

How could this landscape form part of a recycled t-shirt and bring my past and my future together? Through learning embroidery techniques I was able to explore a range of different surface designs. I enjoyed the experimentation and don't want it to end here.

I think the research of my motifs was strong, but I wish I had a chance to explore them further in stitch. I loved the embroidery techniques and feel that I am now quite good at some of them.

I would have liked to research slow design further and find more examples of businesses following these practices. Using only secondhand materials was a real blessing, as it made many of the design choices for me and I was left to work in a more practical way.

I enjoyed sewing the components of the t-shirt back together and I won't be as afraid of following my own designs rather than a set pattern. I feel that my sewing construction skills are alot better than I thought they were. So I'd like to explore this further.

This t-shirt may be finished, but I think the research of Sicily, the stitch exploration and the sustainability process are only at the beginning.

Fabric Croquis/Concept Explorations

2011-10-21T14:42:00.000+11:00

My three croquis for this project consist of a Sampler, an Emblem and a Pattern design. Click on images below for larger versions to see more detail.

The Sampler croquis is made up of various motifs, including from left to right, top to bottom: an orange, a bunch of grapes, a pomegranate, 12th Century Italian border designs, my name, a folk flower motif and a Sicilian donkey cart. For this croquis I explored applique, couching, crewelwork and embroidery. I used fabric, wool yarn, bamboo yarn and cotton embroidery thread.

The Emblem croquis is an orange tree motif which has the names of my grandmother and two aunts at the bottom. The tree is made up of a running stitch with the oranges and leaves made using a chain stitch. The 100% bamboo thread is left over from the weave rotation and gives good stitch definition.

The Pattern croquis consists of Jacobean couching with thick wool threads, some smocking techniques and different attached pockets with a variety of stitches. I have played with the surface of extra t-shirt material and woven cotton to see how the two can be combined and how the thread effects them differently.

I have enjoyed making these croquis... if anything it can be hard to know when to stop!

Concept Board Rough

2011-10-07T07:42:00.000+11:00

Valued Textiles

2011-09-30T07:45:00.002+10:00

What makes clothing valuable... certainly not the cost, but the meaning you associate with those clothes. Whether it's a favourite memory from wearing that clothing or a gift from someone you love... here are my favourite things:

What was the last item of clothing you bought? wore? made? swapped? inherited?
I bought a black felt wool jacket from Bul (Brunswick St) only a few weeks ago. I loved the shape of it - slightly A-line - and as the weather was still cold I thought it would be a great replacement for another black jacket I have owned for many years.

What piece of fashion and textiles do you treasure the most? 
There are a few dresses and shirts from when I was 4 to 6 that my parents bought for me when we travelled through Europe. Rather than collecting souvenirs we collected clothing! My mother tried to throw these out a few times and I finally took them and have had them sitting in a garbage bag in the top of my wardrobe. I don't think I can bear to give these away...

I love them as they are such a part of my childhood and I remember wearing them so fondly. I also love the folk art, handstitching detail they have.

What do you wear/use the most? 
Jeans... I wear jeans to university almost every day. I never wore them to work. So maybe they make me feel like a student. They are also very comfortable for the long days of knitting, weaving and printing.

What will you probably never wear again but can’t bear to part with?
That would be those childhood clothes. Everything else I am very diligent at sending off to the charity shop once I have finished wearing. I don't like my closet to become overloaded with clothing that doesn't fit or I don't like. So I do a clean up every 6 months. I find the recycling of clothing very liberating.

 Do you have an example of a garment that you use/wear in a way that saves resources and provides you with satisfaction?
I have started to avoid buying leather shoes. I am not quite vegan, but close, so don't like the idea of leather shoes, handbags and accessories. In trying to find a replacement I came across Melissa shoes which are cruelty free and are made from eco friendly materials that can easily be disassembled and recycled with no waste made during their production. They have a wide range and it's nice to support a company that are doing something right.

Design Intent

2011-09-22T21:56:00.000+10:00

Slow design, minimising waste and looking back to look forward are themes I will explore for my craftLIFE project. I am following in the footsteps of my paternal Grandmother, two Aunts and my mother, to understand how a humble T-shirt can be transformed into a beautiful and treasured object.

My Grandmother and Aunts came from a small town in Sicily (Italy) and though they have now passed away, I have memories of knitting, sewing, crochet and storytelling from them. Through my Australian mother, I developed a love of craft and fabric. Both sides of the family have made wonderful objects from their own hands and have used materials in clever and thrifty ways.

This project will celebrate my craft heritage as a tribute to these women and this will be done through exploring Italian folk art themes with crewel work and embroidery. The T-shirt will use the principles of slow design to decorate a T-shirt to my own specific history. I will minimise waste by utilising materials and trims that have been acquired by me during previous craft projects and using what I have inherited. I will encompass the thrifty spirit my ancestors have used to get by for necessity or to pursue their crafty passions.

Sustainable Design Approach & Practice:
• Slow Design
• Minimising Waste
• Looking Back to Look Forward

Key Designers:
• Project Alabama incorporates localism, slow design and looking back to look forward by utilising local crafts people to embroider and embellish women's clothing with a natural, organic feel - http://www.projectalabama.com
• Megan Park mixes the ancient traditions and craft of hand embroidery and beading (through skilled crafts people in India) with modern shapes and fabrics to create unique women's clothing. This ties in slow design and looking back to look forward.
http://www.meganpark.co.uk

craftLIFE Theme & Inspiration:
Expanding on the BABushka theme to focus on my Sicilian heritage and draw upon folk art techniques and imagery from my childhood, motifs will include Sicilian donkey carts, oranges, tomatoes, olive trees and flowers.

Design Direction & Interpretation for a Personal T-shirt Concept:
As a child, I had many pieces of clothing collected from travelling to Europe with my family. As it was the early 70s, much of this has folk art imagery from the places we travelled to. I have cherished these items, even after I outgrew them, for the memories they recall and their uniqueness. I would like my T-shirt to recall this same feeling of nostalgia and wonder.

Materials:
• Source used T-shirt from secondhand store.
• Cotton fabrics previously purchased and not assigned to any personal project can be used for embellishment (appliqué or cutwork).
• Wool and cotton threads for embroidery – some yarn has been collected by me from previous knitting and embroidery projects, some yarn has been inherited from my Zia Maria and some yarn has been saved from weaving looms (from weave rotation).

Techniques:
• Embroidery
• Crewelwork
• Hand finishing

Exhibition Visit

2011-09-18T12:35:00.002+10:00

As part of my research for the craftLIFE project (Studio 1B subject), I visited some exhibitions. Here are my notes and thoughts on them.

No Vacancy QV Gallery - MSFW RMIT Student Exhibition
Almendra Basurto had a lovely glowing, ruffled tunnel made up of clear plastic strips and LED lighting. Called "Atmospheres", it was really beautiful. It looked soft and ethereal, but was actually quite a solid, structural form.

Alana Hersh had a mannequin crashing through a wall of fabric which was made of knotted crepe.

Cristina Pomohaci-Ham had a some interesting laser-cut textiles.

Anisha Bhoyro had a jacket entitled "Precious Threads" which was made up of jigsaw-like pieces. All the pieces were cut at 90 or 45 degree angles with threads removed to create a grid structure. These pieces, once put together created a jacket with zero waste. A really lovely dress and jacket also accompanied this work. This is such a clever idea and the pieces of cloth that were removed made lovely patterns.

Whindu Setiawati showed some constructed jackets with box shapes and splatter marks on the concrete-like colour. I loved the subtle colour and stitching that was almost hidden in these garments.

Li-Anne Kuek had some playful pieces that resembled soft toys. These could be tried on by visitors and their photo would be added to the exhibition. This was a popular piece.

Hannah Chamley had a piece that had multiple layers of laser cut cloth that made topographic lines. These were hung and you could step inside them, so it made a cocoon-like shape. I found this piece quite eerie and it reminded me of a cloth-made coffin.
http://no-vacancy.com.au

RMIT Gallery - Space Invaders
This exhibition was made up of street art stencils, posters, stickers and zines. I really loved the two pieces... one was made up of two figures facing each other. They had faces, but their bodies were silhouettes with shapes cut out. It was a very effective paper cut pattern. The other piece I loved, was made up of many pieces of paper that had been spray painted in reds and purples with bits of pattern on some. These pieces were stuck to the wall with thumbtacks allowing the piece to sit out from the wall and create shadow. When you stood back you could see that these also made human-like shapes.
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=dzuj63yix9pw

Craft Victoria - Catherine Bowman: Locutions
I was intrigued by Catherine Bowman's work which was made up of drawings with collage, pencil and watercolour. She also had some small items that were made from copper and other media and these shapes were 3D forms of the drawings. As you looked closely at the work, you saw a glitter or sand like substance that had been used in varying degrees on the drawings and also then sat in the final object, inside a bird cylinder. Szu-Ting and myself were trying to work out what this substance was and after some time we asked the Craft Victoria people... it turns out the artist is a jeweller and the substance is probably all the shavings from her work, copper, silver, gold and dust particles. I loved how it sparkled and was so fine, but also had a greyness to it. Very unique!!
http://craftvic.org.au/whats-on/exhibitions/katherine-bowman-locutions-the-loved-object

Craft Techniques - Crewel Work

2011-09-17T17:00:00.000+10:00

'Crewel' describes the highly spun, two ply wool with which the embroidery is stitched. It flourished from the mid-17th to the mid-18th Century. The art travelled across America's New England states and became lighter and a more mellow colour. It became a craft for every housewife who spun her own linen and made her own dyes.

How it is Done
A range of different stitch techniques are used to create the texture of the embroidery. These include flat stitches, looped stitches and knot stitches.

Motifs
Crewel work has been used for bed spreads with motifs of exotic flowers and animals, Tree of Life themes, unicorns, griffins, fruits, flowing leaves and twining branches twisted into elaborate designs.

Materials Required
Any firm, smooth fabric can be used as a base to embroider on to. Natural materials are preferred - cotton, wool and linen.
Tracing paper and pencil to transfer the design onto the material.
Needles used are crewel, chenille and tapestry.
Crewel 2 ply wool is used to embroider with.
A hoop or ring frame is required to stretch the fabric while stitching.

Read
The New Crewel: Exquisite Designs in Contemporary Embroidery by Katherine Shaughnessy
http://www.amazon.com/New-Crewel-Exquisite-Contemporary-Embroidery/dp/B005B19Y6O?ie=UTF8&tag=feelistitc-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

The Colour Book of Crewel Embroidery by Fay Anderson
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Color-Book-Crewel-Embroidery-Anderson/dp/9998415446

And watch some great tutorial videos on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zF98p5cKYA&feature=related

Contemporary Artists
Erica Wilson - http://www.ericawilson.com/html/crewel.html
Sells crewel kits online. Traditional floral and fauna motifs.
Also worth a look is her collaboration with furniture designer, Vladimir Kagan - http://daddytypes.com/2008/10/19/crewel_kids_vladimir_kagan_x_erica_wilson_mashup_rocking_chair.php

Sera Waters - http://serawaters.com.au
Uses crewel among other embroidery materials to create modern, artist embroideries.

Odile Gova from Toronto does explosions of crewel work based on sketches and doodles.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/woolly_fabulous/sets/72157604387309184/with/2388892334/

Example Images
Here are some photos of crewel work that I found under Creative Commons licencing on Flickr:

Crewel Tree O'Critters by Carosaurus, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/carosaurus/2124598903/)

tree of life crewelwork by turkeychik, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/turkeychik/2365647768/)

Badbird Crewel for Brenda #1 by wine me up, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/winemegup/3930435374/)

victoria and albert - crewel by hottholler, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hottholler/4354951555/)

victoria and albert - crewel blue red by hottholler, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hottholler/4355012171/)

victoria and albert - crewel mother nature by hottholler, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hottholler/4355729080/)

Close up of my Jacobean by RalRay Embroidery, on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ralrayembroidery/5334877817/)

Textile Design at RMIT

2011-09-17T15:02:00.000+10:00

Since my last post here, a lot has happened - I've made the shift from being a hand knitter with an interest in textiles to a full-time student studying textile design.

I first came across RMIT's BA in Textile Design about 3 years ago, which coincided with my knitting passion hitting full stride. I was coming across a lot of wonderful blogs with a handcraft DIY angle and saw many people beginning to turn their hobby into a business. I began to think about what I could do to take my interests further and found this course.

At the time, I wasn't in a position to put together the required folio for entry. So instead I moved on to a different job, a new relationship and continued to knit and look at craft blogs. This kept me going for a while… but I eventually I was confronted with the realisation that my interest in this course hadn't gone away. With a little poking and prodding, I found myself at the RMIT Open Day and about 2 minutes into the presentation, I knew I was sold.

So then came the applications to QTAC for the full-time and part-time TAFE Diploma of Textile …. and the full-time BA of Textile Design. I was putting my eggs in all the baskets! I began preparing my folio and so the stressing began. I had to meet different requirements for the TAFE and the degree course. I somehow managed to meet them and was accepted into both, but ultimately chose the degree.

I am now approaching the final assessments of my first year. It has been a whirlwind with extreme highs and lows. It has taken much work and perseverance to make it this far, but I have been rewarded along the way with meeting likeminded individuals, learning from a fantastic team of lecturers and discovering new skills.

So at this point, my blog may change from showing cute hand made crafts to documenting assignments and documenting my journey further into textile design.

More Teddys - No 4

2010-11-21T18:23:00.004+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

Syd and Ivy's teddys.

Scarf for Jen Tsen

2010-11-21T18:21:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

I let Jen Tsen choose the yarn... here are the results. Just a simple ribbed scarf, but it's lovely and soft and warm.

Teddys - Old & New

2010-11-21T18:17:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

James & Bailey's knitted teddys. Old and new... one well loved and one to be loved.

Yoga

2010-09-13T23:13:00.000+10:00

I've begun taking a beginner's Hatha yoga class... it incorporates the Vinyassa Power Flow yoga style at the general level, giving me something to work towards. It's really wonderful. Between the vegan, healthy eating and the yoga, my body has never felt better. I just wonder what took me so long.

Here's where I go: http://www.australianyogaacademy.com

They incorporate a little bit of meditation at the end of the practice in the form of an "OM" chant or the corpse pose. It's a lovely environment to be in and I'm finding myself looking forward to the class every week. Might be time to step up to twice a week...

Day 23

2010-07-07T22:06:00.001+10:00

I've lost track of the days... there has been a funeral, a birthday and a wedding in there. Life has had it's ups and downs, but I have tried to stay on course and follow through. I've done better than I anticipated under the circumstances. I am getting better at picking vegan items from menus and I am feeling more at ease with it, as a whole.

This morning, I began the daunting task of sorting through my wardrobe to remove clothing that contained wool, silk and other animal by-products. It was actually easier than I thought and not that hard to give up my two woollen coats (which I rarely wear). I guess it just gives me an excuse to look for new clothing.

I'm going to replace my shoes and handbags more slowly, but am looking forward to what my options will be and continuing the process of becoming vegan.

Day 9

2010-06-23T17:57:00.003+10:00

Where has the time disappeared to?

OK. So some of this is easy and some of this is hard.

Angela Stafford's cookbook is awesome! So far I've made about 4 different meals from it and ALL I'd make again. There is a bit more chopping than my usual slap-dash meals, but the results have been so good that it's changed my ideas about how much time I should put into cooking.

So dinners are fine. Lunches are slightly harder, as I have to plan ahead and bring something from home or venture out into the scary world. I've managed to avoid co-workers sticky afternoon delights mostly…

But the real downfall has been a wine tasting evening with food served. I couldn't work out how to decline the especially made vegetarian food that matched the wine… all with lashings of cheese. I'm trying to educate myself on how I can handle that situation in the future. It was a tough one as this was planned before the vegan trial and the host had gone to so much effort, I really would have been very rude to bring my own food or decline hers.

Food for thought...

Venturing Into Veganism

2010-06-15T21:47:00.000+10:00

In my 22+ years of being an ovo-lacto vegetarian, I've never considered making the final move into veganism... until now. I've been a little weary of eggs for a year or so and after being sick with a bronchial infection and coughing for 3 weeks, the thought of eating cheese was also declining.

So I set out to educate myself a little more on what it is that makes veganism so different from being a vegetarian. I picked up a vegan ethics book and a vegan cookbook, so that I could learn and trial it at the same time.

The books are:
"Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non-Vegan World" by Bob and Jenna Torres
"Wild Vegan" by Angela Stafford

I'm enjoying both... I seemed to have got lucky with the vegan cookbook. The first recipe I tried is delicious and will definitely be made again soon. The ethics book has some great humour in it which helps to balance out the seriousness of the subject. I'm not sure I agree 100% the hardline that is represented, but I do understand their arguments and am open to seeing what I think as the book progresses.

So it's only day 2, but so far so good...

Teddy No. 3

2010-05-07T14:27:00.002+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

This one was for my nephew, James. Teddy looks like he's been working out at the gym....

Strawberry Shortcake

2010-05-07T14:26:00.002+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

Following the success of my previous baby's beanie, I looked on Ravelry and found a darling pattern for a beanie that looks like a strawberry!

Too cute for words and quite easy to knit. My goddaughter, Ivy, looked very cute in this.

Cute Baby Beanie

2010-05-07T14:24:00.002+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

After the dinosaur, I wanted something easy... something mindless... that would be completed without stress. And a baby beanie for my cousin's child turned out to be just what I needed.

Terrifying, Isn't He?

2010-05-07T14:23:00.002+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

The finished dinosaur had teeth that stuck out at the wrong angle and so made him look quite scary. Also, in stuffing him to give him shape, he stretched in all the wrong places so his head is more round than I would have liked.

Love his eyes – special toy eye buttons. And I loved his nails being a different colour, but wished they'd been knitted as one piece rather than separate ones.

All in all... alot of work for what is quite an ugly soft toy. Though he was appreciated by my nephew which is the important thing.

All the Pieces are Coming Together

2010-05-07T14:17:00.002+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl

Here are all the bits and pieces that had to be knitted and then sewn together and stuffed to create the dinosaur. The knitting was the easy bit!

Knitting the Dinosaur

2009-02-14T13:17:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
I had promised to make this from a long, long time ago.... I gave up trying to find the yarns Zest and Totem, so decided to be thrifty and use some of the acrylic I had in my stash (probably an op shop find). Panda's Magnum 5ply (navy blue) and Needleworks' Craft Time 8ply (beige).

The pattern is from Patons' Book 1227 - Dinosaurs - and the Tyrannosaurus was the best looking of the lot of them. So far I'm upto the second side of the body/face. But it has alot of parts to it and even enlists pipecleaners for strength in the legs and arms! Yikes, this one is sure to test my patience.

The prettiest yarn!

2009-02-14T13:11:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
What can you do when Cleggs is having a sale and they have balls of Grignasco Tango for $3.50! It's too much.

So I bought two balls and started to ponder... the colour seems like spring, so a lightweight scarf seemed right. I've just made up the pattern - using 4mm (6 rows) and 10mm (4 rows) needles - it creates a lacey feel without detracting from the tweed flecks in the yarn.

Baby Jumper for James

2009-02-14T13:06:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
This pattern comes via my mother from a Cleckheaton baby book (Design 3, not sure of the pattern book number).

I used Cleckheaton's Merino Bambino 4ply in a blue spotted 100% wool. The spots are a bit much in the end and take away from the really simple design.

I just need to add a button to the neck and it's done. Very quick knit and I actually enjoyed sewing it together!

Not quite Missoni

2009-02-14T12:24:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
I wanted to create something from scratch and had seen patterns for scarfs knitted lengthways. I decided to use the leftover yarn from Kim's blanket and cast-on as many stitches as would fit on my needles. It was a real nightware to knit, and I had to add the fringing to give it the length I wanted, but it turned out quite well.

Present for Kim, completed October 2008.

Writstwarmers

2009-02-14T12:19:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
I searched high and low for an easy wristwarmers pattern... and in the end I found this on the net, but altered the sizing a bit (Twin Rib Fingerless Mittens/Wrist Warmers by Dawn Adcock - I think).

I can't remember what the yarn was... I think it was 100% wool and it was a greenish shade of grey... It was a hard colour to use, as it wasn't a pure grey. I think it was one of the brands stocked at Kmart.

Anyway... the finished size was a little bigger than I'd like. So will need to work on this. These ended up as a present for Liz... I always think of her with anything in a green shade!! I hope she gets some use out of them.

Syd's First Tattoo

2009-02-14T12:09:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
A close-up... by the time I got to duplicate stitching the skull and crossbones, I was having a few issues. It's quite hard to see black stitches! So I got the scull done, but gave up on the crossbones... it's still looks OK.

Completed sometime after June 2008.

Baby's First Tattoo

2009-02-14T12:07:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
A little knitted jumper for Syd... he's such a rock'n'roll kid.

From "Stitch'N'Bitch Nation" by Debbie Stoller, pattern by Delia Lam. I used Shepherd's Colour 4 Me 8ply 100% wool. It's my favourite baby yarn and it comes in the most amazing colours (I've used it for baby socks, too).

Scarf for Christian continued...

2009-02-14T12:01:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
All rolled up and ready for sending...

Scarf for Christian

2009-02-14T11:57:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
For Christian's birthday, I tried my hand at using some Paton's Patonyle which is 80% wool and 20% nylon. It's meant to be good for socks, but I had picked up a pattern book which featured some lovely hats and scarfs, as well as socks (Patons Book 1239).

I choose the broken rib scarf (pattern 25) and used a variegated blue-grey yarn. I think the colour got in the way of the texture with this one... but it still came up quite nice.

Completed June 2008.

Kim's Blanket continued...

2009-02-14T11:36:00.003+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
A close-up photo. The finished size was 5 by 5 squares (cast on 26, stocking stitch for 29 rows, then cast off). Completed in December 2007. I would love to learn how to crochet the squares together.... next one!

Kim's Blanket continued...

2009-02-14T11:29:00.002+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
Ta-da!!! It took a while and it does look a little crooked and uneven, but how pretty is it?? The sheen of the yarn is just beautiful!

Kim's blanket

2007-09-23T12:19:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
With the squares done... knitted with Ecoyarn's Soysilk Pure (in black, cabernet, marigold and tempest) on 4.5mm needles (26 stitches cast-on over 29 rows to make 10x10cm)... now I have to finish sewing them together and add a border. I must get over my dislike for sewing/finishing.

A teddy for Syd Francis

2007-09-23T12:13:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
No pastels... but still cuddly and cute. A stripey teddy for Syd. I want one for myself now!

Cream ribbed scarf

2007-09-23T12:12:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
A few months back, I felt the need to knit something without a pattern and quickly and for myself. This is the result. Quite like Belinda's ribbed scarf, but using up the last of the Jet yarn (from Julie's belt).

For baby, Syd

2007-06-17T17:55:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
For Kara and Per's first child, Syd Francis, I wanted to put together something quickly and with a bit of quirkiness. These took not long to knit up (the hat is the same as Bailey's) and I added the grey colour to create a bit of interest. Per is against pastels!

Phone cosy

2007-06-17T17:49:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
I just felt like doing something quick and easy. So decided to do this, just using leftover yarn from Ryan's cube. I knitted it in two pieces then sewed them together... it would have been heaps quicker to knit it in one piece.... but I didn't follow any pattern, I just made it up.

Lacework looks like a boat

2007-06-17T17:34:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
This was my first effort with lace... so I am happy with the result. It has a little flag at the top of the mast.

Eyelet Ships Cardigan

2007-06-17T17:14:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
I got a little ambitious and started knitting this cardigan from Paton's book 5000 ("A complete wardrobe of hand knits for baby") using 4ply 'Big Baby' in white and 3mm needles. Eight months later and plenty of procrastination and other knitting projects and this cardy was given to Bailey for his first birthday. Phew!!!!

Sock it to me

2007-06-17T15:45:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
A close up of the socks. The patonyle yarn has a nice sheen to it.... 80% wool and 20% nylon. I probably should handwash these, but as they are bed socks, they are looking worn quickly, so I just chuck them in the machine. Only one and a half balls used. I need to make some more.

My first pair of adult socks

2007-06-17T15:35:00.001+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl
Following on from the baby socks, I decided to jump into adult socks. I bought Paton's book 1239 ("Patonyle Accessories for the whole family") and picked the simplest socks to begin with. Using Patonyle 4ply in black and a set of 3mm bamboo dpns, I made these socks in about 3 weeks. Casting on was the fiddliest bit, but once I was going it all was quite easy to do (as the baby socks used the same concepts and basic design).

I did have to restart these... as my original pair were large enough for Big Foot... but these have become my bedtime faves.... though they are all fluffy and not as nice looking now, but they keep my feet warm.

My first pair of socks... or Bailey's

2007-03-12T09:00:00.001+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.
I've been interested to try my hand at socks... some knitters seem obsessed with socks and that's all they knit. What could possibly be so thrilling about them?

I found a pattern in Yarn magazine (Issue 3) for a beginner's pair of socks, perfect for a toddler. I already had the yarn (Shepherd's Colour 4 Me 8ply), so just picked up some bamboo dpns and jumped in.

Once I got the hang of how to hold 4 needles, I was rockin'!!! And are these not the cutest socks ever?? So now I have to try "real" socks....

Belt it out

2006-12-19T12:08:00.001+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

For Julie's birthday, I decided to branch out and try something different... opting for a belt from Metro Issue Two, which has all manner of funky stuff to choose from.

I'm just not sure that the finished belt is as wearable as I first thought. I ended up using twice as much yarn as the pattern asked for, and had to make it the length I thought best from the photo and measuring on my own waist... so either the pattern was waaaay off or I have a waaaaaaaay thicker waist than the model in the photo.

So knitted belts... hmmmmm.... cute in theory, but are they practical?

We have lining...

2006-11-26T20:17:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

I even got the sewing machine out to do the lining... and it was so quick and easy... I spent more time umming and ahhing on how I was going to put it all together, but it wasn't that hard.

I'm really happy with how this has worked out... would love to make more...

Kara's purse

2006-11-26T20:13:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

Trying to learn from what I had done with Kim's purse... I went smaller, repeating a pattern over and over... and this time I included lining, which wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Not sure if it looks like it, but I was going for a 1920s style... I really love this stitch combination...and being able to see the lining poking through.

Tassle

2006-11-26T20:08:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

A close-up of my first every tassle... makes a cute finish to the zip.

Trees and beads

2006-11-26T19:59:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

A close-up of the tree design with beads added along the trunk.

Kim's purse

2006-11-26T19:56:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

On purchasing the Vogue Stitchionary Volume 1, I had to test out some of the funky stitches. This one reminded me of Kim, as it is a fir tree. Originally the panel was to form a scarf, but I realised I hadn't allowed for the edges to curl inwards, which would mean I would have to double the work and do a second version of the panel to make the scarf reversible.... way too hard... and not worth it, as Kim lives in Brisbane!!!

Instead, I made two idenical panels, added beads, a zip, a tassle and voila, a purse is born. It is a little flippy floppy, but it is soooo pretty, and has many uses.

R-Y-A-N

2006-11-26T19:44:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

Once stuffed the cube grew beyond what I would have liked... and did loose it's straight edges... I think it will make a nice ball for him to chuck around!!

Ryan's name cube

2006-11-26T19:41:00.000+11:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

With my cousin's first son's christening and first birthday approaching... I started racking my brains on presents to knit. I had been showing off photos of Bailey all decked out in cardi's and pants, so it had to be something substantial, but I had less than a month to make it.

I had seen cubes, and it just fell into place that I should spell out Ryan's name on 4 of the sides. It was great fun learning how to do the intarsia and knitting with such bright wool. I am really proud of how this has turned out, as I can almost say I designed it!!!

Pinks, greens and blues

2006-09-05T20:22:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

A close-up of the face washer... very cute.

Dish cloth becomes a face washer

2006-09-05T20:17:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

Sherilyn poses with her new face washer. Using the same pattern as the "company dishcloth", but in a white and a pastel mix. The cotton is soft and durable.

Reds, greens and whites

2006-09-05T20:03:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

I used a ball of red and a multi-coloured ball (red, white and green) together to get the right ratio of red to other colours. It seems very 70s, Aunty Enza to me...

Dish cloth

2006-09-05T19:56:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

I had been intigued by the idea of knitting dishcloths, for a while. I also hadn't worked with cotton, so when I found a pattern for a "company dishcloth" from a library book ("Knitting Pretty"), I just had to try it. It looks retro and it's a really cute thing to have in the kitchen. It is much more sturdy than I expected, and the colour didn't run at all. I find this really good to clean glasses with and wipe benches. So quaint!!

Close-up

2006-09-03T13:53:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

Close up of basketweave scarf knitted for Liz. Pattern adapted from "Stitch 'N Bitch Nation" by Debbie Stoller, page 37. Using Cleckheaton 'Country Naturals' in 8ply on 4mm needles. This took about 6 weeks to complete, but I didn't knit for long stints during that time.

Scarf for Liz

2006-09-03T13:47:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

Time to knit for someone other than Bailey... with Liz's birthday approaching, this green seemed like the perfect colour to create something. I opted for a light drape, so that it wouldn't go unused in the Brisbane climate. And went for a basketweave stitch which created a bit of texture. Quite relaxing to knit, but I always get bored by the end. I was unsure if it needed another ball of wool or not, but chose to keep it smaller to suite the weather. I hope Liz can use this for her ski trip to France next year!!

Pants

2006-08-06T19:35:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

In mid April, I began work on these pants for Bailey. Using stocking stitch, and only a little bit of extra colour at the bands, these were very simple to knit (though I think I got a little bored by the end).

I followed design 3 from Cleckheaton's "10 Simple baby knits in 8 ply" with Cleckheaton's "Country Naturals" in 8 ply on 4mm needles.

I just love this green with the flecks through it. I also made the leg lengths an extra 3cm, as Bailey has really long legs!!!

Another scarf

2006-08-06T19:30:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

As modelled by my sister, Belinda, my second scarf was a ribbed masterpiece.

Needing a change from the cardigan which took roughly 2 months and was almost entirely made in garter stitch. I opted for a quick fix, playing with ribbing.

Ths pattern came from "Stitch 'N Bitch" ("Ribbed-for-Her-Pleasure") and I used Cleckheaton's Country 8 ply on 4mm needles.

As modelled by...

2006-08-06T19:23:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

Bailey shows off his cardigan. A perfect fit, and he's kept warm!!!

Cardigan's detail

2006-08-06T19:16:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

After careful consideration, I went with these cute duckie buttons. Funnily enough, Bailey (or his parents) has a fascination with ducks... heaps of toys that go "quack, quack".

I also like the way the wool's colours blended blues with mauves.

Bailey's cardigan

2006-08-06T19:13:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

By Christmas 2005, I was ready to start to explore garments. Using Cleckheaton's "10 Simple baby knits in 8 plys" (which is just gorgeous due to the muted tones which stray from baby blues and pinks), I decided on the simple knit "Cardigan with Pockets and Raglan Sleeves" (design 2).

I used Patons "Big Baby" 4ply, but knitted double with it, on 4mm needles. I am particularly proud of the pockets!!!

Teddy was proudly brought to you by...

2006-08-06T19:03:00.000+10:00

Patons Book 5000, pattern 16B. He was created on 4mm needles with Patons "Dreamtime". Cute wool!!!

Next came teddy...

2006-08-06T18:57:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

I wasn't quite ready for a garment, but wanted a bigger challenge... so this teddy bear allowed me to play with coloured stripes, finish the piece and even embroider a face!!!

By the time I finished him, I was quite reluctant to part with him, but I knew he was going to a good home. He made a very good Christmas present for my forthcoming nephew!!!

Then came the bootees...

2006-08-06T18:52:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

High from finishing my scarf, I picked up a Patons pattern book ("A complete wardrobe of Hand Knits for Baby" - Book 5000) which not only had some nice patterns, but the "learn to knit" guide.

From here, I endeavoured to follow and complete my first pattern... 13B "Plain Garter Stitch Bootees". Thrilled that my first pair looked enough like bootees that I could consider giving them to my cousin, Deb (as a gift for her first child), I continued to make a second pair, adding knobby things, as an ornament.

I was so thrilled with the feedback I received, I had to keep going....

My first scarf...

2006-08-06T18:36:00.000+10:00

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Originally uploaded by makebgirl.

This is the photo of my first scarf. You can clearly see my "accidental" ridges.... it is very warm.... probably a bit too wide, but I still love the colour and feel of it. And I like its simplicity.

In the beginning...

2006-07-23T19:28:00.000+10:00

I'm not really sure where to start, or even where this will end up... but if I start typing I figure it will unravel as it should. Inspired by the craft blogs that are blooming all over the net, and by my insatiable appetite for knitting, this blog gives me a space to rant about my crafty pursuits without those around me. Let's start at the beginning...

I remember my mother teaching me to knit (possibly aged 12). I learnt to cast-on, cast-off, knit and purl stitches. No shaping... so I would knit really messy rectangular blocks, using whatever leftover wool was given to me and trying to knit long pieces, whilst practicing the stitches. I don't think I realised the difference between knit and purl, nor did I get into ribbing or stockinette. I would either knit the whole piece or purl the whole piece (no wonder I didn't feel inspired, they both looked the same).

My mother would be knitting little baby jumpers, but I don't really have clear memories of what she was doing... guess I was too busy doing my own. I would pick up the needles and relearn to knit every 5 years or so, but I still never made anything. It was more the act that had me fascinated, than the result. In my 20s, there were a few times where I was suddenly struck with the urge to knit and would pick up some needles and wool at an op shop, only to knit rectangles that were never to end nor become an actual object.

When I moved to Melbourne in 2004, I lived with a little Italian aunt, for a period of 6 months. So once again I bought needles and wool and attempted my first "scarf". It was just in knit stitch, in a chocolate brown, but my aunt was enthusiastic and decided to "help" one night by purling a few rows. I was devasted, with the weird bumps that were now visible on my plain fabric. Unable to undo, I kept going making my own weird rows so that my accident looked like part of the design. I got about 80% through the scarf when winter ended and I moved out. It took another 9 months before I picked it up again and decided to finish it (my aunt had made a few remarks about it which made me want to finish it).

So with my first project complete, it was time for a real challenge... my first pair of bootees... but that story can wait for another day. I have some knitting to do!!