off the needles: Miette

Ta-da! She is finished!

I started Miette last Christmas as part of Andi's Selfish Sweater KAL 2016 and now the cardigan is FINALLY off the needles and on my back. Okay, so it took me a grand total of nine long months to finish, but what a journey! 

This is my first ever adult-sized knitted garment and I'd definitely recommend this pattern to anyone contemplating such a feat. I'd long admired Andi's Untangling Knots cropped sweater designs and initially I was seduced by the vintage, 1950s vibe of Miette, (and the fact that it's a free Ravelry download – let's be real), but I fell even more in love with the pattern as I stitched. It's easy to follow and the seamless top-down method meant not only could I try it on as I went along (cue jubilant mirror prancing at every stage), but I didn't have to do any sewing up at the end. Hurrah!

The zigzag lace sections look fancy when they're blocked but are simple to do and I don't think I had any points in the project where I got totally stuck. It's just a really wearable, flattering design.

My version of the cardi is knitted in Drops Nepal – an aran-weight alpaca mix yarn. Deliciously soft, really cosy and smooth to stitch with – I'm a fan! It was one of the suggested yarns for the project on Ravelry, and as it's so reasonable and I'm a sucker for alpaca, I knew it was the one. There's a great colour range, too (I shopped at Wool Warehouse). I'll be interested to see how it wears over time. Have you used it before?  

And obviously I've already decided on the garment I want to knit next. It's this sausage dog jumper by Amanda Jones, in mustard yellow of course. What on your needles at the mo? 

Cardigan: Miette; Gingham dress: old H&M (charity shopped); Bag: charity shopped; Boots: Clarks Originals (hand-me-downs)

sustainable style and where to find it

You know and I know that this isn't a fashion blog, but I'm a charity shopping, clothes swapping girl at heart and I think keeping integrity in mind when buying anything is really important. Lately, I've seen a couple of fantastic bloggers putting more of an emphasis on sustainability in a really exciting way, so when ethically-minded online store Uncommon Goods (they're fab for personalised gifts, check them out here) approached me to take a look at their latest collections, it seemed like the perfect way to dig into this idea a bit more. Here are some of my new-found favourites for sustainable shopping, browsing and inspiration.

When it comes to ethical brands, a few spring to my mind immediately - People Tree, Traidcraft, Decorator's Notebook, but have you shopped at Uncommon Goods? As well as stocking organic, recycled and handmade products, they have a sustainable approach to all areas of their business. This includes paying fair wages, working with suppliers to ensure environmentally and socially responsible production, and customer-directed donations to non-profit organisations. They have a brilliant blog as well where you can get to know more about their makers and staff and find helpful design inspiration and tips. 

And this ethical approach isn't at the expense of style, oh no. Their selection of gifts, accessories and homeware is definitely design-led, fun and unique. If you're after birthday gifts, take a look here.
The crafty supplies and quirky treats caught my eye straight away - these are a few of my favourites. 

1. Double Bluebird Yarn Bowl
2. Blooming Spoons Necklace
3. Library Card Socks
4. Literary Candles

There are loads of super-cute gifts for baby, too – have a nose here. Eyes peeled for the knitted sloth mobile!

For sustainable style inspiration, where better place to start than with a hashtag? #slowfashion (or any of its many variations) is pretty broad, but will help you track down fab handmade stuff, plus bloggers and brands you may not have come across before.

#ethicalfashioncollective is a brilliant hashtag to search on Instagram or Twitter to find like-minded, planet-loving folks blogging and posting about (you guessed it) ethical fashion. I've found this really handy in terms of discovering which high street brands are the most ethically sound. Take a look! 

Images from The Owl and the Accordion

Said hashtag was dreamt up by bloggers Mel Wiggins and Vicky Haynes. I've long been a fan of Vicky's The Owl and the Accordion blog and love her pattern-tastic, wearable style and her dedication to affordable, sustainable fashion. There are also some super pin-able craft tutorials on her blog, too (I'm bookmarking the wreaths for winter)! Definitely a place to go for inspiration.

Image from Chic Ethique

Chic Ethique by Lauren is another blog you need to check out for beauty and fashion. She shares my love of knitting and Jane Austen, and I really admire her feminine, less-is-more ethical style. Oh, and she has SUCH dreamy Insta feed! I mean…

And a shoutout to Vikki of Susty Girl is a must (we totally went to the same uni, she's a sweetheart) - stop by for the latest sustainability news (including fashion), blogger and indie business motivation and fantastic practical tips for sustainable living. It's pretty empowering stuff. I always learn something new when I have a read. 

Image from Susty Girl

I'd love to know if ethical style is your thing. Where do you shop and find inspiration?

Disclaimer: While I was compensated by Uncommon Goods for this blog post, all opinions are my own and based on my personal experience.

off the hook: doily t-shirt rug

Another side effect of moving home is nesting syndrome. 

The new gaff is a bit of a blank canvas and feels awfully shiny and modern after having spent a couple of years in a crumbly Georgian building (waaaay fancier than it sounds). Consequently, each day I'm battling a compulsion to festoon everything with yarny gubbins. And sometimes I give in. 

When I came across some forgotten cones of super-chunky jersey t-shirt yarn while unpacking, I knew they were destined to be a giant doily rug! Pinterest came up trumps and I settled on this free crochet pattern from the Crochet in Paternoster blog. I was after something really pretty and lacy to balance out the bulk of the yarn and this pattern was perfect. It was really easy to follow, despite being in US terms, because it's in step-by-step form with an image for each round.

This was my first time using jersey yarn and it was a lot easier that I thought it was going to be. I was expecting to really wrestle with it, but it's incredibly stretchy. I used a 12mm crochet hook and just shy of two cones of yarn. It's only 12 rounds, so it's not as big as I would have liked (62cms across), but I am happy with how it looks. Perhaps if I'd had more yarn I'd have adapted the pattern and made it bigger. For now our hallway is suitably spruced and I'm thinking of crocheting some yarn baskets with t-shirt yarn. Can anyone recommend a good pattern? 

latest stitches

It's happened again. I'm in an 'I want to simultaneously make all of the things' phase,  where I totally can't finish anything. I've been neglecting the orange jumper, and have promised Mr P that as soon as I finish the back of it I'll make his second mitt. Er, you know, those mitts that were meant to be for Christmas. The less said about that the better. And then today I found an adorable baby project that I can't wait to knit, and I actually have some yarn for it. I mean, how often does that happen?  Surely that means I have to cast on right. this. second?

I'm just gonna kick back and enjoy feeling excited to make stuff. The one thing I have been diligently plugging away with is the use-up-any-old-random-pinkish-yarn-from-the-stash granny square blanket. Just because it's sooo easy to squeeze in a square over lunch or make a little stack in front of endless Dr Who episodes (we're watching from Eccleston onwards, currently in Donna Noble territory). 

Anyway, here's how the blanket's shaping up. Right this second, we're on 97 squares. If you were thinking 97 squares would make quite a sizable blanket, you'd be sadly mistaken. The journey continues.   

One, two, miss a few

Yup, that really is our carpet under there. 

Are we nearly there yet?

gosh, darn it!

My debut darning attempts

In May I got my Make Do and Mend on and went along to Scrapiana's brilliant 'Strictly Come Darning' workshop. Read all about it on the Simply Knitting blog. I certainly learnt a thing or two, and have since found that pretty much all of my socks and tights could do with a strengthening darn on the heel. I may have my work cut out! Do you dare to darn?

off the needles: little knitted hearts

Hello lovelies!  I hope you've had a peaceful, or brilliantly raucous, Christmastime.  I was holed up in the Shire (Devon, not Middle Earth) with The Chap and his family and 'twas splendid.  Anyhow, now we're back to some semblance of normality I can share this year's Christmas crafts.  

These dinky hearts were the I-cord project I mentioned in the last post.  I knitted a load of I-cord tubes, then threaded them with wire and shaped them into hearts.  A length of baker's twine or pretty ribbon and job done.  I'm quite pleased and have so many ideas for more I-cord goodies!      

I also rustled up my annual last minute batch of chutney.   It did turn out okay, but the unthinkable happened along the way - my go-to recipe has vanished from the internet!  I used this as an alternative with a few amendments, the addition of smoked paprika and a handful of sultanas.  I would like to be a bit more adventurous in the kitchen and try out some new recipes.  

Do you have any favourites?

lifeboats, jellyfish and knitted brains - the 2012 BACA degree show

Our final show is in full swing at last.  (Hit the link for more info and much better pictures).  It was a hard slog getting the space ready and all the work together, but I'm pretty chuffed with the results.  It's a great exhibition.  Here are a few highlights.  

Well done class of 2012!

Letty all at sea in her Life Raft.  It's okay, she packed paperbacks.  

from inside Camila's  Notions of Home

Alice's exquisite sequin portrait

me and my squiggles

Phew!

where the woolly things are

above images from/whole shoot here

Image from barbarakeal.com

This is artist and feltmaker Barbara Keal. 

She makes scrumptious felt animal hats.  Keal uses 100% pure wool only in natural colours.  This gives the pieces an authenticity and distinct raw quality.  They look like they've sprung from the earth, or been discarded by some wild thing in a deep dark forest. 

Her work was on show at Origin in September, and stood like a meadow sanctuary amid the bird jewellery and neat ceramics.  I asked Barbara why she'd starting making the hats. She said simply "I wanted to be a sheep!  The hats made people happy, so I carried on making them".   She wasn't wrong.  I tried on one of the wispy, woollen creations and immediately began to grin from ear to ear. I felt like Max in Where the Wild Things Are, and had to fight the urge to scamper off into the nearest hedgerow.  There is something earthy and quite magical about them.

I spied her work on the cover and inside the Telegraph's Christmas Food and Drink magazine.  Raid the recycling.  If you find a copy, salvage it!  It's a really beautiful spread; not only Keal's work, but pyjamas, Hunter wellies, snug socks by Toast and delicious Fairisle.  I can't think of a nicer way to keep warm. 

A scribble from my sketchbook straight after Origin. 

eden bath

 Eden Bath has landed! It's a little cultural web garden full of new music, recipes, adventures and crafty stuff too.  Go and explore!   

make one of these!

SIX magazine

SIX Magazine?  What's that? 

Oh, only a fab little publication that's considered the ethical Vogue!  Check out the latest issue here for Nordic knits, Scandinavian beauty secrets* and the chance to get your hands on some yummy Estelle & Thilde goodies. 

*(I may have written page 134). 

Nuno

Since getting involved with SIX Magazine* I've been checking out other online publications and came across the fab Nuno Magazine!

Some review copies winged their way to me and I am accordingly besotted.  It's a great creative resource, packed with quirky projects for knit, crochet, paper and more.  Their focus is on upcycling, so it's vintage and found materials ahoy; ideal for my meagre budget, and green green green!  So, great eco credentials, but is it any good?  In a word: yes. I've already spotted at least a dozen things I want to try, including plastic bag peonies, woolly jumper legwarmers and a tablecloth cloche! 

I'd like to see some recipes or more masculine projects in there, but Nuno really is worth a look.  The latest issue Painted Desert has just come out, and I'd reccommend checking out back issues Rustle and Forest too. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More acoma

* Made, the fabulous second issue of SIX Magazine is now available free, hurrah! 

I heart shoes

Another shoe picture. Can't get enough, obviously.  Snapped these up in my lunch hour on Friday; delicious little flats with big red shiny hearts.  I had to buy them, really I did.  All my other flats seem to have holes in, and these are a virtuous (and bargainous) charity shop find.  They would have been £45 from Office, £7.99 pour moi.  Hurrah!

N.B.  These should have come with a health warning - I have the biggest blisters!  They'll be fine when I break them in, right?

brides and parenthesis

I've mostly been work work working, busting my little regency posterior to earn an honest crust, but a few weeks ago I escaped!  I went to -

1. Devon, apparantly the least rainly place in the UK (it rained). Lovely time with bf and his fam.  This of course involved beach (chips, suncream, bury bf and turn him into mermaid) and picnic (accosted by overly forward duck couple)  Returned with a cache of jewellery bits including a string of pearls, a lovely battered locket and a prickly star necklace - hooray, stash ahoy!

2. The wedding.  A friend of ours got wed.  T'was romantic and magical.  More weddings please!  People are getting hitched left right and centre at the moment aren't they?   

Must briefly pause here to comment on Kate Moss' beautiful bridal look, courtesy of Galliano.  Lovely floaty bias cut dress, that is ever so slightly Rita Hayworth?  Love the peacock detail.  And both her and Lily Allen went for a vintage-esque veil - nice. 

In other news - if ethical fashion's your thing, check out SIX Magazine! P.S. There may be a little beauty piece in this issue by yours truly (there is).   

Where have you been escaping to this summer?

made do and mended

We spent the best part of today setting up at the American Museum for the show.  It was so lovely to see everyone's finished work set out in the new gallery space. And this means?  I have at last completed the make do and mend collection, and had to do scary things like pricing my work (well, you never know).   




The fabulous Miss McHugh of Moonstruck lends a hand (and neck!) for last min pics.  After eating all the nachos and rearranging the furniture, I think we both finally lost it. 

 
Back to the sketchbook again now.  This time next week second year will be done and dusted.  (Cue ticker tape parade and celebratory mug o' tea!)