Stylecraft Sweater in Cabaret Forest Glade – FO

There is nothing subtle about the banding created by the yarn.

Well I’ve finished Middle Mudlets’ sweater and she has declared herself very happy with it. She doesn’t normally go in for sparkly things that much but she really likes the effect of the shiny thread that is wound through the yarn. The three-quarter length sleeves and the roll neck are another new feature for Middle Mudlet but as she gets older, her tastes are changing and, to a very small degree, she is starting to shake off some of her tomboyish ways.

Advertisement

Jumper Dress in James C. Brett Rustic Aran Tweed: a triumphant finish

This dress sits neatly just below the knee.

Well it took some doing but I finally finished my jumper dress and I have to say that I love it. It is so warm and comfortable to wear and I would absolutely recommend the yarn and the pattern. The only adaptation I made was to knit the sleeves slightly shorter, so that they sit more three quarter length. The dress sits neatly just below the knee and can be worn either with leggings or boots and thick tights and definitely looks better on a body.

Jumper Dress in James C. Brett Rustic Aran Tweed: Summer Sunshine and Winter Knits

Summer sunshine and winter knits

It struck me as rather incongruous to be sitting in a sundress, with the sun beating down, temperatures of 23/24 degree heat knitting an Aran weight jumper dress but it didn’t stop me doing it. I simply refuse to sit indoors and moulder when the sun is shining and I have the chance to enjoy the summer sunshine. Fresh air and the need to soak up as much vitamin D as I could, saw me pack my project and its’ HUGE ball of yarn, into my craft bag and head outside. 

Jumper Dress in James C. Brett Rustic Aran Tweed

Rustic Aran DAT32 jumper dress

With Little Mudlets’ Rose Trellis jumper dress completed, I turned my attention to my next project. When I had ordered the yarn for the Rose Trellis project, I had also found and bought a pattern for MY next garment and the pattern had been carefully stowed away, awaiting its’ turn.

Tunic dress in King Cole Riot dk

The tunic I’m making and the yarn

Having experienced the challenge of Middle Mudlets’ pretty but complicated lace sweater, I opted for a project which uses a mostly plain stocking stitch for my next make. I found many ‘okay’ patterns whilst I was looking for a project for myself but nothing really sang out at me until, that is, I found a King Cole leaflet with a beautiful pair of patterns on it. One was a sweater dress with short sleeves and the other a tunic length dress with three quarter sleeves. I really liked both patterns but chose to make the tunic rather than the dress this time, although I do intend to make both eventually.

A Parliament, an array and a dress for me

These little chaps are actually quite big

Following the completion of Middle Mudlets’ complicated sweater, I felt the need to do something a little less challenging and so opted to dig out the King Cole tinsel yarn I had purchased a few months ago and make up a couple of sparkly owls ready for the Christmas Fare. I had come across the owl pattern a short while ago, in the local garden centre of all places, and had bought both it and another couple of balls of the tinsel yarn, plus some pastel coloured double knit for faces, ears etc. Now with some time on my hands and no major project waiting in the wings, I gathered my materials together and before long I had completed a little blue owl, much to the delight of the younger Mudlets.

Very lacy sweater in Scheepjeswol Sunkissed: it’s finished!!!

Blocking made all the difference

I have to say that as much as I have struggled with this particular project, I am absolutely delighted with the way that it has turned out and, more to the point, so is Middle Mudlet. Sewing up proved surprisingly easy with the most challenging and unusual aspect being the creation of the neck band.

Very lacy sweater in Scheepjeswol Sunkissed: a labour of love

We think the chainmail appearance explains why Middle Mudlet liked this pattern so much

Delighted though I was when Middle Mudlet not only chose a very feminine and lacy top as my next project for her but also a very pink yarn to knit it with, there have been times over the last three months or so when I have come very close to relegating it to the back of the darkest cupboard in Mudville and starting something else. For some reason it took forever and a day before the pattern was finally engraved on my mind. I pulled back countless rows in order to correct some error or other, on numerous occasions which, taking into account the loops and cast offs that are dotted throughout to create the gorgeous laciness, was an absolute nightmare. Whilst I don’t count myself as a professional knitter, I did believe that I was pretty competent in most areas but my confidence was seriously knocked by this pattern.

Very lacy sweater in Scheepjeswol Sunkissed

This sweater will definitely need blocking to open up the lace work!

I firmly believe that in every knitter or crocheters life there is at least one (and probably more) project that has been abandoned, cast aside, shut away in a dark corner, never again to see the light of day because for some reason, whether it be down to the pattern itself or the yarn used, the crafter hasn’t been able to get on with it, hasn’t enjoyed working on it and so has relegated it to their projects drawer, box, shelf, probably with the intention of revisiting it after a short rest but ultimately not being able to get beyond the feelings the project originally generated, thus resulting in said project continuing to languish unfinished for forever more. If it was the pattern that caused the issues, then there is a chance that the piece may be frogged back and the yarn used again but if the yarn is the problem ………

Lace Sweater in Scheepjeswol Sunkissed: Sleeve finished

The diamond pattern on the sleeve is quite simplistic …….

Being unable to get out into my garden, has meant that I have been steadily working away on my lace sweater and have now finished the first sleeve and I am about halfway through the second. The sleeve pattern is pretty simple when compared to that on the front and back sections but the large diamond design compliments the lace of the body pieces nicely and requires little in the way of concentration which is no bad thing at the moment. As with the instructions with the front and back, the actual leaflet is incredibly easy to follow and, once again, indicates the number of rows that should have been completed at a given length.