Covid Level 1, knitting haul, MKAL, Vivace Dolman blouse

 Shortly after my last post, Auckland returned to Covid Level 1.  It feels so good to be able to live normally again.  The only differences between level 1 and level none being we should scan the QR code when entering any businesses/shops using the Covid tracker and hand sanitiser being everywhere.  As cases rocket internationally, we are so blessed to be here in New Zealand.  We have had no community cases for a few weeks now, only those being picked up at the border when in the quarantine hotels.

In some ways it feels like we are dodging a bullet.  How long can we stay covid free.  However I will enjoy and make the most of it while it lasts.

New Zealand also had its election.  In large part due to the way our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern handled the pandemic, she was returned in record breaking numbers.  Her party, the Labour Party won by their biggest margin in 60 years.  We have had an MMP parliament since either 1993 or 1995 and this is the first time since then that a party has had enough numbers to not need to enter into coalition with any other parties.

October saw the second of my mystery subscription with Vintage Purls.   This month it was a beautiful pale green 4 ply sock yarn in the colour Liberty.

Also in the parcel was some fudge, 12 wooden buttons and a pattern to download on ravely for socks, the pattern is by Vintage Purls

Sock knitting for me is fairly mindless, but this is meant to be an easy to remember pattern and I do like it, so am tempted to try it.

Prosper Yarns is a Kiwi yarn dyer and has a studio in my suburb.  A few weeks ago she had a studio open day.  I bought this beautiful pink 4 ply from her in the colourway  PS I love you

Look how well it goes with the green from Vintage Purls.  I love this and want to make something, but don't know what.  I could do two pairs of socks with contrasting heels and toes.  However it seems a shame to hide such lovely colours on my feet where no one will see them.

This month saw the start of the Stephen West Mystery Knit Along:  The Slipstravaganza shawl.

Here is my progress so far

Clue 1

Clue 2

 I am nearly finished clue 3.  Clue 4, the final clue, came out last night and Stephen showed the finished shawl - it looks incredible.  

This is all I have knitted on this month.  I am loving doing it.

I've even thought that Vintage Purls Liberty, Prosper Yarns PS I Love You and Kiwiyarna Sweet Sixteen, paired with a pale grey would make a lovely slipstravaganza.  However as I will probably want to do another Stephen West MKAL next year I may hold onto those and see if they can be used next year.  I wear jumpers and cardigans more than shawls.

In sewing I made the Vivace Dolman blouse by Love Notions.  It started off as a dress, however I didn't check the length and I know I always have to lengthen dresses.  For some reason this time I didn't.  When I tried the dress on it was too short for my preference, so I shortened it to a top.    I'm happy with this, it was quite an easy make but doesn't look it, with the pleat and V neck.  It took around 3 1/2 hours sewing time, and that was with having to cut down to a top.

Ochre Cardigan finish, pandemic level 2, MKAL, Yarn club

 Auckland remains at level 2, over the last week I think we had just 3 community cases.  So far our numbers are just under 1500 positive cases and 25 deaths.  Hopefully next week we will move to level 1.

I finished knitting my Ochre cardigan by Ambah O'Brien

It is supposed to be open with a large gap at the front, though that is a style I'm not used to and keep trying to pull it closed.  However this will be a nice cardigan to slip on in summer when it gets a bit chillier in the evenings.  I like the lace details at the hem and sleeves   It definitely needed blocking as I was worried it would be too small.  With blocking it fits fine, though I could really have gone up another size.  I've got over a skein of wool left over, so it took less than 2 skeins of Sweet Sixteen yarn by Kiwi-yarn-a.  Really love the colours and the merino is so soft.

The pattern was easy to follow. This is the first garment I've knit in the round and the instructions were very clear.

I've decided to join in on a Mystery Knit along.  I've often thought why would someone spend all that time knitting something not knowing what it's going to look like, but I have got quite excited at the thought of the Stephen West mystery knit along. We know its a shawl, but that is all.  His designs are all stunning, so I'm sure I wont' be disappointed.

 I signed up for it last week on Ravelry.  You receive an initial PDF saying what quantities of yarn are needed and suggestions for colours.  He also has Instagram videos talking about it and how the colours are to work together.  

This was an excuse to buy more yarn.  There is a shop I've been interested in looking at but hadn't been to before, so I made a trip to Loopine Yarns in Parnell.  There is a wide selection of different yarns, many from NZ dyers. I bought the following

The Vintage Indigo will be the main colour and is by Cascade Yarns, Heritage.  The teal and pink are Peacock Plume and Fascinator by Manos del Uruguay Fino and the peachy one is Jackson, High Twist Merino by Kiwi-yarn-a.

This was my colour inspiration, a photo taken in a dress shop.

The clues are released in parts, the first clue being on 9 October 6pm Amsterdam time, which will be the morning of 10 October in NZ.  Very excited to start this.

I also received my first Yarn club from Vintage Purls.

 The parcel had a bar of salted caramel fudge - delicious. 10 stitch markers on a ring and with 2 row markers, a skein of sports weight yarn called Byte - a sort of petrol blue colour and a pattern download for a hat to make with the yarn.  That was lovely to receive.

Covid19 alert level 2.5, Lyric skirt and poncho finish and knitting supplies

 In my last post I said Auckland had come out of level 3 lockdown.  What I didn't say was that Auckland was going down to Level 2.5 and the rest of the country is at level 2.  Essentially it means social distancing, recommended mask wearing in public places, and compulsory mask wearing on public transport.  This week we haven't had many community cases and we had 4 days with no community transmission.  We find out tomorrow if Auckland can go to level 1.  The rest of the country will be going to level 1 on Wednesday.

I came across a vlogger on YouTube under the name Lifting Pins and Needles.  She likes the same indie sewing designers that I do, with a lot of posts of makes by Love Notions and Itch to Stitch.  She varies up the patterns and is a very accomplished sewist.  One of her videos was how to take the Lyric dress and make it into just a skirt.  I already owned the pattern but didn't really want to make a shirtdress, but I do really like the shape of the skirt which is slightly flared. It is very easy to convert it into a skirt.  The pattern itself is just one piece for the skirt - the front and back use the same pattern piece, so all you do is add a waistband 3" wide by the length of the skirt waist.

A black skirt is always handy and as I wasn't sure how this would turn out I used some black denim I've had in my stash for ages.  

The keen eyed may spot a potential missing button on the front of the skirt.  Nope, it's there I just didn't fasten it - LOL, need lessons on how to dress myself!

I really love how this turned out, it was a quick sew. About 3 1/2 hours, although about 30 minutes to an hour was spent unpicking.  When I was sewing the button band down the fabric kept puckering and I had to keep undoing it.  My fault as I was being lazy and trying to do it without using pins.  Once I used pins to hold the fabric in place it came together just fine.

I want to do some more of these skirts, I'm thinking cotton sateen for a summer skirt and maybe linen.

I also have my first knitting finish.  This is the Minjia poncho, free pattern on Ravelry.

This was knit using Cascades Yarn Melilla in Blue Violet - totally my colours.  It gives this lovely striped effect.  This was a quick knit and took just 12 days, though I knitted this exclusively as I really wanted it finished so I could wear it before it becomes too warm.

For my sock knitting I've been experimenting with different tools.  I bought some DPN's and tried them on the sleeve of my Ochre cardigan, however not keen and have gone back to using 2 sets of circular needles for the second sleeve.  So I decided to try some Addi CrayTrio needles, I think in the US these are called Addi Flyers.

So far I'm enjoying using them.  I've also switched the sock pattern I'm using.  I finished one sock

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This was knit using my standard vanilla sock pattern, cuff down, afterthought heel.  I was looking at videos on how to use the Flyers and Very Pink Knits goes through how to use them using her pattern designed for them, called Socks on Flexible DPN's.  This knits toe up and uses a Fleegle heel which means no picking up stitches - win!  So instead of knitting the second sock the same as the first, I've switched straight over to her pattern and am knitting toe up for the first time.  So far I'm enjoying using the flyers more than the 9" circular, it seems easier on my fingers, less cramping.

I've also sewn some more knitting supplies.  An On the Go bag.  The theory behind this is that you can knit while standing/walking as the yarn sits within the bag, the bag goes over the arm and makes it easy to knit from.  I don't know if I'll use it like that, but it makes a good bag to store my current sock project in.

I also made a zipper pouch that will store my row counter and some stitch markers.  This clips onto the side of the bag, but is also on a long enough cord that it can flip to the inside of the bag, as it is attached to the side it is easy to pull out of the bag.

Finally I also made a cosy for my CrasyTrio needles.

Lastly an update on my Ochre Cardigan.  The first sleeve is done and I'm working on the second.

End of another lockdown, another cast on, cross stitch update and a sewing finish

 On Monday 31 August Auckland came out of another lockdown.  This lockdown was level 3, so not quite as severe.  It is now mandatory to wear face masks on public transport and recommended to be worn in other public places.  I haven't been back to the gym yet as there have been a number of cases in a suburb close to my gym, so not feeling too comfortable going there.  However I did buy myself a spin bike, so I can happily watch some of the classes online and get my exercise in.

In July I sewed another pair of Love Notions Summer Caye pants.  This time I narrowed the legs a bit as I didn't want them as wide.  They are made out of drill from Spotlight.

I couldn't resist another cast on.  Skeinz had some Melilla from Cascade yarns come in that has an ombre effect,  It is a thick yarn so thought I could quickly knit a poncho and still get some wear out of it before it becomes too warm.  I am making the Minjia poncho, this is what it will look like

  

It is a versatile pattern as can be made in various yarns, has options for collar, cowl or turtleneck and can be knitted to whatever length you want.  Here is my progress so far.

I've just done a little bit more on the first of my socks.

Cross stitch progress round up.  First is Ornament Healing Rose

I'm just over half way on this.

The next 2 are screenshots taken from Pattern Keeper as they are both partially hidden on the QSnaps.  All the blank space is what still needs to be stitched.

First is Naida, top of her head is appearing.

Next is Cosmos, the tigers ear is appearing.

That's it for now.