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.

Knitting: a Finish, WIP Parade, haul and another lockdown

 On 12th August it was announced there was a person who tested positive for Covid19 in Auckland.  We had gone 102 days without transmission.  Immediately our Government put Auckland  in a level 3 lockdown and the rest of the country in level 2.  As I'm in Auckland I was back in lockdown.  Level 3 isn't as strict as level 4, with people still being allowed to work, so long as they can social distance.  At this stage we are just locked down until 26 August, 2 weeks.  Today we find out whether it will be extended or if we can start going back down the levels from Thursday.

Finish

I finished my socks.

I am happy with these.  I added a few rows to the afterthought heel before starting the decreases.  I think it has made the heel a bit big and I also should have made the foot just a tad shorter.  However perfectly wearable, and these were really an experiment to see how many rows needed to be done, etc.

These were knitted in Regia Valetta self striping 4ply sock yarn.

WIP Parade

Ochre Cardigan.  I finished the body and the collar.  My first time doing Provisional Cast on and did Jennys incredibly stretchy bindoff.

It is looking a bit small so I'm hoping it will block out and fit better.

I've started another sock, using my own instructions.  This time with a 1x1 rib.  I felt the 2x2 wasn't very 'grippy'.

This is knit in Opal Butterfly, a self patterning 4 ply.

And I have a new start.  This is Rievaulx from a PomPom magazine

I had bought 4 Pom Pom knitting magazines and love many of the patterns.  At the same time Skeinz are running a KAN august colour theme; show a project with 2 or more colours and go in the draw to win a prize.  I haven't made anything for 30 years with more than one colour, so I decided it was perfect to cast on a T.  However I didn't have any wool.  So I went to the Skeinz website and ordered Orb Fine 100% Merino 4 ply in the colourways Mist, Florence and Venice.

So this takes me to haul:

While I was there I decided to also buy some wool for another jumper I like.  For this I bought  Southlander DK in the colourway Oatmeal, along with some white laceweight 70% Mohair 30% silk.

This will be for another pattern from PomPom magazine Autumn 2019 and is Fata Morgana

All the wool in this haul was bought from Skeinz. I have more haul coming this week. I will reveal that in the next post.

A little bit of knitting and computer disaster.

I don't have much to report.

I started the Ochre Cardigan and completed the yoke.  The sleeves are divided off onto waste yarn.

I"m loving this yarn from KiwiYarn-a.  It is so soft to work with.

I'm also wanting to finish my first pair of socks before winter is over with.

So I followed the instructions I was given in the shop and that are on the ball band.  Which is to start one sock from the outside after the yellow waste yarn, then start the second from the yarn in the centre of the ball, after the yellow waste yarn.  As you can see, I'm not going to have 2 identical socks.  Oh dear.  However I will perservere.  These will probably only ever be worn under trousers, so hopefully won't be too obviously different.

Now on to my disaster.  As everybody knows you should always back up your work in case your system crashes.  I have never had a system  crash in 30 odd years of using computers so got lazy.  Mistake.  My tablet completely died this morning.  I had all my progress from my cross stitch charts on Pattern Keeper and all my knitting progress and notes in Knit Companion.  I"ve lost them all.  I'm having to go through and mark off what was done in Pattern Keeper.  Not so easy is my knitting.  I had marked in Knit Companion what size I was making for my Flax jumper and ochre cardigan and made notes and recorded rows I was up to.  Now I am going to have to figure it all out again.  Lesson learned.  I will always back up.

Knitting haul - a swift!! and another project bag, started Ochre Cardigan

I had an exciting knitting haul this week.

I got a ChiaoGoo Amish Swift, a KnitPro ball winder, both from Knitnstitch,  and some hand dyed yarn called Sixteen, 100% Merino and some stitch markers from Kiwiyarn-a.

Attached to the yarn were lightbulb markers and the cute little wooden "Handmade with Love" buttons.

Of course I had to play straight away

Here is the yarn on the swift

And here it is caked up - so pretty.

I'm going to make the Ochre Cardigan by Ambah O'Brien, a paid pattern on ravelry.  I should just need 2 skeins of yarn for this, but that was going to be cutting it close, and I may want to lengthen it, so I bought an extra skein, just in case. It was swatched the same day, and is now cast on my needles.


I also made another knitting project bag.  This is out of the leftover fabric that I made my friends bag in.  It is a large drawstring bag, with a handle.

Specialty stitches from my sewing machine decorate the bottom band.

Plenty of room inside for a large project and 2 roomy pockets.

I've also had some colourful visitors to the garden. These lorikeets are enjoying the oranges on the neighbours trees which I can see from my living room.