Seppa - Little Things

All those little touches to help bring a character to life.

Ring:

I find myself uncomfortable when I don't have a ring on a certain finger, but I also don't want to lose the special ring off my hand in a forest or field, so a substitute ring is needed.

Behold, Seppa's ring. I tried to be simple, yet just a little bit interesting, and tried to keep with the prescribed colour palette. Unlike Ieri's ring, which has an out-of-character history to it, I found this ring today in a Sainsbury's store.

Pearlescent 'gem' in a silver band.

The torso-warmer or waistcoat:

The camel-coloured boiled wool jersey fabric that will help me stay warm. I got it cut out last week. It needs a little bit of trimming at the sides, but otherwise, it's ready to sew. I picked up some potential clasps and buttons for it. I still haven't decided how I'm going to close it, but I want to try to avoid buttonholes, and go with ties or toggles.

It will need embellishment, I will probably end up using size 3 crochet thread or some sock-weight wool yarn. I'm not expecting it to be on display, it's a middle layer to help me stay warm at night or when the day is colder than usual.

You may have guessed, but yes, I did reuse the top portion of the Simplicity Nativity gilet pattern.

100% wool, boiled jersey fabric.

Neck gaiters:

Instead of wrapping scarves that could come loose and be a hassle; I'm making a few other items to hide the mask's edge.

Crochet neck gaiter

The first is in crochet and I had a pattern, and then went off-pattern to add some visual appeal and to make the stitch pattern obvious. The stitch pattern is a V made of (UK) tr. Where I went off-pattern: I did only thirteen rows of V-stitch, I didn't make it as wide. I added to the pattern at the top and bottom of the tube with single row of (UK) dc, which helped give the V-stitch definition.

I made it in aran-weight cotton yarn.

Crochet neck gaiter, front view

Crochet neck gaiter, back view

Knitted neck gaiter

This one's a freeform thing. I tried to limit the palette of colours and yarns; colours: white, cream, beige, brown, with some blue, there is no black; yarns: mostly cotton, but there is some flax linen, and bamboo-derived viscose in the piece. I mostly stuck to knit and purl stitches, but there are a few yarn overs and attempts to k2tog. It's still in progress. Most of it is knitted flat, but there are occasions where I knit-in-the-round. The 12mm needles are too large for any yarn on its own, so much of it has anywhere from two to four yarns held together. I was aiming for a rustic flavour to it. Maybe Sister Elspeth of Pickham Monastery of the Marchers taught Seppa to knit and this is the result; I'll have to ask the player if they're up for that. She has agreed, huzzah!

Doing this one has been fun; I don't have to panic over pattern, I am free to play, and mistakes are acceptable.

Sometimes flat, sometimes in the round. I haven't settled on the wooden toggles.

Hypothetically the front.

A close up of the various yarns. Cotton-linen bouclé, smooth cotton plaited, and fuzzy bamboo-derived viscose yarns.

Another section. And a hole where I fluffed the yarn over.

These two neck gaiters have been good stash-busting projects; I'll have to do more of them, and maybe a few calf and knee warmers to peek over the tops of the planned leather boot gaiters.

Knitting and crochet... and new glasses.

First off, if you want to see any of these links, you'll need to be logged in to Ravelry as a member. Otherwise, they're not going to show up.

 

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More about knitting. The Baktus is finally finished. Ends dealt with and I put in a tassel at each end as well.

 

Then I did a hat in Rowan Bamboo Tape. I also finished that one with a tassel. I put myself as less than enthusiastic about it because it's too loose around the band, it's a terminal issue I have with ribbing... my ribbing is always larger than the actual plain stocking stitch when it's supposed to be smaller. I think it's because when I switch from knit to purl that it takes up two stitches of space. Meh.

 

I started the Magical Cosy Warmer and finished the actual knitting; I haven't sewn in the ends because I'm still trying to decide if I'm just going to frog it and maybe do it again with 200+ stitches instead of the 160 of the "medium"; which according to their instructions ought to have fitted me. It fits... tightly... Too snug to actually wear with anything else. No. I don't like tight garments. I'm too pudgy for tight garments.

 

Ugh.

 

I was steaming long with the Sycamore Poncho but I stalled. I stalled because of several factors, or excuses, whichever you want to call it. I got the main body done, but the third part where you start doing the netting isn't adding up or I'm not getting it lined up correctly and at the time, I couldn't figure out why. I think I have to go ahead and block it, whilst still incomplete, and then attempt to count rows and be certain I actually have the 60-odd required rows for each panel and then maybe mark where I should be putting in the dc's (US sc's) for the mesh/netting stitches to go in.

 

I want to do more crochet, found several new items, but the truth is, I'm having guilty thoughts about all the crochet pieces started and are 99.9% incomplete, but for things like sewing together and dealing with loose ends. It's the putting together and dealing with the loose ends that I dislike.

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New glasses... I think I'll have to ask for an alteration with regards to my pc glasses. Otherwise, I now have to sit with my nose practically up against the monitor to get clear vision with them. I'm sitting at arm's length from the monitor and it feels far too close, but that's the only way I get a clear vision with these things. I usually sit about 3' to 4' from my monitor. My knees are banging into the computer desk with the new glasses. :( I've already waited two weeks for the lenses. Ugh.

 

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Projects now in progress:

 

"One skein stole my Noro" it's a one-skein of Noro sock yarn to make a scarf. Wrap-n-drop stitches throughout with a row of 'yo, k2tog' lace every nineteen or so rows. I've got to do ten repeats of the 19 rows and so far, I've got part way through the fourth one. I'd like to have this completed before Autumn.

 

The other is one that's been on my 'get started on it' for a few years is a "Knit mesh top". It's the kind of top I'd wear. Loose, simple and not overly complicated. Suitable for wear over a tank top. Another one I hope to complete before Autumn.

 

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Looking ahead:

Winter's projects, assuming I don't completely stall, will likely be several hats >.> It's a good way to burn up surplus single balls of yarn... or balls of yarn over 100gr. If they're under that, I'll have to consider either a crochet or knit poncho/wrap/thing to use up single yarn balls of similar or complimentary colours.

 

I might give gloves a go as well. We'll see. I have the "Purple Sparrows" for fingerless armwarmers as well as "Wizard City Gauntlets" to muck about with.

 

Crochet... "Wrap round my shoulders" is calling to me. Though I might use the Yeoman cannel yarns instead of the other stuff, I like how the cannel holds up.

 

Shawls and wraps are jumping around at me, ones that I've been sitting on for years. Am trying to get enthusiastic about some of them and the rest that aren't, I might look at donating both pattern and yarn to someone for their benefit.

 

As usual, 'We'll see'.

 

a knitting mention... for a change.

So after sitting dormant in a bag for... years? I've taken up an old project, the Baktus scarf, with the intent of finally finishing it. Yes, about time some of these hanging projects got finished. I think for a change I flew in my knitting because I've managed to do about ten inches in the past 12hrs. Astounding.

Part of what kicked off the desire to finish it had to do with my current project: uncluttering my home and disposing of hundreds of magazines that have accumulated for ten years. The craft magazines I'm sharing with other craft friends after I've removed the patterns, techniques and so on that I want from the magazines. My craft friends have gobbled them all up and I think only one, maybe two, actually ended up in the recycling bin out of the 40 or so mags I've so far shared out. And those were just the knitting mags with a half dozen or so painting, beading or other forms of crafts.

The magazine piles are shrinking... I think over the summer I'll deal with the Vogue, photography and non-craft mags, still too many of those piled about.

I guess I should thank the mice for annoying me enough to get on with uncluttering my home.

Antiques

Today's adventure found me a few delightful objects, I'll have to take some photos tomorrow and add them here.

I found an early 1900s inkwell, brass with a leather cover, produced by 'Hawthorne - stationer, printer & co' on 36 Clumber Street in Nottingham.

Several military brass buttons and 'stay bright' metal buttons for various WWII uniforms. I figure they might go nicely on a hat or bag.

A sterling silver albert chain with a slightly crushed bear charm. It seems the bear is hollow and so its belly and muzzle were caved in. Still a delightful little charm about 2cm tall. Now to find a suitable pocketwatch to go with said albert chain.

Now, I'm not into football (either the US variety or the rest of the world's variety), but I did spot a medallion whose shape appealed to me. Sterling silver and engraved on the back...

I.S.F.A.
1936-7
N.E MANS

(hmm, "any man's"?)

I figure it would do for a charm on a bracelet or hat or some such.

The last and largest item was a sewing box. Three cloth-wrapped weights, a packet of Great Yarmouth sewing needles, four brass and nickle thimbles, several wooden spools of vintage cotton and Sylko, JP & Coats and another brand of threads, several plastic or metal crochet hooks and a needle (missing its partner), five pairs of scissors (all slightly different), 3 small squares of lace and two identical larger pieces of lace, some lacy and elasticated decorative ribbon. The box is wood with brass hinges, it's covered in faded decorative flower paper. Tempted as I am to try to spot-clean the paper, I can also see it has metallic effects in the paper and I'd rather not destroy it by trying to wipe it with a damp cloth. Admittedly, it's not in the best of shape, the hasp is completely missing and the corners and edges are a bit dinged. Still, it's a lovely box about 30cm long and about 15cm high. There's a divided wood tray inside. It's still quite servicable in its own way.

I probably paid too much, however, I'm delighted by the objects, they have an interesting feel. And now I just realised I genderqueered... a sewing box, but then an inkwell, albert chain, football medallion and WWII buttons... I guess I tilted towards the masculine...

Anyway, part of my reason for these is yes, I'm a creature for antiques with character, but also antiques I can use and... I think they'll be handy props for the book covers photography project ^_^ Go-go multiple use items!

tension and realisation about knitting

So I have some mystery yarn a friend donated to me, burn test suggests lots of acrylic/nylon in it, with possibly a touch of wool. I'm going with the 5.00mm needles as I suspect it's an aran yarn (it's one of those huge 400g balls). I recall when I did some crochet with it that this fuschia stuff felt thicker than the teal stuff.
Thus the tension tube. I have close to 400g to make hats, I think, and perhaps mittens. Time to practice some stuff out of the Betty Barnden's how to knit with circular & double-pointed needles.

I realise now that I will never be a knitter who does large projects, knitting just takes way too damn long to get anywhere with it.

So, all the sweater projects I'm giving to a friend who only knows how to knit so she has stuff to do if she wants it. To which, I am grateful she has the willingness and patience to do it. I know I don't.

I'll always be a small projects knitter... everything else is just too boring for me.

Toasty is done

And, it's done, after all the drama over the bleepin' thumb hole, the rest of it was easy. Even the picking up the stitches and doing the thumb was easier than making the wretched hole. Go figure. Will I do a second glove? Not sure. Might try a different yarn. Just need some guidance on sewing in and this little beggar's done.

Knitting a Toasty

I love the vague shorthand that is often used in knitting. For example, in a fingerless mittens pattern called 'Toasty', she uses a 'CO'... now, 'CO' could mean 'cast ON' or 'cast OFF'... I assumed it meant cast OFF. It didn't. If you presume 'cast OFF' you get this:



Let this be a lesson to pattern writers, please include an explanation of your shorthand so those of us who don't have telepathy can know what you mean. Tah.

Other than that, I have been ok with the pattern, admittedly, it's my first glove ever, perhaps that's why I feel so frustrated with the 'cast On' 'cast Off' issue. Crochet is 'chain' to start and 'fasten off' to end. No confusion there.

And more about the magazines, leaflets and books

A few more images from the books. No, I won't photocopy these for someone, but I thought I'd present the covers and a few 'not quite close enough' inside photographs.

Phildar - this was given to me by a very kind co-student in my lace class. It has crochet stitch diagrams/charts for all the pieces in here. It does not, however, have any knitting charts.


The Harmony Guide books I got at the same time as the Weldons and Needlework booklets. I am collecting these as I like that they're lightweight and the pictures, instructions and charts are easy to understand. I have trouble with knitting charts, though, they just don't make sense like crochet ones do.

The Mon Tricot Knitting Dictionary I scored last year in a charity shop. Originally priced at GBP10/-, I paid a bit more, but it's still very useful. The stitch patterns are pretty clearly illustrated in black and white, except for the colourwork patterns. Also includes crochet, tunisian crochet and... what my fellow Americans call 'FSC' (foundation sc). However, it has a different name in this book.

From inside the Weldons booklet:

And from inside the Needlecraft booklets:

Well drat...

I was doing so well and was so happy with my progress on the second hat... but then when I tried doing a decrease every 8 stitches, that went ok, then I went to do the second row and I messed up. I tried to tink it and messed up. >.<

So I tried ripping back. Bad idea, I can't seem to get the stuff back on the needles correctly.

Moral of this story: even hats done in simple knits might need a lifeline. From now on, I'll be adding a lifeline on the last normal knit row before starting decreases... then if I bodge the decreases (which I seem to like to do >.< ) I don't have to rip the whole hat to bits and start from the cast on again -- which is what I'm going to have to do with this one.

Oh and... 104 stitches with the Robin Service DK for a hat works out pretty nice, no gaps and not so tight around my skull, so it ought to be just fine for the BISS donation.

Hu-zaaaah.

Another hat from vintage yarn

This one, I cast on 104 stitches on 4mm circular needles and am using the vintage Robin 'Service DK' yarn; it's another of those ancient yarns I picked up for a very bargain price from Violet's. The yarn is dark gray-black with silvery-white streaks in it, it's supposedly machine washable and is 60% wool, 40% 'Courtauld fibre' (likely some kind of acrylic).

About to start the shaping; I've started a second 25g ball, so it looks like the hat will take close to the 50g mark to complete. I have no idea what the length of the yarn is as it's not mentioned on the ball band.

I went with thumb/long-tail cast on and did about 1-2cm of stocking stitch in the round (so, knit every row). Then did 3 rows of purl stitch followed on by going back to knit stitch.

Once again, I'm hoping this yarn will soften up once it's washed.

Last item, while I'm delighted with how it's coming out, it seems a bit too small/tight, I really wanted to cast on 112 stitches, but I also didn't want to redo the cast on because an arm-span this time was perhaps not as generous as with the other and didn't have enough yarn to get the last 8 stitches. Will finish knitting it then wash it and then see if my Darling can try it on. If it fails to fit him, then it'll go to a children's charity instead of the Seafarer's charity (BISS - British & International Sailor's Society).

The hat's done

Poor picture, yes, it's night time and I don't have strong lighting in the room I took the photo in.

Yes, the crown is a bit more pointy than it should be. I think on the next one that I'll do two decreases at each point or find a way to pretty up the decreases so they don't gnome-hat on me again. Used surprisingly little yarn, still have 1/3-1/2 of the navy ball of yarn left.

Still, a success in that it looks like a hat and it was designed entirely by me, no pattern! And that's kinda liberating. I ought to do that more often, learn how to make stuff on my own with no pattern... then I can use any yarn in my stash and not have to worry about it.

Liberating...