Picspam!

[girlyswot]

'Birthday' fabrics sent to me by my former flatmate in Philly.


And other good stuff too.


Including these fabulous drawing pins. I love that she sent me these. They are from Target and can't have cost more than a couple of dollars, yet they are perfect and I love them and she knew that I would.



amamama's book bag. There are pockets on both sides of the outside and the denim means that it will be really strong and practical. The babycord is very strokable, too.



But this is what I really love - the lining and the inside pocket. So much fun.



There are no words. *swoons*



Detail of the knotwork.



The pages are A4 folded in half lengthways in a mix of cream, pale pink and pale green with randomly applied gold leaf hearts. The journal is hand stitched. The cover is bound with leather. It is all beautifully done with so much care and thought. It is perfect.




Socks I made last weekend for Sock Madness. The pattern is written so that you knit the leg and foot first in a tube and go back to do the heel afterwards. Halfway through the first I decided to do the heels in the contrast stripy yarn. Halfway through the second I realised I could do the toes in the contrast yarn too. Now I can't decide which one to go back and redo. Thoughts? More pics (with close ups of heels and toes) here.

Comments

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Pretty pink things!

The sock madness socks: is that what's called a Turkish heel? It's what I'm supposed to do on the ones I'm struggling with now because of my bad hands. My lacy tube is now approaching the toe, so then I'll have to do the picking up for the heel. I had to knit two rows in waste yarn ready for picking up the stitches. Is that what you did? Was it tricky?
I love the contrast heel and toe on yours, so I'd redo the plain one.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

It wasn't quite that straightforward. ;) The designer made up a 'special' (i.e. complicated and time-consuming) heel for the competition in which you cast off the heel stitches in waste yarn and then cast on again in waste yarn for the sole. This meant that you could try the sock on while you were knitting the foot to get the right length. The heel itself was actually quite straightforward though there was a long stretch of grafting at the end which I could have done without.

The kind where you do a row or two in waste yarn is, I think, called an afterthought heel. Might be the same as a Turkish heel - don't know.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The method you had to use sounds too complicated for me. I prefer 'afterthought heel'to 'Turkish'. Sometimes people come up with different names for techniques you've known for years and you think it's something new. Like me not knowing that grafting was called Kitchener stitch.

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

Berte's gifts are lovely. I'm especially impressed by the journal.

I like the odd socks. Not having matching toes adds character.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

Yes, other people have said that. To me they just look wrong. Hmm. I am wondering whether it is less effort to reknit one toe or to re-educate my mind in favour of odd socks.

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

If it bothers you, reknit. I know that I would never wear anything that looked wrong to me. Or I would force myself to wear it and it would annoy me the whole time. I don't think it is something you can re-educate yourself not to care about.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

I am wearing them today, unmatched, in shoes where the toe is not visible. I am quite enjoying having the secret. So maybe I'll leave them as they are.

[tdu000.livejournal.com]

It satisfies your inner subversive.

[stmargarets.livejournal.com]

Lovely gifts! I love the fabric from Philly - so you.

Berte's gifts are perfect and perfectly thoughtful (just like Berte). The book bag is practical and pretty and the folder with the paper is stunning and unusual. I know you'll cherish them.

Love the contrasting heels of the socks. I've never knitted, but it does look like a fun hobby.

[girlyswot.livejournal.com]

It is probably a very good thing that that particular fabric shop didn't open until last summer. ;)

Do you have a quilt group in Newfoundland? Or was that something that you just did at the old place because it was there?

[stmargarets.livejournal.com]

LOL - my quilting group was a real life fluff thread. We were together at a playgroup for our toddlers. One of the mothers wanted to raise some money for the community center and suggested making a quilt - if only someone knew *how* to make a quilt. I was the only one of the group who knew how to sew. So I taught them all - we made a quilt (and $2,000 for the centre)- and a few them got hooked on sewing - bought sewing machines - the whole deal. My friend Tina loves the smell of fabric and fabric stores now. :) My work is done.

[amamama.livejournal.com]

:-) Thank you - I'm really happy you enjoy it. And if you still think it's an embarrassment of riches, think again and think of it as an early birthday present as well as a PIF gift. Your embroidery is just so incredibly beautiful and well done, this doesn't even come close. I'm actually thinking about framing it, because there's just no way I'm able to use it as a pillow - it's way to pretty and delicate.