tiny happy

plant-coloured

Two projects and some plants that I think might have subliminally inspired them.

I'm working on a new jumper - the design is the No Frills Sweater by Danish designer Petite Knit. It's a very simple raglan-style with minimal shaping, kind of designed to be loose-fitting and fitted around the wrists and hem. The special thing about this garment will be the yarn - I'm using some dark green merino hand-dyed by my friend Nikki. She gave me three skeins of it for my birthday last year and I fell in love with its dark fern green vibes immediately. I wasn't sure what to make for a long while, and then I realised it would be perfect fro this pattern, if i had some mohair in a similar colour. So I commissioned Nikki to dye some to match, and I think that must be one of her specialties, because she did an amazing job. The mohair skeins are slightly different shade, but the two work beautifully together to create a really deep colour. It's like knitting with silky ferns! I absolutely love it and know it will be a very special thing to wear.

Another project, though one recently finished, was a skirt made in a brownish-mauve - definitely the same colour family as the hellebores above, picked from the garden! They are so beautiful right now. (For the rest of the year they're mostly all leaves). For the skirt, I used the Estuary Skirt pattern by Sew Liberated designs. It was easy to make over a couple of evenings. I used to try and race through sewing projects and get stress myself out a bit in the process. These days I try to take a bit longer in the hope of a better result. I allowed one evening just for the buttonholes on this skirt and I can report that they are all evenly placed! 

I bought the PDF pattern and am glad I did as I'm sure I'll use it several more times. I think it would look great in a wool fabric for winter, or even a lightweight something for a dressy summer occasion? My favourite part of the design is the comfy elasticated panel at the back of the skirt, but smooth waistband at the front. Clever!

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Working on my projects lately, I've been enjoying catching up on podcasts and the odd bit of new music. Something that combines both is Radio NZ's Mixtape series - have you heard it? It's a bit like another favourite of mine, the BBC's Desert Island Disks, but obviously with a NZ flavour. Last weekend I listened to the Mixtape with musician Hinewehi Mohi and loved the hour spent with her. I recommend having a listen if you're a fan too.

I hope you're enjoying this early spring season, and finding time to do things you love. See you again very soon. 

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birkin sweater + early spring

Kia ora,

Today's blog is coming to you from a stormy eve in early spring. I hope it finds you well, dear reader.

I finished a knitting project last month and realised I hadn't yet shared it here on the blog. It's a jumper, made from Caitlin Hunter's ''Birkin'' design that I first saw in an early issue of Laine magazine and knew I had to knit it. 

For this garment, I used a range of fingering-weight yarns, mostly from Holst Garn and some from Jamieson's of Shetland. I also adjusted the pattern a little so the yoke was less deep - for fit reasons. I'm so happy with my finished jumper and have been wearing it a lot! I'm almost tempted to make another - I was thinking in black with colourful flowers, or perhaps in grey, with white flowers. In the meantime I'm really enjoying this version, and have been wearing it over my favourite linen dress mostly.

You can find more details, including links to the pattern and yarn, here on my Ravelry page.

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In my last post, I mentioned a book I had found that showcases antique quilts from the state of Nebraska, and that I'd include a picture of my favourite quilt for its pages. That's the last photo you see displayed above - isn't it a beauty? It looks like each panel is made from a piece of cloth in various shades of pink, green, grey or blue, then heavily embroidered and appliqued with plants and animals. I find it endlessly inspiring and would love to try to make something inspired by it one day.

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Last weekend we packed the car up with kids and books and escaped the city for a quick break. I've included a photo of the gorgeous wee seaside house (a classic art deco bach) we rented for one night. While at Foxton Beach we ate quite a lot of ice-cream, did some knitting, read some books, walked along the beach twice, sat under cabbage trees in the sun and watched a pair of horses ride through the waves. It was wonderful!

Non-crafty life has been rather full lately, and I feel as though I don't have as much to report here as I'd like! I do have some projects on the go and hope to make more as the weather warms up and the days get a little longer. What are you working on at the moment?

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I've been reading Novel About my Wife by Emily Perkins which I'm definitely into - the writing is beautiful, although the story is quite dark. And I've discovered the latest season of the British show Mum - I absolutely loved the first two, so am looking forward to making my way through that.

See you soon!
M