knitting | clarinda kaleidoscope

I have been able to knit since a young age and I go through phases of being madly into it and then not doing anything for a good couple of years. I was certainly having a dry spell but since I’ve started sewing and reading blogs I have been inspired by a number of sewistas who finish off their handmade clothes with a funky little cardigan and so I have gotten into it again. I have a number of WIP but did want to show you a little lace beanie I made which has had SO much wear already. I found the pattern in KNIT magazine.

I really needed to concentrate on the lacy pattern so I couldn’t really knit whilst I watched TV so it was pretty much completed on my commute. It was my first experience of circular needles and I have become a huge fan and now knit using them even when the pattern doesn’t need circular needles.

The wool is Sublime cashmere merino silk dk – I have already bought another 100g in an inky blue to knit another as this one has proved to be super versatile.

Worn on my birthday for a walk across the South Downs – this is the lunch stop – champagne in a beaker.

Selfie on the beach with the family in Gand background

Selfie on the beach with the family in the background

I tend to knit every day on the tube and train into work. I keep my WIP in this little bag I made during my first workshop at a Clothkits – I have had some odd looks when I open my Mulberry and pull out my knitting. I am currently working on a variety of squares to make a blanket for my daughter.

On the sewing front, I just wanted to share a little peak of how my lace dress is coming along.

Week two of four at Sew a Over It lace dress workshop

And finally, I am LOVING Sewvember – so many interesting glimpses on a daily basis. Have a peek on Instagram at #bpsewvember. So much inspiration; so little time.

Toodle pip,

Clarinda x

OWOP was great fun for me; I threw myself into it and found it very rewarding in more ways than one. I entered the daily prize giveaway being run by Handmade Jane and was lucky enough to win three patterns of my choice which had been generously donated by SewBox. I spent ages poring through the huge range on offer and in the end decided upon patterns which keep popping up in blogs: Hawthorn by Colette Patterns; Gabriola by Sewaholic and Anna by By Hand London. I hereby pledge to make all three garments and blog about them in due course.

It’s funny, I was going to put a time limit on that ( the end of the year) but I am already building up such a backlog I decided that it wouldn’t be wise. Already cut and ready to go are a Megan dress from Love at First Stitch and a Yoke Top from Learning to Sew with Lauren but they are going to have to wait a little longer because I am doing my first piece of pattern testing ( which I am very excited about – also apprehesive as it includes a number of techniques I have never used before) which has a fast approaching deadline. As if that wasn’t enough, I had also promised myself that I would make a VNA top to run in for the Chichester Half a Marathon in two weeks and I haven’t even sellotaped the pattern together yet for that one.

Finally, whilst there is a lot going on in my head on the sewing front at the moment, in practical terms it’s currently all about knitting. I have embarked upon a patchwork blanket as a present for my daughter who really loves her wrapping herself up in a duvet on the sofa. I am using Martin Storey’s pattern for the knit along on Rowan earlier this year. Some of the wool arrived this week – I am ordering it in stages as it is so expensive. I do have a deadline for this one – 25th December. There are forty eight squares and a cable trim. I have done five squares – wish me luck!

Toodle pip,

Clarinda