I look back with fond memories on the Year of the Cape 2012 - it was a quietly celebrated. There were complications of the technical kind. However I think we need to put those times behind us now.
capes should be left to superheroes and consulting detectives
I much prefer to benefit from those hours of knitting by enjoying these cushions instead of the slightly ashamed slightly frustrated feeling I had every time I didn't wear the Pilar cape. And to keep them company I made these lovely soft faux-tweed fleecy grey cushion covers, replacing the white Ikea ones I made 5y ago to match the Ikea couch I upholstered (yes I know the white ones never really worked but they did the job) :
In with the new
Out with the old
Other things: My sewing table pincushion foam circles were inadvertently hoovered up so I used the opportunity to make some new ones using a baby bath sponge and...
1. A cut off from a cowl I knitted in the round which was slightly too big:
pincushion made from old cushion covers and off-cut knitting
2. Patchwork car seat covers I made 5 years ago which had seen better days:
pincushion made from old patchwork seat cover
sewing desk replacements: better than the original foam circles
On the subject of pincushions this beautiful cross-stitched pincushion was made for me by my mum and is the pride and joy of my small collection:
Today I find myself wrapped up like an enchilada in metres of aqua Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Perfect for a wet English summer day.
Hard to believe but this has been a beginners guide to knitting blunders from start to finish...and I refuse to entertain the notion that has anything to do with DVD box set distractions.
So this was the pattern that caught my eye in 'Debbie Bliss: Alpaca Silk':
'Pilar' by Debbie Bliss
Looks easy doesn't it?
Well the first stumbling block was that no-one sells Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk any more.
No problem - I've read the books - so armed with a ball of Cashmerino Aran and aunty Maureen's bag of needles I made a tension square and chose my pins.
Garter stitch is easy peasy. In no time at all having flown down the left front and sleeve I was alarmed to discover I seemed to be knitting a 1980's style half-top or doll jumper. My pins were too small or I must have gotten tenser since the tension square. By now I was feeling pretty tense and having un-ravelled 2 months of jumper that was very nearly the last straw.
However not one to fall at the first hurdle, this time I made 4 tension squares and picked 6.5mm needles (the pattern called for 4.5mm). Feeling confident and with renewed fervor, clickety clack, off I shot.
4 months later and with the help of Hedley the moment of truth could not be avoided:
The more observant may notice a minor discrepancy in the sleeve lengths.
I have a feeling that I lost count on the first sleeve in series 1 of Whitechapel and during the denouement I added another 30 rows:
So out came the scissors...
...and chopped off about 10cm of sleeve.
At this point it was all going wrong. Unlike the picture in the book I was looking at holey borders and scruffy seams, plus the cloak/shawl/cape bit wasn't staying put.
So remembering the Mandala quilt - what is the best way of covering up bad workmanship?
EMBELLISHMENTS of course!
Out with the crochet hook for the edge, double row for good measure
a couple of little beads for the tie
and a beautiful handmade button to keep the shawl in place
it will have to do
I'm calling an official end to the year of the cape.
