MOSH-N-TOSH SWATCH

(Sleeve in Rowan Milk cotton without pvc covering)

...This is my finished sampling of an idea to make a waterproof crochet mackintosh, inspired by festival goers and the link to fashion trends. Hence the name the 'Mosh-n-Tosh' (Mosh pit!). I intend to have a full sample garment on display at the up coming Twisted thread shows. I might even get to wear one myself at Glastonbury next year.

...The crochet is sandwiched together between 2 sheets of fabric pvc and joined with interlinking crochet, to form the silhouttee. Ideas are to make reverseable ones, ones with matching dresses and ones with lined backed crochet to help emphasize the crochet and ensure that the undergarments do not detract from the pattern.

(Closeup of the crochet sandwich)

...This is just a prototype where the silhouette was just a means to an end, more appropriate on trend shapes will be made for the full size.

I JOINED TWITTER!

I joined Twitter! Yet another way to big up the net footprint and spread the word of my knits.

You can find me on .....http://twitter.com/quirkylilknits

Please see bottom of this page for latest updates and more links


There are links on there to my Twitpic pages too.....

:)

TOO MUCH IN THE PIPELINE!

...after several days in Yorkshire with my mum (lovely watching the kids play in the sea) I don't seem to have completed any projects but instead have a number on the go at once with no end in sight. Mum and Dad bless them yet again spent time winding my skeins in to usable balls of yarn. This piece in black cotton is another work in progress for the label Bettyb. It is a crochet A-line dress, in a open work pattern which gave me ideas to combine with other stitches to create my own stitch, details below.

....this is my work so far on my cable sample! LOL all 3 rows of it. Typical since this sample is one of many needed to decide on a work for myself. As usual I never seem to get a chance at creating items for me. The cable will be a twist with bobbles with a bobble formed heart rep. in the middle. These cable samples are the beginnings of an idea for a giant chaise longue style piece of furniture which will be covered in very dense cable knitting removable covers. I have begun with this pale pink but think I will end up using an electric pink for impact. I need to experiement more with thick yarns and double strands to form a very textured piece.

....beginnings of my sample for my 'Mosh-n-tosh 'idea. Based on the mosh pit at festivals and the nearly always rain based days of blighty! Certain Celebs have been seen using these venues as a launch pad for style trends, so why not take knit along to help spread the word. My design involves sandwiching together clear pvc fabric with the crochet (Reversable) to make an unusal yet practical raincoat. A little knitted/crochet dress with wellies can be worn underneath. In my design it is being worn with the 'After Kate...' dress (As in Kate Moss) Hopefully I should finish this sample today.

Following on from the Bettyb crochet dress, here I have used my own new amalgamated stitch...think I might call it the Betty Bridge stitch if she doesn't mind.

.....Finally look what I found! vintage Wendy YOYo yarn. I remember working with this yarn about 20 years ago and loved it, I had a pink hoody (LOL long b4 hoddies were on trend!) with a long zip which I wore until it dropped. I found this on Ebay and intend to make a short open backed dress/top with ruffled knicker/shorts for my 'After Dita...' design. This along with 'After Farrah...' will complete the 'After...' collection.

IMPRESSIONISM CROCHET SWATCH

...This is my latest experimentation with the theme of impressionistic paintings from both past and contemporary. I used crochet flowers as often in traditional impressionism paintings the country side or garden is a subject matter. Flowers studied were poppies, daisies, bluebells and roses. Typical english garden.

I used a loop crochet stitch for the grass and a blending technique for the sunrise.

I used Sirdar Juicey bamboo yarn. I love this supersoft eco friendly yarn but think another addition of this theme will probably be better with a more substantial yarn to enable the texture to be more robust. I intend to use this type of sample on bags and cushion covers.

'DAPHNE' SWIMSUIT FOR BETTYB LABEL

This blue sparkle Greenwood mills vintage yarn came on skeins, so I used my vintage eco-wool winder to make balls of useable yarn.

The vintage pattern is from Bettyb label, of which I was commissioned to make this piece. See http://bettybgals.blogspot.com/ . Bettyb makes easy to wear womenswear made from deadstock fabrics and yarn. Available from Mensah boutique, Portabello Road, London, U.K.

...I rewrote some of the pattern to add the required crochet ruffles on the cross-over straps and the leg hem to create a cute playsuit. The ruffles are inline with other Bettyb garments, which are named 'Daphne'.

...front view of the swimsuit.

...back view with crossing over of straps, a buckle or buttons will be added to the back straps. Please keep an eye out on Bettyb website for finished modelled images . ( http://bettybgals.blogspot.com/ )

...a flat view of how the back works with the straping system.

Other Bettyb commissions to follow....

NEW KNITTED SWATCH/SAMPLE

...Latest swatch sample in Rowan milk yarn with bamboo trim. This new sample is for my 'After...' series collection. After Kate (Kate Moss) will be a A-line tea dress using the cable to curve round the chest and the pleats to float over the stomach area.

Roses and leaves trim the lower edge with leaves, roses and crochet decorating the bib chest area.

(bamboo yarn leaf in progress on bamboo needles!)

(close up of bib area)

...After Kate sample being worn on the stand to represent how the different patterns work on the body.

Sample is one of many to be seen at the forth coming knit and stitch events run by Twisted Thread.

AN UNUSUAL FIND IN THE WOODS...

Yesterday evening I set off with my two children to meet my friend Teresa for a drink and game of pool; we both live at either side of Reading University campus. The nicest way to get to Teresa's side is to walk through the woods edging the campus. It was a lovely evening and we hadn't taken this particular route in a very long time.

...suddenly an unusual sight came into view, an art installation waiting to be discovered. The work was by Daniela Pesaresi from the University's Fine Art course. Unfortunately the weather had got the better of her sorry got to say it inadequate signage and therefore I was left to my own mind to think of the meaning or question this art was suppose to create. Maybe that was the theory behind it to do just that.

The installation consisted of cast hands and feet hanging seemingly randomly from trees, strange tub/bird nest type items and a few books.

The main piece was a giant hand in a fist hold, with a clock hung above it. I googled the artist but only found a few images and no information, the images showed the giant hand in different positions.

....the images were taken when there was still snow on the ground and has been left to degrade with time so it seems.....question is what tale does this art tell? answers on a post card please! or failing that leave a comment. My opinion was that it gave a very 'Alice in wonderland' feel, very contemporary considering the recent film release. It gave the surreal feel, with the unexpected discovery of it and the hanging books and clock......curiouser and curiouser

YAY! I WON I WON I WON!

Following on from my previous post for 'knittting' magazines vintage competition in Rowan yarns, I was contacted a few days ago to let me know that I had won! ( http://angelhatton-quirkylittleknits.blogspot.com/2009/06/rowan-competition-dress-update.html )

Katy Evans the assistant editor said "the dress was amazing and we at Knitting and everyone at Rowan was in agreement" (Quote).

...as the winner I have a upcoming feature in knitting magazine and £100 of Rowan yarns.

.....as a person who has no luck in competitions this is a biggy! but mostly I am excited that I will get my work in print and in a U.K leading magazine. ( http://www.thegmcgroup.com/item--Knitting-Magazine--1009KM.html#quicklink )

...hopefully I will be in a position to display this dress at my stand at the twisted thread shows 8th October to 11th October. ;)