Aha

 

Aha, I think the baby onsie is going to work. Now that I've made some progress, I can see where I'm going. I think I'll have enough wool too. Now I just need to get on with it. 

Confusing

 I should really have tested the gauge before I printed out 6 pages of pattern. When I came to make a gauge swatch, the instructions on Simply Sweet by Drops Designs were confusing. It says 34 sts X 32 rows in rib = 10 x 10 cm. Then in brackets, it says 24 sts X 32 rows in stockinette st = 10 x 10 cm. My swatch in rib is way too big, but my swatch in stocking stitch is fine. I've carried on with the onsie, but am making the smallest size rather than the second size and keeping fingers crossed that it won't be too huge.

The pattern is a little confusing too. This is my third attempt to get going and I've made a mistake that I'm going to fudge, after not noticing one of those 'at the same time' instructions. It's a challenge!

First Steps

 

I'm working on a baby onesie for an order. I've spun the wool, dyed it and rolled it into balls. I hope it'll be enough, I have no experience in knitting baby clothes. I looked on Ravelry for a pattern and found one called Simply Sweet, by Drops Designs. I'll have to adapt it a little to match the picture I was sent. The dark pink wool in the picture is to embroider the baby's name across the front, for instance. Since it's a multisize pattern, my first task was to mark the figures for the size I'll be making:

My next task is to check the needle size by knitting a gauge swatch. Then I'll be ready to cast on.

Getting There

 

 I'm working on the second sleeve of my go-around-again cardigan. I may have to pause it for a bit though because I have an order for a baby outfit in handspun wool. I'm not sure that's the right yarn for a baby outfit, but the mother-to-be assures me she'll be happy to handwash it, so I'm off to my spinning wheel. 

More Sewing

 

I spent some time last week preparing a project for the craft group in a retirement home that I run. The idea is to make patchwork shopping bags, sewing the patches together by hand and then attaching them to a machine-sewn lining. First I made a sample. Then I sewed 10 linings. It took me way longer than I estimated, but the job was done in time for Friday's meeting. It's quite a big project, so we didn't finish and will continue next week. The good thing about that is that I don't have any preparation to do this week!

On Saturday afternoon my little sewing pupil arrived with fabric and ideas for an elaborate bag, with gussets (3D was his term), secret pockets, two sets of handles.... We got it done, except for a zip at the top, but it took us four hours. 

Mango Chutney

 I've continued knitting in the evenings and sewing during the day, but I've finished the soap bag order and the jewelry bag order, so now I have a chance to make mango chutney.

The mangoes are bubbling in the pot now with onions, garlic and spices. The mixture will need to cook for an hour, with a stir now and then, before bottling. 

Evening Knitting

 

Progress on my cardigan has slowed down because I've only been knitting in the evenings. During the day I've been sewing little bags for a friend who makes soap.

I've just finished sewing the 50th bag, so that's the sewing done. I still have to thread drawstrings through. The string I had planned to use turns out to be too stiff and difficult to knot, so I will have to make a plan B. I have an order for 30 bags for Anne the silversmith to sew next, so it'll be a while before I can do much knitting.