Author: toryawintersdesigns

Designer, maker, lover of colourful sparkly things.
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Vintage style

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Here’s my not-so-wee baby modelling my latest knit, which I finished off a few days ago.
It’s a vintage style baby cardigan by Sirdar, which was printed in Knitting magazine as well. The yarn is Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton 4ply, part of a bargain bag from Kemps Wool Shop. I paid a fiver and got four balls of this, and six balls of the DK version in grey.

The cardigan was a very easy make, and only took two and half balls of yarn. The moss stitch texture looks and feels lovely in cotton, although the original pattern called for acrylic. It’s a great pattern, and I’d highly recommend it as a quick and cute baby gift.

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Spring has sprung

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I picked these in the garden today –

and then found this little sunflower sitting out on my doorstep!

I knitted the dress in stash yarns – Sirdar Calico for the main colour, and James C Brett Kool Kotton for the contrast. I try to avoid excessive pink, especially as she’s such a little gingernut, and this dress can be worn with her big brother’s old khaki t-shirts. As you can probably tell, she loves it!

I’ve not had much spare time recently as I’m still on tour with Hopscotch Theatre Company, and I’ve just got a part in a play at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow. However, I’m working on a number of small projects whenever I get a minute to myself. Next up is a burgundy cotton summer dress, again to use stash, and Kate Davies’ Manu cardigan for myself.

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Meet Lucy

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I dug out my copy of Jean Greenhowe’s “Knitted Toys” last week, and as soon as I saw this little doll, I just knew I had to make it for my daughter. I say little, but the doll is slightly over 18 inches tall! She’s a proper cutie, with blonde plaits and a full wardrobe of dressing up clothes. I’m going to call her Lucy.

This was a great project to use up some of my scraps of acrylic yarn, so I made Lucy a purple frilly pinafore dress and a traditional button-up cardigan in pink. The pattern includes instructions to make a hat, scarf, mittens, jumpsuit, dungarees, trousers, waistcoat and another dress, so I’ll probably knit up some more outfits in the future.

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New bag designs

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My stash of fabric still seems to be expanding – I think perhaps it breeds when I’m not looking! So, in an attempt to decrease the pile, I made some more bags to sell at the Make Room where I display my work.

First up, is a denim purse made from a recycled pair of jeans. I added a leopard print felt heart, edged in blanket stitch, and bright red textured buttons.

Next, I used the rest of the denim to make another purse, this time with a heart and star detail on the back, and metal jeans buttons on the front.

Finally, I used a felted scarf to make a fringed wool bag with an embroidered flower detail. I added a braided handle made from Icelandic Lopi wool that’s too scratchy to knit clothes with.

Here’s a wee close up of the embroidery – I did it freehand so the proportions of the flower aren’t quite perfect. This is something I’d like to do more of, as I’m only confident with a basic chain and satin stitch.

I’m very busy at the moment with various knitting projects and commissions, but I have lots more bag ideas in the pipeline too.

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Thomas the Tank Engine

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I’m totally bogged down in work just now, with two designs on the needles, a full-time tour to do, and the normal business of housework and childcare. Because of all that, this sweater took much longer to knit than it should have done, and there were lots of mistakes – such as the fact that the sleeves should have been set in. Oh well, my son loves it all the same!