WIP Wednesday – Diamond lace kimono

Happy Wednesday readers!

I have to say it’s been a bit hard to knit or crochet today, as it’s been super hot in Melbourne! But I realised that there is a project I have yet to share with you.

A little while back, I may have mentioned that my lovely nana sent some yarn in a parcel and I have decided to follow the current fashion and use it to make a lacy kimono. I feel like kimonos have been everywhere this season, and I’m very happy to me making one (which I probably won’t use until autumn, but that’s okay!).

The pattern I’m following is a free pattern by Kaitlin Blasing from Originally Lovely. I love this pattern, the only issue is that the gauge was a bit confusing to me. It read 16 stitches = 10 cm , but I’m not sure how many rows, or even if that was using stockinette. Oh well, I’ve started and I shall see, but it seems good so far, I think I will definitely fit in (I’ve tried wrapping it around me and so far so good!)

Here it is, isn’t the pattern lovely?

I’m really looking forward to finishing it, it’s supposed to be knitted in one piece starting from the bottom and I’m almost at the neck, yay!

What have you been working on this week? I’d love to know ☺️

WIP Wednesday – Chunky jumper

Happy Wednesday lovely readers!

In view of my move to Melbourne in a couple of months, I have decided to start crocheting and knitting more winter wear (it’s really cold down there compared to Brisbane). I haven’t knitted a full jumper in a few years and I though it was about time to get to it again. My nana recently sent me a parcel with some lovely aran weight yarn, so I decided to go with a chunky jumper. The pattern is the textured jumper with stripes from Isabell Kraemer, and I already have my eyes set on other patterns from her (I honestly love most of her patterns, I’m going to have a hard time choosing the next one!). Because I haven’t knitted anything big in a while though, I decided to go with one of her free patterns first, just to get back in the swing of things. Also, the jumper is meant to be textured but I decided against. I am adding a few extra colours to my jumper, and I thought it would be too busy if I added a pattern on top of that.

I’m pretty happy with how it’s going at the moment, I am making stripes on the main body of the jumper as well (white and light blue), but I want them to fade, so I had some maths to do, we will see if it turns out okay!

I also want to crochet another shawl from Addidae Designs, Swaye. It’s so beautiful, and I have chosen those three colours, with the pink as my feature colour.

What do you think? I’m probably going to start this on my way to Europe next month, I might as well make use of the 26 hours of flight!

WIP Wednesday – Hermione’s everyday socks

Happy Wednesday!

Just a quick one today, as this week seem to be running away from me 😅 I have some progress on the Hermione’s everyday socks but I have actually mostly been working on another project. I will show that to you next week, as I feel like there isn’t much to show you right now 😊

Here is where my sock is, I’ve finished decreasing the stitches to my preferred foot size, and all I have to do is knit the foot! I absolutely love how the heel turned out, it was my first eye of partridge heel and I think it looks beautiful! Hopefully I’ll have started the second sock by next week 😊

English paper piecing

Happy Wednesday readers!

A couple of weeks ago, a saw a really cool post on Kais (Empress Fibres) blog: a tutorial to English paper piecing! I have always been intrigued by this and the tutorial was so well done that I decided to jump right into it! I first wanted to use scallops shapes but I realised that I was way over my head with the curves 😅 Maybe when I get a bit more practice!

So I ended up going for a jewel shape, I really like it and it’s only straight lines, so manageable for a total beginner!

I decided to print out my own shapes, I printed them on carboardy paper, and they’ve been holding their shape quite well! I used a free template I found on Google with a bunch of shapes, so I’m prepared for the years to come!

I just really enjoy it, it’s super relaxing and there are so many possibilities! This is what I’ve got so far.

Do you see the hearts?

I wish you guys a great end of the week! ❤️

WIP Wednesday – Mercury socks

Happy Wednesday readers!

I hope you are having a good week so far, mine has been pretty busy after the break last week. I have been on a sock rampage, I have only started those Mercury socks on Sunday and look how much I’ve done already!

I have turned the heel already and have started knitting the foot. I really love how the yarn stripes, the colours are just so cheerful! The pattern I’m using is a free pattern on Ravelry from Kim Drotar and I like it a lot, especially how easy it is to remember. I’ve also been loving my new 9 inches (30 cm) circular needles, they are just so good for this type of socks and I feel like they’ve made it much faster.

I also have received my yarn order finally! yay! I got 4 colours and the yarn is from Scheepjes (it’s Catona which is mercerised cotton). I followed your advice and went to Wool Warehouse, and honestly it was a very good price, especially for shipping all the way to Australia.

Aren’t the colours pretty? I’ve already started the first row of the shawl I’m planning to make, I really hope that it works as I see it in my head but only time will tell!

That’s it for me, what are you bunch up to? I’d love to hear from you! And if you want a bit more updates, check my Instagram, I’ve been trying to post a bit more there, I’m @emmacraftsdesign if you’re interested 🙂

WIP Wednesday – May Joyful World

Happy Wednesday crafters!

I hope you’re all having a great week! I have made more progress this month on my Joyful World from the Snowflower Diaries.

I have pretty much done all the greenery and I need to add the critters for this month, a couple of cats in the middle and a dove on one the branches.

This is what the rest looks like as a reminder 😊

Have a great rest of the week (and no, my yarn still hasn’t arrived 😢)

Ripple blanket

Happy Wednesday readers!

My best friend’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I really wanted to make him something special. He was a bit depressed because we are leaving the “youth” age group, so I knew I had to make something happy and bright.
I’ve settled on a marine themed blanket, so I’m using the ripple stitch to imitate waves and I will have 4 different shades of blue, with smaller amounts for the lighter blue and a lot of the darker blue to imitate the different depth of the sea. I’ve already finished one of my skeins of yarn, the lightest blue, and just started on the second one. I think that I might need to go buy some more at that rate but I’ll see once I’ve finished this second colour.

My idea is then to apply appliqué fish, shells and other marine creatures to make an underwater scene. It’s been working up quite fast (I’ve started on Monday) so hopefully I can get the base blanket done, block it (it will need it!), and still get some time to play around with appliqués!

This is what I’ve freehanded so far, I’ve made the shell in crocodile stitch to give some texture.

Do you guys have a favourite marine themed appliqué that you think I should really include? And do you have any suggestion on the best way to attach them to the blanket once it’s finished?

WIP Wednesday – joyful world

Hello lovely readers!

We are planning on moving next week so our house is starting to get packed. This means I had to get some of my craft supplies sorted, especially the bigillion embroidery threads that got passed on to me. And the beads! So many beads… 

Most of those will go into boxes but I’m keeping enough threads to work on my joyful world SAL from the Snowflower Diaries. 

This is where it was at last time. 

And now I’ve almost finished April, with only the ground to finish stitching. 

And here is all the stitching I’ve done so far, just to remind you (and me) 😊

Now, back to packing a few things before bed!

WIP Wednesday – joyful world update

Happy Wednesday!

The week has already been super busy with starting to tutor again for the semester at university and a big experiment under way, but I’ve managed to get some stitching time. I’ve dug up my joyful world calendar from the Snowflower diaries and started stitching April. 

Isn’t this bunny the cutest? There is also a cherry tree and a squirrel that will go to the right of this month. Now that I’ve started again on this piece I’m really excited to keep going and finish it, hopefully it won’t take the whole year! 

WIP Wednesday – shopping bag

Happy Wednesday crafters!

I’ve finally started a project that I’ve had pinned for a few years now: a netted linen market bag from PurlSoho. I’m actually making mine using jute rather than linen and a 3.75mm hook, so I’m expecting to do less rows while keeping the same size. 

I’ve started the bottom of the bag and it has worked up quite fast so far, although the jute isn’t the most pleasant fiber to work with (it’s a bit rough). I’m wondering if a go in the washing machine might soften it a bit. Has anyone tried to wash jute before?

Hopefully, the bag will be finished pretty soon, I really need a new bag for my fruits and veggies shopping 🙂