Homage to EZ???

Promise you this is the last post for catching up on what has been completed while I wasn't blogging. My next post should have some 'action' shots for want of a better description of knitting, crocheting or spinning in progress rather than 'here's one I did earlier' in true Blue Peter style...

Anyway cast your minds back you may remember seeing a photo of this jumper I worked and completed as a prototype (you know smaller jumper, less sts, just in case EZ hadn't got it right and it was all a disaster) for one for our friend Mike who had requested a jumper for a Christmas present in the September of 2008. As the jumper he picked from my pattern books was in a lovey Patons yarn 'Jet' which is Wool & Alpaca and unfortunately hand wash only this was no good, so rather than try and use the pattern and do a bigger size with DK yarn, I decided it was time I put my Elizabeth Zimmermann (EZ) books to good use....

Well after a lot of stop, starting which means every time I got near a bit that was not straight forward or bit I thought was not going to work out right as EZ said it would, the above jumper was completed and as usual EZ was correct, I was having visions that the raglan decreases were not enough and all you would see was the top of the head above the neckline!!!

This then gave me the confidence that maybe just maybe I could actually do this jumper for Mike, so earlier this month I finally completed his 2008 Christmas present... I have to say I am very, very OK very pleased with this and can't wait for some colder weather when it will be getting put into regular service :o))

The basic outline of working the raglan came from EZ's 'Knitting Workshop', I think this is my favourite of her 4 books... the idea for the green contrasting bottom hem (which you can't see here) was from Brooklyntweed's Seamless Hybrid. The sleeves (3x3 rib) and the collar (1x1 rib) along with contrasting facings were what attracted Mike to the original pattern - Patons Jet 1266 (see bottom left thumbnail). I have to say I think I've done pretty well mimicking this hand wash only wool/alpaca blend in a machine washable, tumble dry able Patons Diploma Gold DK yarn, don't you?

Other EZ projects have been done as well... My friend Janet was expecting their 2nd child on 24th July, Anna Laura weighed in 11 days late on the 4th August at 7lb 11oz and was met with these...

EZ's surplice jacket worked in Patons new Eco Cotton (Lime & Primrose) this carries a similar tension to Rowans Cotton Glace...

and what must be considered EZ's most worked pattern looking at the number of projects on Ravelry, her Baby Surprise Jacket or BSJ as it's more commonly known....

I joined the July KAL on the BSJ Forum on Ravelry to do this using Dale of Norway's 'Baby Ull' on 3.5mm needles and I really enjoyed this, I must have done as I offered Janet another one if she wanted in a few months in a bigger size....

As you can see even though this is my 1st one I did a few modifications such as adding the collar, lengthening the sleeves and finishing with an i-cord buttonhole....

Think that's it for now, will be back soon with more current works....

Besides Lace....

Besides lace while I've not been blogging there's been quite a lot of crocheting, mainly inspired by the Japanese crochet books that are out there, peoples Ravelry projects and Lucy aka Attic24

I've been fiddling on and off for years with crochet but counting was always the problem... anything other than a sample of a stitch would see me get to the end of a row with either too many or not enough chains left to work into!

Anyway I seem to be getting somewhere and enjoying it especially the motif style crochet as it doesn't require you to commit to too much time in one sitting and I have to admit was a godsend earlier this year when things were up in the air... Anyway as there's quite a few photos to show you I'm not going to waffle, if you want to ask questions you can always leave me a message and I'll reply or you can contact me on Ravelry, I'm what else but 'littleberry' on there :o)

There was Kaban from Rowan 35 worked not in Rowans Summer Tweed but Patons Vintage which gave it a firmer and IMHO more useful fabric for a bag...

Followed by Ingas Haekelbeutel worked in Anchor Magicline, this colourway is discontinued but manage to score this yarn on Ebay as I'd previously seen a bag done in this colourway and just thought it was stunning...




Next came Meadow Scarf by Robyn Chachula from the premiere issue of the UK magazine Inside Crochet which I worked in Patons Serenity as I already had an odd ball of green & red, so just added the yellow...

I also completed Sambuca by Doris Chan in Rowans Pure Wool DK in 'Spice (034) This was my 1st attempt at 'lacy crochet' and can honestly say it was a pleasurable experience ....

I then got hooked on Hexagons, easier than circles and more interesting than squares and also the join as you go method illustrated by Moonstitches ! If I hadn't have discovered hexagons and this method to join I doubt I would have contemplated starting this let alone complete it... My Hexagon Throw based on the Hexagon-how-to by Attic24

I used 13 colours all of one of which were Patons 100% Cotton DK at £3.95 per 100g (210m) for mercerized cotton is ridiculously cheap and IMHO is the best cotton of its type out there on the market, the other colour used was Rowans Cotton Glace in 'Shoot' and at £3.95 for 50g (115m) you can perhaps understand why I think the Patons is a cheap cotton... Patons IMHO is a very undervalued brand in this country and they really produce superb yarns for a good price...

Last by no means least completed only last week my Kaleidoscope Cushion based on the free hexagon motif Kaleidoscope by Lisa Donald which can also be found in the book Blue Ribbon Afghans from Americas State Fairs

Worked in a mixture of Patons 100% Cotton 4ply again £3.95 for 100g (330m) and Rowan's now discontinued 4ply cotton


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If anyone wants more details or to ask questions either leave me a message or contact me on Ravelry.