Socks etc

 

My Bachelor of Arts is completed! I'm still waiting for my final results, but very confident that I have passed my last three subjects. It's been a hectic few months, with many hours spent studying and writing essays, but also lots of knitting, because I find knitting very useful as a way of dealing with stress (and also to spend an hour or so before bed not looking at a screen).

I finished the two pairs of socks pictured above - they were gifts for friends, and both of them loved their socks, always nice to hear!

Next I made a pair of fingerless gloves (the pair I made in 2017 was getting a bit worn). These are the Cafe au Lait Mitts, a free pattern on Ravelry. I adjusted it a bit to do the palm side in stocking stitch. The yarn is Lionbrand Feels Like Alpaca from Spotlight - so soft!

Next I used the yarn I bought in Japan to make a hat:

This is the Crème Brûlée Cable Knit Hat, another free pattern from Ravelry. I really like the pattern - this hat is a bit tight for me, so I've donated it to my son. I may knit another one for myself.

When the hat was finished and I was looking for my next knitting project, I realised I could make some socks with all of the leftover DK sock yarn from Heathermaid that I have collected in the last few years. I used all of the blue/green/purple yarn to make this pair of socks:

I've now started on another pair with all of the red/orange/yellow yarn. Stay tuned!

Cadet Cap

You may remember the Reversible Bucket Hat I made last month for the Sew-long Summer sew-along organised by Betz White. Well, I posted a picture on the Betz White Sewing Pattern Forum on Faceboook and won three Betz White sewing patterns!
One of the patterns I chose was the Cadet Cap and yesterday I made one. I used fabric from a skirt that I bought years ago at the op shop (mainly because of the fabric):



The lining is some soft denim from a pair of pants that do not fit anymore :-(
Here I am wearing the cap. I really like it!



The other patterns I chose are the Alice Book Bag and the Midtown Messenger Bag. I hope to make one of them using the vintage Dutch post bag that my BFF gave me the last time we visited the Netherlands...

A new hat

At the moment I am working on the largest art quilt I have ever made (I showed a sneak peek in the previous posting). I have put in many hours of quilting already (and also quilte a few hours of unpicking...) and about 75% of the quilt is finished now. This weekend I really felt like doing some quick and easy projects, so first I made a present for one of our nieces in Holland, who turns one in a few weeks - will show it here when it has arrived. And then I made a hat! A reversible one - the black side was supposed to be the main side, but as it turns out I like the lilac side better!



The pattern is from Betz White - I have been following her blog since last year, when I bought her book Sewing Green, and when she announced Sew-long Summer!, a reversible Bucket Head Sew-along a few days ago, I decided to join in (even though it is winter here Down Under). The black fabric is my favourite Thea & Sami handprinted fabric and the lilac is one I've had for years (I made a halter top out of it in 2008).
Very happy with my new hat! :-)