Test driving Jo Sharp New Era Merino dk Superwash.

Dionne    Knitting and Crochet     jo sharp, new era merino dk superwash, rare comfort infusion kid mohair

Actually it is my wonderful Great Aunt Marji who is making this for me.  How could I respond any other way than “YES PLEASE.  This one!” when some wonderful person says “What can I knit for you Dear Heart, because I know just how busy you are?  Have chosen the 037 Striped T Shirt with shaping (that was originally in Knit 2 and is now available as a pamphlet) and substituted the Soho Summer Cotton with the New Era Merino DK Superwash.  They have the same number of stitches per 10cm so it is a relatively straightforward swap.

I did like the look of the mix of Russian from Jo’s Rare Comfort Infusion Kid Mohair and the Orient from New Era Merino dk Superwash but it is knitted on 9mm needles and I don’t like anything thicker than 6.5mm myself so I really couldn’t inflict it on my lovely favourite Great Aunt.

We have in stock all of the new printed patterns from Jo’s new look books Knit 11 and Knit 12.  We won’t be offering them as downloadable patterns, we have offered downloadable patterns in the past but they weren’t at all popular with our customers who informed us in no uncertain terms that while they like the option of printed leaflet patterns from us, they weren’t happy with the downloadable ones.  Go figure.   I won’t be listing the new patterns in the current online store but they will be appearing on the new one under construction.  Please feel free to phone or email us for what you are after.

Kerry has also bought some of the Dali in the New Era and is making a high collar cardigan.  It can get a little chilly in the shop during winter.  Will keep you posted on our thoughts, Kerry has already knitted up the swatch we have in store and was very impressed.  It appears our customers have been impressed.  We have had it in store for less than a month and we are already ordering more.  You can buy it from us here.

CGT Collectors Club sampler designs

Dionne    Embroidery and Crewel     embroidery, lazy daisy, pistol stitch

Did I mention, I hate pistol stitch?

I have been putting this off, I really don’t like this stitch at all, it always looks messy and scrappy, or perhaps that is just me.  I was never happy with the finished article as a child, not sure whether it is the fact that it is so imprecise, or maybe I was just always in a hurry.  My father’s nickname for me as a child was “Hasty Little Bear” … yes after the Little Golden Book.

The other thing I always have to worry about is the loops or the straight bits of thread between the exit and insertion points of the stitch.  I was always such a mucky pup that I would inevitably snag it on something.  Was a little nervous when pulling threads out with the batiste.  And a couple of times it pulled but it has all worked out ok.  My heart sank when I saw the stitching instructions read pistol stitch for this design.  Am more aware than ever why I probably am more prolific with tapestry, counted cross stitch and knitting.  They are more mathematical and I know where every stitch is going to go.  It is the “chaos factor” of embroidery that worries me.  I do it, but I don’t always feel it is done correctly.

This was much easier, although there is still a little "chaos" associated with the length of lazy daisy stitch

Thank god for back stitch and lazy daisy, this was a relative doddle.

Jo Sharp New Era Merino dk Superwash is here

Dionne    Knitting and Crochet     100% merino, jo sharp, jo sharp yarns, machine washable

This is a beautifully soft yarn, 100% merino and machine washable.  Call me old fashioned but this new fangled thing where you throw wool into your washing machine totally freaks me out.  But here we are and this is the second new yarn released by Jo Sharp in the last 6 months.

Kerry has knitted up our in store swatch and was very impressed with it.  It has a lovely stitch definition and provides a smooth knitted fabric.  It is an interesting palette that when broken down and mixing 2 or 3 colours together gives the colours an new hue.

We stock the entire available palette and you can see and order it here or come and see it in store.

Jo has also released new patterns to support this lovely new yarn.  Come in and see it soon.

Cottage Garden Threads Progressive Stitchery Sampler

Dionne    What's New    

As part of the Cottage Garden Threads Collectors Club, there is a Progressive Stitchery Sampler to complete.  With the 4 new threads every month there is a mini design unique to each thread colour.  Pam and Katie included the layout in the first month’s thread allocation.  After juggling new website building, 7 days a week trading, inevitable paperwork, a 5 year old starting school and much discussion with Kerry over the best surface to do this project justice …. Roughly 2 months later, I have finally started.

I don’t usually go in for progressive mystery stuff.  I am the kind of girl who likes to have everything I need to complete something on hand before I start.  I even get the dry horrors when customers come in with mystery samplers and their requirements.  Totally freaks me out.  Yes I know, I am a control freak and I need help.

However, with this, I already know what the threads look like at least, as we stock all of the range at Victoria House Needlecraft.  They are really lovely and I know the sampler will look lovely, if my stitching does them justice.  And then of course is the design by the mystery designer every month …  But you will only get to see that if you join the Collectors Club.  Who knows I may even make a quilt out of the mystery designer submissions at the end.  … or I could be abducted by aliens.  There are about the same odds on both. … or they could be just be part of the stuff in the cupboard that Jack will flog on EBAY when I am dead.

So lets discuss surfaces, we are using 36 count Antique White Edinburgh from Zweigart and a homespun in antique white as a stabiliser.  I stitched along the thread lines like I do when I grid up for a cross stitch, I could take them out now but it is probably better to leave them in to ensure accurate placement when you have a design with 25 rows in it.  I am taking it home tonight to run some stitching lines down the sides with the gathering stitch set to 5mm to hold the fabric together.   And because I am basically a lazy trollop I will not be whip stitching to stop the fraying, the overlocker will be on duty this evening too.

We gave the new DMC marker pen a test drive.  It would appear the plastic driver mechanism has already had a blow out and keeps slipping.  I currently have the blue marker loaded but using sticky tape to hold into position.  Could do with some improvements in manufacture DMC (just in case you happen to be reading here, my contact details are above).  Bit of a bugger the mechanism going, but I do like the fact that there are 6 marker colours to choose from.  And I guess it is a little more accurate than the tailors chalk that I would have had to have used from my workbox.

I am insanely jealous of those women who can free form stitch accurately.  I always need some kind of placement.  Hence the blue stuff all over the surface.  I am also remembering why I usually do cross stitch and tapestry and knitting.  It is precise, mathematical, this is a little to imprecise for me.  I have started with 307 Dandelion, which was just fine and dandy for the stem stitch along the straight line of a square that I had traced (… with a ruler).  But NOW I have to do the design in the middle.  I know there are soooo many modern options these days with soluable stitching interfaces but I am working with a hand dyed thread and I have no plans to take this puppy swimming at the end.  I also have never really liked those disappearing ink pens either.  I am opting for the way my Grandma, Nanna and Mum taught me, design drawn onto muslin/batiste stitched over and then the threads drawn out with tweezers.  Laborious yes! Accurate yes! Complete confidence in method HELL YES!

Watch this space.