Twelve Things: October's Cardigan

On the announcement of a little person joining the family, it was the perfect opportunity to get my knitting needles out and make a tiny item of clothing. I bought Rowan's Just Baby book, which has some gorgeous, modern patterns, and I was particularly enamoured by the cardigan on the front cover. Perhaps a bit advanced for my current skills, I loved the yarn colour so picked a moss stitch cardi and got started. Over the next couple of months I worked through the different pieces of the garment and by October I was near completion with an age deadline to meet too - these babies do grow fast! Even though it's a small piece of clothing, I've learned a lot about putting the pieces together and the importance of taking time in making up the garment. After all the effort, I was so pleased with how the cardigan turned out with the four, cute buttons and rolled up sleeves…plus little Penny looks great in it too.

Looking back: in January I started to learn to swing.

In February we learned how to make pasta.

In March I sewed some curtains.

In April I planted herbs.

In May I started running.

In June I learnt to knit Fair Isle.

In July I planned a party.

In August I experimented with chocolate.

In September I started a new job.

Moss Stitch

Yesterday afternoon I decided to have a break from uni work (you can't work solidly for a whole week straight, right?!) I got out a pair of chunky 12mm needles and the remaining wool that I used to knit D a scarf for Christmas, and knit myself a cowl. I have an old book from the 80s, the Vogue Dictionary of Knitting Stitches; I chose moss stitch.

To make your own: cast on 26 stitches (or any multiple of 2). Row 1 & 2: K1, P1, to the end of the row. Row 3 & 4: P1, K1, to the end of the row. Then repeat until the length you fancy. I sewed mine together to make it into a cowl but you could make it into a longer scarf!

Make Stuff

Yesterday I did some printing. I've really enjoyed this semester because, even though we're still looking at buildings, it's less about architecture as such and more about typology. I've made models, created collage, sketched, scribbled. It's all been about research through design, trial and error and experimenting with representation. The printing has got me into a 'making' frame of mind and these crochet pieces have got me wanted to get my hooks and needles out!

Image from fine little day