1/10/2013

New found love for knitting, cute ribbed shrug

As I mentioned in my last post, I have given knitting another chance. I was taught how to knit by my mom and grandmother but haven't really knitted much since I was a kid. I preferred to crochet as I was faster doing that. I attempted to get back into knitting a few years ago and thought a knit along would make me actually finish a project. Well, that didn't go so well and I never finished the bolero I had started.
Fast forward a few years and input tons of inspiration by some awesome knitters in the blogosphere, such as Solanah, Lladybird, by Gum by Golly, Casey and lots of other lovely ladies (please leave me your blog, instagram, ravelry, twitter, facebook etc. if you are a crazy knitting lady so I can follow you for ideas and inspiration and annoy you with lots of questions when I get stuck) and I am hooked.
This time for real. I have actually made a few pieces already, followed patterns and ended up with finished pieces of clothing and accessories ready to share.

On to my third wearable piece of clothing I have finished so far. (the other two are still waiting to be blocked)
This little shrug/bolero is made from a pattern in the book "Fitted knits" by Stefanie Japel. It's available on Amazon here or if you are in the UK, have a look in 'The works'. I got my copy there for £3.99 I believe. Bargain as I like a lot of the patterns in this book.
 
This is the shrug pictured in the book:
 
 
I am not too keen on their colour combo but I like the simplicity of the bolero. It's a great beginners project as you only need to know how to knit and purl. The increases are easy, too. The whole piece is knitted all in one so there is no matching up individually knitted pieces. Just two underarm seams.
I decided to go for a dusky pink and burgundy colour combination as this will go with a lot of my floral print dresses in the Spring and Summer.
 
 
finished shrug:
 
 
I knitted this mostly in the car on our short road trip to Devon last week. It's a great travel project as it is quick, only needs 2 balls of wool and you can put it down and pick it up again easily as there is no difficult pattern involved.
 
I'm currently making a light brown and chocolate version and maybe an all black one after that.
What are you knitting/crochet-ing at the moment?

6 comments:

  1. That bolero looks lovely! I've recently started to knit more again (I live in a tiny flat and starting a knitting project is just so much easier than starting a sewing project), and I'm really enjoying it!

    I've left my blog neglected this term, as my term paper has been eating my life, but I'm looking forward to having more time to dedicate to it. At the moment I'm finishing a lace shawl, and I'm looking forward to trying Susan Crawford's vintage-esque knitting patterns: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Patterns.html

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    1. Oh thank you so much for that link. I had not heard of Susan Crawford's pattern line but had a quick browse. OMG I am in love!!!!!!!!!!! I think that page goes straight into my bookmarks for future reference. Good luck on your studies and keep me posted on your projects. I have added your blog to my reader. I totally understand blog neglect. Unfortunately it happens to me, too.

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  2. Yay for knitting! I was going to suggest Susan Crawford too....she had two Stitch in Time vintage knitting books and they are gorgeous. (They might be out of stock/print but I sense rumblings that there is "news" on that front soon.)

    I'm ukbarbarella (looooong story (ish) on that nickname! LOL!!) on Ravelry, I have some of my knits there but not all as I'm a bit of a lazy Ravelry-er! Be sure to visit the forum for lots of others ideas etc too!
    http://www.ravelry.com/groups/a-stitch-in-time-susan-crawford-vintage-designs

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    1. Thanks Sandy , I added you on ravelry. I've had an account there for a while now but haven't posted anything on the site yet.
      The book is available on Susan Crawfords website. I'll have to get it eventually to add to my collection of knitting books.

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  3. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying knitting! Third time's a charm, and all that. I am constantly knitting sweaters and socks. Constantly. :-D

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    1. I've only just started browsing your blog. You ARE a knitting machine, aren't you? Amazing.

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