Sunday 3 January 2016

The Knitting Catch Up - Barcelona Alpaca Jumpers, Soft Merino Cowl, and the rebirth of the Ombre Shawl

Hello Dear Blog Friends,

A quick preview of my first finished project (finished on 1st January 2016): More in a moment!




The knitting catch up

I mentioned in one of my recent posts that I have done some new knitting, finally here is my chance to tell you in more detail about it.



Two Alpaca Jumpers called Barcelona

First of all, this time I am following a pattern for a jumper from this lovely book: Jules & Julie by Julia Jaeken featuring 35 patterns for the entire family! It is photographed beautifully and features members of Julie's family!

She is the owner of Julija's Shop here in Antwerpen.
I love her shop, she stocks some of my favourite yarns!
This is already her second book, her first one is full of delightful knits for small children!


Jules & Julie


Unfortunately it is only available in Dutch so far. I guess if you wanted to, you could mail Julie whether you could purchase the pattern in English, might be worth a try...

You find Julie's website, blog and shop here!


So I am currently knitting an Alpaca jumper for one of my daughters. The thing is, before I could get the light grey) wool for hers, I bought a different shade (dark grey) and got started - this will be a jumper for myself. So in fact I am actually knitting 2 jumpers at the same time, in different sizes, but from the same pattern. (Barcelona).

Here you can see what Barcelona looks like (both adult and child sizes)




Here you can see work in progress on the two jumpers that I am making:
Not only am I making 2 jumpers, I am also working on front and back together!!! I am using the same wool as Julie in her book - Drops Alpaca Boucle which I bought in her shop. I already worked with this super soft yarn last year!
 





I am making progress, slowly.... (well because I have also been doing crochet of course!)


My first finished project - a knitted cowl

Then in mid December I started on a large Merino loop shawl which is a present for a good friend!

I finished it on the first day of January, what a good start into the New Year!

Measurements: 188 cm all round, knitted in the round, 21 cm wide. This is large enough to wrap around the neck 3x. I love this yarn, it is unbelievably soft and squishy, yet warm! I knitted quite loosely, so it is very elastic and stretchy! The colour is 174 (Olive Green). I used moss stitch.
I've already made quite a few of these super long loops!








 

My Alpaca Ombre Shawl

I also decided to frog the ombre shawl I had been knitting and to re-work it because I wasn't happy with how it turned out. Luckily I am knitting on large needles (9mm). This is from the oh-so-soft Alpaca Silk yarn from Drops.


Well, that's it for now on the knitting front, we'll talk about crochet soon!!! ;))

Again, I am looking forward to hearing from you, please leave me a comment or two! See, that even rhymes! Looks like we're off on a good start for 2016!

22 comments:

  1. My goodness you are busy, and I am in awe of you making two different sweaters at the same time even if they are from the same pattern.

    Good luck!
    Meredith

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  2. Thanks, Meredith! The pattern asks for german short rows (near the neckline) which is something new for me!!! xx

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    1. How are German short rows different from 'other' short rows? Is there a difference? I thought a 'short row' was a generic 'short row' so 'German' short rows are new to me too! I am keen to find out what you learned. The opportunities to keep learning new things are part of the attraction of crochet (and knitting) to me.

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  3. Now that is going some, you are certainly a quick knitter. Love the colour of the cowl.

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    1. Hello Lorraine! If you say so... ;) I'm also in love with that Olive Green, just between yellow and green, I think I will use it for another project! xx

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  4. the colour of the cow is perfect to me!! the other knits are so great..
    YOu always surprise me with all your knits!
    have a great day
    Rose

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    1. Dear Rose, lovely to hear from you and welcome to my blog! It's always nice to see a new follower!! Glad you liked the knits! xx

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  5. What a busy lady you are! Enjoy your knitting! xx

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  6. I'm found of your Merino Loop Shawl! Love that colour!
    Looks like you're very busy, so enjoy your projects and I look forward to see all your creations this new year :-)

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  7. wow! A new year and a newly finished project to celebrate.
    Making two versions of the same jumper in two different sizes at the same time looks like a great way to understand construction and pattern design. When you finish your jumpers, do let us know what lessons there are to be learned.
    Thank you for showcasing some of the crochet books from the non-English world. Don't let the fact that they are not in English stop you, especially crochet books. It doesn't take long to work out the basics. Japanese and Chinese patterns usually have a diagram to help and they use centimetres. Easy! Enjoy 2016's crafting!

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    1. Thank you, Jodie! It wasn't my intention initially to make 2 jumper, but there you go!

      It is my intention to write about some of the books I got, so watch this space! xx

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  8. Ik reageer nu maar even in het nederlands: Je gaat als een speer!! Ik hoop dat je deze uitdrukking kent en snapt wat ik bedoel ;)
    Groetjes

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  9. Lovely makes, Ingrid. I do like the mustardy shawl. Happy 2016!
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Best wishes to you, Amalia!!! Glad you like it. The colour is really more of an olive green, but I guess it all depends on how each monitor displays the colours... xx

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  10. Lots of lovely knitting here, gorgeous
    colours too.
    Cheers, Anita.

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  11. Oh my, the yellow you chose for the knitted cowl is gorgeous! Looks like a very soft and stretchy cowl :) The best ones!

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    1. Yes, you are right, Kirsten! My friend loves it! :) xx

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  12. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It's so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also premium socks

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