Friday 27 September 2013

Blissful Knitting

I loved this jacket when I first saw it on the front of the most recent Debbie Biss magazine. I wasn't too sure if I liked the yarn or the colour but the jacket was perfect.
 
 
So when Gill and I attended a "Debbie Bliss" event at the Creative Sanctuary, not only were we entertained by Debbie talking about how she sources and selects her yarns and develops her pattern designs but we also got to try on several of her latest designs... including that jacket. And I discovered not only did the jacket look amazing on, the yarn and the colour were perfect too... as were almost all the colours available.

 
But much as I would have loved to have bought the yarn and come home to start knitting the jacket straight away I really couldn't justify spending over £70. And Gill reminded me that I had plenty of unfinished projects at home... like this one.

 
Nearly four years ago we went to an exhibition where I fell in love with this jacket by Marion Foale... The Gina jacket (and very similar in shape to the Debbie Bliss one now that I see the photos again).
Gill found me a pattern, I did tension squares, I knitted, I blocked, I stiched it together...

 
and it ended up looking like something I had made for a mishapen gorilla. It was too tight in some places, too big in others and the sleeves seemed to stretch about 6" when I blocked it. You'll understand why I never shared the results on here! In time I unravelled it all but couldn't face winding it into hanks so that I could wash out  all the kinks in the yarn. What a waste!

 
However, inspired by our day out I came home, and in the true spirit of make do and mend, I wound the yarn, washed it and started a brand new cardigan... which so far I'm rather liking!

 
Maybe if I finish this and all the other half knitted stuff that's lurking by the side of my sofa I'll get around to making that Debbie Bliss jacket one day!

21 comments:

  1. Just how many half finished projects are you holding on to then?

    ReplyDelete
  2. there's some names I haven't thought about in a while. I've always had a soft spot for a peplum Gina - they can look very flattering. the pattern on the rewound yarn looks lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  3. a long line of future projects makes me happy.... Never a chance to be bored and always the promise of a new start.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's a great goal. I have some unfinished knitting projects myself and I plan on getting them done.
    I like your sweater. The hearts are cute.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sometimes something triggers a surge of creativity. In my case it's usually to start something new. Glad you have re started the red yarn. Look. Forward to seeing it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done for using your pre-knitted yarn - I love that pattern and hope it turns out well for you. It's so disappointing when a garment looks awful after all the work that has gone into it. Some of the new yarns are gorgeous but so expensive I'd be scared to wear them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the look of your cardi. I am always envious of the lovely knitted items that other other people make and always feel inspired to have a go, but I am not very good at knitting and the thought of spending a lot of money on an item which might not turn out well puts me off. Maybe I should start with something very simple like a scarf!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh please don't mention WIP's Gina!!
    I agree the Debbie Bliss jacket is beautiful but I too would worry that if I bought it , it would also end up as a WIP, I'm not very good at finishing big projects.
    Well done you, on sorting out your yarn and reusing it in a new project, which does look lovely. Please show us the finished garment so that all us WIP people can be inspired! :)
    V xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sigh! Half finished projects! I know exactly what you are talking about

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the peplum on that jacket and bet it's a wonderful fit but how many hours of my life would I lose knitting it? I,m not sure about the Marion Foale cardi. I think you have more style than that Gina and it looks like there is something gorgeous emerging from the reclaimed yarn from it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gina, it must have fun to attend the D Bliss event, and pick up some hints from her. I do like most of her designs, and have bought one of her magazines...couple of years back.

    I agree with one of the earlier commenting folks that sometimes one bit of inspiration/curiosity will be a catalyst for a different project. The mind is a wonderful magician.

    Your new use for that beautiful red yarn is looking good. (I am also a fan of Marian Foale. I have a very old book of her vintage patterns, and cannot for the life of me find where it's hiding somewhere on my bookcases!)

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. I definitely think you have made the right choice with this pattern. I do wish I could knit, well I can knit, but can't follow a pattern. The red is going to be a show stopper.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ooh those lacy hearts are gorgeous! I love the moss stitch too.It must feel very virtuous to reuse that yarn.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm too fickle to ever knit a garment so I am always impressed when someone else does! Well done for recycling the yarn - that must make you feel very virtuous!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I find that very rarely do the items turn out as they should. I can follow a pattern and think I'm a competent knitter and these days it's not cheap to buy wool especially Debbie Bliss, I only buy her wool for small items. I do love your resued red wool and it'll be lovely to wear it at Christmas, so get knitting then Gina :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That should have said rescued, I can knit better than I spell

      Delete
  16. Good luck with your new project -- it looks beautiful! The fit is the hardest part for me -- you never really know until it's finished, and by then you've put all that work into it! ;-(

    ReplyDelete
  17. That's a gorgeous shade of red Gina ... your finished cardigan will be stunning.

    I seem to have a nasty case of startitis ... beginning a project is so much easier than finishing one!

    ReplyDelete
  18. It's so easy to give in when temptation is right there in front of you, so well done for resisting a splurge on £70 of wool!

    I love your new pattern and that red yarn shows it up perfectly. I may have a WIP or two next to my chair, including two rather gorgeous cardigans. I was going to knit tonight but got distracted by a tiny needlefelted Aga!

    ReplyDelete
  19. That pattern is lovely and the colour is gorgeous - look forward to seeing it finished.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh wow! I love this pattern and the Debbie Bliss one, I didn't know about washing out the crinkles in pre knitted wool, thanks for the tip.
    Looking forward to seeing more of the cardigan.

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.