This is the result of my drafting out that Japanese pattern last week. I asked Rob to sound out the name of it for me and it turned out to be “linen blouse” - just replace all the L’s with R’s and put a little emphasis on the E at the end of blouse - that’s pretty close to how it sounds. Mine is actually made from some cotton batiste left over from this summer’s Regency costuming.
 
I decided, based on the other diagrams with the pattern and some guessing that my Sashiko book was originally printed in Japanese (same sorts of diagrams and the English text is really squished), that seam allowances were probably not included in the pattern. It is intended to be loose anyway so I didn’t think an inch or so would really make much difference. I cut out the pieces (front, black, sleeves and bias binding) on Sunday afternoon and I got to try it on at about nine o’clock. I like quick patterns.
 
The 1 cm seam allowance was very nice to work with, especially on such lightweight fabric. To finish the seams I just ran a zig-zag stitch next to the seam and trimmed off the excess fabric. I took some extra space on the armhole seams to make sure they wouldn’t be too tight.
 

 
This shirt is very comfy. I might put a longer elastic in the neck band; right now it pulls the underarm fabric kind of strangely. It’s got a bit of a pear shape to it when you wear it (the bottom is very full) so it might not be a good style if you’re concerned about your hips. I don’t really mind so long as I’m cozy. I think it might be cute with slightly puffier sleeves too. The weather is a bit cool for this now but it is going to be wonderful next summer. I might even make a second one, with a few alterations, or one of the other patterns - maybe with a cute print from the nani IRO line at Purl Soho.
 
 
Zeke was “helping” me out again yesterday. Since I couldn’t finish my seam I got out the camera instead. He’s a very obliging model.

 

 

No this isn’t a foreign landscape, though it does make me think of fields and hedges, these are my scrumbles from a workshop I took through the Guild last week. It was about freeform knitting. I really had no idea what it was going to be when I signed up but I’m very glad I did.
 
Freeform knitting and crochet is a way of creating totally unique fabric out of all the bits and pieces of yarn left over from other projects. Not that you can’t buy new yarns or anything - you’re bound to need something that’s not in your basket! You start by knitting or crocheting a small piece, like a two inch square, and then add to it with other yarns and stitch patterns in whatever direction you want. You mix crochet and knit stitches to get different textures to fill in spaces. The result is very organic looking and very forgiving of a learning curve. Over time you can make many scrumbles and then join them together to make garments, purses and blankets.
 
The workshop was based on the techniques taught by Prudence Mapstone. Her web-site has lots of information on freeform knitting and some beautiful examples of her work. She also has a few books available which I plan to add to my library. Even if you never worked a stitch, the pictures and text are wonderful and inspiring.
 
Here’s a top view of my scrumbles to give you a better idea of how they actually look.

 

 

After learning to make scrumbles last week I had a renewed interest in crochet. I’ve learned a little bit here and there in the past but I find I get a little bored and forgetful after a few rows and generally prefer knitted fabric. Recently, however, I’ve been seeing more crochet project that appeal to me, they tend to be things worked in the round: there is the Babette Blanket project on the Purl Bee, and the hexagons on Moonstitches. The problem was that these designs came from books or magazines and I had been unable to find patterns I liked on the internet.
 
Then I found the Hundred Flowers Scarf. Those cheerful multi-coloured flowers just called out to me and I was very excited to discover that the designer had posted instructions for making them. I showed the pattern to Jane and she offered to give me a bit of help working through it. Last night I went over to her house for a visit and when I returned home I had this pretty little flower with me.
 
I also have with me a crochet book on loan with patterns for a very pretty pink shrug and a cozy blanket. I love to learn a new craft.