Well hello everyone! I am writing today to catch up on life, my crochet journey and now also knitting journey after a short break from the blog. It is summer in my corner of the world and even though the weather has not been great I have been trying to enjoy the extra light and just be out and about a bit more. I love being at home so it is always hard to get myself out the door but once I’m out I am always glad I did it. I am also still doing yoga and enjoying every minute of it, it helps with my anxiety like nothing else so really recommend it to everyone if you are looking for a different type of physical activity.
I finished two crochet projects recently that I would like to share with you, the first is my Lorelei Pullover by Dora Ohrenstein. I LOVE this top, it is just so light and summery, the colour is amazing and the stitch pattern is beautiful and unique. Very simple construction so really recommend it if you want to give it a try. I used Ginger’s Hand Dyed Swanky Lace in Girl on Fire which is a blend of baby alpaca, silk and cashmere so you can imagine how awesome this garment feels.
The other FO I wanted to share is my Penelope Top by Jenny Reid. I love the romantic look of this top and that stitch pattern is truly stunning. The back is really nice but couldn’t get a nice picture of it unfortunately… not easy to take pictures of yourself!
I used John Arbon Alpaca Supreme 4ply in Silver Fawn, beautifully soft yarn though I am regretting the alpaca a bit after getting some serious pilling issues with only one wear. If anyone has any recommendations for a good pilling remover please let me know 🙂
I am so happy with these two garments because I really like how they look and have already been wearing them proudly, that is what my handmade wardrobe focus is all about and it makes me want to keep on doing more and more garment patterns now that I know I can make them fit. You know when you are working a pattern and you realise you made a mistake or you have a feeling it won’t be big/small enough to fit you and you avoid it until you are done? Well I have been determined not to avoid those feelings and it has saved the fit of my garments more than once with just a bit more work. Trust your instincts everyone and it will save you a lot of time and effort.
My knitting is coming along, I am taking a Craftsy class that shows you how to make an infinity scarf so I am working my way through that and really enjoying it now that I have found a good position for my hands and yarn when knitting and purling. After this I would like to do a hat and a shawl, so if you have any simple patterns to recommend I would really appreciate it. For the shawl I want to use a beautiful 4-ply skein from Hedgehog Fibres that I purchased when I was in Dublin last month, it is so pretty that I know the yarn would shine in a simple knitted shawl. I thought of doing a crochet shawl but it would have to be a very open and lacy one to use just the one skein and I don’t think the yarn colour changes will show as well so I am glad I am adding knitting to my skills bucket!
What have you been up to? Let me know in the comments 🙂 I will be going on holiday this month and I have family visiting on the following month so I may not be posting as often. I try to post on Instagram a bit more often so you can check my feed there if you want to see what I am up to.
Have a great day everyone!
x
Sol
a crochet journey 
I just love your blog. It is such a great inspiration. Thank you Sol, for sharing!
Thank you so much for your comment! I am so happy to hear that you enjoy the content, if there is anything in particular you would like to see let me know, would love to get some feedback and ideas 🙂
xxx
Sol
Beautiful tops, Sol. Great job on both.
I use the battery-operated fabric shavers to remove pills from my garments, including those I’ve crocheted. You can find them in many big box stores such as Target, Michael’s, Jo-Ann’s – not sure what part of the world you live in, but they can be ordered online through various sources.
Hi Rosemary, thank you so much and appreciate the recommendation for the pill remover. I live in the UK but will look online to see what is in offer.
Have a nice day 🙂
Sol
Sol! Love these FO’s!!! Both look absolutely gorgeous on you, I hope to see them in the woolly flesh soon…
In regards to your search for a nice and easy shawl, have a look at the Red Robin Shawl by Helen Stewart (Curious Handmade, as you surely already know…). It is a really easy knit, with a basic shawl structure so would be a perfect introduction to this kind of items (with increases, but with all the support from the Town Mice you’ll be just fine) and with just enough stitch details (the textured border is a breeze I guarantee you) to keep you interested. And it is a lovely item to wear, it would look fab on you! Which colour is that Hedgehog Fibre? I’ve knitted a Red Robin Shawl for my sister, and am planning to knit another one for a friend like, next week… And actually in red too this time!
x
Sylvie
Hello my dear!! So nice to hear from you 🙂
Thank you very much, I am loving them as well 🙂 Garments and more garments lately! It is an addiction. I checked that shawl you mentioned and I think it is absolutely perfect!! I love the tassels as well so I will be buying that soon for sure, the colour of the yarn is Pheasant and it is a lovely blend of pinks, oranges and beiges.
Just bought all I need to make one of Clare’s hats (Chai) so very excited to start that, I had Jess translating the pattern for me today at knit club since I have never followed a knitting pattern and couldn’t understand a thing! hahaha I think You Tube will be my best friend but feeling quite confident 🙂
I hope all is well with you and very excited to see you in Edinburgh soon to catch up!
xxxx
Sol
Hello, what a lovely post – great pics and so nice to hear how much you have enjoyed making and wearing your garments. I use a bobble remover similar to this one from Lakeland (link via Amazon) – as you can see it is very low cost and it works very well. 🙂 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BAR42EW?psc=1
Thank you! I am very happy with these FOs and have been a bit annoyed at the bad weather this summer that has not allowed me to show them off that much 😦
I have a Lakeland nearby so thank you for the recommendation, I will have to get one ASAP!
xxx
Sol
Good work! Your tops look beautiful!
Thank you, I am very proud of them!