Textile mill; school project

Hi, Olivia here!

I have been busy doing my school project on the industrial revolution, which has taken a lot of time but it wouldn't be complete without a little extra something crafted. I have knitted a textile mill based on Saltaire, which I visited on a school trip to Bradford. I had to make my own pattern which was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be as I obviously couldn't find a knitting patter for a mill or a coal mine. I didn't have much time so I thought that a mill would be easier to design than a coal mine. I started it on Sunday, as was on holiday for the whole of the week before so I only got five rows done and Monday morning I finished one side. One day to finish the other side and sew it up and stuff it. It really was tight! It looks quite cute apart from one of the bottom windows as it has come away from the other color but the rest of it is great. I am just using spare bits of yarn that I have left over from other projects. I have got through quite a lot of white so far and the grey that I am using for the main color of the mill looks like it mite just make it through the project but it feels good not to be buying new wool and using up stuff that I already have in the cupboard. It is a really simple pattern and is just in stocking stitch so I can just pick it up when ever and not have to worry about what part of the pattern I am on. I am glad to see the back of it though as I don't think it was one of my best projects!

Moving off that subject, the Easter eggs are looking really nice hanging off some twigs with yellow flowers on. It looks really summery and colorful. I still have one of the Easter eggs on the needles so I might try and get that finished after handing in my project and textile mill and resist starting a new project before finishing it otherwise it won't be done until next Easter! I think my next project will be my neck-warmer/hat which I will probably start today.
Have a nice weekend!
Olivia
xxx

My Easter Egg-citements!

Hi, hope you had a great Easter.
last week I got a letter in the post from innocent smoothies and it said "Dear Maisie, we loved your incredible mini hats. You are a natural with a knitting needle. Your support is amazing - you are the tops. Love innocent x" I can't believe they wrote to me personally! I will definitely do it again this year!

My letter from Innocent Smoothies (the inside)

My letter from Innocent Smoothies

I have also been sewing a mill for my Industrial Revolution project!!! I put a plain browny grey fabric at the back,  I cut up some ribbon that I got from a present, for the windows and for the clock tower I used a spotty fabric and the browny fabric that I used for the back !!! It went very well for something that I made in a weekend! I hope my teacher will like it!!!

Have a great weekend

love Maisie x 

My textile mill  

My finished textile mill in my folder

Easter eggs!

Hi!
Yesterday I made some really lovely easter eggs, as you can probably guess from the title! They were so easy and once I got the hang of it the pattern was simple. It follows the same main pattern on each one and then you change it to the design you want. They are knitted on four double pointed needles and the three I have made all look really nice and will look great on some twigs on easter sunday as well as being great gifts. My favourite is the bunny (pictures are at the end of this post) but I have started another one which could take over first place! In the book there is a really cute knitted chicken( so adorable) which I am REALLY tempted to make, especially as I have chickens. There is quite a lot of wool involved though and the wings are all crocheted so think I might just have to resist!
Olivia
xxx

The Sewing Bee's Back

Hi,

Haven't been sewing for ages, we took a break after the Christmas fair!!! Olivia's back on to the Easter bauls bauls and I hope to make something soon!!!!!! I've got the sewing bug again though from the amazing the great British sewing bee that's started !!!!! They're making amazing things that I'd like to try out from stunning prom dresses to children's fancy costumes!!!!! My favourite is Lynda, a deaf but very talented and lovely lady, who I really want to win!!!!!! Last week Cerina left the great British sewing bee, she was so nice and my favourite as well as Lynda !! She always did amazingly in the alteration challenge where she made a plain oversized blue top into a cute children's leotard and a pillow case, a long-sleeve pullover top and some comfy trousers into and pirates costume!!! The sewing Bee will never be the same!!!!! I can't wait till next Tuesday when it's on again !!!!!!!!!!

Have a lovely weekend 

Love Maisie xxxxx

( We'd love to see things that you've made so send us a comment !!!!! )

                                                                                                            

    Below ( right ) Cerinas pirate costume !!!!!

 

     Patrick and May the judges

Easy Peasy key rings

Hi!

We had loads of scraps in the cupboard so we decided to make a little key ring out of left over fabric and felt. They were really simple and we made them with our friend. They were a really nice 15 minute project and for something so simple they looked great! I haven't quite finished mine yet as haven't finished sewing up yet but I'll finish it tonight. I forgot how to do a blanket stitch around the side and I have now created a new stitch which was definitely not planned!! You wouldn't know though!

Olivia

xxx 

My super-duper Interview with Debbie Bliss!

Last weekend I thought that I might as well tweet Debbie Bliss to see if she would do an interview with me. It was worth a try! As you might well know she is one of the U.K's biggest supplier's of wool and she is by far my favourite knitting designer, especially for baby knits. Guess what! She said that she would love to. I was so excited!(still am!) And I am so excited to share it all with you. To make things even better, she's now a follower on our twitter page! How cool is that! So, here is the interview...

Q:When did you start to knit?
Debbie Bliss's A:I think I was about five years old.

Q:Who inspired you to start knitting?
A:My mother taught me to knit?

Q:Out of all your patterns which one is your favourite?
A: That's a hard one! Perhaps my bunny booties because they were in my first book Baby Knits.

Q:Do you still get a chance to knit?
A:The design process always begins with a sketch and then a knitted swatch.I also tend to have something small on the go for when I am travelling.

Q:What has been your worst knitting disaster?
A:There has been to many just to pick one!

Q:What is the knitting project that you are most proud of?
A:I can't think of a particular design but I am proud to have been associated with Save The Children the last two years with their Christmas Jumper campaign.

Q:How long does it take yo make a pattern?
A:After working on the design and swatches I send a spec sheet with all the measurements and details to a pattern compiler. It could take some hours, a day or longer depending on the complexity of the design.

Q:Which knitting designer has been your favourite to work with?
A:Melody Griffiths was the first Knitting Editor to commission work for me and we worked together for many years. She combined a love for traditional stitches with a fashion look and I found her work inspirational. Sadly she passed away a few years ago.

Q: Do you have any unfinished knitting projects?
A:At the moment, two bobble hats that need Pom Poms.

Q:Can you remember your first knitting project?
A:I think it was a red cardigan for my doll Betty.

How To Knit A Stocking Stitch - Twins and Needles Video How To's

Hi,

Check out our video on how do a stocking stitch. We've made some more videos, but this is the first one. Enjoy and look out for the others soon.
Olivia x