Twist Cable Front Jumper

You know all this glorious weather we've been having lately? Well I've been knitting with the warmest, fluffiest yarn imaginable - hot sweaty hands really didn't help! Anyway, the jumper is finished now, and I can move on to something in a more warm-weather friendly cotton yarn.

This is the jumper I've been working on, it's another pattern from Knitting magazine. The recommended yarn was Sirdar Country Style, but as all Sirdar DK yarns knit to the same tension I figured I'd use some of the bargain Softspun I got from the Knitting & Stitching Show in March. The brown with the slight metallic through it looks really pretty, and a really flattering colour for me. The yarn may be extrememly light - over 120 metres in a 25g ball - but it is very warm to wear, so I won't be breaking this one out of the wardrobe for a while yet.

The pattern was fairly straightforward - stocking stitch back and sleeves with turn-back ribbed cuffs - until I got to the front and the cable/twist/lace panel. This turned out to be a bit of a brain teaser and I definitely had to concentrate - no knitting while watching TV with this one! It seemed to take FOREVER, but then all of a sudden I was at the neck and it didn't seem so bad after all.

When I started I was a bit worried that because of the fluffiness of the yarn the cables wouldn't show up very much, but actually they are really well defined and the pattern looks pretty effective, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out. I knitted a slightly smaller size than I would have anticipated, but it fits really well and will look smart with a shirt underneath for work in the winter (we're past midsummer now, I'm allowed to talk about winter right?!).

I love the selection of patterns that Knitting magazine features every month, they all tend to be really wearable, but still show off a range of techniques and yarns. I've got a folder building up of patterns that I'd like to get round to knitting eventually - the trouble is, every time I get onto the next project, 5 more good patterns appear and I can't keep up! Oh well, the joys of being a knitter!

I had a day out in Cambridge last week with my Mum and my sister, and managed to pop into Sew Creative for a bit of a browse (my sister wanted to look in bridal shops so it seemed only fair...), and I came away with some red Sirdar Cotton DK that I'm going to make up into a basic cardigan. I've just got a new job so I'm having to think a bit more about practical wardrobe additions rather than just things knitted for fun! I'm also hoping to apply this philosophy to some more sewing projects, maybe with a blouse or a smart dress next.

On a final note today, we had a very successful BBQ at home this weekend, supplemented by potatoes, broad beans and peas fresh from the vegetable patch - there's not much more satisfying than shelling peas on a sunny afternoon!

Delphine Skirt #LoveAtFirstStitch

I bought this GORGEOUS Liberty print cotton a few weeks ago, and it was just begging to be made up into a pretty summer skirt, so what better pattern to start with than Tilly's Delphine - an easy A-line shape with centre-back invisible zip and faced waistband.

Tilly's instructions are absolutely brilliant (as I mentioned when making my Margot PJ's), so sorting out the pattern pieces was really easy. I decided to lengthen the skirt - there really is no good reason why the world needs to see my knees - and again, the instructions in the book made it easy peasy to do. I added 6 inches to the pattern, erring on the side of caution that I could always chop a bit more off once I got the hemming stage.

This one seemed to come together much quicker than the pyjama trousers, probably just because I felt a bit more confident about what I was doing. I cut out a size 5 based on the measurements given in the book, and decided to use a slightly skimpier seam allowance at the hips just in case. In the end, I could have probably got away with the size 4 on the waist, as I've had to unpick the waistband and take in the side seams a little bit more just to get the skirt to sit more comfortably at my natural waist.

The invisible zip was fairly straightforward, I've practised doing one of these before, I just think maybe I could have got the top edge lined up a bit neater - will try and get it right next time! I used a red zip to co-ordinate with the fabric (even though you're not actually supposed to see it, I'll know it's there!).

It's my first time using iron-on interfacing, and I was a little bit nervous, but actually it worked out OK - I ended up interfacing the seams on the zip section too for a bit of added stability, after reading Tilly's tips and a few reviews from other makers. I got a lightweight interfacing on the recommendation of the lady in the shop where I got the fabric, but I could maybe have done with a medium weight, the lightweight doesn't seem to have added much body. Again, a learning process for next time. On the other hand, if the waistband ended up too stiff I'd probably find it uncomfortable to wear!

The length I added turned out to be just right after I turned up a total 3cm for the hem, and the fabric hangs beautifully, not totally drapey, but not too 'sticky-outy' either. The final thing that cheered me up no end was buying a new pair of pinking shears (that actually cut properly, unlike my Mum's really old pair) to trim up the seam allowances on the inside - the cotton doesn't fray too badly, but just to be on the safe side I've zigzag stitched and pinked!

I'm really pleased with how this skirt turned out, I've already worn it several days, and I've got plenty of plain tops in co-ordinating colours (red, orange, yellow, blue, green...) to go with it so I definitely think I'm going to get my money's worth out of wearing it this summer! And now I'm wondering what other fabric I can get to make more - maybe a denim/chambray, suiting material for a work look, more fun cotton twills, wool, jacquard - watch this space!

Magazine Review: The Simple Things

Wow! It's been a really busy couple of weeks and the time has just flown by, but I've managed to snatch a little while today to share with you my thoughts on this lovely magazine.

I've been reading The Simple Things since the first issue two years ago and I find it a lovely compilation of lots of different things that is perfect to read for a bit of quiet Me-time. The tagline the magazine is using at the moment is "Taking time to live well", and that really sums up the philosophy of the magazine - to promote slowing down and enjoying the little things in life that nurture us.

The issues are divided into various sections - Eating, Growing, Making, Living, Escaping and Wellbeing, although there is usually a common theme to tie everything together, generally something seasonal.

I'll admit there are usually a couple of things I tend to flick through quickly in each issue - quite often the recipes as I find they are not very often to my taste, but there are also usually at least a couple of articles or features that really make me think.

In the current issue (Issue 24 - June 2014), I particularly enjoyed reading Arianna Huffington's piece about moving around more at work - the health benefits of sitting down less, increased mental alertness, and the creative inspiration that can come out of walking meetings. I have to say that on a personal level this issue has never really affected me - having worked in retail for many years, I am used to spending 8 hours a day on my feet running around, and actually enjoying getting to sit down on my lunch break! However, I'm currently looking at a change of career that will potentially see me in much more sedentary roles, so the article was a timely reminder that I should make sure I keep myself moving around at work, even if it is only standing up when on the phone, or getting out of the office for a walk round the block at lunchtime.

On the flip side, and just because I love a good contradiction, my other favourite article in this issue was "The Indulgence of Idleness" about the pleasures of simply 'being' for a while, totally relaxing without doing anything, letting your mind wander with no sense of urgency or worry. Again, I found this especially pertinient to my current situation as a reminder that I have a tendency to let stress get the better of me and feeling the need to be busy all the time. In fact, I know that I work much better after a proper rest and the opportunity to chill out - the best part of my weekend was sitting in the garden in the sun for half an hour and listening to the birds and the sounds from the neighbourhood.

My final pick of my favourite bits of this magazine is a piece with some beautiful photos about women reclaiming the shed as a place to potter, create or work. Aside from the stereotypical view of the garden shed as a man's domain, a workshop and place to keep tools, I love the idea of women being able to claim a space that is private and personal, away from the demands of the house, to be able to be or do whatever you want to do. I'm living with my parents at the moment and sometimes struggle to feel like I have any space of my own, but this article reminded me that even the smallest place can be made a refuge, and can serve a single or many purposes. So perhaps I shouldn't moan about my bedroom too much after all!

I love the design of this magazine, the photography is always exquisite, and I find there is just the right balance of interesting things to read and gorgeous pictures to look at.

The only thing I miss is the list of 'simple things' that used to be on the back cover - the magazine was redesigned a few issues ago and this seems to have been lost. A real shame, as the lists always featured a few things that I love myself, things I might notice, little moments to enjoy. Perhaps this list will find its way back into the design soon.