I have a few wooly finishes this week!
The first one is a tunic I sewed using the fabric I wove last month (it takes me a while to get the courage to cut up hand woven fabric after all the time spent washing and combing raw fleece, spinning and dyeing yarn and then weaving - there is no going back!).
I am so pleased with how it turned out. It is warm and comfortable. It is my third hand woven garment that I have sewn, but the first one that started as a raw fleece.
The pattern is from a Japanese sewing magazine (it is the same issue that I made the other handwoven tunic from).
You don't need to be able to read Japanese to use these magazines since all the instructions are diagrams (it is odd to read from right to left though).
The next finish is a hat from hand spun yarn. This one is super fine Merino (19 Microns) and so soft. The pattern is the Sockhead Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure, it is a free pattern on Ravelry. This was my 'car knitting' project and since we live further away from the city I was amazed how much I could knit in a trip (this was knit on 2.5mm and 3mm needles - US1.5 and 2.5).
This is a cowl that I made for my youngest son. It is knit out of Pattons Classic Merino, a worsted weight yarn. The pattern is the Brioche Vine Cowl by Mercedes Tarasovich from a Craftsy class. This is the third one I have made, they are perfect for our climate.
Since Brioche is double it makes such a warm knit fabric.
Over on Ravelry for this month there is a Indie Design Gift-A-Long happening. Last week patterns were on sale for 25% off and the knit along is until the end of December. It happens every year and is a good time to pick up patterns.
Last year the most popular pattern was the Never Not Gnoming pattern by Sarah Schira (a local to me designer from Brandon, Manitoba), so this year I had to buy it. I can see why it was so popular (and still is, along with her newer gnome pattern) - they are addictive. Quick and easy, and a great way to use bits of yarn.
Here are my first three, using handspun yarn.
Each one is a bit different as I am not the best at keeping track of rows, and it doesn't seem to matter.
When I was photographing the gnomes a nuthatch came to get some seeds - that little bird doesn't seem at all bothered by us!
More photos from around home -
A Downy Woodpecker at the peanut feeder -
Tracks of the Grey Partridges - either taking off or landing in the fresh snow -
Trying out snowshoeing for the first time in years -
And this one of donuts on the pond!
My oldest son imported this little truck from Japan a couple of years ago - I can't imagine the original owner's would have ever thought their truck would end up here!
The ice is about 12" thick (they drilled a hole to test it before driving on the ice), and it has formed deep cracks that radiate from the centre of the pond.
All the best!♥︎
