whatIwore

I can smell summer

Posted on September 18, 2015 by bekswhoknits

The weather is starting to warm up and it’s beautiful. I feel like a lizard who no longer needs to lie in the same to feel warm but suddenly there’s no longer ice in my veins and I start to become alive!

Maybe that’s a slight exaggeration but I do think I’ve been cold for the longest time and now that I can feel my fingers and toes when I wake up in the morning I can start to move and do.

Including doing some sewing. Yes sure my back hated me for a few days afterwards, but I had a pretty dress to take my mind off it.

I bought Tilly & the Button’s Love at First Stitch book and successfully made a Megan dress!!!!

Look at me and my work elevator selfies.
Unfortunately this is the best photograph I took, and as the dress is currently on my floor-drobe in a pile and the fabric requires ironing, it may be the best photo there is for a while.

There are still some problems with it. The biggest one is that it’s made from fabric that you need to iron and ironing clothes isn’t high on my list of favourite tasks.
Secondly the way I’ve gathered the sleeves makes my shoulders look *really* wide and the high neckline makes my boobs look *huge*. The last thing I need is to look wider.
And thirdly I used the wrong type of stabiliser for the collar which makes it really scratchy and stiff. I may just cut that off to make it a bit more wearable.

But like anything these were opportunities for improvement and I have another Megan dress already cut out, in a different fabric, with a modification to the collar and sleeves.

So I’m looking forward to sewing that together and seeing if my “improvements” help the dress. I kinda freehanded the drafting of neckline….
Sewing needs a bit more precision than I usual have.

FO #8 Sunshine & Lollipops

Posted on May 28, 2014 by bekswhoknits

I still don’t know what quite possessed me to make a bright yellow cardigan.

I guess it’s like when you see a paint sample and it looks really pretty, but then you put it on the wall and are overwhelmed by the overall effect.

When I was surrounded by the 40% off all yarn sale, with all those yarn fumes and balls of squishy goodness, the yellow Moda Vera Ayanna looked beautiful.

Teeny-tiny needles are not my friends at the moment so I’ve been looking for bulky yarns and chunky patterns.

Fezziwig absolutely flew off the needles relatively speaking. It still took me about a month to finish but as someone who is trying NOT to knit it still felt like it was going quickly. The construction was really easy, sure picking up 200+ stitches was a bit of a pain, but not having to attach sleeves more than made up for that. I’m terrified of patterns that have attached sleeves. It just sounds like a recipe for disaster.

The best thing about it is that it’s so warm. It’s like wearing a wooly blanket made from sunshine and lollipops with pockets!!!

FO2 – Parcel

Posted on March 7, 2014March 7, 2014 by bekswhoknits

My first ever jumper is off the needles.
Well it was finished last week, but it’s been too stinking hot to try and model it. (It’s officially Autumn and today is set to be 38 degrees. That’s 100 for all you Fahrenheit folk.)

I started Parcel over a year ago. I remember knitting it at Perth Festival last year. When Perth Festival came around this year I decided it was time to knuckle down and finish this damn thing. As much as I liked the set in sleeves it did mean that whilst knitting them I had a jumper on my lap. Fortunately Hewhofishes likes living in an igloo so it wasn’t too bad.

It was a well written pattern (having no experience to compare it to) and I chose it carefully wanting something with cables, that was knitted in the round, and didn’t have any seaming.

So here it is! All ready for some cooler weather.

I still haven’t figure out how to take a good picture in my crafty room and don’t know whether to blame the model or the lighting.

I knitted a jumper that fits!!! That’s a pretty big achievement.

Ravelry Pattern Page – for those who want all the gory details.

Pockets!!!

Posted on July 26, 2013August 2, 2013 by bekswhoknits

Unlike Donna Noble I always try to have pockets.
I don’t like not having my phone on me at all times (I was in a fire drill once for an hour without my phone. Never. Again.)
So I sewed some pockets in my work skirt.

I measured out the fabric, folded it in half and then sewed it together.
I then sewed it to my skirt.
I used embroidery thread to reinforce it.
It’s not elegant but it works.

While I was at it, I did the same thing in my new bag.
I’ve become a bag lady. I fell in lust at first sight with a green beauty but my keys and phone kept getting lost.

So I did exactly the same thing except I sewed the one piece of material in half.

Now I can always find my keys and I never have to be without my phone.

Pockets!!!

A cardigan in a weekend

Posted on May 31, 2013June 1, 2013 by bekswhoknits

Well I started it on Friday night and finished it on Monday night. That’s a pretty quick turnaround!

It helps that this is knit with super bulky yarn (I used modavera shiver) on size 10 needles.

I found out about this pattern from the electric sheep podcast and had to knit it immediately.

It was not without it’s difficulties though.
First one was when the cable became unglued from the needle.
Not a big problem. We had superglue in the house so I just glued it back together and left it to sit for a while.

It was only when it was dry and I started to use it again that I realised I had glued the needle in the wrong way.
Instead of a nice smooth needle I had a groove where a cable should fit.

I persevered. It slowed progress a bit, but was still manageable.
Then came the sleeves.
I realised I didn’t have size 10 double pointed needles. I probably could have gone out and bought some and made my life easier, but I had a size 10 hat sized circular. It wasn’t ideal but I managed to do magic loop on it. Eventually the sleeve stretched enough to be knit from the circular no magic loop required so that turned out to be an acceptable problem.

When it came time to attach the sleeves it took me two attempts to figure out the pattern. I was meant to have put 4 stitches on holders not 3 but maths saved the day and I picked up extra stitches under the armholes and changed the yoke decreases.

So I finished a cardigan! The sleeve length is a bit awkward on me, so if I make it again I would change that, but overall I’m very pleased.
I also want to make this into a jumper pattern. By increasing the number of stitches between the pattern repeats I think it could quite easily be done.

I really need to learn how to take better photos though.

A change is as good as a holiday?

Posted on May 27, 2013May 27, 2013 by bekswhoknits

I am no longer the girl with blue hair who knits.

If you’re looking for me in a crowd you need to start looking for pink hair. And do I mean pink!

I try not to bleach my hair too often. I avoid it for as long as possible, but it was at that point where I couldn’t avoid it any longer.

I do my own hair. Its cheaper that way and I only have myself to blame if it goes wrong.
My bathroom gets turned into a hair salon about once a month.

Once I’m satisfied that I haven’t missed a spot, it’s the waiting game to see whether or not all the colour comes out.
I did my fringe bright red last year and that took 4 bleachings to get it to a workable state.
The teal came out quite easily and left me with a blank canvas. As well as the scheduled reminder that I look terrible as a blonde.

I hadn’t expected it to be so white. I though about it and ended up opting for a change.

I am now a pink haired girl.
I got so used to the teal that it looked normal to me. The pink is so bright it’s a bit of a shock. But I love it.
I’ve had pink hair before (it’s in my drivers license photo) but never with a fringe.

For the 10 year old Bek who never wanted a pink bedroom because it was too girly- I’ve failed you. But 28 year old Bek knows that you can still be a tomboy with pink hair.

Outfit post 2 (now with more polkadots)

Posted on November 10, 2012November 10, 2012 by bekswhoknits

I’m going to have to come up with a better titles but I’m really enjoying these outfit posts.
And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m a big of a fan of polkadots.
(Shocking I know!)

Yellow and black polkadots are my favourites and this dress is one of my favourites!
It’s an awesome feeling when there’s someone in your life who knows exactly what you like and who you are. I’m incredibly grateful and lucky to have two such people, one of whom bought me this dress.
So I love this dress, I love coloured tights, and I love polkadots!

It’s an outfit post!

Posted on November 3, 2012November 7, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Wow. It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these.
But I reckon this is a good enough reason.

This is my cardigan! I am still super chuffed that I finished a big knitted project.

And this is my bookcase. The biggest reason that I haven’t done many outfit posts is that our apartment is so tiny, it gets no natural light, and there is no neutral place to use as a back drop.

So in lieu of a neutral place, I thought I’d show a part of my apartment that I’m proud of.
The first place that springs to mind is my cd collection. But that’s right next to the only window in the place and is really awkward to stand in front of.

So the next place is my bookshelf. I love to read. And I love to watch tv. To the left you can see my tea cup collection. And on the top shelf you can see my Dalek (and other assorted Doctor Who merchandise).
It’s forever changing, and being shuffled around, but I’m thinking of doing more outfit posts here. I’d love to know what people think of the location. Too cluttered? Too distracting? Or is it me? Will you all judge me on what you see in my bookcase?
Actually, if you haven’t already figured out who I am, my bookcase will certainly confuse or enlighten you.

So enough chat, here is me, pretending to model, wearing my own knitted creation.
(My jeans are cotton on, my shoes are from rubi, and my tank is from temt)

~~~
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Items for sale

Posted on June 5, 2012June 6, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Hey guys.

I’ve got a pair of super cute polka doy converse for sale on eBay.

These were a birthday present to myself, but they don’t fit. 😦

So if anyone out there is a UK size 9 (which is 42.5 in other numbers), go and check them out.

I’m devastated that they don’t fit because they are really cute and pretty rare.
So rare I can’t find them in my size.

I was really hoping that my first sale post here was something really awesome that I made myself. But these polka dot converse deserve an awesome home.

what’s in my wallet

Posted on May 17, 2012 by bekswhoknits

Well I don’t carry a handbag. I’m a bit of a minimalist when it comes to going places.
I have a collection of totes from various gigs or online purchases, but if I’m just going to the pub, or out for an evening all I want is cash, cards, phone, keys, and lipbalm.

I’ve spend ages trying to find the perfect way to do this, and I think I’m pretty close.

Kitsch Devine make this gorgeous wallet.

It’s a fabric wallet, and I really want this cat print one!

But I am so happy with mine.

So here’s what I carry everywhere…
Obviously my phone is conspicuously absent – but it fits in their perfectly, even with a case on. So many iphone wallets fit an iphone but only if they dont have a case.
This one fits my phone whether it’s wearing polka-dots, flowers, or the little mermaid (I have a mild iphone case obsession).

Lip balm is essential. Chapstick is always on sale so I usually have dozens of them but can never find one when I need one.

Endless receipts. I don’t know why I keep receipts as I tend to do my account keeping using my bank statements, but I still always end up with receipts.

Emergency panty liner. Learnt from experience.

Cards. The usual drivers licence, bank card, medicare card.
Special cards include my RTR fm subscribers card, spotlight card, and entertainment book card. Yay for discounts!

Business cards. Does anyone else have business cards for their blog? I find they’re really useful when I want to give someone my details, but I don’t want to give them my mobile number. Instead they have my url, email, and twitter handle. I always have a few handy.

Post It Notes. Because they’re really useful.

The heart shaped carabina is there because I sometimes attach my keys to it. It’s not the best solution, but it works.

Noticeably absent –
Bobby pins, usually I have a few tucked away in my wallet.
Money, I’m hopeless when it comes to keeping cash
Pen, I’m probably being optimistic, but I think having a pen tucked in there would be really useful.

So there you go. A little insight into my essentials.
(And check out Kitsch Designs – there’s so many cute things)