My Writings
The Travel Knit Project that goes on for miles and miles…
// March 17th, 2012 // Comments Off // Crafts, RhiCreate
Since I’ve been travelling there has been one particular project on the go, granted it was supposed to be one that would occupy me for a while, but I never quite anticipated that nearly 6 months later it would still not quite be finished… Nevertheless I’m only a sleeve and a half short now, and intending to get it finished off in the next week or so before Autumn really kicks in in New Zealand.
I bought 2 balls of this Noro Kureyon Sock yarn long before I left because the colours were so beautiful, but couldn’t decide to what use it should be put. A jumper was a possibility but required more yarn than I had. When I had the idea for this particular project, a quick look on line suggested that the colour might be discontinued…(gasp!) but I managed to find 3 more balls on sale to equip me with sufficient supplies just before leaving.
I’ve been experimenting with my own patterns for a while now, in particular for projects knit in the round, but still haven’t got the maths right for neck decreases, as such I based my design on the very versatile top-down pattern provided by Nancy Rieck on Knitting Gourmet in order to make sure that I wasn’t way off the mark… The last thing I wanted to do was spend hours knitting a 4ply weight jumper only to have to frog it all again just as I might be hitting climates where it is required!
Anyway here’s the progress so far, it fits well, just a bit short on the arms! Perhaps next week I shall have some results photos.
The Travel Collection: Steppes Hat & Siberian Cowl
// January 17th, 2012 // Comments Off // Crafts, RhiCreate
It’s taken me a fair while to post about these projects, although they were both completed before leaving to travel the world. A good thing that they were too, as both came in very useful in the Siberian & Mongolian Autumn (shown here on the shores of Lake Baikal!) and no doubt will be this time next year when back in the UK.
Both pieces were made from yarn that was already in my stash. I’d collected a few “one-off” balls from various places – souvenirs really, never enough for a big project and combined those to make these two items. I realised halfway through that it was actually all British wool, so it seemed a nice idea to take these items around the world! The bulk of the hat and the red strand in it were from Southbrook Farm in Dartmoor somewhere – I picked those up at a craft market, the green came from the Welsh Wool Museum in Carmarthenshire, the blue in the hat is Rowan Tapestry, and the dark blue used in the cowl is Orkney Angora bought in Edinburgh, and probably the softest yarn known to man…
Pattern-wise, a lot of freestyling involved – both pieces were knitted in the round and so joining, finishing etc was all very straightforward, as was the fair-isle – which I always avoid doing with purl if possible! The lace pattern used on the cowl is the “Travelling Vine Pattern” which turned out really well as although it uses a very simple repeat (keeps to it’s own space) it gives the impression that it is travelling around the cowl at the same time.
Having had a pretty disastrous history with knitting hats – never the right size – I’m very happy with how they both turned out, especially as they proved invaluable in the prevention of hypothermia while travelling through the Northern climes. I’m now in Thailand, and both items have been packed away at the bottom of my bag, just waiting for a bit of chill so I can whip them out again!
Welcome to Rhicreate (at last!)
// September 11th, 2011 // Comments Off // RhiCreate
Ladies and gentlemen, yes this site has been a long time in the making, I’ve owned the domain for 2 whole renewal cycles, but as every web designer knows, getting your own site sorted is the hardest thing to fit in!
And of course timing is everything, I’m off to travel the world for 9 months in October and despite the site having been sat around for nearly 3 years void of content, I just couldn’t bear the thought of having it sit around for another 9 months, especially as I know computer and internet access will be intermittent.
So thanks to WooThemes, i’ve managed to find a wordpress theme I can actually customise to not hate as much as one of the defaults, saving me a LOT of deliberation time deciding my own design… that can wait until I get back!! Until then, I hope you folks like it.
:)
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