Knitted Christmas Presents

Since I noticed that there are quite few readers from Russia visiting my blog I decided to duplicate it in Russian as well. Let it be a novelty of 2013 :)
Т.к. статистика показывает, что мой блог читает достаточно много читателей из России, я решила дублировать сообщения на русском языке. Как всегда начинать лучше с Нового года :)

After the busy Christmas time when I worked as a tourist guide for my visiting friends, I am finally ready to show knitted and crochet projects that I made as Christmas presents. Both knitted scarfs are Kim Hargreaves's designs. I noticed that I become more and more addicted to her books. I like how precise and carefully elaborated they are. Not to mention classical and very British style of her patterns.
После суматошных новогодних каникул, когда я выполняла роль гида для своих гостей, я наконец могу похвастаться вязаными подарками, которые я приготовила к Новому году. Это два вязаных шарфа, оба по дизайнам Ким Харгривз. Мне все больше и больше нравятся её модели, особенно то, как тщательно и детально составлены описания. Кроме того, мне близок сдержанный и консервативный (или классический) стиль её моделей.

Adore scarf from book Misty. I used two skeins of Lanosa Chinchilla (~ 500 meter in total), needles # 5. This scarf is very delicate and airy.
Шарф из книги Мисти. 2 мотка=500 метров Ланоса Шиншилла, спицы №5. Очень нежная воздушная вещь.

 

 

 

 The second present is also scarf but is a completely different one, very thick and warm. The pattern is Thunder from Shadows book. The yarn is Rowan Cocoon, 3,5 skeins knitted on needles # 6,5. I call it Thunder in Tundra because yarn colour called Tundra.

Второй шарф - полная противоположность, очень теплый и толстый. Пряжа Кокон от Рован, ушло 3,5 мотка, осталось еще на шапочку. Цвет пряжи называется Тундра :), то, что надо для нашего климата :).

 

 

The third present is not for a person but for my kitchen :). Since I try to get rid of yarn leftovers I used some of them to crochet place mats. The pattern is a free DROPS design .

Третий подарок я сделала для своей кухни. Т.к. стараюсь освобождаться от остатков пряжи, связала крючком вот такие коврики для кухонного стола. Описание на сайте Дропс.

 

 

 

Also as a part of stash busting made this little pulse warmers. I had very little leftover of kidsilk and I found this mittens to utilise it.

Заодно покажу еще один маленький проектик, для утилизации остатков пряжи. У меня было совсем чуть-чуть кид силка, куда-то хотелось пристроить. Нашлись вот эти митенки.

 

 

 

 

Till later :)

Men's linen shirt (Burda 06/2011-138) and some trifles

Summer linen shirt and a hat for my son.

Burda 06/2011-138

I enjoyed working with linen, such a wonderful fabric. I would love to sew something from linen for myself as well. The only problem that it wrinkles so easily, so it would be something very casual, for vacation wardrobe.

Two other small projects are the hat and the pot holder. The pattern for the hat is Simplicity 5581.

Simplicity 5581

Burda 08/1989

The pot holder was my first  try on patch-work. I chose this very small project just to see how to do this. This pattern was published in Burda magazine 08/1989 along with some other lovely bigger projects.

Besides trying quilting this project satisfied my inclination for recycling and nonwaste living. Maybe it is because I was raised by my grandmother who survived revolution and two wars and used to save everything, or just my inborn sense of  responsibility but I hate wasting things. So I made this potholder from scraps of  fabric that I used for my sewing projects.

Ikea Pillow #2

Here comes the second pillow-case made from the Ikea fabric. It is not that loud as the first one , more neutral, to keep balance.

As I only learn to sew the first learning book that I bought was Learn to Sew by Chris Jefferys ( "Азбука шитья" ). It really contains very basic technics that a total beginner like myself could learn and try to apply making very simple designs. The book has very detailed instructions and big clear photographs of essential sewing operations. I always wanted to make two pillow-cases suggested in this book.

   

So I combined both designs in the next Ikea pillow-case.



Front side



Back side

And this is not the end of my romance with Ikea textiles!

Something for the hearth

I made two small projects for the interior lately. First is a 30 cm diameter doily for a small round coffee table. Design is from the January issue of Diana Creativ magazine.

I like this pattern because it reminds me the images of Egyptian lotus flowers.

Second is a cushion pillow-case. I am so fond of the latest Ikea textile designs that I couldn't keep buying some fabric lately. That is what I call an instant gratification project *lol*. Four seams and voila, the new eye-catcher is ready. We have such a long and dull winter that I simply need something to brighten the days and add more colours around. Ikea fabrics are simply perfect for this.
I have two more pieces in stash.