I seriously can’t believe that I can knit. I just knitted a baby blanket! And she’s a beauty.
I used Scheepjes Sunkissed for this project in colours 3, 7, 9 and 10. (There are currently 11 colours available, but don’t be surprised if you see more coming soon!)
I can’t tell you how much I love working with this yarn. I love the texture of the cotton, I love the colourways, I love the drape. For me it’s about as close to the perfect yarn as you can get. Knitters, you’re going to make some beautiful clothes with this yarn, let me forewarn you.
The finished blanket, at 60x85cm is just the perfect size for a cradle or buggy, and it’s exactly the right weight for this ridiculously cool summer that we’re “enjoying” here in Holland right now.
A super quick post today, I just want to update you on where I’m at with my knitting project.
I’ve used all three colours that I had chosen for this project, and I definitely needed one more colour block. I really wanted to use a yellow shade, which would have been the perfect spring colour, but it’s not (yet) available from Scheepjes so instead I chose purple (10), which is just as lovely.
Don’t you love my little yarn cake? I was attempting a centre pull but had a major Yarn Vomit, so made it into a cake. I love making yarn cakes almost as much as I love working with yarn!
Now I really have the hang of knitting, I’ve managed to work up the purple fairly quickly, and I’ve managed to finish it off and it’s on the blocking board right now. Thankfully there has been some warm weather so it hasn’t taken long to dry.
I can’t wait to show you the finished product, I really can’t. I’m so impressed with my ability to knit when only a few months ago I wouldn’t have even attempted a simple garter stitch scarf. Now I’m lusting after knit patterns on Ravelry like nobody’s business!
Do you have a favourite knitting project you can recommend to slake my thirst?
I’ve had this beautiful selection of Scheepjes Bloom for a couple of months now, but haven’t had any ideas as to what I should do with it. The colours are so vibrant, and there are so many, I honestly felt a little overwhelmed. I mean, look at this colour selection:
It wasn’t until this week that I was doing a bit of Facebook browsing of an evening when I saw this gorgeous poncho WIP by Meet Me At Mikes and realised that I had found the perfect project for my Bloom. The only problem was, I didn’t have enough of one colour to be able to recreate this one exactly and nor did I have the patience to wait for yarn to arrive if I was to order it, so I thought I would do a bit of browsing for something similar and came across this fabulous poncho design by Sewchet. And even better, it had a free tutorial!
It’s a really cool design, and although I didn’t follow the pattern to the letter, the idea is essentially the same.
And then of course I had to block it, which while absolutely necessary, is the most tortuous stage of any project. The waiting, and waiting and waiting drives me bonkers!
But the wait was totally worth it. My daughter is seriously irresistible in her new poncho.
I’m still lusting after the vibrant colours of Meet Me At Mike’s poncho, and I reckon if I dig through my stash I’ll be able to find the yarn. But first I need to finish about six other projects. As usual!
Last week I showed you the beautiful Scheepjes Sunkissed yarn that had arrived and that I was planning to work on a knitted project and I’ve made terrific progress!
I’ve steamed through the first colour and am working on the second colour. I can already see that three colours won’t be enough, so once I’m finished with the blue I’ll dig around in my Sunkissed collection to find the right colour to match. But in the meantime, I’m just enjoying watching this grow, and am falling more and more in love with the colour variation of this yarn.
I’m also lucky to have had a couple of sunny days – finally! – so I can spend time outside knitting and improving my skills.
This really is the perfect project for a beginner, or someone who just wants to sit in front of Game of Thrones and knit. Or someone who wants to learn a new knitting technique. I knit in the English style. Well, kind of. There’s a lot of movement in my hands, and I wanted to learn to refine my style so I was using less energy, if you know what I mean. So for this project I started practicing the Continental style, which worked well while working the knit stitch, but purl? Forgetaboutit. I just cannot get the tension right, and I was knitting much faster if I just went back to the English style.
You’ll have to check back next week to see the final colour that I’ll use, and how it’s all coming together. I’m loving the Sunkissed so much, and the drape is gorgeous. The next thing I’d like to make is a cardigan, or a shawl, but I have to find or develop the perfect pattern….
I recently joined a lovely Dutch crochet group called “Holland Heeft Haak Talent” and in the week since I joined it has blown up in excitement over the cutest little duckling amigurumi design. Not wanting to be left out, I had to make one for myself!
My daughter actually wanted me to turn him into a Platypus, so the next time I make one I think that’s what I’ll do. What do you think? He’ll make a cute Platypus?
I used Scheepjes Softfun Denim (505 and 508) that I had leftover from another project, and a 2.5mm hook. Oh, and I put a little squeaker inside. So this little guy is the perfect little toy for a newborn who is just learning to explore his fingers and how to hold onto things. Great bits to chew on and mum or dad can squeak him which always makes babies giggle.The pattern is completely free, and you can pick it up at mrsemonessy.de in English, German, French and Dutch! There’s also a great (German) Youtube tutorial as well.
So, today I have some of the most beautiful cotton yarn to show you – The Sunkissed by Scheepjes.
Just look at those colours! And this is just a tiny selection. There are 11 colours to choose from (so far) and this is just the most beautiful summer yarn. It’s lovely and soft, just like the Cotton 8, and the colour variation is to die for. Actually, you can very easily partner the Sunkissed with the Cotton 8 as they’re the same weight and hook size (sport and a 3mm hook/needle). It’s 100% cotton and comes in 50 gram skeins. There are loads and loads of great retailers in NL and Belgium where you can pick it up, or if you’re outside the Benelux, head to Deramores.com.
But what should I make? Well, I’ve decided on a really simple knitting project. Something that even the biggest novice can make, because let’s face it. That’s what I am: a knitting novice!
Look at the little swatch I’ve already made, isn’t the colour amazing?
I’m not sure I’ll have quite enough to finish this project, so we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we. Pop back next week for an update.
Meanwhile, have you started working on the Peek-a-Boo Button Wrap yet? What do you think of it? I’m overwhelmed by the positive responses that I’ve had so far, thanks so much!!!
I’ve made this for you in four different sizes, from Small through to XL.
Here you can find a written pattern for size Medium, and below you can find a chart which will give you the measurements and stitch counts for sizes Small, Large and XL.
For the Dutch speakers among us, I’ve also had the design translated. You can find it here. Veel plezier!
Scheepjes Stone Washed XL in 850 (Garnet) – 12 balls for size M (I used 11, but get an extra to be safe)
S = 10 balls (each ball of Stone Washed XL has 75 metres)
M = 12 balls
L = 15 balls
XL = 17 balls
7cm bamboo button – you can pick these up at any good craft store, or online
Size 5mm hook (or hook to obtain gauge)
Measuring Tape
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Eucalan wool wash
Gauge
8 stitches x 5 rows = 5cm x 5cm
Stitches
Note: All stitches are in US terms
Chain (CH)
Half Double Crochet (HDC)
Half Double Crochet Back Loop Only (HDCBLO)
Half Double Crochet Front Loop Only (HDCFLO)
Size Medium
Chain loosely 119 stitches. If you’re a tight crocheter, consider going up a hook size to make sure that the chain isn’t too tight.
HDC into the third chain from the hook, and all the way across (a total of 117 stitches across). CH2, turn.
HDCBLO in the first stitch, HDCFLO in the next. Repeat this front and back (HDCBLO/FLO) format all the way across, CH2, turn. Note: It’s important to ensure that you have an odd number of stitches to make it easier to achieve the texture of the stitches. If you finish the row in the back loop, when you start the next row, start in the front loop and vice versa. You’ll find very quickly as you go that the look of the wrap will be different if you don’t maintain the BLO then FLO stitch pattern in alternating stitches.
Repeat this pattern building rows for 25cm.
Now we are going to make the first sleeve. Follow the HDCBLO/FLO pattern for 20 stitches, then CH 35, skip 35, then continue the HDCBLO/FLO pattern all the way to the end. Make sure you double check that you stitch into the BLO or FLO correctly (if the stitch in the row below was FLO, you need to stitch into the BLO).
HDCBLO/FLO to the chain from the previous row, then HDC 35 into the chain, then continue the HDCBLO/FLO to the end. the short end becomes the collar of the wrap.
Repeat step 3 for a further 37cm and then we will make the next sleeve. Making sure you start from the top of the collar and work down (add a row if you need to), repeat steps 5 and 6.
Continue building the final front panel, for 25cm, then we will make the button hole.
Starting from the top of the collar, repeat the HDCBLO/FLO pattern for 37 stitches. Chain 7, skip 7 stitches, then repeat the HDCBLO/FLO pattern all the way to the end.
HDCBLO/FLO to the chain from the previous row, then HDC 7 into the chain, then continue the HDCBLO/FLO to the end.
Build a further 7 rows, or complete your ball of yarn. Tie off, weave in ends.
Sew button on the opposite end of the garment to the button hole 9cm from the end, 25cm from the top.
Block, stretching a little (especially the length) and you’re done!
Size Chart
You can switch out the stitch counts and centimetres in the written pattern above for the numbers in the chart below, depending on your required size.
I picked up a mannequin from Xenos just to be able to show this off to you properly, and the form is just perfect.
And so is the peek-a-boo button. Better than I ever could have imagined. I’ll be honest, when I first ordered the yarn and the button, I hadn’t really calculated the size of the button correctly, but now I couldn’t imagine having chosen anything else.
I love how there is just enough strength in the stitch to hold the collar up at the back. It’s always surprising just how soft and supple the Scheepjes Stone Washed is after blocking – I wasn’t sure if the collar would keep standing!
Most of all, I adore the texture of the stitch I used. It’s a very ordinary Half double Crochet, but in alternating front and back loops, giving the design just that little bit extra texture. Plus the stitch allows just enough stretch for the top to really mold to the shape of the figure.
Can you tell how happy I am with the result?
Coming very soon, the pattern! I’m drafting it in multiple sizes. So we’ll have sizes from S through to XL next week!
The pattern is now live! You can pick it up here: Peek-a-Boo Button Wrap. Coming soon: pattern in Dutch! OMG that’s going to be tough 😀
I’ve only about four skeins to go, I’d say I’m nearly finished!
As with all the Stone Washed projects I’ve done in the last almost 12 months, I absolutely love the texture. This yarn is just really, really great looking. I love the fluff-factor too. Look at the stitch detail:
I’m working a really very simple half double crochet into alternating front and back loops, and it just looks great.
I’m actually almost at the stage where I need to think about working in the button. Now, this button is huge. Like the size of a slice of orange. I’m hoping that it’s the right choice, but only time will tell!
Hopefully by this time next week I’ll be able to show you the finished product, won’t that be fun?!
I’m back! I can’t say if I’m happy to be back home from my “Other” home or not, but one thing’s for sure, I’m very happy to find this huge pile of yarn waiting for me!
I have a really cool project in mind for all of this. A while back my Mother in Law asked me if I could make her a vest for days and nights when it’s too warm for a coat and too cold without, so I’m working on something that I think will be great.
The colour and texture of the Scheepjes Stone Washed XL is just perfect for this project, the colour variation adds interest, and the fluffiness adds serious warmth! What do you think of the start? I just couldn’t wait to crack on, so have been measuring and counting and doing what I can to beat the jetlag.
I also chose these enormous coconut shell buttons, which will be both a feature and functional.
More progress photos to come, stay tuned!
PS. If you’re looking for this yarn but don’t know where to find it, you can pick it up at loads of great retailers (in person or online) in the Netherlands here, or internationally from deramores.com. Happy hunting!
Ta Da!!!!!
I used Scheepjes Sunkissed for this project in colours 3, 7, 9 and 10. (There are currently 11 colours available, but don’t be surprised if you see more coming soon!)
MissNeriss 