Patterns by Irish Bishop

I love designs by Iris Bishop as her patterns are such a good fit. Ok, so they take some working out but that’s half the fun. One of my particular favourites is her jersey from her leaflet for a scallop edge pattern Not only is this design good looking its also an easy jersey to wear with anything. I do it in a number of different ways using various fairisle stitch patterns including the original leaf pattern.

I first of all knitted one of her jerseys from the Celtic inspirations and its fine again a reasonably easy to wear design, I just love her fantastic patterns however as usual I do my own take on what pattern to mix and match.

Last year I decided to knit one of her designs and it’s the Jacket pattern from her book Celtic Inspirations. This is a complex pattern but again I love a challenge – this one has taken me quite a while to get to the final stages of and I am now about to knit the final piece of the collar and then I only have the two pockets to knit. Despite my yarn stack, I have run out of the second colour and I am having to make it up as I go, with similar or indeed totally contrasting yarns, I only hope it turns out well

The jacket is now finished. I had to use a subtle change of yarn colour but its hardly noticeable, as its in the pattern in the collar – I did have enough to finish the main bits and boy what weight this jacket is, definitely a winter warmer and it fits nice too ie it look so much better than the model on the photographs. Unfortunately I cannot take pics and wear it and my other half is the worlds’ worst photographer.

I like to mix and match patterns and as I am allergic to wool (the very best thing to knit with). I have knitted these designs using up my stock of Chenille in odd colours.

The chenille is a mix of different fibres, some cotton and some acrylic – however the benefit is that I can wear it next to my skin, unlike wool. This of course means that a tension swatch is essential and somehow I was able to match the tension, I just hope the jacket hangs correctly as it was designed to be knitted in wool. Luckily the scallop edge jersey can be knitted in chenille.

Summer is a coming!

Thank goodness summer is coming. This is the time when I am able to try to service some of my machines, but as I have said before, this damp and humid Breton climate is not the best for metal. When I look back at some of my old photographs and the excellent condition of most of my machines when I first took them over, the difference is astounding, I now have a constant battle against condensation both in my filing cabinets with books and machines. My brand new wooden shed is no more and is starting to deteriorate – still such is life – these things are sent to challenge us.

I suppose I am going to have to bite the bullet and pull out some of my golden oldies – bit scared as I am wondering what damage the cold, followed by hot has done to them. However that’s for next time.

By the way I must mention that wonderful site

http://machineknittingetc.com

Absolutely fabulous, and such a boon for machine knitters the world over. If you need a manual, and you have a great chance of getting it free from this site. Re knitting machine patterns and books – best selection ever. I keep looking in the hope some kind soul is going to copy the last couple of years of Machine Knitting News – what a bonus that would be eh!