New Travelling Blog - Girl must eat...

Back in December when i posted my One Year Old post. I gave myself some vague New Years resolutions. One of them was to start posting about my travelling adventures. I really wanted to do this in a new blog, as i want this blog to be purely craft based. Well it did not happen.

However, one of my new house mates is so overly over the top and passionate in talking about restaurants, spas and hotels that she has visited. She is the sort of person, that will swerve to the wrong side of a road to get a better look at a restaurant that she has never seen before. We live in a very touristy area, so this is a problem. That at first it really put me off starting another blog. As i could noway be as passionate as her. 

I think if she could write as nearly as well as she talks about these things, then she should have a really successful blog. So to encourage her in this, we have started a blogging competition. She has started a blog called  Gone, Seen, Done (she has yet to start posting) and i have started a rival blog called Girl must eat.... Who ever has the most hits when we leave wins. I've got no idea what the prize might be.

So from now on i am blogging on two fronts, my crafty self and my traveller self. I really hope that this does not get in the way of my knitting, but this should be fun. There are so many places to visit, locally that i can write about. And i find that i am more focused and enjoy these things more, when i write about them. So this should be good for me too.

I have put a new tab up top, so if you would like to read it you can, but i wont bore you with the details of my travel life otherwise. Like wise we will see if i can not mention knitting, sewing or crochet on Girl must eat... But that might just be impossible.

Yarn Bombing a Ski Lift for Valentines

Meredith form One Sheepish Girl is hosting another yarn bombing day for Valentines. This one is heart themed, called Sheepish Heart Bomb! I knew i had to take part, and i knew just what i wanted to do as before i had finished reading the post. 

As i am living the dream life, in the land of ski. I knew that i had to yarn bomb a ski lift. I yarn bombed, the Le Crozat, ski lift in Chamonix/Les Houches.

This is my first time yarn bombing, and i was very nervous  I did not tell my friend (pictured in the red jacket) what i was planning, until just before. Being a none knitter and never hearing about yarn bombing, she did not understand. It came a bit of a shock to her when i whipped out my hearts and started tying them to the cross bar of the ski lift. She had a good laugh though, mostly at my expense. 

The hearts looked so good. I as today is valentines day, i now have a image in my head of a loved up couple getting on the Heart Chair, and holding hands as they ascend the side of Mont-Blanc. I really hope its appreciated.

We did a return run down a different piste to the same ski lift and i was luckily enough to spot my yarn bombed chair for a second time. 

I made 8 crochet hearts and joined them using chain stitch. Then i added yarn top and bottom of each heart, so i could quickly attach the string of hearts to the cross bar and take photos, before i had to jump off the ski lift. I also took the yarn clippers so i could quickly neaten my work.

Chamonix Head - Free Headband Pattern

I have been wanting to create my own patterns to share for some time. At last i have done it. The Chamonix Head headband is my first knitting pattern of my own, that is ready to share.



Living in the Chamonix valley there is knitting inspiration all around. There are masses of ski shops and one whole shop full of colourful knitted head wear. The only problem being a knitter is you see these things and think ' I could make that, only better'. It is nearly always cheaper it is to knit your own, as these hats are nearly all made of cheep fibres.

So almost from the instant i got here, my brain has been a hub of knitting activity. I have got several projects on the go, two of which i have actually created patterns for. Which is very exciting as i have had several false starts over the years.

The Chamonix Head is very warm, it has a double layer of knitting. On the inside there is plain stockinnete stitch, and on the outside a thatched cable pattern.To compensate for the cable pattern i have had to add increases and change up the needle side.

Here are the detains of the pattern.

You will need to know how to do
Knit, purl, increases and decreases, casting on and off and also basic cables.

Yarn

1 ball of DK or worsted yarn. I used Drops Lima (65% wool, 35% Alpaca)

Needles
4.5mm circular or set of DPNS.
7mm circular or set of DPNS.
(6mm circular or set of DPNS, if desired).
I used a 60 cm (24 inch) circular needle, so I could knit in the round. You could also use a longer one and use the magic loop method.

Gauge
19 stitches to 10cm (4inches).

The Chamonix Head can either down load this page or from my ravery page.

Yarn Shopping in Geneva, Switzerland

It is impossible to find yarn in Chamonix, France, so the first chance i got to go to Geneva (Switzerland), i jumped at it. With the first thought being "there'll be yarn there". So i spent two days researching 'yarn shops in Geneva' and one fun day shopping for yarn.

I found the cost of yarn in Switzerland to be really expensive. And most shops mainly stock Lang Yarns which are priced around CHF 7-90 (Swiss francs) per 50g. Lang Yarns are a Swiss company, so it not surprising that the majority shop source most of there yarn from here. As always when visiting place like this i wish i was more confidant in asking to take pictures, but hay, this is why i knit, i am shy and can easily hide behind some knitting.

So here are the results of my research and shopping expedition. But if you know any better, please tell me in the comments and i'll update this.

The Research

First or all don't get confused between yarn shops in Geneva, Switzerland and Geneva, NY, USA. The yarn shops in Geneva, NY look great but you can't find them in Switzerland.

Most of the blogs and websites i read mentioning yarn shops in Geneva were very old and often had dud links or no links at all.

The best site i found was Knitmap.com, i did a search for Geneva, Switzerland (leaving all the search criteria boxes unchecked). This bought up five store in Geneva and as i did not find any other shops selling yarn, i assume that this is it.

For more yarn shops in Switzerland try the listings on Lang Yarns website.

View Geneva Yarn Stores in a larger map The Shops

The Shops

au Dé d’Argent

Rue de la Servette 76, Genève, 1202 

Tram Stop: Poterie (line 14) 

Web: http://www.audedargent.com/

This is a cute shop about a 15 minuet walk from the Bastique de Notre Dame de Geneve or main train station. 

This shop had the best range of sock yarn out of all the shops i visited in Geneva. If you are looking for sock yarn, this is the place to go. As well as sock yarn they stocked a range of other yarns, notably Lang Yarns. 

As well as yarn they stocked a good range of notions, buttons, etc. I also noticed a number of hand knitted items for sale, such as hats. 

As i have way too much sock yarn at the moment, i resisted the urge to buy more and left the shop empty handed.

Claudine Laine Creations

Boulevard Carl- Vogt 63, Genève 1205 

Tram Stop: (take trollybus 2 or 19) 

Website: http://laine-creation.com

This is another small cute shop knitting shop, within walking distance of the old town. The lady in the shop was very friendly, she pointed out my Wurm hat, and tried to find the pattern in one of her books. She did not speak very good English, but i managed to cobble enough French/Franglais together to hopefully explain that i got the pattern off Raverly. Again this small shop mostly stocked Lang Yarns, but i managed to come away with three balls of Filstura Di Crosa (Zara Plus), which is destined to become a hat.

Le Roulet

Place du Marché 5, Carouge (GE), Genève 1227 

Tram Stop: Marche (Line 12)

Website: http://www.lerouet.ch

This is one of two Yarn shops in the Carouge area of Geneva, the other being Tricolaine on the next street. This was is of the largest yarn shop in Geneva. It is laid out in a very open fashion. They stock mostly Lang Yarns, in nearly every conceivable colour. As well as yarn they stock notions and kits. I was a bit disappointed given the size of the shop, of the lack of variety of yarn. They have so much space, it was a shame to see it go to waste.

Tricolaine

Rue Roi Victor Amé, Carouge (GE), Genève 1227

Tram Stop: Marche (Line 12)

Website: www.tricolaine.ch (seems not to be working)

This was one of my favourite that i visited. It is a very small shop, but they have a good selection of yarn that can't be found in the other stops. Most of the yarn that they stocked seemed to be imported, and included, Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Louise Harding, Zitron (i bought two balls of Nimbus) and Noro. I also noticed that they stocked knitting books in English. This shop is only a short walk from the other yarn shop in Carouge, Le Roulet. There is not much overlap in stock in these two shops, so if you only visit one place for yarn i recommend that you visit Carouge and hit both shops at the same time. 

Manor Department Store

Rue de Cornavin 6, Ginevra, Geneve 1201

Tram Stop: (Coutance) also Cornavin train station

Website: http://www.manor.ch/

The yarn/notions department can be found in the basement of the Manor Store. They stocked a good range of yarn, mostly Lang Yarns and their own label yarns called Maddison (Wikipedia link). Some of the yarn they stocked was relatively cheap (relative to Swiss prices) and they also had some yarn on sale. They also stock a very good range of needles, notions and even a few fabric.

Cosy Red Rib Socks

These are my first pair of hand made socks. I started these when i first arrived in Chamonix, France, but their progress was put on hold after i broke one of my knitting needles. I was really gutted, i got a interchangeable circular knitting set for my birthday, because i was going traveling. But it turns out that the needles are really quite fragile, and not so suitable for travel. I eventually drew up the courage to ordered a new needle off a french website L'Atelier, with the help of Google translate and a bit of faith.

The pattern is Comfy Dk Socks by Laura Schickli, as found on Ravelry. I stayed true to the pattern, except i cast on 44 instead of 48 stitches, because i have very narrow feet and wanted them to stay up. The pattern worked well, i had to do a little fudging around the heal, because of the 4 stitches i took out and my little experiences in making socks. But other than that they came out perfect. The yarn i am using was bought at Newport market just before i left. I have lost the ball band and can't even remember the make, which is something i always like to know.

Life in Chamonix is amazing. Yesterday we woke up to a fresh dump of snow and everything is looking all white, fluffy and picture postcard again. It is certainly hard to complain about work when you have a snowy mountain landscape to look out on.

I have reread the enthusiastic post i wrote as i arrive in Chamonix, about how i was going to have so much more to blog about. True. But i have so much less time. I am working less that i did back in England, but i rarely get a whole day off, and when i do i am using my time to go skiing. Also i now have housemates, so i am getting distracted going out, making dinner and talking to them. Poor excuse i know. However, i have been crafting. Knitting is as predicted what i am drawn too. At first my housemates just thought i was crazy, knitting. But i am slowly converting them, and one of them has even borrowed some of my knitting needles and is making a headband.

Knitting the headband with my house mate has got me started on my next project. A headband. I could just cast on 15 stitches and garter stitch until long enough to go around my head. But i want a bit of a challenge, so i m working on one which is double sided and cabled. Version 1 looks good and its finished but its too small and has a few kinks that need ironing out in a second version. So i have ordered more yarn from the website above, and i am once again hoping that i have translated  it correctly and i will receive my new yarn soon. I'll blog about the headband later.

In other knitting new, I have started two other pairs of socks. I am knitting them in 4ply yarn, and they are not going so well. I am having real trouble handling the fine yarn and i can't get my tension to stabilize. I will keep on trying and hopefully eventually something will click.

Also over Christmas i also crocheted a few Christmas decorations. A star for the top of the tree and a snowflake for under the glass on the side table.

Happy Birthday blog!!! :-)

My blog is one years old already! Hurray.

This birthday is happening just as my life is taken amazing turn to the right. Last Friday moved to the French Alps for the winter. I cant believe how beautiful is is here, this is the view i get from my bedroom window.

So this blog is one year old, or rather one year and 6 days, but i missed the anniversary in the chaos of the move. Opps.

My life has taken a dramatic turn. These life changes don't mean that i am giving up my blog, or sewing, or knitting, it just means that i'll have new challenges. It is amazing i have three sewing machines in my new apartment/chalet, two of which are in my room. They are all vintage machine and will need a lot of maintenance before it is possible to use any of them. I really believe that this life was made for me.

        

When I started this blog I had only really just discovered the whole world of blogging, before this i had never really heard of blogging, would you believe.  I was trying to improve my crochet and sewing skills and searching the internet for different terms and techniques that would help me. There i discovered so many beautiful blogs, that were so inspiring. I knew that if i started a blog, i could never get close to the greatness of these wonderful blogs. But i wanted to give it a try anyway. Part of the reason i wanted to give it a try was because, me like many people harbor a secret desire to one day start my own business.

At the time when i started this blog i was desperate for any type of employment, so had just taken on a minimum wage factory job. Knowing that this job could not sustain me in the long run, and that this type of employment was unstable. The thought of starting my own business was very much at the front of my mind. I had no idea of what kind of business i wanted, but i thought (think) getting some skills that could help me along was vitally important. By keeping a blog i though i could improve on many skills such as writing, photography, blog maintenance etc that i could use for a business. I though this would be easy, but i also thought that i would probably give up after a few weeks. In reality it was so much harder than i first thought, the amount of effort and time you have to commit, really pushed me and i did not advance much as i would have liked. However, i loved keeping the blog. Over this last year i have become KnottedRose. This blog has improved and i am still committed. Though the idea of starting my own business has kinda of faded.

The Next Year

So here are some new year/ new blog resolutions. Even though this is what i am thinking about in terms of this blog, i have a sneaking suspicion that some of these resolutions/ideas will probably not happen and the actually path this blog will take might be quite different. 

• I want to keep improving this blog, if you are one of my very few regular readers, you'll see there have been many changes recently, and there are more to come. I am still not quite happy with the look of this blog. I would like it to have a more simple stream line look about it. I don't really want a plain white back ground, as this is just dull, but i don't want it to look overly cluttered either, so i'll keep trying out different colours and themes, until i am happy.

         

• I would also like to start providing more information on the blog. Up until now it has very much been a 'look what I've made' type blog. But as i plan to travel quite a lot in the next few months and years, i think that it is appropriate that i start providing guilds and reviews for fabric and yarn shops in cities that i visit. Because sometimes it can be a nightmare finding this information in English when visiting a foreign city.

• I would love to try to publish a pattern. I have been working on a the pattern for my cable bag for sometime, but have yet to get it perfect enough to share. I am also thinking about creating a mitten pattern, to start with, as it would be simpler to figure out how to present it. This might also help with some of the pattern problems i am having with my bag.

• As i am moving to the Alps for 5 months and then i plan to travel more, this blog, or even a sister blog will also be focusing on the travel aspect of my life. I have not quite worked out how this will work yet, because i am here to work and might not get the chance to work on two blogs, we'll see. I'll certainly get a better back drop for the photos i do take.

• My writing skills are not the best, i am so painfully aware of this, i actually did well at school despite completely failing English. So at some point i would like to spend some time improving my writing skills.

• Not to forget stuff that i would like to make. I still want to make the perfect dress. I have had several attempts, but have yet to get there. I also want to start making some harder garments, such as trousers and coats. Also i need to keep making basics, such as simple tees and tops, as it is these that i get most use from.

My Wurm Hat

This is the Wurm hat by Katharina Nopp you can find it a a free Ravelry download. This was such a simple knit, yet the results look so much more professional than my usual hand knit stuff. 

I usually shy away from hats which have a folded brim. As my first try at a hat, the brim was just massive and so unattractive. On this hat the brim is formed by working stockinette stitch, with a row of purl in the middle. The brim is then folded at the purl row and the cast on picked up at the top of the brim. Giving this neat edge. I shall defently use this method again for making a brim.

I used some old cheap acrylic yarn form my stash, as i could not find 5 ply anywhere. But the results are just as good as if i had used real wool. I have turned into such a yarn snob. I only cast-on 95 stitches instead of the 100 required to make up for my slightly too chunky yarn. Luckily the number of stitches cast-on for a project like this wont affect the pattern.

Finally, the only problem with this pattern i found is that when you pull at the back slightly it slouches kind of strangely. 

My Ravelry notes.

Getting Wet in the Rain, Orange Cable Hat

As you can see the weather is still just as soggy as ever. I gave up waiting for nice weather and just stood me and my camera out in the rain. Pictures in the rain always seem to come out so well. I just wish that the experience of standing in the cold, wet rain was just as nice.

This is the Quick Cable Slouch Hat by Azure Blue. No joke about how quick this was to make. I must have finished in two short evenings, whilst watching my Mad Men dvd's. I used one ball of Glen by Debbie Bliss (chunky) in orange/red, and size 4.5mm needles for the ribbing and 7mm needles for the main body. This has given me just the right amount of slouch. The pattern said to use between 6mm and 8mm needles for the main body, which is quite a large range of needle size to recommend, so it just went in the middle and used a 7mm needle. I would highly recommend this pattern to beginners, as she gave a really good explanations about the hows and whys of what you do when knitting a hat, which really helped me a lot.

I improvised the fingerless gloves. I used a similar cable to the hat, though not quite that same because i made it with smaller needles so needed at add extra rows between the twists in order to get the loose cable effect.

I know one glove is orange and the other red. When i bought this wool i did not realise it changed colour, so i will just have to live with it.

You can find my Ravelry notes here.

Knitting Obsession

Well i have totally lost my sewing mojo, as of late. I have a half finished dress draped over the back of my sewing chair and i have absolutely no drive to finish it. I also have a list somewhere, of sewing plans that i planned to complete before i go to France in two weeks. I really want those plans to happen, but i just don't think that i have the will to make it happen.

Anyway, what i have lost in sewing inspiration have more than gained in knitting.

Just the feel of having the yarn pass through my fingers, i am totally addicted. I do this though, i obsessed with one thing, and then slowly another. I am not worried that i will never go back to my sewing machine. It is just that knitting has moved back to the front of my mind, sewing will get back there eventually. What bough this knitting obsession on was me thinking about my move to France, and how i better plan and take some knitting projects with me.

So i have planed a number of projects, and have started and finished some of them even before i have stepped on to the plane (this was not the plan). In fact just in the last few days i have finished a hat (and started another) and nearly finished some matching gloves, started some socks (OK, two pairs) and have been working on my Elbow Patch Cardigan.

I am just biting at the bit to buy more yarn and start more projects, but not necessarily finished them . HELP!

What am i going to take with me for 5 months? I don't know, i might have no yarn left.

Cataloguing Unblogged Clothes (Made-By-Me) - Part 1

So I am having a massive clean out, as I am packing up and travelling/moving to the Alps. I've amassed so many things in the 5 years I have been back in the UK, and in the last year and a half with a sewing hobby things have really got way out of hand. So I have been sorting, binning and bagging up for charity. I still have a long way to go, but I have come across loads of handmade clothes that for one reason or another have never been bloggged. Before these disappear I have taken a photo and have written a little about each one, to record them. This is mostly for my own purpose because I am just to sentimental.

From the top, left to right

The Office "Chair" Dress - Burda 8072
My first dress, and probably the most successful yet. I chose a thick scratchy wool/unknown poly. The material reminds me of the sort of fabric that is used to upholster chairs in offices and doctors surgery’s, hence the Office 'Chair' Dress. I loved the shape of the dress on me, thought it was a bit tight. I think I am going to keep this one...

Light Grey Top - NewLook 6807 (view B)

I have made 6 versions of this pattern. This was my first and I think only my second attempt at sewing clothing. It came out satisfactory, though I cut a size 14 when I should have gone for a 12. The next time I made it I cut view C, in a dark blue heavy jersey and it was a complete failure. I also hacked this pattern half to death when I made the Yellow Flower Top and the Yellow Flower Tee with 1/2 Length Sleeves. I wore this grey version several time, but the fabric was very cheap and it soon lost all shape. 

Chevron Tank - Feminine Knits by Iene Holme Samsoe

I knitted this probably a year before I started this blog. I was really starting to get into knitting at the time and this was my first 'big' project. I really liked working the ladder lace to make the chevron pattern. I used Patons Smoothie yarn, in a colour combination which really did not suit me. I also knitted it slightly longer than recommended, but still found that it did not quite meet the top of my jeans (long body syndrome). It was not total failure the biggest problem being my lack of taste when choosing the colour combination.

Lesson learnt: I should really stay away from lime green.

Pink T-Shirt - NewLook 6979 (view B)

This was my first clothing item I ever sewed. I used really cheap fabric from the market and the simplest pattern I could find. I could not believe that I could make my own t-shirts so easily and cheaply. I was hooked on this sewing thing. 

Purple Plaid Top - NewLook 6965 (view A with straps from view D)
I made this top twice. The Purple Plaid Top and a Blue Flower Print Top. I made the blue version first. Making this top really pushed my limits as a novice sewer. I found lots of terms in the instructions that I did not understand, so I hit the Internet and found lots of amazing blogs explaining what to do (this was when I started following blogs). I made lots of mistakes with the blue version: cutting too close to the seams and melting the fabric with a too hot iron. It looked really good once it was finished, but did not last past its first wear as the seam ripped under the yoke. I learnt from my mistakes when making the purple plaid version, but the smooth fabric went really knobbly when it washed and no amount of ironing has gotten rid of the funny texture.

The Aubergine Dress - Burda 7659
This picture really dose not do this dress much justest. I ironed it a little for the photo (not well) and it has some really funny creases in it not present when worn. I used the left over fabric to make the Burda Skirt (my favourite project of all time). It came out OK. The arm holes were a little tight, so I only ever wore it a couple of times, along with he fact is was a little too school girl for my taste.

Burda Front Knot Dress - 3/2012 108b - Take 2

This was the second version of this dress that I made. I blogged about the first one here. The first one looked great on, but it had a few problems with the lining which needed resolving. This second one was made perfectly, only when I tried it on, it looked awful. The fabric was so cheep, when I washed it all the colour ran out, and when worn it made me look very pregnant. Not just a little pregnant, but very, very pregnant. I wore it a few times, because I am stubborn ('I made it, therefore I shall wear it'). Somebody even got up and offered me a seat on a tram, after that I gave up and I shall never wear it again.

Tank - Burda 119 3/2012

This 'kinda' has already been blogged about, but it never got finished (hemmed). It was made out of that really thin material I used to make that failed peter pan tee. Latter I made a scarf out of the left over fabric, which I wore a lot over the summer.