New Hat - For Shop

A new hat for my shop. I can't see that i'll be posting much about my shop as lets face it, it is a pretty boring subject. But at the moment having my own Etsy shop is all new and exciting, so bear with me. This pattern is the same as the pink and purple stripy hat, only i did a different configuration of strips. Its 100% merino wool so its really soft and warm.

In other news i have decided to stay in Lyon for another month. I will be carrying on with my french course, in the hope that eventually French becomes a second language. Then i am going to need to move on. France becomes really expensive over the summer, so i am either going to need another live-in job, or to go back to the UK to work. I am really hoping i can find another live-in job as awesome as the one i have just come from. As i find live-in work is the best way to save up money for more travel, whilst experiencing somewhere new. I wish i had more news, but i have been studying hard as now i have to pass a test to move up to the next french class.

Reinventing for Summer - Jeans to Shorts

Refashioning clothing has never been a thing of mine, despite some really inspiring stuff on the net, see here. 

Desperate times. So now i am in Lyon and my ski season is well and truly finished, and i am left with a suitcase full of heavy winter clothes. Usually i would go, hooray  great excuse for a shopping trip, but i am really having to watch my penny's. So i have now got to turn a jumble of old warn winter clothing into fantastic summer outfits. My mind is well and truly boggled at this task, i haven't just left my sewing machine at home, but my sewing kit and probably a lot of my sanity. 

My first task in this quest has been to hack the legs off these jeans with nail scissors, cringe. I chose these jeans because i have had them for over two years and they are starting to wear at the crotch, therefore i can't see them lasting much longer anyway. I cut them just bellow the knee, so i could roll them up over the knee. In an ideal world i would probably add a couple of stitches to the roll ups to keep them in place, ill do this if i come across a needle and thread in the future.

The result: i actually really like them now, which is a bit of a relief, because i was expecting them to look a mess. I have been wearing them all day and the roll ups have stayed rolled up and in place, which i was not expecting. I also own 4 long sleeve tees, i am hoping i can do something similar to them, and hack off the sleeves, but as of yet i am holding out for a better solution.

Welcome to My Etsy Shop

So its funny how plans never go as planned. I just need to remind myself that its the journey itself that's important and not the destination. These last few weeks have really demonstrated just that. I mentioned a few weeks ago that my time in Chamonix was coming to an end, but the truth is, events conspired against me and i ended up leaving early. So i decided to go to Lyon and study French. The course i wanted did not start for two weeks, so i went to Nice, France to hibernate and recover for a few weeks first. 

Suddenly having 2 weeks unexpected down time followed by 4 weeks part time study (with no spare cash) got me thinking, What am i to do with all this spare time?

So i decided to work on one of my life goals, that is that i would one day like to work for myself. I have uummmed and aarrrred over the various businesses i could run for many years, and still don't quite know what it is that i want to do. Starting an Etsy shop selling crochet accessories was an idea i had back in 2011, but dismissed the idea, as i would have to put too many hours into it and get very little out. But i have come back to this idea now, because my circumstances and experiences have changed. This is almost the perfect little side line for me, now i am traveling/working intermittently.  In the long term i don't think that crocheting hats and gloves is some thing that i could live off forever, but its a stepping stone to my larger goals for the future. I will get experience running my own little business, and hopefully make a bit of money to keep me traveling longer.

And yes i know that i am starting a 'hats and gloves' shop in spring. I figured that by the time i am properly organised, built up an inventory, and have figured out just how to sell these hats that it will be autumn anyway.

So i decided to activate my Etsy shop that i opened in December 2011, but never made anything for. I have called the shop KnottedRose (traveling crochet). I want to keep the shop simple, simply because i am traveling and if i get involved in long complicated projects, i run the real risk of traveling with a suitcase full of UFOs. Which is baggage just i don't need. 

The weather in Nice and Lyon has been pretty dismal (i am writing this in a thunder storm), so i have had plenty of time to design the hats and gloves i wanted to go into my shop. Its funny how much effort goes into designing items that appear to be quite simple. I wanted to get the shape and fit perfect and to also make simple easily easily repeatable products. So i can make them again and again, if i need to. So i spent the first two weeks of my business plan, just designing my first four items. Now i have the patterns, have repeatedly tested them, and feel confident that i can make them in a reasonable amount of time. 

I launched the shop. Welcome.

Crochet Terms, American or British?

I am a self taught crocheter. I learnt via YouTube and taking books out from the library. I was very aware in the beginning that British and American terminologie was very different, in that we use the same wording for different stitches, very confusing.

I can remember thinking more in terms of American terminologie in the beginning, so just thought that i would always use American as my go to language. Then last week i wrote a pattern of sorts and posted it on my blog. It has now only just occurred to me that i used British terminologie. I think this turn around in my thinking has occurred because i have read and used quite a few vintage British pattern in the last year, e.g. the blue berret, and the Victorian crochet collar. 

So now i have to discide what to do. Do i keep using British termanologie or revert back to American?

In favor of British is the fact that i am British, and any books or old patterns that i come across will nearly always be written in British.

Then there is the Beast which is the internet, which i do love. Where mostly American is used and the American to British split of my readers is about 2:1. 

Source: http://knotsewcute.blogspot.com

As a side note, there is also the issue of my spelling. Obviously i used British, but i read so much American i know that there are words that i spell the American way, but i don't even realize and spell checker often changes my Britishness to American without my permission, despite ticking all the right boxes. So that's in a hopeless Mid-Atlantic place as well. I could never convert my spelling totally to American because there i so many words that i am unaware that are spell differently.

So, should i change my crochet terms?

Ben Nevis Crochet Camera Cases

So this is the last project from the French Alps. My last few weeks in Chamonix were very stressful and there was a lot going on, most of it not good. I found nearly not enough time for knitting and crochet, or even skiing. It was really struggling to finish any knitting project i started, and was getting really frustrated at myself.

But i work in cycles, as as one cycle ends another starts. I think that this is the end of my current knitting phase, and i have moved on to a new crochet phase. My last major crochet phase had me frantically hooking up granny squares like a crazy woman. This time my mind seams to be focused on more simple solid items. I can visualize me hooking up hats, headbands and mitts, in more simple double crochet. But i am probably imagining completing more than i ever will.

My first crochet project in this phase, are these little cases, for mobile phones and cameras. The inspiration was a camera case that i made several years ago after i bought a camera on a trip to Scotland. Once i bought the camera, the sales man tried to persuade me to buy a case, but i had just learnt to crochet, so was eager to make my own. I went in search of a yarn store, i found a John Lewis with a haberdashery and bought a hook and yarn and hooked it up on the train to Ben Nevis (highest mountain in UK). This case was starting to look a bit battered, so i hooked up this new one with the chunky Phildar (Partner) yarn that i bought in Sallanches.

The pattern is really simple (slightly modified to give a better finish)

• Row 1: Chain 14, DC into second chain and then double crochet (DC) in to each chain (13 stitches), turn work.
• Row 2: Chain 2 then DC until end of work, turn work.
• Repeat row 2 until work wraps around the camera (or phone) and overlaps by 1 inch, turn work.
• Decrease row 1: DC until 2 before end of row, then decrease last 2 stitches. Turn work.
• Decrease row 2: DC to end of work. Turn work.
• Repeat these two decrease rows until there are 8 stitches remaining.
• Now decrease both ends of work.
• When there are 2 stitches remaining make a chain of 6 stitches, then slip-stitch into the next stitch.
• Sew in ends.
• Sew or crochet up sides.
• Add a button or make a crochet button.
• Pull camera strap through fabric with a crochet hook.

Once i had finished this little project ,and it only took me an hour so. I made two more with the same yarn only in sport weight, i made these for my mobile phone and work phone. This little project was the therapy i needed after a needlessly hard couple of weeks.

Yarn Shopping in Sallanches, France

I am trying to make the most of my days off work and visit some of the out lying town and villages around Chamonix. Its a shame that you can't chose the weather, because my day off managed to fall on one of the worst weather days this winter. Nevermind it did not dampen my determination to get out of Chamonix for the day. So i took the train to St Gravais and then on to Sallanches. Sallanches is one of the larger towns in the Chamonix valley, and it is good for shopping, especially if you are looking for stuff other than ski wear. I had heard form locals that there is a yarn shop there, so i thought i would check it out. 

I hit the internet before i went but found out very little. I did find this little yarn store though. 

Phildar
75 rue du Mont Joly, 74700, SALLANCHES
Website: http://www.phildar.fr/magasin/phildar-sallanches.r.html

The store is very small, and mostly carries a small selection of clothing. Along the back wall of the shop, they stock yarn. They have a good selection of yarn within the Phildar brand. They also have a small selection of Phildar knitting patterns and buttons. I could not see any knitting needles or other knitting tools for sale. Before i visited this store i looked them up on the internet. The picture they have on the Sallanches page is very misleading, as the store in the picture is much larger than the one found in Sallanches. So when i was looking for the shop i was looking for more in the way of a big department store, but instead found this small shop. Overall the yarn was very reasonably priced and they stock a lot of the plain wool that i like to knit with, so it's worth a return visit.

Any way here are some more images of a very wet town in the French Alps.

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.