ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

I know I have been a bit quiet over the past 18 months or so. I am still knitting at odd times and have now set up a Craftsy Pattern Store. There are 3 patterns there so far – my Kiwi Cape, The Capelet of many Colours and the Connie Cowl. Hope you will take a look. It is free to join Craftsy and it does offer many opportunities for learning new skills, finding patterns and selling your patterns.

Curiously “Peplum” has two distinct and almost separate definitions. Its early origins are Greek, and peplum was simply the word for tunic. The peplum, a term dating back to the 19th century, is also a short overskirt that is usually attached to a fitted jacket. My jacket is certainly a fitted jacket with a short skirt.

Is this the jacket you would like the pattern for? It has pointed sections over the hand and at the back of the peplum skirt. There is no collar and is very fitting in 12ply mohair. The mohair was black with sections of rich blues and is no longer available.

Jacket Pattern Brewing for rather a long time.

or one of these designs below?

Sleeveless with 2 button fastening and lapel collar, the peplum does not have a pointed section at the back.

Sleeveless again with pin fastening, no collar, but includes lapel flap. (not sure if that describes it or not – the lapel does not continue around the back of the neck). The skirt or peplum is much fuller and longer and without the pointed section.

I guess that might well be the same for other people as well.

But in between the dramas of life as part of a large family, life on a wee bit of land, the water watching, the driftwood and shell gathering, the planting, sewing, and weeding of our large garden, the bonfires on the beach and BBQ there as well, the prevention of possum attacks, the feather pulling (plucking) of 10 Peacocks, Peahens and turkeys after some crazy youngsters went out shooting in the night. The farmers are pleased to reduce the numbers of large birds wandering over their hills, but the plucking – now that was a big job and we have many feathers to work with on projects next year.

As I was saying – in between I have managed a wee bit of knitting as you can see.

The Cot blanket and the Mohini scarf are presents – not Christmas presents though. The Neck Warmer/Cowl is on the needles now and is just because I need to be knitting.

I am hoping grandson will help with the tree if Best Beloved has remembered to purchase it today. Baking of Scandinavian biscuits will be done on Thursday now with my daughter and grandson. That is something we haven’t managed to do together in years. It was a tradition that we baked together and her friends would join in, always a great day. Maybe grandson will bring a friend to bake with us if we are better organised next year.

So we still have presents to buy, a tree and house to decorate, baking to do, and so on. But as always we will make it, somehow.

There is always a tinge of sadness and a bringing back of memories of people and Christmases past at this time of the year. This year is the first Christmas for Best Beloved and I without any parents as sadly Best Beloveds mother passed away aged 89 in August. It is amazing how that changes one.

the Naturally Vero capelet – used 5.5 mm needles, 225 gms yarn – about 340 metres.

and it made me rethink my pattern details.

My original multicolour capelet was created using stash yarns and small lengths of yarn. I weighed the completed capelet – and added 10% (if I remember correctly) and gave that weight as the required yarn for the piece.

BUT as I have discovered, and should have realised a long time ago that in the US yarn quantities is given in yards or metres. There is no way I could give the length of the yarn required for this capelet because I used many oddments of yarn to create it.

SO I have just recreated the capelet in response to the question and using only Moda Vera Bouvardia yarn, made in Turkey which is 70% acrylic 30% wool I used nearly 200 grams of this yarn. The length about 360 metres. I used 5.5 mm circular needles. The tension was 16 stitches and 34 rows knitted in garter stitch.

The result is quite lovely but I need to do further testing.

So I have knitted the capelet using Naturally Vero 100% wool from New Zealand. It is not quite finished yet – so photos to come. Sadly the yarn is now discontinued, is a standard 12 ply yarn. The amount used is approx 225 grams and the length will be about 340 metres.

So you live and learn.

When I am done testing – I will rewrite the pattern and send a copy to all those who have already purchased it.