Clare Tough's crochet and knitting.

I LOVE to pick roses from our garden, it just gives me the most enormous sense of satisfaction, d'you know what I mean? I also feel very ladylike when I'm snipping roses, it seems very genteel.

We've got a couple of rose bushes flowering in the garden, a bit half-heartedly, but then that's my fault, because I haven't been feeding them properly, and they are very greedy for nutrients, are roses. I should have been giving them feed once a week, and I haven't. Must try harder.

We've just come back from the beach, which was soaked in golden light, very beautiful. But it has made me a little later than usual in doing todays blog post.

I haven't sewn the lining for my fair isle dress yet, because I've been procrastinating. After all those sewing in of ends, I was having withdrawal symptoms from not knitting. So I picked up something I left off of a while ago, you might remember it.....................

The Tea Dress I was knitting, became unhappy with, and chopped in two, seperating the top stripey section from the bottom one colour skirt section..

I picked up the top half, and resumed knitting, the bottom half awaits whatever is going to happen to it.

I'm knitting downwards, top down, you can do that with stocking stitch.

And I've been having a little think about what I might do with this top half.

Well, the plan is to extend it into a dress I think. I'll be trying it on to see how it looks as it progresses.

I was looking at photographs of Clare Tough's latest collection of knitwear, on her website, which you can see here, and saw this jumper, above.

Interesting sleeves don't you think?

It made me wonder if I could do something similar on the arms of this striped dress I've started working on again.

But in crochet. The puffed bits might be easier to do in crochet, and Clare Tough's earlier work, the pieces from her graduation show, mix knitted fabric with crochet. There are some photos of her extraordinary creations here, I love this early work, very inspiring, and more adventurous than her later work I think.

I'll see how it goes, it could be interesting.

I must finish that lining for my fair isle dress, not get sidetracked by the possibilities of new ideas. I'll go and dig up the sewing machine, as soon as I've said cheerio.

Cheerio then! Have a lovely weekend. Ta-ra. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Jacqueline]

I'm a terrible procrastinator too, it makes for a lot of half finished and not started projects. I hope you finish your dress top half - the colours go so well together. Have a productive weekend!

[Kate Bruning]

Roses, knitting and crochet. My rose bushes are all sticks out in the garden at the moment, I miss them like I do my family. The top is just wonderful already, I can't wait to watch it's journey as it spirals downward (in a good way). Love Kate xxooxxooxx.

[Heather Collins]

Aah, lovely Vanessa, having not long discovered your blog, I do so look forward to your instalments. Your blog postings are inspiring, vibrant and articulate.

I do get a little lost on the knit talk though; I taught myself to crochet just this year and drool over your sisterhood blanket - it is one of the loveliest I've seen.

Love the idea of a long jumper/dress cinched in with a belt - not terribly sure about those sleeves though?! Your crochet idea sounds a lot softer/more feminine.

Heather x

[Erica K]

Hmm, I really like those sleeves. You know your fourth picture down...that little collage. The top left pic in the collage would be a nice dress, I think. See how the top is cut off...if it was just that stripey part a little past the shoulders, then the rest was all that grey...I think that would be pretty. Of course you said the bottom was heavy and that would make for an extremely heavy dress. And it would have to be short to look right. But it caught my eye...

[Loani]

clever clever clever clever
LERVE your colours.
Loani

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

Vanessa that is just what I am playing around with at the moment!! The Knit/Crochet together combo not the dress ;-)

Wouldn't you just love to design a collection!

I think that dress will look amazing with the stripes and the blousey sleeves.....hope it works....I can just picture it in my head :-)

[ugg classic short]

Great post - I'm thrilled I discovered your blog today. This is part of the problem with mainstream, national media trying to discuss events and people that they really don't know the details about, and don't bother to research. Not to mention their biases that you and some of the readers listed. And no question that there is a double standard between the NBA and just about every other sport, especially the NFL.

[MsPremiseConclusion]

What a beautiful post! All those scrumptious colours of flowers and yarns - I just love it!
And that lovely dress you've knitted is so detailed. Those stitches are so teensy, it must have taken you a long time. (Frankly, I don't blame you for putting it away for a little while to take a break from it ;) ).

[Siobhan]

Really nice jumper - I really like the sleeves, preferably in a different colour though; a prettier one. Looks good but also really comfy. Had a look at Clare Toughs work - am always amazed at what it is possible to do!I've seen some knitted/crochet combined blankets recently and thought 'why not', so you never know - not quite the same innovation required though. I am so intrigued by the 'other' dress and what it may become. I'm very impressed by your ability to work up or down. I'm afraid it is all a bit of a mystery how knitting works - I can do it up to a point but there is much I can't fathom out about shaping etc. and haven't done enough of it to find out. Hope you're having a good weekend.

[PosyLinda]

Hi V, love the aqua and poppy flower. You always keep me interested!

[Veronika / Lalomino]

Love the jumper. Although the sleeves remind me of Popeye!! haha
x
Veronika

[johan]

Clare Tough no longer designs for CT AG - that's why the current collection looks rather tired

[True Religion Jeans Outlet]

The way I'd do it would be to peel and quarter three apples (1 granny Smith to hold its shape and two others) and place in a saucepan over medium heat. Add a little apple juice concentrate (or brown sugar if you want), 1 tsp. cinnamon, a dash of mace and nutmeg, a pinch of salt, and about 2 tsp. lemon juice. Cookasdf over medium-low heat until the apples are cooked through but retain some of the shape. Remove half the apples and puree and return to the chunky ones. Yummy!

[True Religion Outlet]

Yes,I am happy to have found this blog, and more happy to have long tail explained so well.

[Moncler Collezione]

So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)