Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project - Front Daytime Pocket –Part 2

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project - Front Daytime

Pocket –Part 2

This blog is going to be somewhat lengthy so I suggest you make a cuppa first. I left the last blog at the point where it required sewing. Before I begin to sew I want to make an Inner Pocket to protect the wool.

Inner Pocket Cut and Hemmed

I measured out a piece of calico material and laid it against the unsewn pocket. Once happy with the draft size I then proceeded to hem it.

Inner Pocket Sewn

I then sewed material together to create the Inner Pocket.

Next was to sew the Pocket itself.

Hedgehog Pocket Bottom Fold

Prior to sewing the pocket I folded the bottom so to create some width. I wanted to make sure that I didn’t sew the pocket too flat or tight. If I did this would mean I would not be able to get my mobile phone inside it. I then proceeded to sew the pocket up both sides.

Hedgehog Pocket Flap Start

If you can remember as far back as the ‘Oakey-Dokey’ blog you will recall that I had made some large Oak leaves. These are finally coming into play.

I am going to lay the Oak Leaves over one another in a slightly spaced pattern. The above picture shows the first two leaves part sewn.

Two Leaves Sewn

These two leaves are now fully sew together and will form the basis for the Pocket Flap.

Three Leaves Sewn

There are now three leaves sewn together. If you notice they are all different colours and the smaller leaf is on the outer edge.

Four Leaves Sewn

Now all four leaves are sewn together to make the flap. When I knitted the leaves I made sure that the last leaf was a small one and the brighter red. This meant that the two reds would not be next to one another when sewn.

Four Leaves Sewn – Against Background

The above picture shows better how the flap will look against the Front Piece.

Hedgehog Pocket First Press Stud

One of the reasons for why this blog has been delayed is that I was waiting for the press studs. I didn’t want to use silver or black press studs as I thought they would stand out too much against the background.

However I couldn’t find any bronze coloured press studs locally so I had to buy some off the internet and obviously had to wait for them to arrive.

I have inverted the press stud so the heavier one goes onto the pocket.

First Press Stud On Flap

So as you can see in the photograph above the other half of the press stud which is lighter is sewn onto the Flap. I have used a brownish thread to sew these on so as to blend in with the stud.

On the flap itself rather than sew directly through the leaf I have endeavoured to sew along the leaf to fasten the stud. Otherwise the cotton thread would spoil the look on the leaf on its proper sided. Once I had done this I did the same with the second stud.

Once both studs were sewn in place I pressed them together so I could tell where to sew the Flap on to the background.

Hedgehog Flap Underneath Finished 

This is what the Pocket looks like once I sewed the Flap on to the Front Piece from underneath.

Hedgehog Flap Finished

This is how the finished Flap and Pocket look when closed. As you can see I have sewn the Flap on to the background using the same wool as each individual leaf.

There may be some tweaking needed doing to strengthen it but that is all for now until next time.

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project - Front Daytime Pocket Part 1

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project - Front Daytime

Pocket Part 1

Prior to adding any pockets I need to double check measurements.

Full Background Pre Pocket

  

This is how the knitted Daytime looks at present.

Full Fox Pictorial Chart

This shows the third Written Chart and one complete Pictorial Chart.

Needle Standing in for Mobile 6cm High

What I intend to put into the pocket I am adding is my mobile phone. However since I use the mobile for taking these photographs I cannot have it in the picture. Therefore I am using a needle to stand in for the mobile.

Needle Standing in for Mobile 13cm Across

 

The measurements high and across might seem a little strange. There is a reason for this. I have decided to store my phone lengthwise to distribute the weight. This should hopefully stop the pocket sagging.

Needle Standing in for Mobile on Background

This shows the rough size of the pocket width on the knitted piece indicated on the chart in the photograph below.

Pocket Dimensions Chart vs Picture

So before starting to knit I have to get my Charts ready. The Written Chart and the Pictorial Chart

Hedgehog Pictorial Chart

This time I would be knitting upwards. I spent quite a great deal of time trying to work out where to start and pick up the stitches for the pocket.

To make sure I had plenty of space I decided that I would knit the pattern (which was about 30 stitches) over 40 stitches. I also picked up the 40 stitches slightly further down the Front Piece so I could adjust as necessary.

Hedgehog Pocket Written Chart

I kept a record as usual of the stitches and colours though you can see they are far less complex than previous charts. What you might not be able to see in the photograph is I am recording both Knit and Purl rows in case I need to make changes on the Purl.

Unusually I started knitting on a Purl row. This is because the picked up stitches count as the Knit. This did not really matter on the trial pocket as it was knitted in just one colour and no pattern.

However so not to muck up my Pictorial Chart I designated this initial row as Purl Row 0. So the proper pattern does actually start on the first Knit Row. I hope you can understand that. It is a lot easier to do than explain.

Start of Hedgehog Pattern

After doing several rows of stocking stitch using the Orange Yarn on 5 mm needles I began to start inputting the Pattern. This was the placement of the two Hedgehog legs. – Yes I know Hedgehogs have 4 legs but bear with me.

Tweaking the Hedgehog

As I was knitting and could see the shape taking place I began tweaking the Pattern I made it shorter on the face section as I felt that it was too long. I also altered the shape of the spines slightly to compensate.

Hedgehog Pattern Continued.

After tweaking, this was the Hedgehog Image prior to embellishments. Next I had to add the embroidery.

Hedgehog Pocket Post Embellishments

I think you can see that is quite a difference. I have also added the two missing legs. I wasn’t quite sure on the dimensions so that is why they were not incorporated in the original designs.

The pocket is not sewn at this point and I shall leave that to another blog.

Happy Solstice 2016

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project - Front Daytime Part 4

Autumn Cape 2016 A long Term Project - Front Daytime

Part 4

I have definitely decided to add a pocket to the Cape. This will be depicting a Hedgehog. I have had some problems drawing the Hedgehog. I tried having one face forwards. This turned out alright on the first attempt.

Rough Free Drawn Hedgehog

As you can see it is a cartoony type of Hedgehog. However to make it suitable for knitting I have to put it on Chart Paper. Unfortunately when I tried I found I couldn’t work out how to do the spikes.

So I had to start again. The next one didn’t turn out too brilliantly either. This time I was using some images for inspiration.

Angry Hamster

I think that it more resembles an Angry Hamster though somebody thought it was like a Chinchilla. However this drawing will not go to waste as I am filing it for later use. Perhaps I will use it as a Cross-stitch Pattern.

So since I was having problems drawing it face on I thought I would try a different tack. This time I did a rough drawing in profile.

Rough Profile Hedgehog

Then I tried it on Chart Paper

Rough Hedgehog on Chart Paper

As you can see I have made the Hedgehog smaller. The first one on Chart Paper was far too big and therefore was disproportionate in regards to the Fox. So happy with the size and image it was time to put it into the Real Profile Chart

Initial Input of Hedgehog

This photograph is a bit blurry but you can see where I have placed the Hedgehog Image.

Initial Hedgehog Part Coloured

Now the above picture of the Hedgehog might look a bit peculiar but there is a good reason for why it is orange and yellow.

The area I am knitting is where the pocket will be placed not the pocket itself. Since I have more yellow and orange than other coloured wool I am using that for the background.

Knitted Hedgehog Background

I need to make the background longer before I can add the pocket.