Black and white today

The first primroses of the season are in full bloom in our back yard. I bought these as a potted house plant a few years ago and planted them outside after they'd finished blooming. They seem to be happy.

I want to show you the difference I have found between not steaming my knitting and after I have steamed it with the iron. Before (curled up edges, etc.):

 

After:

Now it is lying flat. Nothing revolutionary, but this was a step I didn't always see the point of, but have come to see the real value of blocking. I just turned them wrong-side out and used lots of steam on the iron. I also pulled and stretched this way and that. It didn't make it bigger but helped even out the stitches.

 

It was slow going with the tiny sized knitting needles and the necessity of following the pattern quite closely.

 

I still haven't determined what I will do with them, they don't fit me properly. They are too wide and only slightly too long.

 

I really enjoy two color knitting and doing such intricate patterns makes it a nice challenge.

 

My son says I should felt them so they would fit me. I really couldn't do that.

Well, I just wanted to show you that I do finish up projects eventually. Now to show you the fair isle turtleneck that I finished up awhile ago...

One of my matryoshkas has made some friends at Anna's! As much as I love color I really appreciate the drama of black and white and think it is fun to make my dolls in all sorts of colors.

I hope you too will enjoy a sun filled weekend!

Comments

[rachel]

oh my goodness...
the black & white matryoshkas are too cute!!!

[Karen at sew and sow life]

I often use black as a neutral in projects, I love how it sets other colors off. Your black and whites are just beautiful! Simple, but certainly not plain. Have a good weekend!

[saganaga]

thanks for the blocking tip --- ironing with steam, i'm going to do that when i'm finished knitting my first pair of mittens (that are only half done so far)

your mittens turned out lovely, it must have been quite time consuming --- but look at the end result, so worth it !

[trashalou]

Absolutely stunning black and white crafting. Just in case you were looking for a kind and loving home - I have reaallly big hands for a girl ;-)

[Hege]

Beautiful mittens!
And the b&w dolls are so pretty.

[matchstickgirl]

wow Raven that knitting is incredible !!!!

so intricate !!!
do you need glasses after that one?

theyre beautiful!!!!

so happy you spoke about the rolled up edges i thought my knitting was all wrong that it always did that ...

:D

[mimi k]

the mittens are gorgeous!

[ingermaaike]

Oh my hat off to you , that is some awesome knitting you have done there!

[Huismus]

A challenge? I'll call you Einstein from now on! ;-)
It all looks so pretty..

[ArtMind]

Ohh, these must have taken you ages, Emily! Such intricate design - what a challenge!
Too bad they don't quite fit you - I do like the felting idea of your sun though! :)
And those matroyschka's sure are dramatic and beautiful! Happy weekend! :)

[Kristin L]

Amazing mittens! And the ladies match them so nicely :-)

[mimmi]

Hei!
Tusen takk for besøk på bloggen min!
Du hadde nok oppdaga at eg hadde sneke meg innom deg;) Her er så mykje inspirasjon!Eg kan kikke til auge blir stort og vått! Fargane...! Dukkene dine! Trylling med strikkepinnar!
Eg kjem attende!

[Dawn, from LaTouchables]

Just beautiful, dolls, knitting and flowers!

[Sue]

Hello, thanks for visiting me - funny that you should be posting about steaming/blocking as I tried it for the first time today with spectacular results too! It really does make the finished work look professional. Generally I am much too lazy about finishing things off properly but I have learnt a good lesson here! Love those black and white gloves, you will have to do a sort of 'Cinderella' and try everyone you know until you find the perfect fit :-)

[Oiyi]

The mittens are a work of art! I find steam blocking really makes it look way better.

[Gina]

It's a wonderful knitted design, very inspiring! There is always so much wonderful knitted things. I so have to learn...someday. You could always hang on to them and maybe they will be a perfect gift for someone you know in the future.

[bethany]

I love the black and white mittens!!! I have slightly larger hands... maybe they would fit me?? Just name your price!!!! Your dolls are great in b & w too! And the primroses... just gorgeous!!!

[Jewel]

Beautiful mittens I love the black and white. What lovely flowers I thought they looked like silk at first!

[Marisa]

Wow your mittens are out of this world beautiful, Emily. I read each and every one of your posts and wish I had time to commment on them all. Where do you get such awesome patterns for 2 color knitting projects? I would love to try that someday. So simple, beautiful, and graphic. Awesome work.

[pomme]

I'm impressed with the knitting, Emily.

P.S. I want to go flea-market hopping with you!

[HildeC]

Your mittens are beautiful! I always steam the things I knit and crochet. But instead of letting the steam come out of the iron, I use a wet kitchentowel that I lay onto the piece, and then iron it.

[periwinkle]

love the mittens

[jackie]

Certainly very dramatic indeed. Just enough colour to make an impact.

[katie]

i love all the black and white! those mittens are great.

[willy-nilly]

Love the black and white theme. Don't know why I wasn't subscribed to your blog, added it to the list!

[Susan @ tickledpaisley]

Gorgeous knitting!

[Katy]

Those mittens are fantastic! Too bad they don't fit. If it was me, I'd probably just wear them anyway :) or leave them on the table in the entryway to show off. I love the little people on them!

[Gina]

That is wonderful knitting ... I wouldn't have the patience!

[Donna]

The knitting is amazing, the detail is lovely.

I have to say these are my fav dolls out of all the ones you have made. I love the French knot details on the the flowers.

[Melanie]

Oh Emily well done! Those mittenss are wonderful. Had you thought about thrumming them so they are lined in wool fleece on the inside thus making them smaller to fit you and very warm. Not to mention if you use untreated fleece the lanolin will make your hands soft. :-)

The dolls are so striking unusual and still so beautiful.

[claudine]

Ooh, gorgeous mittens, such intricate pattern! I always love the transformation that blocking makes.

[Alex]

These mittens are fantastic!
Well done.