episode 146 | helianne joy

EPISODE 146 SHOW NOTES

Whoop whoop, Helianne is finally finished and I love her even if she was a total pain in the butt to make, I think perhaps she was worth it after all.

The pattern is from Phildar’s 2018 summer crochet magazine which I picked up whilst holidaying in France that year and I immediately fell in love with the pattern, something about the summer bright colours mixed together with the black, and purchased all the yarn from Phildar online after I got home.

The yarn used is Phildar Phil Coton 3 for the solid colours and Phildar Multico for the mixed and I used the recommended 3mm hook.

*The original Helianne bell-bottomed sleeve*

FINISHED

I had originally followed the pattern for the sleeves and found that I didn’t like how much they flared out so ripped them back, quite a few times (this was back in 2019 when I started the project) and tried to work up the sleeves in my own way.

This was a disaster, there are no ends to the ways in which a hexagon shape will ruin your day and after a few failed attempts and much frogging I ended up getting cross with her and shoving her in a bag.

Luckily I found her and was finally able to get her finished, only three years later but hey, who’s counting.

ALSO FINISHED

I also finished my second pair of October socks, and aren’t they lovely?

I used some long stashed yarn called Rose Garden by Cosmic Strings and 2.25mm needles over 64sts with a shadow wrap heel.

These socks are going to be a present for a friend - although who gives woolly socks to someone who’s birthday is in August? - and I’m going to write up the pattern this week.

WIPS

I worked quite a bit on my multiple wips (think I’ve kick started my mojo) beginning with the Thistle Thorn socks by Jane Burns.

I’m just at that tricky bit of working in pattern across the front stitches whilst decreasing the gusset across the back, I need to concentrate.

The pattern is in the Scheepjes YARN book, issue 11 and I’m using Cascade 220 fingering in the colour Goldenrod and 2.25mm needles.

I also continued on my Judith top, also from the French brand Phildar.

I’m using the recommended Phildar Phil Mixte in the colour Craie which was gifted to me from Phildar a few years ago along with the English translation and the recommended 2.5mm hook.

I didn’t swatch (am feeling fairly rebellious right now) and am making the middle size.

It’s a lovely pattern, all charted and easy/pleasant to crochet plus it’s very pretty once blocked and I think it will make a lovely summer tee.

I also continued making a pair of my Dotty Socks using the lovely and very summery Moana yarn from Somerset Yarns.

NEW

I cast on the Most Ardently socks by Kelly of Row Row and Kades, such a pretty pattern and it looks so good with the Peony yarn from Wild Rose Yarn that I had in my stash, this is my pretty project and I’m keeping it in my vintage Jibbyroo Sews bag.

And I’m also making the Sac Hermeline by Phildar which uses the same yarn as Helianne and is the perfect way to use up all the last bits of yarn from that project - what a gift.

PLANS

I’m planning on making another So Faded, copying Emma Carter’s colours because I love them so much. It is inexplicably a Harry Potter themed project with all the yarn having Harry Potter names (I don’t even like Harry Potter). There is a skein from A Homespun House which I won in Amy’s 2021 make nine make-along, together with two skeins from Paper Stories which I think I bought at the Fibre East yarn festival way back in 2017 (old stash again whoop, whoop)!!

FROM THE VAULT

I did a tiny bit of work on my vintage Sirdar cardigan, heaven only knows when I’ll wear a brown, blouson cardigan though eh? I’m using Stylecraft Life DK in the Bark colourway which is now discontinued.

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Enjoy the episode folks and enjoy knitting. I will see you again in a week.