Moving Forward Wrap

Pattern/Technique: Moving Forward Wrap by Denise Bayron

Modifications: none

Materials: 3 skeins A Verb for Keeping Warm Floating in Current

US5 needles (for cast on / bind off), US4 needles for main fabric

Wet blocked using blocking wires

New skills: German Twisted Cast on, Modified Icelandic Bind Off

Lessons: I wasn't sure which bind off to use, as the pattern didn't provide a recommendation, and I was a concerned using a standard knit bind off given the yarn overs and center double decrease on the knit side. I looked through other knitters' projects on Ravelry (and learned you can filter by projects with notes & projects marked helpful—incredibly useful) and found weckum's recommendation to use a modified Icelandic bind off. I used this tutorial from Strands of Life.

Floating doesn't have much elasticity (but drapes beautifully) so I changed yarn balls at the edges because I figured the loose ends would be easier to hide along the edges. I also tried to change balls in stockinette/garter sections to facilitate weaving in the ends.

What I'd do differently: I might make this in a springy yarn (like AVFKW Flock) to get a slightly stiffer fabric to really accentuate the points in the chevron.

Care: Hand wash, lay flat to dry.

Indigo Eye Pillow

Pattern/Technique: Good Vibrations Eye Pillow by Kristine Vejar, from Making: Intricate

Modifications: I found the silk pretty tricky to hand sew (it’s partly why I also sewed fewer lines on the pillowcase), so instead of hemming the open end by hand sewing, I used the rolled hem foot on my sewing machine.

Materials: Good vibrations eye pillow kit (indigo dyed silk crepe de chine, cotton muslin, indigo dyed embroidery floss), rice

Lessons: The silk was pretty tricky to sew through with multiple strands of embroidery floss, so I ended up stitching only a couple rows of running stitch. If I did something similar in the future, I might try using my sashiko thimble to brace the needle on my palm for support.

Remember to account for seam allowances when sewing a design. I sewed a neat “reflection” motif where the running stitch looked like it had bounced off the edge of the pillowcase top piece, but when I sewed the pillowcase together this effect got sewn into the seam allowance.

What I'd do differently: Add less scented oil & don’t add a mint-based oil to an eye pillow. I have a lovely lavender mint oil and decided to add a few drops to the rice to scent the pillow. Unfortunately I accidentally poured in too much (there was a visible oil stain on the muslin pillow insert) and the menthol from the mint made my eyes water when I set it on my eyes!

Care: Hand wash, lay flat to dry