Johanne's knitting & stitch

Short and sweet

2011-03-30T09:02:00.005Z

It would be nice to have the time be able to knit more than 2 rows, or not fal asleep when I do get the time!!! All projects for the time being are likely to be baby based, simple and very quick - unless its something from my huge pile of UFO's...... These 2 beanie hats found their way to my sisters friend who had baby Thomas 3 weeks early. They are from a beanie pattern by Sirdar. Textured Cardigan from the Lois Daykin book Baby Knits for Leo. I just have to sew it up - mmmm.....

It's been a while

2011-02-16T14:05:00.002Z

I've been busy with a new arrival:

Baby Leo arrived wee hours on 2/2/11.

After a bit of a rocky start mother and baby are doing well.

Will post knitting news soon, promise.......

Hmmmmm

2010-03-16T06:49:00.002Z

I've managed to lose my knitting bag with project in situ and my mojo! Celtic is finished will upload photo's as soon as lovely son helps me to work out how to tranfer to his laptop!

So if anyone out there finds a linen bag full of scrummy Rialto Aran, a completed back and left front of Grey Cables please let me know............

2010-02-04T16:33:00.003Z

I'm not sure where January went but I think my knitting goals went with it because the UFO's are staring at me!!

So for February:

Celtic- half a sleeve, collar and boarders

Picnic - 6 squares

Mathilde - Finish the back and start the front.

Still no laptop and now no bathroom I'm doing well in the household and gadgets department. I've signed up for more dust and muck be overhauling young man's room to reflect his teenage and coming adulthood status - yes I do like trouble!!!

2010-01-10T20:56:00.006Z

It should be a win win situation - being snowed in. If you are cold, you just snuggle into your favourite hand knit sweater, if you are bored, you pick up one of the many projects crying out to be finished. Perfect. A knitter's paradise.

...Sort of. My fingers are sore and I've been sitting down for too long.......

Time to go out and play in the snow.

I'm currently working on Mathilde, it's very slow going. I'm still passionate about it, but need a smaller project to make me feel like I can actually finish something.

Note that I'm not going to pick up an existing project - far too logical, nope, I have to start something new. I have my eye on a couple of projects......

Aaren

2010-01-04T12:40:00.005Z

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and much knitting in 2010!!

Finished and in demand. Yes, I'd sleep in this beauty if I could!!

Details

Name of pattern: Aaren

Pattern source: Precious

Designer: Kim Hargreaves

Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Needles: 4.5mm and 5mm

Started : 18/11/09

Finished : 01/01/10

Comments: Loved knitting this pattern. It was straight forward. The cable pattern was easy to memorise after a couple of repeats. I changed the neckband to a roll over. It's lovely and snuggly.

Will try to get some photo's of me wearing it.

Shawl Fever

2009-12-22T12:25:00.006Z

In the run up to C day, simple shawl patterns have become my bestest friends. Inspired by a birthday gift from my friend Karin, I have knitted Multnomah and another one is on the way. The pattern is simple and quick. Like Polly, I love it when the pattern begins with a few stitches and then stretches into the millions!

Nearly done Multnomah in blue and Damson in the background

Socks

2009-12-17T12:32:00.002Z

Socks
Originally uploaded by joandshea

These poor long suffering socks have been on their needles for over a year. They have seen the light of day only because I am knitting 2 large projects and I needed a break from them. They are for my sister - just in time for the beginning of our cold weather. I am pleased that she loves them

Another project buster also using sock yarn is Damson by Ysolda Teague. I love projects that start small and end up with hundreds of stitches. It is blocking now.

All finished, now to block

I'm halfway up the front of Aaren, I'm hoping to finish her by the weekend. It will be a relief to have one of the big projects completed. I'm planning on delving into one of the back of the wardrobe bags and finishing a project that has been waiting for a long long time!

Winter warmer

2009-12-13T10:34:00.002Z

In anticipation of my trip to the Lake District I wizzed up a beret to keep my head warm. The photo was taken at the rear of our hotel.

Hat 1
Originally uploaded by joandshea

Details

Pattern name: Design D
Pattern Source: Sirdar 339 Winter glamour
Yarn used: Sirdar Click Chunky
Needles: 5.5mm and 6.5mm
Date started: 1/12/09
Date finished: 1/12/09

Comments: A quick knit, not as slouchy as I thought it would be. The yarn is warm and won't become misshapen with use.

Whether in the hotel or on a walk, we were surrounded by fantastic views:

It was definitely a wrench to get on the train back to London..........

Cumbrilliant

2009-12-13T09:32:00.004Z

Despite the awful weather that has been battering Cumbria, I had a wonderful long weekend there recently. The Lake District is beautiful all year round. We had a wonderful view from the Hotel

When not walking, I worked on Aaren and started Fiddler's Green

I worked on Fiddlers Green on the way home. This was a joy to knit and I couldn't put it down. I was hoping to finish the pieces of Aaren while away, but Fiddlers Green stole my heart.

Details

Pattern name: Fiddlers Green
Pattern source: Little Cakes
Designer: Louisa Harding
Yarn: Thistle
Needles: 4.5mm and 5mm
Started: 6/12/09
Finished: 9/12/09

Comments: OOoooooh, warm, cosy, did I say warm. The yarn is soft and strong, the pattern was well written, clear and easy to follow. The colour I chose is beautifully varigated and changes in the light. As the project began to develop and get longer, I had a lovely pool of warmth laying in my lap. This will definitely be a wardrobe regular this winter. In keeping with the coming festive season, the shade I chose is called Holly!!!

Busy Bee

2009-12-10T21:45:00.003Z

I'm still having problems with my laptop. I'm using the young man's to catch up on my blog. Over the next few posts I will try and put up my recent completed projects.

I promised to take a picture wearing the pinwheel coat so here it is completed and being worn!!

Details:

Pattern Name: Pinwheel Sweater (Adult)

Designer: Shelley Mackie

Pattern Source: Elann.com

Date started: 28/09/09

Date finished: 23/10/09

Yarn: All from stash most now discontinued

Needles: 6mm

Comments: I used a heavier yarn and bigger needles than stated because I wanted a coat rather than a cardigan, certainly something that would keep me warm for the coming winter. I also omitted the yarn overs after the first colour change, for the same reasons. I enjoyed knitting this, even when it got to over 400 stitches! Brilliant stash buster!!!!

Snow ball Scarf

Well, I saw this stuff when I was at Ally Pally in October and walked swiftly by thinking, never, never, never. However, when my local yarn store stocked it, I thought, mmmm. But each time I went in, the stuff (I can't bring myself to call it yarn just yet) kept calling to me. I gave in a bought a ball on Monday. I had a free morning today and one hour later after twisting on 5 stitches, I had a snuggly, warm scarf!! What more can I say?

Details

Pattern name: Scarf in a ball

Pattern Source: Ball band

Yarn: Sirdar snowball

Needles: 8mm

Date started: 10 December 09

Date finished: 10 December 09

Comments: A surreal experience!!

More to follow!!

Temptation

2009-11-20T17:20:00.005Z

Aaren by Kim Hargreaves from her book Precious

I am not a one, two, even three project person. I am a multiple project person. When you are being sorely tempted, you are supposed to give in, right? So I started another project, one that has been calling to me for a very long time - since I had the yarn in stash (yarn that I have been trying to allocate for ages not knowing that THE perfect patern was right under my nose) I decided there was absolutely nothing preventing me from casting on.

Smoulder

2009-11-16T20:24:00.004Z

Is definiely smouldering away. It's almost complete - almost. It's the almost bit that is currently kicking my butt. I'm sewing in ends. It's so tiring that I can only do a small amount at a time. I don't allow my son to use the B word (boring) so I won't use it here. But is so is. I know the end result will be glorious, which is why, rather than leave the ends loose as is my want I'm taking time to do it right. In the mean time.....

Smoulder still in almost state

My technical problems persist, I've borrowed a friend's power pack for a while so I can use my laptop without curtailing my normal activities - like spending 200 hours a day on Ravelry!!!

I have started this (the dress) and this . They are both so scrummy - I'm loving both of them, although I have some misgivings about Sylvi. I will continue and see what happens........

Sylvi's sleeve

Pain

2009-11-10T19:10:00.002Z

Oh the pain of a sick laptop. I have no power pack, its gone to PC essentials heaven. I am relying on my friend to come juice me up every few days until a new one gets here. Add to the mix another broken camera and it all fun in Johanne land!!

Pinwheel sweater

2009-09-29T06:31:00.005Z

As you can see I'm working hard. I had to start a new project when I left my knitting project (Celtic) at my mums. It took me 4 days to retrieve the project. In that time, I started a pinwheel sweater. I just have the arms to do now.

Smoulder is also finally, taking shape. I blocked the pieces and have sewn up the seams. Now for the million ends!! I hear we are having a late warm week next week so I may, hope against hope, get to wear her.

I was sweating hard to make sure the pattern matched!!

Some serious blocking was needed, as you can see

Now I just need to finish something!!

Autumn stash

2009-09-29T06:30:00.002Z

Having left my current knitting project at my mum's I found myself in need of some house knitting. The perfect time to look through my stash and begin a stash busting project. This is normally a project that is quick and easy - a kind of in-between project that gives my brain a rest from complex knitting

autumn stash
Originally uploaded by joandshea

and allows me to carry on knitting, rather than downing tools all together. It'sdefinitely quick and also addictive, don't seem to want to put it down. I want to get to the armholes - not sure why I'm so eager, I have to do a provisional cast on and I always seem to have huge problems trying to use this form of cast on. Here's hoping it will be plain sailing this time. I've found some very good video streams detailing the method.

Progress....

2009-09-23T16:40:00.004Z

...... of sorts. I've given in to temptation and started a new project, even though the agreement I had with myself was to finish Smoulder and the curved edge cardigan before embarking on new projects.

I have sort of finished, they just need sewing up. In both cases I have to be in the mood to attempt such a fete. In the case of Smoulder because of its million trillion ends and the need to match up row for row. As for the pure silk curved edge cardigan, I have the longest border to sew on the outer edge of the whole cardigan. They are in a heap in a corner of the front room. I'm hoping to be in the 'mood' to tackle them so that I can give the curved edge to my mum, and I can wear Smoulder before it's too cold!!

My new WIP is Celtic from Rowan 40.

I've made some heavy modifications so far to make it mine. Hopefully they will work.

I'm also thinking of this for my winter hottie.

I'm having trouble with choosing the right yarn and colour. I seem to be gravitating toward blue this winter. I don't know anything about Briggs and Little Atlantic. I'm going to swatch with Rowan Cocoon, and Louisa Harding Hulda then see how I go. Oh and I've picked out some stash yarn for a pin wheel thingy..,..........

Guilty?

2009-09-14T09:54:00.009Z

Should I feel guilty that I'm wishing our late summer away? It's sods law that as soon as Fontaine is finished we have the sun trying to do its best to re surge and pretend that it's the middle of summer - it's not on. I want autumnal winds and crisp cool afternoons so that I can stroll in knitted comfort. In part it's my own fault. If I had not been busy elsewhere in my life I'd have had enough time to knit my summer gear - so now I'm reduced to wishing it away!!

On the needles, Smoulder from Rowan 31

All pieces are now complete...........

Now I have to fathom out whether to sew the pieces together then sew in the ends or the other way round. Experience with the mystery blanket would favour sewing the pieces in first so that it's easier to match up the pattern without the hindrance of lumpy bumpy bits.

.......... and there are a million ends to sew in!!

In the meantime I have to figure out what do with the mass on vegetables that are coming from the allotment.

My kitchen after one afternoon of veg picking on the allotment

Runner beans in situ, now sliced and spliced in the freezer!!

Glorious tomatoes of 5 different varieties

I have been pickling, chutneying, saucing and jamming I think you all know what you are getting in your Christmas stockings!!!

Fontaine

2009-09-09T18:03:00.004Z

In all of her beauty. I'm going to wear this to death. Why? Because it took so long, it survived majors works in my home and it's gorgeous. As always I'm rubbish at taking photo's so it really has not been done justice - it looks much better on me in the flesh (so to speak). Love everything about it.

Does my a*** look big in this comes to mind!!!!

Details

Project Name: Fontaine

Pattern source: Rowan 44

Designer: Marion Foale

Started: 4/2/09

Finished: 8/9/09
Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 ply

Needles: 2.5mm & 2mm

Comments: Loved the finished garment. Took ages for various reasons and that killed the love of the process for me. Yarn is yummy, fit is lovely and I'm going to wear this often!!

Grateful?

2009-09-08T14:24:00.006Z

Should I be grateful that I decided to do the food shopping at the weekend?

Should I be grateful that I decided to go on the bus?

Should I be grateful that said bus had major disruptions?

Should I be grateful that it was a beautiful day and waiting more than 50 minutes for a bus that runs every 10 minutes meant that I had uninterrupted knitting time?

In the words of the famous nodding dog "Oh yes"!!!!!!

Fontaine needs some buttons and she is all done

Up and running

2009-08-19T19:34:00.004Z

.... well sort of.

After a very long break from blogging and knitting my mojo is finding its way back to me. I've also come out at the other end of renovation and decorating with my sanity intact (just). I have lovely new storage for my knitting paraphernalia - that's the only thing that made it all worthwhile!

Now all of my UFO's are squawking loudly at me from their dark resting place. Here are just a few:

Fontaine is in need of half a sleeve

Smoulder is in need of a collar and a sleeve

And heavens above a finished project. Only because there was a tight deadline and it was for my friend. This is the Panel Jacket by Louisa Harding. I used Wendy Pearl dk for the main body and Louisa Harding Glisten for the edging. The Pearl yarn has been discontinued and I didn't have enough - the Glisten yarn complimented the Pearl and the colouring of the recipient. I also had to make the sleeves end at the elbow rather than have them full length.

I'm trying to be be realistic and unfortunately summer passed me by without any new summer projects under my belt. If I'm lucky Smoulder will be finished for Autumn. This puts me right on track for finishing last winters projects in time for this year and maybe slipping in a couple of new ones. The upside - I know I will be warm and toastie this year. I will be posting some of my 'new' winter projects in the next post.

The pace of the allotment is finally slowing down and I am enjoying the fruits of my labour. I am truly grateful for my pickings right now and I will never moan when it rains ever again.

Peas

Strawberries

Marrow

Still here

2009-05-31T18:10:00.003Z

I'm still about, not a lot of knitting has been going on over the past 2 months. I've been out in my allotment. That is all about to change as the plot is beginning to tick over without needing my total undivided attention.

I have about a million projects to finish, so with the lovely long evening coming up, I'll be steaming ahead with my UFO's!!

Oh boy

2009-03-09T19:47:00.004Z

Or not as the case may be. I have a teenager in the house!! A teenager who does not want to be "mothered". Do they flip overnight? Did I miss something? When did he become taller than me!!!

He is still my young man and we are proud.

As you can see, my trauma over young man reaching his teenage years has stopped me from being productive in any way. I've managed to complete the back and one front on Fontaine. The 2.5 mm needles are really sticking it to me now - I am however fighting the urge to start another project on much bigger needles, but that may change........

Finished!

2009-02-16T15:22:00.003Z

The Mystery Blanket aka In the Country

Finally pulled my finger out and finished it. As you can see, I have found a worthy recipient - she loves it!

My reward is a new project, Fontaine

Smoulder is on hold. I'm sure that I'm going to run out of one of the colours and until I can find a substitute for it,I can't go any further. However, it's coming along nicely. I'm hoping to complete it for the Spring.

Nearly

2009-02-04T18:08:00.006Z

Time is flying unlike my knitting projects. February already!!

We do have a few finished objects and a couple that are nearly there. My January deadline has slipped for both the blanket and the curved edge cardigan, but there has been progress.

The blanket is now in one piece. All squares are knitted and ends now sewn in. I just need a long cold dark evening, lots of chocolate and a good play on the radio to finish it once and for all.

I'm trying to be a good girl and not start anything big before I finish the blanket and the curved edge cardigan (Smoulder doesn't count - I've stalled on it for the moment having run out of one of the colours. I'm hunting for an equivalent)

Not sure what possessed me to knit a pair of leg warmers but here they are and already put to good use.

Pattern details:

Pattern name: Mosey by Susan Power
Pattern source: Knitty, Spring 2008
Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Cash merino Chunky
Size: Smaller size
Needles: 5.5 mm
Started: 8/12/08
Finished: 2/2/09
Comments: I omitted the OXO pattern because it would not be easily seen in black yarn. I used larger needles because I used completely different yarn , hence knitting the smaller size. They are incredibly warm and versatile. Good stash buster.

The young man is off on a skiing holiday in the next couple of weeks, so the needles have been busy with hats. Here is the latest.

Just in time for the recent offering of snow. He was nice and toastie. The hat stood up to the riggers of several snow fights and being worn for the entire day!!

Pattern details:

Pattern: Alpaca ear flaps

Pattern Source: Oz yarn

Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Cash merino aran in cream, Louisa Harding Grace in light grey, Wensleydale Longwool aran in dark grey

Needles: 4mm

Started: 20/1/09

Finished: 1/2/09

Comments: no alpaca used, but warm and toastie anyway. I don't do well on intarsia ans chart reading for colour work. But the pattern was easy to understand and clearly written.

Alas, the curved edge cardigan has stayed in the bottom of the basket, but I'm hoping to rectify that this month

2009

2009-01-05T13:33:00.006Z

Another year has gone and so we (I) lurch onto 2009. Very little has changed. I'm still trying not to start too many projects and I'm still trying to finish those I start!! Some of the projects have been festering for too long.

Currently I'm working on:

Smoulder from Rowan 31 a lot of substitution has taken place due to discontinued yarn, but I've loved this pattern from the moment I saw it - I have no idea what took me so long to start it . I managed to start is 3 days ago and I'm loving it. However, I made a pact with myself. Starting Smoulder means I have to finish 2 old projects, of which there are a few.........

The Mystery blanket, which is missing just 3 squares. 2 borders are done - must finish this soon. This is one of the pact WIP's.

Print 'O the waves stole. I've now completed 6 repeats. I had delusions of completing a repeat per evening. Instead, this poor WIP has been stuffed in a corner until a few nights ago. However, as I'm sure many will know, you have to be in the right frame of mind to read a chart.

Don't ask me what possessed me to knit myself a pair of leg warmers. They are gorgeous though. I've half of the second one to complete.

The curved edge cardigan is luscious pure silk. This has been languishing in a corner for months. This is the 2nd of the pact WIP's. I just need to sew the border on - however, that's not as easy as it sounds!!

Picnic. This is a long terms project so my conscience is not pricking me so much on this one. But I'm aiming to be a bit more disciplined in order to finish it this year.

Of course this does not include socks and, well we just won't go there!! Now all I nned ot tackle is the destash.......

Cable Coat - Update

2008-12-08T18:13:00.004Z

My beautiful coat has a new home!! It was too big for me and has gone to someone who can do it justice. I learned quite a lot during it's construction which will be put to good use on the next one - yes, you heard right, the next one. This was always a prototype for 3 coats I want to knit myself. Magpie Aran is a brilliant yarn, and to take the words out of Karin's mouth I don't know why Rowan discontinued it.

In answer to Sue's question, the final coat is heavy to hold but not heavy to wear. Does that make sense? The next coat will be the same pattern but with modifications and I will use the stated yarn this time - Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran - yummy!! I just hope it will be as warm as the Magpie Aran.

I won't be starting this until after Christmas. I have to finish off the Mystery Blanket, the Picnic Blanket and the Print O' the Waves shawl before I think about anything major - that's not to say I won't be starting anything at all..........

Cabled Coat

2008-12-07T12:05:00.011Z

I have been working on this woolly mammoth solidly for the past 3 weeks. So determined was I to finish it, and finished it is!!

Pattern Details

Pattern Name: Cabled Coat

Pattern Source: Special family knits

Designer: Debbie Bliss

Yarn used: Rowan Magpie Aran
Needles: 4.., 4.5mm and 5mm - all circular

Size: Largest
Started: 8/10/08
Finished: 5/12/08

Comments: I've wanted to knit this for a long time. Fantastic knit. Thoroughly enjoyed it. The yarn combined with the cables was a bit heavy going at times, but well worth the effort. I didn't make any serious modifications. Size wise I knit the largest size and it is a teeny bit big. Length wise I followed the shortest size. I did not pick up stitches in 2 stages for the button borders as indicated. I picked them up all at once. I don't mind that the picked up stitches for the collar were done on the wrong side.

All sewn up

So many ends to sew in!!

The collar took forever 200 sts and all cabled

But it was worth it

So I guess it's back to the grind stone to the UFO's I left by the wayside to finish this..........

Oh boy

2008-11-13T09:52:00.005Z

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since my last post. Time is whizzing by, and I have nothing to show for it. I have nothing to show because I've been concentrating on one project. Concentrating so much that it has put me off doing anything else!! The culprit is the the Cabled coat. I thought I would be disciplined because this is a fairly large project. I didn't want to become derailed by other projects. I've completed the 2 fronts and am about half way up the back. Maybe I should have started with the back. It's the largest piece and it's daunting and it's HEAVY and now it's laughing at me. I'm hoping now I've blogged about it, I'll shame myself into finishing the back at least. I'm hoping once that's done it will give me the psychological boost I need to finish the rest.

Over the next 2 weeks I've got to finish this and the silk cardigan I started for my mum, many, many moons ago. got to got to got to.............

The kindness of friends and strangers

2008-10-21T19:33:00.006Z

Every so often my guardian angel lets me know they are still there and that I am right to continue to have faith in my fellow human being. I mentioned very briefly that I attended the Iknit day in central London last month. What I didn't mention was me admiring the cardigan worn by one of the women helping out on the day. The cardigan was worn by Esther who promised to email the pattern to me. I have to admit that I thought that would be the end of it. How many times have a heard "Give me your email address and I'll email you the details" and never heard a thing. Shamefully, I assumed this was the case. Imagine my surprise, a couple of days later, when I received an email. Esther was not able to email the pattern but promised to post it to me. The pattern arrived 2 days later. Thank you Esther of Iknit.

Last week at Ally Pally (it seems so long ago), in my usual zeal, I accosted a woman wearing a beautiful green vintage cardigan. I think on this occasion she agreed to post it to me out of sheer fright at this crazy lady smiling like a Cheshire cat about to get the cream!! Again, the cynic in me decided that was the end of that and nothing would come of it. Today I received a vintage pattern and lovely note in the post. Not only did she send the pattern I'd been admiring, she also sent the entire leaflet giving me an additional 3 patterns - how fab is that? Thank you Sue Hall.

Last and by no means least, my friend Karin , whilst on vacation during the summer brought back these for me:

Karin knows I love Norah Gaughan patterns and the yarn is in my colours!

Added to that, yesterday she bailed me out of deep deep doggy doos. I grandly started the cable coat in the knowledge that I had 2 packs of Rowan Magpie aran in stash - and this yarn (very wrongly in my view) was discontinued a long time ago. Of course I forgot I'd used some of it for college projects, hadn't done the maths regarding yardage and then, very worryingly, found one wound ball almost decimated by an insect (I'm not going to mention the 'm' word!!). Since I've already completed one front and am halfway up the second front, you can understand how desperate I felt that it would all come to nothing. Karin came to the rescue with a full pack in the same colour and dye lot.

Truly, my faith has been restored and I am in awe of the kindness to be found in the sister (and brother) hood of knitting. These acts of kindness may seem like little things, but at the end of the day, these lovely people put themselves out for me and I am very grateful to you.

Fiddlesticks!

2008-10-17T10:50:00.005Z

Don't you just love that word? This is not a random thought. I bought some Fiddlesticks Zephyr Wool silk lace weight yarn from Stash yarns a long while ago. It's been saved for a special occasion. Such an occasion has presented itself and I have cast on for the Print 'O the Waves shawl. I have a lover hate relationship with shawls and stoles. Love the look and feel of them but hate getting started on them. I tend to cast on then leave the work for months.

I started this shawl in August and left it in the corner. Now time is running out, I must finish it - as you can see, I've done lots and lots in 2 months......

To mix things up a bit I've started this cabled coat. I started on one of the fronts first to familiarise myself with the pattern. It is not that hard, but there is a long way to go.

This photo better represents the colour of the yarn

And so to bed

2008-10-12T21:19:00.005Z

It's a long good night for the allotment. It's been dug over and now it's time to leave it to rest for winter. I've decided not to put any winter vegetation in and just cover it with manure ready for the spring.

Well that's the plan, only no one told the weather fairies that it's supposed to be Autumn! There is sunshine everywhere - and its lovely.We spent Saturday wheel barrowing and shovelling manure and compost. Young man was in his element, with wood, nails and a hammer, building raised beds ready to fill with compost for next year. The only thing that does not hurt today after all the exertion is my fingertips - all the better to knit with, you might say!!

uncovered

2008-10-06T19:55:00.004Z

The Estes Vest and my nearly new hair do

(actually I'm due another hair cut, it's getting too long now)

Estes Vest

Name: Estes Vest

Source: Interweave Knits Fall 2008

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in Teal Blue

Needles: 6mm and 5mm

Started: 4/9/08

Finished: 6/10/08

For: Me

Comments: A little modification on this one. I added length before I started the waist shaping. I inserted a zip instead of toggles or buttons. I also lengthened the collar to stand around my neck instead of end at the nape of my neck. I knit the piping around the armholes, but used garter stitch as a front and bottom border. And as Karin pointed out, I used a contrast yarn for the pocket linings ( I was worried I would run out of yarn - I didn't in the end, but it makes for a nice touch). Apart form that, a lovely pattern full of cables and more cables. I used the yarn double through out.

Struggling

2008-10-03T13:48:00.002Z

I'm dying to start something new - not sure what, but I have a few UFO's that need some attention. Need some will power....... The Estes Vest is so close to being finished. I bought a zip a few days ago and it's languishing in a corner on top of the Estes Vest!!

Finishing off the piping around armhole edge

Nearly there

2008-09-25T06:56:00.003Z

I've been working on 2 projects over the past couple of weeks, the Estes Vest from the latest Interweave Knits and the Mystery Blanket. Both of them are almost complete. There is one more installment left to arrive on the Mystery blanket at the beginning of October. I have 2 more squares to knit from the September package. That will leave 4 squares and the border to complete in October. I became a little complacent knitting the blanket and made a huge mistake which took a bit of concentration to put right. When it's all finished I will post the final pictures.

The Estes Vest has been a joy to knit. It's all texture, all cable - but not complex. I'm almost finished, the vest is waiting for a collar and zip, which will have to wait until I finish the September Mystery blanket squares.

This has been an excellent stash buster. I knit the vest using double stranded yarn. The vest will get a lot of use now that the rugby season has started.

Harvest for the world

2008-09-18T22:22:00.012Z

My allotment

I wasn't meant to be growing very much this season. All I wanted to do was just clear the area , mark it out and give the soil a good turn over. I learned:

you don't 'just' do anything in an allotment
mother nature has a mind of her own
when it rains it always pours
kissing butt is a good thing
family and friends are worth their weight in gold
I love worms
my fellow brothers (and sisters) in arms have invaluable knowledge that will take me years to gather
foxes definitely eat veg - my veg!
investing in a good fork, spade and hoe is key to a half way decent plot
good wellies (I'm saving up for a pair of Hunters, I'm told they are the bees knees) and thick thick socks will save my bacon
your neighbours crap filled skip is actually a treasure trove in disguise
if you dig up the bramble - they will grow back!!

giving is far better than receiving

This year I have been blessed with a bumper crop of all sorts of veg. Some of which I'm sure I didn't plant. Much of which was given to me in seed or plant form by fellow plotters taking pity on me. For the most part, what I was doing was slightly out of sync (digging at the wrong time of year, and even planting out late for example), but I was gently encouraged (and laughed at heartily) to keep going. I have been rescued on a few occasions when I got stuck in the mud, much to the amusement of others!

So far, visitors to my humble abode have been sent home with a little bit more than they bargained for - a few beetroot here and a bag of potatoes there. The young man is trying to get everyone to take all the cabbage since he hates the stuff.

There were many times when I wanted to give up, the battle for the plot between me and the brambles seemingly a very one sided thing. However, mother nature, friends and sheer bloody mindedness has seen me through my first season - and funnily enough, I'm going to do it all over again next year - minus the mini forest though.

I'm not going to be a hypocrite and say I've loved every minute of it - but I'm loving it now, when I see what's come out of the soil and that's what counts. I've no doubt a few months from now, I'll be muttering under my breadth, tripping over my own wellies and cursing the fact that the toilets are way way down the other end of the allotments, but hey, now I know it really will be worth it in the end.

My plot and some of the goodies it gave me

Did you notice - no onions - the battle recommences!!

My plot in the beginning ...........

Did someone say knitting........

Mossy

2008-09-10T15:32:00.005Z

A winter (or in my case, Summer) warmer: Mossy

I took this away with me to show my sister how the yarn knit up and ended up finishing it. I'd managed about 10 rows before, so that will tell you how much knitting I got through due to bad weather.

Pattern details:

Name: Moss Stitch jacket

Pattern Source: Cashmere Collection by Debbie Bliss

Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Super Chunky

Needles: 7mm and 7.5mm

Size: Smallest

Started: July 2008

Finished: 23 Aug 2008

Comments - besides running out of yarn (my fault), the pattern is very straight forward. I didn't find any errors. The end result is a real slouch on the sofa warmer. I was worried that the jacket would drop and stretch with wear - it hasn't so far.

On a personal note, I killed the Afro!!

Nevis

2008-09-06T18:35:00.006Z

I've been busy!! I finished Nevis today, seconds before being whisked off to this. I'm sure there will be lots of other bloggers writing about this so I won't. Suffice to say the Harlot had me in stitches - get it - and I'm soaking my feet as I blog.

Nevis

Pattern details:

Pattern name: Nevis
Pattern Source: Rowan 42
Yarn used: Rowan Tapestry
Needle size 3.25 mm and 4mm
Size: Smallest
Started: Nov 2007
Finished : Sept 2008

Comments: Straight forward pattern. No errors which was refreshing! The yarn is extremely splitty which is a problem when knitting a cable pattern. The only problem I had with the pattern was the lack of a set up row for the cable pattern. Cabling on row 1 is not the easiest thing to do. The colourway of the yarn is stunning, sadly, I have not been able to capture this.

St Brigid

2008-08-26T19:22:00.008Z

She's finally done:

Pattern details:

Pattern: St Brigid

Pattern Source: Aran Knitting by Alice Starmore

Yarn: Jamiesons Soft Shetland

Needles: 4.5mm

Started: May 2007

Finished: August 2008

Comments: Love it. Fabulous pattern. I'm definitely a chart girl. My neck line is possibly a bit loose, but I like it as it is. I will knit another Starmore pattern.

The other advantage to visiting your sister - she can model your finished objects!!!

My camera work does not do this beauty justice. I will however be spending the rest of my life picking out the remnants of heather (well I'm hoping it's heather) from the sweater. Not from the wonderful scenery - that's how it came. I'm still puzzled how yarn comes with all the vegetation given all the processing it goes through..

No rest for the wicked, the UFO pile is overflowing.

Slainte

2008-08-21T18:58:00.002Z

Not only did I take a leaf out of my sisters book, I decided it was time to go and visit her too. We are in wet Dublin. Lots of knitting going on. We managed to fit in a visit to the Guinness Brewery. When we get back I will post pictures.

I am very pleased to announce that I finally finished St Brigid! A huge sigh of relief in this corner I can tell you. I brought a few other projects with me that have been pricking my conscience and will post what I manage to finish when we get back.

Oh Boy

2008-08-08T13:26:00.006Z

I should take a leaf out of my sisters book and only knit one thing at a time. She thinks I'm mad to have multiple projects on the go. She may be right. I think part of my anomie for knitting at the moment is the fact that I do have so many UFOs screaming at me to be finished. I don't know where to start. In the tradition of small steps, I made a start with smalls squares - aka - the Mystery Blanket. I finally finished the July squares, hot on the heels of the arrival of my August package. I can see light at the end of the tunnel on this now. There are only 8 squares left to knit and then of course the edging and whatever else Debbie Abrahams has in store.

No rest for the wicked. I shall be starting the August Squares right away.

Whilst in my knitting funk, all has not been abandoned. To keep my hand in I've been knitting these:

This is one of the skeins I dyed whilst at Sue's earlier this year. Next on the list of long suffering UFOs is St Brigid - the summer is depressingly absent and it feels fitting to be knitting in the winter months which feel too close for comfort today!

On the non knitting front, the young man is still giving Jamie Oliver a run for money!

Macaroni Cheese. Young Man used a family recipe. I'm beginning to feel surplus to requirements!!

Goodies!!

2008-07-31T12:17:00.004Z

I just love this woman. She is my good Karma!! I won another of her competitions and look what I got:

All made and dyed by her pretty hands!! Thank you Sue.

Stuck record

2008-07-26T18:26:00.004Z

This curved edge cardi is REALLY kicking my butt. Seriously. I can't finish it - it seems to be never ending and I can't work on anything else. My conscience won't let me!! I am winning. I seemed to have knitted at least 10 feet of 1x1 rib for the edging. I think I have another 10 feet to go. I'm about three quarters of the way round - oh and my mum's birthday was 2 days ago.

See - yards and yards of ribbing!!

And it's not as though I don't have things to finish. I haven't finished my July Mystery Blanket squares and then there are Picnic's squares, not to mention Mossy.....

At last

2008-07-23T04:04:00.002Z

A finished object!!

I finally sewed the zip into the baby jacket that went wrong. It is missing the yoke pattern, but I was loath to rip out all my hard work to start again. The jacket has now been sent to mum and new baby. I learned a valuable lesson = take sock knitting to the next Flugtag contest!

Project details:

Pattern: Based on a Debbie Bliss pattern

Started: 3 June 2008

Finished: 9 June 2008

Needles: 6mm

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino chunky - 5 black and (tiny bit of )duck egg blue

Comment: Love the yarn. Very quick knit. Even though I mucked up the pattern, it turned out ok!!

Yellow peril is almost finished. More news on it progress soon.

Knowing me - meme

2008-07-09T16:16:00.004Z

Since I have very little to show at the moment I thought I'd indulge in a meme.

I have been memed by Karin ! - Knowing me

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

I was chasing around after a 2 year old. I had just changed jobs and I was considering emigrating.

2. What are 5 things on my to do list today?

Go see my mum
use up the bananas and make banana bread
laundry
fill up the petrol tank
finish socks

3. What are your favourite things to snack on?

anything that's within reach

4. Where are some places you've lived?

I'm a London gal born and bred!

5. What would you do if yo were a billionaire?

besides buy a wool shop? Travel and take care of my family

6. What jobs have you done?

Till girl, bar tender, Personnel Officer, Project manager, Advocate

7. Which other people would you like to know more about?

Yvonne and Polly

It's grey and a little miserable at the moment, no good for taking photo's. When the weather changes, I'll show and tell.

Zip Zip part 2

2008-07-05T19:25:00.002Z

All is well with the world - John Lewis saved the day with the perfect zip!!

Zip Zip

2008-07-01T16:25:00.003Z

Have you ever been busy doing nothing? I've been so 'busy' over the past couple of weeks, but I can't say with what..... Certainly not knitting or the allotment - oh yes, homework. My course finishes in 2 weeks and I've been burning the midnight oil somewhat!!

There really is not much on the knitting front I finished the baby jacket but can't find a 25cm open zip locally, so I'll have to go further afield!!

I've started a new project for my mum. She chose the pattern. I'm using Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, and I'm not sure how I feel about this yarn. I like it because it's so soft, yet strong and it's shiny. I don't like it because it has bits of slub, it shows up every bad habit I have and it fuzzes very easily. I'll let you all decide why I call it yellow peril....

The July package has come for the Mystery Blanket, so I'll be posting the completed squares once they are done.

Full of surprises

2008-06-12T12:16:00.011Z

They say women are natural multi-taskers - except me. I took young man to the Red bull Flugtag contest at Hyde Park last weekend. I took along my knitting as usual. Something nice and easy and I brought the pattern with me. It was a lovely afternoon, lots to see and me pitched in a corner with my foot up sat knitting for the entirety. The baby jacket I'm working on has a one piece body with a simple stitch pattern. I focused on my knitting, like any other obsessive would do, rather than all the lovely (non) flying machines diving so gracelessly into the Serpentine. I had enough time to finish the body and both sleeves. What an achievement for an afternoons work. 5 days later I'm ready to sew together and finish it off. I wanted to take some progress shots and began arranging the pieces. I couldn't work out why the pieces didn't look right. It was when I downloaded the pictures that I realised I'd totally omitted the pattern on the yoke area. I managed to convince myself that it was the pattern and not me until I fished the book out and read the 2 lines - the 2 crucial lines - I'd missed out. Obviously I was more distracted by the 'flying machines' than I thought.

Plain jacket - should have a moss stitch ribbed yoke!!

On a more positive note, I sewed 2 panels together on the Mystery Blanket. I've mentioned before that this blanket is a piece of work that incorporates many of the techniques needed generally for knitting. My pet hate - sewing seams is one of them. Armed with Jane Crowfoot's Finishing Techniques for and Knitters, I sewed my first mattress stitch seam. I am queen of the back stitch and my previous attempts with mattress stitch, felt very awkward - so I would give up. However, I knew I had no other choice than to use mattress stitch for the blanket. A few hiccups later and the two strips are done.

You can see my trusted well used book in the background!!

I've created a few problems for myself. I modified the sheep squares, they body of the sheep should have been the loop stitch. I used moss titch instead. But in order to create the look of volume, doubled the yarn. This in turn made the square slightly larger than it ought to have been, which transpired when it came time to sew the strips together. I hope we don't have any more sheep!!

Mystery Blanket

2008-06-05T19:35:00.007Z

I have not blogged very much about my progress on the Mystery Blanket aka 'In The Country'. Since I'm housebound I've almost finished the June squares. You will also see in the background my very rarely used ironing board. Is there anyone else who had to purchase an ironing board so they could block their pieces??

As you can see, I've graduated from table top to floor to accommodate the size of the blanket!

Columns 1 and 2 & 6 and 7 are ready to be sewn up. I really love the way the project has progressed over each month and the way the colour scheme works and has come together. There was one new square called Meadow Stripe. The background is reverse stocking stitch and the eye catcher is 9 embroidered lazy daisies. Besides working in colour my second nemesis is embroidery. Suffice to say, the reverse stocking stitch is complete the embroidery is not!! I'm going to have to seek help to do this.

Sheep number 2 - slightly different ( & blurry)

ahh look, they're making friends

Right and wrong sides. I'm winning the battle of sewing in ends!!!

Picot Edged Sweater

2008-06-01T09:31:00.008Z

We have a finished object: The Picot Edged Sweater by Lois Daykin from her Baby Knits book. This is the second project I've completed from the book. This pattern however was not a joy to knit - however, it has not deterred me from trying other projects in the book, so there will be more to come. For now:

Details:
Pattern: Picot edged Sweater

Source: Baby Knits by Lois Daykin

Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK

Needles: 3.25 and 4mm

Started: 6/3/08

Finished: 28/5/08
Comments: The finished object is gorgeous. The pattern itself is quite simple but the pattern instructions were not the most user friendly. Once I'd read through it a couple of times to make sense of it, it made sense to make a few modifications. I did not do a picot cast off, I did a picot cast on - far less ends to sew in! I did not knit the picot edged bow. Again it was a cast off picot pattern but because the bow is sewn on to the neck line area, I thought that the young wearer may want to try to pull it off. I'm not sure what to put there now.

Two more babies have made their entrance to the world, so no doubt there will be more baby things to follow. Since I'm stuck on the couch, baby things and blanket squares are right up my street right now.

Special Trip!

2008-05-27T12:08:00.003Z

Well a nice day out at least - that's what I planned yesterday for myself, young man and my nephews. We were going to Trafalgar Square for some music and fun. Instead, apart from the pouring rain, I went for a 'special trip' and was rushed to St. Thomas' hospital with a suspected broken ankle. It isn't, I'm still wet, I have a spongy ball for an ankle and a few weeks of solid knitting - there's always a silver lining!!

For example - I've nearly finished the picot edged sweater by Lois Daykin. I can say hand on heart that I won't be repeating this project any time soon. It has not been enjoyable to knit at all. I hope to finish it tonight.

Back and front completed with picot edging.

First sleeve complete with picot edging. This was very awkward to do on a circular needle

detail of picot edging

I think St. Brigid may be coming out to play......

Why

2008-05-19T17:42:00.000Z

..... is it a nightmare changing broadband suppliers??

Shameful

2008-05-15T12:33:00.005Z

I am!! I went to an evening meeting yesterday. The shameful part? It was the first time in almost 2 weeks that I picked up my knitting needles.

I completed the back and have started on the front of the baby sweater

The beautiful weather we've been having (and sadly no where to be seen today) has had me in the allotment. over the last month I have planted lots of potatoes, (the plot has not been used for over 15 years, it was full of bramble s with roots over a foot deep - potatoes are about all that can go in such newly dug and ravaged soil) cabbage, leek, onions, herbs and garlic. Young man has a flower patch. This is extremely useful, it will attract bees for pollination.

where the plot is not ready, or in poor condition I've used raised beds

I'm hoping once all the manure (golden nuggets to my friends) and compost has worked itself into the soil, it will be in much better condition next year and I can experiment with other crops. In the meantime, now that the sun has gone to play somewhere else, I better go and change my shameful ways. I've got the May squares to finish for the Mystery Blanket and squares for the Picnic Blanket never mind anything else that tickles my fancy in the new VK and IK ...........

Quickie

2008-05-02T06:18:00.005Z

I finished my April squares for the Debbie Abrahams Mystery KAL. We know the name of the KAL but I still prefer to call a mystery!!

I think this has become my new favourite square. It's likely that we have received all the square patterns now and it will be a case of repetition from here on in, but you never know!!
I also finished my first strip of seven squares:

I have since sewed in ALL of the ends - it took ages. I must remember to do them as I go along. I missed the Post man yesterday but my friend Karin received her package so I know whats coming up for May!!

2008-04-29T11:21:00.004Z

I have so very little knitting to show at the moment. I've been busy digging up the allotment and things are just hectic at the moment!! As usual I'm late as with most things. Apparently I should have been digging over in the autumn and planting out now - Spring time. So I'm digging and planting - a no no in the planting world, I'm supposed to leave the soil to settle or something like that.....

My squares are coming along on both Picnic and the Mystery Blankets. I have one more to complete for my April squares on the Mystery Blanket - just in time. The other reason I have so little to show is because I made an agreement with myself not to start another sweater/cardigan until I finish St. Brigid and she is here still unfinished!!

But baby garments don't count. Again, most of my projects are non mobile so I need something to tag along with me!!

Growing Pains

2008-04-17T17:14:00.004Z

Presently we have growing pains of every kind in this household! Young man is growing out of everything, I'm in pain from stepping on every cable and gizmo attachment known to man and under the sun that comes with electronic games kids love to leave on the floor, in the sofa, in the bathroom.... you get the picture.

Oh and Picnic is growing:

I've been knitting squares over the past couple of days - I'm still smarting from Capri. My latest book acquisition has thrown up a few possibilities

I thoroughly enjoyed knitting the Madli stole for my sister and have been looking forward to starting another one. I've narrowed my choice down to two shawls from Victorian Lace Today. I have fallen in love with this book, since viewing many of the finished articles on Ravelry. I'm going to start with a rectangle shaped shawl and hopefully progress to a hexagonal shawl. We shall see.

Maths

2008-04-10T20:14:00.005Z

I don't seem to be able to get this knitting thing right. when I work on Capri it snows, when we should be having sunshine - yet when I rush to get St. Brigid out, we have brilliant sunshine. I'm nearly finished Capri. I have the buttons to sew on. I'm not sure where my brain was at when I worked out the sizing - it's too small. No amount of pulling and blocking is going to change that. It may be Amelia's curse of the Calmer - it's hard to say. My tension seems to be okay, my skirts fit the same, so its not me!! That just leaves my marvelous mathematical calculations - something I regularly suck at.....

I've given Capri buttons - I didn't like the popper things they used. It looks lovely, it's too small!!

I finished the jitterbug socks. The young man is wearing them - he won't take them off! They are yummy. The yarn is slightly thicker than I would normally use, so they knitted material is denser - perfect.

Awww

2008-04-03T16:09:00.006Z

Look what I got in the post today:

I won a competition on Knittiotherapy's blog!! I was the 400th person to leave a comment. I'm so chuffed. Just what I needed for our newly dyed yarn - made all the more special because she was there on the day.

I'm trying to finish the jitterbug socks so that I can start on one of our home dyed yarns for the young man.

I'm on the 4th repeat of St Brigid's front. She's going slowly but surely. Yesterday, my April package came for the Mystery Blanket KAL. I realised I hadn't posted about the March squares so here they are:

I still have not sewn in the ends. Must do that soon. The house was my favourite square.

St Brigid

2008-03-28T11:23:00.003Z

I've been here before.

St B's front

All was fine until a read a posting on Ravelry. They have revamped the St Brigid KAL. The knitter wrote that the yarn (same yarn I'm using) made her hands very tired and she could only knit a couple of rows at a time. As if by suggestion, I can now only knit a few rows at a time. Before, I would knit a pattern repeat an evening. I'm starting to worry about how suggestible I am!!

Colour 'n dye

2008-03-24T13:42:00.005Z

I'm going to try not to gush, but we had a brilliant day at Sue's over the weekend. Good food, great company (Sue P, Adrienne, young man and B) and loads of colour, not to mention the four seasons within 20 minutes. We had snow, hail, rain, sunshine and gale force winds. It all added to the day in some way though.

My and young man's efforts of the day

I think the colours are very me! The maroon/aubergine ball is lace weight yarn the rest is sock weight. Top left is young man's. He very pleased with the result and wants his socks by tomorrow please. Feeling a little guilty that I've ignored Capri and St. Brigid these past few days - but it was worth it.

Capri

2008-03-21T10:08:00.003Z

I wanted something that would knit up quickly and this is doing very nicely!

I had this yarn in stash thanks to Amelia who kindly swapped with me. I got the Calmer in return for some Cotton Glace - both by Rowan. I'm hoping to finish Capri by next week. However, I'm not sure when I will get to wear her, there is no sign of Spring around here.

I've started knitting the front of St Brigid, and will post progress next week. No progress yet on Picnic, but I hope to rectify that this weekend.

2008-03-12T08:17:00.008Z

Now do you think St Brigid really has powers? Is she trying to tell me to pick her up because she has done away with Spring? And I truly need to finish her so she can keep me nice and toastie against this blustering weather? Tonight is definitely her night. I have a couple hours of peace tonight, which means I can start the front without interruption. I'm hoping once I actually get started I'll be wondering what I was fussing about and just get on with it.

I've cast on for this and this. I will post some progress shots during the week. In the mean time, I've been working on the Picnic Blanket:

I haven't been very organised about how I'm knitting Picnic. This month I want to try and knit at least 12 squares. I've done 4 so far, so I'm in site of it. Suffice to say I have lovely blue stained fingers!!

Cable and lace wrap cardigan

2008-03-09T08:47:00.013Z

We have a finished project:

It's the Cable and lace wrap cardigan by Lois Daykin. I'm just so pleased that I have at least 3 babies to knit for at the moment!!

Pattern details:

Pattern: Cable and lace wrap cardigan

By: Lois Daykin - Baby Knits

Yarn: Jeager Match maker DK

Needles: 3.25 & 4mm

Started: 11/2/2008

Finished: 8/3/2008

Comments: It was a great advantage to knit the body in one piece. No side seams to sew. I only had to sew the sleeves in. The pattern is well written and well constructed. The last line of the pattern differs from the version modelled in the book. The picture shows eyelets on the last row, but this is omitted in the pattern!! I didn't use the stated yarn, but I'm very pleased with the results. The whole thing needed good blocking.

Other knitting news

St. Brigid. I've lost my mojo. There, I've said it. When I realised I wouldn't finish her for the end of February, she lost her glow. I'm not hibernating her (thanks Ravelry). I will work on her in the back ground. I think she has lost her glow because, nearly all of my projects are in the stay-at-home-and-concentrate-stage. I have nothing that I can pick up and go with (socks don't count - I have to be in the mood) and there are only so many baby things I can knit with the excuse of them being 'in between' work!! Also, Spring is coming (please?) and of course all the new Spring/Summer projects are screaming at me. I think that if I'm working on something I really want to knit, it will give me the energy to finish St B and not look at her night after night willing myself to pick her up and feeling guilty when I don't.

My Gift

2008-03-07T08:43:00.001Z

A gift from my gift...

He is one year older, he is still my gift and miracle. He is much loved.

A butterfly is born

2008-02-28T11:38:00.005Z

Very unexpectedly, the postman delivered my March parcel for the Mystery Blanket KAL. That was the kick up the behind I needed to finish the last square for February- Butterfly:

Intarsia and I don't get on. Luckily Karin was on hand to offer support and encouragement as I waded my way through ends, tangles and beads.

So my squares so far:

March will be interesting. The blanket has a house!!

Time

2008-02-26T11:58:00.004Z

The past week has flown by in a flurry of half term activity - and hardly any knitting. We spent a good while on public transport. This was not as helpful as it could have been - most of the projects I'm working on are not portable.

St Brigid has a second sleeve

I managed to finish socks for the young man

And one side of the jitterbug socks!!

I'm not sure I'm on target to finish St. B before the end of February, but I'll give it a try!!

Beloved

2008-02-14T13:54:00.002Z

Fitting for St. Valentimes day.

I have much to feel happy about. My beloved Ecru denim finally arrived. Thank you Rowan!! Karin's gift of a years subscription to Interweave Knits arrived on my door step yesterday. Thank you Karin, and I went to a new knitting circle. A good time was had by all . Lots of knitting, talking laughing and drinking.... coffee and tea of course!!

St Brigid is resting for a couple of days whilst I play catch up on the Picnic squares. I have not really set myself a monthly quota for knitting the squares - on either blanket (Picnic and the Mystery Blanket aka In The Country) but it's been sitting for a good couple of weeks without any TLC, so I'm going to zoom along on it until the weekend.

St Brigid's back

2008-02-11T08:58:00.000Z

I finished St Brigid's back!!

Completed back

Completed back and sleeve

Beginning of second sleeve

I've started the second sleeve. It feels managable. I'm slightly worrying about the sleeve length - it looks too short. I didn't realise how much I was carrying whilst knitting up the back. I understand why it felt so slow and arduous towards the end. I want to finish her by the end of February. I have 12 balls of yarn left so I'm quietly confident that I have enough yarn to complete her.

Oh, and I've discovered the close up button on the camera. I've been dispairing about how bad some of my photo's are, especially the ones I try to take up close - they always come out blurry. I feel liberated!! A small improvement along the way on my journey towards taking moderately decent photos of my knitting projects.

P.S I seem to have lost the spell check facility - apologies if I have missed any wrong spellings!!

O' what a wonderful morning..

2008-02-07T10:09:00.000Z

The post man came today. He gave me a little package. This is what it contained:

I was feeling quite sorry for myself because I had just one project to work on (St Brigid) and quite frankly, I was'nt enjoying it (I'm on the last repeat of the back). So, as you do, I was off in fairy land thinking about all the projects I want to knit and I had a brain wave. I'm planning my next Alice Starmore project and decided to investigate what yarn I want to use. I love the Jamieson's yarn, but thought I'd see what her own yarn is like. I ordered one skein to play with last week and Mr Postie gave it to me today. I want to compare the two yarns. The yarn that came today is Hebridian 3ply. The photo does it no justice whatsoever. The greens and blues it contains are quite stunning. However, I can't find very much diffrence between the two makes of yarn. I was disappointed with the lack of information about aftercare, tension, needle size etc on the Virtual yarns ball band. you would think that the manufacturere would wnat you to love and cherish the gatrment you make woth such lovely yarn!!

I was also miserable because Rowan 43 is out and since I did'nt renew my subscription, I waiting for it come out in the shops. I've seen Karins and I quite like it. I can use up some stash yarn - always a good thing.

In the meantime, I'm nursing the ball of ecru denim Karin kindly gave me (left over from a project she knitted -thank you Karin) until the yarn arrives at my LYS - come on Rowan, please send my yarn!!! Whilst I was there, I saw these :

Marisol Hacho yarn 100% hand dyed yarn

Somehow they managed to make their way home with me; suddenly I don't feel so bad about Rowan 43......

Onwards

2008-01-31T10:12:00.001Z

I'm plodding on with St. Brigid. mmmm plodding on...... She's lovely. She's a beautiful colour. She's full of charts. They are no longer challenging, just charts. She's waning. I think this is partly becuase I'm still reliant on the charts and although I'm familiar with the intracate cables, there is no challenge. So I'm plodding.

I'm 2/3 of the way up the back

I'm still waiting for the Ecru to arrive for the Picnic Blanket so no progress there. I've conveniently left Nevis at my parents. The second sleeve is almost done. I'm trying to stay faithful to a maximum of 4 projects. Now is the time I would start a new one. I'm not going to. Just in the nick of time (i.e 5 minutes ago) my next package arrived for the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket KAL. I have 5 new squares to knit - YES!!!!!

St. Brigid

2008-01-24T09:17:00.000Z

I have started on the back of St. Brigid (only because I couldn't find the sleeve I'd started). Whilst she is not a Mary she is a challenge. It took me a while to get back into complex cabling. And I had a couple of false starts but know I'm falling back in love with her. And I love the colour!! I was a little disappointed when I first received the yarn because the colour was not what I was expecting. Now, after having had a break from it, the colour is rich and very me! Oh, and I got the charts the wrong way round. There are 3 major cabling charts and I got the end 2 which are mirror images the wrong way round - don't ask me how. They were the right way round in the beginning. Just as I was a bout to start, I had the brain wave that the 2 end charts were the wrong way round and I swapped them. I was on row 7 of 23 when I realised they were the wrong way round but decided that they would stay that way!!

Can you tell?

Nevis has a whole back and one and a half sleeves. I'm waiting for my second installment of the Debbie Abrahams Mystery Blanket KAL and I'm stalled on the Picnic Blanket. I'm waiting on the ecru. I'm going to knit in strips using the pick up method (I will pick up stitches along the cast off edge of the square just knitted) rather than knit all the squares and sew them together. This means I have to knit is sequential order. Hard to do when you don't have the yarn!! I've completed 5 squares so far:

1 of these

2 of these2 of these

We'll get there!!

Mirth

2008-01-16T16:54:00.000Z

I had almost forgotten about the tank top I started a while back. In all my excitement over blankets and Empire Lines, my other WIPs took a bit of a back seat. Mirth was finished and left with ends all over the place to fester in the corner. You can't blame me since it's extra fine 4ply yarn!!

Pattern Details

Pattern Name: Mirth
Pattern Source: Jaeger Handknits JM04
Yarn: Adriafil Genziana
Needles: 2.5 and 3 mm
Started: October 2007
Finished: January 2008
Comments: Straight forward pattern. Simply sumptuous yarn. Very soft merino wool, lovely to knit with. If I had to do it again I would make the body an inch longer. However, I plan to make this a twin set and am heart broken that my LYS no longer stocks this brand. I may just have enough to make the cardigan, or I can do a contrast on the sleeves or something.

On the UFO's front, I dusted off St. Brigid today. To my shame I had to look in my tin box of a home rather carefully to find her - she'd been laid to rest too well. I actually began to worry because I couldn't find her. So for the moment I am concentrating on Nevis and St. Brigid. I've completed my first 5 Mystery Blanket squares and I'm waiting on some denim ecru to continue the Picnic Blanket. Twilley's of Stamford in their wisdom have discontinued the denim range which left me high and dry (the fact that they did this a while ago is neither here nor there in my reckoning). Karin has very kindly given me some of her stash denim in the dark blue so I'm OK with that colour, but I have no ecru (a lesson for the future). I'm hoping that mixing different makes of denim will be OK. They all say they shrink by a fifth and have the same tension.

Empire Line Cardigan

2008-01-15T13:42:00.001Z

I'm not wearing it, but in the 2 seconds of brightness we had today, I managed to take a few more photos. This seems the best of the bunch!!

Finished Object

2008-01-09T10:06:00.000Z

Empire Line Cardigan

My first for 2008. I am glad it's finished. I will try and get a photo of me wearing it, but you can see it in all it's glory on Karin's blog. They are identical. Karin very kindly taught me the crochet pattern yesterday. We had fun and games trying to work out which side and which way up to start the pattern. Karin is right handed and I am left handed - I also have this thing about crochet - but thanks to her, I did it, well I did something. The air was very blue by the time I finished.

Details

Pattern: Empire Line Cardigan by Debbie Bliss from Alpaca Silk 2

Yarn: Debbie Bliss alpaca Silk DK

Needles: 4mm and 3mm crochet hook

Started: 3/12/07

Finished 8/1/08

Comments: Pattern was easy to follow (apart from the crochet instructions which were double dutch to me). I did not achieve the finished measurements it would have stretched out the garment too much and completely obliterated any texture in the cables - this is evident in the pictures in the book, they are not easily seen. After all that hard work I am not going to iron them out. I am very happy with the texture and drape. The yarn did not cable very well, it is loosely wrapped and tended to split when knitting; adding to the fuzziness of the yarn. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just irritating. The pattern called for 15 balls, I used 12.

Uncrochet edge

The crocheted edge

It's beautiful

I've started both the Debbie Abraham's Blankets

Picnic

???

I'll show my progress on a monthly basis with both blankets. For now it's back to Nevis and St. Brigid!!

New Year's Wish List

2008-01-02T12:04:00.000Z

I try not to make New Year's resolutions - when you look back and realise many of them have not come to pass, it can be quite demoralising. On the other hand if you look back and see how much you have achieved, its good. Which is why I have a wish list instead. There's no pressure, but it would be nice if I could - if you know what I mean. I'm more in favour of what's achievable than what is impossible, so my knitting wishes this year are:

1. Control of stash yarn. I'm going to adopt the 2 out 1 in rule.

2. Log & organise stash yarn. I started this last year and never finished. Must do this!!

3. No more than 4 wip's at a time. Home, travel, small & a long term thingy.

4. Teach more people to knit.

5. Finish St. Brigid

I think these are achievable.

Knitting News

I am very excited. I've joined the Debbie Abraham's Mystery Blanket KAL. I'm waiting for my first package. I'm in good company. Dawn and Karin are also involved and I hope to discover who else in due course. There is a KAL group on Ravelry. Along side this project I'm going to start one other blanket/throw to use up stash yarn. I'm going to use it as a basis and may stray from the path from time to time. The blanket will be based on picnic from Debbie Abraham's first Blankets and Throws book. This one will be for the young man. The idea being lots of yarn will be used up along the way but on a long term basis and in a fun manageable way.

I didn't mange to finish the Empire Line Cardigan over the holidays as I'd wished. I've started the sleeve. If I have no interruptions I'll finish it by the end of the week - hopefully.

I did mange to finish this:

The Hooded Jacket by Debbie Bliss

Happy New Year

2008-01-01T21:13:00.000Z

We wish a HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone in blogland.

Knit long and prosperously!!

As you can see a good time has been had by all.

Must stay focussed....

2007-12-19T09:32:00.000Z

I've finished the first front on the Empire Line Cardigan. The whole thing is looking stumpy but beautiful. Karin's has blocked her back - it was niggling both of us if a transformation was possible and I am so relieved that it worked and stumpy will transform (or transmute) into a stunning wispy lacy creature. I find it quite hard going to start the pieces and venture back into cables next to Yarn round needles. It does not matter whether you use the cable needle or non cable needle method, either way it's fiddly trying to cable. It also does not matter if you are at the beginning of the work or well into it. The only incentive is the decreasing for the yoke shaping when you ditch the yarn round needle for a simple reverse stocking stitch..... I've not been able to work on this since the weekend but intend to pick up the slack today - the ability to breath permitting!!

Finally the colour is true!!

However..... the distractions are strong:

The hooded jacket is almost finished. I LOVE THIS BOOK. There are many projects awaiting and calling to me!

It's amazing what you can achieve when you're being poked and prodded and used for dart board practice!!

The cream project is a sleeveless top from Baby Knits by Lois Daykin This is a fantastic book. Can you tell I'm still a wee bit broody?

Getting there

2007-12-13T09:21:00.000Z

What do you do with a computer you've had repaired twice - equalling the cost of a new computer - when it goes la la on you yet again? We like the January sales!

I've started the left front of the empire line cardigan. My aim is to finish it by the weekend. Karin's blog has a better representationof the colour.

But I have a little distraction

I'm apportioning blame to Karin. She kindly (wickedly) lent me her copy of the Debbie Bliss Simply Baby book. What can I say - apart from what a great stash buster book!! However I must stay focused on my other projects...... Oh and then I went and got this and fell in love with this after seeing it in the flesh at John Lewis. Should I bother trying to curb my enthusiasm?

Hitch

2007-12-12T18:16:00.000Z

You all know I'm rubbish when it comes to anything remotely techie - like computers. So you know its a major panic when I can't get online and the computer crashes!! I seem to be back in the land of all that is cyber, minus a few files that should keep me sane. Bare with me while I sort out my hard drive from my warp drive....

Knitting News
I've finished the back of the Empire Line Cardigan - my nick name for it is stumpy. It's going to need a good deal of blocking to look anything like the published article - I'm enjoying it though and the yarn is scrummy and soft and squidgy. Check out Karin's blog for picture update. While you're there check out her fab Viola by Louisa Harding.

I've started knitting a few gifts, wristers, wash cloths and hats. I'll post some pictures soon.

New Project

2007-12-05T22:22:00.000Z

We have a new project!!

It's the Empire Line Cardigan from the Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk 2 book

And I'm doing it as a mini KAL with Karin.

It was a bit nerve racking to begin with but I have settled into a rhythm. I realise that this beauty is going to need some serious blocking. The lace pattern is looking very stumpy at the moment!!

The picture above is a better representation of the colour I'm working in (also the same as Karin) but it is still a bit more vibrant than shown.

Quick step

2007-12-03T12:28:00.000Z

It has been quite uplifting finishing the coat. I'm looking at a few of my WIP's with renewed determination (well at least for today!!). I'm going to keep it real though, so I have compiled a new mini 'to complete' list:

Mirth - just the sleeve edgings to complete
St. Brigid - must get a move on. Will complete for January
Nevis - my travelling project

Obviously, this does not stop me from starting new projects, there may be one or two in the offing........

Mirth: Neckline completed so I'm nearly finished

Sandia Caped Coat

2007-12-01T14:23:00.001Z

I have finished my coat. It's no longer a caped coat - but it is a cosy warm fit for purpose coat nonetheless. Everything was fine until I got to the collar. The instructions did not make complete sense to me. I could not understand how the two halves would fit together. I did follow the instructions to the tee. I lovingly and painstakingly attached all the seams using the 3 needle cast off - without any puckering I might add. I digress here but wish to make a very important point - if anyone tells you that you have too many needles, explain the concept of the 3 needle cast off to them!! When everything was sewn together it looked great. Then I tried it on. I had tried on the coat without the collar and knew the shoulders and neck line were in the right place and the shape of the coat flattering as I'd hoped. The collar would not turn down to form a caped shape - I wanted to cry - it was the whole reason for knitting the coat. Each time I put the collar in place it flipped up around my neck like a shawl collar. And then the light went off in my head. Why did I want the coat in the first place? So I didn't freeze on the side lines of the rugby pitch. And what would make me feel nice and cosy? A collar wrapped about my neck and ears!! So although it does not look like the picture in the nice book it is toasty warm and will serve me well and I love it!!

Sandia Caped Coat Project Details:

Pattern Source: Simply Shetland 3

Yarn used: Debbie Bliss Merino Aran - Yarn used double throughout

Needles: 6mm Susan Bates Circulars

Started: 16 October 2007

Finished: 30 November 2007

Comments: Apart from the dodgy collar which I think may be down to the breadth of my shoulders and my overall larger frame than the actual pattern - it was a relatively quick knit and is very sumptuous when worn. The 3 needle cast off method of joining seams is very neat and decorative. I will definitely use it again.

This is all I had left!!

During the intermission...

2007-11-27T21:32:00.000Z

The Sandia Caped Coat is almost done. I'm working on the piped edging which feels a bit like walking in mud uphill. In the mean time, for light relief I thought I'd work on a few little bits and pieces. Below is the Tweed Beret from Interweave Knits winter 2006.

Of course with me, things don't always go as easy as pie. Somewhere along the line I have made a fatal error. The beret is huge where it shouldn't be - along the rim. So while I'm crying into my knitting, I'd like to draw your attention to the stitch markers. They were made by Sue. What can I say, she's the beez kneez!!

The mind is willing but.......

2007-11-22T14:13:00.000Z

... the fingers can't knit fast enough!!

I would liked to have shown you a completed Sandia Caped Coat, but alas she gives trouble - well sort of. I didn't use the stated yarn and have doubled up on stash yarn. And have duly run out. My calculations were obviously a little off. As a result I am using creative craftiness to overcome my yarn shortage.

This what is left to complete the collar and the piping around the edges - not a chance!

The collar forms part of the front of the coat so I'm hoping the blended colours won't be too stark a contrast.

This is what was left of one of the cones when I finished the first half of the collar.

Hopefully I can squeeze what I need from the remaining cone.

As this project is coming to an end, I have started 2 new projects,

this

I managed to convince the young man that Nevis was very manly and he has fallen for the (and I quote) 'Dracula collar'!!

and this.

For me - I have (rather stupidly) been scouring the shops for woolen coats and not seen any I really liked or that would be warm enough. I've always shied away from knitting a whole coat because I thought it would take too long... I'll try anything once!

Juliet

2007-11-14T12:09:00.001Z

A finished object - Juliet

Pattern details

Pattern source: Rialto book by Debbie Bliss

Yarn: James Brett Pure Merino DK in Black

Needles: 3.75 and 4mm

Started: August 2007

Finished: November 2007

Comments: Simple and very effective. The mindless garter stitch was worth it in the end.

Unfortunately I can't do Juliet justice photographically and black is hard to photograph as well. I was not sure about the shape of the garment at first but it has grown on me (in the space of half an hour!!) and I can see this will be in frequent use.

The photo below is for Rebbeca - now you see why I can't wear hats!!

Ploughing through

2007-11-11T17:33:00.000Z

I'm at that stage in most of the working projects where there's not much to show that is interesting or fascinating. Karin won't see me struggling along the road with my 2 cones of yarn - the caped jacket is too bulky to take out as a knitting project on the go. The sleeve is knitted onto the armhole - i.e. you pick up stitches along the armhole and knit from shoulder to wrist. I've almost completed the first sleeve and hope to start the second tonight. It's keeping me warm as I knit it, all gathered in my lap.

stitches picked up along armhole to make sleeve

Mirth, the tank top is plodding along. Switching from 6mm to 3mm needles on the different projects makes the tank feel like walking in wet sand - lots of effort and little results. I'm about a third of the way up on the front having completed the back. The longed for roll neck may well become a crew neck. My dreams of the perfect twin set are fast evaporating. But there is a small part of me determined to persevere and strike a pose for 4ply twin sets!!

As I sit and type away, Juliet is looking at me wanting to know why I haven't sewn her up yet.........

A finished object

2007-11-07T07:43:00.000Z

Not one of my predictions but this one will do...

Modelled by young man

Pattern details

Pattern: Zipped jacket

Source: Special family knits by Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in Navy and turquoise blue(s)

Needles: 3.25 and 4.00mm

Began: September 2007

Finished: October 2007

Comments: Simple classic design updated for today. Simple pattern. Lovely to knit. I thought I would have to alter the pattern, but did not. I have given young man some growing space (not much now I've seen it on him). He loves it and is virtually living in it. I would recommend the book. It's lovely and covers many different yarns - most of them are cotton based which is a bonus for me!!

I will try and get some more pictures but someone is camera shy at the moment!

Sometimes........

2007-10-29T11:59:00.001Z

I forget I live a stones' throw from here

and here

with a gorgeous young man who is recovering after survival camp. He returned wondering why I had not packed any deodorant . Survival camp? Deodorant? mmm.....

Not much to show on the knitting front. I've finished the back and left front of the caped coat. The shape is looking good and I got a boost from finishing the back - it being the largest piece. I can't say the same for Mirth - the tank top. I've finished the back . Working on 3mm needles it seems to be taking for ever. I hope to have one of them finished by the weekend.

The back piece of the caped coat

Must moss stitch.......

2007-10-20T10:49:00.000Z

As a diversion from endless stocking stitch on 3mm needles I thought I would knit myself a quickish winter jacket for the freezing rugby season. The endless stocking stitch belongs to Mirth, my new project.

I did not realise how difficult it would be to choose a jacket. I knew it had to be warm and something that I will feel cosy in and if necessary wrap around me at the same time not making me look like the Michelin man. The possibility that the garment may have to be lined if a chose a wool mix type yarn also had to be factored into the mix. My initial choice was this. But it has yarnovers in the pattern for a lace effect. I swatched and tried to work them out of the pattern but it was out of balance and looked awful. I spent two nights not knitting and pulling books from shelves (that reminds me, I must put them back at some point) to find "the one". it became a crusade. I ended up visiting two shops that had a good stock of knitting books - all to no avail. Then I found this - endless moss stitch!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it works out.....

And for something cute and cuddly......

This is Ruby. She is about 12 weeks old. I persuaded my neighbour to rescue Ruby and her brother TC. They are lovely even if I can only love them from a distance!!

Century

2007-10-17T07:37:00.000Z

My last post featuring Madli's Shawl was my 100th post. To commemorate this, I thought I would convert to the new Blogger and update my blog page. Hope you like it. Please let me know if there are any difficulties. This change has been designed to make life easier..... I hope.

Madli's Shawl

2007-10-13T09:13:00.000Z

She's done in the nick of time!!

Madli's Shawl

Pattern Source: Interweave knits summer 2004

Started: February 2007

Finished: 13 October 2007

Yarn Used: Jamiesons of Shetland Sprindrift

Needles: 4mm addi turbos

Comments: I was quite daunted by the project initially, and put it up for months. I got it out 2 weeks ago and we just clicked together and off I went. Blocking was a challenge!! There is straight and then there's straight. Kitchener grafting - I defiantly need an idiots tutorial for it. I made the stole without the nupps I used a thicker weight yarn than specified and didn't think they would look good - nothing to do with the fact that I hate bobbles.....

The sun finally came out and I took some marvelous (for me!!) shots of the stole. I downloaded and dutifully filed them.... then lost them. I've taken some more above but as always I could not recapture what i had previously done!!

Waiting...

2007-10-12T12:27:00.001Z

For Madli's Shawl to dry

..... and for the sun to come out!!!!

Final leg

2007-10-11T19:24:00.000Z

Thanks to Polly's straight forward no nonsense instructions, I have blocked my first shawl! I finally finished the end border for Madli's shawl and in a fashion, grafted it onto the main piece. I say in a fashion, because I referred to 3 books for instructions on how to graft using the Kitchener method and still didn't understand how to sew up and down through the live stitches. I think what I have done works.

I will find out once the shawl is dry and unpinned. I would have taken some photo's of the completed shawl, unblocked but it didn't look terribly inspiring and today we had a very foggy dull morning. I took the opportunity to go for a walk rather than taking the bus and was pleasantly fascinated by what I found. It made sense to walk - the bus timetable would have been up the creek due to the fog and the worst thing you can do on a cold damp morning is wait for a bus for ages and ages. I saw the most amazing spider webs. They were everywhere. Every branch, bough and bush was covered in them. They were exaggerated by the dew and the fog and not a spider was in sight. I was fascinated by the variety of shapes, dimensions and sizes. There is no such thing as a bog standard spider web!!

Don't you just love autumnal colours?

Nearly...

2007-10-11T05:43:00.000Z

I'm playing catch up at the moment. The last couple of weeks I've been getting back into the swing of term time proper. The weekends have been filled with scouts activities and rugby matches!!

Nearly finished Madli's shawl, nearly finished the Zipped Cardigan for young man and nearly finished Juliet. I have half of the last border to knit and graft on to the main piece of Madli's shawl. Did it sound as though I know what I'm talking about? I have to graft Kitchener style - mmmm. I'll be doing some swatting up before I attempt it. Then I have the blocking to do. I'm hoping something magical is going to happen when it's wet because I can't see how it will meet the measurements!! The Zipped Cardigan is waiting to be sewn up and all the ends sewn in as is Juliet. All of this means I have no finished objects to show at the moment. So I leave you with these:

The first border and the main body of Madli's Shawl

For the squeamish, you caught fish wearing gloves at a recent Cubadoo

Or bare handed for the brave!

I won't tell you how many kind cubs brought me their cooked sardines. It was quite funny really. They were happy to catch them and cook them over a camp fire, but would not eat them!! I hope I've given my brain cells a real boost. they could do with it about now.

Young man last weekend

Big sigh

2007-09-28T08:59:00.001Z

I've been beavering away on young mans Zipped Cardigan. I'm making good progress, nearly finished the first sleeve and the fronts and back are completed. Its all done by rows and side decreasing, its all stocking stitch. So what could go wrong?

ooh, about 10 rows worth of wrong!! I've no idea where I've gone wrong or which side is wrong.... does this mean I have to rip back both sides to the armhole shaping? I hope not. I will go through row by row on each side counting the decreases and the rows in-beween and see if I cant work it out that way. Time to start another 'simple' pattern!!

Meanwhile, I'm back at college beginning another course:

Are you feeling Autumn?

Sometimes simple is best

2007-09-28T08:37:00.000Z

There's nothing better than a nice simple pattern to raise your spirits. This is one of my knit along projects. I knit it along side the more challenging projects to give my brain a rest.

Moss stitch denim jacket

Pattern details:

Pattern source: The Celtic collection by Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Elle Denim, 5 balls

Needles: 3.25 mm and 4mm needles

Started: May 2007

Finished: August 2007

Amendments: I did not knit the pockets.

Comments: I used Elle denim yarn instead of the stated Rowan because it was in stash. The Elle yarn is noticeably softer than Rowan, but does not shrink as much. The finished product is much softer but not as sturdy feeling as the Rowan - having said that it's a difficult call to make as to which would be more suitable for a baby or young child. You want the softness because their skin is delicate, but you also want the sturdiness because the garment is likely to see much washing during its lifetime!! Pattern wise, very straight forward and easy to follow and no errors.

A finished object

2007-09-16T11:55:00.000Z

Wavey

There are strands of yarn at the sides seams. (They are not stray ends!!)

As you can see here

My colours
Contrast sleeve
Detail of lace pattern on sleeves

Details

Pattern: My own

Yarn: Louisa Harding 'Sari Ribbon Pure'

Louisa Harding 'Thalia'

Sirdar Organza

Needle size: 12mm, 8mm, 7mm

Started: 6/9/07

Finished: 10/9/07

Comments: This garment was a college project requiring man made fibres. The finished garment looks lovely and is very wavy and floaty hence the strands of yarn at the sides to add to the floaty feel. All of the yarns were ribbon in type and varied in thickness. They all tended to get stuck on the tips of the knitting needles no matter how many times I changed to more round ended needles! The The Organza and the Sari ribbon stripped my hands of moisture and skin.

Julia is almost finished. I hope the good weather stays long enough for me to get a decent photo. I've started this for my young man.

If it's clear enough you can also see a sleeve for Julia

It's the Zipped Jacket from the Debbie Bliss Special Family Knits book . It's a lovely book. As is her Rialto book - where the pattern for Julia comes from. I want to knit all of the patterns from it!! I liked it so much I sent a copy to my sister in Ireland. I think she is doing better than me and is on her second garment.

Young man, formerly known as number one son, has settled down into new school routine and is in honeymoon period at school. He's up and out bright and early and not one bit of moaning along the way. He's now my young man because he looks so different in a school blazer - all suited and booted as it were - and a rucksack that is bigger then he is!! I wanted to knit Nevis for him but he said it's too girly. I bought some Tapestry early this year for a college project that didn't work. I think it was the kilt that put him off.......

Stripey

2007-09-06T17:09:00.000Z

I'm just a sucker for a cute baby!!

Did I mention it has a hood?

And the cutest buttons?

Pattern: Hooded Stripe Top (middle size)

Book: Baby Cashmerino Book One

Designer: Debbie Bliss

Yarn: Baby Cashmerino 2 balls each in Pink and white

Started: July 2007

Finished: August 2007

Comments: Lovely pattern easy to follow and I love the yarn!!

Hanging in there

2007-08-30T10:27:00.000Z

I can totally empathise with Amelia. I'm in a bit of a knitting funk. Definitely pointless trying to take photos at the moment. Juliet is coming along but I can't show you because the project is in black and I still have not replaced the camera. I've completed all that endless mindless garter stitch. I've divided for the fronts and backs and completed one side of the front. The cell phone camera is doing the job, but alas not to my satisfaction. I feel as though I'm plodding along out of duty at the moment. I can't seem to find the enthusiasm to pick up any of the other projects too. I think I may know part of the cause:

Number one son does not want mum to knit his school jumper. I'm devastated!! This is when you know your child is on the slippery road to growing up (Am I being too much of a drama queen???)

I've been sewing in name tags to his new uniform (in the most inconspicuous of places of course) and I won't start on the craziness of uniform hunting - and it almost feels like I've regressed to his very first day at school. He's not around at the moment - I've had 2 weeks of my own space - you would think I'd be knitting away, but no - it's probably a good thing, he'd be huffing and puffing telling me it's no biggy, he's only changing schools. I feel quite stupid. For me he's at a life changing moment in his life and I want to scream and shout this to him. I want to tell him that in years to come he will be looking back to this time. I want to tell him to make the most of it , to revel in his youth and innocence, to hop skip and jump (and stay off the twiddly games) because this time will go in a blink. I want to give him tons and tons of hugs and kisses and beg him to stay small and not grow up. Instead I'll carry on sewing in name tags and get ready to rant at him on his return at the state of his bedroom.

Definitely need to work off this energy at the allotment!!

Rewind

2007-08-21T09:15:00.000Z

In my last post I boldly declared my joy at reaching sleeve level on 2 of the projects I'm working on, Faye and my own design - well I'm still there! Both use 4 ply cotton and I'm suddenly finding both yarns hard going, in other words my sleeves are not growing - period. What better justification to start a new project. Not any new project, but a project in the colour (or not) black. And if memory serves me right, I did declare on this blog, never again to work in black after completing 3 of 4 projects working in black. The project is gorgeous however, and the hard work slogging away in a pattern I can barely see will be worthwhile. Its Juliet from the Debbie Bliss Rialto book. The fronts and the back are worked as one piece - endless garter stitch (nearly 250 stitches worth of the stuff!). I'm still using the camera on my cell phone so I'm not even going to attempt to take a photo of a sea of pitch black - not in our glorious grey summer weather. I'm not complaining for once about the weather, the heaviness is keeping my allergies in check and affording me some greatly needed relief.......

The summer holidays are ploughing ahead. Our days have been filled taking measurements and fittings for a new school uniform. As the day fast approaches, I see the growing apprehension and excitement in number one son as he prepares himself for his new school. I see the emotions changing in him on a daily basis as he looks forward to his first day. My heart goes out to him because he has left a very small school and will be starting (in my humble opinion) a huge school. It does feel like the very first day of school all over again. As I write this, I wonder whose apprehension I am writing about - mine or his....... He does look handsome though!!

Congratulations to Nicki and Andy on the birth of their son Peter Tybalt Walker last week!!

Congratulations to Mike and Gerry on their third wedding anniversary today.