Keeping me warm on today's trip to the beautiful city of york
Monday 28 December 2009
Sunday 27 December 2009
Thursday 24 December 2009
In which I nearly complete two items in one day
The 23rd of December was a good day for me, knitting-wise. I finished work at midday, and with that sudddenly realised exactly how close Christmas really is. This spurred me on to complete Simon's annual Christmas scarf - this year the Textured Ascot from Jane Davis' 2005 book "Knit Ponchos, Wraps and Scarves", which was a Christmas present from my mother a few years ago. The yarn, Jarol Heritage DK in coffee, is left over from my favourite FO from 2009 - Anna Bell's Bridie - and the scarf took just over 100g. You will see a photo if you scroll down.
I had a long evening in waiting for Simon to get home from Yorkshire, and whiled away the hours making progress on the Back to School U-Neck Vest from Stephanie Japel's "Fitted Knits", knitted in Wensleydale Woolshop's Longwool Aran in teal - a gratefully received birthday gift from the Guilty Knitters. The yarn is wonderful - light, warm and lustrous, but the pattern was not so wonderful. I am an experienced seamless knitter, and accustomed to Steph Japel's patterns, so I was surprised to find myself having lots of problems with stitch counts throughout this. I logged on to Ravelry to discover that not only does the original book have errors, but there are errors in the errata for this pattern. I winged it in the end, and also accidentally freestyled my own textured version of the waffle stitch pattern that makes up the body, and I'm pretty happy with the outcome - just the edgings to do around the neck and armholes. Again, you will see a photo if you scan down.
OTK currently - well I am being quite restrained, but I do have three projects on the needles I am now thinking better of - the Versailles shawl (love the pattern, not so sure now about my yarn choice), Catherine Tough's Panelled Baby Blanket (will probably get finished for a gift next year), and a second go at Popknits' Footlights Cardigan (I think I've already gone wrong, and will probably have to rip it out).
My plan is to hibernate the baby blanket until the intended baby is closer to being born, to rip out Footlights, and...perhaps...finish the Versailles shawl before new year. This will mean starting the new year (almost) completely afresh.
What a lovely thing to contemplate!
I had a long evening in waiting for Simon to get home from Yorkshire, and whiled away the hours making progress on the Back to School U-Neck Vest from Stephanie Japel's "Fitted Knits", knitted in Wensleydale Woolshop's Longwool Aran in teal - a gratefully received birthday gift from the Guilty Knitters. The yarn is wonderful - light, warm and lustrous, but the pattern was not so wonderful. I am an experienced seamless knitter, and accustomed to Steph Japel's patterns, so I was surprised to find myself having lots of problems with stitch counts throughout this. I logged on to Ravelry to discover that not only does the original book have errors, but there are errors in the errata for this pattern. I winged it in the end, and also accidentally freestyled my own textured version of the waffle stitch pattern that makes up the body, and I'm pretty happy with the outcome - just the edgings to do around the neck and armholes. Again, you will see a photo if you scan down.
OTK currently - well I am being quite restrained, but I do have three projects on the needles I am now thinking better of - the Versailles shawl (love the pattern, not so sure now about my yarn choice), Catherine Tough's Panelled Baby Blanket (will probably get finished for a gift next year), and a second go at Popknits' Footlights Cardigan (I think I've already gone wrong, and will probably have to rip it out).
My plan is to hibernate the baby blanket until the intended baby is closer to being born, to rip out Footlights, and...perhaps...finish the Versailles shawl before new year. This will mean starting the new year (almost) completely afresh.
What a lovely thing to contemplate!
Thursday 12 November 2009
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Dark photos and OTK
Below is a very dark and difficult-to-see photo of Grace, from a very old edition of Knitty. It was knit in Rowan Kidsilk Haze, and came out way too short in the body for me (I am tall and seem to have a freakishly long torso as I always have to lengthen patterns - I made the mistake of not lengthening this one!). Kidsilk Haze is not easy to rip, and it looked very beautiful, so I gifted it to Linda, who is very petite, and it looked lovely on her when we met recently for dinner. I will try for a better photo next time!
OTK: Top Secret - worked on that all weekend! Intoxicating got picked up again, and discarded again; my yarn choice is just not right so it is going to the frog pond. The Versielles shawl from Knit Magazine, Issue 2 is my train knitting, and I might just cast on another Footlights (from Popknits, Issue 1) tonight - my last attempt was too roomy and gifted to Julia after sitting in my closet for a year.
OTK: Top Secret - worked on that all weekend! Intoxicating got picked up again, and discarded again; my yarn choice is just not right so it is going to the frog pond. The Versielles shawl from Knit Magazine, Issue 2 is my train knitting, and I might just cast on another Footlights (from Popknits, Issue 1) tonight - my last attempt was too roomy and gifted to Julia after sitting in my closet for a year.
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Sunday 6 September 2009
Sunday Secrets
Sunday is knitting group day for me, and at present on Sundays I am working on a secret project, and actually I have very little else on the needles. However, I have started a non-secret project - a cardigan, in some Rowan Little Big Wool. I cast on top down, and completed about 2" of moss stitch, and have commenced the sleeves/body with yarn over raglan increases in stocking stitch. After I break for the sleeves, I'll do some kind of all over lace leaf stitch for the rest of the body under the arms. The sleeves will be stocking stitch, and the borders in moss stitch.
It is not progressing very quickly though as I can't put my mind to anything much at the moment; to many other things to think about, like home, and family. Hopefully I will feel clearer in a couple of weeks.
See below for a piccie of progress so far on the Little Big Wool Cardigan.
It is not progressing very quickly though as I can't put my mind to anything much at the moment; to many other things to think about, like home, and family. Hopefully I will feel clearer in a couple of weeks.
See below for a piccie of progress so far on the Little Big Wool Cardigan.
Saturday 5 September 2009
Two Thrift Projects - About
Last Monday was a deliscious Bank Holiday here in the UK, and I found myself with a whole day to pass. Of course, I could have done some housework, or caught up with friends I hadn't seen for a while, or caught up on some work, but instead I knitted and sewed two projects out of materials I had:
Project One: A Lovely Old Lady Bag from Eithne Farry's book "Yeah I Made It Myself", made from a vintage curtain which had been left in the cellar of our house, found when we moved in. The bag handles are from John Lewis, and I bought them a long time ago with the aim of making this bag. The bag is lined with hot pink satin, from a market haberdashery stall, and again lying around in my fabric/yarn cupboard. The brooch is from Topshop and again was lying around on my dressing table.
Project Two: Inspired by the Trangular Garter Stitch Shawl from "Knit: Handmade Style".
This shawl/scarf is made from odds and ends of jewel-toned yarns in my stash, mostly leftovers from other projects. It includes some Debbie Bliss Cathay, two different Louisa Harding yarns (sari silk and another one, unknown type), some Jaeger Pure Silk, Noro Cash Iro, Patons Washed Haze and Cargo, and Rowan Scottish Tweed. This mix makes it feel luxurious and soft - and although slightly unsure about it after finishing it I wore it shopping in the high street today and felt great in it. It was very, very therapeutic to knit, watching the colours change as the simplicity of the garter stitch induced an almost trance like state.
More blogging soon - there are projects finished to blog about, and in the pipeline.
Project One: A Lovely Old Lady Bag from Eithne Farry's book "Yeah I Made It Myself", made from a vintage curtain which had been left in the cellar of our house, found when we moved in. The bag handles are from John Lewis, and I bought them a long time ago with the aim of making this bag. The bag is lined with hot pink satin, from a market haberdashery stall, and again lying around in my fabric/yarn cupboard. The brooch is from Topshop and again was lying around on my dressing table.
Project Two: Inspired by the Trangular Garter Stitch Shawl from "Knit: Handmade Style".
This shawl/scarf is made from odds and ends of jewel-toned yarns in my stash, mostly leftovers from other projects. It includes some Debbie Bliss Cathay, two different Louisa Harding yarns (sari silk and another one, unknown type), some Jaeger Pure Silk, Noro Cash Iro, Patons Washed Haze and Cargo, and Rowan Scottish Tweed. This mix makes it feel luxurious and soft - and although slightly unsure about it after finishing it I wore it shopping in the high street today and felt great in it. It was very, very therapeutic to knit, watching the colours change as the simplicity of the garter stitch induced an almost trance like state.
More blogging soon - there are projects finished to blog about, and in the pipeline.
Saturday 18 July 2009
Saturday 25 April 2009
Saturday 31 January 2009
Saturday 10 January 2009
Thursday 8 January 2009
Friday 2 January 2009
Never Again
Seams - my nemesis. I finished the Jo Sharp's Quick Knit Jacket a couple of weeks ago, and have now had several abortive attempts to sew it up. I don't think I've actually sewn up anything in reverse stocking stitch before, as I rarely sew seams anyway. I just can't get those seams to sit flat and look good. They look awful, and totally ruin the rather nice garment. I'm also regretting using cheap yarn. It is too cheap even to bother frogging. I don't think I'm ever going to do those seams though, so at the moment the Quick Knit Jacket is sitting in my yarn room (yes, a whole room) in a plastic bag, just about avoiding the bin, but maybe not for much longer.
Thursday 1 January 2009
Footlights and a Happy New Year
A happy 2009 to all! Footlights is progressing at surprising speed, considering the 4 ply guage, and there are two piccies below. I have been enjoying this knit for several reasons - it's a welcome return to top down knitting (oh how I've missed it!), and has introduced me to a new skill - top down raglan with a stitch pattern incorporated, and as always with a stitch pattern, it is not boring. I am hoping this bright red cropped cardigan will go with a black and white spotted dress I picked up in the autumn sales.
The Footlights cardigan is a free pattern and can be found at:
http://www.popknits.com/index.php/patterns/page/footlights_cardigan/
The Footlights cardigan is a free pattern and can be found at:
http://www.popknits.com/index.php/patterns/page/footlights_cardigan/
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