Monday, December 31, 2007

Last FO for the year!

Rosedale United is done. The last finished project for 2007.

I went with the rolled neck after all, I just didn't decrease as many stitches as before and I am much happier with it than I was yesterday.
It is looking even better now that it has had a bath and is now snoozing on the trampoline, waiting for the cats to keep it company while it dries.


Yarn: Noro Kureyon col148 - 10 balls
Needles: 5mm Addis
Modifications:
I made this longer; almost 20cms longer. I seem to need to make most patterns longer, but lately it seems that every jumper I make I am adding more and more centimetres to each garment.
I skipped the intarsia rectangle as I felt with all the colours this jumper is busy enough.
I also decreased about 20 stitches less than what the pattern stated for the neck band.
Notes:
I really wasn't too sure whether I was liking this very much while I was making it due to there being a lot more baby pooh brown in the mix than I had counted on. It wasn't until I had knit the sleeves and the body, joined them and started decreasing for the yoke that it all started coming together and the colours seemed to fit in a way I could live with.
Now I am looking forward to the weather cooling down and this being a very warm, cheery jumper on a cold grey day.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

UGH!!!

Casting off too tightly really takes away the excitement of almost finishing something.

Rosedale United is fighting me with it's neckline.

First try - followed pattern, neck too small for my cat let alone me.

Second try - tried more stitches and ribbing instead of rolled edge and managed to cast off too tightly.

Third try - redid cast off. Neck is still a tad tight and I'm not happy with how it sits or looks.


I may go back to rolled edge but with more stitches

............ tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Happy Holidays

I am hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your holidays as much as I am.

Christmas Day was spent at the beach with a picnic lunch.
Eat when you want, doze when you want.
Walk along the waters edge when you want and of course chatter and catch up.

My family is one of those which seems to be not only spread out all over the place, but also have family members who work during the holidays, so we have several smaller gatherings and it can take weeks to catch up with everyone.
The benefit......... Christmas lasts for weeks :)



Also benefitting from the holidays is my knitting.



Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks.
Yarn: Hot Socks Lincraft Brand
Needle: 2.5 mm
Notes:
I cast on 72 stitches and fudged the ribs a bit. There was no way the original stitch count was ever going to fit.
I also used my standard toe as by the time I got back to these I had forgotten I was supposed to be following a pattern.








A gifted Gretel and a very happy Nannna.



My Nero project has grown.

Rosedale United from Knitty.

The body is done, the sleeves are done. I just need to join them together and keep knitting.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Gretel


Gretel is done and I love it. Pretty, pink and poofy, just how it is meant to be.


Miss B is still in her 'refuse to model hats' mode so I will have to wait till this is gifted to get a better pic.
Yarn: Cleckheaton Angora Supreme (Discontinued) 1.5 balls.
Needles: 3.75mm and 4.5mm
I followed the pattern as written, apart from the few times I became distracted or interrupted which required fixing.
This yarn also sheds fluff which somehow ends up in your mouth when knitting. I don't remember the purple I used to make Wicked doing this, maybe it's just the pink
It is very warm and really shouldn't be knit on a 33 degree (celcius) day.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Hats

I am really looking forward to making things for those of you who are participating in Pay It Forward.
I think I am just as excited to see what you come up with for your giftees.
So many choices to make; patterns, yarn and colours.


Miss B could not be bribed into modelling hats today (or any time in the last week) so I'm sorry, you get flat hats on a table pics.






These beanies are going to family in Canberra.

Yarn: Cleckheaton Country 12 ply
Needles: 5mm
Size: Hopefully one that fits; it's hard to measure peoples heads when they live hours away.

Seeing as these were cast off I decided to ignore all other WIP's and cast on for Gretel.

I am taking Miss B's advice...... we don't need those jumpers finished until winter....
Shush about taking advice from a teenager when it suits me.

I am loving the prettiness of this and will shut up about having just stuffed up half of the last row by twisting the wrong way in the wrong place.
Just when I was thinking I knew what I was doing.........




Time for a cup of tea, some chocolate and some fixing.........

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Pay it forward

I saw this on Chris's blog.

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange.

I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

Flitting all over the place

I have spent a ridiculous amount of time just staring off into space and wondering why we are here.

Why do some people die early and others seem to live forever?

Do each of us really have something we are meant to achieve in this lifetime?

If so, what is it?



Losing someone close also makes you look a little more closely at your own life.

Am I living in a way that makes me happy?

Am I really focusing on the goals that matter?

Do I still want what I previously wanted?

What do I want the most?


All of this in an attempt to deny the reality of just how little control we have in our lives and how much it scares me.

Luckily I can control yarn and needles.

The back of miss B's BlackBlackBlack Jumper



A Blue sock in Patonyle.


A Sleeve in Noro.




And Crochet.

Inspired by the dishclothes I saw over at Brainylady's I decided to give these a go.

Shush about the fact that mine came out as a long rectangle. I just kept going till the ball of cotton ran out.

And Thankyou to those of you who left messages or e mailed. It means a lot.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Lost

I received a call last night, letting me know that a friend had passed away.

I only spoke to them the other day, arranged to catch up and now they are gone.

It just doesn't seem possible.

I am going to play with some yarn and try not to feel so lost.

A Meme

For Kate

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night.

Troy. His interpretations and explanations are certainly unique.


2. What were you doing at 0800?

Thinking about what I need to do today and comparing it to what I am going to do.


3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?

Making myself a cup of tea


4. What happened to you in 2006?

I graduated from Certificate IV in Women's Studies.

I shared some writing at the graduation ceremony and made a speach. I still have trouble believing I did that as I hate public speaking and sharing anything that isn't knitting.

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?

I don't think I have spoken yet today. Last night it would have been something like, "Move over Kit".

6. How many beverages did you have today?

2 cups of tea

7. What colour is your hairbrush?

Black

8. What was the last thing you paid for?

Yarn. Silly, silly question.

9. Where were you last night?

At home.

10. What colour is your front door?

White. The back door is a little more interesting......... undercoat green.


11. Where do you keep your change?

My purse or in a small basket on my dresser.


12. What’s the weather like today?

Peeking out the window - It looks cloudy but will probably end up being a nice day.


13. What's the best ice-cream flavour?

Not really an icecream fan. Vanilla. I can add whatever I want to it and it tastes good.



14. What excites you?

New yarn, fabulous patterns, meeting challenges, connecting with people.
Robbie Williams, a jar of chocolate sauce and .......... oh shush.


15. Do you want to cut your hair?

Yes. Yes. Yes. And colour it.


16. Are you over the age of 25?

Yes.


17. Do you talk a lot?

Not at first, but once I get to know someone I don't shut up.


18. Do you watch the O.C

No.


19. Do you know anyone named Steven?

No

20. Do you make up your own words?

accidentally, often.


21. Are you a jealous person.

Yes. I want all that yummy yarn that is taunting me in ravelry.


22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'A'.

Ann


23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter 'K'.

Kate


24. Who's the first person on your received call list?

Andy


25. What does the last text message you received say

" I'm having a boy!!!"


26. Do you chew on your straw?

No


27. Do you have curly hair?

Nope. It's wavy though.


28. Where's the next place you're going to?

That's a toss up between the tissue box or the yarn stash.



29. Who's the rudest person in your life?

They are no longer in my life :)


30. What was the last thing you ate?

1/2 an easter egg. Brilliant breakfast food. I am not sure what is worse. Eating chocolate for breakfast or the fact that I still have easter eggs left.


31. Will you get married in the future?

I like to think so.


32. What's the best movie you've seen in the past 2 weeks?

Because I said so. Not sure it would be the best,That's but it is the only movie I have watched in the last 2 weeks.


33. Is there anyone you like right now?

Not sure yet.


34. When was the last time you did the dishes?

Last night


35. Are you currently depressed?

No.


36. Did you cry today?

Yes. And Last night too.


37. Why did you answer and post this?

Because I promised Kate I would:)

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Too Too Hot

Summer has made it's presence felt and the plans I had in my head for knitting seem to have gone out the window.

Reading has been preferable to having yarn on my lap the last few days. The closest I have gotten to actual yarn is reading blogs. I love the bright pink being spun up over here.

I very much envy all you who are just going into winter.

Can someone send me some snow? I think I need to throw it at these guys.


They decided that a house just down the street was a good place to hold a training session for some new recruits.
The cats and I decided it was a nice moring to sit outside and be entertained.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

November, ribbing and yarn additions

It's November and there is a challenge I have seen floating about.
National Knit A Sweater Month.

Considering how I flit between projects I decided to give this a miss. I think I enjoy watching everyone else race to the finish line more than participating.

What I did decide to do was play with Noro in November after being inspired by all the Noro Knits I saw last November.






And just because I had nothing on the needles that wasn't at some point of needing concentration I started a beanie for Miss B's Uncle.


Miss B's Black yarn has arrived. Time for some craziness.


And as a reward for even considering to attempt black ribbed craziness 5 balls of Rustic Red Currant joined to order.


I did have plans for a wrap cardy but I think this yarn wants to be something else.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Ribby Pulli is done!!!

Finally! It is done. I have been wearing it all day and I love it.
I wish I had stuck with it and finished it sooner.
Remind me of that next time I get bored with a project halfway through. OK, maybe don't.

I decided on the roll neck and no the neck doesn't really sit like that - it is the top I am wearing underneath that has bunched up.





Notes:

Ribby Pulli by Bonnie Marie Burns
I lengthened the body and added a ribbed roll neck instead of the patterns funnel neck.
Cascade heathers yarn purchased at www.yarnsonline.com.au I used 5 and a bit skeins.
Knit on 4mm addi turbos


Update on Miss B's request:

Incredible amounts of grovelling have happened. Incredibly amusing reasons as to why I should knit her a black jumper and she shouldn't have to knit it have also been forthcoming.
Reasons such as " But it's 'special'(insert sing-song voice) when you make it."
Accompanied by grins and giggles as she gets more outrageous with her sucking up.

I'm a suck. Yarn has been ordered.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Miss B's Request

Miss B has requested that I knit her a jumper.

She would like it to be black and it would have a lot of ribbing.

I am considering it.

Absolute craziness.

Friday, October 19, 2007

That feels so much better.....

After being annoyed with the Ribby Pulli for so long, it feels incredibly freeing to have ripped back, fixed and gotten it back onto the needles.
I am up to the neck shaping now, sooooo close to being done.

The next dilemma comming up is the neck. I am not sure if I want to go with the funnel neck in the pattern or if I will change it to a ribbed roll neck.

Any thoughts?





I started the Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks - Nancy Bush

The yarn is Hot Socks by Lincraft. While not a spectacular yarn it is a ginormous improvement over spotlight's adore yarn.

I am enjoying this, it is ribbed, but not so ribbed that it is killing my hands ribbed.




Recent discussions about random balls of yarn and teaching a friend to crochet has inspired be to pick up the hook again.

This will be a scrappy blanket.
Blues, blacks, greys.

No particular method or order in colour sequence - I will keep going till I am either sick of using a particular colour or run out.

No timeframe for finishing.



Simply a way to make use of those random balls of yarn that aren't enough to make anything out of.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

FO FO FO!!!

Mainly due to distract myself from how much I had just ripped back on the ribby pulli I finished some other projects.

Pink Striped Beanie

Pink Striped Scarf. This used the same yarn, same dyelot - very different results from the two balls of yarn.
One side has very long repeats of colour and the other stripes frequently as it did in the beanie.



And Patonyle socks. I love these.

Bright and happy and so, so soft.


I think I can face putting the Ribby Pulli back on the needles now :)

Friday, October 05, 2007

Ribby Pulli - Progress???

This is how close to being done the Ribby Pullover was on Tuesday night.




I tried it on and love it.

All except the mis matching ribs where the body and arms meet.
The ribs are out by one stitch and in my more" fudge it" moods I figure my hair will cover the bits I am not happy with.

In reality I know I wont wear it like this and not being totally happy with it is the main reason I haven't finished it.

Bugger.

Time to rip.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Overwhelmed By Ravelry

Since joining Ravelry I have been overwhelmed by temptation and at the same time totally uninspired by my knitting.



Every WIP I have on the needles is suddenly incredibly boring. Yet at the same time I have been stuck with indecision about starting anything else. What to start?
There are just too many options.



The Ribby Pullover is driving me nuts. All that grey; and I have messed up the decreases, my ribbing doesnt match where I have joined the sleeves. I have put it aside to be frogged.



I haven't had a block of knitting time long enough to get immersed in the Hemlock Ring Blanket and I just haven't felt like working on any other WIP. Everything just looks really bland.


I figured I needed something small to pick up the needles again.







Beanie using Moda Vera Brilliant in Blue. I love how it stripes. So does Miss B. Guess who has claimed it.


Knitting was still feeling a little bland though so I started some socks in patonyle.




Colour. That's what was missing. And fun. Knitting is meant to be fun.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Sister Socks done.

I decided a while ago to make a pair of bedsocks each for two of my sisters.
4mm needles, 8ply yarn. They would knit up quickly, no problems.

That should have been the story.

Me being me, I lost interest in making 4 socks in the exact same colour pretty quickly.
I seem to have lost the urge to knit much lately, nothing has been sending out those knit me vibes. The part done socks were just sitting about hogging the coffee table.

Today was all cold and windy. The perfect knitting weather. Perfect finishing weather.
Perfect sock wearing weather if my sisters give these socks a new home.


Sunday, September 09, 2007

Beginnings?

Inspired by Brooklyntweed's Hemlock Ring Lap Blanket I decided to start my own.

So far all I have is a blue blob.








I wonder if it will grow up to be a pretty blue blob........

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Wickedly Wicked.


Ok Ok, a flat on a table pic doesn't keep you guys happy.
Here is the "headless supermodel shot" for chocolatetrudi.
Chris, I hope this makes you happy too.
You have no idea the effort involved in getting Miss B to take a picture that doesn't involve the cats or my feet.

Can I eat some chocolate now???

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Wicked


Chatting away, scrunching up her arms to fit them in the pic and relaxing

with a cup of tea is Wicked.

Pattern: Wicked

7 balls of Angora Supreme

4.5mm addi turbo

I decided on 3/4 length sleeves and no pocket.

I loved working on Wicked. I loved the Angora Supreme and I loved being able to try her on along the way.

I think I spent more time trying her on than I did actually knitting some days, but then I also dragged it out to make the knitting last .

Monday, August 13, 2007

Another sleeve to go

Wicked just needs another sleeve. I need some time to actually knit that sleeve.

This is so frustratingly close to being done that I want to ignore the world and just get it done.



Life of course has other plans.
Plans like the Mt Pleasant Fiber Festival that Tigers and I went to on Saturday with the girls.
The fiber festival where I was remarkably restrained and didn't purchase any yarn.
No yarn came home with me at all. This was partly due to lack of lighting near the handpainted yarns, I can't choose something if I can't see it; and partly due to my plan of not buying small amounts of yarn that I end up not knowing what to do with.
I still have the purple handspun I purchased last year which I can't decide if it is destined for mittens or socks.
I left the fleece behind too, same story, I still have last years taunting me that I have never learnt to spin.
I was hoping to find a swift but didn't see one.....
Books... My wishlist included Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits and Favourite Socks.
I came home with Fitted Knits and am waiting for Favourite Socks to arrive.
Miss B's list consisted of ....... Fudge.
She found fudge and was happy.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

New additions

To my knitpicks options set







I took advantage of Donyale's 10% blogger's discount and free postage for June and July special. Therefore I was able to satisfy my urge to buy everything I wanted to add to my original collection all at once.


The 9mm, 10mm and 12mm tips that weren't part of the original set. Another lot of 4.5mm and 5.5mm tips seeing as they are the ones I use the most. Some extra pockets and of course extra cords so I can try and knit even more things all at once.






Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Now it's purple's turn

The Project Spectrum triad of purple, orange and brown has arrived and it feels like I have been waiting for this segment of project spectrum since the begining.

Purple is a colour that I really like and yet I don't seem to work with it very often. I am particular about the shades of purple that I like and often end up taking blue or pink yarn home instead.

Brown is pretty low in my preference list generally and often only makes it's way into my basket for the purpose of making C a beanie. Having said that there is a Noro combination with purples and brown in it that I'd like to play about with.

Orange. Miss B likes orange. I don't mind it on other people but I really don't like it for myself.
I think the only orange in my stash is a splash of orange in a multicoloured ball of sockyarn.
I seriously doubt orange will get a look in during the next two months.

Purple obviously has priority for me during this triad and so far my present list of projects to work on consists of:


Wicked.
I am loving this.












Sidar Eternity Pullover.






And for some brown I have the adore socks on the needles.







What's on your list???

Monday, July 30, 2007

How long does it take to knit a sleeve?

Thankyou all so much for the Birthday wishes.

Miss B loved the idea that you were all thinking about her and wishing her such a great day.



The kitchen did survive and no the birthday girl did not have to clean up.

Luckily for me she didn't make as much mess as I had been dreading.



As for the title of this post, I have only just finished the second sleeve of the Ribby Pullover.

It took me 2 weeks. Can you tell I really don't enjoy the DPN/ ribbing combination???



Actually it's not that bad once you settle into it and I did have some help in diverting my attention away from the sleeve.



Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows insisted on being read and......



after seeing it knit up over at Donna's this yarn insisted on coming out to play.







Thursday, July 26, 2007

Miss B is 14 today!!!

The last couple of years we have bought birthday cakes, but this year Miss B wants to make her own.

She has some idea of decorating it with an Emilystrange theme.
I am not sure what she is envisioning, I just know that it requires green lollies.
Lots and lots of green lollies.

So tonight there will be

1 teenager
1 mixer
Bowls
Spoons
1 Oven
1 Cake
Cream
Icing
& Assorted lollies in my kitchen.

Most of the lollies will be eaten before the cake even makes it into the oven I am sure.

All I know is that she was one happy teenager this morning after opening presents that feed her Emilystrange addiction, and after all that sugar tonight she will be even happier.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Ravelry got me.

Just in time to go back to classes I get my Ravelry invite.

I'll be playing as

yarnsticksbooks

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Ribby Pullover

Here is the start of the Ribby Pullover.





Ok so it's half done and I am already thinking grey wasn't such a good idea colour wise.

It is nice after the brightness of the cleckheaton country silk, but depending on the lighting this looks grey/ muddy brown.



Remind me that it really wouldn't hurt to make myself a jumper in black.



I loved knitting the body in the round. The sleeves not so much.
Ribbing and DPN's is a combination that I can manipulate easily enough. I just don't like to, therefore sleeves progress very slowly.

I am considering buying a small circular to do the other sleeve on.

This is something I probably should avoid; I can envision the different sized sleeves already.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Early morning happenings

Miss B went to her Nanna's last night and so wasn't here for our evening meal. Chicken Schnitzel, mashed potato, corn on the cob , carrot, brocoli, beans and gravy.

Yay! Extra mashed potato for me.

I then spent the night dreaming about eating the extra piece of schnitzel for breakfast.

As those of you with teenagers in your households know, this is a big deal.
There are never leftovers after a meal and if by some miracle there are, they are quickly claimed by the constantly hungry teenager.
(If teenagers don't claim the leftovers, the cats are next in line.)

I got up this morning thinking about schnitzel, put on some socks cause it's cold and started walking out to the kitchen.

I get to the doorway of my bedroom and UGH!!!
Slushy. Wet. Sock.
During the night Lucy somehow picked up on my breakfast plans and decided to let me know she didn't approve.

I am not hungry now, I have odd socks on and Lucy is sleeping with a big grin on her face.






I think I'll go and knit.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Holidays

I am loving this lot of holidays, just enjoying the break from deadlines and having to be places at certain times.

I have been spending a lot of time doing a lot of not much. Sitting in the sunshine, playing with the cats and guilt free knitting.

Catching up on blog lines and drinking way too many cups of tea.

Shopping for yarn with Tigers, and convincing ourselves that the yarn we bought in the first store doesn't resemble the yarn we bought in the second store in any way.
The fact that both of my purchases were of the same brand means nothing.
Actually it may mean that I end up with knitted items that I can wear together for once. Or not.



Miss B is happy, her cap is done.




Cabled Newsboy Cap from Stitch and Bitch Nation.
5mm and 6mm needles
Cleckheaton Country 12 ply in Black.

Now that hers is done I am thinking I'd like a black one too. Me who doesn't wear hats. I just want one, same as I want a beret that I wont wear either.



To make Chris happy and show that I do have arms, although most days I could do with a couple of extra ones.......




Cleckheaton Country Silk raglan sleeve roll neck jumper.

Cleckheaton Country Silk 13 balls
Colour Overly bright berry
4mm needles

I added 5cm extra to the length meaning I worked 40cm of the body before starting shaping for the arms.
I am still undecided about how this looks but I love how it feels.
It is comfortable and warm and I'd like another jumper that fits like this but in something not so bright. The sleeves could be about 1cm longer too.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

It's Done...


The Cleckheaton Country Silk roll neck jumper is done.


Finally. All finished.


And I'm still not sure if I like it or not.


It is warm and comfortable, it's just bright. And bitsy.


I am happy to have it done and off the list of WIP's.
I forgot to get Tigers to take a picture for me, hence you only get to see part of it.
In other knitting news, I gave in, I started Miss B's Black Newboy Cap.
C has put in requests for black knits also.
I have put in a request for black yarn to be purchased by someone other than me.
Let's see what happens.


Thursday, July 05, 2007

Is it holidays yet???

I feel as though the most I have seen of any knitting lately has been to wash a bathtub full of knits and have them sitting all over the house taking their time to dry.

If I am not going to get much knitting time I can at least have some new yarn to look at.
Sock yarn found in Lincraft yesterday in a sneaky visit on the way home.




June's Project Spectrum projects, Irish Hiking Scarf and Mittens.

Both made using cleckheaton Country 12 ply, % balls for the scarf, two for the mittens.





The hat in the middle is the Newsboy cap made in Paton's Jet.
Miss B is trying to claim this. She hasn't succeeded so far so has put in her demand, uh, request for one in black.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Mittens Schmittens.......

After finishing the Irish Hiking Scarf I wanted some mittens to go with it.
Sounds logical, even sounds pretty simple.

So why did I spend the weekend knitting a pair of ginormous mittens?

Something to do with ladies mittens not being big enough to not squash fingernails and me totally underestimating how much bigger mens mittens are.

No wonder I like Fetchings so much.........

Monday, June 18, 2007

Letting go

Sometimes a knit just isn't working, you know it but you keep trying anyway. You knit a couple of rows here and a couple of rows there. But the whole time you really aren't enjoying it.
You don't like the look of it, you don't like how it feels and working on it has become a chore.

Yet if you put it aside and work on things you enjoy, you feel guilt. You know it really wouldn't take long to finish if you just worked on it.

The knit has become more than a chore, it has become a burden.
Something that sits quietly in it's basket niggling at you and taking away the pleasure of knitting.

Realistically this is only my own expectations of what I should make, should finish and how long something should take me to do that is niggling at me.

Yes, I could work on that scarf, I could finish it and it probably wouldn't take that long.
But I am not enjoying it and knitting is meant to be fun.
I really don't know why I have so much trouble admitting when something isn't working, why I have to keep trying and trying.

Yarn can be un knitted.
It can be rewound.
It goes back in the stash all too easily. Once you start. Bye Bye lace scarf.


So winding and placing yarn back into the stash happened yesterday creating space for something I want to work on. Something I have wanted to make since I first discovered blogland.

The Irish Hiking Scarf.





Sunday, June 17, 2007

UFO Update

I seem to have gotten over the sniffly cold just in time for C to share his viral thingy with me.

Blah, there are times when sharing is NOT a good thing.

To distract myself from feeling crappy I went through the knitting basket and had a look at the UFO's.

Mistake ridden shawl which I just don't want to knit anymore = May's Frogged Project

Next up is the lace scarf.
C keeps making comments about this looking like his Nanna's curtains.

I already have doubts about this scarf. It was gfoing to be for someone else but I am really not loving it and I don't know that they will.
This may become June's frogged project.
What do you think?



Saturday, June 09, 2007

Back to where I started from.....

A few more little projects that snuck their way on to my list.

A grey beanie for C.
Odd decrease placement, but it fits.
This was knit in Liza Leo, which is an alpaca, linen, wool blend.
It sounds nice but is is horrible to work with and seems to go out of shape as you knit it.
I have some more of this yarn but I have a feeling it will be returned to the store.




Something I am much happier with is how well Miss B's Mittens turned out.
Made with Totem yarn that I snaffled for $1 a ball. Sometimes it pays to look under the clearance table.

And now, maybe I can pay some attention to the cleckheaton jumper.

Or maybe something else will jump out and distract me.............

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Unravelling

Unravelling is what you spend your time doing once you go back and look at any knitting you did while you had a cold.

The cleckheaton counrty silk jumper was almost done. Front, back and both sleeves were knit.

I got ready to seam and looked at the pieces again. Something was wrong.
It looked a little........... short.

Yep, I had forgotten to add the extra length I normally add to anything I want to actually wear. With my head all clogged up I had blindly followed the pattern and was left with something that would probably even have been too short for Miss B.

So riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip it went, back to the armhole shaping.


Casting on isn't such a great idea when your head is all clogged up either. It involves counting........

So last night I cast on, yet again.
This time it is mittens for Miss B.

Monday, June 04, 2007

I had planned........

Last week

I had planned on having the Country Silk jumper all knitted, seamed and finished over the weekend.

I had planned on posting a project spectrum related post.

I had planned on answering Katie's tag for 7 random things.

I had planned on finishing that another sneaky beanie that made it to the list.

I had planned on starting a new project.

What happened instead was

I ended up with a lovely snotty cold type of thing with bonus nausea that makes you feel crappy and unable to think properly.

Miss B spent several days exhibiting teenage behaviour in ways that seemed to take enormous amounts of time and effort to work through. Just what you need when you are already feeling crappy.

I spent a crazy amount of time searching the internet for tafe related purposes, (I swear they hide these things on purpose). Knitting related activities are so much easier to find.

I did manage to cast on a new project. Yep that's it. Cast on is all I did.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Sneaky little things

Just when I thought I had the WIP list under control a few sneaky little things jumped in front of the que.



First was C's Brown Beanie.



This is the second one of theese I have made for him and somehow I made this one a little too short. ( Avoiding ribbing......... no not me........)



So now it is fixed.



Next was another beanie, this time for Miss B.




I figured if she is going to run off with my scarf she may aswell have a beanie to go with it.

Only thing is, now thats it's done, it really doesn't go with the scarf. Ah well.
At least it will be warm.




Back to my knitting




The start of the roll neck jumper







using Cleckeaton Country Silk in the berry colour.

I can't decide if I like this or not. Some days I really like the brightness and other days I have no idea what I was thinking.
The bits throughout are bigger than I was envisioning and I tend to think it looks a bit worn out and 'bitsy' without even being finished.

On the upside it is really nice to knit with and I have someone waiting to claim it if I hate it when it's done.





Isn't mum nice? She is making a blanket just for meeeeeeeeee.