How quick was that?

After posting the other day about where I was on the Ravelry waiting list, I got my invite this morning!

Have only had a quick look but have found out already it only supports photos from Flickr at the moment, though there are plans to include other photo sites I think. It's a wee bit of a pain as I tend to use photobucket. And you have to make sure your pictures are marked as public on Flickr or it can't load them up.

But apart from those minor things it looks like a great resource. Hope you don't have to wait too long if you're still on the list (yes you Bronte!)

Won't be long now!

Here's where I am on the Ravelry waiting list!

You signed up on June 18, 2007
You are #9789 on the list.
145 people are ahead of you in line.
17787 people are behind you in line.
34% of the list has been invited so far

How exciting, only 145 people in front of me.........poor 17787 who are behind me!

STASHATTACK

Wow that's a big gap between posts. A combination of not taking photos, can't be bothered writing and thinking there was nothing to report. However now I have so much to update I'll have to do it in more than one post. Lets look at the latest acquisitions.

Having reached my target of losing a stone I went daft buying yarn. These are some of the additions to my stash:

From the pink clockwise -

150g Merino pink superwash, 150g Blue face Leicester DK, 2 x Regia Sock Yarn, 2 skeins Debbie Bliss Pure Silk, 2 x Jamiesons Ultra, 2 x Rowan cotton 4 ply

AND

4 mini skeins of merino & alpaca from Hipknits. I also got a copy of their new Starstruck Shawl pattern to use up some lace weight silk I have.

AND

A prize from the lovely Bronte which I won simply by leaving a message on her blog to commemorate her 'blogiversary'. Its Malabrigo Purple Mystery and its even more purple in real life. I love it.

I also have 4 (count them) WIPs, which is unheard of. I like to complete something before starting the next project so I'm not quite sure how I got myself in such a state. More details of the 4 (4!!!) in the next post.

First Target reached!

I have met the first target on my self-imposed stash diet!

Way back in March I decided to not buy any more yarn until I lost two stone. Very quickly I re-assessed that target to one stone, to make it a bit more achievable. Which is just as well as it's taken me THREE MONTHS to lose my first stone. This last week I have had a bit of help as I enrolled in a trial programme at my local pharmacy, which involves going each week for five weeks, then fortnightly for the next ten. Lots of healthy eating advice and NO DIETS. I had my weigh-in this morning and had lost 3 kilograms which takes me nicely to my target.

So pass the credit card till I get me some yarn.......not quite. I have decided to wait till after my weigh-in next week to see that I have maintained the loss before allowing myself to make any purchases. It'll give me time to have a browse through my patterns and decided what i want to make next.

Knitting Lace Course

I went along last weekend to a Knitting Lace course at Twist Fibre Craft Studio, Newburgh, Fife.

I've never been to a knitting course or lesson before, I learned the basics from my Mum and Gran when I was wee and have picked up other techniques myself through books and the Internet. So I was feeling a bit apprehensive before going along - what if I was doing it all wrong?

There were only 3 of us doing the course which meant we were all able to get a good look at what our tutor was demonstrating. We knitted 3 different lace patterns over the two hours, changing yarn each time. There wasn't huge amounts of chat but when you're knitting lace you really have to concentrate.

The most important thing I got out of the course was that all this time I actually was doing it properly. Although I've not attempted any huge pieces of complicated lace, I've knitted lace in lots of patterns over the years, it's just that I didn't think of them as lace. The prospect of tackling a large shawl or stole doesn't faze me now!

I would highly recommend this workshop and it's worth going to Newburgh just to have a look in the Twist Fibre Shop. It's not the biggest but it is crammed full of loads of desirable yarn - Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Opal were the ones that jumped out at me but I'm sure they stock others too.

Two of the books I looked at during the workshop are definitely wish list items - Heirloom Knitting and Victorian Lace Today. Both very detailed with gorgeous patterns.

Secret Santa Parcel

Here's what I got from yunaleska
Yarn - 2 balls of Sirdar Click, 2 balls of Sirdar Luxury Soft 4 ply, 2 balls of Patons Sorbet.
Goodies - Mint chocloate, lip salve and notebooks.

Lovely!

It's the middle of summer so - Time for scarves!

Still using up my stash so no better way then knitting scarves! When I got in the car today the temperature indicator said 35 degrees but it had been sitting in the sun. As we moved off it dropped down to 23 degrees but that's still very hot for here. So I feel a bit daft knitting scarves but hey, I'll get ahead of myself for Christmas!

This is knitted in cheapo eyelash yarn, which I picked up for £1 a ball in a bookshop last year. I cast on 24 stitches and garter stitched until I ran out of yarn (it took 2 balls).

This is the Lace Leaf Scarf from Knit Simple magazine holiday 2006 issue. It's still to be blocked so the lace pattern isn't too clear in the picture. It's knit in 3 balls of Wendy Fusion.


This is a wee bag I made for my friends daughters 5th birthday. It is from issue 10 of Knit Today magazine, though the pattern has an ice cream cone motif sewn on the front. I knitted the flowers from the free Nicky Epstein flower booklet that came with issue 9.

I also have pics somewhere of my most recent Secret Santa Swap parcel however have not quite worked out how to get them on here. I use Photobucket usually but for the swap we had to post them to flickr and haven't had a proper nose around it yet to work out how to get my pics on here.

No need to rush out and try to find another ball!

After me worrying about having enough yarn left to complete the wee baby wrap-over top, I made it with a bit to spare. Thank you Bronte for your suggestion about using an alternative yarn to do the edging, if I had run out I would have given that a go.

Here's the completed article:

And a close up detail of the border:

And what was left!

The yarn is Louisa Harding Kashmir DK and the pattern was from Patons 'Sugar & Spice ' Booklet. The pattern was meant for a cotton yarn but I am very pleased with how it's turned out. I still have to add some ribbon ties but haven't bought the ribbon yet. It might be hard to get a decent match as the colour is quite unusual.

Also, while I'm on, here are a couple of finished items that I haven't got round to posting yet.

First the Sirdar Blur Bolero for DD. It took less than one ball to make. I do like Blur, I've made DD a hat out of it before. However, it's a nightmare to rip back when you make a mistake and for some reason, although the Bolero is a very straightforward pattern I kept mucking it up and having to take it back. So I'm glad it's done!

Also - a final picture of my felted bag. Made in Twilleys Freedom Spirit in colourway 'Force'. I'm quite pleased as it was my first felting effort though the flap-over bit turned in a wee bit and felted to itself round the edges. Hopefully it is cunningly disguised by the frill!

Will there be enough?

So last night I weighed the completed sleeve of the baby wrapover cardigan (16g) and weighed my remaining yarn (24g). Knowing I had enough to make the final sleeve I ploughed on and completed it last night. Now I have 8g of yarn to do the borders, which is basically pick up stitches and cast off. So will I have enough.........?

Monica from Knitty

I'm still on my stash diet and have yet to reach my target where I can buy some more yarn, so am still trying to be inventive with what I already have.

I have had 2 balls of Katia Jamaica for over a year and I didn't have a clue what to do with them. I started to knit a baby cardigan but it just didn't look right, the colours for me were too old for a baby. Then I saw Monica in the Sping edition of Knitty and thought it would be just right.

As you can see it's still not quite warm enough to be wearing it without something underneath, particulary on a breezy Scottish morning. The pattern is very simple and knitted up really quickly. I think it's very effective, and there certainly won't be anyone else wearing the same! I intend to make another one once I can buy some yarn, but am thinking of knitting the frill in a lacy pattern.
I've also completed the wee bolero I'd started in the last post but have yet to take a picture. I'm almost finished the cutest wee baby wrap over cardigan, in Louis Harding Kashmir DK. I still have one sleeve and the borders to do and am worried I won't have enough yarn to complete it. I'll know by the end of the day!

Sisters, sisters....

My sister has a knitters condition known as 'Love-to-knit-hate-to-sew'. She appeared for a weeks holiday with me with TWO carrier bags of bits of baby cardigans. Most of which I think were destined for my DD at some point, though now that she's nearl 5 only one of those that she managed to complete fitted her.

So it was a week of sewing up for her, with a wee trip to buy buttons and some more yarn. She did control herself though and didn't knit too much while she was here. Here's some of her completed items.

Photo update

Baby Cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly, Sirdar pattern 3009

Close up of the edging, which is knitted first in a long strip then stitches are picked up to knit the remainder of the back or fronts

2 baby boy hats, both from Sirdar pattern 1711. This pattern has six hats on it, 3 each for boys and girls and I've had a go at them all over the last few months except one of the boys hats. The pink hat is also from this pattern, but maybe a wee bit on the small side for a rather camera shy DD.

Here is the now felted Freedom Spirit Bag, I've made the frill but haven't attached it yet.

Finally I've started a wee bolero for DD in Sirdar Blur pattern 2198. I didn't check my tension and I think it's going to be a bit on the small side. However I have plenty of Blur left to knit it all again.

Phew, now I've caught up I wont leave it so long again.

First Felt

Have not updated for ages so here goes. One pic today, the rest tomorrow!

STASH DIET UPDATE. To date I have lost 12 pounds so am still 2 pounds away from my first stone (14 lbs), the point where I can buy some more yarn. So I am still knitting from stash, which is great for the corner of the bedroom where it is all kept but I am beginning to crave a shopping spree. Hopefully over the next week or so I'll get there.

I've made a 6-12 month lacy cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly, 2 first size baby boys hat in some unlabelled acrylic stuff, a hat for DD in Jaeger Baby Merino and have almost completed a felted bag in Twilleys of Stamford Freedom Spirit with the remainder of the yarn I got during the Angel Yarns Forum Springtime Secret Santa, from Bronte.

Here is a pic prior to felting -

It measured roughly 12" x 12". I popped it in a pillow case and put it in the machine on a 40 degree 29 minutes wash with a pair of jeans. I wasn't too impressed when it came out so put it all back in again on a 60 degree wash for the same time. I'm much happier with the result so far. Tonight I am going to add the decorative frill, which isn't felted and will post a finished article picture soon. I've never felted anything before so it's all very exciting.

Supersoft Aran

Penny asked yesterday what the Sirdar Supersoft Aran was like to knit with, as she has a pattern that uses it. I should qualify my post by saying I used Sirdar Supersoft Toddler Aran, I'm not sure if they make some that's just Aran!
It's 100% acrylic - I know there's a lot of knitters out there where that would be enough to put them off rightaway! When you're knitting stuff for wee ones though it's ideal as it can be chucked in the machine and not worried about.
It knits really well and keeps it's shape - the cabling I did on the baby blanket is really well defined. I wouldn't say it's the softest acrylic I've knitted with, even though it claims to be 'Supersoft'. I made a hat a while back in the same yarn but it was in grey and blue, and my memory of that yarn is that it was much softer once knitted.

Bits and Bobs

I have been knitting lots of wee things lately as I am trying to use up my stash and only have one or two balls of each yarn.

Pram Blanket in Sirdar Supersoft Aran.

2 berets and a pair of pram shoes (which still need buttons) in Sirdar Snuggly Bubbly and plain Snuggly for the borders. Snuggly Bubbly takes a wee bit of effort to knit with initally but it is so soft once knitted it's worth it.

Hat in Twilleys Freedom Spirit

This is a cropped waistcoat in Sirdar Supersoft Aran/Confetti. Not overly pleased with this, it's fine from the back but the front is very blousy, even after blocking. It is meant to have a tied twisted cord at the front to fasten but DD used a badge she had lying about.

And finally, I completed a mini-clapotis a few months ago and finally got round to blocking it. It did lose a bit of clour in the process but I am afraid the washed-out effect on ths photo is more due to my camera technique!

STASH DIET UPDATE

Previous readers will know I have set myself the task of not buying anymore wool until I have lost 2 stone (28 pounds). Well, yesterday I hit my first target of losing half a stone (7 pounds) so I am a quarter of the way there!

Pics as promised

Branching Out Unblocked



Branching Out Detail

Retro Bonnet & Mary-Jane Shoes

Stash Diet

No pics today, I keep forgetting to take them during the day to get good light.

I am currently on a stash diet in the true sense of the word. I am not buying anymore yarn until I have lost two stone - which is just a dent in what I have to lose altogether! I have lost four pounds to date so am on the way.

So for the foreseeable future I will be knitting from yarn I already have. I have accumulated quite a lot in the last year but don't have substantial quantities of anything. So look out for lots of hats, scarves, gloves and baby items!

Recently completed but not picture yet are a Branching Out scarf in Posh Yarn Sophia 2ply lace weight in a colourway called 'Thunder'. Its longer than I thought, I got far more pattern repeats than the pattern suggested. It was a really straightforward knit too, basically the same 10 rows repeated for the length of the scarf.

I've also knitted a retro baby bonnet and Mary Jane shoes in Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK in a really soft dusky shade called piglet. I got both the first size hat and shoes from one 50g ball. This is the most wonderful yarn - soft, silky, slight sheen when knitted.

I'm currently knitting a cropped waistcoat for DD in Sirdar Confetti and Supersoft Aran. I originally bought this to make for a friends baby and never got round to it (thanks goodness I didn't tell her I was intending to make it). One 50g ball of the Confetti and one 100g ball of the Aran are enough to knit all the sizes, and it goes up to 5-6 years. So in the interests of not wasting anything I am knitting the biggest size, which should do DD next winter. The main bit of the waistcoat is made in the Confetti which is quite chunky so is knitting up quickly.

So though I'm not buying yarn I can still get patterns and subscribed this week to Interweave Knits through P & M Woolcraft. I subscribe to Simply Knitting and often read Knitting and Knit Today, but though I've only seen a couple of issues of Interweave Knits I find that there's much more inspiration to be had from across the pond. Ooops nearly forgot - I get Yarn Forward too - its a new quarterly magazine. Issue one was sent out in October and I'm still waiting for the next issue but understand that as a new independent publication there's lots of teething problems to work through. The first issue was good though, and I hope the second is worth the wait.

Pictures the next time, hopefully.

My Secret Santa recipient

Meant to say last time, I was Secret Springtime Santa to Knitting-nanny. She seemed quite happy with her goodies. It was great fun doing this swap, I'm hoping there'll be a Summer Secret Santa in a few months!

Jumpers

Lots to update today as I haven't posted for a while.

First FO is the pink tie-front cardi I started ages ago for DD. Finally got it finished the other weekend. As it's in hand dyed sock yarn there is quite a variation on the tie at the front. I've read when using hand dyed yarn you are supposed to alternate every few rows between skeins. However, the tie was 95cm on 17 stitches and I couldn't face fiddling about. I quite like the variation anyway. Adds to its uniqueness.

Next is a polo neck, also for DD. Knitted in Sirdar Bonus Flash, I had great difiiculty with the polo, as the cast off edge was far too tight. I ripped it back and cast it off very loosely but it was still too tight to go over her head. Now normally I would have lost patience and relegated it to the bottom of the knitting back but for some reason I persevered. I did a row increasing in all the knit stitiches in the rib, then a normal rib row, then a yfwd K1 on all the knit stitches then cast off. The result gave a wavy/lacy edge to the cast off which I am very pleased with.
I got the pattern for the polo in a local charity shop. They have a folder of patterns for 5p each. Here are some more I bought:
I started on the fairisle mittens on the middle pattern. It's my first attempt at Fairisle and I've now finished one of the mittens but am having a break before doing the second. The thumb is knitted seperately then sewn on, which looks a bit clumsy I think. I've not got a photo of the mitt complete, but here's a pic of my ealry progress:
So now I've cast on Branching Out with some gorgeous purply 2 ply from Posh Yarns.

I've done one pattern repeat so far and it looks lovely. Pics to follow in a few days.

Secret Springtime Santa revealed!

This morning I received my parcel from the Springtime Santa Swap on the Angel Yarns Forum.

Inside were 6 balls of Twilleys Freedom Spirit which I have had on my wish list for a while, I've seen so many lovely things knitted up in it that I was really keen to try it myself. It also felts well too apparently, and felting is on my must-do list, so I am very chuffed with my gift.
And for my sweet tooth there were 5 wee chocolate sheep which I duly shared with DD.
The clue to who my gift was from was a quote from Jane Eyre. I knew it was book related but didn't get the Jane Eyre reference (shame on me). However, the literary reference was enough for me to work out it was from Bronte. Thank you!

This is the first Secret Santa I've taken part in and it's been a lot of fun finding out about fellow forum members. News on whose Secret Santa I am in the next week (I hope).

Another week, another hat.....

This is another hat for DD, made in Sirdar Luxury Soft Cotton purchased on my travels last week. Very nice yarn to work with.
As the bathroom was (and still is) a work in progress we hot-footed it to my Uncles in Peebles for a few days last week. Veitch's department store is closing down and they had a sale - 30% off all yarn. So I got 5 balls of Wendy Fusion - 3 blue/green colourway and 2 juniper berry - and a ball of Sirdar Blur which is destined to become yet another hat for DD. The closing down sale has been on for a fortnight and the shelves were decimated. There was one woman came in and was nearly crying at the thought of losing her wool shop. It's great that there's loads of online wool suppliers now, but nothing beats going into a shop and having a fondle!
I came away from Peebles with a carrier bag and a half of yarn from my Auntie Christine, a right mix of baby yarn and very bright acrylics. So that's it - I'm not buying anymore yarn till I make inroads into what I have already.
In progress at the moment is a polo neck jumper for DD in Sirdar Bonus Flash. It's knitting up really quickly but no photo yet.
I'm also keenly waiting on my Springtime Santa gift from my Secret Pal from the Angel Yarns forum. Lots of people have been posting what they've received and there's been some lovely parcels.

This Week's Knitting

This has been a disrupted week. We are getting a new bathroom fitted so I decided to take DD away for the week down to Blackpool, which is where my husband works during the week at the moment. So I had some time to knit, but deliberately took wee projects with me.

First thing to be completed was pawkies for me. After the success of DD's pawkies I decided to do a pair for myself. They're on the big side though, but very cosy none the less. The pattern came from one of my Christmas presents 'Easy Knitted Accessories' by Jeanette Trotman and it was indeed a very easy pattern. I knitted them up in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky, a wee bit of luxury for my poor hands.

While away, I had a wee shopping spree. I visited Hobbycraft in Preston and was disappointed. I bought some acrylic cheap stuff, and also some Sublime DK. Then on to the Sheep Shop in St Annes which had a good selection of Sirdar, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Louisa Harding etc. I bought 2 balls of Sirdar Luxury Soft Cotton, the same of Louisa Harding Kashmir DK and some Bonus Flash for a jumper for DD.

I've also completed 2 hats for DD.

This one is made from the Sublime mentioned above. It's the first time I've knitted with this yarn and it is lovely. Very soft and has a silky sheen to it when knitted up. The pattern is a Sirdar Snuggly one (Number 1711). Sirdar have a really good range of patterns just now and even though most have babies or toddlers on the pictures, the sizing goes up to age 6 which is fantastic.

The second hat is from the same pattern but knitted up in my cheap pink acrylic. She loves the colour!

The only thing I have on the pins at the moment is the pink cardigan I started in the Hipknits sock wool. I've just to do the border but for some reason I am very reluctant to pick it up. I think it's because I'm worried it may be too wee for DD.

I'm itching to get stuck into a big project but most of the yarn I have is in small amounts (around 100g) and I feel I should use it up before buying lots of yarn to make a jumper.

So - lots of wee projects or one big one? Watch this space!