felinity knits

Vivian -- April-October 2009

2010-09-09T18:54:00.002Z

To disguise the lack of FOs in 2010, have another post which recaptures an FO from 2009 (this one, as it goes, is coming up to its anniversary of completion, gosh).

Here's the photoshoot of me modelling Vivian, by Ysolda. An absolute joy to knit, despite (or perhaps because of!) the variety of ways I ended up knitting the hood.

As I become more of an advanced knitter, I've noticed I feel more comfortable with critiquing projects (in terms of how they fit me) -- in the past I might not have wanted to admit that something had its flaws, but I think it's more helpful to recognise them than pretend they don't exist.

With Vivian, then, there are a few elements to it which I'd change if I could. One was the length of the sleeves, which actually I did change -- originally they came all the way to my fingertips which just wasn't practical. I loved it so much more after I'd cut the cuffs back by almost a full repeat (funnily enough, I have done some steeking with Venezia in the last couple of months, and the prospect of cutting my knitting in a controlled way is much less horrifying than it was last year when I did it to Vivian [not fun, still, and I'd recommend doing it on your own with no distractions, but not so scary]).

The other things, which are all about my body shape, are the length of the jumper and the broadness of the shoulders. In fact the length would probably be perfect (I like jumpers longer and Vivian's nice and long compared to most patterns) were it not for the shoulders -- this is faintly ironic, as I don't have very defined shoulders and generally set-in sleeves are more flattering on me than a raglan fit. Vivian has ingenious knitted-in saddle shoulders, which were a treat to knit, but when I wear it my shoulders look a bit too broad. This is largely avoided by wearing it zipped enough so that the front makes a V-shape, but that in turn is another shape which doesn't flatter me as much as it could because I've got a smaller bust than some. Notice that there aren't many pictures of me front-on in this post? Yeah, some not so subtle self-editing going on when I decided which photos to keep and make public!

Despite these things, which are niggles more than complaints, this is a jumper which I thoroughly enjoyed making and have found extremely useful. Last Christmas and winter we had actual proper snow in London for several weeks, and as this jumper is by far the warmest thing I own it made an appearance many times over the winter and I couldn't value it more. It's also, despite what I've said above, a lovely looking thing and mostly flattering. It's genuinely really pleasing and I'd recommend the pattern to anyone. (And I'm still pleased with how I eventually altered the hood, and also that other people have chosen to do the same thing!)

Details: Vivian by Ysolda Teague, knitted in 100% wool natural aran (yarn a gift from Glitz Knits several moons ago, and I'm so glad I found a pattern to suit it) on 4.5mm bamboo circular needles. Ravelry link.

Percy -- November 2007 - August 2009

2010-03-19T13:20:00.003Z

Remember Percy?

No? I don't blame you. Short version: I started this bag at the end of 2007 and only finished it last summer. The worst thing? All it took for me to finish it was for me to suck it up and attach the lovely metalwork cover my mother had made to hide the magnetic clasp I used. I was so nervous of damaging both the metalwork and my bag that I sat on that final stage for nearly a year. And then one day just picked it up and did it in 30 minutes. THIRTY MINUTES. Argh.

Anyway, here it is. The lining has actually come a little loose recently so it needs some repairwork right now, but it's a cute little bag.

(Oh, such lovely flowers last year! We have a new garden this year, I hope we can get blooms as gorgeous as we had back then.)

Details: Percy, knitted in Elann Sonata cotton on 3mm bamboo needles. Ravelry link.

Ribby Cardi -- December 2006 - July 2009

2010-01-09T12:53:00.003Z

Hey, look what I finished last year! Remember the disaster? And remember how I put it away and tried to forget it existed instead of fixing it? (hence the 2.5 year time-span on this one, yowser)

Well, in July last year I was coming close to finishing Vivian, was a little nervy about sewing in the zip, and was casting about for something to practice on. And I remembered my Ribby Cardi, and... well, I didn't reknit it -- I blocked it like mad and pretended the gauge difference had never happened. And got it finished (though in the pictures it's still needing a ribbon backing on the zip -- in fact, it still needs a ribbon on one side of the zip, because I did one and then got bored...). I think it turned out pretty well. It's very warm and the yarn's pretty soft (especially considering how cheap it was), but it's not something I wear out and about -- even with adding a few inches to the length it's still a little short for my taste (and the sleeves are a bit short for me too). Handy in this cold weather though, and I do wear it when lounging about the flat.

Aside from increasing the length, not a lot of modifications to the pattern -- I did knit the collar longer and swapped the colours about, but otherwise stuck to it pretty faithfully. Oh, and I used a standard zip because I couldn't find a two-way one.

Details: Ribby Cardi by Bonne Marie Burns, knitted in Elann Peruvian Highland Wool on 4mm and 4.5mm bamboo circular needles. Ravelry link.

Comfort shawl -- June 2009

2010-01-03T13:03:00.002Z

Would you believe I still haven't blogged about more than half the projects I finished in 2009? Tsk, must do better! Here's one more for you, a simple little comfort project from early last summer.

It's a slightly enlarged version of Orlane's textured shawl recipe. It's still only a wee little shawl but it's very cosy and the yarn's just stunning.

I did:

(16 rows st st, 16 rows textured pattern) x3

16 rows st st

8 rows textured pattern

28 rows garter stitch

cast-off by purling two together, twisting the second stitch each time (made a great and not too tight cast-off which is attractive on both sides)

Details: Textured shawl recipe by Orlane, knitted in Rowan RYC Silk Wool DK (six skeins) on (help! I can't remember! 4mm I think?) bamboo circular needles. Ravelry link.

Happy 2010!

2010-01-03T12:42:00.005Z

Another lovely Christmas spent at home with family, too much food, and lots of knitting (no cats now though, alas -- I'm glad that one at least has been featured in this blog from time to time). I hope you all had lovely holiday seasons too.

Here's a thing. D'you know what's handy when you're a knitter? Having a mother who makes jewellery. Two examples for you.

1. This nifty bit of metalwork features on the front of my Percy bag (which, yes, is finished! maybe a blog post at some point!) and also handily covers the clasp I used. Mum came up with a particularly ingenious solution for me here and it works beautifully.

2. Stitchmarkers! Made to request and within mere hours of me musing aloud "hmm... if only I had a few more stitchmarkers with me... err, Mum?" Aren't they ace? The first is onyx and jade, and the second is (I think) opal and new jade. I have two of each.

(And ah, yes, those stitchmarker pictures give you a sneak preview of my 2009 Christmas project -- not something self-completing this Christmas, but rather a decent headstart on my version of Eunny Jang's Venezia -- a pattern I've adored from afar since it was published, right up until Interweave Knits started selling it online for download, woohoo!)

Gretel -- February-March 2009

2009-10-18T20:04:00.004Z

Not one of my successes, this. Lovely pattern but another in my can't-quite-find-a-knitted-hat-that-works-on-me list. Fun to make though.

Details: Ysolda's Gretel, knitted in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran on 3.75mm bamboo double-pointed needles. Ravelry link.

Dainty hoodie -- July 2008 - January 2009

2009-10-16T20:14:00.006Z

I love this jumper. I like the fact that it's form-fitting and flattering. It weighs almost nothing, the yarn's very soft, and the lace pattern makes it both a really warm heat-trapping layer under a coat and something good to pull on over a strappy top on a summer evening when the sun goes down and the temperature starts to cool.

I'm really pleased with it. It didn't stretch out the way I feared when I blocked it, and actually fits like a dream. It's the perfect length on me.

Mods: knitted body and sleeves in the round up to the shoulder shaping. Took one pattern repeat out of the front and back (if I hadn't it would have been MASSIVE). Knitted the body a few inches longer.

Details: 15 Hooded Sweater with Lace Pattern from Rebecca #32, knitted in Rowan RYC Cashcotton DK on 5mm bamboo circular and double-pointed needles. Ravelry link.

Cabley Goodness socks -- December 2008 - January 2009

2009-10-15T18:54:00.000Z

In the spirit of actually posting something, as begun yesterday, I've decided there's no reason you shouldn't see pictures of what I've been up to, even if I don't have much in the way of words. First up, here's my project from last Christmas.

This was an exceedingly satisfying and interesting pair of socks and another beautiful pattern from Eunny Jang. If I were to knit them again my only modifications would be to make the heel a little shorter (fewer rows than the pattern states) and pluck up the courage to knit the heel flap in pattern. Otherwise these are very pleasing (and ultra-warm!) -- they only suffer from my own mental block about actually wearing them lest I damage them! Winter's on its way again though so I think I'll get over that soon enough.

Details: Eunny Jang's Chuck's Cabled Socks, knitted in Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 Ply on 3.25mm bamboo double-pointed needles. Ravelry link.

Vivian - my hood saga

2009-10-14T21:59:00.005Z

And there was me seeing if I could go a year without blog posts! Hi there knitting blog, I have missed you, honestly. How've you been? The place looks lovely. I have had such a year for knitting too -- eight projects to show you! Eight! And the year's not over yet. Watch this space.

The pressing concern which has brought me out of blogging retirement today is the need for somewhere with a little more space to write than a Ravelry project page, so I could keep a note of something. One of my biggest achievements this year has been completing the utterly sumptious Vivian, by Ysolda. And one of my biggest achievements within that project has been altering the way the hood is constructed (after knitting that ~~damn~~ hood not once, not twice, but three times). The first couple of times I just added extra length to the hood (18 rows the first time, and 30 rows the second) but I didn't like the way the hood hung as a result -- it was too long and scoopy and didn't look as polished as the rest of the garment. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with something I liked better, and wanted to share how I did it with the rest of the world in case it helps somebody else.

(Other big thing done while completing Vivian -- cutting my knitting. More on that another time, but do know that when the scissors had made the cut which put me beyond the point of no return I did actually break out into a cold sweat. Horrible, but worth it.)

So anyway, Vivian hood. These are my instructions for making the hood larger and with a more rounded approach to shaping the crown, in the 34-inch size. All of the increases and decreases are contained within the seed stitch panel, which lets the gorgeous cable pattern on either side of the hood continue uninterrupted all the way to the top. For the very top of the hood (the parts I've called 'crown panel' sections) I've used Ysolda's approach to the saddle shoulders, which is very pleasing and works neatly. (These instructions are really specific to the 34-inch size but you could apply the process to all the other sizes -- increase and decrease in the seed stitch panel, and then when the top of the seed stitch panel is at the length you want the hood to be and the right width, work either side of the crown using Ysolda's saddle shoulder approach for the appropriate number of pattern rows. If that makes no sense and you're desperate, you could ask me!)

I've put the hood row numbers and the pattern row numbers, as I found distinguishing between the two a bit confusing.

(This is a personal alteration to the pattern and isn't a criticism of it -- aside from the hood this has been one of the best and most satisfying patterns I've ever followed. If anything my interpretation of the hood is inspired by how awesome the rest of the pattern is. And hopefully one day soon [by my interpretation of 'soon'] you can see photos of my finished project!)

Felinity's Vivian hood

Begin the hood as set in pattern.

Rows 1-14 (20-33 in pattern) - Work straight in pattern.

Rows 15-51 (34-70 in pattern) - Increase 14 stitches in seed stitch panel as follows: increase 1 stitch at either end of seed stitch panel (pfb) on rows: 15 (34 in pattern), 21 (40), 27 (46), 33 (52), 39 (58), 45 (64), 51 (70) - 22 stitches in seed stitch panel

Rows 52-64 (71-83 in pattern) - Work straight in pattern

Rows 65-81 (84-100 in pattern) - Decrease 10 stitches in seed stitch panel as follows: decrease 1 stitch at either end of seed stitch panel on rows: 65 (84 in pattern), 69 (88), 73 (92), 77 (96), 81 (100) - 12 stitches in seed stitch panel

Start crown panel section.

Lefthand crown panel (6 rows)
Row 82 (101 in pattern) (WS) - Work in pattern until one stitch before seed stitch panel begins, p3tog, turn 
Row 83 (102) (RS) - Sl1, work in pattern to end of row
 Rows 84-87 (103-106) - Repeat Rows 82-83 twice. Break yarn leaving a long tail. Put the 41 stitches just worked on a stitch holder.

Righthand crown panel (6 rows) 
Row 82 (101 in pattern) (WS) - Join yarn and start row after seed stitch panel. Sl1, work in pattern to end of row.
 Row 83 (102) (RS) - Work in pattern until one stitch before seed stitch panel begins, sssk, turn 
Row 84 (103) - Sl1, work in pattern to end of row. 
Row 85 (104) - Repeat row 102.
 Rows 86-87 (105-106) - Repeat rows 84-85 once. Break yarn.

All seed stitch panel stitches should now have been worked. Put the stitches from the lefthand crown panel back on a separate needle. Kitchener the two crown panels together from the outside in. (Note: it's worth putting the effort in to graft the panels together appropriately depending on whether it's knit or purl. For my first two versions of the hood I did a three-needle bind-off after grafting the i-cord section, which was easy but doesn't look nearly as nice. Grafting knit/purl will still be half a stitch out, but even so looks much more attractive.)

Early Christmas -- July-November 2008

2009-01-29T10:42:00.006Z

Does it sound trite to call something 'my new favourite' every other item? This one is, though, and it'll take some beating. It's Eunny Jang's Print o the Wave stole, knitted in Handmaiden Lace Silk. It's the most beautiful thing I have ever made.

You'd have had regular updates on this throughout the latter half of last year had it not been a Christmas present for my mum and therefore super-secret.

I was quite nervous right up until blocking that I'd made it too tiny and it was going to be more of a scarf/handkerchief than a stole. But turns out they're not lying, and blocking lace is genuinely magic. Clever, eh?

(Can I just point out that the pictures of me were all taken the morning after the night before, in a rush while we had a bit of blessed sunshine, and my slightly glazed squinty look is due to tiredness and the sun being in my eyes? It's not representative of my normal facial expression. No, honestly!)

It weighs almost nothing, it's warm and crisp and soft all at once. Clever, lovely pattern, stunning yarn. And my mum really loves it. I am thrilled with this whole project.

Details: Eunny Jang's Print O' the Wave Stole, knitted in Handmaiden Fine Yarn Lace Silk on 3.25mm circular bamboo needles. Ravelry link.

Sister-in-law Mitts -- September 2008

2009-01-14T18:04:00.004Z

The words aren't really coming, but I have the pictures*, so let's actually get an FO post up shall we? These were a 2008 Christmas present for (surprise) my sister-in-law. It is a satisfying little cable project, and the yarn made a dense and very warm fabric while still remaining quite soft (though SIL has reported they were slightly itchy to start with, however she has since adjusted -- I should probably have washed them in some fabric softener before gifting them). I did an extra pattern repeat to bring them over the knuckles, and did a bit of a tricksy sewn cast-off to stop them flaring. If I made them again (which I might, you know, I liked this pattern) I think I'd add some ribbing at the start.

I like them, and thankfully my sister-in-law does too!

Details: Linda K's Yummy Mummy wristwarmers (ugh, crappy pattern name, also I can only find the pattern on Ravelry, sorry), knitted in Artesano Ltd Inca Cloud on 3mm double-pointed bamboo needles. My Ravelry link here.

* Albeit slightly ropey ones -- my fault, not the model's!

I'm still alive! Look!

2009-01-04T18:31:00.003Z

Oh BLOG! I am sorry! Left you out there in July and tripped off for five months with nary a backwards glance. In my defence, it was largely because I spent a goodly portion of those five months knitting unbloggable Christmas presents -- this has reinforced my already quite strong suspicion that I am a slooow knitter. But there we go.

So there are a couple of FOs which require their own special posts, but in the meantime here's some bits and pieces, starting with an update on the lacy jumper I left you with in July:

So, er, not actually finished yet, but I'll pick it up again soon. I finished the body and arms in September and it's been hibernating ever since while I finished the unbloggable gifts. Just the hood and a bit of finishing to go, and if I'm sensible and finish it in the next few weeks, it might actually help ward off some of the ICY COLD that we're facing at the moment (I go back to walking to work tomorrow -- eek!).

Aww, getting it out for photographing it tonight has reminded me how lovely it is! It weighs almost nothing and is ultra-soft (and warm). I'm a wee bit trepidacious that it's going to grow quite a lot when blocked, but I'm choosing to ignore that.

(Apologies, by the way, for the truly awful photography appearing in a couple of places in this post. Can you tell which two are the results of me hurriedly trying to take pictures on the bed in dreadful artificial light this evening? Neither this jumper nor the aran are done any justice at all in these pics. Sorry!)

Some yarn pictures for you:

Seriously Gorgeous Swiss Cashmere, bought at the Knitwitches stall at I Knit London in September. I have to really work hard at not using this yarn as a pillow every night. It's eye-wateringly expensive, but also the softest and most gorgeous yarn I've ever touched. And it's mine! Ha ha!

Also bought at I Knit, this is some Angel Lace. I might dye it, or I might just leave it natural. And as a polar opposite to the cashmere, this cost a teeny-tiny £8 for 1,200 metres!

This is 1kg of non-specific 100% natural aran-weight, sweetly donated to my stash by the beautiful Mme Glitz of Glitzknits. It's going to be, clearly, an aran jumper, and I'm thinking either this (not a great photo) or possibly this. Of course, I should probably finish at least one of the three jumpers I currently have on the needles first (actually, that last one is likely to be frogged).

And, go on, have a sneak peak at a few upcoming blogging items.

More soon! (Well, by my definition of 'soon'.)

Quick look at something new

2008-07-28T17:22:00.000Z

I started this last weekend.

It is the snappily titled 'Hooded Sweater with Lace Pattern' from Rebecca #32, although my version has a working title of Dainty Hoodie. I'm using that delicious RYC Cashcotton I got from Liberty a few weeks ago (the photo show the yarn a little bluer than reality), and if you get the chance to buy some you certainly should because it is (so far) a dream to knit with. The lace pattern is easy to memorise, as I found out on a recent lengthy train journey, and fingers crossed that this project could be a winner.

Spin me a yarn...

2008-07-16T19:35:00.006Z

I'm now the proud owner of two skeins of Handmaiden Lace Silk, in ivory. Hear that? That was my little whisper of contentment.

It is just. Stunning. But, I learned a valuable lesson with this yarn. One which is probably already known to everyone else in the UK, but on the offchance that anyone else is as unworldly as I was, here's the rub: order something from outside the EU, and you get hit with a customs charge. In my case, I did the maths on the lace silk, and worked out that even with postage, ordering it from the States was pretty much the same price as from the UK (plus, I couldn't find the ivory colourway for sale anywhere over here). So off I went and merrily ordered online, and then three weeks later found out that I had to pay an extra £15 on top before I could actually get the precious silk in my hands -- an £8 handling fee to Royal Mail for the privilege of them dropping a note through my letterbox, and £6.94 in VAT to HMRC.

Boooo.

Hey ho. It's gorgeous, properly grown-up lace yarn which I love, and I'll now know to be cautious in future when buying from overseas. But honestly, how enraging is THAT? Argh!

On the subject of yarn

I know you want to see it. But a quick knitting equation first. Skeins = winding. And a skein of lace yarn = hours and hours of winding.

I don't have a swift, and, as I discovered when winding the seasilk the other month, holding the skein loop in one hand and winding the ball winder with the other means you need your third hand to keep the tension right and, ideally, your fourth hand to gently tease the yarn away from the skein without incurring knots. However I decided that three hands would just about be enough to (slowly) wind away with fewer mishaps, and so I roped in a little helper to assist by holding the loop of yarn.

Can you tell what it is yet?

This little tableau featured in my lounge for most of Sunday afternoon. In extremis, I do recommend having a duck to hang your yarn on.

They don't even complain.

And then they guard your yarn for you afterwards. (Note: this is only one of the skeins. I'll save the second one for a really desperate rainy day.)

In significantly cheaper news...

Liberty is having a half-price Rowan sale. I went in on Thursday night last week to possibly buy a single skein of something simple, and came out with most of a bag of RYC Cashcotton DK for £20 (eight skeins). Do I need it? No! But frankly I think I did pretty well not to have spent £200 (think how much I would have saved, though, if I had!).

Normally I might not be so keen on buying stuff like this in bulk -- it's lovely, but very mainstream if you know what I mean, and usually a bit unsatisfyingly uniform. However, this particular colourway has little flecks of extra colour in it, and it won me over. I have a possible lace sweater in mind for it -- whether or not eight skeins will stretch to a sweater remains to be seen, but I reckon I'm in with a reasonable chance. If not, perhaps a sleeveless top with some sort of cowly neck? Possibilities!

Buckinghamshire Blues -- March-June 2008

2008-07-16T19:32:00.002Z

So-called because that's where the yarn was bought, and also because the socks were started during a slightly miserable time when I was between houses. Finished in much happier circumstances, thankfully.

Details: Toe-up ribbed socks with short-row toe, gusset and turned heel, knitted in Lana Gross Meilenweit on 2.5mm and 2mm double-pointed bamboo needles.

Socks and bags progress

2008-05-28T12:27:00.003Z

The blue sock is vastly improved, fit-wise, by being ripped and reknit to incorporate a gusset and reverse turned heel.

Old (bad!):

New (good!):

I've made the foot a fraction too long (I should have ripped back another half-inch or so before starting the gusset), but it's not excessive and the sock is much more comfortable than it was with the short-row heel. And I've learnt a new technique (which was easy to execute and has left nary a hole around the ankle -- win!). It also allowed me to make the leg of the sock four stitches wider around than the foot, which adds to the comfort and fit even more.

And my Percy bag has found a new place in my heart after I lined it at the weekend. Look. At. That. Silk!

The lining experience was a collaborative effort: a weekend at my parents' meant being able to raid my mother's stash of inner lining materials, and after some trial and error we decided upon adding a double layer of additional fine lining between the knitted material and the silk. The inner lining is an adhesive one (melting onto the knitting when ironed on, although you can pull it off again if you need to), and we added two cross-directional layers so that the bag now stands much less chance of stretching out of shape (it's not stiff, but feels significantly stronger now that it's been reinforced).

And I am smitten. Just look at it, though! I am childishly pleased with my success at painstakingly sewing in the silk lining, as sewing is generally not my strong point. When it's finished this little bag is going to be unique and gorgeous -- I'd tell you what the plan is for the fastening, but I want it to be a surprise. It's another collaborative approach, though (thanks Mum!).

Where are they now?

2008-05-22T21:00:00.001Z

Time to do a catch-up on some of those unresolved items from yesteryear.

1. This post would be a good place to start. See the lovely just-started Liesel in the lovely lofty Rowan Cork? She languished at the bottom of my knitting basket, untouched and unloved, for a good couple of years. But she's gone to a better place now. Ie, the nifty trade or sell function in Ravelry has enabled me to dispatch that Cork (plus the proto-Liesel, for interest) to a much more appreciative recipient on the other side of the Atlantic. Bye bye Liesel! I'll make you in another yarn one day.

2. Same post (and this one, too). Ahh, the Handmaiden Seasilk. It is just gorgeous, you know? Really really beautiful. What it isn't, though, is 500 metres a skein (as advertised, when I bought it). It's actually 400 metres. Which, combined with a denser lace pattern than I'd anticipated, meant (although it took me more than a year to accept it) that the tasty seasilk scarf I diligently worked on for a month or two was turning into a stunning, beautifully drapey teatowel. So last weekend I finally pulled my finger out and we saw the following chain of events:

It's my first ripping and re-winding experience and it mostly went pretty well (save for a Tangle Incident, which I shall gloss over, but let me just say that a boyfriend who will help you untangle yarn when you're all cross and tetchy is someone just shy of saintly). And I finally discovered the perfect use for some wrist-weights that have been eying me balefully since I bought them four years ago in a brief fit of exercise-lust.

3. You want some actual knitting? Go on then. Remember the sock yarn I picked up on an otherwise fruitless expedition to get some 3.5mm circs out in the wilds of Buckinghamshire?

Here is one nearly-finished sock:

Basic toe-up ribbed socks with short-row heel.

Except. Trying it on at this stage tells me that this going to be a near re-run of the too-tight sock disaster that I had with my ribbed green socks. Could it be that ribbing and the toe-up/short-row method just doesn't result in the right fit for me? Gahh! And I did my maths so carefully! It's a mystery, because my cabled Koigus are the most comfortable socks you can imagine (and still one of my top-three knitting projects ever), and they're based on exactly the same calculations and construction. Why would a slipped-stich rib be substantially more stretchy that an ordinary one? On the other hand, we are looking at an £18 pair of socks (yes, I know) versus a £6 pair...

Anyway, net result is that I'm ripping it back to before the heel and am going to try the gusset heel approach. I've been meaning to try that for ages anyway, but it's a shame I bothered doing six inches of unnecessary sock in the meantime. Hey ho! If it still doesn't fit after that, I'm ditching the yarn (which I'm not all that crazy about, to be honest, having been spoiled with some really special yarns since I bought it) and starting another pair of socks in something entirely different.

4. Ribby, for those who wondered, is still in pieces, some of which are still waiting to be ripped and re-knit. I got distracted by the arrival of the Cotton Fleece for my ribby-inspired in-the-pink, and the original has been pretty neglected as a result. I hope I'll go back and finish it one day, but after working with delicate cotton-based yarns it does seem awfully scratchy and clunky now. Not given up on it yet, though.

5. My miniature Via Diagonale is the one unfinished project from that post that hasn't been abandoned, although granted it hasn't been finished yet either. I've knit it to the right length and it's been patiently hanging around waiting for me to buy some lining, decide what kind of opening it should have (clasp? zip?), and sort out some kind of strap or handle. Maybe check back in another year or so and see how I'm getting on with that...

In-the-pink and pastures new (but never leaving pastures old, obviously)

2008-05-07T21:13:00.000Z

Remember this?

It was neglected (again) for several months what with Christmas, and then moving (twice), and then a lovely lengthy holiday, but it called to me a couple of weeks ago and after some intensive ribbing knitting I reached an exciting moment last weekend. Look at it now!

I'm essentially guessing the whole bottom-up-seamless-set-in-sleeves process (I haven't found instructions anywhere else), but it seems to be working just fine so far. I did the maths first, months ago, about when to do decreases, and I tried this on last night to check the fit now that the arms have been joined to the body and it fits perfectly (I'd show you, but it involved so much wrangling with extra circs and trying not to stab myself in the eye that I failed to capture the moment on camera). All I have to do is get the neckline to work the way it looks in my imagination, and I'm hoping to have a self-designed jumper that I actually want to wear. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

In other news, I am almost embarrassed to show you the other things I've been working on recently. Because doing so will highlight a woeful gap in my knowledge and experience to date.

But what the heck.

Yes, it's (yikes) crochet. It is my first crocheted swatch! Aww.

I should 'fess up and say that, crochet and me, we've always kept each other at a wary distance. The only crochet I've done, prior to last weekend, is rows of chain stitches for provisional cast-ons, and you know what? I've always hated doing that.

Turns out, I was holding the yarn wrong and the hook wrong, and actually when I do it properly crocheting is kind of a delight. Given that Debbie Stoller held my hand through the re-learning to knit process a few years ago, I thought I'd see how she got on with teaching me a whole new skill, and thus far her Stitch'n'Bitch crochet equivalent has been pretty ace (though sadly none of the patterns take my fancy much, but the instructions and stitch patterns are tip-top). Hooray! I no longer have to skip past the cool crochet patterns on Ravelry and in my knitting library. Ooh, what project shall I crochet first?

That said, I foresee a number of extra coasters in our flat's future until I'm happy with my technique.

Noah -- December 2007 - January 2008

2008-01-10T22:33:00.000Z

What's better than one baby elephant?

This is Noah (slightly arbitrarily named, but I didn't want to have two Elijahs). Neither photo shows the colour properly but he's kind of mint-green, and could probably have been so all over but I was wary of running out of yarn so used some scraps left over from elephant #1 and gave him blue feet. I think it works, don't you?

Elijah was transported to Essex and given to his new owner at the weekend, and Noah was put in the post today and despatched to Vietnam where a friend of mine has some contacts in an orphanage and a children's hospice. I quite like the fact that they've gone to such wholly different countries, but that the children on both sides still like toys to cuddle at night. I hope that this little guy brings a little cheer to someone who deserves it.

Details: As before, Elijah by Ysolda, knitted in RYC Cashsoft Baby DK on 3mm bamboo double-pointed needles.

Elijah -- December 2007

2007-12-28T15:53:00.000Z

So the bag's not my fourth finished item of 2007 (it is meandering along, about halfway there I reckon), but I have something else to show you instead.

Last year my Christmas project (Christmas being the only time of year, really, where I have several days for uninterrupted knitting -- I do love coming home to the family fold at this time of year!) was a pair of raspberry cabled socks, and the year before it was rainbow ones (my first pair, no less). But this year, I made this little fellow.

I LOVE HIM. Unfortunately, much as I want to, I can't keep him because he's not for me -- he is a Christmas present for my goddaughter (she of the alphabet blanket -- in lovely serendipity I had just enough of that same yarn left over to make Elijah, and I have been keeping it ever since the blanket until I found an appropriate way of using it up, hurrah!).

The pattern is just brilliant (Ysolda, if you see this, you are a wonder!) and making him has been so tremendously satisfying. Each section is completed as you go, so he literally grows under your fingertips and once done, no finishing! My whole family has enjoyed watching him take shape: head, body, a leg here, an arm there. The ears were the most fun but the whole thing was lovely to make. There is a good chance that I will make another one.

Until I have to give him up, though, I'm going to have fun with him while I can.

Elijah the engineer

Elijah the friend-maker

Elijah the warm

Details: Elijah by Ysolda, knitted in RYC Cashsoft Baby DK on 3mm bamboo double-pointed needles.

Percy.... is a rubbish name for a bag

2007-11-25T14:10:00.000Z

Ah, sorry little blog. I have been neglecting you for ravelry, haven't I? Still, them's the breaks, *is unrepentant*.

Anyway, here's a project that ravelry knows I'm doing but you don't.

It's weird that I haven't knitted a bag before. But then, it's weird that I only have three finished items for 2007, and that they're only two pairs of gloves and a scarf. That is pretty shit, isn't it? Tsk. Let's see if I can make it four this year, anyway. (Three things? Three? What have I been doing this year? The first year I started knitting properly I managed four jumpers, a scarf and a pair of socks. Sheesh, no wonder I never post in this thing.)

So anyway. It's alright, this bag. I've spent the last few nights working the endless strap (60 inches of double knitted-on i-cord and k1p1 rib... sorry, dulled myself to sleep for a moment there) but I'm done with that and have hit the pocket this weekend. And I went to John Lewis on Friday and treated myself to that beautiful, vibrant silk lining, which makes me glow every time I look at it. I'm in love with the colours I've chosen for this bag, really.

Plus the yarn? £1 a skein. Less than that, even. If I were in the US and didn't have to pay £8 for postage, the yarn for this bag would have cost me a fiver. In your face, Rowan.

In-the-pink back on track

2007-11-12T20:53:00.000Z

Check it out! OK, it's been ~~two~~ three months since my last post, but look! That, baby, is a knitted on body hem. Not just a cuff hem, ohhh no.

Now, I started the body back in June. It's 202 stitches around, and I really wasn't feeling the love as I inched, painfully, through the hem. I picked it up, I put it down. I knitted a row. I put it in the cupboard. I felt the guilt and knitted two rows. Etc. But once I'd turned the hem and knitted past it a few weeks ago I was suddenly feeling it all brilliantly again. Plus it's autumn, and knitting in autumn is just so utterly lovely, isn't it? Cosying up on the sofa with the radio or the TV while contently knitting onwards is a recipe for happiness (especially when you're sharing the moment with someone especially lovely).

But I know what you're thinking: 'Sure, she's got past the hem, but what does it all mean?' Right?

Here you go. Still, granted, a fair way to go. But I am making progress! I'm still deciding on what I'll do with the neckline, but I think I have some grace time before that decision becomes critical.

Hooray For Me gloves -- July 2007

2007-08-13T16:28:00.000Z

Must, must, must get my FO posts up a little closer to the time I actually, y'know, finish something.

Anyway, these lovelies did the trick perfectly for cheering me up and being nice and neat and swift. I made some little modifications to the pattern (specific left and right gloves, rather than having them identical, was the main one) but basically stuck to it. Of course the pattern is designed for self-patterning sock-yarn, which this Koigu, hilariously patterned though it is, is not. But that's fine. I'll make some more one day -- frankly, I can never have too many fingerless gloves in my life. (Yes, it's summer, but only barely.)

Details: Hooray For Me gloves, knitted in Koigu KPPPM on 2.5mm double-pointed bamboo needles.

Ooh, you know what? These gloves managed to squeeze themselves out of just the one skein of Koigu. Which means I have a spare skein in this colourway left (my lovely SP9 sent me two skeins of this over Christmas). Would anybody like it? Preferably to swap with a random skein of something else nice, but if you think you can win me over by describing exactly what awesome thing you'd make with it, feel free (and if you live in the UK, I might not even charge you postage). Much as I love the colours in this, I can't see myself making a second pair of fingerless gloves with it, and it'll only stretch to one sock. So, takers?

A little light refreshment

2007-07-24T08:57:00.001Z

I'm a little overwhelmed by mystery knitting projects at the moment, so felt the urge to pounce on something small and swift. Voila, half of one pair of Hooray For Me gloves knitted in silly rainbow Koigu. Started last week and done in snatched moments between outings. Second one's on the needles.

Just a little more clarification

2007-07-15T16:04:00.000Z

Wow, I'm in love with Ravelry. It has me hooked already. I've just photographed and categorised my whole stash. I'm such a loser. But it's addictive! I feel tremendously organised now.

Anyway. Kate said she got a little lost halfway through my last (proper) post (which, I grant, was just a big mess of bullet points), so maybe this picture will help. Or not.

Here's the step immediately after the middle picture from the last post -- undoing the provisional cast-on (carefully!), picking up the stitches left from that cast-on on another needle, and then knitting (or purling, because it's ribbing) those stitches from the other needle along with the working stitches on the main needle. In this picture I have already done the stitches from the first of the three working needles, and am just starting on the stitches from the second needle.

Clearer? Hope so. Ignore my scribbles in the background.

Work progressing enormously slowly, but when I pick it up I fall in love with it again. Must pick it up more often. So, both sleeves completed up to the arm-shaping, and body... Well. Body is not past the hem yet. But it's getting there.

Ravelry!

2007-07-13T16:09:00.000Z

I have posts of actual content and everything, honest, but in the meantime: I am on Ravelry! I know I'm years behind all the cool kids. But if you're there, come and find me? I am just tentatively stepping around at the moment.

little glance, big ramble

2007-05-16T23:07:00.000Z

Here's a sneak-peek of something new. Could it be... a ribbed sleeve with ribbed facing at the cuff? (is it, though? you can't actually see the facing, can you?)

The photo doesn't really do it justice, but I'm enjoying this one a lot. The hem/facing thing is tremendously satisfying, as is the knitting in the round and adapting bits of one pattern and ideas from elsewhere to fit with a whole new yarn with a whole new gauge and behaviour. But let's start with the little things first -- how glorious is it to have knitted a sleeve right up to the armshaping with no seaming to be done and no ends to be woven in? Well OK, there was the end from the very beginning of the first round, but I wove that sucker in before I knitted in the hem, and god it's so beautifully neat.

I'm not starting from the beginning, am I? Right. For those of you who haven't come across Ysolda's blog, she's well worth a look. A while back I was very impressed by a project where she'd incorporated a knitted hem with a different colour for the facing. Around the same time, while diligently following the pattern for my own Ribby Cardi (still, sadly, languishing in my knitting basket and awaiting the re-knitting of the two front pieces and then finishing, collar-knitting, and zip-inserting...) several thoughts started nagging at me. Wouldn't it be good to knit the sleeves in the round? What about knitting a version in some kind of gorgeous cotton blend? How about making it into a jumper rather than a cardigan, and knitting the body in the round too? Never really been satisfied with the standard cast-on I've always used when it comes to ribbing (unless it's k1p1 ribbing, obviously, where the tubular cast-on is king) -- wouldn't it be ace if I had a knitted ribbed hem, which would look neat and stretch as much as all the rest of the ribbed material?

Wouldn't it, though?

So. Ysolda demonstrates a beautiful knitted hem with a gloriously vibrant hidden facing. I thought long and hard about how I could do the same with ribbing, but ultimately there's no getting around the fact that different colours will bleed together if any variety of purl stitches are involved. No concern -- let's make this project all in one colour. Now, if one were inclined, one can do all sorts. So here's what I did.

First step -- knitting maths to see how my yarn (Cotton Fleece), with its gauge of 5.5 stitches per inch when using 3.75 needles, can be used to follow a pattern inspired by good ole faithful Ribby (requiring a gauge of 4.75 stitches for inch). Maths, my old bete noire, appears to have been defeated this time around. Ha, take that, sums! I win. But I digress.

Provisional cast-on with one more stitch that I needed for the cuff of my sleeve. I wanted the sleeve to be 48 stitches around at the cuff, so I provisionally cast-on 49 stitches. Knit one row on a needle a size or two smaller than your main one (my main needle size is 3.75, so I'm using 3mm for these inside hems).

That extra stitch is worked away after the first round -- the last stitch is knitted together with the first stitch of the first round. This makes the edge of my circular knitting nice and neat, and it helps everything look even more fabulously neat later on (see four points below).

Work the stitches in k2p2 rib, but the reverse of the way the stitches will go on the actual cuff (we're working the inside of the cuff here, remember). I did 13 rows of k2p2 rib on 3mm needles. With the first round of knitting I'd done this makes 14 rows. Then a purl row (this'll be the turning row), still on the 3mm needles.

Switch to the larger needles, and work the k2p2 rib the correct way for the outside of the cuff. (Is this making sense? In essence, for the inside I did p1, *k2p2 to last three stitches, then k2p1. For the outside it was k1, *p2k2 to last three stitches, p2k1. 'K?)

Work 12 rows of ribbing in total on the larger needles. At this point, weave away the end of your yarn from when you first cast-on. You're not going to have the opportunity to do this ever again, very shortly, and I like to be neat even if I can't see the neatness, so weave weave weave.

I could leave it like this... but I won't.

Then comes the fun bit. We're going to remove the extra yarn from the provisional cast-on, transfer the exposed stitches onto additional needles, and then knit (or purl) the working stitches along with the provisional ones. Fiddly? Yes. Worth it? Hell yeah. This is another point where that extra cast-on stitch comes in handy. When you unravel the provisional cast-on, you get one less stitch that you originally cast-on. But how convenient would it be if you'd originally cast-on one more extra stitch than you were ultimately going to need? Ah ha ha!

Once you've achieved the fiddly bit, the hard work is done and you can just keep on knitting up that sleeve. The attractive, stretchy, and fabulously neat hem you've just created will keep on smiling at you all the way.

The keenly observant among you will have realised that the ribbing can't match up exactly on the inside. There's no way to avoid this -- the stitches picked up from the provisional cast-on are all half-a-stitch out of synch from the main ones (you're really picking up the stitches in between the ones you originally created). If you're knitting in stocking stitch it doesn't really matter because you can't tell, but it's quite obvious in ribbing. However this doesn't faze me -- I still think it looks brilliant, and the off-centre nature of the ribbing just illustrates the fact that this is the inside of the cuff.

Planned future episodes: set-in sleeve vs raglan; adventures in seamless set-in sleeves for the foolhardy; choosing the right collar type (zip, no zip, hood...?); will I run out of yarn; do I really like pink..?

Gypsy drop-stitch scarf -- March 2007

2007-05-07T22:25:00.000Z

Ooh, this won't do, that photo of the Ribby disaster that's been at the top of the blog for a couple of weeks is particularly ugly, isn't it? Let's brighten things up a bit.

Ribbon knitting in all its glory (yarn a Christmas present from ravicurio last year). I wasn't sure what to do with my skein of ribbon yarn, even if it was 158 yards long and bursting with muted pretty colours. A scarf was basically it, not least because this stitch pattern (4 rows garter stitch, row of double yarn-overs, one row of garter stitch and drop those y-os like hot potatoes) was just the kind of super-easy baby step that I needed to tentatively try out knitting with ribbon yarn. Verdict? Well, knitting with ribbon is, frankly, weird, and if twisted yarn makes you mad you should never ever get close to ribbon yarn, but I like the 'fabric' it makes and it knitted up nice and fast. Plus, the weather's just about right for a pretty little decorative scarf like this.

Details: Gypsy drop-stitch scarf, knitted in Colinette Giotto (rayon/cotton mix) on -- shock, horror, I can't remember the needle size. This is why I must be a better blogger, people, see?! If I hadn't left it a month before writing up a post I might stand a chance of not looking like an idiot. I think it was 5mm, maybe.. but it's a scarf, it doesn't matter overmuch.

Ribby woe

2007-04-13T22:37:00.000Z

Hey, check it out, I can plug my camera into my boyfriend's laptop and it treats it just like any other flashdrive -- ravicurio, you were dead right.

Shame, then, that the first picture in five weeks I have to show you is one of moderate disaster. What we have here, ladies and gentlemen, is an example of one of those evil knitting laws that nobody tells you about, one which Ms Bias has also recently had the misfortune to experience, one which has the power to make you throw down your needles in disgust. The one which says: leave three months between the knitting of one piece of jumper and another, and your gauge goes way, way off.

That's the back on the right, and one of the front pieces underneath it to the left. They should be exactly the same height. They are, as you can see, demonstrably not. I could block the life out of the back, I suppose, but as doing so would bring the botton of the cardi somewhere several inches below my crotch, I'd rather not. I haven't just done one of the front pieces of course, I've done two identically wrong ones. I only spotted the tiny glitch when I pinned out the pieces for blocking earlier this evening.

So ripping it is. Both the front pieces pulled apart, and then.. knit tightly? Knit on needles one size down, I guess. Bah.

(I was idly browsing old blog posts this afternoon and found this one, where I innocently mention the joys of knitting a chunky jumper on largish needles, and what a pleasantly fast experience it is. That was only five months ago.)

I hope this doesn't kill my knitting mojo right dead again. I think it might be time to put Ribby to one side once more and concentrate on something else, except that the something else I've been plotting the last few days is, irony of ironies, another Ribby. Ahhh, hear my hollow laughter.

So...

2007-04-13T13:30:00.000Z

Oh dear. I really shouldn't have boasted about the joys of having internet all the time in my last post, because shortly after that my beloved Mac started making unpleasantly scary noises, and has been sulking, in a very turned-off state, in a desk drawer ever since. I'm sure I will get it fixed eventually but in the meantime it has defeated my blogging abilities somewhat, particularly in the way of handling photos, and who wants to read a knitting blog without those? Still, this weekend I am determined to find a way (thankfully we are not a single-computer household) and who knows what I'll manage. There is ribbon knitting to show, you see, and a big pile of patient Ribby just waiting for blocking and seaming (about which, incidentally -- if, like me, you have a moment of idiocy when it comes to an innocent bit of a knitting pattern, and said pattern happens to be designed by the incomparable Bonne Marie, just email the lovely lady and she might send you a detailed and impressively non-condescending reply within hours, the angel).

So, yes, let me block my baby-steps ribbon knitting, establish a workaround camera-computer arrangement, and we'll see if I can breathe some life back into this show some time in the next week.

Endpaper Mitts -- January-February 2007

2007-03-10T14:51:00.000Z

Oops, fell off the planet for a few weeks there. See, this is why I need to always be part of a Secret Pal swap -- it forces me to update properly and on a regular basis. To be fair, I moved again a month ago and that's always a bit life-consuming. Also we haven't had 'net access at home until just recently, however now I have wireless broadband accessible all the time so there's no excuse. Promise to do better, from now on.

Anyway. I finished the Endpaper Mitts! Five weeks ago, *cough*, actually, but there you go. (I only wove in the ends and blocked them two weeks ago, so it's nearly current.) Here's a picture.

Aren't they just absolutely, utterly, gorgeous? They have already garnered more compliments than nearly everything else I've knitted put together. Delicate, elegant, simple, satisfying and pretty. Kind of retro and yet also very chic and of-the-moment. And warm, too (apart from the lack of fingers, obviously). Believe Eunny when she says they're the perfect project for someone who's not done fair isle before, for she is wise and clever and right on the money.

Have another picture.

*loves*

Details: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang, knitted in RYC Cashsoft 4-ply on 2.5mm and 3mm double-pointed bamboo needles.

In other news, I am on a self-enforced yarn ban for at least a couple of months. I have a bunch of gifted (and purchased!) yarns that are calling out to be used in some interesting projects (actually, some of them already are, it's been so long since I wrote the text for this post), and all I need to do is stay strong. Wish me luck!

last weekend

2007-01-27T11:43:00.000Z

This is what I achieved last weekend.

Finishing the back of my Ribby Cardi. Good old stoic Ribby. It only gets used as an interim knit -- picked up and worked on in between the snappy thrilling jazzy knits I can't resist (more on that below) -- and yet keeps on giving and giving. The material is cosy and firm and satisfying, the colours are blue hues that I love, it's going to be so warm and, with a spot of luck, even a little bit flattering. It's also so speedy when I actually get going. This back piece was cast-on before Christmas, ignored for several weeks, and then finished last weekend. The whole project was started more than two months ago and you'd really expect me to be wearing the finished item with pride by now. But no, sleeves and back is where it's at.

Wouldn't it have been handy to have a snug-fitting super-warm wool cardigan to wear when it snowed this week and London broke down? Yeah. Never mind. Ribby will keep rolling along slowly, a cast-on here and an inch there, and I'll probably have it finished just in time for spring. No worries, I think it'll reward me next winter nonetheless.

So this is the other thing I did at the weekend.

Ohhh fair isle. I have crossed that line and I'll never go back. And god bless you, Eunny Jang, for your enticing and encouraging endpaper mitts.

I didn't go for fair isle when I first started knitting again two years ago and I skipped that chapter in Stitch'n'Bitch. Stripes were the limit of any colourwork I was prepared to do. Intarsia was daunting enough, but fair isle quietly scared the crap out of me. So I established that I loved to do stitch patterns instead (which I do), and pretended that fair isle didn't exist. Unfortunately it kept on silently gnawing at me that I'd let a knitting technique defeat me without even trying it. I consoled myself, though, by saying that I'd never seen a fair isle pattern I truly wanted to knit.

Enter the mitts. Small enough to lure me in, useful enough to make me want them (did I tell you I lost one of my fingerless gloves from last year, just before Christmas? le sigh), pretty enough to make me covet them. And, as it turns out, simple enough for me to make them.

I spent two hours last Saturday locked in deep concentration. I had to face the main reason that I'd put off fair isle for so long -- I didn't know how to knit continental style, and I'd thought I never wanted to learn. Wrong, wrong, wrong. So I took the plunge, took one colour yarn in my right hand and the other in my left, and away I went. And actually, it wasn't that bad. With a few hours practice I can now do it almost fluently (albeit still quite slowly, but these mitts are so teeny that one round only takes a few minutes). Doing the knitting continental style in my left hand was decidedly weird (I had to learn to knit. But I already know how to knit. Argh, etc.) but not as terrifying or awkward as I'd feared. Sure, for the first few hours I couldn't grasp the yarn properly like I do instinctively with my right hand. But I remembered back to when I learnt how to knit the English way, and also remembered the glee I felt when I finally got proper tension, and persevered. And lo and behold, now I can knit continental*, and fair isle is no longer the dark art it once was.

It's also FIERCELY ADDITIVE. Man it is satisfying to see that pattern emerge. I can't wait for these to be finished.

* I say I can knit continental. This is no lie. Purling continental, however, remains slightly beyond me. Not, I hope, for long.

I am a lucky lucky girl

2007-01-26T20:33:00.000Z

Firstly, look what my Secret Pal (that's Sunshine Pop, by the way) sent me for my last package of the exchange.

And that picture doesn't actually do the full package justice, because there were also TWO bags of Haribo for me. But I made the mistake of opening the parcel at work yesterday and those Haribo are long gone. They were much enjoyed though.

But even putting sweets aside, look at what there is! Two skeins of gorgeous gorgeous Koigu (mmm), some Debbie Bliss Cathay, and some excellent vivid orange/yellow Regia sock yarn. Not to mention three lovely goodies from Lush, a mix-CD, and some effing nifty purple DPNs (in 2.25mm, a size I do not own, hurrah!). Thank you no-longer-Secret Pal, you've been ace and it's all very much appreciated.

And while I'm showing off all the knitting loveliness I've been gifted with recently, here's a picture of the knitty joys I got for Christmas (not including the mystery Italian silk yarn I blogged about last month). It appears that people have started paying attention to my knitting habit, a development of which I heartily approve.

So we have... Sensational Knitted Socks and two skeins of Opal sock yarn. That little combo was one of my presents from my especially ace boyfriend, bless him. Apparently he was mocked more than a little (by the non-kniterati) about getting those for me but he stood firm and was right on the money -- he knows me best, after all. The book is fab and practically bursting with tips and patterns and will definitely be my first port of call next time I'm sock knitting. And the yarn, staggeringly, comes in at 150g per skein. Wow! Over-the-knee socks, anyone?

After that there's Knitting Vintage Socks which was another fine present from some of my friends. There's some brilliant and entertainingly dated socks in there as well as some that have stood the test of time, and the book itself is beautifully presented. Then finally in the middle you can see some Colinnette ribbon yarn from my brother ravicurio/longcat (him of the hat). It's all dusky pinks and browns and greens and weighs practically nothing, so I think some variety of featherlight scarf is in the offing. I've never used ribbon yarn before and I'm a little nervous and excited about it.

So many presents! Lucky, lucky me! As a result I've got a huge stash at the moment and I really can't justify buying any new yarn in the immediate future, so I'm giving myself a yarn ban for at least the next two to three months (I've got an imminent house move too, next month, so saving money both by NOT buying expensive yarn AND staying in a lot and entertaining myself with lots and lots of knitting is definitely A Good Thing).

Watch this space for another post tomorrow detailing some actual genuine knitting. Imagine that.

ETA: Have changed the look of my blog just now, and comments have gone so strange! All the nice things people have said appear to now be from 'anonymous'. Bah. Can you all still comment? Anyone out there?

Cable pattern

2007-01-24T15:00:00.000Z

Kristen asked for the slip-stitch cable rib I used on my Koigu socks. It's a dead simple four-stitch/five-row pattern (and is, as I said, based on the cables used on Amelia's socks here so some of these instructions come from her).

Sl1 = Slip next st as if to purl.
C3F = Slip next st onto cable needle and hold at front of work. K next 2 sts, K1 from cable needle.
C3B = Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work. K next st, K2 from cable needle.

LEFT SOCK (actually, it doesn't matter whether it's left or right, it's just the fact that one sock is a mirror image of the other)
Round 1 - P1, K3. Repeat to end of round.
Round 2 - As Round 1.
Round 3 - P1, Sl1, K2. Repeat to end of round.
Round 4 - P1, C3F. Repeat to end of round
Round 5 - As Round 1.

RIGHT SOCK
Round 1 - P1, K3. Repeat to end of round.
Round 2 - As Round 1.
Round 3 - P1, K2, Sl1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 4 - P1, C3B. Repeat to end of round.
Round 5 - As Round 1.

That's it. And it produces a lovely fitting sock, yet with plenty of stretch, and looks surprisingly impressive. I did mine toe-up with short-row toes and heel, but you could do it top-down too, the cables would just be the other way around.

Raspberry Koigu cables -- December 2006

2007-01-01T21:16:00.000Z

Check out my Christmas socks! I LOVE them! They are very very satisfying and possibly my favourite knit to date.

The first sock, to be fair, had a reasonable number of false starts. The first when I managed to again ruin the short-row toe, and the second when I reluctantly realised that it was Just. Too. Big.

And yet I don't understand because I swatched. In the round. And yet the gauge in my swatch was entirely different to the gauge on the actual sock. The only logical explanation is that I inadvertently swatched on 2mm needles instead of 2.5, but wow am I actually that dumb? It is possible, of course.

Look though, look! See the left-slanting cable on one foot and the right-slanting cable on the other? The grafted cast-off? (god how I adore the grafted cast-off) That delicious COLOUR? (which doesn't properly translate to web photos, but believe me it is even more tasty in reality)

It's amazing how a good sock has the ability to cheer. These, unlike my unhappy green ribbed socks, fit with exactly the right level of snugness, stretch and comfort. The four-stitch cabled rib is brilliant; elegant and hugging but with plenty of stretch. It's a bastardised version of Amelia's slip-stitch cable pattern for her Spindle socks -- I shrunk it down a bit and used the left-slanting half on one sock and the right-slanting one for the other. And it's taught me that doing a toe-up sock in the correct size means that a short-row heel gives plenty of room -- I was planning to try a toe-up gusset heel because that last pair of socks had convinced me I had giant ankles, but realised when I reached that point in the sock that there was no need. Hurrah!

Seriously though, how do people knit socks at speed when they don't have a week off work in which to knit almost solidly? These took me nine days of lots of knitting and rather a lot less of other activities (with eating too much, drinking a bit, and happy Christmas times making up most of those).

Details: Toe-up slip-stitch cabled socks socks with short-row toe and heel, knitted in Koigu KPM on 2.5mm and 2mm double-pointed bamboo needles.

Secret Pal post AGAIN

2006-12-22T13:25:00.000Z

In haste, because I literally have ten minutes before I must leave for my train, but here's a photo of the little goodie bag I received in the post the other day. Sock yarn, card, candle and CD of some particularly GREAT tunes. Thank you SP, very very much.

Happy festive times to you all! Back in 2007 (or possibly right at the very very end of 2006). xx

Mystery Italian yarn

2006-12-17T19:14:00.000Z

One of my very best friends gave me this stunning yarn as a Christmas present yesterday. It's so beautiful, all muted sea greens and pale blues. It has the look of silk, too, although my friend says that she bought it from an elderly Italian woman with a sheep on a market stall in rural Italy.

So. The instructions with the yarn, needless to say, are in Italian. Someone else at the party last night gave a very credible stab at translating them, but couldn't get that far. She did, however, say that it appears the instructions are for fixing the colour, which terrifies me slightly (the thought of knitting something beautiful with this, then washing it once and all the colour washing out... eep!). In my eternal belief that the Internet can solve everything, are there any Italian readers out there who can help me? Any help very gratefully received.

Instructions (faithfully, I hope, copied out) read as follows:

INFORMAZIONI PER L'USO

I colori sono abbastanza stabili: da 3 a 5 in una scala da 1 a 6. In generale si può dire che le tinte forti sono più stabili e i blu sulla seta schappé sono meno stabili (3) su seta burette e lana invece sono fermi. (4-5).

E' opportuno lavare i capi a mano a 30-40°C possibilmente con un detersivo liquido per lana, strizzare e asciugare per esteso.

Stirare col ferro a vapore o panno umido restituisce alla seta la lucentezza e ai capi di lana la forma.

Si può anche usare il lavaggio a secco (macchie).

I capi tinti con l'indaco, all'inizio lasciano tracce di blu sulla pelle o sui capi sottostanti. Un effetto che col tempo si perde e che comunque si risolve lavando con acqua.

Il filato a capo unico, di alta qualità e poca lavorazione, tende a fare pillino, un effetto che si perde col tempo o stirando; su capi di lana si può anche spazzolare.

ETA: Hurrah for the power of the Internet! My marvellous friend Paul has furnished me with a comprehensive translation, copied below for those who were on tenterhooks.

Instructions

The colours are quite stable (3-5, on a scale from 1-6). In general, you can expect that strong colours will be more stable. Blues on schappe silk are less stable (3), but on burette silk and wool, they are fast (4-5).

You should wash garments by hand at 30-40 degrees C, using a liquid detergent for wool, if possible, and then wringing them out and drying them flat.

Use a steam iron or iron with a damp cloth to give silks back their brightness, and to reshape woollen garments.

Dry cleaning is also possible for stains.

Items using an indigo dye may initially leave blue stains on skin or garments worn underneath. This effect disappears over time, and the stains can in any case be removed by washing with water.

Single-thread(?) yarns, high quality and having undergone relatively little processing, may tend to pilling - an effect that disappears over time or with ironing; woollen garments can also be brushed.

Ribby and Koigu and me

2006-12-16T13:43:00.000Z

Poor neglected blog! This time of year is a tricky one for juggling blogging obligations and work ones and social ones. But still. The two main reasons are a) my slackness, and b) the AGONY of still not having reliable internet access at home. I passionately miss my wireless home broadband, and believe me it will be right high up the list of essentials when I move again in January (just above a good heating system, but just below a decent shower).

In the meantime though, have some snippets, and apologies for the brevity. Firstly, herewith one sleeve of the painfully slow Ribby Cardi. This is such an easy knit, and a swift one too, and yet I have only finished the sleeves! All those festive weekend parties and evening shindigs are quite fiercely cutting into my knitting time. But nonetheless, I am looking forward to this when it's finished -- despite there being no waist shaping I can see how the clever ribbing will make it a lovely form-fitting item. And hopefully good with jeans, too, which for me is fairly crucial. ALSO, have I ever mentioned how fantastically cheap the yarn is from elann.com? I bought an excess of the suggested yarn (Peruvian Highland Wool) for fear of running out and never being able to get it again over here, and even with shipping it was still about half the price of the last jumper I made and I will have stacks left over (granted I am not using something akin in price to PURE GOLD this time, but still).

Here's a glimpse of my Christmas present to myself. Mmm. Raspberry Koigu. I bought this decidedly tasty yarn with a friend in mind, but realised after I'd come down from the yarn lust that I might possibly have been projecting my colour tastes onto her. I confirmed this when I casually asked how she felt about pink socks and she pulled a rather disgusted face. But I let out an inward cheer when she did, because it meant I could keep this for myself with a blissfully clear conscience. And my reward is to knit up a cute pair of cabled socks over Christmas. I'm doing all the legwork now, checking gauge (I swatched in the ROUND, people, I am so pleased with myself), working out measurements, stitch patterns, sock-knitting methods and all. They're going to be ace, and I'm going to get to try out some new techniques in the process (and perfect, I hope, some old ones). Hurrah.

Mostly though, isn't it just practically edible? I treat myself a bit too much, I think, but never mind. It is Christmas.

fly-by post

2006-12-05T11:21:00.000Z

Just a quick one, to say what a lovely time I had last night at the Debbie Bliss talk. Debbie was brilliant, very interesting and engaging (and sharply witty), and she'd brought a mountain of garments from recent collections showing off different styles and yarns. Which we all tried on merrily. I left very inspired to make some new items (and also bought some absolutely gorgeous Koigu sock yarn, madly expensive but SO LOVELY, it's possibly going to be knitted up into a present for someone but I have to establish just how much they like raspberry pink in case I can keep it as a present for myself!). Also was so nice to meet other knitters and spend a few hours with some extremely friendly, like-minded women. All rather excellent, I just wish I'd taken my camera.

woohoo!

2006-12-01T22:49:00.000Z

LOOK! Look what I came home to last night!

Are you ahhing at the fine range of confectionery there? Oohing at the Lush bathbomb? Jealous of the sock blocker? Or simply sighing at that absolutely gorgeous sock yarn? (makeup unknown -- any hints, SP?)

Or are you, much as I was, wondering what the bee is in aid of? I have to confess, friends, I found that particular little goody in my bag of treats and couldn't quite work out what it was. Something just ornamental, perhaps? A little strange, but fair enough. But oh no. It's much much more. See!

It's all absolutely fabulous and I am enjoying being part of this secret pal exchange SO MUCH. Thank you Secret Pal!

PS I know my updates are few and far between at the moment. This mostly driven by a distinct lack of internet access at my current abode. Normal service only resumes when I'm resident at my lovely boyfriend's home (getting the picture onto blogger involved a long chain of technology, from my camera and laptop at home and care of a USB memory stick). However you're not missing much because I'm still only three-quarters of the way through the second sleeve of my Ribby Cardi. Knitting is taking a bit of a backseat to a hectic work and social life at the moment, but I do hope to make some progress soon.

yarn shops and pals and knits and things

2006-11-15T16:58:00.000Z

La la la, I have just booked the final place for a talk by Debbie Bliss at the gorgeous Stash Yarns in a couple of weeks. I haven't mentioned it before but my current living place (which is only until January) is fantastically close to Stash Yarns. I haven't been able to take advantage of this yet because I've been away at weekends (and in the evenings have agonisingly gone past it on the bus... after it has shut), but soon I will be spending some happy hours there rooting around and finding new exciting yarns that aren't available anywhere else in London. And am very intrigued to see what Debbie says and has to show us -- I've had mixed experiences with her patterns, but no doubt it'll be interesting to hear her talk.

I bought my first few gifts for my Secret Pal spoilee at the weekend, and am currently steeling myself to actually post them (I so want to keep them for myself, but I musn't!). I'd post pictures of them here (particularly the yarn, which is just gorgeous) but will resist on the tiny chance that my spoilee stumbles/has stumbled across my blog and works out the connection.

But the yarn is so lovely. Sigh.

In my own knitting news, I saw Maisie modelling her tanktop today, and she was super-cute in it. I'm also at the very start of a Ribby Cardi (half a sleeve done at the weekend, although I've not had a chance to touch it since). No pictures yet (internet access at my new place v. limited), but I'll just say that doing a chunky (yet elegant) winter knit at this time of year is good for the soul. So soothing and satisfying, and fast.

Maisie's Tanktop -- October 2006

2006-11-06T19:02:00.000Z

So my friend John at work wears tanktops every so often and is surprisingly proud of it. And he was imminently due to become a brand new father so the gift required for that particular family was really quite obvious.

Nearly completely knitted on the fly, it's not perfect and it's only a tiny garment, but it is all my own work and I'm inordinately pleased with it. And my friend was chuffed by it so I've achieved my aim.

I used all sorts of indulgent techniques: tubular cast-on, grafted cast-off, kitchener shoulders, cute little stripe pattern. If I started this again I'd knit it in the round, but it worked fine knit flat in two pieces. I'd also re-do the neck, by kitchenering both shoulders first, then picking up and knitting the neck stitches in the round. On this version I kitchenered one shoulder then picked up and knitted the neck working back and forth on straights. The problem with this became apparent when I joined the other shoulder and realised there was an ugly gap between the sides of the neck, which I fudged with some false stitches. If it hadn't been 11pm the night before I needed to give the gift to its recipient I'd have ripped out the neck and done it again, but time was running out. Plus this innocent little piece is end-TASTIC -- a huge amount of working away for such a little item was needed before it was done.

It was my first time trying tubular cast-on, and ooh, it really is as lovely as everyone says. And not particularly tricky, either, just a little time-consuming. I don't do all that much in single rib, but whenever I do it in future I'll always use tubular cast-on. Why wouldn't you?

An extra layer of satisfaction was added by using some of my grandmother's needles. I've had a box of knitting needles since I was seven years old that used to belong to my grandmother. The box moved around in various positions in my bedroom over the years, but two things remained constant: firstly that I was very resistant to ever giving it up; and secondly that I never knitted a stitch. That box was the first thing I thought of when I started knitting more recently, but I got addicted to circs pretty early on and it's rare for me to use straights. For this project though -- something so small and lightweight -- straights were just fine. And I managed to find a size that is almost 4mm but not quite, but definitely bigger than 3.75mm. All my grandmother's needles are marked in Imperial sizes, naturally, which is a sizing system I love for its complete inability to make sense (why are there two different size eights? why??).

She made me endless baby clothes on those needles, so it's very pleasing to be making further baby clothes on them 25 years later. She'd have been so pleased, too.

Details: Baby tanktop, my own design, knitted in RYC Cashsoft Baby DK on (almost) 4mm and 3.5mm straight plastic needles.

but does it make me a bad person?

2006-10-29T21:50:00.000Z

I have a confession to make.

I'm moving soon, you see, so I'm currently in the middle of a packing/house-clearing jag. And lots of stuff has gone or is going to charity (or those clothes-recyling bins), and earlier I... put my first ever knitted jumper into the charity bag. It was a heart-wrenching decision, honestly. But I really am trying to purge my belongings, and while that jumper was a huge milestone, knitting-wise, it's also an item that I haven't worn once since I made it which is boxy, heavy, and really truly unflattering. Was I right to do it? Oh well, too late now, anyway.

On a happier note, look what's blocking on my very-home-made blocking board right now! (a tiny note of cheer amongst the chaos of my packing)

A tiny tiny tanktop! There's a reason for knitting a tanktop for this particular newborn baby, rather than, say, the traditional booties. But I'll go into that when it's finished. In the meantime it just cheers me up by existing, and being so goddamn cute.

ETA: Oops, I meant to say first, thank you so much for all the lovely encouraging comments on my somewhat-altered somewhat cowl. You've all reassured me that I made the right call.

ETA2: Eek, la glitz has guilted me into another addition. The jumper's still in the bag by the front door, and won't actually be taken to the charity recyling place until Saturday. It's this jumper here, and probably contains about five and a half skeins of Rowanspun Chunky. So, if anyone reading is weeping at the thought of me binning all that 100 per cent wool and fidgeting in their chair thinking of all the fabulous things they could make with it, comment here and it can be yours! I'd be delighted to post the jumper to someone who'd rip out the yarn and reuse it in something better. In the unlikely event that any of you fancy it it'll be first come first served, but comment before Saturday or it'll be too late.

Somewhat Cowl -- August-October 2006

2006-10-20T18:15:00.000Z

So I was wearing this the other night, possibly while a tiny bit tipsy, and was disconsolately staring at myself in the mirror thinking "but it's not quite right". Something about the cowlish neckline just wasn't flattering for my figure. It was fine, mostly, but not the gorgeous, glamorous item I'd hoped for, and a tiny annoying voice in the back of my head was insistently telling me that I knew I wouldn't wear it very often. All that work and all that stunning, beautiful (expensive!) yarn would sit in a neatly folded pile in my wardrobe, taunting me every time I saw it. What a waste.

I kept fiddling around with the neck, pulling it this way and that and trying to make it stick out a bit more, and then tried flipping it backwards. And OH MY GOD. Suddenly the neckline was fabulous, and a bit kooky, and much more flattering and definitely something that I'd actively choose to wear. So today, while decidedly more sober, and after confirming with my housemates and my boyfriend that yes, the new way totally works, I carefully sewed the back of the cowl into its new, fulltime position. Am I mad? Have I ruined what was a perfectly good design? Tell me what you think because I'm genuinely curious.

Old style on the left side, new style on the right. The lighting was much better in the morning 'shoot', as you can see, and those pictures also show the colour of the yarn more accurately.

Before and after, front view. Also, in case you're wondering, I swear I'm wearing the same clothes underneath this in both pictures, and am holding exactly same posture. See what I mean about flattering to my figure?

Before and after, back view.

Ooh, pesky cowl, suddenly I feel like I've won again and I'm right back in love with you. Largely to do with the yarn as well, to be fair (although no disrespect to the pattern) -- believe me when I say this stuff is absolutely gorgeous. Madly extravagant? Oh yes. But utterly, utterly beautiful, butter-soft and with a delicious sheen. And warm, gosh, like you wouldn't believe. When I was wearing it the other night I found myself decidedly grateful that I'd gone for the short sleeves instead of the three-quarter-length version. It has its own spoiled-princess little quirks, mind: a tendency to twist up dramatically on the working yarn between the garment and the ball, and varying degrees of thickness (definitely spun slightly unevenly, but I guess that's the magic of silk). But overall it is just simply beautiful. I realised how completely spoilt I'd been when I picked up some RYC baby cashsoft to start a new project. That's RYC baby cashsoft, yes, one of the cosiest, softest wool yarns around, and yet which seemed positively harsh compared to what I'd become accustomed to. I think I should knit with string for a little while, to balance things out a bit.

And the cowl itself, the wayward thing? Yeah it's a prety glam jumper, all in, more so for my figure once I'd made my adjustments to the neckline. I added some length to the body, as per usual, and did a couple more waist decreases (and matching increases). A tip for people considering this pattern: if you'd rather your cowl stands out more than Wendy's or mine (in its standard, pre-amends, version), pick up many more stitches that Wendy suggests for the bottom part of the cowl. Mine lay flat like that because I only picked up 10 stitches (as per the pattern) along a part that's 20 stitches wide -- picking up 20 would have made it much looser and cowly. This pattern overall was delightfully clear and easy to follow. And top-down raglan patterns in general? Real genius and I'll most certainly do one again.

For completeness -- here's a lovely blurry photo taken shortly after the 'eureka!' moment.

Details: Somewhat Cowl, size Small, knitted in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk (less than eight hanks) in 04 (cream), on 3.75 and 3.5mm bamboo circular needles and 3.75 and 3.5mm bamboo DPNs. Took around eight weeks (yes yes, I'm not a speedy knitter at the moment, I'm fine with that), of which intense knitting only happened over two or three weekends.

Somewhat finished, nearly

2006-10-16T21:53:00.000Z

It's finished, that tricksy cowl, and thankfully I do like it. Relief. But it needs a) blocking and b) someone else to take the pictures of me wearing it, so proper photos still to come. In the meantime, have a little teaser picture of that glorious material, all casually dropped in a heap and yet still oozing charm. This whole project is so decadent it almost hurts -- cream yarn, for a start, and one hundred percent silk. Just to make a silly little not-really-cowly jumper? But it's so astonishingly gorgeous. I could curl up in it and make a nest of soft, luxurious extravagance forever.

mmmmmmm

Secret Pals and Somewhat Cowls

2006-10-11T12:04:00.000Z

Everything's going nicely on the SP9 exchange. I have my spoilee and have been merrily nosing around her blog. And my very own SP has said hello, too, *waves at SP*. All rather lovely and friendly, albeit still slightly strange to me. BUt, hello, PRESENTS. And meeting two new people. What's not to like?

Things not going quite so nicely on the Somewhat Cowl. A week and a half ago I'd finished everything (ends woven in and everything!) except the cowl, and was half an inch or so into that. Now I am, wait for it.. about two inches into the cowl. Out of six. Gah. Finding posts like this (which is far from alone) dissing the finished product hasn't helped my atitude much either (what if it looks AWFUL? what a WASTE! honestly, I might have to cry). I should really do blog searches on projects either before or very much after I've made the one in question. Searching during a project always brings up more negative vibes than good ones, and throws me into a spiralling crisis of confidence. Ho hum. I should have an uninterrupted weekend ahead, and I very much intend to finish it, finally, regardless of how gloomy I am about the ultimate product. Does everyone have these down moments about a garment they've spent weeks lovingly working on? Hmm. Hopefully it will actually still be fabulous. *crosses fingers, very tightly*

Secret Pal questionnaire

2006-10-03T22:01:00.000Z

Hello, secret pal, whoever you may be... Here are my answers to the SP9 questions. Use them wisely!

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibres do you absolutely not like?

There are very few that I don't like. I suppose I've never used anything that's 100 percent acrylic, and I'd like to keep it that way, but some acrylic mixes can still be lovely. My favourite yarns tend to be soft and luxurious (RYC cashsoft, kidsilk haze) but I like to try all sorts of yarn mixes to see what they're like.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

Um, a big jiffy bag? And a plastic box for the straight ones, which belonged to my grandmother.

3. How long have you been knitting and how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting properly since February 2005. I learned to knit when I was tiny, but never advanced beyond the knit stitch (purling was beyond me). Then a couple of years ago I saw all sorts of online people talking about Stitch'n'Bitch, and that was the main catalyst for me learning to knit again (and, finally, learning to purl!).

I'd say I'm an intermediate knitter, now -- I've not done anything really advanced, but nothing's been hugely basic, either. I'd say I'm your fair to average knitter, quite slow and painstaking but I like things to come out well. Perhaps I'll class myself as 'advanced' in a year or two.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

We-ell, yes I have an Amazon wishlist, but it's so out of date that it hardly counts. So I'll say no, for practical purposes.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)

Ahh, I'm rubbish at this kind of thing. I like all kinds of scents. Nothing too flowery or sickly, I suppose. That said, I quite like lavender as a relaxing bath oil... Sorry, next question!

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

On occasion, but not regularly.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

Not very many other crafty things, to be honest, and no I don't spin.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Oh everything. Seriously, there's very few types of music that I don't like. And yes, MP3s are fine.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

Blues, lilacs, creams. No colours I don't like, although I wouldn't personally ever knit anything in black.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Is it me, or is this a weird question? I live with friends at the moment, although I hope to have moved in with my boyfriend by the time this Secret Pal is over. No pets in any of the households I do or will be living in, although I'd like there to be a cat. But, alas, there isn't (yet!).

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

This is bizarrely specific, but OK. Yes, yes, no, no.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks and jumpers.

13. What are you knitting right now?

The Somewhat Cowl.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

It's not that I don't, but I suppose I feel a little strange about a stranger spending their time making something for me.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Ooh, circulars every time. I do have a collection of straights, but they're all ones I inherited from my grandmother. I knitted my third project on circulars and I've never looked back. And bamboo, for preference.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I have a yarn winder! Another object that belonged to my grandmother, but satisfyingly I found the exact same model still for sale through the interweb.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

It's from the beginning of the year. Shh.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas baby, yeah!

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Clutter? No, nothing really, other than an ever-increasing stash pile and collection of books.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Oh c'mon, telling you that would be just TOO EASY. But, if you are someone from outside of the UK, any types of yarn that aren't easily available over here would be lovely. That said, if you're inside the UK, I'll take anything! And I do have one subscription, to Rowan magazine.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Loads. Everything that I haven't yet tried.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes! Only two pairs so far, but I expect there to be many, many more over the coming years. Foot measurements -- everything's about nine inches (length of foot, and circumference around the ankle).

23. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

10th of May (born in 1980, for those who are interested).

Aaand, we're done.

rant

2006-09-23T10:06:00.000Z

Arghhhh, *head in hands*, *weeps*.

Someone is really trying to mess with my head.

Am at the BF's house for the weekend. He's out playing golf. I have my knitting, natch, to keep me occupied for the next four hours. Except, I have realised that I'd read the pattern wrong, and have brought a needle slightly smaller than required for the ribbing part of my raglan beauty (which is where I'm at, now). I need a 3.5mm circ, 60 or 80cm, and I've brought a 3.25mm. I started using it anyway but it's not quite right and I don't want to ruin my gorgeous jumper after all the work so far. Hours and hours of knitting-less gloom stretch out in front of me.

So. I have rung six, yes SIX, yarn/haberdashery/department stores in the last twenty minutes. Six! I am in the wilds of Buckinghamshire and was impressed that I could find so many within logistical public transport distance. Each one staffed by lovely friendly useless people on the other end of the phone. "Yes yes, circular needles, of course, I'll just check the sizes. ... [pause] ... ohh, I'm terribly sorry, we appear to have sold out of the 3.5mm. 3.75mm any good?"

EVERY LAST SODDING ONE HAS SOLD OUT OF 3.5 CIRCULAR NEEDLES. Seriously, WHO THE HELL is buying all the 3.5mm circular needles in Buckinghamshire? Who?

*sniff*. I am going to have to weave in all the ends as a last resort attempt at productivity. And then when that's done I will have NOTHING TO DO and only itchy knitting fingers to drive me mad until tomorrow evening. And I am in the knitting ZONE, people! Bah.

Edited to add:

About an hour after writing the above I was mardily rooting through my handbag when I glanced at my phone and noticed an answerphone message was waiting. It was the BF, telling me his sister (also golfing) had reminded him about a haberdashery shop in the village, just down the road.

And oh! It was all so beautifully ironic and fairytale, that I should have tried all over the county to find those elusive needles only to find them actually on my doorstep. Everything went all twinkly and sparkly for a moment. I rushed to the phone, beaming, all ill-will washed away as if by magic.

Yeah. They didn't have them in stock. Bloody gold dust, it seems, 3.5mm circs. But I went down and had a look at the shop anyway, out of curiosity, and although their knitting section is pretty tiny I did cheer myself up a little by buying this rather lovely sock yarn. Mmm, socks. (Ahh, so quickly we forget.)

So anyway, here's the jumper as it currently stands, ends all neatly (albeit reluctantly) woven away and faulty ribbing ripped out (and good god I'd forgotten how much I hate undoing knitting, ugh). The pattern is the Somewhat Cowl and I have high hopes that ultimately it's going to be fabulous, despite how funny-looking it appears at the moment. But now, reluctantly, I must accept that it's at a standstill until tomorrow evening.

London living

2006-09-18T18:13:00.000Z

For Meg. My top five tips for living frugally in London (such as they are):

1. I think you've beaten me to it on this one, but taking your own lunch to work (and not being tempted to buy out) is a massive money-saver. Hopefully you getting free lunches will help you out a lot.

2. Samuel Smiths pubs will do you a cheaper (house brew, but decent) pint than most other pubs in London, and happily they're all over the place.

3. I don't know where your job will be in relation to your house, but if you have to fork out for a monthly travelcard (which will hurt) then make the most of it -- you can make it well worth the cash if you let it take you to all the freebie cool places in London. Use it everywhere, and if you're not on your own (or very brave) get night buses home rather than taxis.

4. Supermarkets. Dull, but true -- don't get sucked in by the allure and convenience of the train station mini-supermarket if you can at all help it. (We're all trendy young things who just dash in to buy some wine and fresh pasta for dinner on the way home... OR SO THEY'D HAVE US BELIEVE.) They'll have added 15% onto the cost of everything. Asda is by far the cheapest place (sadly few and far between) but isn't so great for fresh foods. Waitrose and Sainsburys are the most expensive. Tesco is an OK mid-range option. (god this is boring, sorry!)

5. Free things to see and do! So many free things and I don't make nearly enough of them all. My favourite London place of anywhere is the South Bank, which has the National Film Theatre, street performers, free music, the Tate Modern and fabulous London views, all just for starters. All the museums are free and well worth a visit. In fact, having just tried it, typing 'free things to do in London' into Google gives you 77,300,000 results...

I hope these help -- good luck!

Also, 6., don't have an expensive yarn habit. Ha.

presents and all good things

2006-09-14T11:26:00.000Z

Oooo look what I did! I have signed up to the latest Secret Pal (and thank you to Jennifer, who I shamelessly copied). I've always wanted to do one of these. I have chosen exactly the wrong time to join it, as I'll be moving at least twice during the next four months, but I do have one stable address for all that time and hopefully my Secret Pal will be understanding. It's such a sweet idea (the Internet can be a strangely lovely place, at times) and I'm already thinking about what items I can send to my Pal. Spoiling random strangers with knitting goodies! Excitement!

In other news, the silk raglan beauty is coming along nicely. It's had a little hiatus over the last week but I fully expect to recharge it this weekend. Perhaps some photos of its progress soon, if you like. Must not get addicted to knitting with silk though or I will actually be moving out onto the street (albeit kitted out in a stylish range of cosy hand-knits, natch).

Post of the unfinished

2006-08-24T19:30:00.000Z

I've been a bit neglectful of this blog recently, apologies, *pats blog*. I'm in the early days of my latest knitting obsession but I also have several unfinished projects hanging around and taunting me, and perhaps putting them down in black and white (or, rather, green) and illustrating them with pictures will serve as a reminder until they (one day) taunt so loudly that I actually finish them.

This is about six inches of Liesel. I think I started it in February -- I was between projects and the only significant amount of yarn I had to hand was four skeins of Rowan Cork (a gift from Rowan for signing up for a year). It kept my interest for about three nights until I realised that I should really get cracking on the Alphabet Blanket instead.

And this is one of the projects started immediately after said blanket. It's a half-sized version of Via Diagonale, using leftover Rowan Glace from my Peppermint Twist, and is actually lots of fun to knit. I think I stopped because I couldn't decide quite what I'm going to do with it. (it'll be a ridiculously impractical little purse thing, clearly, but should I use a zip to fasten it? a clasp? long handles or short ones? ooh, I just don't know)

This is one project that I didn't think I'd get disheartened with, because (not that you can really tell from this picture) it's a pretty lace scarf pattern made from the fabulous Handmaiden Seasilk I bought a couple of months ago. The dip in enthusiasm came about when it became painfully apparent that, despite being 500 metres per hank, it wasn't going to hold out for the long, elegant scarf I'd planned (my knitting maths went very very wrong). Currently it's about 30 inches long and I'm not convinced that there's more than 10 inches left in the yarn. Bah. So instead of finishing it and living with it I've taken the mature attitude and buried it at the bottom of my knitting basket.

But this is the item I'm working on right now. A few days at my parents' this week has had the usual effect (brought about by delicious peace and quiet and a regular supply of tea) of kick-starting another big knitting project. It's my first jumper since last December and is a chic little top-down raglan number. I've thrown caution to the wind and am using the most decadent cream silk yarn which is utterly utterly gorgeous.

("Ah don't worry," twinkled the little old lady behind the counter as I handed over my last hope of a mortgage this decade, "it's only money." Ha.)

It is very beautiful, and although I'm remembering already why stocking stitch is such an agonising thing to knit (really the most elegant material, but also the most dull) it should certainly keep me occupied for a month or two (or much longer, on current form). I have high hopes that this one won't be joining the unfinished and untouched pile.

Toe-up ribbed socks and a hefty learning curve -- May-July 2006

2006-07-09T18:44:00.000Z

Ah, the socks of doom. They look so innocent, don't they, in all their heather-green ribbed ordinariness? But don't let it fool you. Look at the title and see how long it's taken me to finish these 'simple' socks. More than SIX WEEKS on the needles, SIX, look! Four-fifths of the first sock were finished over one long weekend, too. There was a non-knitting gap of nearly three weeks in the middle, granted, but still. It had a fast start but turned into a slow journey. And there have been various sticking points along the way, the first of which being the short-row toe.

Short-row woe

I read instructions all over the web on short-row toe techniques and eventually settled on the first of these, with plans to use Wendy's toe-up method for the rest of the sock. And did it, to the letter, but one side of the toe was gappy and ugly. Hmm. Perhaps I was slipping stitches incorrectly? I tried again. Still ugly. Bah. So I went off to find some other techniques, tried one, didn't like it, found another.. In total I probably did the toe of the first sock five times, and eventually settled on a technique very similar to Wendy's but with slightly different wrapping. The Internet is a wonder and give me these pictorial instructions, which were life-saving.

With the toe sorted I steam-rollered the rest of the sock. The short-row heel was pretty straightforward, having practised on the toe already, and soon I was approaching the top, and finish, of the leg.

Cast off loosely. No, really

Now, the thing is, when the pattern for a toe-up sock tells you to 'cast off loosely', it's not kidding. No problem! I thought, smiling knowingly at the stern instruction in the pattern, I've cast off loosely before. I'll even go up a needle size for the cast-off, that'll totally help. And I cast off. Loosely, apparently.

Ahh, poor foolish me. So I've finished my first toe-up ribbed sock. I am very excited. It's been a good few days of intense knitting (so small, and yet so time-consuming!) with ups and downs but I think the final product is pretty professional looking.

I try it on.

Except I don't, because it won't go past my heel. Not a chance. Even with my cheerfully optimistic attempt at 'loose' casting off, the top of the sock has barely half the stretch needed to get it over my (apparently gargantuan) ankle. I throw it down in a fit of pique and huff my way over to Google, eventually finding this grafted cast-off method for single rib (starts halfway down the page). So fine, the short-row toe didn't defeat me, I won't let the cast-off beat me down either. However unpicking 72 cast-off stitches, on 2mm needles, is a very weary task. Two evenings later and I have re-cast-off the sock, following the clever cast-off technique desperately cafefully, and thank god the sock just fits. It takes a tug-and-breathe-in method, but it does go over the heel and it all fits.

Except. And oh, this still makes me weep a little bit. I think it's actually a little bit too small. It's extremely snug, all round my foot. Sigh. It does fit, but will it cut off the circulation to my toes? I can't decide.

However I just couldn't bear to only have one sock, even if it was, painfully, perhaps the wrong size. And I certainly wasn't going to rip out all the heartache that had gone into it. So I have been inching (barely even millimetring, actually) my way through the second sock over the past few weeks. Knowing that you're making something that you'll probably not wear is not a motivating force.

It's all about the lessons

However, it has not been all bad. I still adore these socks, and every time I tug them on and wear them for half an hour before taking them off again, I'll remember all the lessons I learned. Namely:

Don't give up on the short-row toe! Find the method that you like the best and try again and again if necessary. It's worth it, this looks so much more like a shop-bought pro sock compared to the regular-decreasing pixie-toed top-down method.

Provisional casting-on is a useful skill. Having decided to go this route, I've since noticed plenty of patterns which use it at the bottom of a jumper, say, or even the top of a sock to get a pretty picot edge. I'll use this skill again.

Um. Swatch in the round, in the pattern you intend to use. I say this, even though I know I won't do it next time either. But my maths for these socks was very very exact, and still ended up not perfect. What I hadn't counted on was how little give there'd be in the material when knitted so densely, and I suppose I also needed to learn whether or not Wendy's toe-up pattern would work for my feet. Next time I'll add a few more stitches. Slightly slouchy socks rather than slightly tight socks are the way to go (I steal my BF's socks all the time, after all, and they're four sizes too big).

CAST OFF LOOSELY. Seriously. This technique is brilliant, actually, and I'll use it again and again on single-rib cast off for socks. I suppose the wider lesson is to look for advice, sometimes, before diving into a project. But oh well, slings and arrows.

Despite everything I am pleased with these socks, honestly. They really do look like 'proper' socks, and the toe-up method is great. But my next project might have to be something a little bit bigger, which doesn't use DPNs. Or have a gauge of 9.5 stitches per inch.

Details: Toe-up socks in purl 1 knit 3 rib with short-row toe and heel, knitted in Sunbeam St Ives 4 ply on 2mm bamboo and 1.5mm aluminium (they don't make bamboo that small!) double-pointed needles.

Bye bye, bank balance in the black

2006-06-25T14:43:00.000Z

I started a love affair today. Two, in fact.

The first was with the first gorgeous yarn store I've found in London which isn't John Lewis*. I went there on Saturday afternoon and ohhh, it's a dangerous place! They've got such a range of beautiful yarns which you just don't find anywhere else in the UK. I'd gone in lured by the promise on their website that they stocked Blue Sky Alpacas (which they do), but instead found myself buying a skein of this Handmaiden Sea Silk (love affair number two). Which is the most expensive yarn I've ever bought (I can't, actually, bring myself to type here how much it cost**), but is so very very worth it as it seriously to die for. Vibrant, delicate, silky fabulousness! It's 500 metres, too, so while it could become a very expensive pair of socks, I suspect it will probably be a lace scarf or stole. Whatever it becomes, though, it'll cheer me up every time I see it in my stash, all glowing and jewel-like. Happy times. Sigh. Just look.

The shop's brilliant, anyway, and I suspect it will not help my attempts to cut back on my yarn spending. I didn't get the BSA yarn I was after, as it happened (in stock but not my colour), but I did get inspiration for an alternative yarn to use for my next project which will either be the most fabulous item I've ever made, or an expensive disaster. We shall see.

In the meantime I am past the heel of that never-ending second sock (it's only getting an hour or two a day, at present, and at 9.5 st/inch it's slow going), so I can do the happy dance of being more than halfway to finishing. The tales of toe-up sock woe are all to follow at some point -- it has been an intense, albert worthwhile, education.

* Stash Yarns, in Putney.
** Twenty pounds. And fifty pence. Oh. My. God.

Back on, and with renewed energy

2006-06-19T11:40:00.000Z

I often have a weird anti-knitting period after finishing a large and all-consuming project. It happened after the Peppermint Twist and again after Salina. It probably would have happened after My Very First Project had I not had to wait six weeks for the yarn for my next project to be delivered (not that I am still bitter, much).

It's not immediately after the project is completed, mind. In the two or three weeks straight after finishing the latest Project of Doom I run around frantically trying to fill the sudden gaping knitting void, finding patterns for all the things I'd dreamed of knitting while endlessly working that stocking stitch, or finding new and innovative projects to work with my existing knitting stash. It's like being blinded by bright lights after sitting in the dark for two months -- so much possibility! So many shiny and exciting new projects and techniques I could try after denying myself for so long! When I'm particularly keen, I'll have lined up the yarn and pattern for a whole new big project, ready to go from the moment I've blocked and finished the last one. If that's not the case I'll trip from one stash-busting idea to the next and happily congratulate myself about how economical I'm being. It's a strange heady thrill, finishing something big; a mixture of achievement, panic and anticipatory excitement.

But then a week later, or two, or sometimes three, the excitement dulls. I stare at the needles in my hands and they look like strange slender surgical instruments. I shut one eye and tilt my head sideways but no, they still look alien. And they don't work easily with my hands. And it's sunny outside! There's people to see, places to go, fun to be had that is not knitting related. Instead of the resentment I feel when I'm entirely in love with a knitting project and I've been pulled away from it, I start to resent the knitting instead. I stop looking at it, put it away in a bag and don't think about it for a while. Life goes on.

And so it's been, these last six weeks. I finished the blanket and skipped around gleefully picking up and starting new things. A small bag, a pair of socks. New things which are satisfying and small and teaching me new techniques, even. And then, a few weeks ago -- stop. All unfinished items put away and left untouched and unthought of. Sunshine, beer, and the World Cup beckoned, and frankly it has been delightful.

Fast foward to late Sunday afternoon, after a lazy weekend of barbeques and friendly conversations. We were watching Brazil versus Australia and my mind started wandering. I felt vaguely unsatisfied. Something wasn't quite enough. Was it, perhaps, time? Tentatively, trying to avoid thinking about it directly in case it went out of focus, I picked up my quarter-finished second sock and quietly knitted a few rounds. And blissfully, it was fun and relaxing again, and my knitting world has gone full circle. Magic.

Where have I been?

2006-06-14T15:29:00.000Z

I'm on a bit of a (shh) knitting hiatus at the moment. I have a few items on the needles, one of which is a second toe-up sock (and I have many many tales to tell about the steep learning process the first one made me take -- thinking about it all makes me mutter very darkly). However, the hot weather seems to have put a temporary stop on the knitting flow. Possibly the big rush to finish the baby blanket has used up all my knitting energy for now. But more soon, promise.

(I see that in my absence my thousandth visitor came and went. If I'd been paying attention you might have got a prize, thousandth visitor! But I wasn't. Sorry.)

Alphabet baby blanket -- February-May 2006

2006-05-12T18:37:00.000Z

It's finished! I can unveil the mystery at last, the Super Secret Project is this alphabet baby blanket for my very best friend's baby (due imminently, eek!).

I should really have secretly blogged everything I went through while I was knitting it so that I could whip out a ready-made post now, but of course I didn't. So in brief: for the most part I loved making this, even though the end of it didn't seem real until about two weeks ago. It has been carried with me on every long train journey and picked up and continued through every spare moment for the past three months, so saying goodbye to it was kind of odd (but, actually, by the end I was fairly desperate to get rid). The pattern kept my interest all the way through (until the never-ending triangles of DOOM around the edge, ahhhh!), and was a pleasant mix of enough concentration required for it not to be boring, and easy purl rows and an easy-to-read pattern so I could still keep up one end of a conversation.

Photos are not the best -- when it was blocking it took up almost the total spare floor space in my room, and once finished there was nowhere very appropriate to take a picture. But it is lovely and I am very proud. Also the yarn is so very soft and warm, and hopefully the baby will find it cosy and comforting (before she pukes and dribbles all over it -- yes, it is machine-washable).

The Debbie Bliss wool/cotton suggested in the pattern (and, incidentally, I did object to the smug instructions in this book to 'always use the yarn suggested, where possible', because oh yes, all the yarns suggested are yours, aren't they Debbie?) is discontinued now so I used RYC Cashsoft Baby DK which I maintain is one of the most beautiful yarns ever to knit with, for babies and adults! It also goes on for miles -- I bought eleven skeins and started off saving every stray end in fits of paranoia that I might run out. In the end I had one untouched skein left and probably the equivalent of a whole skein in other odds and ends.

Anyway, I like it and my friend likes it and these are the two main things. But now, perhaps, time for something small and swift again.

Details: Alphabet blanket from The Baby Knits Book by Debbie Bliss, knitted in RYC Cashsoft Baby DK on 3.75 and 3.25mm 32" bamboo circular needles.

SSP muse and blues

2006-04-10T15:48:00.000Z

Man, it is slaying me not being able to write about the super-secret project (henceforth to be known as the SSP). The whole purpose of this blog is to have somewhere to celebrate my knitting highs and document the knitting lows. And yet, it's a secret. So the really nifty trick I worked out which fixes the irritating problem on one of the sides? Can't tell you about it. The significant milestone I reached this weekend, which made me dance about in joy? You'll have to take my word for it. The yarn, the shade, the mix (or not) of materials? Is all in my head and not, alas, allowed on this blog. Gah. The thing is crying OUT to be written about, and instead I have to bite my electronic tongue. Mnnph.

However I can say that it's coming along, in fits and starts granted but it is coming, and at some point in the not-too-distant future I'll even be able to post some pictures here and go on and on and on about it to my heart's content. By which point you'll all have given up reading.

Knitting perils

2006-03-27T19:58:00.000Z

Have just spent 45 minutes sitting cross-legged in front of the TV, knitting away contentedly.

Have just stood up. And immediately fallen over, because my left leg is apparently not there.

And now the pins and needles start.

Ow. Owowowowow.

You'll get sooo many more of these up until the Secret Project is finished. Bad luck.

loose ends

2006-03-24T10:55:00.000Z

My super-secret project is a never-ending mass of ends. It'll take up nearly a dozen skeins in all, and while there's a sense of achievement each time I come to the end of one and start a new one, the inevitable fringe of loose ends continue to wrap themselves around my needles and generally taunt me with their unfinishedness. But! I devoted a whole evening this week to neatly working away all the ends I've had to date. And it was actually remarkably soothing, especially after an especially brain-deading day. And now my work so far looks all tidy and satisfying.

I am a knitting geek.

Interim post

2006-03-16T21:41:00.000Z

So I can't write about my current project for fear of jinxing it, because it's huge and also a Secret. Instead, check out the not entirely necessary but still fabulous knitting tidy* I got from John Lewis the other week.

* Obviously I don't know what to call it. What would you call it?

ravicurio's hat -- February 2006

2006-02-22T23:30:00.000Z

I spent most of my time at home for Christmas wearing the angora hoodie I finished in December and luxuriating in its warmth and comfort (the heating had broken at my parents', so the cosiness of the hoodie was timely). Everyone admired it and I felt quite smug. However I spent some time bemoaning the fact that I had bought far too much yarn, and that I'd like to make my boyfriend a hat from the leftovers but couldn't because he doesn't like the feel of real wool.

"I'd take a hat you made from the leftovers," my brother remarked nonchalantly.

OK then.

A month later and I already had two hats under my belt and decided it was time to get cracking on this one. I made up the pattern, not at all based on the gauge of the yarn after I'd knitted a swatch because to do that would involve casting on 176 stitches and that didn't seem likely. Instead I looked at various patterns which used similar weight yarns, took an average, and made sure it was divisible by six stitches (it's knitted in K4 P2 rib). That worked pretty well (I cast on 108 stitches, in the end). Knitting on 4mm DPNs with lovely soft angora yarn was bliss after the finger-ripping nature of the yorkshire tweed I used for my last hat. And shaping the crown was loosely based on this free pattern (although I obviously wasn't paying much attention as I've only just noticed their tip for avoiding colour bleed between stripes on the purl bits of ribs. oh well). Ooh, and I used the jogless jog technique when changing colour, and it worked a treat.

It's pretty basic but my brother seems to like it, which is of course the main thing. Also my boyfriend (who I roped in as head-double for my brother when checking the size) decided he actual quite wants one too, now. Ah ha ha.

Not sure how well this photo captures the colours, but it was the nicest picture. I have been itching to give the hat to my brother ever since finishing it two weeks ago, and it was lovely to do that tonight. Funny how when you're knitting for yourself, you want to finish it to wear it immediately. When you're knitting for someone else, finishing isn't so crucial but once it is finished you want to give it to them instantly.

Details: 'ravicurio's hat', knitted in Rowan Kid Classic on 4mm double-pointed bamboo needles.

French beret -- January 2006

2006-02-20T21:06:00.000Z

Stupid hat, this. It pulled my fingers apart (Yorkshire Tweed is thin but wiry), took 20 minutes to finish a row (218 stitches at its widest point), and when it was finished I didn't like it very much. On the plus side it was started during a fun-filled trip to Dublin and finished on the way home from a lovely visit to Edinburgh, so it's full of good memories.

It's alright, really -- I might wear it out when I'm feeling frivolous.

Details: 'French beret' from hats gloves scarves by Louisa Harding, knitted with Rowan Yorkshire Tweed on 2.75mm and 3.25mm circular needles.

Granny's original nonsense

2006-01-29T15:10:00.000Z

Having read in more than one place that handwash soapflakes are the Thing to go with when washing handknits, I had a look in the supermarket (which had an unimpressive selection) and eventually couldn't resist buying this.

Two things to note. Firstly that this whole brand is clearly desperately trying to imply that it's been around for 50 years and has a granny-tried-and-tested pedigree. And maybe it does, but do you see "granny's favourite since 1953" anywhere on the box, which would be my method of verification would that it were true? Hmm. And secondly, see the terrifyingly '50s-housewife-perfect lady depicted on the front? Whose grandmother looks like that? Please do provide evidence to the contrary, but I like to think that this particular branding choice is all about harking back to a long-lost lifestyle option, and was actually conceived in 2004.

I shouldn't be so mean, though, because it claims to be fragrance-free, which it is, and also that it's delicate on wool, which (admittedly after just the one wash) is true so far. The whole purchasing thing was inspired by my Salina jumper being all saggy and shapeless around the shoulders after the last time I washed it. So I thought I may as well wash it again, and this time paid much more attention to laying it out flat and carefully patting down the shoulders, and now it fits like a dream again. Reshape while damp indeed.

Brimming with style -- January 2006

2006-01-15T15:57:00.000Z

The first item I've ever started and finished in one day! I think I've earned a few of these little knitty things after all my early never-ending jumpers. Anyway, this hat is daft but also very groovy, I think (I do like the very modest pattern name). And it is nicely warm for this time of year (it's 100% wool). The moss stitch pattern was very forgiving to the varying thickness of the yarn (I've not knitted with Rowan Chunky Print before -- it's very soft for such a big yarn, but also ranges from quite thin to massively thick in the same skein).

Forgive the fingers -- they are my attempt at retaining my Secret Mystery Online Identity.

Details: 'Brimming with style' from hats gloves scarves by Louisa Harding, knitted with Rowan Chunky Print on 6mm bamboo circular needles.

Frivolous fingers -- January 2006

2006-01-13T20:23:00.000Z

I've been looking for a fingerless gloves pattern pretty much since I started knitting, and knew when I saw it that this was it. I'm all about the glove-wearing when it's cold, but I also end up taking them off every five minutes to fiddle around in my bag for my tube pass, or to find a tissue or some lipgloss or to change the next song on my iPod. So ones which were warm but which left my fingertips free were precisely what I needed. These gloves make me smile -- they're completely ridiculous, but also very luxurious to wear (silk, mohair and cashmere).

The pattern was knit flat (the base and palm knit flat, then each thumb/finger knit flat as well and then seamed before the next one is knitted), so had rather less knitting and significantly more faffy sewing than I would prefer. But I've also got enough yarn left to make a whole 'nother pair, so one day I might re-visit the gloves and work out a way of knitting them in the round.

The best thing about the design is the mix of yarns -- I would never have considered putting these two together before, but they work fabulously. I wonder if there is a mistake in the yarns asked for, though -- the pattern suggests Kid Silk Haze (fine), and then the mysterious 'RYC Cashmino DK'. I dutifully went off to John Lewis, only to be met with a blank stare when I asked for the latter. A google search also yields no results, so I think it's an error. But if anyone reading this has ever heard of that yarn, do let me know. In the end I guess-chose a yarn which I hoped would best fit, and it worked beautifully.

Details: 'Frivolous fingers' from hats gloves scarves by Louisa Harding, knitted in Rowan Kid Silk Haze and RYC Cashsoft 4 ply on 4mm bamboo circular needles.

Rainbow socks -- December 2005

2005-12-30T21:01:00.000Z

Socks! I needed something small and fiddly and satisfying after the never-ending Under the Hoodie, and socks were totally it. The quite amazing psychedelic rainbow pattern is down to some lovely self-striping yarn which was a gift from my friend H several months ago. And it made the perfect yarn for first-time socks -- helped me count rows, and made the plain stocking stitch of the leg be quite exciting as I saw the pattern coming through. I am completely hooked on socks now. Knitting these was helped by having several slothful days at home during Christmas, where I could knit away contentedly with little else to worry about apart from what kind of junk food to snack on next.

My favourite thing about socks? That they are recognisably themselves as you're knitting them -- there's no making up, nothing needed to finish them off apart from a bit of kitchener grafting and weaving in the ends. Knitting something in three dimensions is enormously satisfying.

Details: Socks, knit for the dimensions of my feet and mostly based on Kathryn T's universal sock pattern, with a few bits of fiddling around and alterations, knitted with Meilement Cotton Fantasy (45% cotton, 42% wool, 13% polyamid) on four 2.5mm douple-pointed bamboo needles.

Incidentally, my mother gave me a FANTASTIC Christmas present, being fifteen different bamboo circular needles of every size I could ever need (all 80cm long, and ranging from 2mm to 12mm). She is an angel.

Under the Hoodie -- November-December 2005

2005-12-21T23:28:00.000Z

21 Dec 2005:

Finished! And I do absolutely love it now it's done. It is very very lightweight, extremely warm, beautifully comfortable, and something I intend to wear a lot in this cold weather. However, it has also made me decide to give simple jumpers a miss for the time being, because although the finished result can be gorgeous, knitting all that stocking stitch is really very boring indeed. That said, I'm pleased I stuck it out with this one.

Details: 'Under the Hoodie' from Stitch'n Bitch, knitted in Rowan Kid Classic on 5mm circular bamboo needles, size 'Small'.

I added about three inches to the length of this, and I'm glad I did because it's still far from long. The real length of the small size must be impressively short. Basically I followed all of the instructions for the small size apart from the length dimensions, where I followed the largest size. And I do like the dimensions of this finished piece (I also blocked the hell out of the pieces before I sewed them together, which helped).

30 Nov 2005:

Look what I did! Bless. I couldn't bring myself to start the next sleeve tonight so thought I'd give myself a night off and do something entertaining instead. This isn't a real sock, but a practice one so that I could learn how to turn the heel and do all the fiddly bits. It's mostly based on Kate Atherley's 'Socks 101' tutorial from Knitty, which is really helpful for learning the basics although it does result in a rather pointy sock. Socks are so clever! I feel all satisied now. This test one might just fit a small child, although I don't plan to make a twin for it so it will instead remain a talisman of all my future sock plans and dreams. Enough messing, though -- I'll get back to the hoodie after this.

29 Nov 2005:

Ohhh, I am in two minds about this. I love the yarn and I love the material it makes and the way it looks -- it's going to be so warm and cuddly and it'll keep me snug all winter. Assuming that I EVER FINISH IT because it is SO DULL. Never-ending stocking stitch and.. nothing much else. Really easy, but reeeally dull. I have finished the back and the first sleeve, pictured here (badly, because my camera is tiny and has no flash). It's only taken a couple of weeks, and yet, and yet.. Starting the second sleeve is going to take a mass of willpower. But I have to finish, because it really is such lovely yarn -- it's the Rowan Kid Classic that the pattern recommends, and it makes material that's really warm and soft but also very very lightweight and clingy. Must hold onto the good thoughts! Next project is going to be something like socks -- small and interesting.

Umbilical cord hat -- November 2005

2005-11-26T22:37:00.000Z

No photo of this, alas -- I failed to take one in time (it was delivered to its intended recipient today, who is four months old and looked adorable in it). You'll just have to believe me when I say it was highly cute.

Details: Umbilical cord hat from Stitch'n Bitch, knitted in RY Cashsoft Baby DK on 4.5mm double-pointed needles.

My gauge was way off so I adjusted the pattern in order to use the yarn I'd got -- the Cashsoft Baby stuff is beautifully soft and lovely to knit with (especially after a month of doing a fiddly lace scarf). Tiny hat, took a couple of nights to finish (was also the first thing I'd done on dp needles, but was very satisfying and very easy).

Branching out -- October 2005

2005-11-01T11:50:00.000Z

My first foray into lace knitting. Of course I merrily ignored the pattern's advice about choosing the 'easy' yarn as a first-timer, and was instead lured in by the featherweight beauty of Kid Silk Haze. Knitting with it was a learning experience (don't knit into the fluff! avoid mistakes if at all possible because unknitting is a huge hassle!), but I am now half in love with the yarn and will certainly use it again. It's like knitting an almost weightless but very strong cobweb.

It is a good lace pattern for lace beginners -- it knits up quite fast but also illustrates the importance of concentration. My lowest point was one evening where I'd spent a happy two hours knitting in front of the television, and then had to spend a decidedly unhappy hour and half unknitting the work until I'd got back to where my error was. (I'd inadvertently purled two rows one after the other, which meant my pattern turned round halfway through. Other people might not ever notice, but I would!)

It is very pretty and very girly, and I'm definitely encouraged enough to do more lace knitting in future. (Not for a while, though, as I've been told that my conversational skills while I'm focusing on the lace pattern leave a little to be desired. Not so good for social knitting!)

I started off on straight bamboo needles but found that they were too heavy and the stitches would easily fall off, so switched to my trusty circular bamboo needles and found that much more comfortable.

Note: picture of finished article forthcoming.

Details: Branching out from knitty.com, knitted with one skein of Rowan Kid Silk Haze (colour 'Blushes') on 4.5mm circular needles.

Salina -- July-September 2005

2005-10-20T17:19:00.000Z

I LOVE Salina! This is easily my favourite garment to date, and not only was it relatively simple to knit (and satisfying to do a knitted-on collar) but it fits like a dream and is lightweight, warm and comfortable. It wins at everything.

Apart from, the fact that the back and the sleeves and most of the front are an interminable purgatory of stocking stitch. I had a gap of two or three weeks in the middle of this where I did nothing, because I couldn't face picking up my half-finished back-of-Salina and thinking about all that was still to come. But when the back was finished, everything speeded up, and a week's holiday spent at my parents' gave me the time and incentive to finish the whole thing. I guessed most of the techniques for sewing it together once all the pieces were completed (the pattern doesn't give you much useful information about how best to make it up), but everything seems to have worked and I really do love it now. Knitting something with button holes, and being able to spend a happy hour choosing exactly the right buttons (which are reddy-pink and twinkly-shiny, look!) was all part of the satisfaction. Having a knitted-on collar is fantastic, and I really like the moss stitch edging (that, in fact, was what drew me to the pattern in the first place).

Details: Salina from Vintage Style, knitted in Rowan Felted Tweed on 3.25 and 3.75 circular needles, size Small.

I panicked slightly (as I always do) that the Felted Tweed wouldn't last out long enough to finish the piece, but it proved me wrong and the six skeins the pattern tells you for that size is more than enough. Nothing bad to say about my experience with this, honestly, except that the pattern is quite unhelpful about methods for making up (especially sewing on the cuffs, I completely made up how to do that).

Peppermint Twist -- April-July 2005

2005-07-18T16:16:00.000Z

I thought the stripy knitting would never end, but suddenly it did! Knitting with cotton was gorgeous, and once I've recovered from quite how long it took I will absolutely do that again. It's so neat and tidy and pretty, and the finished product drapes beautifully. In this project I also learnt the value of blocking individual pieces before they're knitted together -- a sample of which is illustrated below.

I owe my Easy Peasy Homemade Blocking Board to the craftiness of Skinny Rabbit, and I will be eternally grateful as all the book references to 'a padded flat surface' were singularly non-useful. My blocking board is a large piece of thick cardboard covered in dry cleaning plastic, with a flat sheet folded up (for thickness) and placed on top. Pin out your piece of knitting, put a damp tea towel over it (or, in my case having followed SR's tips to the letter, a brand new bit of nappy material), and then steam away with a steam iron for a good ten minutes (holding it close to the damp material, but not actually touching). It is extremely easy and satisfyingly effective.

But enough blocking talk. Here is the final item. Isn't it lovely and stripy? You also get a bonus cat picture. Typically, when I finished this I tumbled into the post-knitting comedown of wondering whether or not I actually liked it, but with the benefit of time I'm now really pleased with how well it turned out.

Details: Peppermint Twist from Stitch'n'Bitch, knitted in Rowan Cotton Glace on 3mm needles, size Small.

The quantities of yarn as described in the book are a little off-the-mark -- I've ended up with one untouched skein of the main colour (and lots and lots of semi-finished skeins), whereas I needed to make a panic buy of some new colour C half-way through the project as the single skein I'd been told to buy was nearly running out (thankfully the second one practically matched the first one, so the unpracticed eye can't tell).

I decided to do a row of knit stitches when knitting the collar, before starting the ribbing pattern that is described, because otherwise the colour beneath bleeds into the purls on the ribbing. The more I look at the photograph in the book, the more I think that there must must a knitted row here, but if there is it's been left out of the instructions.

These niggles aside, it was a pretty straightforward pattern, but took me an age because of the tiny needles and the delicate cotton. Also, knitting with four colours in one piece is a little fiddly (if I ever try fair isle knitting I think I'm doomed). But the final product is quite lovely.

Big Sack Sweater -- March 2005

2005-07-12T14:24:00.000Z

This is my first ever knitting project (excluding a handful of squares of varying sizes and actual squareness). It's taken from Debbie Stoller's Stitch'n'Bitch -- the book which can wholly take credit for me learning to knit again. (I have vivid memories of knitting dodgy garter stitch rectangles in bright orange wool as a ten year old, but the mechanics of purling escaped me then.)

The roll-neck went a little cacky, the finishing is far from perfect, and it's not actually especially flattering, but it is warm and cosy and has a funky and satisfying cable down the middle, and as it is My First Project I shall love it forever. This is currently the only photograph I have of it, hence the wisps of hair and bit of my chin you can see at the top.

Tip learnt from this project: ignore what lovely Debbie says in S'n'B, and don't block pure and thick wool jumpers once they are made up and otherwise finished. Because, if you go for the soak-in-water-then-roll-up-in-a-towel approach, they take TWO DAYS TO DRY. Even when you rotate them between the sunny patch under the window, the airing cupboard, and the hot place on top of the boiler. Two days, I tell you. I nearly chewed my own hand off with frustration.

Details: Big Sack Sweater from Stitch'n Bitch, knitted in Rowanspun Chunky on 5mm and 6mm straight needles, size Medium.

I added an extra inch or two to the bottom (one extra twist to the cable, which is an extra ten rows) because the design is pretty short. If I did it again I'd probably add even more to the bottom, but despite being not quite as long as I'd choose (despite yanking it around while blocking) it's still a comfy, and comforting, jumper to wear.

Not a real blog, yet...

2005-01-07T09:59:00.000Z

Just playing, really.