The Perfect Model

Today I took the opportunity, with the beautiful weather, to photograph my latest finished item. The Clapotis, it is knitted in SWTC Bamboo in colourway Purplexed. I am really pleased with the results, it is a really easy, mindless knit but really effective. We visited Crosby Beach and took advantage of the Anthony Gormley's Another Place exhibition at Crosby Beach. It was like a summers day but I am sure people must have thought I was a bit loopy, dressing up an iron statue!!!




And just to give a perspective of length:

Fun at Bluefaced.Com Open Day

On Sunday I arranged to go to the Bluefaced.com open day with Chris and Lindsay (ohh and not forgetting Jules, Lyndsey's boyfriend who gave up his Birthday to join us). I really didn't know what to expect, having never been to any type of fiber festival before but it was amazing. We pulled into what can only be described as a stunning location, to find the most beautiful assortment of everything yarnly!







There were stalls run by Natural Dye Studio, Fyberspates, DT Crafts, Laughing Hens, The Mulberry Dyer and obviously Bluefaced.com. So we we're spoiled for choice......

I decided it was about time to embrace some new fiber related arts, I have been wanting to have a go a yarn dying for some time and there was such a fantastic choice of undyed yarn and the choice of dyes was amazing too, I decided to get a procion starter kit and 4 different types of undyed yarn, all sock yarn but various blends. BFL & Nylon, Merino & Bamboo, Merino & Tencel and Cotton & Tencel. I am excited to start giving it a try :)



Chris also kindly volunteered to show me how to use a drop spindle, after we had finished our lovely scones, she gave me a little tutorial and let me have a go, it was amazing. I loved the feeling of turning the lovely fluffy fibre into something you can knit with, so with Chris kindly offering to loan me her spindle off I went and bought some lovely fiber, purple and green extra fine merino YUM.



And a close-up of my first spun yarn:




Overall a fantastic day was had by all, I met some lovely people and it was nice to put names to faces that I have only ever spoken to through Ravelry.

Here is a picture of us and the fantastic haul that we brought home :)

Firstly, again, so sorry for the large gap between posts. My life has been getting in the way a bit, I have had a very busy month. My eldest has just started school so there has been lots of school runs, uniform labeling and stuff going on there. Here she is proudly showing off her new school uniform:



I have also been busy knitting too, I have been doing a fair few baby knits for my gorgeous great niece Chloe who was born on 8th September, what a cutie she is and I just know I will find lots of lovely things to knit for her!

I have also started my winter knitting (Yay). I bought the book Knitting New Scarves which I LOVE!



I generally hate knitting scarves as I get bored half way through but this book has the most amazing techniques, design ideas and patterns to stop boredom in its tracks. There are lots of patterns that I will knit and plenty more techniques that I would love to try. I have started my first pattern from the book, the Aria scarf (Rav link). I am really enjoying knitting this scarf so far, I am using Malabrigo Worsted in Holly Hock and Cherry tree Hill Sockittome in Jewel, held together. It kind of gives a tweedy effect which I really like:


I also have a couple of pairs of socks on the needles but I will post about them when completed, which will hopefully be soon..............................

More Finished socks!

Well I have been knitting like a demon in the last week and I have managed to finish 2 more pairs of socks.

Plain socks using Fabel sock yarn, this yarn is lovely to work with and a real bargain at £2 per 50g ball. I am so happy that I managed to get the stripes to match perfectly (not that I am obsessive about it or anything, honest)



Charade Socks, this is a lovely easy pattern which I think is quite effective. The yarn is Natyral Dye Studio Dazzle, again lovely to work with.



I am also 3/4 of the way through a pair of Waving Lace socks which should be finished very soon. I am really enjoying getting these off the needles!

Long Time no Blog

Firstly, I'd better apologise for the huge time it has taken me to blog, I guess life got in the way for a little while but I assure you I am still here and am back knitting like a demon after my knitting mojo got up and ran away for the most of June! I have had a weeks holiday in Majorca and after culling a few WIP's that where holding me back I am back on top knitting form :D

Well, what have I been doing, I have finished some Twisted Tweed Socks in lovely Lorna's laces Childsplay, the yarn was a bit of a test as it pooled horribly with most patterns but I was happy with the result of these





I have also made some pretty flowers for Emily's school teachers, in a moment of madness on the day before they finished, but I was quite happy with the results, I just hope they liked them, they had little pins on the back so they can be worn as brooches.


I still have lots of projects on the go, I am still plodding on with some Charade socks, my Juliet cardigan (the weather is just too nice to contemplate knitting this as it is chunky yarn!), some more Socks of Doom and my Forest Canopy is still waiting to be finished! I have made a promise to myself not to cast anything new on until I at least finish some WIP's, which so far is going well! I promise, I will not leave the blogging so long next time :D

First attempts at lace

Well with all the beautiful sun recently I started to think that maybe the Juliet cardigan would be too heavy for the wedding so I decided to start a Forest Canopy Shawl. This is my first real attempt at lace and for a while it was a little frustrating, especially when it was 2 rows forward, 6 rows back but I think I have now got over that hurdle and the pattern seems to have clicked. The yarn is Fyberspates sock yarn in Grenada colourway, it also matches my dress, probably even more perfectly than the Malabrigo so I am happy. I just hope I get it finished it time!

The Juliet certainly hasn't been forgotten, I will definately continue with it for winter :)

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun...

Well I've braved the world of adult garment knitting, after 16 months of knitting I have finally decided to make myself a cardigan, it is Juliet from Zephyr Style. I was very lucky to win an Ebay auction for 8 skeins of Malabrigo chunky in my favourite colourway, Holly-hock, just enough for my size, so I decided to take the plunge!!!

Even for a very experienced knitter, knitting something in my size is no 1/2 measure, but I am hoping to have it finished in time for my friends wedding on 6th June as the dress I have bought matches the yarn perfectly. Please keep your needles crossed and send me good knitterly vibes xxx

Today I have been mostly...sewing!

I recently treated myself to a sewing machine, it is something I have wanted to learn for ages and I finally took the plunge, so far I am really enjoying it, although I have only tried straight stitching! My first project was a very simple, lined drawstring pouch for my sock knitting and then I progressed to these tote bags! I am going away on a girly weekend to Scotland and have made these as goody bags, they are filled with all kinds of goodies!
The fabric is Amy Butler which I am in love with and it was my first attempt at interfacing anything and added a magnetic closure. The sewing is a little wonky in parts but overall I am really happy with them. I think this may be the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship with my sewing machine!
I used this tutorial, which was fantastic, nice and easy to follow for a beginner :p

Yay! Finished Tumbling Blocks

I have had these socks OTN since October, they where intended for my friend Jessica and as it is a special birthday on Tuesday I thought it was only fair that I moved my butt and finished them off for her! They are knitted in Middlearth yarns in Sherbet colourway which was just gorgeous, they have an Eye of Partridge heel and a star toe which is great if you don't like grafting as you just draw up the last 7 stitches, I really like the effect of this toe too, the decreases make a pretty star pattern.

Fantastic Swap Goodies

I am having such a good week for treats, today my swap parcel arrived from the "Friends of P" swap, Amy (Seaanemone) sent me the most amazing collection of goodies.

• 3 Skeins of Koigu KPPPM in a lovely purpley/pink colour (how did she guess that I like these colours LOL)

• A sheep notepad and pen

• A gorgeous 4x6 notions pouch

• A stitch keeper (which I really needed)

• Some sheepie post its

• Some really lovely glass stitch markers

Thank you Amy, I feel throughly spoiled!

Pack a punch popsicle socks

Here are my latest pair of socks, they are the Estonian Button Stitch socks by Jane Prater and are knitted in Colinette Jitterbug - Popsicle colourway. I usually hate pooling yarn but I really love this, the colours are just so vibrant they make me smile and I really have a soft spot for Jitterbug, I found the yardage fine, these fit my size 7's and I have about 15g left over and the stitch definition and fabric are really lovely . They were knitted on 2.75mm needles and the pattern was a pleasure to knit and excellently written, I would highly recommend it and I am sure I will use it again. The button stitch does take a little getting used to but I found that doing a double YO instead of a YO made the stitch far easier to pull through and gave exactly the same effect.

Lovely Goodies

I have just come back from 4 lovely nights in the Lake District, and I arrived home to an abundance of beautiful squishies !!!

I bought the Amy Butler Creativity Bag from Lakeland Plastics whilst away and I LOVE it, it is big enough to fit loads of projects in and I just love Amy Butler designs.

The yarn is:

• 3 balls of Twilley's Sincere 100% Organic Cotton (to do a baby cardigan for a friends babies arrival in May).
• 6 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock in, Childsplay, Tahoe & Fresh Stripe colourways.
• 1 skein of Aruncania Ranco solid in a lovely Olivey green
• 2 50g skeins of 100% British sock yarn in Candyfloss from Angels and Elephants.

It was almost worth coming home for!

Seeing Chevrons

I have finally finished my Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts, it is knitted in Collinette Jitterbug, colours Gauguin & Florentina. I didn't make it as long as the pattern stated and I still had just under half a skein of each left over. The Florentina is now becoming a pair of socks for my daughter!

I quite enjoyed knitting this as it was a no-brainer pattern that travelled well as you could just pick it up and knit. I think I will miss not having it on the needles, but I will get great pleasure from wearing it :D

Mothers Day Sublime Socks

I had an idea to make my MIL some bed socks for Mothers Day, this would have been fine, if I hadn't decided on Wednesday night!

They were finished at midnight last night, not too bad for 4 nights knitting (well good for me as I am quite a slow knitter) :D

The pattern is the International Sock of Doom pattern :

http://yarnivation.blogspot.com/2007/10/international-sock-of-doom-pattern.html

they are knitted in Sublime Baby, Merino, Silk & Cashmere and are so soft & snuggly. My MIL loved them, she is a knitter herself so I knew they would be appreciated.

They where a really nice, easy, quick knit, I am definitely feeling the DK sock love and am sure I will be doing more very soon, LOL.

Hawaiian Jaywalker Socks

I have finished my Jaywalker socks, they are knitted on 2.75mm Quills in Lorna's Laces Hawaii colourway. I loved this yarn, it is beautiful to knit with and I really like the effect it has created with the pattern. I have enjoyed making these socks and would definitely use the pattern again, it is very easily memorised and takes the monotony out of plain socks.

Finished Gretel

Here is my finished Gretel Beret, I ended up knitting the slouchy version as I tried it on as I was knitting and decided I wanted some more slouch! I must have a big head LOL. It was a lovely knit which I really enjoyed, I will definately knit more :D

Sorry there are no modelled shots but my husband is away and I found it hard taking them in the mirror. I don't think my 2 year olds photography skills would be up to scratch ;D

Gretel Beret

I have started knitting myself a Gretel beret: http://ysolda.com/shop/index.php?main_p ... ducts_id=3

I am knitting it in Malabrigo worsted in Holly Hock colourway, I have to say that this is the nicest yarn I have ever knit with, it is like butter, so soft and I love the varigated colour. This is only my second attempt at cables so i'm a bit slow :S It is a lovely clear pattern though and I am really enjoying knitting it :D

I really don't suit hats so this is a big test as to whether I will wear it or not. It may have to find another home if it doesn't look right!

1st Year Knitaversary

Today I have been knitting for one year!!!

I can't believe it has been a year since I ventured into an LYS, bought some old needles for 10p, some random tiny balls of yarn and a "How to Knit" book for £1.00 (was from the 70's). My husband taught me how to do a slipknot and I cast on so tight that I couldn't get my needles in the stitches and after hours of sore fingers I threw the knitting across the room in frustration.

Things have come a bit of a way now, I never imagined I would have knit socks using 5 needles (well 8 pairs now) and had a go at felting, cables and lace :D

I think I would have a bit more in the bank (Serious yarn addiction) but I am so much richer in the skills I now have and the lovely friends I have made online and just wanted to thank everyone for all your support in my 1st year, heres to many more!

Serious Sock P*rn

How lucky am I, this is what arrived at my door this morning!!!

I am sooo happy right now, I got:

Dream in Colour Smooshy in Wisteria Colourway
NORO sock yarn. The photo doesn't do the colour justice, it is SO bright
Shibui Knits in Wasabi
Duet Skinny in Fuscia Fusion
Crystal Palace Merino 5 in Dogwood Pinks

This arrived in 8 days from The Loopy Ewe in America and best of all I didn't get charged by customs ;D

Jaywalking

A close up of the pattern ;D

I cast these on on Friday, they are Jaywalker socks by Grumperina, from Magknits (link on the right). The pattern is lovely to knit, its so easy, it is memorised by the 2nd needle and I really love the effect.

I am knitting them in Lorna's Laces, Hawaii colourway and I am really pleased with the results so far, the yarn hasn't pooled, which I was a little worried about. I am also using my 2.75mm Quills DPN's which I haven't used before and I really like them. They are slightly bendy which was weird at first but I am enjoying using them now :D

Happy New Year! Happy New Knitting!

Sorry I have been a bad blogger but Christmas was a little hectic and then we all came down with the Noro Virus (unfortunately the sick bug not the lovely yarn ;S) so this is the first chance I have had to blog. Well I was very lucky and my Sister In law got me a Get Knitted voucher for Christmas which I am yet to spend but it is to become some Regia Silk sock yarn and some more Knitpicks tips and cables :D

I got some money from my Mum & Dad so I bought the Vogue Knitting - Ultimate sock book, which is fantastic and would be fab for old and new sock knitters. It is a combination of history, techniques, stitch dictionary and patterns, I love it :D

I also got the 2008 Stitch & Bitch calendar and it has some lovely patterns, I am very impressed with the sock patterns, OK yes I know I am naughty for peeking and not having a surprise each day :)

I also got some Mmmmmmmalabrigo worsted which has to be the softest yarn I have felt and can't wait to knit some up, although I have no idea what to us it for yet!!! It is in Holly Hock which is a lovely semi solid purply colour.