Fizz Knits

Felt Daft

2012-01-12T21:45:00.002Z

I don't have a picture of my felted bag today but I do have a picture of another felted project. Two years ago I took part in an International Yarn Swap on Ravelry and received a lovely package from Norway.

The hat pattern is a traditional Norwegian design and there was enough yarn to make two hats, one for each of my twins. I quickly cast on and completed the knitting of one very quickly. Then it sat and the bottom of my knitting bag, unsewn and not felted.

My New Years Resolution is to finish off any WIPs before I start any new ones, so this was an easy one to finish off as no knitting was required. After sewing it looked like this

After washing in the machine on a 60 minute, 40 degree wash with a pair of jeans for company, shaped and left to dry overnight it looks like this:

She loves it!

I feel a sense of acheivement as another item is complete, and I also remembered how much fun these swaps can be so I've signed up for the next one!

Felting

2012-01-05T21:49:00.002Z

So here is my second attempt at posting this, after yesterdays disaster.

I have always been intrigued by felting. The thought of putting hours of work into knitting something to then throw it in the washing machine and cross your fingers that it will work out terrified me at first. The finished effect, when successful, is very pretty though.

My one previous attempt years ago to make a felted bag didn't work too well. It was knitted in Twilleys Freedom Spirit. Here it is before felting -

and after

I can't even tell you where it is now.

So I was surprised when I found myself drawn towards a felted bag pattern in an issue of Simply Knitting Magazine last summer. Calling for 5 balls of Twilleys Freedom Spirit, I somehow got confused and bought 5 balls of Rowan Felted Tweed, but thought,"Well, its the same DK weight, should be fine". After months I cast on and was really surprised at how quickly it was knitting up, and how little of the wool I was getting through. I consulted the Oracle (Ravelry) to discover the printed instructions were wrong and it should have read Twilleys Freedom Spirit CHUNKY. I had no clue such a yarn even existed.

I was at the point where I felt I had gone to far to rip it all back but was reluctant to continue if it was going to be a mess. Something in me decided to keep going so I did, then began to worry that the Felted Tweed wouldn't felt. Even searching on Ravelry didn't ease my concern, there were no felted projects using the yarn which I could find.

So I finished it off, sewed it up and it looked like this -

I put it in the machine on a short 40 degree wash. It didn't do much. So then I put it on a 60 degree 60 minute wash. With a pair of jeans in for good measure.

And how did it turn out? Tune in next time..........

AAAARGH!

2012-01-04T22:04:00.002Z

Promised myself I was going to blog every day.

I just sat and spent 20 minutes composing a post.

Went to sort out the pictures and this stupid mouse side swiped and went back to the previous page. It asked me if I wanted to return to the previous page with my blog post on and I clicked ok, it then didn't load the page. I'm not about to spend another 20 minutes trying to find it so am giving up.

Might be back tomorrow with details of my felted projects.

Back to the blogging!

2012-01-03T20:25:00.002Z

Well it's 2012 and I have not blogged for years.....

Knitting has happened and I have tended to keep track of my projects over at my project page on Ravelry but for 2012 I thought I'd dip my toe back into blogging to keep a more detailed account of my endeavours.

To start the year the way I mean to continue I have began to clear out my knitting stuff. Though I haven't yet thrown away very much I have came across a number of unfinished projects that I have vowed to finish before I begin anything new. They are.....

1) Fingerless gloves in Rico Poems. One is complete but not sewn up, have yet to start the other.

2) Kids hat which needs sewn up and felted. The wool and pattern were given to me as part of an international swap on Ravelry and came all the way from Norway, it's a traditional design and I hope it still fits one of my twins once it's felted!

3) A knitted tunic dress, which I started for my older daughter in 2007! I got fed up as the pattern was confusing me but I reckon I could work it out now, just in time for my younger daughter to fit into it.

4) A garter stitch shawl, which again I acquired through an international swap. This time from the USA, the poor shawl has been finished for ages waiting for the ends to be woven in and blocked.

I also have a Baby Surprise Jacket waiting on buttons, a baby cardigan waiting on snap fasteners and a felted handbag which is drying as I speak then will need a fastener.

So....lots to be getting on with before I embark on some new projects, of which there are many bubbling away. Like many other knitters at this time of year I am intending to not buy any more yarn this year until I use up that which I already own. But we shall see.

Jolly June Swap

2009-07-02T10:41:00.002Z

IMG_0999, originally uploaded by Fizz14.

As part of the UK Random Acts of Kindness group on Ravelry, I received a parcel today from Maddy18 containing a cheeky chimp face pack, tiger pencil, ladybird keyring, monkey stitch markers, some sweety teeth & lips, 100g of gorgeous purple Bamboo cotton and best of all a handmade chimp lavender bag.

It is a bit bizarre receiving presents from someone you dont know or have never met but it's lovely at the same time. Like when a stranger gives you a cheery 'Hello' or a smile when you're out for a walk.

Ahoy there!

2008-08-04T10:25:00.004Z

Having lost my knitting mojo when pregnant, it's back! My twins Sally and Tommy are now almost 16 weeks and I've taken advantage of my precious hour or so of me time before I go to bed at night to get back into my knitting.

Last year I started knitting Barnacle Bill from Simply Knitting and have sewn him up and finished all the twiddly bits. I didn't make the parrot as I didn't have any suitable colours.

How quick was that?

2007-08-24T15:35:00.000Z

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

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

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

Won't be long now!

2007-08-23T11:11:00.000Z

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

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

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

STASHATTACK

2007-08-16T11:53:00.001Z

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

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

From the pink clockwise -

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

AND

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

AND

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

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

First Target reached!

2007-06-21T12:53:00.000Z

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

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

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

Knitting Lace Course

2007-06-14T15:45:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

Secret Santa Parcel

2007-06-14T15:44:00.002Z

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

Lovely!

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

2007-06-11T16:58:00.001Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

2007-05-25T20:51:00.001Z

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

Here's the completed article:

And a close up detail of the border:

And what was left!

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

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

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

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

Will there be enough?

2007-05-22T10:08:00.000Z

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

Monica from Knitty

2007-05-20T10:57:00.000Z

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

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

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

Sisters, sisters....

2007-05-10T08:36:00.000Z

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

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

Photo update

2007-05-01T14:00:00.000Z

Baby Cardigan in Sirdar Snuggly, Sirdar pattern 3009

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

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

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

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

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

First Felt

2007-04-30T19:23:00.000Z

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

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

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

Here is a pic prior to felting -

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

Supersoft Aran

2007-04-04T10:02:00.000Z

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

Bits and Bobs

2007-04-01T16:19:00.000Z

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

Pram Blanket in Sirdar Supersoft Aran.

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

Hat in Twilleys Freedom Spirit

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

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

STASH DIET UPDATE

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

Pics as promised

2007-03-17T16:18:00.000Z

Branching Out Unblocked

Branching Out Detail

Retro Bonnet & Mary-Jane Shoes

Stash Diet

2007-03-15T18:47:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictures the next time, hopefully.

My Secret Santa recipient

2007-03-07T17:40:00.000Z

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

Jumpers

2007-03-05T09:28:00.000Z

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

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

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

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

Secret Springtime Santa revealed!

2007-02-21T16:39:00.000Z

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

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

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

Another week, another hat.....

2007-02-19T19:59:00.000Z

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

This Week's Knitting

2007-02-12T18:01:00.000Z

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

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

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

I've also completed 2 hats for DD.

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

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

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

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

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

What to do with leftover sock yarn....

2007-02-04T18:27:00.000Z

I have been tidying up my knitting paraphenalia and came across some leftover sock wool, from my first ever (and only ones so far) pair of socks. I was reluctant to bin it, as it had been a Christmas present, so I made this rather fetching ensemble for my DDs doll:

The hat looks a bit wild, but this particular doll has one hell of a head of hair under there.

Also, I came across two bonnets that I made a couple of weeks ago, in an attempt to reduce my stash. They're homeless at the moment, so I'll keep them till a wee girl baby comes along. I was a bit over zealous when pressing the feather and fan one, and have flattened it a fair bit along the edge. Needless to say I haven't bothered with pressing the second one yet.

Also this week I got my copy of Rowan Magazine (41) and spent a nice half hour with a cup of tea reading through it. This is only the second copy of the magazine I've had and I really like it. I loved loads of the patterns in Rowan 40 but never got round to knitting any of them. I always associate knitted things with Autumn/Winter or babies so it was inspiring to look through a magazine of knitted things for Spring/Summer. I'm not saying I'll knit any of the items in there either as I have a to-do list that is massive, but I thoroughly enjoy the magazine and will keep buying it.

Other excitement this week is that I have signed up for a Secret Pal gift giving on the Angel Yarns Forum. We have been assigned a Secret Pal to buy a knitting gift for, up to the value of £20. I have been busy reading all my Secret Pals previous posts to see what she likes and have already made some purchases. Not saying any more till she gets the gift!

Disasters and Pawkies!

2007-01-30T20:33:00.000Z

I made a promise to myself that this month I was going to use up some of the yarn I have stashed away before I bought anything new. I started off with good intentions by knitting a wrap with some eyelash yarn I had. When I returned to knitting last year I bought quite a lot of eyelash yarn as it was all new to me and looked really unusual. I knitted a few scarves with it but hadn't tried to make anything else. I found the pattern for a wrap so thought I'd give it a go.

It was a nightmare.

I was using 15mm needles and the yarn is actually quite thin although hairy. After about five rows, I dropped a stitch and the whole thing just unravelled. So I gritted my teeth and started again and it did knit up pretty fast. Unfortunately I am not pleased with the finished article. My cast on was a lot tighter than my cast off edge, so they are uneven. The contrast yarn, which I am not sure if you can even make it out on the picture, had to be carried up the side and consequently that side is tighter than the other. So its a big misshapen drapy thing. But if you bunch it up round your neck you'd never know! However, I think its consigned to DDs dressing up box.

So after that disaster I thought I'd do something tried and tested and do a baby cardigan. I completed the back and thought it just didn't look right so I'm not going to even attempt to finish it. And don't get me started on the bootees I tried next. I only did one and look at it. It's horrific.

My redemption last week was the arrival of my yarn from Hipknits. I had ordered 6 skeins of superwash merino sock yarn in the January sale for only £12. (Technically I ordered it before deciding not to buy any more yarn for the moment so it doesn't count)

The first thing I did was a pair of pawkies (mittens) for DD who was very happy as pink is her favourite colour:Success at last! And I've started making her a short sleeved tie-fronted cardy. So far I've done the back and 3/4 of the left front and I'm still on my second skein, that's including the yarn for the pawkies! So I'll definitely be getting my moneys worth out of this purchase. The yarn is so soft and silky, I'm very impressed. I might even use the leftovers to knit some socks!

This post has taken SO LONG to do. I moved the computer today and when I turned it back on its running so slowly and Outlook appears to have vanished so I have no email. Fantastic.

Balaclava

2007-01-21T17:37:00.000Z

My sister requested that I make a balaclava for her pals' son. I raked through my vintage patterns and came across one. It knitted up really quickly in Sirdar Bonus Value - a dark almost tweedy blue colour. Here is my daughter modelling it.

Side View -

From the front. Excuse the runny nose, it's just that time of year!

Lots of Finished Things

2007-01-15T21:01:00.000Z

I've been knitting lots of wee projects this last week or so and here's my progress:

Wave Rib Mitts from Simply Knitting Magazine Issue 24. I saw these in the magazine and wasn't sure if I liked them, then Mazzam posted a picture of her finished pair on the Angel Yarns Forum and they looked really good. I really liked the pattern, lots of dropping stitches and ripping back which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, I'm not sure if I like the 'no thumb' look! My hands don't usually get cold but when I wore these my thumb was freeeezing!

This lacy scarf is from Knit Today Magazine Issue 4. This is my first time knitting lace and it knitted so quickly. I knitted it in Rowan Kidsilk Haze. I've not blocked it yet but here's a closeup:

Finally, I had a skein of Hipknits silk which I really wanted to try working with but didn't know what to do with it. Then I saw a pattern for a mini clapotis which took less than 100g so thought I'd give it a go. I don't know if I've used the wrong needles or not followed it properly but its turned out to be a very mini clapotis! And it took only 60g of the yarn. I've not blocked it yet so it might grow a wee bit, but if not it's destined for my four year old. She'll be the most stylish in the nursery!

Finished Things

2007-01-08T20:10:00.000Z

So I have completed my first ever pair of socks and.....have no inclination to do another pair at the moment! Which surprised me, as I keep reading on various blogs and forums that once you knit one pair that's you addicted for life. Have a look at Hawkesley - did first pair in April last year and has since knitted 20 pairs according to her last post. Maybe I am immune?

Also since last post I have knitted up my Wendy Fusion into this Magknits scarf. The yarn is really soft and you never know which colour is coming next, or how much of it you're going to have. I quite like the unpredictability of it. However, I probably didn't pick the best pattern to show it off as it uses short rows. Sometimes the colour change was a bit too drastic as this photo shows:

See the big pink bit that looks like a dotted line? Don't like it! But when the colour change worked it look pretty:
Here's the whole scarf:
I'd definitely knit with the Fusion again, and I will knit this pattern again. Just maybe not together.

Thanks to Bronte for pointing out that the lovely wool I bought to knit myself a felted bag won't felt. Just when I think I know what I'm doing! So any ideas for what to do with my 4 lovely balls of Rowan DK would be much appreciated!

Belated Birthday Spending Spree

2007-01-04T22:06:00.000Z

My birthday was way back in October and my brother and his girlfriend gave me vouchers for John Lewis.

As I had lots of Christmas knitting to do I decided to keep them till after the festivities to knit myself something. Here's what I bought today -

3 balls of Wendy Fusion in Juniper Berries colourway. Saw this on Frog in Knots blog in November and liked the colours.

4 balls of Rowan Pure Wool DK to have a go at a felted bag.2 balls of Jaeger Baby Merino DK to make gloves, and 2 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky to make a hat.
So thank you Alex and Theresa. I'm away now to get cast on!

First Ever Socks (so far)

2006-12-29T21:20:00.000Z

I dropped hints like boulders to all my family that I wanted to try sock knitting next and was not disappointed when Santa came (see below). So come Christmas night I was casting on my first ever pair of socks and so far have not found them too difficult. I mucked up a bit last night on shaping the instep as I was decreasing on every row when there should have been a knit row in between. Then I lost a stitch somewhere and had to rip it all back to the heel as i just couldn't find it. Anyway, I am very pleased with my progress so far:Only trouble is everyone in my family thinks they are hideous and wouldn't wear them if I paid them, so I don't know where they are destined. Maybe I will frame them!

Look what was in my stocking!

2006-12-29T21:08:00.000Z

This year I got so many lovely thoughtful presents from my family. Here are the knitting related ones!

2 balls of very pink Sirdar toddler Aran from my sister. Her friend is expecting next year so this is her way of hinting for me to knit the baby something. Lets hope its a girl!

2 lovely books full of small, quick projects. "One-skein" from my sister and "Easy Knitted Accessories" from my brother and his girlfriend. Perfect for getting into after spending the last couple of months on bigger items.

From my husband - 2 sets of dpns, a sock pattern, two balls of regia self patterning wool and 2 balls of plain sock wool. As you can see I have started on the patterned wool - more of that later.

A very spacious knitting bag from my brother and his girlfriend. Full already!

5 sets of bamboo needles from my husband. Have always knitted with metal needles before so this will be a new experience for 2007.

Christmas Wrap

2006-12-21T19:03:00.000Z

This is my sisters present. It's from a Simply Knitting magazine pattern, knitted in Rowan Plaid. She picked it out months ago as something she would like. I had a hard time getting the yarn as its been discontinued, I finally got it at cucumberpatch. Then I couldn't find the magazine! But it all turned out fine in the end. I put her off the scent by making her a tank top for her birthday (see below) so I am hoping it will be a pleasant surprise on Christmas Day.

Here's a close up of the cabling:

Baby Knits

2006-12-18T22:07:00.000Z

My cousin had a wee girl this morning (Hello Emily!). These are her presents, each with their own bit of history.

This cardigan is knitted in my late Grans holey pattern, which she first knitted as a twin-set when my Mum started school around 1955. She then went on to knit it for every new baby that came along and as we grew up we had them in navy and grey for school, pale yellow for Easter, pink for the Summer. Round necks, V-necks, Jumpers, tank tops.

My Gran died a few years ago and I have taken it upon myself to continue the tradition. She had written down the pattern on a wee bit paper and I've not been 100% happy with the results so far but with each one I improve the pattern (this is my fourth).

This is a loopy hat, which was my Mums speciality. She died nearly 20 years ago, and this is my first attempt which I'm very pleased with. The colours haven't came out too well on this photo. I'll definitely be making more loopy hats. Love the effect.

Tank Top

2006-12-18T22:04:00.000Z

It's my wee sisters birthday this week and this is part of her present. It's knitted in RYC Cashcotton DK which is lovely to knit with. Bit worried that it may be too short but we shall see.

Blast from the Past - Fashion Doll Wardrobe Item1

2006-12-13T20:48:00.000Z

Now. When I was taught to knit as a wee lassie I loved to knit dolls clothes and toys. Then I moved on to baby things but never progressed much from there until this year. However even though I have now mastered adult items, a bit of me still holds a soft spot for those tiny fashion doll clothes. So one day on ebay I was looking at patterns and saw a dolls pattern I'd had when I was wee, then another, then another. So I bought a few and have had great fun knitting some up for my own daughters dolls.

This actual feather and fan evening dress I first knitted in white at least twenty years ago and here it is in a rather more contemporary 'heather mixture'. (Little joke there for any Billy Connelly fans out there).

Fetching

2006-12-13T20:36:00.000Z

I have been knitting longer than I've been doing this blog so obviously there are things I've knitted over the past wee while that I can show you too, and not just works in progress.

I returned to knitting with a vengeance around Easter this year and then subsequently discovered loads of knitting-related sites on the internet. One of the first I discovered was Knitty and the first ever thing I knitted from a website was Fetching. It was also the first item I've ever attempted on double pointed needles so I was delighted with the way they turned out. They're knitted in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and only took one 50g ball. I bought two just in case I needed the extra so I might do another pair in the New Year. It's a very popular pattern out there as I've seen them on various sites in every colour going.

Anyway, they're getting sent off to Santa as a stocking filler for my sister. (I'll keep the 2nd pair for myself!) Excuse the fat hands, just shows you they really are one size fits all!

Getting there....

2006-12-11T20:29:00.000Z

So I've finished the back and am nearly done with the front. It might not be too obvious from the picture but it has a very deep neckline, though it does look like the picture on the pattern so I am not too worried. I think these deep v-necks are quite 'in' at the moment and as my Gran used to say "Yir as weel deid if yir no in the fashion".

I wonder what my sister will wear under it?

I promised myself that I wouldn't buy any more wool this year but I was in the wee shop down the road buying some Christmas stickers for my daughters Christmas cards that she is making and bought two balls of Sublime. My cousin is due this month and if she has a boy, I'll be making a holey pattern cardigan for him in this lovely colour. More of the history of the holey pattern another time.

WIP in time for Christmas????

2006-12-04T20:14:00.000Z

This is the back so far of my sisters Christmas present. I decided to knit both my sisters and my brothers girlfriend something this year. I've completed two out of the three but they have still to be blocked so no pics yet. I started this on Thursday so am doing not bad. The front has a very deep v-neck and it just has wee cap sleeves so I should get it done before the 22nd, whihc is when my sister arrives.
It's knitted in a Jarol DK wool/acrylic mix which is really soft. I chose it for the clour, which is a much deeper winey-red than on this picture.

White Baby Boy Hat

2006-12-01T19:47:00.000Z

Another friend asked me to make this hat for her newest grandson. She saw an old patten lying around my living room. It's made with Sirdar Snuggly DK which is really soft.
I have been gathering lots of old baby patterns as I really like some of the old fashioned styles for babies. More to come in the New Year once I get my Christmas knitting finished.

Baby Cardigan & Hat

2006-11-30T17:56:00.000Z

My friend asked me to make a hat for her friends new baby and when we went to pick the wool I ended up saying I'd make the cardigan too so here it is. It's knitted in Sirdar Bonus as this was the colour my friend liked best, so both items for under £2!
Back to the Christmas knitting..........

My First Post

2006-10-30T17:22:00.000Z

My first foray into blogging! Pictures of what I've been up to will appear shortly.