Disasters and Pawkies!

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

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

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

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

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!