FO: Snapdragon tam and mittens

Ooooh, she knit something in purple. I’m shocked. Shocked I tell you.

(sorry about the relatively poor quality of the photos – I’m knee-deep in curtain poles, screwdrivers and plaster dust!)

The colour of the hat is way off – it’s a much deeper purple that this.

Pattern: Snapdragon tam by Ysolda Teague from Whimsical Little Knits 2 [Ravelry Project Page]
Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% wool, worsted-weight) approx.  183 yds/167 m used
Sizes (To fit/Actual): Medium to fit 21″ head
Needles and knitting style: Knit Picks Harmony used magic loop style. Combination technique used.
Dates: 28th Sept – 9th Oct 2009
Modifications/notes: No modifications other than yarn substitution.

Pattern: Snapdragon flip-top mittens by Ysolda Teague from Whimsical Little Knits 2 [Ravelry Project Page]
Yarn: Cascade 220 Quattro (100% wool, worsted-weight) approx. 175 yds/160 m used
Sizes (To fit/Actual): One size
Needles and knitting style: Knit Picks Harmony used magic loop style. Combination technique used.
Dates: 10th Oct – 22nd Oct 2009
Modifications/notes: No modifications other than yarn substitution.

And a close-up of my frog earrings!

Stop/Start

I think I’ve started about 15 posts in the past two weeks but kept getting distracted by knitting and the prospect of my neighbour’s “brown” water emerging three feet from my back door.  It does tend to concentrate the mind somewhat.

Throughout all I have been knitting.

A little of this:

this:

and this:

But also a lot of this:

So I’m afraid I may be a little absent for the next month-or-so as I go DIY-crazy (with the help of my dad once his university exams are over) as I attempt to sort out my stuff and make everything a lot more organised.

Good Girl Gone Bad?

Or:

The Lure of the New and Shiny!

Or:

Work in Progress Thursday!

First things first, thank you for the comments and compliments on my two recent finished objects.  Pure coincidence they were completed so close together (I’d been working on those socks for my mum since June) so I’m afraid it may give something of a false impression of my productivity!

I’m making progress on the Sandvik shawl:

Obviously, the longer the rows get, the fewer I manage to complete in a given time so to my eyes it looks as if my progress has gone down the tubes.  I have to remind myself that I’m still working the same number of stitches!

Being ill in bed has disadvantages beyond the obvious.  I am left alone with not much to do other than plan and craft.  And become enchanted by the new and the pretty.

Hence:

Snapdragon Tam from Whimsical Little Knits 2 in Cascade 220

and

Starflower socks [link] by Jeannie Cartmel in Krafty Koala sock yarn in the Gothic Rose colourway

Apparently, Autumn 2009 is all about cables and texture for me!

The socks are for the Socknitters Anonymous Ravelry group’s Sockdown challenge for October 2009 (the choices were Holiday Stocking, Man’s Sock, Sock for a Cause or the designer Jeannie Cartmel)

And the tam is for me!  I’m going to make the matching flip-top mittens as well, but in the Cascade Quattro I purchased at the same time as the plain 220.  I’m not a great fan of matchy-matchy stuff so the fact the tam and mittens will be similar but not the same pleases me immensely!

Apparently I now have viral tracheitis (?sp).  It’s not too bad so far and I’m hoping that my relapse may, ironically, have been beneficial in allowing my immune system to do it’s stuff.  Fingers crossed.

And having read this post, remember to wash your hands lest I infect you!

FO: Traditional Gansey Socks

Pattern: Traditional Gansey Socks by Wendy Johnson from the book “Socks From The Toe Up” [My Ravelry Project Page]
Yarn: Regia Silk 4-ply (wool/silk/nylon).  Approx. 400 yds/360 m used for both socks.
Needles and knitting style: One 2.5 mm Addi 100 cm long circular needle for Magic Loop.  Worked two-at-a-time.  Combination/Eastern Uncrossed style throughout.
Sock style: Toe up with gusset heel and wedge toe.
Dates: June 21st – September 28th 2009
Modifications/notes:

• Made size L (9.25 in circumference) for my mum’s feet.
• Leg height approx. 8 in/20 cm.

• Altered ribbing at top to continue garter stitch motif from pattern.

• Cast off cuff with 4 mm crochet hook to make it as non-binding as possible.
• Used the Magic Loop technique for the first time and really liked it.  It was easy to use with the toe-up pattern and casting on both socks at the same time was very simple.
• Used Judy’s Magic Cast On for the toes.  I really can’t see me using any other cast on for toe-up socks from now until the end of time.
• The fit of these socks is great (my mum nearly didn’t get to keep them) and the pattern is well written (as usual).  The stitch motif was pretty easy to memorise.

FO: Endless Knitted Cardigan Shawl

I’m channelling my inner Diva for these photos!

Pattern: Endless Knitted Cardi Shawl by Jennifer Hansen for Stitch Diva [My Ravelry Project Page]
Yarn: Mystical Creation Yarns Cotton Rayon Sport in Copper Desert colour (1400 yds per 1lb). Used all but about 10-15 g, meaning my yardage is about1370 yds/1250 m (see notes for more details).

Sizes (To fit/Actual): 1X to fit 42″ bust (very loose-fitting so actual size is arbitrary)
Needles and knitting style: 4 mm and 4.5 mm circulars plus one 5.5 mm straight for cast off. Combination style throughout.

Dates: 25th of August to 17th of September 2009
Modifications/notes:

• Yarn substitution of sport for DK-weight so used larger needle size to get gauge and to obtain the right amount of drape.
• Made the single-colour, “sleeveless” version.
• I seem to have used more yarn than prescribed, but if my logic circuits are working correctly that will be because of my use of a thinner yarn.
• Really simple pattern that makes you think; “why didn’t I come up with that?”. But I didn’t and Ms. Hansen did, and there you have it!
• To see more photographs either view my project page on Ravelry or on Flickr.