Hello Stranger
What have I been up to in the past … mumble … weeks?
First there was painting
and then the paint roller injury (no really. I always laughed at people who had tea cozy-related injuries but I can now see how that happens!)
a little cross stitch (as yet unfinished)
and a little knitting
Top-down raglan cardigan for my mum
A non-spoiler picture of the Woolly Wormhead mystery KAL hat
and even a finished object!
Cowl’d and Frosty Morning in RCY Cashsoft Chunky for my dad. He really liked it and reported no cold neck while gardening!
All of which as left me feeling a little …
Zzzzzzzz…..
I may be a while…
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!
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.
FO: Aestlight Shawl
Pattern: (name, author, source) Aestlight Shawl by Gudrun Johnston from The Shetland Trader (available via Ravelry, but I’ve provided a link to the author’s blog for non-Rav folks)
Size(s): (to fit, finished size) Small, one-skein, version; 140 cm/55 inches along edge and 40 cm/15.75 inches from top to point
Yarn: (name, fibre, weight, colour) House of Awesome Mean Girl’s Yarn Club June Shipment (Aunt Sarah’s Pussies), 100% superwash wool, sock/fingering weight, chocolate, toffee and peppermint colours, approx. 310 yds
Needles: (size, material, style) US 5 Denise interchangeable plus 5 mm crochet hook to cast off.
Knitting style: (for stitch patterns) Combination/Eastern Uncrossed
Modifications: None. Nada. Not a one. I know.
Notes: Love the yarn, love the pattern.
The yarn is soft and really suits this pattern. I’ll admit that what the colour does may not be to everyone’s taste, but I love it!
The pattern is very well written and suitable for adventurous lace-knitting-beginners. This particular slow-coach managed to knit the whole thing in 2 weeks and one day.
Seriously, that’s all I have to say so I’ll leave you with more photos, okay?
