Delicato Mitts

Okay, I've only finished one so far and I'm already in love with both the pattern and the finished one.

They certainly live up to their name, very delicate and light on my hand and such a wonderful fit. Also with them being 100% lambswool, they are nice and warm as well.

The 2.5mmDPNs I used are perfect, the yarn and colour is perfect, the fact I only did 6 instead of 7 repeats of the lace panel pattern is perfect. Did I mention I loved these mitts (mitt)?
I know I'm definitely going to have to keep these away from the girls or I'll never see them again, let alone get a chance to wear them and show them off.
I've now finished both and am definitely in love with them LOL. Any ideas on how to block out the ladders on the palms?

Mitts For Meeeee.

I bought this absolutely georgeous yarn from Ebay, it's a 2ply hand dyed laceweight and 100% lambswool. This stuff is so soft and the colours are so gentle, I was stuck for a while on what it wanted to be.

Then I came across a pattern called Delicato Mitts and I thought the name and style of mitt really went with my soft pastel laceweight.So, out of shear boredom I cast on for them late last night and so far am loving them. I'm using 2.5mm DPNs instead of the recommended 2.75mm, not only to accomodate the fact I'm using a lace yarn but also because my hands are quite small.

Christmas Jumper Two Finished.

I put the finishing touches to mum's christmas jumper yesterday, I'm not best pleased with a small issue on the left neck edge at the beginning of the ribbing but don't know how to correct it. As it is more than wearable I'm just not going to fiddle with it.

I wish I had of put some waist shaping into it, but mum isn't keen on that so I just hopefully made a snuggly raglan sweater.

I liked the Patons washed haze aran although I think adding a new ball is a bit of a pain and even though I've darned in the ends I'm not overly confidant of them but only time will tell.

I really like the Ann Budd book The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns, I'm sure I'll use it many more times to create many more sweaters/cardigans. For my first raglan I'm really quite pleased with it.

Mystery Beret.

Remember my wonderful lace beret, the pattern was a Woolly Wormhead mystery?

Well, it's now a felted basket (sob, howl... stamps feet!). It was my most favoured hat, thought I looked good in it and I stupidly (very stupidly) put it in the wash.Can you believe I actually forgot that it had a wool content, for some reason I thought is was acrylic, gah! It turns out James C Brett's Ripple has a 55% wool content.

Cobblestone Christmas Pullover

I've finished and it's fantastic, the construction and ease of following this pattern has really pleased me. I've come to realise Jared Flood is a bloody genius and I'll be following more of his patterns.

December 15 2008

I’ve just started the yoke and have 9 days to finish, I’m enjoying knitting with this yarn even though it’s still a bit scratchy just hope it softens when I wash it.

Argh, I’ve never wrapped and turned before and have no idea what I’m doing, I’ve followed the instructions but think I’ve followed it wrong. I’m not even sure what the wrap and turn is supposed to do so can’t even fudge it.

I now understand what the wraps achieve and once that clicked into place was able to storm along and have gotten up to decrease 1.

December 17 2008

I was just getting up to the 3rd decrease when I realised I’d made a stupid measurement mistake and have had to frog back 4 inches, stitch by flaming stitch…sigh. It will be worth it though as the jumper looks to be turning out wonderfully and hopefully my dad will like it as much as I do.

December 20 2008

I’ve finished and it looks wonderful, I so love the construction of this jumper. I also can't praise the New Lanark wool I used enough. It knits up beautifully and the stitch definition is great.

Meret Cowl Delight

Okay, remember the mystery beret/tam I did (the pattern was by Wolly Wormhead) that was supposed to be for my daughter? Well I claimed it for myself as it was so nice and the designer as decided to call the pattern Meret.

I just wanted to make something to go with it, so I made a cowl. I cast on 91 stitches joined in the round and then knit 3 rounds, I then did the pattern 3 times and another few rounds plain knit and tadah, a matching neckwarmer for my Meret beret.

Wonder if I can make a matching pair of mitts?

I used the James C Brett Ripple again and circular needles in size 4.5mm, the pattern is only available on Ravelry from what I can tell.

Breeding Hats!

I seem to be experiencing a bit of a hat obsession at the moment and spent last night knitting another tam/beret.

At the age of 35 I've suddenly come to the conclusion that hats are great and they keep you feeling so much warmer, not to mention if you're having a bad hair day you can just plonk a hat on your head and you've got instant chic.

Anyway, I was in Lidl yesterday and they had 600g of bulky yarn for £6.99. Okay, it's only 20% superwash wool but the pack did come with free 8mm circular needles and 4 free patterns and the yarn does feel very soft and fluffy.

I used Sarah-Hope Parmeter's bulky tam pattern and size 6.5mm circulars. This was such a quick and simple knit, only took 5 hours and that was with interruptions.

I did find the ribbing on the brim to not be quite tight enough so had to run an elastic round so that it wasn’t so big and would fit my head. Perhaps using a smaller needle or a 2x2 rib would be better.

I was surprised that it took only one ball of wool, I even managed to make a small pom pom.

Lace Beret

Woolly Wormhead posted a mystery beret on Ravelry, I've now completed it. It was a quick and satisfying knit with easy to follow instructions.I originally made this beret for my daughter as one of her birthday gifts, it's turned out so nice I'm not sure if I can give it away :-)
I used James C Brett Ripple in H1 and 4.5mm needles. The ball of yarn is a true representation of the colour.

Christmas Gift Knits

Okay, it's that time of year to start the gift knits and everything else has been put on hold. I've decided on sweaters this year and have them picked out and started already (yay, go me for once on being organised-ish).

Dad was easy to think of a pattern, I've gone for the Cobblestone by Jared Flood, I'm using New Lanark Donegal Silk Tweed Aran in the colourway dark graphite, it's a wool silk mix that feels a little scratchy to begin with but when washed really sofens up (at least that's what others have said, I've not got to the washing stage yet.)
So far so good, it seems to be working up real fast and as of yet I've not encountered any problems although that could all change when I get to the short rows as I've never done short rows before (eek!).

Mum was a little harder to think of until I got my new book The Knitter's Handy Book Of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd, I'm in love with this book and just want to give everything a go :-)

I don't want to give too much away as mum reads this blog on occasion but I’ve a gauge of 7 stitches and 10 rows = 2 inch in stocking stitch in the round using 6mm circs and Paton's Washed Haze Aran, so I cast on 140 (instead of the recommended 160) stitches to achieve a 40 inch chest. Just hope my math is correct :-)

I’d finished binding all the neck stitches off and had also finished all my decreases. I should have had 31 stitches but I had 62, so a real mess up somehow. I’ve frogged back and will re-attach the sleeves today and hope that I don’t mess up this time. It seems I didn't do enough decreases and should be able to get back on track in no time as this jumper is so fast to knit it practically flies of the needles.

I'm getting a little worried that I may run out of yarn so will order a couple of extra balls this week to be on the safe side.

Fingerless Mitts

I used the last of the Wendy Fusion (probably still have 30-50yrds left) for a pair of fingerless mitts for my youngest daughter, Mary.

I'm quite impressed that I managed to get two hats and a pair of mitts from the three balls of yarn I bought (yarn was on sale as well) seems I've saved a pretty penny or two there and the girls are pleased with my efforts. So everybodies happy :-)

Ribbed Hat

I wanted to work on something pretty mindless today and this pattern filled the bill.

Worked on 6.5mm circs, I made another hat from the Wendy Fusion for my eldest daughter.
A simple 2x2 rib that took next to no time to knit up. There is still most of one ball of the yarn left, just have to figure out what to do with it.

Super Droop Jellyfish tam.

My eldest daughter asked for one of those hats that droop, but she wanted it quite large. Hmm, the jellyfish tam v2.0 (the super droop) must be what she's after says I.

Boy I couldn't have been more wrong, the thing was huge. You could fit two whole heads in this thing. Would have been great on a Rastafarian with crap loads of dreds, but looked, well, ridiculous on my daughter.

So I ripped it back to the point where the v2.0 pattern deviates from the original pattern and carried on from there.

Much better and bonus, she likes it. I'll believe her when I actually see her wearing it hehe.

I used Wendy Fusion in Bouquet Garni and size 4.5mm and 10mm DPNs, think I'll definitly be using the Fusion again as I really like how soft and quite it is to knit up, also has a nice drape.

Victorian Lace Today Scarf

As usual life got in the way and I ended up having to do a rush job on this, although I still really like it, it’s not what I originally planned.

I did do the Stripes and Torchon lace on page 158 for the center panel, just didn’t use the border from that pattern. I only cast on 41 stitches as I did two of the stripes and repeated the pattern 12 times. After blocking the scarf turned out 10.5 inches wide by 60 inches long.

Instead I chose the wide Clarence border on page 82.

I used a superwash sock yarn that I hand dyed in the slow cooker. Also, as I didn't have anywhere to block the scarf I doubled it over and blocked on the ironing board seemed to work fine.

It’s mum’s birthday today and I’m meeting her at lunchtime for a coffee and will give her the scarf then. I'll try and get some pictures of her wearing the scarf and upload them later.

Eek, a wedding.

Okay my sister in law is getting married on the 24th of October, I only found out on Thursday. I knew she was getting married but for some reason I thought is was next summer, that's why I couldn't figure out why she was having her hen night this month LOL.

So of course there being three females in this house (two of whom are teenagers) the major question was, 'what am I going to wear?'

I've dibs on one of my eldest daughter's dresses, she hasn't worn it yet and it's a floaty chiffon number in black. Wearing black to a wedding isn't the problem, the fact it's strapless is. My solution is to knit a cropped cardigan/shrug type of thing so my bra straps don't show. Also the yarn matches a pair of heals I've got so hopefully will look nice on the day.

My husband is easy to dress, he can just wear a suit, eldest is panicking and has decided she needs to go shopping (this girl can't even fit all her clothes in her robe as it is) so the plan is eldest and I go shopping on Thursday, she can pick something for herself and help me choose something for the youngest.

Youngest has requested that the dress have two colours and one of them must be blue (sigh), if I can't find anything like that I may just pick up some fabric and cobble something together for her myself.

I was looking at patterns for the cropped cardigan and fell in love with this one, unfortunately the whole pattern isn't available yet so have plumbed for this one (with a few alterations).

I'm using a Dk weight yarn with 4.5mm needles so have cast on 80 stitches instead of the recommended 50, I've split like this 14/13/26/13/14. Think I'll make it slightly longer but only by a few rows, just hope my alterations work out as I'm not a designer and am winging it LOL. I'm not adding the pointy edge as I'm not too keen on it.

The VLT gift I'm knitting for my mum is coming along nicely and should be completed next week sometime (hopefully).

Small update

Seems to have been ages since I last updated my blog, I do have a few things to share.

I've been working on Goddessknits mystery shawl #10, as usual with Renee's patterns it's turning out to be a beautiful shawl. I've just started clue 4.

I've also been dying again, this time a yellow/green combo I've decided to call 'Harvest'. the base yarn is 75/25 superwash/nylon, it's a 4 ply fingering weight yarn. It was also done with food colouring and the slow cooker. I swear, my slow cooker has never been used as much as it is now that I'm dying yarn.

I crocheted some new headphone covers as our old foam ones had split and they had become uncomfortable, now they're wonderfully soft and cosy on the ears.

I'm also working on something for my mum's birthday but don't want to say to much as I know she sometimes reads this blog. Suffice to say, it's something from Victorian Lace today. I also had to dye the yarn for this as the yarn I wanted to use just didn't do the pattern justice, once it's been gifted I'll let you now more about it.

Hmm. seems it wasn't such a small update after all.

I dyed again.

I've been at it again, dyeing it's addictive! My yarn base was different this time, 75% Superwash and 25% nylon sock yarn (4ply).

This time rather than Kool Aid I used Supercook food colourings from Tesco, really cheap, 15p for a 38ml bottle. I just bunged the colouring into the water with some white vinegar and let the slow cooker do the rest. The blue/wine worked out better than anticipated and is by far my favourite dye job. I dyed it all blue to begin with, then dipped half into red dye and ended up with a wonderful colour I've decided to call Aqua Bordeaux.

The next lot was just red with a tiny drop of blue mixed in, I'm calling it Coralistic. Again it was done in the slow cooker.

Feather and Fan scarf.

I started this quite a while ago but kept being distracted by other knits :-)

It's just a simple feather and fan pattern that I got from an afghan book I have.
I've also done a small amount of spinning with the purple merino roving I got a while ago. I love this roving, it's so soft and fluid, just hoping I can do it justice hance the fact I'm taking my time with it.

I'd dye for you.

Okay, I've had another go at this dyeing malarky. I've used the same base yarn but a different method.

My dye stock was 2x black cherry 2x grape and 1x ghoul aid. This yarn was done in the slow cooker (crockpot). The dye was sucked up by the yarn so fast I was really quite worried. I'm not sure if I want to overdye with some bright red or not, not sure how that would look.

I've also included a picture of my previous attempt now that the yarn has dried.

Of course England being how it is, there is hardly any sunlight this morning to take the shots in, so it's quite dark and the true colours aren't quite right, I'm hoping it'll brighten up later and I can take some better pictures. These pictures were taken outside and are as good as it's going to get really.

Another dye job!

I tried my hand at dyeing yarn again today, using Kool Aid. Christ alive I couldn't drink the stuff as it smells so over-powering, but drink it I didn't, I did what any sensible person would do and bunged it on some undyed yarn.

My base yarn was 100g (400m/437yds) DT Craft & Design sock yarn (75%BFL/25%nylon) and I used 3 colours/flavours of Kool Aid in the following amounts:

1 sachet Ghoul Aid
2 sachet Black Cherry
2 sachet Grape

First of all I soaked my yarn, whilst doing that I set up my prep area by laying out strips of cling film, then I mixed the Kool Aid in 3 plastic cups with some water. After squeezing out the excess water I laid the yarn on the clingfilm in a large loop.

That's where it got fun :-) I mentally sectioned the yarn and got down to it, first I used the Ghoul Aid and just slowly poured the liquid on to the smallest section of yarn mopping up any excess with kitchen paper. I was wearing rubber gloves so was able to massage the liquid through the yarn, I did the same with the Black Cherry and Grape. The yarn really soaked it up but I was carefull to mop up anything that seemed to be going astray.

I gently wrapped the clingfilm over the yarn and gently lifted it to be put in a pyrex bowl, then I put it in the microwave and nuked it for 1 minute, took it out checked that it was getting hot and then shoved it back in for another minute. I did that a total of four times. Afterwards I set the bowl beside the sink and pulled the yarn out to speed up the cooling process.

Once it was cool enough I filled the sink with some warm water and put in a splash of wool wash and rinced the yarn, there was practically no dye comming out of the yarn so I squeezed out the excess water and it's currently hanging on the maiden to dry.

Having had a good old look at it, the yarn is very tie-dye like, I kind of like that effect (well I do now LOL). bearing in mind it's still wet I can't really tell the difference between the Ghoul Aid and the Grape so I can't wait for it to dry, I'm certainly not brave enough to risk putting the hair dryer on it.

If you're interested in giving it a go there are some tutorials here and here, go on, give it a go it's loads of fun. The best thing is, if I don't like the yarn when it's dry I can give it another go.

Shhh, another mystery shawl.

Renee at Goddess Knits is doing another mystery shawl, this time mytery shawl #10.

I stash dived for the yarn and chose a silver blue that looks like a blue heather, it's just a 4ply wool acrylic mix and I'm using 4mm circs.

I thought I was going to finish clue 1 yesterday but noticed a major mistake and had to unravel the lot (62 rows) but I got caught up and completed it today. Just have to wait for clue 2 on Saturday now :-)

Can't believe I only just realised that if you click on the picture you're directed to a much larger and clearer image of the project, fancy not knowing that LOL.

Matching Russula Cap

Hmm, I think I may have gone a bit too far with the eye popping yarn. I've knit a beret to match my daughter's fingerless gloves. Because of the colours I'm not sure if she'll ever be able to wear both together, will just have to see what she thinks when she gets in.

It's the Russula Cap by Sally at Wicked Woollens, it's a great and simple pattern that looks much better in the yarn she chose LOL.

First Fingerless Gloves.

I finished my first pair of fingerless gloves last night and I'm really pleased with them.

Okay, you need a pair of sunglasses to look at them they're that bright but my youngest chose the mad colours and thinks they're fantastic and has worn them to school this morning.

I was really shocked at how easy and quick they were, for some reason I thought they would be really difficult. The pattern is called 'Falling for you Gloves' by Claire Crompton and can be found in the book: The Knitter's Bible: Knitted Accessories

My eldest daughter has requested a pair just in very different colours and as it was such a pleasant knit I'm quite looking forward to making them.

Another Birthday Scarf

Well I finished my husband's scarf on the morning of his birthday and he really likes it. obviously it's not as pretty as the scarf I made for my gran as he's a bloke and doesn't 'do' pretty lace.

It's a very simple knit that has a pleasing effect and works up real quick. I could have got away with CO 20 stitches with the Robin Chunky I used as the finished item ended up quite wide but husband seems to like that. The pattern is called Jute Rope and is by Rebecca Sweinhagen, I also didn't use the recommended needle size as thought the knitted fabric would have ended up far to stiff, so I used 8mm needles. This also helped with the speed of the project.

Birthday Scarf

My gran's birthday scarf is complete. I used the Path of the Heart pattern by Ria Bridges. A nice simple knit with lovely results.

I wanted something that was going to be soft and delicate against my gran's skin as she's just had facial surgery for skin cancer, so I chose James C. Brett Pure Merino in shade PM8. It's a lovely rich plummy/wine colour (first picture) and is so soft and smoochy it's perfect for scarves.

It's currently pined to my bed to block and I'll deliver it on Wednesday (her birthday), just hope she likes it.

kroy Socks, done.

Yay, I've finished my first pair of real, able to wear, socks. I love the feel of them on my feet and am spurred on to knit more.

I used the Kroy sock pattern with Regia Jacquard yarn in 5296 Brussels and 2.5mm DPNs. The stripes don't quite match up, I thought I'd gotten the beginning colours right but obviously I didn't, oh well, just adds to that hand knit quality :-)

Even though I knit the smallest size they are still a little large so next time I'll use Violet Green's sock calculator pattern and hopefully they'll fit much better (that's what I get for having a Uk size 3 foot) I'm looking forward to my next pair.